PWS Bat Survey_2025_with OYs.pdf

Performance Work Statement (PWS) for Bat Survey and Monitoring on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (MCRDPI), SC

G4, Environmental Division, Natural Resources Section

1.1 Scope: This Performance Work Statement (PWS) defines the effort required by the Natural Resources Section (NRS) of the Environmental Division (ENV) to perform bat surveys, provide guidance WRT the Federal listing of certain species the Depot may have and develop biological assessments/management plans. The MCRDPI requires bat surveys in order to determine what species are present, where they are located and what habitat they are using. Also, since many species are declining, many are under review for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Surveys have assisted and will assist with determining whether the Depot has any sensitive or currently listed species as well as any potentially listed species present. The biological assessments/management plans will enable the Depot to manage the animals and habitats since listed species or proposed listed species have been identified on the Depot.

Project goals will include demographics and spatial ecology to assist MCRDPI natural resources personnel in their efforts to help manage bat populations, ensuring continued access to training areas on the installation, help prevent human-bat conflicts and assist MCRDPI with the stewardship of the Depot’s natural resources. This work will help to maintain continuous data collection, monitoring and tracking in order to better understand the species movements and habitat use. This project will help us to proactively manage these resources around the recruit training mission per the Depot’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan and MCO 5090.2a, Chapter 11 – Natural Resources Management. This work will result in information and data that can aid in managing and protecting bats, maintain compliance with the ESA should any species be identified that are listed or have the potential to be listed, as well as protect the recruit training mission. Further monitoring, tracking, population evaluation work and assessments are necessary to fully understand these species, habitat management actions and recruit training activities so that we can manage these species and their habitat more effectively.

1.2 Background: The MCRD Parris Island contracted the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Bat Biologist, Mary Bunch to perform a bat survey in 1998. However, only mist nets and harp nets were used and not very many bats were captured. Anecdotally, extensive bat activity is observed so more comprehensive bat survey/monitoring work was needed to determine what species are present on the Depot, where they are located, what habitat they are using and if any endangered or threatened species (listed or proposed for listing) are present.

Bat monitoring and survey techniques have changed since 1998, and acoustic surveys/monitoring have added another dimension to the survey techniques. This allows for a faster more widely adapted method for surveying large areas quickly and accurately. Netting then follows on usually to back-up the acoustics. Monitoring, tracking and population evaluation work were necessary to fully understand the bat species on the Depot, habitat management actions and recruit training activities so that we can manage them and their habitat more effectively. Several years of active monitoring and mist netting have been completed under the previous contracts and option years and have indicated that we do have sensitive, listed and proposed for listing species present.

Therefore, follow-on work is necessary to develop more monitoring protocols and develop assessments/management plans suitable for consultation with the USFWS should that be required.

1.3. Description of Services: This PWS describes the services required to survey, monitor and collect data on the Depot’s bat population in order to better understand the diversity and populations, their movements and their habitat use, and to assist the Depot to develop bat assessments/management plans. The results of this project will enable the Depot natural resources personnel to better manage: 1) the natural resources around the training mission; 2) the habitat necessary to support wildlife in which we are charged with managing; 3) and help to better protect personnel from bat interactions; 4) and potentially mitigate or reduce negative human/bat interactions on the Depot; 5) and provide final reports, assessments or management plans for submission to USFWS and MCRDPI.

As a required condition under USFWS permits and prior to surveys, a survey proposal will need to be submitted to USFWS field office in Charleston, SC, for approval. Following survey guidelines, typically USFWS requires mist net surveys be conducted for non-linear surveys, that for every 123 acres a minimum of 3 nets per site for 3 calendar nights. In addition USFWS may require, in the event a target species is captured, a radio transmitter to be attached and tracked to diurnal roost for at least 7 days or the life of the transmitter. Also following USFWS permit requirements, 2017 USFWS protocols and any other current protocols, subsequent to the survey, a written report following the USFWS approved format with all the documents required for each survey phase must be prepared to summarize results, the habitats observed, and recommendations for any special provisions based on findings.

This project will result in the development of a management model or biological assessments to guide Depot natural resources personnel in managing and protecting the Depot’s bat population and habitat and reducing the probability of negative human-bat interactions. The survey/monitoring data collected from this and previous surveys will be used to assess life history and habitat associations. Surveys may include habitat assessment and survey plan, mist netting and/or acoustic surveys with data analysis, telemetry and tracking captured T & E bat species, and emergence counts and roost surveys. This bat survey/work requirement assists the NRS in proactively managing these resources per the Sikes Act, and to support the recruit training mission per the Depot’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan and MCO 5090.2, Volume 11 – Natural Resources Management.

1.4. Objectives: The main objectives of this work are to complete and review surveys of the Depot that searched for bat species, abundance, locations (both undeveloped and developed areas) and any federally protected endangered and threatened species of concern. This was performed over several years and will be required by USFWS to track at-risk or federally listed species.

Following USFWS 2017 protocols and guidelines and any other current survey protocols for bat surveys, tasks may include habitat assessment, coordination with USFWS and submittal of a survey plan for approval, netting and/or acoustic surveys, telemetry and roost emergence surveys for endangered bats within the proposed project area, and data analysis and preparation of an endangered species survey report required by permit and USFWS protocols and guidelines to be submitted to USFWS. The USFWS suggests using their survey guidelines found at:

https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/inba/surveys/pdf/2017INBASummerSurvey Guidelines9May2017.pdf. In addition, check with USFWS local Field Office (USFWS FO) to make sure that all protocols are considered as final scope of work is developed.

1.5. Task Requirements:

1.5.1 Bat Survey, Monitoring and Assessments

Task Number

Work Milestones Projected Completion Date

1 Generate a survey/monitoring protocol that incorporates surveying in pre-evaluated habitats.

Jun 2025

2 Conduct acoustic and visual surveys and review previous surveys IOT decide whether to monitor/track bats, i.e. perform assessment of whether to capture/transmitter bats.

Aug 2025

3 Capture, transmitter bats, track/monitor bats, collect data, release. Aug 2025 4 Analyze data from bat surveys, monitoring/tracking; develop final report and preliminary adaptive management protocol and/or biological assessments, submit to NRS (and USFWS if necessary).

Apr 2026

1.5.1.1 Generate a survey/monitoring protocol that incorporates surveying in pre-evaluated habitats: Using data and information from previous acoustic surveys, mist netting and habitat assessments develop a capture, tracking/monitoring plan to further assess the bat population and/or at-risk and listed species.

1.5.1.2 Conduct acoustic and visual surveys IOT decide whether to monitor/track bats, i.e. perform assessment of whether to capture/transmitter bats: Based on the above survey plan, habitat assessments, prior year’s trapping results and USFWS requirements plan and identify trapping/monitoring locations.

1.5.1.3 Capture, transmitter bats, track/monitor bats, collect data, release: Capture bats and determine if temporary transmitters need to be attached. Record data on individuals such as species, biostatistics, location captured and weather. Release and continue monitoring/tracking.

1.5.1.4 Analyze data from bat surveys, monitoring/tracking; develop final report and preliminary adaptive management protocol, submit to NRS (and USFWS if necessary):

Analyze survey/capture data. Use data collected from inventory and monitoring/tracking work performed throughout the years. Develop final report to address information such as species present, locations, and habitat preferences through the seasons, home range requirements and population densities within these habitats. Develop preliminary adaptive management protocol and/or biological assessments that provide predictive capabilities for personnel to manage the habitat for the species, future training, resource management and personnel/animal protection.

1.6 Deliverables: The contractor shall deliver a preliminary draft of the final report with project methods, results and relevant management strategy protocols for monitoring bat populations to the MCRDPI Natural Resources Manager (NRM) for review by April 2026. One printed copy of any supporting material and one digital version shall be submitted. The contractor shall submit GIS layers and metadata of sample points, movements, species home range maps and habitat use to the MCRDPI NRM and appropriate personnel at the receiving property for review and quality control by April 2026.

1.7 Government Furnished Property, Material, Equipment or Information:

The Government will support the contractor with locally derived GIS maps and data layers such as roads, wetlands, training areas, installation restoration sites, forested areas in order for the contractor to develop sample sites, deploy equipment and make other decisions needed to adequately perform the work.

1.8 Period of Performance: Duration (Start Date- End Date)

Base Year 30 Apr 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 Option Year I 30 Apr 2026 – 30 Apr 2027 Option Year II 30 Apr 2027 – 30 Apr 2028 Option Year III 30 Apr 2028 – 30 Apr 2029 Option Year IV 30 Apr 2029 – 30 Apr 2030

1.9 Place of Performance: Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.

1.9.1 Security: There will be no special security requirements other than the standard contractor access process through Depot’s Provost Marshal’s Office (PMO) at 584 Wake Blvd and the Depot’s Security Office (DSO) located in the Building #286.

1.9.2 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel working in situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed.

1.9.3 Contractor Travel: The contractor is responsible for making any travel arrangements required to support this work. Personnel clearance will be required through the DSO background check process and through PMO. A valid driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of vehicle insurance will be required by PMO for vehicle/personnel entry.

1.9.4 Base Access: Contractor Base Access forms will be provided to contract awardee at time of award.

2.0 General Information:

2.0.1 Hours of Operation: The contractor shall be responsible for coordinating services with authorized personnel. The Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of operations of MCRD Parris Island is essential. Environmental Division hours are: 0730-1700. All work conducted on weekends shall be coordinated and scheduled with authorized Government personnel prior to performance.

2.0.2. Recognized Holidays: The following major holidays are observed:

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Juneteenth Christmas Day Independence Day

2.1 Considerations:

2.1.1 The Contractor shall be and remain liable to MCRD Parris Island in accordance with applicable laws for all damages to any facility caused by the Contractor’s negligent performance of any of the services furnished under this contract. The rights and remedies provided for under this contact are in addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law.

2.1.2 Any cost associated with services subcontracted by the Contractor shall be borne by and be the complete responsibility of the Contractor under the fixed price of this contact.