Request for Proposals_DFW-2019-031_Bee Survey at Montague Plains WMA.pdf

Request for Proposals

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Biodiversity Initiative

RFP DFW–2019-031: Bee Survey at Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area, Montague, MA

Introduction:

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is seeking Proposals to sample bee populations throughout the active 2019 bee season at the Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area located in Montague, Massachusetts. Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area (MP WMA) is one of the largest and least fragmented inland pitch pine-scrub oak (PPSO) barrens in the Northeast, and hosts many declining, rare, or imperiled plants and animals. Since 2000, active management by MassWildlife has been undertaken to improve habitat for rare and declining species while reducing wildfire risk to nearby human habitation. This management includes the use of mechanical thinning to reduce fuel loads, followed by the implementation of prescribed fire to restore PPSO and other barrens communities.

In an earlier study, the MP WMA was sampled for bees from 2008-2010 resulting in 5,083 specimens representing 153 species and morphospecies, including eight species that were state records, two species listed in Massachusetts as Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and one species of a parasitic sweat bee that was new to science (Lasioglossum furunculum, J. Milam, unpublished data). Additional bee species captured at the MP WMA with supplemental netting from 2012-2013 brought the total species count to 173 species. The analyses of bees sampled over the course of the study show that 9 of the 10 most abundant species were more abundant in thinned pitch pine forest compared to un-thinned forest. Similarly, 9 of the 10 most abundant species were more abundant in scrub-oak that had been treated with mechanical means (mowing/mulching) compared to untreated scrub oak. These results clearly indicate that fuel reduction and habitat restoration practices in this globally-threatened plant community benefit native pollinators.

A goal of this present study is to re-sample many of the points surveyed in 2008-2010 to better understand how native bee populations are responding to management over a period of ten years. Few long-term studies have been conducted to assess how bee communities change over time at a single site (see Burkle et al. 2013).

Additional targeted sampling directed at barrens-associated plants may yield additional bee species at MP WMA that were not encountered during the earlier sampling efforts, as well as additional records of L. furunculum. The abundance and distribution of bees sampled during this project will be compared to other inland barrens sites, as well as non-barrens sites, to identify signature bee species that could be used to gauge the success of management activities. Results of these findings will be used to make recommendations to inform management strategies that benefit native bees in xeric habitats across the region.

This project builds on ongoing native bee research being conducted at two inland barrens restoration sites managed by MassWildlife in western Massachusetts: Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area and Birch Hill Wildlife Management Area (J. Milam, UMass: 2008-2010, 2016, 2018).

Project Objectives:

1. Sample bees using pan traps and hand capture at treated pitch pine and scrub oak points as well as control points within untreated forests to evaluate the long-term effects of management on bee communities.

2. Sample bees using targeted netting on barrens associated plant species.

3. Analyze bee captures relative to habitat management practices.

4. Compare the bee fauna at MP WMA to other inland barrens recently sampled and managed by MassWildlife.

5. Evaluate bee communities at barrens sites relative to non-barrens sites to identify “signature” barrens-associated species.

Project Approach:

This project is a continuation of previous Bee Studies conducted at MP WMA (J. Milam, unpublished data).

Sampling will include deploying bee bowl transects at a subset of the 121 permanent plots established at the MP WMA in 1993 by Glen Motzkin (Motzkin et al. 1996). Locations of past transects will be provided. Bee bowl sampling will be supplemented with time constrained netting.

Project Methodology:

Fieldwork will be initiated during the spring of 2019 and run through September of 2019 using similar methods employed during the successful 2008-2010 survey work described above.

- 150 samples will be collected along fixed transects, each 75 m in length, at established points within the MP WMA. Transects will be deployed in pitch pine, scrub oak, treated pitch pine, gravel pits, and rights of ways. The location of the points will be determined based on field conditions in the spring of 2019.

- To capture seasonal phenology, bee bowls will be deployed for a minimum of three periods over the course of the season (early-spring, early summer, and fall) at each point.

- Each transect will contain 15 bowls painted fluorescent blue, yellow or white, placed in alternating order along transects at 5 m intervals (LeBuhn et al. 2003).

- Bowls will be deployed on days with little or no wind or precipitation. Bowls will be filled two thirds full of a solution of water and dishwashing liquid. Bowls will be deployed early in the morning and collected after 24 hours.

- Bowl captures will be supplemented with time net-collection for 10 minutes within 3 m of either side of the transect. Occurrence and abundance of flowering plants observed during sweeps will be recorded.

- Netting along transects will be supplemented with targeted bee collection on rare and distinctive plants underrepresented on transects, particularly those species known to be used by oligolectic bees, for example sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), which is known to support the uncommon Andrena kalmiae, and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), that attracts the rare Eucera atriventris. These opportunistic netting events will coincide with plant bloom period and not be restricted to bowl capture events.

- Bee specimens will be washed, dried, pinned, identified to species, and databased. For common bee species (>10 individuals per bowl transect) a subset of 3 specimens will be pinned and labeled and the rest of the specimens will be stored in vials containing 75% ethyl alcohol and accompanying site labels. Each vial will contain a single species.

Deliverables:

- A complete species list for all specimens captured at the MP WMA from 2008 – 2019 will be compiled with each individual linked to its site, date, capture method, and nectar source when applicable.

- A report will be prepared discussing the bee fauna at the MP WMA, including response to management, any long-term changes in the bee community, bee-plant associations, rare and signature species, as well as suggestions for long-term management to conserve the distinctive barrens bee fauna at this and other barrens sites.

Considerations:

- This project will span two fiscal years: FY2019 (07/01/2018 - 06/30-2019) and FY 2020 (07/01/2019 - 06/30-2020). MassWildlife anticipates the full scope of this project to be completed by December 31, 2019.

Funding Available and Invoicing Requirements:

Up to $20,000 in available funds; Work completed by June 30, 2019 MUST be invoiced no later than July 15, 2019.

Work completed after June 30, 2019 may be invoiced any time prior to June 30, 2020. Final Payment will not be issued until all deliverables have been received and approved by MassWildlife staff.

Bidders’ Conference: None, but bidders are encouraged to visit site before submitting a bid.

Bid Due Date:

Bid must be received by MassWildlife no later than 2:00 PM on Monday, March 18, 2019.

Instructions for Submission of Responses:

Submit proposals via the Commonwealth’s Online Procurement System – CommBuys at https://www.commbuys.com

For application questions please contact Lori Cookman, Fiscal Program Coordinator, at 508-389-6371 or at lori.cookman@state.ma.us

For more project information contact Chris Buelow, Restoration Ecologist, at 508-389-6350 or at chris.buelow@state.ma.us .

All questions must be received no later than Monday, March 11, 2019 at 4:00 pm. Questions and answers will be posted as an attachment on Commbuys on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

All responses must include all of the documents listed below. As part of the electronic quote process, Commbuys requires that bidders accept and agree to the terms of all bid attachments to this RFR.

https://www.commbuys.com/bso/ mailto:lori.cookman@state.ma.us mailto:chris.buelow@state.ma.us

Failure to provide the required items listed below may result in the rejection of your bid as INCOMPLETE AND

NON-RESPONSIVE.

1) Detailed project narrative explaining how the project objectives will be met

2) Detailed description of relevant organizational experience as well as the resumes of personnel involved in the project with specific reference to their experience in conducting the type of work described in this RFP.

3) Mandatory Bid Sheet outlining project costs

Upon contract award, vendors will be required to submit the following forms.

1) MA Standard Contract Form

2) Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing

3) Commonwealth Terms and Conditions

4) W-9 Request for Taxpayer ID (unless already on file with the state)

5) Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment (EFT) (if not already on file with the state)

6) Prompt Payment Discount Form

7) Revenue Enforcement and Protection Certificate

8) Compliance with MA Security Law

References:

Burkle LA, Marlin JC, Knight TM. Plant-pollinator interactions over 120 years: Loss of species, co-occurrences, and function. Science. In press. (published online February 28, 2013)

J. Milam. 2008-2010, 2016, 2018. UMass. Unpublished Data.

Lebuhn, M., Effenberger, M., Gronauer, A., Wilderer, P.A. and Wuertz, S. (2003) Using quantitative real‐time PCR to determine the hygienic status of cattle manure. Water Sci Technol 48, 97–103.

Motzkin G, Foster D, Allen A, Harrod J. 1996. Controlling site to evaluate history: Vegetation patterns of a New England sand plain. Ecological Monographs 66: 345–365.

MANDATORY BID SHEET

RFP DFW-2019-031 BEE SURVEY AT MONTAGUE PLAINS WMA

Treatment Total Amount ($)

1) Field Work (FY19):

2) Field Work (FY20):

3) Bee Processing:

4) Data Compilation/Reporting:

5) Materials:

6) Other: $

TOTAL BID (Sum costs of items 1-6 from above)