SOW_Dog_Scent_Services_1.doc

Notice of Intent

This is a notice of intent to solicit form a single source.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) intends to negotiate a purchase order with Working Dogs for Conservation Foundation for conservation dog detection services for lizard scat and collection as described in the attached statement of work.

Award will be made in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) and the procedures at FAR Part 12 entitled, Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR 13 entitled, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Working Dogs for Conservation Foundation is, to the USGS’ knowledge, the only source who can field conservation dogs with the training and experience in the San Joaquin valley to detect the lizard species of note.

The purpose of this notice is to satisfy the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.2. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all responsible parties may submit a quotation by the closing date of this announcement which shall be considered by the agency. No solicitation will be issued. A determination not to compete this action based upon responses received is in the sole discretion of the Government.

The NAICS code for this action is 541990 – All other Professional, Scientific and Technical services.

Responses or inquiries shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to aberry@usgs.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than 05/28/2025 at 05:00a PDT Statement of Work

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Introduction

Contractor will provide professional detection dog teams to conduct surveys for scat of three lizard species of interest: blunt nosed leopard lizard (BNLL; Gambelia sila), western whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis tigris), and Blainville's horned lizard

(Phrynosoma blainvillii).

B. Background non-invasively increase sample sizes of scats of sympatric lizard species. We developed the search strategy with dogs for lizard scat detection (specifically for the 3 species identified above) so that dogs can offer an effective method for increasing sample sizes of scats necessary for subsequent DNA analysis or other ecological monitoring purposes The pairing of detection dog handler team searches with noninvasive genetic analysis led to the development of new methodology for genetically identifying species from wild lizard scats, and has been recently refined to the individual identification level as well as to development of genetic identification of invertebrate prey items in lizard scats.

C. Scope

Professional detection dog handler team surveys will be carried out to recover scat samples of the three lizard species, following the target scat search strategy. Surveys will occur on two previous lizard scat detection study sites: 1) in specified core areas of the Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM) & 2) in the Panoche Plateau, a site within the Panoche Hills

Management Area. Both sites have been part of multi-year and partner efforts for dog surveys and collected scats for these lizard species. Two teams, consisting of a detection dog paired with a handler, will be provided. Each team will work one at a time, accompanied by a second handler/person as an orienteer.

Scat searches will occur on the Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM) core areas with the estimated schedule*:

• 1 day - Phelan Pasture (CPNM RMP Core Area 1);

• 1 day - Center Well Pasture / KCL (Kinney-Hahl) (CPNM RMP Core Area 2);

• 1 day - W Cochora Pasture (CPNM RMP Core Area 3, “Shrubbed”);

• 1 day - E Cochora Pasture (CPNM RMP Core Area 3, “Shrubless”).

(*If livestock guard dogs, herding dogs, or bulls in any Core Area prevent safe access for detection dog deployment the corresponding 1-day search in that area will be omitted and instead replaced with 2-days in one of the other Core Areas described.)

Two further days of scat searches will occur on a second site outside of the CPNM:

• 2 days - Panoche Plateau, a site within the Panoche Hills Management Area.

Due to the necessity of using a strict pressure search strategy for locating lizard scat, each team will span an approximate linear distance of 1.5 – 2 km per day.

Surveys will be conducted during daytime hours (i.e., starting at first light, approximately

05:30 AM to approximately 9:30 AM). The 6 fielding days across these two study locations necessitate ~18 days, to also include travel/rest/acclimation. Bearing the total timeframe in mind, the ideal operational timeframe for dog teams to deploy on these lizard scat surveys encompasses a window within which invasive grasses are present but prior to onset of aggressive vegetational growth. This typically spans the month of May and/or early to mid-June, although through to the third week of June may be considered as required. The results will provide new data to inform for management purposes.

II. WORK REQUIREMENTS

A. Technical Requirements.

1.

Contractor will assume all tasks related to scat survey and sample collection data-recording, and will submit this information to the research partner accordingly. Adhering to the search strategy necessitated by the small scent detection distance of this target scent, and developed by the contractor, each handler will direct the dog to search for scats along unpaved roads and/or two-tracks (with possibly some sides of paved roads) within the area designated for that fielding day.

The location of each detected scat will be geo-referenced with a handheld GPS unit. Scats will be collected in Ziploc bags to which one teaspoon of silica gel will be added for desiccation. The samples will be dropped off directly or shipped to the Mammalian Ecology and Conservation

Unit, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Davis for confirmation to species

(as per defined survey protocol and by agreement with longstanding lizard scat genetics partner).

All survey data (e.g., lizard scat find waypoints, .gpx and .kmz files, survey jpegs, and spreadsheet detailing the scats found during surveys at each location and summarizing these surveys) will be provided within approximately two weeks after final fielding day and return travel days home are fully complete.

2. Criteria for acceptance of Product or Service

Scat appropriately collected and packaged for utilization in genetic analysis as outlined in the technical requirements.

Complete survey data in appropriate file formats, including completed spreadsheet detailing where scat was found during each survey, and summarizing the surveys.

B. Deliverables.

1. Lizard scat survey data consisting of lizard scat find waypoints, .gpx and .kmz files, survey jpegs, and spreadsheet detailing the scats found during surveys at each location and summarizing these surveys.

2. Samples shipped or dropped off to the Mammalian Ecology and Conservation

Unit, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Davis.

3. Lizard scat survey data provided within approximately two weeks after both the last fielding day and final return travel days back to WD4C’s MT base are fully complete.

III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION

A. Place of Performance.

Various locations in the San Joaquin Valley as outlined above in the scope section.

B. Period of Performance

Approximate dates are from June 4th, to July 31st, 2025, Period of Performance includes approximately 18 field days at the beginning of the period of performance, lead time to consolidate data in appropriate formats to provide deliverables to USGS and the lab at UC Davis and extra days to account for unforeseen delays in the field.

B. Government Furnished Property (GFP): list property and its value.

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D. Special Considerations.

1. Key personnel qualifications (researchers, instructors, writers, project managers, programmers, etc.)

Dog handlers and dogs specifically trained for the purpose outlined in the statement of work.

3. Data Rights, Safety, Environment.

Safety is paramount for dogs, wildlife, and people in the field. From heat management in the field, to ensuring the safety of target species, and the physical conditioning and behavioral enrichment our dogs receive when they’re not working, Additionally, all dogs in this study are privately ownYear-round care meets or exceeds Animal Welfare Act standards for handling, housing, space requirements, feeding and watering, sanitation, ventilation, shelter from weather, veterinary care, transportation, and handling in transit.

fielding health and safety. Dog handlers trained in K9 first aid, provide water and food for the dog and monitor heat and fatigue continuously.

3. Security/Privacy issues (ingress to Federal buildings, personnel clearances, computer security).

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