Sole Source Determination~1.pdf

Sole-Source Determination_rev01-31-24 (ODFW 3/11/2025) Page 1 of 3

_ SOLE-SOURCE DETERMINATION AND JUSTIFICATION FOR

SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

Date: July 16, 2025 To: April Brenden-Locke, Designated Procurement Officer, Contract Services, Administrative Services Division

From: Laura Tesler, WWMP Coordinator

RE: Sole Source Determination pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 279B.075 and

Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 125-247-0275

CSR: Oregon Vesper Sparrow Demography Monitoring at Bald Hill Farm

Part A

1. Authority to enter into a Sole-Source Contract: OAR 125-246-0170(2)(c)(H)

2. Estimated Total Value of the Procurement: $31,294.83

3. Background:

Oregon Vesper Sparrow (OVS) is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species and Oregon Sensitive-Critical Species that has been proposed for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). A draft Species Status Assessment, the pre-cursor to a listing package, is currently under review with a listing decision expected in March 2026.

Bald Hill Farm, owned by Greenbelt Land Trust, is a property that the Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program (WWMP) holds a conservation easement on. The property supports one of the largest protected populations of the subspecies in the mid-Willamette Valley on approximately 200 acres of grazed pasture and restored prairie. Unique among the WWMP sites, the farm is a working farm, with actively grazed pasture and restored prairie and oak savanna, which provides a valuable opportunity to observe nest site selection across multiple habitat types. OVS prefer semi-disturbed habitat such as grazed pastures- and this location has many such habitat types.

Because almost all adult female OVS are color-banded at this site, this has enabled a better understanding of the number of egg clutches per female per year, and this data has been incorporated into USFWS population modeling. OVS monitoring has occurred annually since 2014, and vegetation monitoring to track OVS habitat suitability occurred in 2022 and 2023 on this site (Menke et al 2022 and Menke et al. 2023).

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) provided the initial funding in 2017 and 2018 to Greenbelt Land Trust to monitor and band the population of vesper sparrows at Bald Hill. Additional support to expand the project was provided in 2022 by USFWS F22AC00991 in the amount of $9,905, with the remainder from the WWMP for $14,996. The 2023 monitoring was funded through the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund in the amount of $27,518. The 2024 monitoring was funded by USFWS F24AP00724 in the amount of $43,289.81.

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Funding for 2025 monitoring was proposed to USFWS, however, there are currently no Recovery Implementation funds being released. This action has generated the current request for this contract to continue the important work of banding and monitoring OVS populations at Bald Hill Farm by Greenbelt Land Trust.

5. Findings:

A. Market Research Overall Finding.

This project will provide critical knowledge to inform targeted conservation actions to recover the imperiled Oregon Vesper Sparrow. Maintenance of suitable habitat for the Bald Hill Farm population, as one of few protected and managed locations with the subspecies, will support the sustainability of this species in Oregon, and be critical to inform decision-making on the ESA listing. Likewise, better documentation and understanding grazing as an integral management tool for OVS will benefit the species across its range, in Oregon and Washington. This work has been done by Greenbelt Land Trust staff and associated sub-contractors for almost 10 years, and they are well acquainted with the locations of the populations and are knowledgeable of the exact methods needed to accurately monitor the birds with the least disturbance possible. While there may be other organizations capable of conducting this type of research, it is critical to maintain research integrity in this study by continuing to use the landowner Greenbelt Land Trust to conduct this work.

And

B. Findings of Fact pursuant to OAR 125-247-0275(2) must include, at a minimum, one of the following:

1. Pursuant to OAR 125-247-0275(2)(a): Compatibility. Provide findings supporting your determination that the efficient utilization of existing goods requires the acquisition of compatible goods or services from only one source.

2. Pursuant to ORS 279B.075 (2)(b): Exchange of Software or Data. Provide findings supporting your determination that the goods or services required for the exchange of software or data with other public or private agencies are available from only one source.

N/A

2. Pursuant to ORS 279B.075 (2)(c): Pilot or Experimental Project. Provide findings supporting your determination that the goods or services are for use in a pilot or an experimental project.

The landowner (Greenbelt Land Trust) is exploring the use of other management techniques, such as patchy mowing, prescribed fire, mechanical disturbance and the introduction of native shrubs into certain areas, to attempt to increase structural diversity and suitability for OVS nesting habitat. The difficulty of managing OVS means that any insights gained from new habitat management techniques at Bald Hill Farm will be highly valuable for other land managers and the Oregon Vesper Sparrow Working Group.

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4. Pursuant to ORS 279B.075 (2)(d): Other findings that support the conclusion that Supplies and Services are available from only one source may include but are not limited to considerations of:

unique design, availability, geographic location, exclusive authorized representative, cost of conversion, and warranty services.

The study of adaptive management techniques through grazing and pasture management to maximize OVS nesting and success at Bald Hill Farm can only be completed if landowner Greenbelt Land Trust is able to continue monitoring OVS demographic performance, which is the work included in this proposal. Continuing to add data to the long-term dataset is critical to inform the range-wide status and population modeling that is the foundation for decision-making under the ESA.

The ability to conduct this work on a privately owned working cattle farm of 200 acres of grazed pasture and restored prairie is a rare opportunity to provide insight int managing an imperiled species alongside active farming. Greenbelt Land Trust has the capability and experience to do this work and can easily undertake the monitoring needed to provide scientifically valid data to support their conclusions.

Part B - Conditions of Approval will be inserted by ODFW-DPO.

April Brenden-Locke, Contract Services Manager, ODFW Date