Riparian_and_Wetland_AIM-_Statement_of_Work_1.docx

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Wyoming Riparian and Wetland Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Surveys Scope of Work

1. INTRODUCTION

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 17.5 million surface acres in the state of Wyoming. The BLM is mandated to conduct land health monitoring to document effectiveness of decisions established in Resource Management Plans, to determine treatment effectiveness, or for habitat evaluation, among other applications. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is one of the approved monitoring strategies for land health monitoring.

This scope of work is for Riparian and Wetland (R&W) AIM data collection at 66 sites in the 2025 field season, with a potential for four option years (2026-2029) with varying collection efforts.

2. BACKGROUND

The base year for this contract is aligned with the federal government fiscal year 2025, with four option years as described in Table 1. The base year of data collection will be field season 2025. The contractor shall be responsible for collecting data at points throughout individual Field Offices within Wyoming as depicted in Table 2. Data collection occurs in accordance with the most current version of the Field Protocol for Lentic Riparian and Wetland Systems. At all sites, core methods as described in the Field Protocol will be followed in addition to the following two contingent methods: 1. Water Quality, 2. Hummocks. Data collection dates at all reaches shall begin no earlier than May 15 and shall end no later than September 30.

Table 1. Period of Performance.

The contractor shall be responsible for collecting data at the number of reaches indicated in Table 2. Sample point coordinates will be provided to the contractor as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines (below), at least one month prior to the start of data collection (data collection generally starts in late May or early June).

Project Timeline and Deadlines (for each year of the contract)

· April: sample point coordinates provided to contractor

· May: training and calibration

· May: data collection begins after training and calibration

· September 5: all data provided to the BLM

· Final Quality Control: September 19

· September 30: all water quality samples submitted

· September 30: brief project implementation report submitted, table of contents to be provided by the BLM

· September 30: end of award

Table 2: Points per Field Office by year.

Data collection often occurs in remote locations, where cellular connection is unavailable or inconsistent. The BLM recommends that field crews be prepared to camp in primitive conditions over several days and to collect data in multi-day “hitches” to minimize travel time. Field crews shall be responsible for safety and for appropriate coordination with local field offices regarding rejection of sample points, and/or protection of local resources. After training, Contractor personnel shall need to attend general orientation at the local field offices to be informed of local issues, safety measures, and resource concerns.

3. SCOPE

3.1 TASK 1 - COORDINATION

The contractor shall provide support in terms of coordination, pre-season support, data collection, data quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), data submission, and water quality submission as explicitly specified Table 3.

After award, the contractor shall meet with the BLM Wyoming State Office lead to discuss the survey design, field methodologies, training, and to answer any questions related to the monitoring effort.

At least one month prior to data collection, the contractor shall meet with the BLM Wyoming State Office and Field Office leads to discuss sample order strategy, reach evaluation criteria, and to answer any remaining questions related to the monitoring effort.

The contractor shall provide the BLM State Office lead and respective Field Office lead with a hitch schedule including dates of field work, planned sample reaches, and planned access routes prior to each hitch. In order to ensure BLM leads have time to review and comment on the hitch plan, hitch plans shall be provided at least one week in advance. Given the interdependence of sample reach progress among hitches, and unforeseen circumstances or access challenges, a need for flexibility in specific hitch plans is acknowledged.

The contractor must be present for field orientation and calibration exercises at the start of the field season, early season and end of season data collection checks.

Table 3: Riparian & Wetland AIM Roles and Responsibilities

Lead

Equipment purchase, calibration, set-up

Lead

Safety training

Office point evaluation

Provide landowner contacts

Lead

Contact landowners for permission where needed

Crew check-in and safety

Verification of reach sample status

Water quality sample submission

Post-training calibration

Field QA of data

Critical concepts QC

QC of field data

3.2 TASK 2 – DATA COLLECTION

Data collection shall begin as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines. Data collection must occur between May 15th and Sept 30th with few exceptions (e.g., for unique climatic and hydrologic conditions). This timeframe generally corresponds to when streams and rivers are at base flow conditions as noted in the most current version of the Field Protocol for Lentic Riparian and Wetland Systems. Data collection must be completed, and the data submitted to the BLM as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines.

Sample points may be up to five km (three miles) from a road (includes 4-wheel drive roads or “jeep trails”) so off trail navigation and moderate hiking can occur. See roles and responsibilities table (Table 3) for specifics regarding roles for evaluations, trip planning, data collection, protocol assistance, and other data collection related tasks. The contractor shall follow the latest versions of the Riparian and Wetland AIM Design Management and Plot Evaluation Protocol and the Riparian & Wetland AIM Data Management Protocol, which includes information on the Technology Protocol, Calibration Protocol, Rejection Protocol, and Data Backup Protocol.

Upon request the contractor shall allow BLM employees and/or stakeholders such as permittees or members of the public to attend and observe monitoring efforts to ensure data is being collected in compliance with the methodologies as described.

In addition to the core and covariate methods, the following two contingent data methods shall be implemented at each reach, and as noted in Section 2.

· Water quality

· Hummocks

No other contingent indicators or supplemental indicators shall be collected.

All questions regarding monitoring methodology that are not answered by the most recent Field Protocol for Lentic Riparian and Wetland Systems shall first be addressed by the contractor, and then the BLM State Office lead if further guidance is needed. Please note specific instructions on keeping water quality samples at appropriate temperatures. Arrangements need to be made up front for the storage of water quality samples at the local field office, as well as macroinvertebrate samples in some instances.

The contractor shall record data in electronic format using BLM applications for data capture and geotagging photographs in the field. Only electronic data shall be submitted to the BLM after review and all final data must be received as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines.

The contractor is responsible for providing and setting up the electronic capture device with all specified applications as outlined in the Riparian & Wetland AIM Data Management Protocol. The electronic capture device needs to have a cellular data plan with a provider that is appropriate for the project area. The BLM has established databases to ingest and manage all data; therefore, unless otherwise noted, no data management services are requested beyond data collection and QC by field personnel.

If a reach must be rejected in the field, in accordance with the standards outlined in the Riparian and Wetland AIM Design Management and Plot Evaluation Protocol the contractor shall move on to one of the oversample points provided, as directed. The “fate” of sample points will be tracked and provided with the monitoring data.

The contractor shall coordinate with BLM regarding private land access issues. If private land will be crossed in the process of collecting the data, the contractor shall contact the private landowner to acquire permission to cross their land. Contact information will be provided by the BLM field office project lead, if available. This will occur before the contractor crosses private land to comply with State law.

The contractor shall be responsible for reach monumenting, which includes a minimum of photos, distinct geographic features, and GPS coordinates. If required, more involved monument types may be specified by the associated BLM Field Office Lead, and materials will be furnished by the BLM as necessary. For example, reach markers such as engraved or stamped aluminum survey caps and fence posts may be utilized.

3.3 TASK 3 – QUALITY CONTROL AND DATA TRACKING

The contractor shall follow all data management and Quality Assurance/Quality Control steps as outlined within the most recent Field Protocol for Lentic Riparian and Wetland Systems and Riparian and Wetland AIM Design Management and Plot Evaluation Protocol and as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines.

During or before the first hitch, the contractor shall work with the BLM Field Office lead(s) to complete a field orientation and calibration (See Table 3). Field orientation and calibration is described in detail in the Riparian and Wetland AIM Design Management and Plot Evaluation Protocol and involves spending 2-3 days in the field with the crew to review processes for identifying critical concepts of the Field Protocol. A calibration exercise is also conducted with BLM and contractor staff leading the effort to assess the precision and accuracy of the crew’s data at a test reach. Final data shall be submitted via Survey 123.

Any data that is collected using paper forms shall be entered into Field Maps/Survey123 no later than ten working days after data collection takes place. The data shall be error-checked in detail after it is entered into Survey123.

3.4 TASK 4 – PROVIDE DATA TO THE BLM

Completed surveys shall be uploaded to (synchronized with) the AIM enterprise database at the end of each day or as often as it is possible to connect to a Wi-Fi or cellular network with adequate bandwidth. When working in remote areas where it is not possible to connect regularly, backing up survey forms is recommended. The procedure for this is described in the latest version of the Riparian and Wetland AIM Design Management and Plot Evaluation Protocol.

A complete project implementation report shall be submitted at the end of the field season as specified above in Project Timelines and Deadlines.

4. EQUIPMENT

The contractor shall need the following equipment to conduct this monitoring:

4.1 All AIM gear, including electronic devices for data capture and equipment required to collect contingent/supplemental indicators, listed in the equipment checklist provided at: https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources.

4.2 Field vehicle (a 4-wheel drive (4X4) vehicle with high clearance and all terrain 10-ply tires is highly recommended).

4.3 A UTV/ATV may be needed to access some points. UTV/ATV equipment needed to access a point will be at the discretion of, and supplied by, the contractor. In using UTV/ATV equipment to access sites, no sustained impact to resource values should occur. Motorized access to wilderness or wilderness study areas will not be allowed, unless by written permission of the appropriate BLM Field Office manager. In using equipment to access sites, no sustained impact to resource values should occur.

5. PERSONNEL

A minimum of two individuals shall be required at each monitoring reach. Collectively, the individuals who participate in collecting monitoring data will need to have the following qualifications or experience:

5.1 Key Personnel: Crew Manager

The crew manager shall be the primary personnel to lead implementation of tasks as identified in Table 3.

At a minimum, the crew manager shall have the following education and experience:

· Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline such as environmental science, conservation, ecology, rangeland management, or hydrology that included a combination of the plant, hydrology, and soil sciences, and natural resources management; and,

· At least one year of professional experience managing complex projects and/or field crews relevant to the collection of riparian and/or wetland data.

Ideally, the crew manager has the following education and experience:

· Master’s degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline such as environmental science, conservation, ecology, rangeland management, or hydrology that included a combination of the plant, hydrology, and soil sciences, and natural resources management; and,

· At least two years of professional experience managing complex projects and/or field crews relevant to the collection of riparian and/or wetland data.

Key personnel assigned to this contract shall not be removed or replaced without prior approval of the COR. Approval/disapproval of replacement key personnel is the responsibility of the Contracting Officer (CO).

The Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) when key personnel are unavailable for work under this contract for a continuous period exceeding five field survey days.

5.2 Field Crew

A minimum of three individuals, forming one crew, will be required at each monitoring site. Each crew shall have one crew lead, responsible for the contractor data collection crew responsibilities noted in Table 3.

Collectively, the individuals in the crew who participate in collecting monitoring data will need to have the following qualifications:

· Field Botanist or Rangeland Management Specialist

· Field Soil Scientist

Crew member attendance at yearly Riparian & Wetland AIM trainings in Wyoming is required. The Crew Manager must convey all staff changes throughout the field season with the State Office Lead so that contingent training options can be identified.

6. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION AND PROPERTY

The BLM will provide the contractor with access to ESRI feature services of the sample points that have been reviewed against office rejection criteria, as well as the associated coordinate locations. If feature services are not available or accessible, the BLM may elect to provide this information in GIS format or CSV spreadsheet. Any other information including GIS data needed to complete the data collection will be considered upon request. Monument markers (rebar stakes or similar) will be supplied by the BLM for Field Offices requiring plot monumentation, as deemed necessary by the individual Field Office. The government will not supply any other property for completion of data collection.

7. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

Contractor is responsible for all equipment and incidentals necessary to complete the tasks in this contract in accordance with the specifications/directions in this Scope of Work.

8. QUALITY

All work shall be checked and technically reviewed and approved in accordance with BLM AIM policies, directives, and guidelines.

9. Payments The following is required to be completed to allow payments prior to the end of the period of performance:

Task 2

Task 3 and Task 4

10. Contract Type

The BLM anticipates awarding a firm fixed price contract.

11. Travel

In accordance with P.L. 99-234, "Federal Civilian Employee and contractor Travel Expense Act of 1985", travel-related expenditures for contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees. This includes mileage for company-owned vehicles.

The contractor shall travel as required to support program tasks. All travel arrangements are to be made by the contractor. Payment for transportation, per diem, mileage, parking, and other fair and reasonable travel expenses will be paid in accordance with the effective Federal Travel Regulations as amended and supplemented by the Department of the Interior travel regulations where applicable. No Federal travel authorizations are to be issued. All travel expenses are to be submitted through the contractor's invoice for reimbursement. The contractor shall make every effort to keep travel costs to a minimum. No reimbursement will be made for parking at a contractor's normal place of work. No overhead, G&A, or profit shall be paid on travel expenses. Travel shall be reimbursed on an actual cost basis and designated in a separate line item in the contract.

Quality shall be measured based on the following:

PERFORMANCE

OBJECTIVE

Accuracy – all documents conform to formatting requirements, agency directives, department directives and the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Professional – All Documents are well organized, grammatically correct and demonstrate sound professional evaluation and analysis.

Task 1 Coordination

Task 2 Data Collection

Task 3 Quality Control and Data Tracking

Task 4 Provide Data to the BLM

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