SOW_1.pdf

US Geological Survey - Alaska Science Center Statement of Work

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

Introduction and Background To meet the objectives of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Changing Arctic

Ecosystems research project “Assessing the effects of climate-induced variability on the behavior, distribution and demography of the Porcupine Caribou Herd”, USGS has a need to analyze the quality of key summer caribou forage species throughout the summer range of the Porcupine Caribou Herd (PCH).

The PCH ranges across northeast Alaska and the northwest Yukon Territory and is of great public concern given their high ecological value and role as a critical subsistence resource for indigenous people. The effects of climate change are expected to significantly influence summer foraging opportunities for PCH, and concomitantly their distributions, movements, and demographic rates, but the consequences of these changes remain unknown despite their importance for caribou dynamics and rural subsistence. Concerns about PCH are being further compounded by new plans to expand energy development into the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as this area is the preferred calving and post-calving range of the herd.

To address these concerns, USGS has initiated a study that will, in part, quantify climate-driven variation in forage conditions across the PCH’s summer range within the Arctic coastal plain in Alaska and Yukon, and determine how caribou behaviorally respond to dynamic forage conditions. During summer 2022 USGS will collect samples of caribou forage throughout their early summer range. Once samples are collected, a Contractor will conduct laboratory analyzes of the samples for their digestible protein and dry matter content, as well as mineral content (sodium, calcium, and phosphorus). Results of the analyses will be used to develop spatiotemporal models of caribou forage conditions across the PCH summer range.

Scope The Contractor will conduct laboratory analyses of caribou forage (i.e., vegetation) samples to determine their quality content. Specifically, the Contractor will dry, grind, and homogenize forage samples to prepare them for nutritional analyses. Then, the Contractor will analyze the samples for their digestible protein and dry matter content, and conduct assays of their mineral content (Ca, P, and Na). For the first year, USGS will ship samples to the Contractor during summer 2022 and the results of the nutritional analyses should be provided to USGS by 9/30/2023.

II. WORK REQUIREMENTS

Technical Requirements and Deliverables The Contractor must have a laboratory equipped with freezers, freeze dryers, ovens, balances, water purification systems, incubators, water baths, heating mantles, centrifuges, spectrophotometers, fiber extraction, solvent extraction, microwave digestion, microwave plasma spectrometer. The laboratory must have established protocols to complete analyses of moistures, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and minerals and to prepare samples for analyses. Additionally, the Contractor must have staff with demonstrated expertise in conducting all requested analyses, including results their analyses published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

USGS will provide the Contractor with ~640 of each sample per year (100 g) of different forage species (Salix, Betula, Eriophorum, Equisetum, Dryas, and Chamaenerion) collected at sites throughout the PCH summer range. The Contractor must provide USGS the digestible nitrogen and dry matter content of each forage sample, along with the mineral contents of calcium, phosphorus, and sodium. Results will be provided to USGS by 9/30/2023, emailed by electronic file. No samples will be returned to USGS.

III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Project Study Plan: Assessing the effects of climate-induced variability on the behavior, distribution, and demography of the Porcupine Caribou Herd (Alaska Science Center, Wetlands and Terrestrial Ecosystems Branch).

Period of Performance:

Base Period: 07/01/2022 to 09/30/2023 Option Year 1: 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024 (Subject to Availability of Funds) Option Year 2: 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2025 (Subject to Availability of Funds)