14.4_Tech_Exhibit_4_-_Corps_of_Eng._SOW.pdf

March 2, 2015

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Adaptive Management Framework for the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program

Part 1

General Information

1.0 General: This is a non-personal services contract to provide Adaptive Management (AM) Framework services. The deliverables provided under this contract will be utilized to provide technical planning assistance to the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program (MRGESCP).

The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the primary Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform adaptive management services as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS) except for those items specified as Government furnished property and services. The Contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 Background: The Middle Rio Grande is a highly regulated river system with complex legal, regulatory and physical components. Coordination among all water resource management entities is required to ensure the safe and efficient fulfillment of myriad responsibilities, authorities, and legal obligations. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District (USACE) is a member agency of the MRGESCP, and provides assistance to that entity in support of ecosystem management projects in the Middle Rio Grande basin. That assistance is for projects designed to alleviate jeopardy for specific federally-listed endangered species and track recovery of those listed species in a manner consistent with existing and future water uses and in accordance with Federal and State laws.

The MRGESCP developed a Draft Adaptive Management Plan in 2011. That plan, identified as the Draft Adaptive Management Plan, Version 1 (June 30, 2011), is available for review on the MRGESCP database management system (http://mrgescp.dbstephens.com). The purpose of this PWS is to continue to develop, refine, and plan AM consistent with MRGESCP objectives using Version 1 as a template.

AM is a rigorous approach for designing and implementing management actions affecting the natural and human environments. AM is intended to maximize learning about critical uncertainties (what we ‘need’ to know) that affect decisions while simultaneously striving to meet multiple management objectives. It involves synthesizing existing knowledge, identifying critical uncertainties, developing scientific hypotheses related to those critical uncertainties, and exploring alternative management actions to test those hypotheses. These management actions will include explicit predictions of their outcomes including the level of risk involved with implementation. Finally, science-based monitoring and research would be conducted to see if http://mrgescp.dbstephens.com/ actual outcomes match those predicted, and then these results will be used to learn and adjust future management and policy.

The Contractor shall provide planning assistance to identify agency actions to better manage endangered species and their habitat through riparian and aquatic resource management decisions and actions. The Contractor shall use AM is an iterative process for ensuring that the selected decisions and actions provide the best benefits for endangered species by systematically evaluating management outcomes using the scientific method.

1.3 Objective: To develop Adaptive Management objectives, hypotheses, and actions; and evaluate alternatives and effectiveness consistent with the objectives of the MRGESCP.

1.4 Scope: Building on Version 1 of the MRGESCP Draft AM Plan, the contractor will augment the “Priority Projects and Processes” of AM. Deliverables are described in more detail in Part 5, Specific Tasks, but generally include:

• Provide planning assistance to the MRGESCP.

• Work with the USACE Adaptive Management Team throughout the process.

• Develop an updated list of critical uncertainties and scientific hypotheses based on those developed in Version 1 of the AM Plan.

• Identify priority actions recommended for undertaking by individual MRGESCP participating agencies for further development using an AM framework.

• Guide the development of the 5-10 priority AM actions that could be pursued by the

MRGESCP and develop a plan for implementing, monitoring and evaluating those AM actions.

• Develop a Strategic MRGESCP AM Guide.

• Develop an AM Tracking Tool that documents evaluation criteria in order to document success and develop management decisions.

1.5 Period of Performance: The initial period of performance shall be for 12 months with two (2) optional item periods, one of 6 months duration and one of 6 months duration. The Period of Performance reads as follows:

Base Year: Tasks 1-3 Date of contract award –June 30, 2016; approximately12 months Optional Task 4: 180 days from date of option award (concurrent with other tasks) Optional Task 5: 180 days from completion date of Task 3 if awarded Optional Task 6: 180 days from completion date of Task 5 if awarded

1.6 General Information:

1.6.1 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at the Contractor’s offices and at Government offices when face to face meetings are required.

Additional detail is provided in Part 5, Specific Tasks).

1.6.2 Type of Contract: The Government will award a firm fixed price contract.

1.6.3 Work Plan/Quality Control: The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective Work Plan to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The Contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The Contractor’s Work Plan is the means by which the contractor assures himself that his work complies with the requirement of the contract. The Contractor shall submit a combined Work Plan for approval, prior to any work being performed, that addresses the following items.

a. The Work Plan component shall present a detailed discussion of the technical approach to be used to address the items in the PWS (methods, procedures, etc). All personnel shall be identified and work schedules formulated. All work will be performed according to the Work Plan approved by the Contracting Officer.

b. The Contractor shall submit a Draft Work Plan within 30 days of award (one digital copy in PDF format). USACE shall review the Draft Work Plan within 15 days and provide comments to the Contractor. The Work Plan shall then be finalized within 7 days of receiving Corps’ comments.

c. The Contractor shall include in the Work Plan a time-scaled bar chart or Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule showing the sequence of events involved in carrying out the project tasks within the specific period of service. This CPM should be at a detailed level of scheduling sufficient to identify all major tasks including those that control the flow of work. The bar chart or schedule shall include review and correction periods proper to submittal of each item. This bar chart should be used as a forward-planning and project monitoring tool. The bar chart or schedule reflects calendar days and not dates for each activity. If a modification to this delivery order occurs, the Contractor shall submit a revised bar chart or schedule reflecting the change within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of the change.

d. The Work Plan shall be implemented by an assigned person within the Contractor’s organization who has the responsibility of being present during the times work is in progress, and shall be cognizant of and assure that all documents on the project have been coordinated. The Contractor shall notify the District, in writing, with the name of this individual and the name of an alternate person assigned to the position.

e. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor, in writing, of the acceptance of the Work Plan. After acceptance, any changes proposed by the Contractor are subject to the acceptance of the Contracting Officer or their authorized representative.

1.6.4 Quality Assurance: The Government shall evaluate the Contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the Contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum satisfactory performance thresholds.

1.6.5 Recognized Holidays:

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

1.6.6 Physical Security: The Contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all Government equipment, information and property provided for Contractor use.

1.6.7 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the Contractor to review the Contractor's performance. At these meetings the Contracting Officer will apprise the Contractor of how the Government views the Contractor's performance and the Contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the Government.

1.6.8 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): The COR will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract: perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance: maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract: issue written interpretations of technical requirements: monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of Government furnished property, and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting contract.

1.6.10 Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered key personnel by the Government: Contract Manager, Project Manager, Adaptive Management Specialist, and Science Staff.

a. The Contractor shall provide a Contract Manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the Contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. The Contract Manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The Contract Manager or alternate shall be available Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed for administrative reasons. Minimum qualifications for all key personnel are listed below:

b. Project Manager: The Contractor shall designate one (1) individual as the Project Manager that serves as a single point of contact for coordination of project issues with USACE. The Project Manager shall be responsible for the overall management of the contract including cost, schedule and technical quality. The Project Manager shall be competent, have experience and knowledge in the range of adaptive management, planning, and environmental activities, and be familiar with the specific activities identified in this contract. The Project Manager shall take immediate corrective action when performance is not acceptable to USACE. The Project Manager shall oversee the development and implementation of record keeping and of administrative and quality control programs. The individual proposed as the Project Manager should have a college degree in biology, planning, project management, or related field.

• The individual proposed as the Project Manager should have five (5) years experience in Project Management for other contracts/programs with a minimum of three (3) years working experience in adaptive management.

• The individual proposed as the Project Manager should document professional registration, in their respective field, where applicable or available.

• Must be an employee of the prime Contractor.

c. Adaptive Management Specialist - The Contractor shall designate one (1) individual with professional experience and applied knowledge of adaptive management involving ecological, biological, hydrological and environmental processes.

• Individuals should have at least 3 years experience in adaptive management, 3-5 years experience in applied science (state which field and how it is applicable to the current PWS), Master’s Degree (or equivalent, at least 5 years experience) or higher in applicable field.

• Individuals should have experience managing and facilitating policy and technical meetings with diverse stakeholders.

d. Science Staff (Biologist, Fishery Biologist, Hydrologist, and/or Technical Specialist as approved by the COR) – The Contractor shall provide individuals with professional experience and applied knowledge in the field of biology and/or hydrology with experience in Southwest river systems and related threatened and endangered species.

1.6.11 Work Authorization: Any work done without being directed to do so, in writing, by the Contracting Officer (KO) will be done at the Contractor's own risk. Work beyond the original scope shall be accomplished only at the direction of the KO. The Contractor shall not proceed or initiate any successor level of work prior to receipt of approval of the preceding level.

1.6.12 Inspection and Acceptance:

a. Inspection of Delivered Work: As soon as practicable after delivery of work in any installment, the COR will spot check for serious errors or an undue number of minor errors indicating mistakes, carelessness, or lack of adequate quality control on the part of the Contractor. The COR may forego a thorough inspection and return the entire submittal for rechecking and correction by the Contractor.

b. Resubmittal: In the event that documents submitted for review are deemed to be deficient or incomplete for a particular stage of completion, the Contractor will be required to correct the deficiencies and resubmit the documents in the quantities originally required and within a reasonable time as specified by the COR. The cost of accomplishing the resubmittal data shall be borne by the Contractor.

1.6.13 Data Rights: The Government has unlimited rights to all data/documents/material produced under this contract. All data, documents and materials produced under this contract shall be the property of the Government with all rights and privileges of ownership/copyright belonging exclusively to the Government. These data, documents and materials may not be used or sold by the Contractor without written permission from the Contracting Officer. All materials supplied to the Government shall be the sole property of the Government and may not be used for any other purpose. This right does not abrogate any other Government rights.

1.6.14 Government Points of Contact (POC): The Albuquerque District Project Manager/Technical POC for this work is:

Michael Porter, Fishery Biologist Environmental Resources Section, Planning Branch

USACE Albuquerque District 4101 Jefferson Plaza, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 Telephone Number: (505) 342-3264 Email: Michael.D.Porter@usace.army.mil

The USACE Project Manager is the Government's representative responsible for the management of the project. The USACE Project Manager does not have the authority to change the terms or conditions of this contract including time and cost. Questions regarding technical issues under this contract should be directed to the Project Manager. The Contractor will be notified, in writing, of any changes in the USACE Project Manager.

The USACE Collaborative Program Manager will also be involved in oversight of this project and is:

Susan Bittick Planning Branch USACE Albuquerque District 4101 Jefferson Plaza, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 Telephone Number: (505) 342-3397 Email: Susan.M.Bittick@usace.army.mil mailto:Michael.D.Porter@usace.army.mil mailto:Susan.M.Bittick@usace.army.mil

The Albuquerque District COR for this project will be:

Ondrea Hummel Environmental Resources Section, Planning Branch USACE Albuquerque District 4101 Jefferson Plaza, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 Telephone Number: (505) 342-3375 Email: Ondrea.C.Hummel@usace.army.mil

The Albuquerque District KO for this project will be appointed upon award of the contract. All correspondence with the KO shall be directed to the following:

Contracting Division Attn: Contracting Officer USACE Albuquerque District 4101 Jefferson Plaza, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 Fax: (505) 342-3496

1.6.15 Pricing and Payment: The price for each of the tasks described on the Price Schedule shall include all costs (including project management costs) and profit pertaining to that particular task. The Contractor may invoice for partial performance of a task (including partial performance of any unit-priced task) when that task is being performed in compliance with all applicable contract requirements in a manner found acceptable by the Government, and the amount due for any such partial performance (for purposes of FAR § 32.906, Making Payments, and the clause at FAR § 52.232-1, Payments) shall be subject to approval by the Contracting Officer’s Representative COR based on the recommendation of the USACE Project Manager. The Contractor shall submit invoices by email to the Albuquerque District Project Manager for approval and payment by the Government by the 10th of each month. For purposes of determining whether an invoice has been properly submitted, the USACE Project Manager shall be responsible for determining whether any task has been completed or is being completed in compliance with all applicable contract requirements and what percentage of the task has actually been completed. However, the Contractor shall remain responsible for Quality Control and maintaining an inspection system, as specified in the contract.

Invoices shall include all the necessary information, including any necessary supporting documentation, and will be based on the work completed for each specific task under this PWS.

The invoice shall be submitted in pdf format concurrently to:

Department of the Army US Army Corps of Engineers Finance Center 5722 Integrity Drive Millington, TN 38054-5005 CEFC-L4invoices@usace.army.mil and

Albuquerque District Project Manager

Michael Porter, Fishery Biologist Michael.D.Porter@usace.army.mil mailto:Ondrea.C.Hummel@usace.army.mil mailto:CEFC-L4invoices@usace.army.mil mailto:Michael.D.Porter@usace.army.mil

No modification of the contract shall occur without coordination and approval by the Albuquerque District Contracting Officer.

PART 2

DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

2.0 Definitions and Acronyms:

2.1 Definitions:

2.1.1 Adaptive Management (AM): Adaptive management is a rigorous approach for designing and implementing management actions affecting the natural and human environments, which intend to maximize learning about critical uncertainties that affect decisions, while simultaneously striving to meet multiple management objectives. It involves synthesizing existing knowledge and identifying critical uncertainties, developing scientific hypotheses related to those critical uncertainties and exploring alternative management actions to test those hypotheses.

2.1.2 Contractor: A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the Government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.3 Contracting Officer (KO): A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the Government.

Note: The only individual who can legally bind the Government.

2.1.4 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): An employee of the U.S. Government appointed by the Contracting Officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.5 Defective Service: A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.6 Deliverable: Anything that can be physically delivered, but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.7 Key Personnel: Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.8 Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program (MRGESCP):

MRGESCP is a partnership involving 16 signatories organized to protect and improve the status of endangered species along the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) of New Mexico while simultaneously protecting existing and future regional water uses. Species of particular concern are the Rio Grande silvery minnow (minnow, Hybognathus amarus), the Southwestern Willow http://middleriogrande.com/LinkClick.aspx?link=178&tabid=174

Flycatcher (flycatcher, Empidonax trailii extimus), Yellow Billed Cuckoo (cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus) and the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse (mouse, Zapus hudsonius luteus).

2.1.9 Notice to Proceed (NTP): Notice to contractor stating the date work can begin subject to the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.10 Physical Security: Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.11 Quality Assurance (QA): The Government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.12 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP): An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of Contractor performance.

2.1.13 Quality Control (QC): All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.14 Subcontractor: One that enters into a contract with a prime Contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.15 Work Week: Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

2.2 Acronyms:

AM Adaptive Management COR Contracting Officer’s Representative DA Department of the Army DBMS Database Management System DOD Department of Defense FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation KO Contracting Officer MRGESCP Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program NTP Notice to Proceed POC Point of Contact PWS Performance Work Statement QA Quality Assurance QAP Quality Assurance Program QASP Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan QC Quality Control QCP Quality Control Program USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USBR U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3.0 Government Furnished Items and Services:

3.1 Facilities: The Government will provide facilities for all local meetings and/or workshops.

3.2 Materials: The Government will provide all documents listed in Governmental Provided Materials.

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4.0 Contractor Furnished Items and Responsibilities:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities, transportation, travel and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS.

4.2 Materials: The Contractor shall furnish all materials, supplies, and equipment necessary to meet the requirements under this PWS. The Contractor is responsible for all printing and material costs as part of this firm fixed-priced contract.

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

5.0 Specific Tasks:

5.1 Task 1: Kick Off Meeting and Work Plan/Quality Control Program

The Contractor shall perform this project according to a project Work Plan. Regular communication will keep the USACE Albuquerque District informed of project progress.

• A project kick-off meeting or conference call will be held within 7 days of the date of award, to clarify the project scope, approach, and team.

• The Contractor shall submit a Work Plan (as described in 1.6.3) within 30 days of the date of award.

• The Contractor shall provide weekly e-mail updates during Task 1 describing project progress, and discuss concerns or impediments to project progress on the telephone or in person with the USACE Albuquerque District Project Manager.

• The Contractor shall manage and facilitate meetings and conference calls, as required to meet PWS Tasks.

o The Contractor shall be responsible for providing agendas, materials and schedules to USACE (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall be responsible for recording meeting notes during the meeting (see Deliverables Schedule).

5.2 Task 2: Program Guidance and Management Action Template

The objective of Task 2 is to develop, in consultation with the Adaptive Management Team, guidance that defines the potential suite of management actions to which adaptive management could be applied. Task 2 shall be completed within 90 days (see Deliverables Schedule) of approval of the Work Plan. Under Task 2, the Contractor shall:

• Using the MRGESCP’s draft RIP Action Plan, the draft Long Term Plan (LTP), Version 1 of the Adaptive Management Plan and other MRGESCP documents, develop a summary of potential management actions that might be used to meet the life-cycle needs of the minnow and/or flycatcher.

• The USACE will identify an Adaptive Management Team (Team) consisting of members from MRGESCP signatories. The USACE-coordinated Team members will work with the Contractor on Tasks 2 through 5.

• The Contractor shall provide weekly e-mail updates during Task 2 describing project progress, and discuss concerns or impediments to project progress on the telephone or in person with the USACE Albuquerque District Project Manager.

• Lead a discussion with Team (2 – 3 day meetings over two months) Team members to:

o Provide Appendix C of Version 1 of the AM Plan (Appendix C) as a read-ahead to Team members.

o Use Appendix C, MRGESCP reports and other reference material, as appropriate, to develop the agenda and structure for the Team discussion.

o Develop a Management Action Template (Template) to organize supporting materials and Workgroup presentations for discussion of potential management actions and prioritize the list of potential agency management actions that might be used to meet the life-cycle needs of the minnow / flycatcher.

o Identify projects that met stated objectives based on monitoring data and criteria.

o Discuss with Team members their respective agency priorities for implementing ecosystem management projects based on agency authorities and capacity.

o Discuss with Team members the effectiveness of including other threatened and endangered species in the Middle Rio Grande for analysis in subsequent tasks.

o Assess potential management actions, based on such criteria as technical soundness, feasibility, how the action address critical species needs, agency authority, ongoing projects that may affect the management action, and cost.

o In cooperation with the Team, categorize and prioritize the list of potential agency management actions that address critical species need based on the ranking method described above. Avoid overlap and redundancies within this list.

• Lead a discussion with the MRGESCP EC (1 meeting, ~1-2 hours long) to:

o Present the prioritized list of potential management actions developed by the

Team that might be used to meet the life-cycle needs of the minnow / flycatcher.

o Discuss the degree of management flexibility surrounding the listed potential management actions.

o Define flexibility within the decision space and the factors that may affect the decision points.

o Select other threatened and endangered species in the Middle Rio Grande to be included in subsequent tasks by activating Optional Task 4.

• The Contractor shall provide all meeting management and facilitation to accomplish Task

2.

o The Contractor shall be responsible for providing agendas, materials and schedules to USACE and the Team (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall be responsible for recording meeting notes during the meeting (see Deliverables Schedule).

o Evaluate effectiveness of the Template in Team discussions performed under

Task 2. Suggest any Template revisions that may be appropriate for use in Task 3.

• The Contractor shall prepare, as the deliverable for Task 2, a Draft and Final Management Action Template, based on its work with the Team.

o The Contractor shall provide a draft Template to the USACE Albuquerque District and Team members for review (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall address agency comments on the draft Template, and shall prepare and submit a Final Template (see Deliverables Schedule). The Contractor shall be available by telephone or in person to answer technical questions when this report is presented by the Team to the EC.

5.3 Task 3: Report of Prioritized Hypotheses and Specific Management Actions

The objective of Task 3 is to prioritize into an actionable agenda the list of critical uncertainties and hypotheses generated during the development of the MRGESCP’s June 30, 2011 Draft Adaptive Management Plan, Version 1, within the constraints identified in Task 2. The items in Task 3 shall take approximately 180 days to complete (see Deliverables Schedule), and will begin after completion of Task 2. Subtasks within Task 3, and objectives associated with those subtasks, are listed below:

• The Contractor shall work with the USACE-coordinated Team to facilitate a two-day workshop. This will be followed by two 2 – 3 day meetings over a two month period, with other follow-up meetings (conference call or webinar meetings are acceptable for these follow-up meetings), and other correspondence as necessary. The objective of the workshop will be to use the prioritized potential management actions generated in Task 2, to develop a refined list of critical uncertainties along with associated testable hypotheses and specific management actions that could test those hypotheses. Within this subtask the Contractor shall:

o Use the list of potential management actions defined in Task 2 to guide the Team toward the development of a succinct list of uncertainties, and testable hypotheses associated with those potential management actions.

o Record any new uncertainties and/or hypotheses that emerge from the discussions, but concentrate workshop efforts on the uncertainties listed in Appendix C.

o Identify priority projects for participating agencies based on state and federal authorities, link to other projects, and feasibility of implementation.

o Work with agencies responsible for implementing projects to compile information (revised template) to document how each project addresses species needs, addresses specific uncertainties, and test specific hypotheses, the evaluation criteria to be used, and the expected target outcomes.

o Guide the Team in identifying possible future priority agency projects, and list the associated uncertainties and hypotheses that can be tested as part of those projects. Sort agency projects into appropriate management categories. Rank projects within management categories by species needs and anticipated benefits.

Distinguish information that is required to perform or evaluate management actions from information that is simply desired.

o Meet with the Team and/or agencies as needed to meet the objectives of Task 3.

It is assumed that the Contractor may meet virtually with the Team up to three additional times over the six-month period, communicating with Team members via webinar, and conference call in addition to e-mail.

• The Contractor shall provide all meeting management and facilitation to accomplish Task 3.

o The Contractor will principally rely on telephone and/or e-mail to communicate with individual action agencies for Task 3, and schedule time during the three-month period as needed.

o The Contractor shall be responsible for providing agendas, materials and schedules to USACE and the Team (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall be responsible for recording meeting notes during the meeting (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall evaluate effectiveness of the Template in Team discussions performed under Task 2. Suggest any Template revisions that may be appropriate for use in Task 3.

• The Contractor shall provide bi-weekly e-mail updates during Task 3 describing project progress, and discuss concerns or impediments to project progress on the telephone or in person with the USACE Albuquerque District Project Manager.

• The Contractor shall prepare, as the deliverable for Task 3, a Draft and Final Report of Prioritized Critical Uncertainties, Testable Hypotheses, and Specific Management Actions, based on its work with the Team.

o The Contractor shall provide a draft report to the USACE Albuquerque District and Team members for review (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall address agency comments on the draft report, and shall prepare and submit a Final report (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall be available by telephone or in person to answer technical questions when this report is presented by the Team to the EC.

5.4 Optional Task 4: Additional Threatened and Endangered Species The objective of Optional task 4 is to incorporate additional listed species into the Adaptive Management Plan. The USACE-coordinated AM Team will discuss whether other species of interest should be included for analysis in the Report of Prioritized Critical Uncertainties, Testable Hypotheses, and Specific Management Actions (Task 3), Effectiveness Monitoring Plan (Task 5) and the MRGESCP Adaptive Management Plan (Task 6).

Task 4 is an optional task, which may be awarded based on recommendations from the Team and the availability of funds. USACE may not exercise the option for Task 4 until previous tasks (5.1 and 5.2) are completed. If awarded, Optional Task 4 may be executed concurrently with other tasks. Subtasks within Task 4 are listed below:

• Lead a discussion with Team members (1 - 2 meetings over four months) to:

o Compile and summarize current literature for each threatened and endangered species selected by the Team for additional analysis. Recently listed species for possible integration include the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse (mouse) and the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (cuckoo).

o Identify critical uncertainties and hypotheses for problem assessment of each threatened and endangered species selected by the Team.

o Identify potential management decisions and actions with the Team that might be used to meet the life-cycle needs of the mouse and /or the cuckoo.

o Meet with the Team and/or agencies as needed to meet the objectives of Task 4.

The Contractor may meet virtually with the Team up to two additional times over the six-month period, communicating with Team members via webinar, and conference call in addition to e-mail.

o For threatened and endangered species selected by the Team, develop conceptual models species consistent with existing models in Version 1 of the AM Plan.

o Document an initial suite of management actions for additional selected species.

o Document existing monitoring protocols for additional selected species.

o Design an evaluation framework for existing data on additional selected species.

o Use Appendix C, Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program reports and other reference material, as appropriate, to develop the agenda and structure for the Team discussion.

o Discuss with representatives in the Team their agency priorities for implementing ecosystem management projects for additional species based on agency authorities and capacity.

• The Contractor shall provide all meeting management and facilitation to accomplish Task 4.

o The Contractor shall be responsible for providing agendas, materials and schedules to USACE and the Team (see Deliverables Schedule).

5.5 Optional Task 5: MRGESCP Tracking Tool and Effectiveness Monitoring Plan The USACE-coordinated AM Team will identify priority actions (from Task 3 above) for implementation under the MRGESCP. USACE may not exercise the option to award Optional Task 5 until the previous tasks (5.1 to 5.3) are completed. The objective of Optional Task 5 is to develop, in coordination with the Adaptive Management Team, a plan for monitoring and evaluation of the agency actions undergoing immediate implementation.

The purpose of Optional Task 5 is to guide the Team toward the development of an Effectiveness Monitoring Plan (Monitoring Plan) for habitat restoration measures and other agency actions to benefit the minnow and the flycatcher. The Monitoring Plan would be tailored specifically toward the prioritized management actions identified in the Task 3 deliverable report Prioritized Critical Uncertainties, Testable Hypotheses, and Specific Management Actions. The Team would identify a subset of projects (~5) from the Task 3 deliverable report for development of effectiveness monitoring protocols. Criteria for project selection include 1) priority ranking in the Task 3 deliverable report, 2) number of agencies involved with implementation, 3) timeframe for implementation and existing river conditions, 4) applicability to program evaluation, 5) agency authority, mission, and funding, and 6) cost or feasibility of monitoring.

The Monitoring Plan will identify specific monitoring parameters to be used, the range of quantitative values associated with each parameter, the reporting timeframe and format, design the initial database structure for inclusion in the DBMS, categorize the values as indicators for condition, trend, information quality, and the process for deriving these indicators from the database.

Monitoring will focus on documentation and detection of changes resulting from management actions (e.g. habitat restoration and flow management), including those parameters required for testing the associated hypotheses, and evaluation will focus on identifying potential adjustments to management actions that are deemed warranted based on the monitoring. Items in this task shall take approximately 180 days to complete (see Deliverables Schedule).

The Contractor shall guide the Team over a three-month period with translating the quantitative effectiveness monitoring parameters into categories for developing a Program Tracking Tool.

The MRGESCP Tracking Tool may incorporate concepts from other programs like “Program at a Glance” (Oregon, USA) or the Report Card (Healthy Waterways, Queensland, Australia). The Monitoring Plan will define the annual schedule for data collection and analysis to populate the MRGESCP Tracking Tool report for MRGESCP Evaluation. The schedule will reflect that various monitoring elements for analysis will occur during different periods throughout the year.

• The Contractor shall develop a draft and final Program Tracking Tool that identifies data linkages to be used for management decisions and to evaluate MRGESCP success. For Optional Task 5:

o The Contractor shall utilize the following sections from Version 1 of the AM Plan as applicable: Assess, Monitor, and Evaluate Steps.

o The Contractor shall host two meetings and three conference calls or webinars with the Team over a three-month period to develop the Program Tracking Tool.

o The Contractor shall provide a draft report to the USACE Albuquerque District and Team members for review (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall address agency comments on the draft report, and shall prepare and submit a Final report (see Deliverables Schedule). .

o The Contractor shall be available by telephone or in person to answer technical questions when this report is presented by the Team to the EC.

• The Contractor shall prepare, as the deliverable for Optional Task 5, a Draft and Final Effectiveness Monitoring Plan for the selected priority actions.

o The report should include implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the top five priority actions only. These actions should take into consideration any updated information from the Program / RIP.

o The Contractor shall provide a draft plan to the USACE Albuquerque District and Team members for review (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall address agency comments on the draft plan, and shall prepare and submit a Final plan (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall be available by telephone to answer technical questions when this plan is presented by the Team to the EC.

• The Contractor shall provide bi-weekly e-mail updates during Task 5 describing project progress, and discuss concerns or impediments to project progress on the telephone or in person with the USACE Albuquerque District Project Manager.

• The Contractor shall manage and facilitate meetings and conference calls, as required to meet PWS Task 5.

o The Contractor shall be responsible for providing agendas, materials and schedules to USACE and the Team (see Deliverables Schedule).

5.6 Optional Task 6: Program Adaptive Management Plan

USACE may not exercise the option to award Optional Task 6 until the previous tasks (5.1 to 5.5).. Optional Task 6 is the compilation of a Program Adaptive Management Plan, which would include all potential adaptive management actions for the Program. This task shall be completed within 180 days of the task-specific Notice to Proceed (see Deliverables Schedule). The following would be the subtasks involved if this optional task were exercised:

• The Contractor shall prepare, as the deliverable for Optional Task 6, a Draft and Final Program Adaptive Management Plan (Program AM Plan)(see Exhibit 2, Deliverables Schedule).

o The Program AM Plan shall follow the AM process identified in the Version 1 AM Plan, the DOI Guidance on Adaptive Management, including the cycle steps of: Assess Problem, Design, Implement, Monitor, Evaluate, and Adjust.

o The Program AM Plan shall include performance criteria and evaluation process for identified Collaborative Program implementation projects (Section 3.2 Project Oversight, Management, and Reporting in Version 1 of the AM Plan; all hypotheses in the Report of Prioritized Hypotheses and Specific Management Actions).

o This Program AM Plan shall include analysis and performance criteria for a range of hypotheses (from two to all of them) as a whole (i.e., assessment of the effects of 2, 10, 20 actions on the Program/system as a whole and management objectives).

o The Contractor shall utilize previous monitoring data available in program database, Version 1 of the AM Plan (p. 80 Section 5.3 Analysis, Reporting, & Synthesis in Version 1 of the AM Plan), and other applicable documentation.

o The Contractor shall provide a draft report to USACE and Team members for review (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall address agency comments on the draft report, and shall prepare and submit a Final report (see Deliverables Schedule).

o The Contractor shall be available by telephone to answer technical questions when this report is presented by the Team to the EC.

• The Contractor shall host three meetings and three conference calls or webinars with the

Team over a three-month period.

• The Contractor shall provide bi-weekly e-mail updates during Task 6 describing project progress, and discuss concerns or impediments to project progress on the telephone or in person with the Project Manager.

• The Contractor shall manage and facilitate meetings and conference calls, as required to meet PWS Task 6.

o The Contractor shall be responsible for providing agendas, materials and schedules to USACE and the Team (see Deliverables Schedule).

Governmental Provided Materials

Murray, C., C. Smith and D. Marmorek. 2011. Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program Draft Adaptive Management Plan Version 1. Prepared by ESSA Technologies Ltd. (Vancouver, BC) and Headwaters Corporation (Kearney, NE) for Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program, Albuquerque, NM. 109 pp.

Smallwood, K.S. 2001. Linking Habitat Restoration to Meaningful Units of Animal Demography.

Restoration Ecology Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 253–261.

Access to the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program (Program) Database Management System (DBMS) for documents and other information.

The USACE will establish an Adaptive Management Team (Team) in advance of the contract award for Task 1 and the project kick-off meeting. Team membership will be based on input from Program signatories.

PART 6

EXHIBIT LISTING

6.0 Exhibit List:

• Exhibit 1 – Performance Requirements Summary

• Exhibit 2 – Deliverables Schedule

• Exhibit 3 – Program AM Plan Version 1 (website link)

• Exhibit 4 – Program Recovery Implementation Program, Final Draft Program Document (website link)

• Exhibit 5 – Program Recovery Implementation Program, Final Draft Action Plan (website link)

• Exhibit 6 – Program Ecohydrological Relationships along the Middle Rio Grande of New Mexico for the Endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Report (website link)

• Exhibit 7 – Program Habitat Relationships along the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico for the Endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Report (website link)

• Exhibit 8 – Oregon Effectiveness Monitoring (website link)

• Exhibit 9 – Healthy Waterways South East Queensland, Australia (website link)

• Exhibit 10 – Department of Interior Adaptive Management Guidance (website link)

EXHIBIT 1

Performance Requirements Summary The Contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the minimum satisfactory levels of service required for each requirement. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

Performance Objective

Standard Performance Threshold

Method of Surveillance

Task #1: Kick-Off Meeting and Work Plan The Contractor shall develop a Work Plan. The Contractor shall attend meetings, conference calls, etc. requested by the Government in order to accomplish PWS Tasks.

The Contractor submits a Draft Work Plan, addresses Government comments, and provides a Final Work Plan on schedule. The Contractor attends all meetings, conference calls.

Satisfactory rating as defined in the QASP for Quality of documentation & Schedule for timely submittal of deliverables. 100% attendance for meetings & conference calls.

Government review and approval of the final deliverable for this task.

Government review of Contractor’s participation in meetings & conference calls when requested.

Task #2: Provide Program Guidance The Contractor shall facilitate initial discussions regarding AM with the Team.

The Contractor provides the Team with guidance on laws, agreements, current BOs, defines decision space & actions for AM implementation, and provides final deliverables on schedule.

Satisfactory rating as defined in the QASP for Management of Key Personnel & Resources for discussions, Quality of documentation & Schedule for timely submittal of deliverables.

Government participation, oversight and review of Contractor’s performance.

Task # 3: Report of Prioritized Hypotheses and Specific Management Actions The Contractor shall facilitate an Adaptive Management Team workshop & provide the Report of Prioritized Hypotheses and Specific Management Actions.

The Contractor conducts a 2 day workshop, meets with the Adaptive Management Team 1-3 times over a 6 month period to develop report and submit final deliverables on schedule.

Satisfactory rating as defined in the QASP for Management of Key Personnel & Resources for conducting workshop, Quality of documentation & Schedule for timely submittal of deliverables.

Government participation, oversight and review of the Contractor’s performance and approval of the final deliverable for this task.

Optional Task #4 Additional Threatened and Endangered Species If Optional Task 4 is awarded, the Contractor shall include two additional endangered species in the deliverables for Tasks 3, 5, and 6 as appropriate.

The Contractor compiles information on the two additional species for discussion and review by the Adaptive Management Team. This information will be included in the deliverables.

Satisfactory rating as defined in the QASP for Quality of documentation and Schedule for timely submittal of deliverables.

Government review and approval of the appropriate deliverables.

Optional Task # 5: Effectiveness Monitoring Plan If Optional Task 5 is awarded, the Contractor shall provide the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

The Contractor meets with the Adaptive Management Team twice over a 6 month period to develop plan and…