Justification for sole source Amphibian Crossing.pdf

Date: August 15, 2022

To: Angy Liljedahl Contracting Officer

From: Amit Armstrong Contracting Officers Representative

Subject: Justification for other than full and open competition.

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity

Federal Highway Administration Western Federal Lands Highway Division 610 East Fifth Street Vancouver, WA 98661

(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Justification for other than full and open competition under 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization;

engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services for Development of Reptile/Amphibian Road Crossing Design Options for National Park Service.

(3) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is contracting for a research study to develop a design options for Reptile/Amphibian Road Crossings for National Park Service. Experts convened by the National Science Foundation concluded that significant amphibian declines have occurred in protected areas not subjected to obvious changes in habitat (e.g., national parks, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas) to an extent that these declines should be considered a potential environmental crisis. Because many reptiles and amphibians use both aquatic and terrestrial habitat for breeding, development, foraging, and overwintering, they require high levels of connectivity within and between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. As a result, amphibians and reptiles are particularly sensitive to negative effects of roads, including habitat fragmentation and vehicle collisions. Many of these species are slow moving, do not avoid roads, and are simply too small for drivers to see and avoid. During rains, many amphibians travel long distances regardless of the presence of intersecting roadways. As ectotherms, snakes and lizards are often attracted to paved roads that typically absorb and retain more heat than the surrounding habitat. Such behaviors put these animals at high-risk of vehicle collisions, leading to detrimental population effects by reducing genetic diversity and population abundance. The National Park Service is interested in developing design options for road crossing and barrier fencing systems that can be customized for specific species of concern at any given location throughout United States by Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMA).t. The estimated value of this procurement is $45,000.

The scope of work (SOW) includes fifteen tasks with well-defined deliverables for performing this work. These tasks include:

Task 1: Requirements Gathering Task 2: Literature Review Task 3: Stakeholder Outreach Task 4: Field Assessment and Pre-Monitoring Task 5: Develop Minimum Design Requirements Task 6: Task 6: Assessment of Current Designs Task 7: Develop New Conceptual Designs Task 8: Document Findings

(4) An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services. 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(3).

(5) A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) at Montana State University (MSU) is the country largest university based research center focused on road ecology for low volume roads. WTI’s Road Ecology program provides national leadership in understanding the interaction between roads, natural resources and the ecological environment. The solutions we develop and implement address concerns of road ecology including wildlife migration near highways and animal-vehicle collisions.

The WTI has recently completed reptile/amphibian crossing project with United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) for State of California. The WTI and WERC has complimentary expertise that is needed for the successful completion of this project.

Marcel Huijser, Ph.D., Wildlife Ecology, is a Research Ecologist with 23 years of experience.

Specializing in road ecology since 1995, he has conducted research in Europe, North America, South America and Asia. His focus is on the ecological impacts of transportation infrastructure as well as mitigation measures aimed at reducing these impacts. Most of his research relates to reducing large mammal-vehicle collisions, providing safe crossing opportunities for wildlife, and cost-benefit analyses regarding the implementation of mitigation measures. Huijser has taught a road ecology course for MSc and PhD students and has also provided several multiple day courses to various agencies and toll road companies.

Huijser has led several dozens of road ecology projects, including a report to U.S. Congress on reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions (2008), and several handbooks containing practical suggestions on implementing effective mitigation measures aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions (2008) and providing safe crossing opportunities for wildlife (2011). While mitigation measures may be required based on human safety and biological conservation parameters alone, Huijser also developed a cost-benefit model (2009) that serves as a decision support tool based on economics

(6) A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

A notice will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2

(7) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Anticipated cost to the Government will be evaluated for fair and reasonable. Contract will be negotiated if applicable until we arrive at fair and reasonable costs.

(8) A description of the market research conducted (see part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was not conducted. It was identified by the Government no other team of experts in academia or consulting can do this project but the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.

(9) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

None

(10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

None

(11) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

After tasks in this contract are complete and standards are established, future Reptile/Amphibian Road Crossing will be competed as applicable.

Submitted by – This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Amit Armstrong Contracting Officers Representative

Contracting Officers Certification - This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Angy Liljedahl Contracting Officer, WFLHD