SOW 20200902_NMRNRattlesnake_1.doc

STATEMENT OF WORK OUTLINE

For New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office New Mexican ridge-nosed rattlesnake database correction project

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office (NMESFO) is seeking a contract for someone to collate, validate, and georeferenced a 20+ year rattlesnake dataset from the Animas Mountains in southwestern New Mexico. A final report including text and maps for all relevant information from the dataset shall be due to the NMESFO upon completion. All relevant georeferenced files associated with the final report will be provided to Natural Heritage New Mexico after completion of the final report.

BACKGROUND -

In the rattlesnake’s most recent 5-year review, the NMESFO identified that source information for the review did not include specific data regarding locality or population estimates. Additionally, the NMESFO is aware that pertinent, unpublished data exists for this species. The majority of these data include approximately 20+ years of fieldwork from various scientists that have worked on reptiles in southwestern New Mexico. These data are crucial to inform a Species Status Assessment to determine if the recommendations provided in the most recent 5-year review are valid.

SCOPE

The NMESFO is seeking a contract to complete work with a 20+ year dataset for the New Mexican ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi obscurus), a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The contract will be for someone to collate, correct, standardize, validate, and georeference the dataset. The dataset was collected prior to the termination of selective availability, and needs to be corrected and have appropriate error estimates associated with it. Once the dataset is corrected, a final report will be produced containing electronic maps of all relevant information from the dataset. The final report will be provided to the NMESFO. All relevant georeferenced files associated with the final report will be provided to Natural Heritage New Mexico after completion of the final report. If funding is available for a second year, then there will be an option to work on an additional report for rattlesnake habitat use associated with the dataset. This information will be crucial to inform a future Species Status Assessment to determine if the recommendations provided in the most recent 5-year review remains valid. Additionally, this information can be used to update the species’ Recovery Plan.

APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS -

A copy of the most recent 5-year review for the rattlesnake can be found on the Service’s Environmental Conservation Online System webpage for the rattlesnake at https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3657.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS -

The Service was made aware during the rattlesnake’s most recent 5-year review that approximately 20+ years of unpublished fieldwork dataset exists for this species. The NMESFO has been in communications regarding the disposition of the dataset with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Arizona Fish and Game Department, and researchers who have worked on the rattlesnake. No other previous efforts to work with these datasets are known.

This contract is for an individual to collate, correct, standardize, validate, and georeference this dataset. Upon completion of this, a final report would be generated. This contract would cover work from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021 with a possible one year extension for additional rattlesnake habitat analysis. The second year of the contract (from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, if funding is available) would combine the dataset with habitat information to complete a rattlesnake suitability model. A final report with text and maps based on the model would be generated.

This contact is for one (possibly two) project phases. Phase one includes 1) collate, correct, standardize, validate, and georeference the dataset, and 2) completion of final report. Phase two (depending on funding availability) includes 1) rattlesnake habitat analysis and suitability model creation and 2) completion of final report including text and maps relevant to rattlesnake habitat use. The individual awarded this contract should communicate with the NMESFO if any problems occur during any steps of any project phase. No approval from NMESFO is needed to move between steps in each phase of this contract.

Deliverable items for this contract for phase one include 1) a final report including text and maps for all relevant information from the dataset delivered to the NMESFO, and 2) all relevant georeferenced files provided to Natural Heritage New Mexico. Phase one items including the final report and georeferenced files are due on December 31, 2021. Deliverable items for phase two (depending on funding availability) include 1) a final report including text and maps relevant to rattlesnake habitat use delivered to the NMESFO, and 2) any relevant georeferenced files provided to Natural Heritage New Mexico. Phase two items including the final report and georeferenced files are due on December 31, 2022.

This contract is assumed to have low risk or uncertainty due to the type of work needed for the phases and deliverables mentioned above. Contract performance effort shouldn’t require state of the art, new or untried techniques. Additionally, there are no packing, packaging or marking requirements associated with this contract. There are no security considerations to be identified in this contract. All work will be conducted by the contractor and work is expected to take place at contractor’s home or place of employment (i.e. academic institution). Lastly, no government furnished property will be provided for this contract, so no property will need to be returned upon completion of the contract.