SOW_1.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Monarch Habitat and Pollinator Surveys

Part 1

General Information

1. GENERAL: This is a non-personnel services contract to provide Monarch butterfly habitat and adult butterfly surveys. The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform Monarch butterfly habitat and adult butterfly surveys as defined in this Performance Work Statement except for those items specified as government furnished property and services. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 Background:

Globally pollinator populations have been declining significantly, causing concerns for both natural ecosystems and agriculture. These declines have prompted discussion about regulatory protection for Monarchs. Habitat loss is a major factor contributing to this decline. Because the San Joaquin Valley is crucial for the western monarch butterfly during migration the maintenance and restoration of habitat that occurs within public lands in this area is essential to prevent further decline and further need for conservation. The San Joaquin Valley contains vital habitats rich in milkweed and a variety of other nectar plants, which are critical for monarch breeding and migration. Understanding of how butterflies and other pollinators use National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the area is needed to determine the role that public lands can play in reducing butterfly decline.

Enhancing nectar availability is a key strategy for pollinator conservation and will benefit not just the western monarch but also other pollinator species. Restoring and improving nectar availability in native habitats can help support a variety of pollinator species. To prioritize management actions and improve conservation outcomes, it is necessary to assess the quantity and quality of existing habitats and understand how they are used by monarchs and other pollinators.

The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex in the San Joaquin Valley has been recognized as a significant area for pollinator habitat. Data on the quality and quantity of monarch habitats and their use by pollinators is crucial for effective management of pollinator habitat on refuges. This information can be used to strategically target management actions to improve habitat quality. It can also be used to support conservation efforts by partners in agriculture and other working landscapes as an alternative to regulations. The Monarch Joint Venture has developed the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) establishing a national protocol for tracking monarch habitats and adult populations. Information from this survey will aid in national efforts for butterfly conservation, support data-driven habitat management, and may contribute to butterfly population health over time. This ultimately could reduce the need for regulatory protection. Refuge staff are not able to implement this survey due to other refuge management priorities and staff have limited expertise in butterfly identification. Without such data, opportunities to support pollinators on public lands may be missed, management of refuge pollinator habitat may be less efficient, or investments in habitat restoration may be less likely to directly reduce butterfly population vulnerability.

1.3 Objectives:

The Pacific Southwest Region (Region 8) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Inventory and Monitoring Program (2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-26-6, Sacramento, CA 95825) is engaged in monitoring pollinator habitat and populations at refuges to identify priority areas for habitat management at National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) and contribute to the USFWS Region and National Pollinator Conservation goals. The Service requires a support services contractor (Contractor) with experience in the San Joaquin Valley of California to:

· conduct Monarch and other butterfly surveys and nectar plant and milkweed surveys,

· follow methods established by the Integrated Monarch Monitoring program,

· provide data in the established specifications and a summary report that includes documentation of the survey implementation, survey effort, analysis methods used, and results.

1.4 Scope: Services include skilled staff to conduct monarch adult and other butterfly surveys, milkweed and blooming plant surveys, data management, survey design and summary findings and recommendations.

The contractor shall:

· Identify the quantity and quality of Monarch habitat at identified priority sites at San Luis National Wildlife Complex (NWRC)

· Quantify the abundance of Monarch butterflies at San Luis NWRC

· Document other butterfly species occurrence at San Luis NWRC

· Create a map of habitat quality for surveyed areas

· Classify adult monarch survey transects by habitat quality, using criteria provide by USFWS

· Provide data and summary reports from survey results The contractor will follow the protocols developed by the Monarch Joint Venture – Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) - Field Activities & Protocols • Monarch Joint Venture

Activity 1: Milkweed and Blooming Plant Survey Activity Level 1 will be used to collect data about the habitat quality

Activity 3: Adult Monarch Survey methods will be used for Monarch surveys, with the addition that all butterflies observed at a survey site will be recorded to the level of identification that can be done non-lethally.

Data management (data entry, qa/qc, metadata, and summaries) will be completed using the Monarch Joint Venture data entry systems and other data specifications and tools provided by FWS.

1.5 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2028. The table below describes an estimated timeline for the project. Since when flowers bloom can vary from year to year, the exact dates for starting the survey will be set when the survey sites are selected.

1.6

1.6 General Information

1.6.1 Quality Control: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means by which he assures himself that his work complies with the requirement of the contract.

1.6.2 Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

1.6.3 Recognized Holidays: Contractor is not required to work on recognized holidays.

1.6.4 Hours of Operation: The contractor is responsible for conducting business, between the hours of [8 am – 5 pm unless field conditions require earlier start times] Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. For other than firm fixed price contracts, the contractor will not be reimbursed when the government facility is closed for the above reasons. The Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is not closed for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.6.5 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at the contractors offices and field work will be completed at San Luis Complex. The surveys will be conducted at the San Luis Complex and the data entry will be done at the contractors offices.

1.6.6 Type of Contract: The government will award a firm fixed price.

1.6.7 Security Requirements: NA

1.6.7.1 PHYSICAL Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information and property provided for contractor use. At the close of each work period, government facilities, equipment, and materials shall be secured.

1.6.7.2 Key Control. Not applicable

1.6.7.3 Lock Combinations . The Contractor shall establish and implement methods of ensuring that all lock combinations are not revealed to unauthorized persons. The Contractor shall ensure that lock combinations are changed when personnel having access to the combinations no longer have a need to know such combinations. These procedures shall be included in the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan.

1.6.8 Special Qualifications: Must have training or experience in identifying plants and butterfly’s found in the San Joaquin Valley, California.

1.6.9 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

1.6.10 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The (COR) will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract: perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance: maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract: issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications: monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property, and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.11 Key Personnel: The follow personnel are considered key personnel by the government: Contract manager, plant field survey lead, butterfly field survey lead and field survey technicians. The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m., Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons. Qualifications for all key personnel are listed below: The contract manager will have at least 5 years experience in project management for field surveys. The plant field survey lead will have 3-5 years experience conducting plant surveys in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The butterfly field survey lead will have 3-5 years experience in conducting non-lethal butterfly surveys in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The field technicians will have at least 1 year of plant or butterfly field experience in the Central Valley of California.

1.6.12 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings, answering Government telephones, and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed.

1.6.13 Contractor Travel Contractor will be authorized travel expenses consistent with the substantive provisions of the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) and the limitation of funds specified in this contract. All travel requires Government approval/authorization and notification to the COR. The government estimates that Activity 1: Milkweed and Blooming Plant Surveys will need to occur once a month from March/April – June/July (depending when flowering starts). The government estimates that Activity 3: Adult Monarch Survey will need to occur 2 times a month when Monarchs are present March/April – June/July (depending when flowering starts).

1.6.14 Other Direct Costs: Any other direct costs should be included in the quote for the project.

1.6.15 Data Rights: The Government has unlimited rights to all documents/material produced under this contract. All documents and materials, to include the source codes of any software, produced under this contract shall be Government owned and are the property of the Government with all rights and privileges of ownership/copyright belonging exclusively to the Government. These documents and materials may not be used or sold by the contractor without written permission from the Contracting Officer. All materials supplied to the Government shall be the sole property of the Government and may not be used for any other purpose. This right does not abrogate any other Government rights.

1.6.16 Organizational Conflict of Interest: Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the Contracting Officer to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The Contractor’s mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the Contracting Officer and in the event the Contracting Officer unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may effect other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

1.6.17 PHASE IN /PHASE OUT PERIOD: NA

PART 2

DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

2. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

2.1. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.3. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S. Government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.4. DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.5. DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered, but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.6. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.7. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.8. QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.9. QUALITY ASSURANCE Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.10. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.11. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.12 SURVEY EVENT. The unique combination of survey site (plot location for plants and survey transect for butterflies) and the date of the survey.

2.1.13 SURVEY SITE: The location of the survey plots for plants and the survey transects for butterflies.

2.1.14. WORK DAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.15. WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

2.2. ACRONYMS:

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1. Services : The Government will provide the special use permit and other environmental compliance documentation required to conduct the surveys. The Government will provide review of products and data. The Government will also provide locations of sites to survey.

3.2 Facilities: The Government will provide access to sites and existing public restrooms at parking lots.

3.3 Utilities NA:

3.4 Equipment NA:

3.5 Materials and Digital Systems: The Government will provide access to the Monarch Joint Venture survey protocols, will create the ‘project’ in the Monarch Joint Venture data entry system for the surveys and will provide the Contractor access to the project to facilitate data entry. In addition, the Government will also provide necessary geospatial data for the surveys such as survey site locations.

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS.

4.2 Secret Facility Clearance: NA

4.3. Materials . The Contractor shall provide any field equipment or other materials to meet the requirements under this PWS. For example the Contractor shall supply all materials or equipment necessary to conduct the surveys, the equipment is described in the survey protocol documentation. The contractor will provide computers for contractor staff to enter data into the on-line data system. The contractor will provide any additional field safety equipment necessary for the surveys.

4.4. Equipment NA - equipment is described under 4.3 Materials.

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

5. Specific Tasks:

5.1. Basic Services. The contractor shall provide services for conducting monarch adult and other butterfly surveys, milkweed and blooming plant surveys, data management, survey design and summary findings and recommendations. Field surveys and data entry will follow the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program Milkweed and Blooming Plant Survey (IMMP) Activities 1 (Level/Option A) and Activity 3. The following tasks will be completed:

5.1.1. Project Coordination. The contractor and FWS staff will meet 2-3 times before the field season starts to review the schedule, develop a survey sampling design, and review logistics completing field work at the refuge. The survey sampling design includes meetings to identify specific survey sites,

5.1.2. Habitat Quality Survey. Assess the quality and quantity of monarch habitat in selected locations at San Luis NWR Complex (San Luis NWR, San Joaquin NWR and Merced NWR).

5.1.2.1. IMMP Activity 1—Milkweed and Blooming Plant Survey: develop a survey design to evaluate the quantity and quality of butterfly habitat. Assess milkweed density, plant species composition, and blooming plants using IMMP Option A Frequency, Species Composition, and Diversity. Each site will be surveyed 4 times during the field season.

5.1.2.2. The number of sites surveyed will be dependent on the contractor’s cost per site estimate and available funds. The distribution of Surveys Sites should be 10% San Joaquin NWR, 25% Merced NWR and 65% San Luis NWR. IMMP estimates the field time required for a site is 1-4 hours per survey event. This does not include travel to sites.

5.1.2.3. During the plant survey incidental observations of monarchs will also be noted and submitted to iNaturalist or a spreadsheet provided by FWS.

5.1.2.4. Enter data into the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Portal: Login – IMMP Data Portal

5.1.3. Pollinator Survey. Conduct pollinator surveys prioritizing monarchs using the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program Adult Monarch Survey method but expand to include all observed butterfly species.

5.1.3.1. IMMP Activity 3: Adult Monarch Survey will be used following the Pollard Walk Survey method. Survey at the same sites the IMMP Activity 1 sites and will be surveyed 8 times during the field season. IMMP estimates the field time required for a site is 30 minutes per survey event. This does not include travel time to sites.

5.1.3.2. In addition to the monarch survey data specified under IMMP, the presence of all butterflies within the sampling box will be recorded. Additional attributes such as butterfly behavior or nectar plant use will only be recorded for monarchs. Other butterflies will be identified to the lowest taxonomic level non-lethally in the field.

5.1.3.3. Number of survey transects will be determined based on the cost-per transect estimate provided by the contractor.

5.1.3.4. Enter data into the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Portal: Login – IMMP Data Portal.

5.1.3.5. Enter additional butterfly observations into iNaturalist or a spreadsheet provided by FWS

5.1.4. Habitat Classification. Classify survey sites into High, Medium, Low quality habitat using criteria provided by FWS

5.1.4.1. Assign survey sites High, Medium and Low habitat quality . Habitat quality will be added to a shapefile of survey transects and vegetation plots as a field.

5.1.5. Data and Results. Provide data and summary of implementation, and summary of results to FWS. Each site visit to collect habitat quality or pollinator data is considered a survey event.

5.1.5.1. Survey data will be entered into the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Portal: Login – IMMP Data Portal within one week of each survey event. Presence of other butterflies on each transect will be recorded on a digital datasheet provided by FWS to the lowest taxonomy possible with non-lethal identification methods. If photos of butterflies are records, observations will be submitted to iNaturalist.

5.1.5.2. Following data entry, all of the records should be verified against the paper datasheets to ensure data accuracy and quality. Each datasheet should be verified by someone who did not enter that specific datasheet.

5.1.5.3. Paper datasheets will be scanned and delivered to the Monarch Joint Venture and FWS.

5.1.5.4. Survey data will be delivered in digital formats specified by FWS such as shapefiles for geospatial data and .csv for tabular data within 4 weeks of the final survey event. Metadata will also be provided following DCAT 3.0.

5.1.5.5. Results from the survey including the survey effort, species observed, and habitat quality per site will be summarized and provided to FWS.

5.1.5.6. Results will include evaluation of any differences in pollinator use relative to the classified habitat quality. A summary of the methods used for this evaluation will be provided with documentation sufficient that it could be repeated by a FWS scientist in the future.

PART 6

APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

6. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS (CURRENT EDITIONS)

6.1. The Contractor must abide by all applicable regulations, publications, manuals, and local policies and procedures.

Monarch Joint Venture. March 2025. Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program. Version 3.4.

PART 7

ATTACHMENT/TECHNICAL EXHIBIT LISTING

(Under this section list all attachments and technical exhibits that will be useful for the contractor to submit an appropriate proposal. )

7. Attachment/Technical Exhibit List:

7.1. Attachment 1/Technical Exhibit 1 – Performance Requirements Summary

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 1

Performance Requirements Summary The contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the minimum acceptable levels of service required for each requirement. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

Performance Objective (The Service required—usually a shall statement)

Method of Surveillance

PRS # 1.

The contractor shall provide skilled field staff to conduct milkweed and blooming plant surveys following the Monarch Joint Venture’s Integrated Monarch Monitoring Protocol to identify the quantity and quality of Monarch Habitat at San Luis National Wildlife Complex (NWRC).

FWS staff will review data in the middle of the season and at the end of the season. An export of the IMMP submitted data will also be reviewed.

PRS # 2

The contractor shall provide skilled field staff to conduct adult monarch and other butterfly surveys following the Monarch Joint Venture’s Integrated Monarch Monitoring Protocol to quantify the abundance of Monarch butterflies and document other butterfly species occurrence at San Luis Complex

The contractor provided survey data will follow the Monarch Joint Venture Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) Activity 3, for Adult Monarch monitoring and will document other butterfly species observed at the survey site.

All survey data will be entered into the IMMP data portal and other tools provided by FWS. Data will be available on the IMMP data portal within a week of each survey event.

FWS staff will review data in the middle of the season and at the end of the season. An export of the IMMP submitted data will also be reviewed.

PRS # 3

The contractor shall provide skilled staff to classify the data from Activity 1 Blooming Plants survey into High, Medium, Low quality to be used for future survey design.

The contractor provided documentation of the methods for classification and the resulting geospatial dataset.

PRS # 4

The contractor shall provide an end of field season report and copy of the digital raw data.

The contractor provided report will summarize the results of the survey effort and the raw data will include all data entered into the IMMP data portal, observations recorded in other data tools, and metadata.