SOURCES_SOUGHT_RGSM_Population_Monitoring__repost_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

Upper Colorado Regional Office

SOURCES SOUGHT

140R4025R0003 Please respond to mmaestas@usbr.gov, no later than

5:00 PM MT on 18 October 2024 (Previously posted under 140R4024R0008)

Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Population Monitoring in the Middle Rio Grande

The Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, has a requirement to solicit federally endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM) Population Monitoring services. The work to be performed is described below. Based upon responses to this announcement, the Government may determine to set this acquisition aside or proceed with an unrestricted solicitation. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541620 Environmental Consulting Services and the related small business size standard is $15 million.

Product Service Code (PCS) is B509 Special Studies/Analysis Endangered Species. This notice is not a request for proposals/quotations and the information presented in this announcement will not obligate the Bureau of Reclamation in any manner.

Background

The Bureau of Reclamation seeks contractor services to obtain professional scientific services to monitor the occurrence and trend of the endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM; Hybognathus amarus) population within the Middle Rio Grande (MRG), New Mexico.

The RGSM is a small fish species (most often less than 80 mm total length) (Propst 1999, Sublette et al.

1990). Historically, this species reportedly occupied the Rio Grande from near the Gulf of Mexico upstream into the upper reaches of the Pecos River and the Rio Grande to the Rio Grande Gorge and into the Rio Chama. In 1994, the RGSM was federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act

(ESA; 59 FR 36988).

Past RGSM population monitoring has been conducted to provide trend and abundance information to Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program (Collaborative Program) as it informed their compliance under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (e.g., the 2003 Biological Opinion (BiOp) on the Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Water and River Maintenance Operations, Army Corps of Engineers’ Flood Control Operations, and Related Non-Federal Actions on the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico).

Ongoing population monitoring of RGSM is now a commitment by Reclamation and is required by Reasonable and Prudent Measure 7 (Term and Condition 7.1) of the more recent 2016 Final Biological and Conference Opinion for Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Non-Federal Water Management and Maintenance Activities on the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico (2016 BiOp).

mailto:mmaestas@usbr.gov

Objective

The prospective contract will provide for a continuation of the current monitoring protocol (Dudley et al.

2023) that has been utilized for monitoring the fish community of the MRG. The Contractor shall also present annual results to Reclamation and the Collaborative Program.

A. Estimate the long-term and short-term trends in densities (e.g., catch-rates – number of fish by species by seine haul and total catch per site) and relative abundance of MRG fish populations.

Include reporting of total catch rates; RGSM detections specific to mesh size used and specific to mesohabitat types; separate reporting of catch-rates for larval, young-of-year (YOY), and non- YOY fish; reporting catch rates by sampling gear/mesh size; and reporting density estimates both including and excluding dry sites.

B. Evaluate the densities from Objective A relative to (i) discharge timing, magnitude, and duration;

and (ii) extent and duration of river drying as they pertain to population fluctuation of native and nonnative MRG fish species, with a focus on RGSM.

C. Compare changes among sampling periods in RGSM abundance with that of other native and nonnative fish species.

D. Communicate findings to Reclamation, the Service, and the Collaborative Program.

Tasks

A. Monthly Sampling at Standard 20 Sites: For seven (7) months of the year (April through October), sample 20 fixed sites (standard sites) consistent with the existing monitoring protocol (Dudley et al. 2023), between Angostura Diversion Dam and Elephant Butte Reservoir. The months of December through February shall not be sampled, unless the Government proceeds with Optional Task D.

B. Additional Sites: For two (2) of these seven (7) monthly sampling events, the Contractor shall increase the total number of sites by 20 additional sites (total of 40 sites), representing 10 sites in each of the 3 reaches with the additional 10 site selection dependent on the government and contractor determining the appropriate sampling scheme. This shall occur once in April, and again in October. Sampling in the other five (5) months shall occur at the standard 20 sites. The Contractor shall use the established additional sites and shall use consistent methodology across all sites.

C. Replacement Sites: If any of the 20 standard sites are dry at the time of sampling, the Contractor shall use the established alternative, replacement sites to bring the total sampled back up to 20 sites. Any of the 20 standard sites that are dry shall still be recorded as such according to the current monitoring protocol. Replacement sites, as needed, shall be kept the same to the extent possible in subsequent years of this work, when needed.

D. OPTIONAL TASK: Additional Monthly Sampling (Optional task shall begin only after Government approval to proceed):

o Conduct monthly sampling in two (2) additional months – As determined by the government, as per the same protocol used for Task A at the standard 20 sites.

E. OPTIONAL TASK: Additional Sites (Optional task shall begin only after Government approval to proceed):

o Increase the number of sample sites by another 30 sites at two (2) of the monthly sampling events(up to 50 or 70 sites total depending on month selection in support of Task A and Task B) – specific months and site locations will be specified by the Government upon approval to proceed with the task.

o The Contractor shall propose a method for working with Reclamation to identify the additional sites and shall use consistent methodology across all sites.

F. Intensive Sampling Month: The Contractor shall conduct field sampling to determine site-specific sampling variation one (1) month of the year (intensive sampling) in November following the existing protocol (Dudley et al. 2023).

G. OPTIONAL TASK: Additional Data Collection Per Seine Haul (Optional task shall begin only after Government approval to proceed):

o During monthly sampling, collect the following additional data for each seine haul, identifying the associated mesohabitat type and include in the monthly reports and annual report: (a) current velocity, (b) depth, and (c) substrate size (visually determine and record). For each site (not per seine haul), collect three measurements each of (d) turbidity and (e) water temperature.

o Complete a summary report of these data to be included in the annual report.

H. Preliminary Catch Data: Provide preliminary catch data prior to monthly reporting for the months of April/May, September, and October to assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

I. Data Analysis: Analyze the data collected in Tasks A through G, as applicable, in accordance with objectives in Paragraph 4.0.

J. Reporting: Prepare monthly and annual reports that meet the requirements in this SOW. Monthly reporting shall include a brief report characterizing draft catch data, including an excel spreadsheet or acceptable alternative database format within 30 days of sampling completion for each month. Report shall include data from any additional or replacement sites, as applicable, as well as any observations that would aid in interpretation of those data.

K. Presentation: Present to the Collaborative Program the findings of annual sampling efforts in visual and oral presentation.

L. OPTIONAL TASK: Workshop Participation and provide assistance with RGSM database and collection data (Optional task shall begin annually only after Government approval to proceed):

o Participate in an annual population monitoring workshop for the Collaborative Program if it occurs.

o Assist program staff with data compilations as needed.

Location: New Mexico - The principal area of interest in the Middle Rio Grande is the reach between Angostura Diversion Dam and inflow to Elephant Butte Reservoir. See map Figure 1 below:

Figure 1. Map of Sampling Sites – Standard Sites (All Monthly Sampling) and Additional Sites

(April/May and October). Site numbers correspond with descriptions in Tables 1 and 2.

The estimated period of performance is 5 years, which includes a Base plus 4 one-year option years.

All responsible sources may submit a Capabilities Statement to include experiences and expertise, key personnel resumes, examples of similar projects that reflect the requirement, type of work complexity and value which shall be reviewed by the agency.

Interested Small Business Sources should include the following information in their response:

(a) Business name, address, cage code, size classification based on NAICS size standard, socioeconomic classification (i.e. HUBZone and/or 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, ISBEE)), and a point of contact; (b) Evidence of your experience performing similar and relevant to the type and scope of work in this announcement within the last three years. The evidence should include: contract numbers, project titles, dollar amounts and points of contacts with telephone numbers. Please do not include more than three past projects; and (c) Include attachments cataloging the company’s equipment assets (as necessary), resources that demonstrate company responsibility and capability to perform required work.

Submit an electronic Capabilities Statement to mmaestas@usbr.gov by October 18, 2024, at 5:00 PM MT (Mountain Time). Prospective Contractors must be registered and must maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management, (SAM), as required by FAR

4.1102. Prospective contractors must be registered prior to any prospective award. Lack of registration in the SAM database will make an offeror ineligible for prospective award.

Information on SAM registration can be obtained via the internet at http://www.sam.gov.

mailto:mmaestas@usbr.gov http://www.sam.gov/