Sol_140P5424Q0028_Attach__0001-SOW-8-1-24.pdf

Trap and Remove Cats from San Juan NHS and Paseo del Morro NRT Statement of Work San Juan National Historic Site Page 1 of 6

STATEMENT OF WORK

Trap and Remove Free-Ranging Cats at San Juan National Historic Site and Paseo del Morro

National Recreational Trail

San Juan National Historic Site

SCOPE: Following the terms and conditions of the Contract, the Contractor shall perform the work of this Statement of Work for the National Park Service (NPS) as described herein.

The services shall include the complete removal of all feeding stations at Paseo del Morro National Recreational Trail, the removal of 202 free-ranging cats from the same area, and their relocation outside the boundary of the San Juan National Historic Site.

PERFORMANCE PERIOD: The work performed under this Statement of Work shall be approximately from October 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025, a total of eight (8) months in duration, from the award date. The contractor will have a 30-day mobilization period (included in the period of performance) and must be able to start work the day after the mobilization period ends. Then another 30 days, after month seven, to complete and submit the final reports requested in the SOW (see table below):

Dates Tasks October 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024

Mobilization

November 1, 2024, to April 31, 2025

Performance

May 1, 2025, to May 31, Preparation and Submittals of Final Reports and Invoices

WORK SCHEDULE: Removal efforts will be conducted primarily early morning or evening hours when the park is closed to the public, which will minimize impacts on park visitors. If removal activities must be conducted during daytime hours, the National Park Service will close visitor access to the target area to ensure worker and visitor safety.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS: Transportation to and from the site will be the responsibility of the contractor. The park will provide access to the site.

I. PROJECT BACKGROUND

The San Juan NHS (park) has completed an Environmental Assessment for the management of Free- Ranging Cats within the park. Completion of this Environmental Assessment involved the selection of a preferred alternative that will allow the park to meet the objectives of the plan. A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the Regional Director and the park is ready to implement the selected action. This Statement of Work describes the implementation of actions that will ensure adherence to the plan while eliminating current and future cat colonies within El Paseo del Morro because of the removal of cats and feeding stations from San Juan NHS.

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II. STANDARDS

Work completed under this Statement of Work shall be performed following:

• NPS law and policy

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) laws, standards, and regulations.

• Laws and regulations for animal welfare and invasive species from the Commonwealth of Puerto

Rico.

• The work must be conducted by an animal welfare group with at least 10 years of expertise in the field and more than 5 years of trapping operations.

III. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The work shall include, but not be limited to, the following components:

• Remove the existing six feeding stations from Paseo del Morro NRT at a rate of one feeding station per month resulting in no feeding stations remaining within six months. The animal welfare organization will present the NPS with a plan identifying the order of the removal of feeding stations during the mobilization period. NPS personnel will monitor the removal of stations, ensuring adherence to the approved removal plan.

• The animal welfare organization will be permitted to humanely trap and remove cats from the park. Removal will commence in/no earlier than November 2024. The National Park Service will defer to the animal welfare organization to determine the best practice for the removal of the cats, but the strategies below could be used to remove cats from the park and discourage cats from returning to the park.

a. Live Trapping. Live trapping devices (e.g., walk-in cage traps, soft net traps, and padded leg-hold traps) could be baited, scented, or placed along common travel lanes for the cats and will capture and restrain animals. Live trapping is the preferred method of removal.

Use of these devices will be dependent on weather conditions when they could be checked at least twice per day and following applicable federal and Commonwealth laws.

The following trapping guidelines will be followed:

i. Lures, trap placements and capture devices will be strategically placed at locations likely to capture cats and minimize the potential of non-target animal captures.

ii. Any non-target animal captured in live traps will be released unless it is determined that the animal will not survive and cannot be released safely.

iii. Removal efforts will be conducted primarily during early morning or evening hours when the park is closed to the public, which will minimize impacts on park visitors. If removal activities must be conducted during daytime hours, the National Park Service will close visitor access to the target area to ensure worker and visitor safety.

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iv. Conspicuous, bilingual warning signs will be installed alerting visitors to the presence of and reason for the live traps, when needed. The signs will be placed at major access points to areas where active cat management operations are being conducted, so long as the signs will not impact the efficacy of the removal efforts.

The organization will have to submit designs, proposed text, and proposed locations to the NPS for approval.

b. Denning. Dens could be sought out to capture adult cats and kittens. If a female that has just given birth is captured, it should be kept together or reunited with its kittens as soon as possible.

c. Exclusion Devices. Exclusion devices can be used to keep cats from using buildings as shelters or for rearing kittens and include wire mesh or other material used to cover holes and other building and structure openings. Exclusion devices shall not be installed in the historic walls without authorization from the NPS.

d. Repellents. The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved several chemicals that provide a bitter taste and are used to keep cats away from items, such as garbage cans.

• If some individuals need to be euthanized for terminal illness, the organization shall identify them in the required report.

• Remove the existing cat colony from Paseo del Morro NRT using the number of cats identified in the 2023 cat survey which identified 202 individual cats. Removal of additional cats may be necessary if more cats are present at El Paseo del Morro NRT. At a minimum, the contractor shall remove at least 34 cats per month.

• Remove feeding stations from areas under NPS jurisdiction. Stations should be removed at least once every month. At the end of the period of performance, there should not be any feeding stations in the park.

• Prepare and submit a monthly report with records of each cat removed, including the date and time of capture, method of capture, and a full description of the cat. Cats will not be returned to Paseo del Morro NRT or any other area under NPS jurisdiction. NPS personnel will be present at El Paseo del Morro during removal efforts to ensure cats are removed from park premises.

• Prepare and submit a plan for relocation of the cats. A report of where the cats have been relocated shall be submitted to the NPS during the period of performance.

IV. COMMUNICATIONS

A. COMMUNICATIONS: All communications related to the work to be performed following this Statement of Work will be coordinated through the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). The contractor shall not contact any other NPS employee without express authorization from the COR.

Written progress reports shall be submitted to the COR and Project Manager. Invoices shall be

San Juan National Historic Site Page 4 of 6 submitted to the COR as a separate document and shall record tasks, time allotted to them, and a detailed account of what was accomplished.

B. PROGRESS MEETINGS: The contractor shall meet with the COR and/or the Project Manager at least once monthly. In these meetings, the contractor shall expand on monthly accomplishments and if there are shortages of several cats removed, the contractor will provide a plan to avoid shortages for the next month.

C. UNSCHEDULED MEETINGS: In the case of an emergency, the COR can approve additional meetings.

V. DATA AND MATERIALS TO BE PROVIDED BY NPS

The items outlined herein will be provided by the NPS for the use of the contractor, as required for the express purpose of completing the services required in this contract.

• The park will provide at least one full-time employee for the 8-month duration of the project. The employee(s) will be responsible for monitoring work being completed by the contractor. In situations, the park may provide additional personnel or assistance subject to the availability of staff and/or resources.

VI. CONTRACTOR’S MINIMUM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

A. GENERAL

• Plan for possible emergencies, such as floods, cave-ins, slides, and windstorms. Such planning shall take into consideration the nature of the work done, site conditions, and degree of exposure of persons and property.

• Conduct daily safety meetings for all personnel. These meetings shall be used to review the effectiveness of the Contractor's safety effort and to resolve current health and safety problems.

• First Aid: Have adequate training to ensure prompt and efficient first aid.

B. QUALIFICATIONS OF PERSONNEL

• Ensure that personnel are physically qualified to perform their assigned duties in a safe manner.

• Do not allow personnel to work whose ability or alertness is impaired because of drugs, fatigue, illness, intoxication, or other conditions that may expose themselves or others to injury.

• All personnel operating equipment during the project must be able to understand signs, signals, and operating instructions, and be capable of operating such equipment. Provide operating instructions for all equipment.

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C. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Inspect personal protective equipment daily and maintain it in a serviceable condition. Clean, sanitize, and repair, as appropriate, personal items before issuing them to another individual.

Inspect and maintain other protective equipment and devices before use and periodically to ensure safe operation.

VII. PROJECT PERSONNEL

A. GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES

Unless otherwise designated, the Government representatives will be as follows:

1.Contract Specialist:

NPS, Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034

2. NPS Project Contracting Officer Representative:

To be designated NPS, SAJU National Historic Site San Juan National Historic Site 501 Norzagaray Street San Juan, PR 00901

B. CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVES:

1. The Contractor will submit a list of key personnel assigned to this project. The list should include a brief description of the roles and responsibilities for each key person.

2. The Contractor must request permission in writing from the Contracting Officer before substituting key project personnel.

3. The Contractor will transact contract matters solely with the Contracting Officer or her designated representative.

VIII. COSTS OUTSIDE OF STATEMENT OF WORK:

The contractor shall not include in the estimate for services and the government will not pay for the following activities:

• Veterinary services- The NPS will not be responsible for veterinary care, including vaccines, check-ups, etc.

• Travel- Animal welfare organizations shall not pay any travel related costs.

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• Costs associated with animal shelter or holding services once removed from the park.