HFRA_WUI_BotanySurvey_SOW_final.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Contents

PROJECT

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Background

2.0 DEFINITIONS

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

TASK 1: PRESURVEY PLANNING

TASK 2: FIELD SURVEYS

TASK 3: REPORTING

4.0 Period of Performance / Deliverables Schedule

5.0 Government Furnished Property and Applicable Documents

6.0 Contractor Furnished Critical Items/Service

7.0 Contractor Key Personnel and Qualifications

8.0 Data Rights

9.0 Performance Requirements Measures

ATTACHMENT(S)

PROJECT

Botany Surveys for Plumas National Forest Healthy Forests Restoration Act – Wild Urban Interface Projects

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Background

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT LOCATION:

Botany surveys included in this Statement of Work are focused on the Healthy Forests Restoration Act – Wild Urban Interface Projects (HFRA WUI) planning area on the Feather River Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest. The attached Project Area Map (Attachment I) shows the scoped planning areas in relation to surrounding towns and landmarks. All contract areas are located on National Forest lands within the delineated boundaries of the Plumas National Forest. Surveys or follow-up site visits shall not be conducted on private land.

PURPOSE:

The contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, supplies, services, permits, and licenses, necessary to collect field data and report on the presence of Scoped Species in accordance with applicable documents found herein for the tasks listed in Section 3.0, Contractor Requirements. The work to be performed consists of botanical field surveys for the Scoped Species within the Healthy Forests Restoration Act – Wild Urban Interface planning area located on Plumas National Forest (Table 1).

These surveys will provide data sufficient for informing management decisions and facilitate the implementation of Plumas National Forest’s HFRA WUI Projects. The results of surveys will be used to identify appropriate measures to mitigate disturbance to Threatened, Endangered and Forest Service Sensitive and Watchlist Plant Species and mitigate the spread of Invasive Plants within the boundaries of the project.

DESCRIPTION OF LANDSCAPE AND ACCESSIBILITY:

The project area includes habitat types such as pine, pine/fir, aspen, montane hardwood-conifer, Sierra mixed conifer, open rocky areas, rock outcrops, wetlands, riparian zones, and brush fields. Terrain varies from gentle to steep as project area elevation ranges widely from 1000 feet up to 4800 feet.

Access shall be by 2WD or 4WD vehicle, walking, snowmobile, cross country skies, or snowshoes as appropriate and determined by Presurvey Reconnaissance. The Government will not plow roads. Trees that block roads may have to be cut into chunks and moved to allow vehicle access. Walking distances will vary within the project area. Walking distances will be considered incidental to the work and no additional payment will be made. The Government will not provide special road maintenance or snowplowing to open roads. A road that has been bermed or gated or is otherwise un-drivable shall be walked and not accessed with motorized vehicles. Private roads, over which the Government does not have right of way, may have to be detoured around unless the Contractor secures their own permission to cross from the landowner.

The Government will not physically identify the survey areas on the ground. Geographic Information System (GIS) location data of project boundaries, known locations of scoped species and special habitats will be provided.

Table 1. Acreage of botany survey requirements for this contract

Survey Requirements

Planning Area Maximum Area

Requiring Survey (Acres)

Year to Conduct Survey

Item #

Botany Survey HFRA WUI 10,000 2027 1-7 *Includes areas that have been previously surveyed and may require known occurrence site revisit and delineation.

2.0 DEFINITIONS

AGOL: ArcGIS Online, a digital platform to share and sync field-collected data.

Botany Survey: The process of reviewing all available information and conducting on-the-ground inventories in potential habitat to determine the presence or absence of scoped species populations and special habitats.

Buffer: The perimeter of scoped species polygons is the furthest site-defining attribute or scoped species plus one meter.

Complete Coverage: Survey Units which shall be surveyed by walking transects that are close enough together that the next transect is clearly visible and all areas has been examined thoroughly.

Day: For the purposes of this contract a day is defined as time in the field, starting at the first stop and ending with the last, within the project area. It does not include the travel time from town to and from the project area.

Digital Data Form: Government-provided electronic data collection forms to be completed during surveys using a tablet or phone. Digital platforms may include ArcGIS Survey123 and/or Field Maps.

Field Maps: A mapping-centric ArcGIS application that allows users to collect spatial and tabular data in the field in support of relevant resource surveys. The Government will provide and require the use of Field Maps as appropriate.

Global Positioning System (GPS): 1) A navigational system using satellite signals to fix the location of a radio receiver on or above the earth's surface. 2) Device/receiver used to record location and associated data.

Hard Copy Data Form: Government-provided PDF data collection forms to be completed during surveys.

Intuitive Coverage: Survey Units which shall be surveyed by walking transects, which cover a representative cross section of all major features and habitats within the unit. Habitats with low potential for scoped species or weed habitat shall have at least 25% of the area covered with transects. Habitats identified as having a high to moderate potential for scoped species or weed habitat shall have at least 50% of the area covered by transects. During pre-field analysis or if encountered in the field, habitat with high potential for scoped species shall have survey effort focused in those areas.

Miles: On the Schedule of Items, payment will be made for the cumulative distance Global Positioning System (GPS)-ed and flagged around all occurrence polygons. The number and size of polygons is not estimated.

Noxious Weed flagging tape: Flagging tape that is orange in color and with “Noxious Weeds” printed in black letters.

Occurrence: Plants of the same species estimated to be separated by less than a quarter mile are considered the same occurrence. Within an occurrence, plants separated by more than 100 feet are known as sub occurrences. A distinct occurrence form will be used for occurrences of each of the following: 1.) Rare plants (e.g., Endangered Species Act- listed, Forest Service Sensitive or Plumas National Forest Watch List), 2.)

Noxious weed, 3.) Special habitat.

Scoped Species: Scoped Species include plant species:

Endangered Species Act-listed as Endangered, Threatened, and/or proposed for listing by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Any Special Status Species for California on the US Forest Service Region 5 Sensitive Plant list.

Any Species on the Plumas National Forest Watch List.

Invasive plants on the Plumas National Forest List.

Any A or B rated Noxious Weed listed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Session: The time spent in the field gathering data. Session lengths are decided by the Contractor. Sessions shall be discussed in the Survey Plan and shall be between one and 10 continuous days.

Special Habitats: Special Habitats are defined as including areas predominated by serpentine soils, fens, seeps, springs, and vernal pools. Special Habitats also include stands of unique plant species assemblages, plant associations, or communities that are found to be uncommon or azonal within the project area. Special habitats will be reported on a special habitat occurrence form.

Survey: A pedestrian examination in search of scoped species, including the recognition of special habitats.

In addition to the pedestrian examination, surveying includes all the tasks listed under Field Surveys.

Transect: A linear strip of ground where the surveyor can see the Scoped Species by walking down the center and looking left and right. The effective transect width is dependent on the surveyor’s skills, experience, eyesight, and forest conditions.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

TASK 1: PRESURVEY PLANNING

TASK 1a. Literature Review

The Contractor shall review the literature supplied in Section 5.0, Government Furnished Property and Applicable Documents, before writing the Survey Plan (Task 1c). The Contractor shall familiarize themselves with the known locations, habitats, flowering periods, and identification characteristics of the scoped species. Knowledge gained from the literature and record review shall be included in the Survey Plan.

The Contractor shall consider:

a. Known Scoped Species: The known locations of scoped species within the survey area.

b. Previous Surveys: The data and final reports for prior surveys in Project area as available from the Government.

c. Special Habitat: The contractor shall review the Government provided GIS for locations of special habitats within the Project boundary.

d. Resources Layers: The contractor shall review the Government provided GIS (i.e., digital ortho quads, vegetation, soil types, and geology information).

e. Survey Units/Subunits: The contractor shall review the Government provided GIS delineating survey units and/or subunits within the Project boundary.

Standard: If critical Government Furnished data is missing from the Survey Plan, the Contractor shall redo the Literature Review.

TASK 1b. Pre-survey Reconnaissance

Prior to writing the Survey Plan (Task 1c) and before the start of field surveys the contractors shall conduct a field reconnaissance of the survey area to familiarize themselves with the Project area. Impassable roads, locked gates, downed trees, and the current phenology of any scoped species encountered, shall be noted. The Government does not have right of way across some private roads.

Standard: The Pre-Survey reconnaissance shall use the information gained during the Literature Review to aid in a field review of the significant terrain features, access, known locations of scoped species, and special habitat components. Strategies for locked gates and downed trees blocking roads shall be discussed with the Government. Knowledge gained from the Pre-survey Reconnaissance shall be incorporated into the Survey Plan.

TASK 1c. Survey Planning

The Contractor shall consider the information gathered during the Literature Review and Presurvey Reconnaissance and develop a strategy for surveying the Project area within timeframes identified in 4.0 Period of Performance / Deliverables Schedule. The Contractor shall incorporate in the survey planning any prioritization of survey units/subunits as identified by the Government (5.0 Government Furnished Property and Applicable Documents). The Government will be available to discuss unit prioritization, survey strategy and provide response to any issues raised by the Contractor. After discussions the Contractor’s Solicitation Proposal shall be updated with the survey strategy and renamed the Survey Plan. The Survey Area shall be organized into survey units for reporting purposes. The Contractor shall design a Survey Map that shows the survey units within the Project Boundary on the Project Map. The Survey Plan and Survey Map(s) shall be approved by the Government before the Contractor begins surveying.

Standard: The Contractor’s Survey Plan (containing Survey Maps) shall include information gained by the Contractor during the Literature Review and Presurvey Reconnaissance and reflect guidance provided during discussions held with the Government during Survey Planning. The Survey Map(s) shall be at a minimum 1:24,000, and show contours, land ownership, survey units, and anticipated survey coverage. A discussion of the Contractor’s anticipated use of Complete and Intuitive Survey Coverage, by habitat, is required with the Survey Plan. The Survey Plan shall include:

a) Survey Map(s)

i. Produce PDF and digital map(s) of planned survey areas, including clearly labeled and delineated geospatial reference data. PDF maps should be derived from GIS applications at a scale of 1:24,000 and include contours and streams, ponds, and springs.

ii. Map should include planned complete and intuitive (25%, 50%) coverages.

b) Survey Schedule

i. Identify and discuss project areas or sites to be surveyed, including how surveys will be prioritized within and among project areas.

ii. Provide anticipated schedule of survey activities delineated by survey areas identified above.

iii. Discuss contingencies if sites cannot be accessed or surveys cannot be completed as indicated above.

c) Travel and Equipment

i. Discuss intended mode(s) of transportation to access survey sites.

ii. Include a list of survey equipment to be used and relevant specifications (binoculars, GPS units, field tablets, etc.). In particular, describe GPS equipment including make and model of GPS and settings that differ from the Government recommendations.

iii. Describe how field equipment and clothing will be checked for weed seeds between survey areas.

d) Crew

i. A discussion of crew hierarchy and resumes for any members not included in the solicitation proposal.

e) Safety

i. Develop safety protocol, including emergency contacts, list of emergency devices (e.g., SPOT units, satellite phone, radio, etc.), field check-in and check-out procedures, and bailout points for each project area or survey site.

f) Training Plan

i. Develop and record a training plan for trainees that have less than the required experience.

Training plan should include discrete and measurable targets to track progress of the trainee.

ii. Trainees shall work under the direct supervision of a qualified trainer until the trainee meets the experience requirements (see 2.0 Definitions).

g) Quality Assurance and Quality Control Plan (QACP)

i. See Task 1d for elements required for inclusion within the survey plan.

h) Optional Work

i. Discuss any optional work added by the Government.

TASK 1d. Quality Assurance and Control Planning

Quality assurance refers to measures taken to proactively prevent errors in survey implementation and data collection whereas quality control refers to detecting errors after data have been collected. Quality assurance activities shall occur during the survey planning phase whereas quality control activities shall occur during survey implementation and post-implementation before deliverables are developed. The Contractor shall plan Quality

Assurance and Control activities to ensure that the survey and deliverables meet 9.0 Performance Requirements Measures. The Quality Assurance and Control activities shall be documented in the Solicitation Proposal and titled “Quality Assurance and Control Plan”. After award, the Quality Assurance and Control Plan (QACP) becomes a part of the Survey Plan (see Task 1c) and the Contractor’s Quality Control and Assurance activities are specified by the QACP. At a minimum, the Contractor will pursue the following activities to ensure acceptable data quality:

Quality Assurance Measures:

a) Review appropriate training materials and ensure all surveyors receive appropriate training and, when appropriate, supervision in the field.

b) Review data collection forms (digital or otherwise).

c) Review survey protocols and associated background materials.

d) Develop a survey schedule to ensure sites are sampled during appropriate seasons and at appropriate intervals as denoted in protocols or other documentation provided by the Government.

e) Identify realistic, attainable goals and objectives that account for field crew qualifications and limitations, field conditions, and deadlines. Adhere to any additional guidance provided by the Government to ensure feasibility.

f) Develop plans and contingencies for variable field conditions and unexpected events that may delay or impede progress.

g) Gather appropriate SOPs, maps, and guides and regularly refer to them throughout the field season.

h) Maintain regular communication with Government staff to ask questions and collaborate on solutions to any problems that may arise.

Quality Control Measures:

a) Only use data collection forms provided by the Government and fill out forms completely.

b) Fill out data collection forms using data standards and SOPs provided by the Government.

c) Adhere to appropriate survey protocols provided by the Government.

d) Review data for errors and consistency on a weekly basis.

e) Contractor is responsible for inspecting data collected in the field, including analysis of tracks to ensure that areas are being covered adequately, in accordance with the SOW (see Task 2c)

f) Calibrate with other surveyors or survey crews to ensure data collection is consistent among surveyors.

Calibration sessions should consist of a truncated survey over the same survey area or at the same survey point. During calibration sessions, individual surveyors will collect data during the same visit on the same day. Surveyors will review and compare measurements to evaluate data collection consistency and accuracy. If data quality issues are identified, the Contractor will document issues and proposed solutions. The Government may help coordinate calibration sessions. Report results of calibration sessions, including any documented issues or proposed solutions, in Session Reports (see Task 3a).

Standard: The Contractor’s Quality Control Activities shall test all activities and deliverables against:

a. Performance Requirement Measures: Section 9.0: Performance Requirement Measures.

b. This Statement of Work: Section 1.0 through 9.0 and Attachments.

TASK 2: FIELD SURVEYS

TASK 2a. GPS and Mapping Requirements

All location data recorded with GPS shall be turned in as a Map with the Session, Draft, and Final Reports.

The mapped locations shall be recorded in the following coordinate system: NAD 1983, CONUS, UTM Zone

10, and meters. The GPS device will be compatible with computer application-based software, such as ArcGIS Field Maps, that is useable by ArcGIS Pro. Location data shall be within plus or minus 4.5 meters horizontal distance. The Contractor shall include data verifying the accuracy of the mapped locations in relationship to the actual location. Where GPS verification cannot be obtained directly for a location, the contractor shall obtain indirect GPS verification by measuring the azimuth and horizontal distance of the actual location from a GPS verified reference point.

GPS features shall be attributed in accordance with the Plumas National Forest AGOL data layers. There should be one shapefile (.shp) for all like data collected. For Example: one polygon file for rare plants, one polygon file for invasive plants etc. Points may be taken in the field but must be buffered into a polygon of the appropriate size to contain all plants in the final dataset. Each sub-occurrence may be combined into one multi-part polygon with appropriately merged data, as directed by the PNF botanist. GPS data shall be cleaned up in GIS, eliminating “bowties” and sliver polygons, and submitted as required as a geodatabase (.gdb).

Use of the computer application-based software ArcGIS Field Maps shall be utilized, with Government approval to determine that the agreed upon application comparably meets the appropriate data standards (coordinate system, data accuracy, and file types) as described above.

TASK 2b: Data Forms

All data forms (Table 2) shall be complete including the required maps and UTM coordinates. When available and provided by the Government, the Contractor shall use digital data forms formatted in either ArcGIS Survey123 or Field Maps. The Government will provide necessary protocols for required use of any form. All digital data forms will be synced to AGOL at the end of each field stint. Original paper hard copies and scans as required shall be submitted with the Draft Report (Task 3b), copies as required are due with the Session Reports (Task 3a). All but the Occurrence Forms are considered Field Forms. The Contractor shall complete one Plant Occurrence Discovery Record for each occurrence of a scoped species or special habitat.

Standard: Digital data forms shall be used when available and provided by the Government. If hard copy data forms must be used, forms shall be legible and complete when copied or submitted the first time. Required photos shall be submitted as .jpeg images or .pdf files.

Table 2. Summary of Government-provided Field Forms and Associated Deliverables Form Due Botany Assessment Form With each Session Report as well as the Final Report.

Clarification of Occurrence Record Plant Occurrence Discovery Form With the Final Report.

Invasive Occurrence Form With the Final Report.

Survey Unit Reconnaissance Record Form

With the Final Report.

PNF Wetland Occurrence Report Form

With the Final Report.

TASK 2c. Standards for all Surveys of Scoped Species and Special Habitats and Minimally Delineating Both

Following Government approval of the Survey Plan, the contractor shall conduct a thorough pedestrian survey of the Survey Area for plants on the Scoped Species List and Special Habitats; see Project Area Maps and GIS files (5.0 Government Furnished Property and Applicable Documents). Field surveys shall be conducted to the intensity necessary to discover the Scoped Species:

a. All roadsides shall receive Complete Coverage (see DEFINITIONS) for invasive plants.

b. All Special Habitats, meadows, and serpentine soils shall require Complete Coverage.

c. Habitats determined by Plumas National Forest botanist(s) to have a high potential for scoped species shall require Complete Coverage.

d. Within the Project Area where Complete Coverage is not required, the Contractor shall survey with Intuitive Coverage (see DEFINITIONS).

e. If when conducting surveys with Intuitive Coverage, the Contractor encounters habitat with high potential for scoped species, the survey effort shall be increased to Complete Coverage in those areas.

Occurrences shall be recorded, up to 100 feet outside of survey polygon boundaries, on Government land. A Plant Reconnaissance Record shall be completed for each survey unit and turned in with the Draft Final Report. A complete list of all plants encountered by each surveyor in each survey unit is required with the Session Report. This plant list shall be legible, and use complete scientific names following the nomenclature in the Jepson Manual for each species encountered. At the discretion of the government, the Contactor may be required to collect Voucher Specimens for any species new to the Plumas National Forest Flora, unless the population is less than 20 individuals, for the PNF herbarium.

The Contractor shall survey for Scoped Species and Special Habitats, minimally delineating both as described below:

a. Upon discovery of occurrences of Scoped Species and Special Habitats, hang one three-foot-long Blue/Black flag in the center of each occurrence or Special Habitat. Substitute Noxious Weed flagging when it is an invasive plant occurrence.

b. Upon discovery of occurrences of Scoped Species and Special Habitats, hang one three-foot-long White informational flag in the center of each occurrence or Special Habitat.

c. Upon discovery of occurrences of Scoped Species and Special Habitats, GPS the center point of each occurrence or Special Habitat and submit as a PDF map with Session Report.

d. Obtain Occurrence numbers for new occurrences of Scoped Species from the PNF Botanist.

e. Complete the Assessment Form electronically in Microsoft Excel, due with the Session Report on discovery.

f. Complete the Plant Occurrence Discovery Record, the Noxious Weed Report Monitoring

Forms, and special habitat occurrence forms due with the Draft and Final Report.

g. When delineating boundaries around Scoped Species occurrences, delineate a buffer of one meter out from the nearest site-defining attribute of a special habitat or individual plant (of the Scoped Species). As directed by the PNF botanist, hang two-foot Blue/Black or Noxious Weed flags (if an invasive plant occurrence) every 20 feet around the buffered boundary line.

Standard: The informational flag shall be inscribed with the Contractor’s Occurrence number (sub occurrences shall start with the letter “a”) the date, Species code, and Surveyor’s initials, in indelible black ink. Flags shall be hung as near to eye height as possible. If there is nothing to hang flagging from, the Contractor shall use stakes or pin flags to mark occurrences and delineate boundaries. Scoped Species buffers are one meter out from the nearest site-defining attribute of a special habitat or individual plant of a scoped species.

Specific requirements for Scoped Species occurrences dependent on occurrence size (acres):

In addition to those items listed in Task 2a, the Contractor shall install the following delineations for Scoped Species occurrences as follows:

a) Occurrences larger than 1/10 acre:

1. GPS the buffered boundary line, to be plotted with a computer on a map and included with the Draft and Final Report.

b) Occurrences smaller than 1/10 acre:

1. GPS the center point of the occurrence, on discovery, to be buffered to the size specified with a computer on a map and included with the Draft Final Report.

TASK 3: REPORTING

TASK 3a. Session Reports

Session Reports are required during field surveys. A Session Report covers the previous session (see DEFFINITIONS). Session Reports shall be submitted to the Government no later than four days after the end of the session, email is required. The required draft forms, Quality Control Inspections, and Maps are due at the same time and shall be digital forms or scanned and sent electronically.

Standard: The session reports shall include, at a minimum:

a. Update Survey Plan: Updated Survey Plan as necessary, submit as an updated document.

b. QACP Update: A summary of the previous week’s Quality Assurance and Control Activities, include copies of forms.

c. Draft Paper Forms: Photocopies or scans of any and all Field Forms.

d. Digital Forms: When available and provided by the Government, completed digital forms synced to

AGOL. The Contractor shall use digital report templates provided by or as instructed by the Government to summarize data collected in ArcGIS Survey123 or Field Maps applications.

e. Work Completed and Planned: Discussion of work completed and that is planned for the next session.

f. Changes: Discussion of the techniques used and work completed that differed from the Survey Plan.

g. Species List: An updated species list by survey unit.

h. Coverage Map: An electronic or hand drawn Coverage Map depicting survey units, the areas surveyed, the intensity employed, and Special Habitats discovered, all since the previous session.

i. Tracking: A map of each surveyor’s routes as tracked by a recreational grade GPS “tracks” or similar program.

j. Training Plan Update: A progress report on any training plan in progress and when complete, a

Certification signed by the Contractor stating that the terms of an employee training plan have been met.

TASK 3b. Draft Final Report

One electronic copy of the Draft Final Report is due for Government review as stated in the Period of Performance and Deliverables Schedule (Tables 3 and 4). The report shall be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word format.

Standard: The Contractor’s Draft Report shall be in Microsoft Word and include at a minimum, but not be limited to:

a. Literature Reviewed: A discussion of the Literature Reviewed.

b. Methodology: A discussion of the methodology and findings of the surveys.

c. Assessment: A Quality Assessment of the Contractor’s work discussing how well the survey met Applicable Documents, if any.

d. QACP: A Discussion of the Quality Control Activities.

e. Original Forms: If paper data forms are used, original data sheets and forms bound separately that are keyed to the Survey Map. All digitally collected data should be synced to

AGOL.

f. Photos: Photos that are required with Forms.

g. Scoped Species: maps of Scoped Species.

Survey Map: A Coverage Map depicting survey units, the areas surveyed, the intensity employed, and Special Habitats discovered All Maps shall be submitted at 1:24,000 scale.

TASK 3c. Final Report

The Contractor shall incorporate all of the Government’s comments on the draft, into the final. The Contractor shall submit one electronic version to the Government. The report due date is stated in the Period of Performance and Deliverables Schedule (Tables 3 and 4). The hardcopy Data Forms, if used, shall be provided separately, in addition to the electronic Final Report.

Standard: The Final Report contains everything in the draft plus the changes specified in the Government’s comments to the Draft.

4.0 Period of Performance / Deliverables Schedule

Table 3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

DATES / PERIOD WORK TO BE

PERFORMED

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Within 15 calendar days after award

Kick-Off Meeting In-person or virtual kick-off meeting.

Location as agreed upon by Contractor and Government.

Discussions to include overview of project area, survey design, exchange of project spatial data, contractor deliverables, Government furnished items, Contractor and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) expectations. Contact information, points of contact, and chain of communication will be reviewed.

January 1 to March 15 in 2027 Literature Review and Survey Planning.

Contractor conducts literature review and survey planning prior to survey field season. Virtual or in-person meetings between Contractor and Government may occur to confirm project access, road conditions, development of survey design, etc.

Submission of survey plan?

March 15th to August 31 in 2027 (may be adjusted based on annual phenology)

Field Surveys and Delineation of found Occurrences

Field surveys in accordance with Government approved Survey Plan.

Submission of Session Reports and Field Survey Data Forms.

March 15th to August 31 in 2027 (may be adjusted based on annual phenology)

Delineation of known occurrences

Delineation of known occurrences of Scoped Species in locations as provided by Government. Submission of Sessions Reports and Field Survey Data Forms.

September 1 to September 30 in2027

Organize and summarize data Organize and summarize draft dataset summary, create maps, work on Draft Final Report (2027).

October 1, 2027 Draft Final Report At completion of the contract, submission of Draft Final Report. Government will review and return comments by October 22, 2027

November 15, 2027 Final Report At completion of the contract, submission of Spatial Data and Final Report with revisions incorporating Government comments.

*Dates may be adjusted depending on date of award.

PRE-SURVEY DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall submit the following documents to the Government for review and approval during the Literature Review and Survey Planning performance period and before the Field Survey performance period:

1) Survey Plan in digital format (see Task 1c)

2) QAC Plan in digital format (may be integrated into Survey Plan; see Tasks 1c and 1d)

FIELD SURVEY DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall submit the following documents during the Field Survey performance period:

3) Field Survey Data Forms (see Task 2b)

a. For hard copy data forms: The Contractor shall either scan or photograph AND collate forms and convert to PDF digital format for submission to the Government. If digital forms are available and provided by the Government, any hard copy data must also be entered into appropriate digital forms to accompany scanned or photographed submissions.

b. For digital data forms: The Contractor shall sync data to appropriate databases in AGOL assigned by the Government.

4) Session Reports in digital PDF format (see Task 3a)

POST-SURVEY REPORTING DELIVERABLES

Upon completed all work during the Field Survey performance period or upon completion of the survey contract, the Contractor shall develop and submit the following:

5) Final Report(s) formatted in digital PDF format (see Tasks 3b and 3c)

6) Final geodatabase as per SOW specifications

Table 4. DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

Item No.

Deliverable / Item Title

Description Frequency Reference Delivery Format

Due By

1 Survey Plan and Map(s)

Contractor incorporates information from the Literature Review and Presurvey Reconnaissance into the Solicitation Proposal and renames it the Survey Plan. The Survey Plan shall describe in detail the Contractor’s Survey strategy.

Once, or as needed for amendments

Statement of Work, Section 3.0 Contractors Requirements, Task 1c and Section 4.0 Presurvey Deliverables.

Via email to

COR

Within calendar days after contract award.

Table 4 continued. DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

Deliverable / Item Title

Description Frequency Reference Delivery Format

Due By

2 Quality Control Plan (QCP)

The QCP documents the Contractor’s planned Quality Control Activities to ensure that the survey and deliverables meet the Performance Requirement Measures.

Once, or as needed for amendments

Statement of Work, Section

3.0 Contractor

Requirements, Task 1d and Section 4.0 Presurvey Deliverables.

Via email to COR

Within calendar days after contract award.

3 Session Reports

Session Reports shall be submitted covering the activities that occurred during the previous field survey session.

End of each Session

Statement of Work, Section

3.0 Contractor

Requirements, Tasks 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d and Section 4.0 Field Survey Deliverables

Via email to COR

Within 4 calendar days after the completion of a survey session.

4 Field Survey Data Forms

Copies of field survey data forms to be submitted along with Session Reports for appropriate activities. Hard copies submitted with Draft Report.

Weekly Statement of Work, Section

3.0 Contractor

Requirements, Tasks 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d and Section 4.0 Field Survey Deliverables

Via email to COR

Within 4 calendar days after the completion of a survey session.

5 Draft Annual Report(s)

Draft report documenting and summarizing activities that occurred following a full field season.

Once after each field season

Statement of Work, Section 4.0 Reporting Deliverable s

Via email to COR

October 1, annual

Table 4 continued. DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

Deliverable / Item Title

Description Frequency Reference Delivery Format

Due By

6 Final Annual Report(s)

Final report documenting and summarizing activities that occurred during a full field season with revisions Incorporating comments from Government review of Draft Annual Report.

Once after each field season

Statement of Work, Section 4.0 Reporting Deliverable s

Via email to COR

November 15, annual

7 Draft Final Report

Draft report documenting and summarizing activities that occurred during all field seasons covered by the contract.

Once after final field season

Statement of Work, Section

4.0 Reporting

Deliverables

Via email to COR

October 1, 8 Final Report

Final report documenting and summarizing activities that occurred during all field seasons covered by the contract with revisions incorporating comments from Government review of Draft Final Report.

Once after final field season

Statement of Work, Section

4.0 Reporting

Deliverables

Via email to COR

November 15,

5.0 Government Furnished Property and Applicable Documents

The following will be furnished by the Government to the Contractor after award of contract:

1) Project maps (digital)

2) Field Survey data forms (digital, one hard copy available upon request):

a) Botany Assessment Form

b) Clarification of Occurrence Record

c) Plant Occurrence Discovery Form

d) Invasive Occurrence Form

e) PNF Wetland Occurrence Report Form

3) Plumas National Forest Botany Final Report Outline (digital)

4) Survey Unit Reconnaissance Form (digital)

5) Species lists (digital):

a) Plumas National Forest Sensitive and Watch List Plant Species

b) Plumas National Forest Priority Invasive Plant List

c) Scoped Species and special habitats known to occur within 2 miles outside of the Project Area(s)

6) GIS geodatabase files:

a) Project boundary

b) Known occurrences of Scoped Species

c) Resource data such as digital ortho quads, soil type sand geology information

6.0 Contractor Furnished Critical Items/Service

The Contractor shall provide all labor, housing, supervision, transportation, tools, and materials (except Government-Furnished Property) necessary to perform the requirements of the contract. Specifically, but not necessarily all inclusive, the Contractor shall furnish the items listed below (Table 7):

Table 7: Equipment expected to be furnished by the Contractor to complete the tasks of this contract.

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED

CRITICAL ITEMS/SERVICES QUANTITY DESCRIPTION

Compass, maps for navigation One per crew member

Azimuth compass with 2-degree resolution set to local declination

Cell Phone or two-way radio One per crew

For safety, one cell phone or two-way radio for each survey group.

Vinyl flagging Sufficient Color and style as described in 3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks

Survey equipment Sufficient As discussed in the Survey Plan.

Digital Camera One per crew

Capable of providing clear images of the required subjects.

Tablet (when use of ArcGIS Survey123 or Field Maps is required)

One per crew

Tablet for collecting and storing field data in digital forms provided by the Government.

GPS-enabled device or location accuracy booster

One per crew member

GPS-enabled device capable of collecting location data including field tracks, within plus or minus 4.5 meters horizontal distance.

Travel

Travel will not be reimbursed by the Government.

7.0 Contractor Key Personnel and Qualifications

Key Personnel and Qualifications are provided as recommendations for meeting minimum standards for a technically acceptable proposal.

Project Leader

Responsibilities: Analyzes, draws conclusions from data, writes survey reports.

Minimum qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in botany or related field; or Certified Botanist (by the California Native Plant Society); or meets OPM Botanist requirements, AND

One year/season of botanical survey experience or training in botanical survey techniques, OR Previous experience as a Project Leader with responsibilities as described above.

Crew Leader

Responsibilities: Supervises survey crew, performs quality control inspections, data collection, performs basic data summary, coordinates with other surveyors, survey route layout, and determination of area coverage requirements.

Minimum qualifications:

Two years/seasons of botanical survey experience, plus training in botanical survey techniques; OR Three years/seasons of botanical survey experience.

Preferred qualifications:

Three full seasons of surveying for botanical species in Northern Sierra Nevada, plus training

Surveyor

Responsibilities: Conducts botanical surveys and collects data.

Minimum requirements:

Training in botanical survey techniques; OR One year/season of botanical survey experience.

Preferred qualifications:

One full season of surveying for botanical species in Northern Sierra Nevada

Surveyor Training Plans

The Contractor shall present a Training Plan for surveyor trainees that have less than the minimum surveyor requirements stated above. The Training Plan, which addresses the qualifications of the trainer and the operational details of how the trainee will be instructed shall be a part of the Survey Plan. Trainees shall work in the field with a qualified trainer until the trainee meets the experience requirements above. Training shall be conducted where the trainer and trainee are working side-by-side during surveys.

8.0 Data Rights

1. The contractor will treat all deliverables under the contract as the property of the U.S.

Government for which the Government Agency has unlimited rights to use, dispose of, or disclose such data contained therein as it determines to be in the public interest.

2. The contractor will not create or maintain any records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract using Government IT equipment and/or Government records.

3. The contractor will not retain, use, sell, or disseminate copies of any deliverable that contains information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 or that which is generally protected by the Freedom of Information Act.

4. The contractor will not create or maintain any records containing any Government Agency records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract.

5. The Government Agency owns the rights to all data/records produced as part of this contract.

6. The Government Agency owns the rights to all electronic information (electronic data, electronic information systems, electronic databases, etc.) and all supporting documentation created as part of this contract. Contractor will deliver sufficient technical documentation with all data deliverables to permit the agency to use the data.

7. The contractor is required to obtain the contracting officer's approval prior to engaging in any contractual relationship (sub-contractor) in support of this contract requiring the disclosure of information, documentary material and/or records generated under, or relating to, this contract.

The Contractor (and any sub-contractor) is required to abide by Government and agency guidance for protecting sensitive and proprietary information.

9.0 Performance Requirements Measures

Performance shall be evaluated as fully successful if all of the following performance objectives are fulfilled (Table 5):

Table 5: All performance objectives expected to be fulfilled in order to meet the obligations of this contract.

Performance Objective

Required Task or Deliverable

Performance Standard

Method of Surveillance

Positive/Negative Incentive for Not meeting the Task

Applicable

Item #s Presurvey Activities

Literature Review

Meets Literature Review Standard

100%

Government Review of the Survey Plan

Complete again at no additional cost to

Government. Positive or Negative comments provided via CPARS

Presurvey

Reconnaissance

Meets Presurvey Recon. Standard

Review of the Survey Plan

Complete again at no additional cost to

Government. Positive

Survey Planning

Meets Survey Planning Standard

Review of the Survey Plan

Revision of Survey Plan. Positive or

Negative comments provided via

CPARS

Quality Control

Plan

Meets Quality Control Planning

Review of the Survey Plan

Revision of Survey Plan. Positive or

Negative comments provided via

CPARS

Field Surveys

Field Surveys for Scoped Species and Special Habitats

Conducted in accordance with approved Survey

Plan and Field Survey

Standards.

80% of plants are listed and

90% of Scoped Species are detected.

Contractor’s QCP Inspection

Records, data, and reports.

Verification by the Government

Resurvey at no additional cost to the Government. Positive

2-4, 6, 7

Collect Data and Designate

Occurrences

Conducted in accordance with approved Survey

Plan and Field Survey Standards.

95% Compliance with Standards.

Contractor’s QCP Inspection

Records, data, and reports.

Verification by the Government.

Bring designated occurrence into compliance at no additional cost to the Government. Positive

2-4, 6, 7

Table 5 continued: All performance objectives expected to be fulfilled in order to meet the obligations of this contract.

Performance Objective

Required Task or Deliverable

Performance Standard

Method of Surveillance

Positive/Negative Incentive for Not meeting the Task

Applicable

Item #s Deliverables

Session Reports

Meets Session Report

Contractor’s QCP Records, data, and reports.

Verification by the Government

Revision of Session Reports. Positive or Negative comments

Field Forms and Occurrence Forms

Meets Field Form

95%

Compliance

Contractor’s QCP Records, data, and reports.

Verification by the Government

Revision of Forms.

Positive or Negative comments provided via CPARS

Draft Final Geodatabase

Meets Final GIS Standard

Review

Revision of Draft Final Report. Positive or

Final Geodatabase Meets Final GIS Standard

Revision of Draft Final Report. Positive or

Draft Final Report

Meets Draft Final Report

Revision of Draft Final Report. Positive or

Final Report

Meets Final Report

Revision of Final Report. Positive or

ATTACHMENT(S)

I. PROJECT AREA MAP: Maps showing the scoped areas requiring survey.

II. SPECIES LIST(S):

Plumas National Forest Rare Plant List (ESA-listed, Sensitive Species and Watch List Species).

Plumas National Forest Invasive Species List.

ATTACHMENT I: Project Area Map

USGS The National Map: National Boundaries Dataset, 3DEP Elevation Program, Geographic Names Information System, National Hydrography Dataset, National Land Cover Database, National Structures Dataset, and National Transportation Dataset; USGS Global Ecosystems; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line data; USFS Road data; Natural Earth Data; U.S. Department of State HIU; NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Data refreshed October 27, 2025-v2.1

PNF_HFRAWUI_BotanySurveys_2027

HFRA_WUI_StaticSnapshot_DisplayOnly_20231208

Plumas National Forest Feather River Ranger District

0 2.5 51.25 Miles

Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, EPA, USFWS, Esri, USGS

California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USFWS, Esri, CGIAR, USGS

0 280 560140 Miles

0 25 5012.5 Miles

Healthy Forests Restoration Act Wild Urban Interface Botany Surveys 2027

ATTACHMENT II:

PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST RARE PLANT LIST

FEDERALLY THREATENED

Packera layneae (Layne’s ragwort) Orcuttia tenuis (Slender orcutt grass) Ivesia webberi (Webber’s ivesia)

SENSITIVE

Allium jepsonii (Jepson’s onion) Astragalus lemmonii (Lemmon’s milk vetch) Astragalus lentiformis (lens-pod milk vetch) Astragalus pulsiferae var. coronensis (Modoc plateau milk vetch) Astragalus pulsiferae var. pulsiferae (Pulsifer’s milk vetch) Astragalus webberi (Webber’s milk vetch) Balsamorhiza macrolepis var. macrolepis (big-scale balsamroot) Boechera constancei (Constance’s rock cress) Botrychium ascendens (upswept moonwort) Botrychium crenulatum (scalloped moonwort) Botrychium lunaria (common moonwort) Botrychium minganense (Mingan moonwort) Botrychium montanum (western goblin) Botrychium pinnatum (northern moonwort) Bruchia bolanderi (Bolander’s bruchia moss) Buxbaumia viridis (buxbaumia moss) Calycadenia oppositifolia (Butte County calycadenia) Clarkia gracilis ssp. albicaulis (white-stemmed clarkia) Clarkia mildrediae ssp. mildrediae (Mildred’s clarkia) Clarkia mosquinii (Mosquin’s clarkia) Cypripedium fasciculatum (clustered lady’s-slipper) Cypripedium montanum (mountain lady’s-slipper) Eleocharis torticulmis (California twisted spikerush) Eremogone cliftonii (Clifton’s eremegone) Eriogonum microthecum var. schoolcraftii (Schoolcraft’s wild buckwheat) Eriogonum umbellatum var. ahartii (Ahart’s sulphur flower) Fissidens aphelotaxifolius (brook pocket-moss) Fissidens pauperculus (fissidens moss) Frangula purshiana ssp. ultramafica (Caribou coffeeberry) Fritillaria eastwoodiae (Butte County fritillary) Helodium bandowii (Blandow’s bog-moss) Ivesia aperta var. aperta (Sierra Valley ivesia) Ivesia sericoleuca (Plumas ivesia) Juncus luciensis (Santa Lucia dwarf rush)

Lewisia cantelovii (Cantelow’s lewisia) Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii (Hutchison’s lewisia) Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii (Kellogg’s lewisia) Lomatium roseanum (adobe parsley) Meesia uliginosa (broad-nerved hump-moss)

Mielichhoferia elongata (elongate copper-moss) Monardella follettii (Follet’s monardella) Monardella stebbinsii (Stebbin’s monardella) Oreostemma elatum (Plumas alpine-aster) Packera eurycephala var. lewisrosei (cut-leaved ragwort) Penstemon personatus (closed-throated beardtongue) Penstemon sudans (Susanville beardtongue) Poa sierrae (Sierra blue grass) Pyrrocoma lucida (sticky pyrrocoma) Sedum albomarginatum (Feather River stonecrop) SENSITIVE FUNGI and LICHEN Dendrocollybia racemosa (branched collybia) Peltigera gowardii (veined water lichen) Phaecollybia olivacea (olive phaecollybia)

Watch List (formerly Special Interest) Agrostis hendersonii (Henderson’s bent grass)

Allium sanbornii var. sanbornii (Sanborn’s onion) Anomobryum julaceum (slender silver moss) Arnica fulgens (hillside arnica) Artemisia tripartita ssp. tripartita (threetip sagebrush) Astragalus whitneyi var. lenophyllus (woolly-leaved milk vetch) Botrychium simplex (Yosemite moonwort) Bulbostylis capillaris (thread-leaved beakseed) Calystegia atriplicifolia ssp. buttensis (Butte County morning glory) Cardamine pachystigma var. dissectifolia (dissected-leaved toothwort) Carex cyrtostachya (arched sedge) Carex lasiocarpa (slender sedge) Carex limosa (shore sedge) Carex petasata (Liddon’s sedge) Carex scabriuscula (Siskiyou sedge) Carex scoparia var. scoparia (pointed broom sedge) Carex sheldonii (Sheldon’s sedge) Carex xerophila (chaparral sedge) Caulanthus major var. nevadensis (Nevada jewelflower) Chenopodium simplex (large-seeded goosefoot) Clarkia biloba ssp. brandegeeae (Brandegee’s clarkia) Clarkia mildrediae ssp. lutescens (golden-anthered clarkia) Claytonia palustris (marsh claytonia)

Claytonia umbellata (Great Basin claytonia) Corallorhiza trifida (northern coralroot) Cypripedium californicum (California lady’s-slipper) Darlingtonia californica (California pitcher plant) Didymodon norrisii (Norris’s beard-moss) Drosera rotundifolia (round-leaved sundew) Epilobium luteum (yellow willowherb) Erigeron eatonii var. nevadincola (Nevada daisy) Erigeron lassenianus var. deficiens (Plumas rayless daisy) Erigeron petrophilus var. sierrensis (northern Sierra daisy) Erigeron reductus var. reductus (California rayless daisy) Erythranthe filicifolia (fern-leaved monkeyflower) Erythranthe percaulis (Serpentine Canyon monkeyflower) Hemieva ranunculifolia (buttercup-leaf suksdorfia) Hesperocyparis bakeri (Baker’s cypress) Hesperocyparis macnabiana (MacNab’s cypress) Ivesia baileyi var. baileyi (Bailey’s ivesia) Juncus dudleyi (Dudley’s slender rush) Lilium humboldtii ssp. humboldtii (Humboldt lily) Lomatium foeniculaceum var. macdougalii (MacDougal’s lomatium) Lycopus uniflorus (northern bugleweed) Meesia triquetra (three-ranked hump-moss) Mimulus glaucescens (shield-bracted monkeyflower) Mimulus pygmaeus (Egg Lake monkeyflower) Orobanche lucoviciana var.