SOW_1.docx

Statement of Work Voluntary Lead-Free Initiative

As directed by Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3347 - Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Department of the Interior Lands and Waters, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is requesting to establish an agency-wide blanket purchase authority (BPA) for implementation of the Voluntary Lead-Free Initiative (Initiative) to encourage the voluntary use of lead-free ammunition for hunting opportunities. The Initiative also supports the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Resolution 2025-02-05: In Support of the Voluntary Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Reducing Unintended Ingestion of Lead Ammunition and Tackle Residues in Wildlife Developed by the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

The program encourages the voluntary use of lead-free ammunition across the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) through various strategies. At select national wildlife refuges, the Service will host educational workshops to encourage the voluntary use of lead-free ammunition for hunting opportunities. In addition, with proof of purchase of lead-free ammunition, hunters will be able to receive a rebate for the purchase and use of lead-free ammunition, or other viable incentive measures, while hunting on select national wildlife refuges. We will also use targeted outreach via printed materials, on-line resources, or other media to inform hunters about the conservation and performance benefits of lead-free ammunition. In addition, we will train Service and partner staff on all aspects of the program to relay this information to hunters.

1. Scope of Work

1.1 Demonstration Engagement Events for Staff and Stakeholders Development Purpose

· Develop Initiative demonstration workshop agendas, topics, and materials specific to local regulatory and hunting practices (i.e., educational workshops).

Audience

· Hunting Community

· State Wildlife Management Agency Employees

· Service Employees Activities

· Work with National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) staff to schedule and effectively promote public workshops across various geographic locations.

· Public workshops will include a classroom style presentation of relevant and current science regarding lead-free ammunition, followed by a field based demonstration of ammunition safety, performance, efficacy, and wildlife impacts.

· Coordinate with state and federal wildlife agency partners to provide technical training to staff and hunters on wildlife health, ballistics, and educational processes for voluntary programs to increase the use of lead-free hunting ammunition as part of the Initiative.

· Provide leadership in developing and conducting workshops and associated demonstrations.

· Provide at least 1 representative to lead all aspects at each engagement event.

· Provide materials for outreach, bullet testing, and engagement with community leaders and hunters.

· Proposed engagement events and tentative dates to be developed in coordination with the Service and other parties to meet specific needs.

1.2 Incentive Engagement Portal Administration, Validation, and Distribution of Incentives Purpose

· Assist the Service on the development and implementation of the incentive engagement portal to validate and process incentive applications and distribute incentives for the Program.

Audience

· Hunting Community

· Service Employees Activities

· Develop qualification validation metrics and entry requirements for incentive program participation.

· Monitor the incentive portal and conduct validation of prerequisite incentive requirements in a timely manner (within 30 days of submission), including but not limited to:

· Processing and verification that applicants are eligible hunters for the program

· Processing and verification that hunters have made purchases making them eligible for the Initiative incentives.

· Distribute incentives to successful program participants through pre-paid debit/gift cards.

· Communicate with unsuccessful participants.

· Coordinate evaluation, analysis, and reporting of incentive participation in the program and overall survey results on attitudes and perceptions of hunters that participate in the incentive program with Service.

1.3 Staff Training

Purpose

· Provide Service staff with the necessary training, resources, and messaging tools to effectively implement the overall Initiative purpose.

Audience

· Service Employees

· State Wildlife Management Agency Employees Activities

· Develop and deliver trainings to be delivered to Service staff interested or participating in the Initiative (e.g., webinars, in-person workshops, etc.).

· Provide pre-training work materials for review by participants.

· Develop a training agenda, topics, and online presentation materials specific to the Initiative. Training objectives shall include an overall background of the issue, environmental issues, current training and outreach materials, incentive options, and how staff can become involved and lead public workshops at a local level (e.g., train-the-trainer).

· Develop post-training evaluation metrics and a survey instrument to understand thoughts, perspectives, and attitudes of the webinar from attendees.

· Report on findings of the post-event evaluation to the Service.

2. Project Timeline Base Year

· Start Date: Awarded Contract projected to begin June 2026

· End Date: 1 year after Award Contract Option Years

· Option Year 1: June 2027

· Option Year 2: June 2028

· Option Year 3: June 2029

· Option Year 4: June 2030

3. Deliverables

3.1 Demonstration Engagement Events for Staff and Stakeholders Development

· Educational Workshops: Fully conduct external educational workshops at locations selected by the Service.

· Reports: Submit a written report each year detailing the number of educational workshops conducted and providing broad recommendations for future actions. Reports should be provided to the Primary Technical POC.

3.2 Incentive Engagement Portal Administration, Validation, and Distribution of Incentives

· Portal development assistance and implementation: Provide consultation to develop the submission portal including branching logic to determine accurate submissions by hunters.

· Validation: Confirm hunter-submitted data is accurate and meets the defined purpose of the program.

· Distribution of incentives: Accurately and effectively distribute reimbursements to hunters in a timely matter (30 days or less).

· Reports: Submit a written report each year detailing the number of incentives processed and providing broad recommendations for future actions. Reports should be provided to the Primary Technical POC.

3.3 Staff Training

· Staff Trainings: Develop and deliver trainings in to be delivered to Service staff interested or participating in the program.

· Staff Development: Develop a training agenda, topics, and online presentation materials specific to the program. Training objectives shall include an overall background of the issue, environmental issues, current training and outreach materials, incentive options, and how staff can become involved and lead external trainings at a local level (e.g., train-the-trainer).

4. Travel The offeor shall quote travel as a firm-fixed cost in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations, ensuring that costs are managed efficiently and transparently.

Base Year

· Line Item 0010 Educational workshops: funding dependent but estimated to be two to 10 educational workshops per year.

· Line Item 0020 Incentive validation and reimbursement: distribute approximately 700 incentive payments to hunters.

· Line Item 0030 Staff training: virtual webinar and staff training ahead of educational workshops.

Option Years (4 years)

· 1010-4010 Educational workshops: funding dependent but estimated to be two to 10 educational workshops per year.

· 1020-4020 Incentive validation and reimbursement: funding dependent but distribute approximately 200-1,000 incentive payments to hunters.

· 1030-4030 Staff training: virtual webinars and staff training.

5. Conclusion The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks a partnership-based engagement that will equip the Service’s Refuge team with the skills and insights necessary for the purpose of this program. This will effectively advance the mission of the agency through voluntary approaches.