SERE Tillamook Training_Biological Assessment_SOW_2 Dec 2024.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

Biological Assessment of USAF SERE Training

Bayocean Spit, Tillamook County, OR

2 December 2024

Statement of Work (SOW) For

Biological Assessment of USAF SERE Training Bayocean Spit, Tillamook County, OR

1. BACKGROUND:

The United States Air Force (USAF) Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School at Fairchild Air Force Base (FAFB) conducts coastal, open ocean, and tropical training along the Bayocean Spit in Tillamook County, Oregon, annually.

In accordance with section 7 (a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the USAF is required to ensure its actions are not likely to jeopardize the existence of federally listed species or adversely modify designated critical habitat. The Biological Assessment (BA) deliverable identified within this SOW will be the primary documentation used to satisfy section 7 (a)(2) of the ESA and 50 CFR 402 consultation requirements with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

In accordance with the requirements of ESA section 7 and as a result of informal consultation with the USFWS in December 2023, the USAF received a Letter of Concurrence (LOC) of determinations for potential impact to federally listed species and designated critical habitat for two (2) SERE trainings occurring along the Bayocean Spit. The USAF is adding a third iteration of the SERE coastal, open ocean, and tropical training, resulting in the need to reengage in section 7 consultation with USFWS. The BA described within this SOW is a requirement of the formal consultation process. Documentation from the previous section 7 consultation and details of the proposed action will be provided to the Contractor after award.

Three appendices are included as part of this SOW: 1) Biological Assessment Report Template Guidance; 2) Illustrations of the Proposed Action Area; and 3) Photographs.

2. SCOPE OF WORK:

The Contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, and materials needed to conduct a Biological Assessment for the SERE coastal, open ocean, and tropical training along the Bayocean Spit for the purpose of obtaining a Biological Opinion (BO) from the USFWS in accordance with the performance and delivery schedule included within this SOW. The BA shall follow professional industry standards and provide all necessary information to satisfy regulatory and consultation requirements in accordance with section 7 (a)(2) of the ESA. The Contractor shall utilize the USFWS Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS) database and the Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) tool to identify all federally listed species and designated critical habitat with the potential to occur within the action area.

3. OBJECTIVES:

The Contractor shall provide the BA report to the USAF to be utilized as part of section 7 formal consultation with USFWS.

The USAF, specifically 92 CES/CEIE, will submit the BA to USFWS as part of the formal consultation package. The Contractor shall not submit the BA to USFWS. The assessment report shall include all relevant and necessary information used to make the required determinations for any potential effects the proposed action may have on federally listed species, species of consideration, and designated critical habitat. The BA shall be conducted by environmental professionals capable of analyzing the potential effects while maintaining a high level of scientific integrity utilizing the best available science and data.

4. REQUIREMENTS:

As stated above, the BA shall be conducted by environmental professionals capable of analyzing the potential effects of the proposed action on federally listed species, species of consideration, and designated critical habitat, while maintaining a high level of scientific integrity utilizing the best available science and data.

The BA shall include: 1) all pertinent information concerning all species listed and proposed for listing under the ESA; 2) designated and proposed critical habitat that may be present in the action area; 3) evaluation of potential effects of the proposed action on such species and habitat; 4) clearly state the determinations made by the assessment; and 5) present the data in a manner that follows professional standards and utilizes clear and concise text. Appendix A includes guidance on the information required to be presented within the BA report.

The Contractor shall meet with 92 CES/CEIE no less than two (2) times during the performance of the contract. The meeting schedule shall include the following: once within fifteen (15) calendar days of award and once no more than ten (10) calendar days before submission of the Draft BA. These project meetings shall be held in person at FAFB or via Microsoft (MS) Teams. 92 CES/CEIE is available to meet with the Contractor as needed to successfully execute the work identified within this SOW.

5. DELIVERY:

Contractor shall provide:

Deliverable Schedule Copies/Format Draft Meeting Minutes NLT 5 Calendar Days After Meeting 1, MS Word

Final Meeting Minutes NLT 5 Calendar Days After Receiving Government Comment/Concurrence

1, PDF

Draft BA NLT 1 March 2025 1, MS Word

1, PDF

Draft Final BA NLT 14 Calendar Days After Receiving Government Comments

1, MS Word

1, PDF

Final BA NLT 7 Calendar Days After Receiving Government Concurrence

1, MS Word

1, PDF

2 Hardcopies (spiral bound)

Note: NLT = No Later Than

The Final BA shall include the following Qualification Statement signed by the Principal environmental professional overseeing the assessment:

The identified participants conducting this Biological Assessment of the United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Training along the Bayocean Spit in Tillamook County, Oregon are qualified professionals with the experience and education necessary to conduct the assessment. The information included within this Biological Assessment report is true and accurate to the best of my ability as the Principal environmental professional overseeing the assessment.

6. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES:

The Government shall furnish the pertinent information regarding the proposed action, location of the action area, historical consultation, conservation measures, and discussions between USAF and USFWS regarding the BA. The government will furnish illustrations depicting the proposed action area, including SERE participant and instructor campsites.

7. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS:

Not Applicable to this Scope of Work.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

The proposed action area for the BA is the Bayocean Peninsula (Spit) in Tillamook County, Oregon, located northwest of the City of Tillamook. See Appendix B for more detail.

9. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The Contractor shall perform all work identified within the SOW NLT close of business on 31 March 2025. Section 5.0 identifies the schedule for deliverables.

10. HOURS OF OPERATION: Hours of operation are at the discretion of the Contractor due to the requirements of this Scope of Work.

11. APPENDICES:

A. Biological Assessment Report Template Guidance B. Illustrations of Proposed Action Area C. Photographs

APPENDIX A: Biological Assessment Template Guidance

1. Cover Page: This page shall include the title, date, location, author, and identify the USAF.

2. Abbreviations & Acronyms: This section shall identify any abbreviations and acronyms included within the BA.

3. Introduction: This section shall identify the purpose and the scope of the BA, include background, consultation history, an overview of the proposed action, and regulatory requirements.

4. Proposed Action Evaluated: This section shall include a detailed description of the proposed action, dates, duration, description of the action areas, location of activities, current conservation measures, and proposed conservation measures.

5. Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitat: This section shall describe all federally listed species, species considered for listing, and any designated critical habitat within the action area and discuss known threats of each. This section shall include available species occupation data for any species assessed resulting in a determination of “may affect, likely to adversely affect”.

6. Environmental Baseline: This section shall discuss the conditions of the listed species and designated critical in the action area without the consequences caused by the proposed action.

7. Effects of the Proposed Action: This section shall discuss potential effects of the proposed action and include analysis of the effects on federally listed species, species considered for listing, and any designated critical habitat within the action area.

8. Determinations & Conclusion: This section shall include findings and clearly state the determination of the proposed action on each federally listed species, species considered for listing, and any designated critical habitat within the action area.

9. References: This section shall include any references cited while conducting the BA.

10. Preparers & Qualifications: This section shall include all participants conducting the BA and their pertinent qualifications and the qualification statement below. The Principal environmental professional of the BA shall sign the qualification statement.

The identified participants conducting this Biological Assessment of the United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Training along the Bayocean Spit in Tillamook County, Oregon are qualified professionals with the experience and education necessary to conduct the assessment. The information included within this Biological Assessment report is true and accurate to the best of my ability as the Principal environmental professional overseeing the assessment.

11. Appendices, Tables, and Figures: The BA shall include appendices, tables, and figures as needed to convey the actions, findings, and relevant information of the BA.

Appendix B: Illustrations of Proposed Action Area

Appendix B: Figure B-1 Location Vicinity Illustration

OREGON TILLAMOOK, OR

BAYOCEAN PENINSULA (SPIT), OR

Appendix B: Figure B-2 Participant and Instructor Campsites

Appendix C: Photographs

Beach, facing North

Beach, facing South

Foredune, facing North

Typical, Instructor Campsite

Tillamook Bay, facing ESE

Tillamook Bay Shoreline, facing North

Typical, Common Access Trails

Typical, Common Access Trails