Scope_of_Work_Landscape_Performance_Analytics.pdf

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GSA STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

Landscape Performance Analytics (Assessing Constructed Ecologies)

IDENTIFICATION.

GSA’s Public Buildings Service’s (PBS) Office of Design and Construction in Central Office is pursuing a contract to provide the Urban Development Program with Site-Based Ecological Performance Analysis that will guide GSA in evaluating the environmental performance of built Federal landscapes at GSA project sites.

This statement of work is meant to provide environmental monitoring of key site performance indicators at two (2) representative Federal sites for a monitoring period of twelve (12) months and total performance period of eighteen (18) months to include the development of a research plan and present the findings in report format to inform recommendations that inform future GSA site development and management efforts.

1.0 OBJECTIVES.

1.1 To help GSA develop landscape performance measures that can gauge project performance under various Federal sustainability directives, including but not limited to EISA 438 and EO 13693.

1.2 To provide analysis for use by GSA regional and central offices to inform landscape operations and maintenance and design of capital projects;

1.3 To assess the design and installation of these site-based technologies for effectiveness to inform future site-based green infrastructural design including biotic and abiotic data;

1.4 To assess the potential cost avoidance achieved of such technologies on a specific site design including externalities often not accounted for in the cost considerations; and

1.5 To identify and quantify net environmental benefits including carbon sequestration, air quality, and water quality and to assess additional key factors including chemistry and condition of stormwater, heat-island effect, soil health, and phenology as it relates to climatic change.

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 Policy Support:

GSA projects must meet the requirements of various environmental directives, including EISA 438 (stormwater), the recently signed EO 13693 (green infrastructure, reduced water use, net zero), and a Presidential directive on consideration of ecosystem services when shaping Federal projects. These and related directives such as the presidential memorandum on “Supporting the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators” and “The Federal Floodplain Risk Management Standard” further help to establish aggressive water use, green

SOW, Landscape Analytics (Monitoring) 2 of 6 infrastructure, and other performance requirements and aspirations on Federal site work projects.

However, these factors lack usable performance indicators that GSA could use to set and monitor targets. Even for recently completed projects that were designed and constructed to support these directives, little is known about whether the delivered projects are performing as intended.

Through GSA’s Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, submitted to the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), GSA has committed to incorporate sustainability principles throughout agency policies and practices, and to implement them to the extent feasible in all agency real estate transactions.

The work envisioned under this statement of work would position GSA to better understand the performance of its landscapes, make more informed design decisions based on actual data, and better implement the above policy directives in the most effective and cost-efficient ways possible.

2.2 Nature of the Work:

Recent advances in environmental sensor technology, wireless communications, and software applications have enabled the development of low-cost, low-power multifunctional environmental sensors and sensor networks that can communicate environmental conditions to researchers, managers and the public in real time. This emerging technology generates information at unprecedented temporal and spatial scales, and offers transformational opportunities to better understand the physical, chemical and biological ‘pulse’ of both designed terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

The statement of work is primarily interested in installing a base sensor program that monitors meteorology, hydrology, phenology, soil climate, and stream temperature and chemistry on a yet to be determined site, capturing site data and interpreting the results for a period of one year.

Specific sensor typologies, quantities, and distributions will be site dependent responding to unique site conditions such as design, scale, and location. The selected research team will propose a draft research program to be evaluated by GSA and allied experts. Examples of a proposed suite of sensors could include, but are not limited to the following:

o Air temperature o Relative humidity o Wind speed o Wind direction o Solar radiation o Air quality sensors to monitor CO2 o Soil temperature (at various depths) o Soil Water/Moisture (at various depths) o Stream stage height and flow o Water temperature o Water electrical conductivity o Water Nitrate o Water FDOM (dissolved organic carbon)

SOW, Landscape Analytics (Monitoring) 3 of 6 o Water Dissolved Oxygen o Water pH o In-Situ Root Imaging o Digital Plant Canopy Imaging o Photosynthesis Plant Imaging

As described in the Requirements section, below, the work would include packaging and delivering the data to GSA in a format that is easy to use and share with various GSA business lines.

3.0 REQUIREMENTS.

3.1 Review and Selection of Analysis Sites:

The analysis envisioned under this contract would be conducted at two (2) GSA project sites. GSA and the contractor would select the two sites after briefly considering a shortlist of four (4) sites provided by GSA. The selection of the two sites for analysis would be based upon the contractor’s recommendation of the most appropriate sites that would meet the needs of this statement in a cost effective matter.

Site 1. The first of the two sites would be at a GSA managed land port of entry (i.e., border station) in the Southwestern Region of the United States. This would enable analysis on factors germane to that particular climate context and facility type. For planning purposes, the selected site would be within an approximately two hour drive of a major commercial airport (e.g, San Diego, San Antonio, El Paso, Phoenix, or Tucson).

Site 2. The second of the two sites, would be at a GSA campus type facility in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic or Great Lakes region of the United States, in an urban or suburban context. Analysis would be tailored to the factors most germane to the selected site. For planning purposes, the selected site would be within an approximately two-hour drive of a major commercial airport.

3.2 Data Sets:

All contractor produced data sets must be formatted to be compatible for use with standard professional design software (e.g., Google Earth; AutoCAD, ESRI, etc.).

Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the contracting officer, any documents produced under this contract are assumed to be for the unlimited non-commercial use of the Federal government.

In addition to the above general requirements, the contractor shall conduct the following specific tasks:

3.3 Tasks:

3.3.1 Task 1 - Selection of Sites for Analysis

The consultant will consider GSA’s shortlist of sites for analysis. After brief discussion with GSA, the consultant will recommend two (2) sites to

SOW, Landscape Analytics (Monitoring) 4 of 6 pursue for analysis to meet the stated objectives of this statement of work (this deliverable will be completed in 4 weeks from notice to proceed).

3.3.2 Task 2 - Identification of a Research Methodology to Assess One

Calendar Year of Site Performance Sub-Task 2A: The consultant will propose a research methodology appropriate for the specific installations. GSA must review and accept the proposed approach for each site in writing.

Sub-Task 2B: GSA will host a conference call where selected consultant will present research proposal to GSA and select allied experts; including the representatives from each agency for approval of proposed research plan and wireless sensor package.

3.3.3 Task 3 - Site Investigation including Installing Sensors, Monitoring and Interpreting Results Sub-Task 3A: The site investigation is intended to allow the research team to test assumptions of the site, install sensors, take field measurements, understand as-built condition, and assess material condition.

Sub-Task 3B: Team to provide GSA and periodic (monthly/quarterly) snapshot on data collection and emerging data trends.

3.3.4 Task 4 - Research Brief and Associated Executive Summary.

The contractor will prepare a brief report to assess the current performance conditions of the landscape including the numeric projections, the calculations, and the assumptions. The Executive summary is intended to translate this technical data into a summary for a broader client audience.

4.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.

The period of performance for this contract shall be eighteen (18) months from the date the project is approved and notice to proceed (NTP) is issued to the contractor. A specific schedule is listed in Section 7.0. The Government reserves the right to extend the period of performance, if necessary, due to unforeseen delays.

5.0 TRAVEL

This contract assumes a travel allowance of $8,000, based on the following assumptions. Vendor will make two trips to each of the three sites to review conditions and install monitoring equipment. Each trip assumes airfare and one night stay for two employees of the contractor.

6.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION.

Any GSA-specific data or information that might be shared with the vendor for the sole purpose to execute the tasks under this contract may not be shared in any format (viewing demos, databases, presentations, etc.) or under any circumstance without the expressed written consent of the Urban Development Program.

This includes:

- CAD survey of site

- Construction Documents

- Relevant architectural and engineering documents and design criteria during task A.

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7.0 SUBMISSION SCHEDULE

Tasks (all) 1-5 Within 18 months of NTP

8.0 ADMINISTRATION.

8.1 GSA Representatives.

On behalf of the GSA Contracting Officer (CO), the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is responsible for the general administration of this Work Order. The COR is responsible for the review/acceptance of all task deliverables. This individual will serve as the Government point of contact concerning invoicing, information exchange, submission review, and payment.

Nothing said by the COR shall be construed to change the contract requirements unless supported in writing by the CO.

CO – Collette Scott Contracting Officer Acquisition Services Division (PQC) 1800 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20405 Telephone: 202-731-3021 E-mail: collette.scott@gsa.gov

COR – Renee Pilone

GSA D&C (PCA)

1800 F Street NW, Wash DC 20405 Renee.pilone@gsa.gov 202-841-0601

Project Lead – Christian Gabriel

GSA D&C (PCA)

1800 F Street NW, Wash DC 20405 christian.gabriel@gsa.gov 202-501-9132

8.2 Payments. The government’s preference is that payment shall be made upon receipt and acceptance of said services. However, if the contractor prefers, the government shall make payments based on invoices submitted at the successful completion of each deliverable as described above.

8.3 Invoicing.

Each invoice submitted by the contractor must be accompanied by the contractor’s brief description of the work completed under the invoice and a report on the status of remaining tasks.

9.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION.

The following factors will be used to evaluate contractor proposals and are listed in descending order of importance.

9.1 Management Approach. Contractors will be evaluated based on their plan for approaching the project, given the goals expressed in the statement of work.

Contractors must present a management approach that demonstrates that they have a sophisticated grasp on the Federal government’s goals under this statement of work, a thoughtful understanding of the Federal operating mailto:Renee.pilone@gsa.gov/202-841-0601 mailto:Renee.pilone@gsa.gov/202-841-0601 mailto:christian.gabriel@gsa.gov

SOW, Landscape Analytics (Monitoring) 6 of 6 environment, and a technically sound strategy to meet those goals. The management approach must explain how the contractor would assess physical and operational strategies, evaluate comprehensive and varied sources of revenue, and offer a compelling approach to identify the spaces and strategies that represent the greatest chances for success. The approach must show both an ambitious aim, and a savvy strategy that is grounded in the realities of public space operations and finance.

9.2 Professional Experience. Contractors will provide resumes for key members of the project team. Where members of the project team are not direct employees of the firm submitting the proposal, the resume must highlight the team member’s experience working with the submitting firm.

The depth and breadth of the team’s experience must be sufficient to conduct the analysis and, importantly, provide a high level of confidence in their resulting recommendations. Subcontractors must have past experience working with the principle firm. Experience must include work with private sector and public agency clients, as well as design, operations and management, and financing expertise.

9.3 Past Performance. Contractors will be evaluated on their past performance in two ways: 1) Summaries of Past Projects. Contractors must provide between five (5) and ten (10) brief summaries of landscapes for which they consulted and provided recommendations that were germane to this statement of work. The summary must briefly (no more than one page for each project) describe each subject project site, outline the firm’s approach to the work, explain the firm’s recommendations, and summarize the outcome. Each project summary must include a client reference with name and contact info; GSA will check references as it deems necessary to gauge adequacy and relevance of past performance.

Project summaries must include instances where the subject spaces are revenue producing and/or self-sustaining from the owner’s perspective. 2) Work Sample.

Contractors must provide at least one complete sample of a report or recommendation that shows the firm’s ability to meet the requirement;

alternatively, if such materials are unable to be shared for proprietary reasons, the firm may submit a 2-3 page case study that provides a more detailed description of their approach to the project.

The contractor’s past performance must include at least five (5) projects where the firm’s involvement is determined to be relevant to the statement of work and a work sample where technical reviewers find that the work was conducted at a high degree of professional competence.