PWS_1.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

SCIENCE COORDINATOR FOR SDM

1.0 SCOPE

The objective of this contract is to acquire contractor services to provide the US Bureau of Reclamation for the Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO) Structured Decision Making (SDM) process and implementation of KBAO’s 2024 Biological Assessment and upcoming Biological Opinion. These efforts will be guided by the following themes designed to promote development and capabilities within KBAO and the Klamath Basin:

· Curate the data developed by the SDM Decision Support Models

· Continuously improve SDM products and the understanding of those products

· Actively broadcast the transparent, open nature of the SDM products, facilitate their use in other processes, and encourage participation in the KBAO science teams comprised of federal, local, tribal, and other interested stakeholders

· Improve implementation and understanding of Reclamation-backed implementation efforts, including restoration, monitoring, and system operations.

· Establish a training and mentoring process for the new KBAO Science Coordinator

1.2 BACKGROUND

KBAO is initiating a SDM process to prioritize research and monitoring needs post Dam Removal and to integrate science, management, and economics into a decision-making framework. SDM is also key to adaptively manage the responses to the 2024 Biological Assessment and upcoming Biological Opinion. The SDM process will help inform management on how to store and deliver water in the Klamath Basin. The Klamath Basin is experiencing unprecedented change as the Upper and Lower basin aquatic ecosystems, previously separated by four Pacificorp dams, become reconnected. ESA-listed species that were once isolated by the dams, may overlap in distribution for the first time in over 100 years. Managers of this system will be tasked to make critical decisions in a dynamic system. SDM provides a structure in which to combine scientific rigor, stakeholder input, and administrative processes in the face of uncertainty to understand and manage natural resources. The KBAO SDM process is unique in that it will combine aspects of water management, upper and lower basin ecology and biology of listed species, hydrology, water quality, stakeholder interests and relations, economy, and agency cooperation in support of an annual investment by DOI in management of natural resources.

SDM has been used in the Central Valley of California to combine aspects of California water management, region-specific fish biology, stakeholder relations, and agency cooperation in support of tens of millions of dollars of targeted annual investment in management of natural resources. SDM provides a foundation on which to combine scientific rigor, stakeholder input, and administrative processes in the face of uncertainty in managing natural resources. The SDM process will be led by a Science Mentor, Jim Peterson / USGS, and coordinated by a Science Coordinator with modeling support from Flow West.

KBAO has had Jim Peterson from USGS/OSU on contract since 2020 oversee the development of the SDM model and to provide training to model collaborators. KBAO is on the cusp of awarding a SDM Support contract for a contractor to assist in data integration and implementation of the model. KBAO has attempted to hire an internal Science Advisor (who would fill the role as Science Coordinator in the SDM process) several times in the last few years but has been unsuccessful. As such, KBAO will contract out the work of the Science Coordinator until the position can be filled and fully trained to take over the SDM effort. The Science Coordinator’s role will be to two-fold; to represent Reclamation as lead facilitator in the SDM process and train KBAO’s Science Advisor.

2.0 REFERENCES - N/A

3.0 TASKS - The contractor shall perform the following tasks:

· The Science Coordinator will facilitate large and small SDM working group meetings.

· The Science Coordinator will create agendas, meeting minutes, and written materials that summarize key components of the SDM process in coordination with KBAO, Jim Peterson and his team at OSU/USGS, and the SDM Support Contractors.

· The Science Coordinator will receive direction and report directly to the Deputy Area Manager, Heather Casillas, or other designated KBAO leadership or staff, and the COTR.

· The Science Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating, reserving, and paying for meeting room spaces for up to 12 large (approximately 50-150 people), in-person meetings at non-federal facilities per year. Large meetings will occur at roughly one-month intervals, at rotating regional locations including, but not limited to: Klamath Falls, OR, Ashland, OR, Yreka, CA, Klamath, CA, and Arcata, CA. Larger meetings will include the majority of the SDM participants.

· Online/virtual attendance options will be coordinated and made available by the Science Coordinator for all meetings (large and small).

· The Science Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating and reserving meeting room spaces for an additional 12 small (approximately 10-30 people). Smaller meetings will be primarily working-group meetings. Smaller meetings are anticipated to occur at federal facilities, or other no-cost spaces.

· The Science Coordinator will coordinate and facilitate any other meetings necessary for the SDM process online/virtually using Microsoft Teams.

· The Science Coordinator will develop the best state of collective understanding of the path toward developing Decision Support Models and publish that in an Annual Management Update (AMU). The AMU will establish progress and schedules towards developing both conceptual and numerical models, as well as information needed to develop these models.

· The Science Coordinator coordinates with Reclamation and the management team in the development of annual goals and objectives including periodic updates and revisions to annual schedules.

· The Science Coordinator will develop a Data Management policy for the effort

· The Science Coordinator will develop standardized monitoring guidelines

· The Science Coordinator will establish defined lists of fundamental objectives and means objectives

· The Science Coordinator will manage the process for proposals for changes to DSMs and policy guidance documents

· The Science Coordinator helps to organize subgroups, maintain subgroup meeting records and membership lists, and ensure subgroup results are communicated back to the larger group

4.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

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5.0 DATA AND REPORTS - The contractor shall provide the following data and reports as follows:

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6.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE – The Period of Performance will be:

7.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE – The Contractor will provide the services from their own workplace. No Government property or equipment will be provided.

8.0 DELIVERABLES - The contractor shall submit the following reports in accordance with paragraph 5.0, “DATA AND REPORTS”:

· See above