Attachment_2_-_Performance_Work_Statement.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD

1.0 Background

The December 19, 2000 Record of Decision (ROD) for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement/Impact Report (EIS/EIR) directed the Department of the Interior to undertake an innovative and system-oriented approach to recovering the River's anadromous fish populations. The Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) was established to restore the attributes found in natural alluvial river systems that support anadromous fish populations on a managed river downstream of a dam. A naturalized flow release schedule, and adaptive environmental assessment and management (AEAM) program that includes variable flow management, infrastructure improvements to accommodate 11,000 cfs peak releases, coarse sediment and fine sediment management, watershed restoration and mechanical channel rehabilitation. The accompanying mitigation and compliance requirements are used to reverse the impacts caused by decades of flow diversion on one of California's significant anadromous fisheries. In addition to recovery of naturally-spawning anadromous fish populations in the Trinity River, the TRRP also presents a unique opportunity to advance scientific understanding of semi-alluvial river systems and the recovery processes of natural systems for broader application in managed river systems.

The Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992- P.L. 102-575, Title 34 (CVPIA), provides the legal authority for projects that restore the fishery resources of the Trinity River. Specifically, Section 3406(b)(1) states in part, “That in the course of developing and implementing this program, the Secretary shall make all reasonable efforts consistent with the requirements of this section to address other identified adverse environmental impacts of the Central Valley Project not specifically enumerated in this section."

Actions identified in the ROD are for the purpose of addressing the significant declines (in anadromous fish runs) following the construction and operation of the Central Valley Project's Trinity River Division in the early 1960s." The Solicitor's Opinion to the Secretary of the Interior dated May 22, 1998 clarifies this relation of adverse impacts of the CVP to specific actions of the TRRP when it states “to the extent activities are designed to address adverse environmental impacts of the Project they are authorized by section 3406(b)( 1)."

The establishment and funding of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) task outlined in this scope of work is directly related to the TRRP's responsibility to address other identified adverse environmental impacts of the Central Valley Project not specifically enumerated in section 3406(b)(1). The Implementation Plan, contained in Appendix C of the final EIS/EIR and incorporated in the ROD, describes the function of an independent Science Advisory Board. The Board will help the TRRP identify and respond to the above mentioned "adverse environmental impacts". More specifically, SAB members will provide independent scientific peer review of proposed hypotheses, research reports and recommendations, proposed annual flow schedules, short and long-tern monitoring plans and research priorities of the TRRP Program.

Background information necessary to understanding this requirement is included in the following documents: I) Trinity River Flow Evaluation Final Report, June 1999; 2) Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement/Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and ROD, December 2000; 3) the SAB’s Phase I Review, April 2014. During the period of a SAB member’s tenure under an agreement or contract, other documents or products may be produced by the Program requiring review and comment by the SAB. These will include, but are not limited to: annual programs of work and budget proposals; project study designs; draft and final reports related to the program’s restoration activities including variable flow management, coarse and fine sediment management (including watershed restoration activities); collaborative research proposals; strategic plan(s); monitoring plans and reports. Participation in or presentations at TRRP partnership meetings, including technical work groups, scientific symposia, Trinity Management Council, Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group, program seminars, and other TRRP information transfer venues may be requested requiring travel, or participation by WebEx or Webinar.

Documents are available upon request.

2.0 Scope

This performance work statement outlines the requirements for membership and participation on an independent Science Advisory Board for the Trinity River Restoration Program. The TRRP is an Adaptive Environmental Assessment and Management (AEAM) program charged with restoring the natural production of anadromous fishes below Lewiston Dam on the Trinity River in northern California.

The Trinity River Mainstem Fisheries Restoration EIS, Appendix C, Chapter 7, defines the roles and responsibilities of the overall Trinity River Restoration Program organization, particularly the role of the Science Advisory Board.

Positions in specific areas of expertise on the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) Science Advisory Board (SAB) include:

I. Fisheries Expertise (General) II. Geomorphology-Physical Science III. Biometrics-Modeling IV. Riparian V. Fisheries Expertise (Specialized)

3.0 Objectives

The objective of the Science Advisory Board is to provide the independent scientific peer review necessary for effective and credible implementation of the adaptive environmental assessment and management component of the TRRP. The objectives of this agreement are to provide scientific oversight of the fish habitat activities of the TRRP that inform adaptive management of the Program management actions.

4.0 Tasks

As a science advisory board member, the advisor will:

1. Provide expert advice to the Trinity River Restoration program in the area of fish habitat modeling, instream flow techniques and biophysical interactions.

2. Advise the Trinity Management Council (TMC), Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) and Executive Director (ED) about the technical merits of proposed alternatives for monitoring and assessment, modeling, and restoration actions.

3. Engage Trinity River Restoration program scientists in the collaborative refinement of conceptual models and monitoring and restoration strategies.

4. Provide input or review for selected reports and investigation plans:

· SAB members shall individually review the conceptual models and hypotheses motivating past and present TRRP monitoring activities, rehabilitation designs, program priorities, and other management decisions. The TRRP will provide appropriate background information, as well as documentation of the rational for specific rehabilitation designs and assessment plans for review.

· SAB members will be asked to review reports and / or investigation plans as they become available from technical staff or technical work groups on novel, sensitive or complex topics (anticipate 3-4 times per year).

· SAB members will provide external peer review of draft design reports for channel rehabilitation projects

· Participate on a value engineering/peer review study for channel rehabilitation projects

· SAB members will often be asked to suggest external peer reviewers for program reports, products and / or investigation plans (anticipate fewer than 12 times per year).

· SAB members will occasionally be asked to provide advice when external peer reviewers provide divergent input (anticipate 1-2 times per year).

5. Review the TRRP preliminary fiscal year work plans:

· During spring TRRP will provide a concise description of what is being proposed for the following year. The document will include the number / type of planned restoration actions as well as science and monitoring activities.

· SAB input on the preliminary work plan will be provided to the Trinity Management Council for their use in formulating and approving the final work plan.

6. Advise TMC, TAMWG, ED, or TRRP technical work groups as restoration actions and / or evaluation approaches are developed, reviewed, approved and implemented.

7. The SAB shall convene 1 to 2 times per year to collectively develop a consolidated set of recommendations, and draft a report to the TRRP Executive Director.

5.0 Delivery

Deliverable items will include reports drafted collaboratively by SAB members for reviews, as described in Task 4. Separate from these actions will be written, telephonic, and electronic correspondence in response to other requests from the Executive Director or designee. Most correspondence will be written evaluations of draft documents, reports, study designs, and proposals. Due dates will vary, but typically range from several days to several weeks from date of request.

Total involvement for each SAB member will be approximately 25 days during each 12 month contract period depending on resource-specific issues and needs.

6.0 Government-Furnished Property

There is no government-furnished property.

7.0 Security

None of the service locations under this contract are within secured areas. The recipient shall comply with basic check-in procedures when visiting the Weaverville office.

8.0 Place of Performance

Contract/agreement performance will take place primarily at the recipient's place of business or office. Some tasks will require site visits as described in the task descriptions (section 4.0).

9.0 Period of Performance

Period of performance is from date of contract execution through September 30, 2021.

10.0 Performance Assessment and Disincentives

(a) Monitoring Performance. During the course of the evaluation period, the POC will track recipient performance. Interim (mid-term) evaluations may be provided to identify strengths and weaknesses in the recipient performance during the period being evaluated. At the end of the period, the POC will assess the recipient’s performance in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) and report to the Contracting Officer.

(b) Recipient Self-Assessment. Following each evaluation period, the recipient may provide a written self-assessment of its performance to the POC to be considered in its report to the Contracting Officer. The self-assessment shall be submitted not later than 5 working days after the end of each evaluation period. The self- evaluation shall not exceed 1 page per PRS element. The self-assessment shall address both the strengths and weaknesses of the Contractor's performance during the evaluation period. Where deficiencies in performance are noted, the recipient shall describe the actions planned or taken to correct such deficiencies and avoid their recurrence. The self-assessment itself will NOT be the basis for the disincentives determination.

(c) POC Recommendation. The POC will consider all evaluations and any other pertinent information, including recipient self-assessment, and will prepare a report for the Technical Representative with findings and recommendations. The recipient will be provided a copy of the draft findings and recommendations from the POC and will be afforded the opportunity to identify factual errors. The POC's draft recommendation is not subject to negotiation and the POC will not engage in discussions with the recipient. Any errors identified by the recipient will be addressed by the POC in its final report. The recipient will be provided a copy of the final POC report at the same time the report is submitted to the Contracting Officer.

(d) Payment Determination. The Technical Representative may meet with the POC to discuss the POC's report. The Technical Representative will make a final determination in writing as to the percentage of work successfully completed, and the resulting payment to be made. A copy of the determination will be provided to the Contractor no later than 45 calendar days after the end of the period being evaluated. All Technical Representative decisions regarding disincentives are unilateral decisions made solely at the discretion of the Government.

(e) Deduction. Notwithstanding any other clause of this contract, deduction of the Disincentive will be made within the later of 60 days after the end of the evaluation period or 30 days after receipt of an approved invoice.

(f) The Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan is one evaluation method the government uses to surveillance performance to determine whether the Contractor meets the standards of performance as defined in the PWS. The absence of a QASP for any contract requirement, however, shall not detract from its enforceability or limit the rights or remedies of the government under any other provision of the contract in determining the quality of the Contractor performance.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE SUREVIELLANCE PLAN (QASP) Science Advisory Board

Performance Requirement Summary (PRS)

Tasks 1-5 Review Monitoring Plans and Assessment Strategies.

(a) Timeliness:

Recommendations are provided in a timely manner and are submitted by the date required 98% of the time.

(b) Quality:

Collaboration during SAB meetings, resulting in meaningful reviews and reports.

Comparisons of the submittal date to the TRRP need date.

100% or periodic POC surveillance.