SOW__Pine_Rockland_Rest._Area.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

PINE ROCKLAND HABITAT RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION WORK

AT

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, FLORIDA

August 2020

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

PINE ROCKLAND HABITAT RESTORATION/PRESERVATION WORK

AT

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, FLORIDA

PART A – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

This statement of work (SOW) defines requirements for environmental services in accordance with applicable regulatory guidance. The place of performance for the requested Pine Rockland Habitat Restoration and Preservation Work is at the remnant pine rockland tract within Homestead Air Reserve Base (ARB), Florida. See Figure 1 for location of study area.

Pine rocklands are ecological fire-climax communities unique to limestone substrate areas within southern-most Florida, and parts of Cuba and the Bahamas. Over 98% of the original pine rockland habitat of South Florida has been destroyed due to hurricanes and intense urban sprawl and development making it a globally imperiled ecological community. They are home to a wide and unique assemblage of federal and state-listed plant and animal species, especially a number of endemic imperiled butterflies. Only

4,000 acres exist outside of Everglades National Park, with most of the remaining pine rocklands restricted to small isolated fragments. These remnant patches are continually threatened by exotic plant infestations, urban development and fire suppression. Despite the continued deterioration of this habitat throughout Miami-Dade County, remnant pine rocklands act to preserve many endemic and imperiled plant species. These islands of diversity need to be actively managed to control invasive plant species infestations and to maintain natural fire patterns.

The subject Pine Rockland study site (encompassing approximately 3.0 acres) and the adjacent small grassy parcel (approximately 1.5 acre) alongside and to the east are located within the northwestern corner of Homestead ARB. The study site is close to a low income residential development, commercial businesses and a charter school on the west side, just below a very busy public roadway (SW 288th Street) to the north, and the

Homestead ARB Bulk Fuel Storage Area adjacent to the east. Because of the aforementioned location within the base, the subject study site cannot make use of prescribed burning to get rid of exotics and excess fuel loads that inhibit community growth and structure. The restoration work to date has resulted in an incredible recovery in composition and density of native plant species. As a result of previous on-site restoration work, a number of healthy specimens of two federal-listed endangered plant species, Small’s milkpea (Galactia smallii), and sand flax (Linum arenicola), have been found to be present at several locations. The additional restoration, assessment, monitoring and maintenance work to be performed under this SOW is to continue the exotic removal maintenance (including some new species that may be encountered) and additional removal of some native species representing excess residual fuel loads. A review of similar restoration work performed on other nearby Pine Rockland tracts within southern Miami-Dade County has shown that regular monitoring and vegetation fuel-load removal (by either mechanical or prescribed burning means) is necessary to continue the enhancement activities that have already been completed.

Previous studies within other parcels of former Homestead Air Force Base (AFB) have shown that other existing pine rockland fragments contain the Federally-listed endangered deltoid spurge (Chamaesyce deltoidea subsp. adhaerans), as well as many other rare and state-listed imperiled plant species. In addition, a 2013 survey for the presence and distribution of protected plants within the cantonment area of Homestead

ARB demonstrated that two of the above federal listed species (Small’s milkpea and

Sand flax) are present within and adjacent to the subject pine rockland tract and within the grassy parcel to the east (see Figure 2).

The first detailed, site-specific, comprehensive, quantitative botanical survey of the subject study area was completed in 2012. At that time, a significant portion of the subject study site contained patches of the highly flammable Burma reed (Neyraudia reynaudiana), along with two other major non-native invasive plants; Australian pine

(Casuarina equisetifolia) and Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius).

The aforementioned survey was performed in conjunction with an intensive vegetation removal action of dense stands of invasive species present on site. Because of the extensive clearing out of non-native vegetation during the 2012 project, a follow-up botanical/ecological assessment was necessary to determine whether additional specimens of various rare federal, state, and county-listed plant species had begun to grow within the subject study area. The follow up work performed in 2013-2014, continued to further enhance the pine rockland native plant diversity and habitat quality, while at the same time removing residual invasive species stands.

After completion of the initial habitat restoration activities, most of the remaining tall native hardwood trees on site consisted of poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum) and willow bustic (Sideroxylon salicifolia), both of which because of their extensive presence, distribution and growth constituted potential high fire fuel loads. As like the dense stands of invasive plant species previously found on site, the subject hardwoods continued to detrimentally affect the pine rockland by crowding out smaller native species, acting as nuisance seed sources, and as a wildfire hazard to the base and adjacent property owners.

If allowed to have grown unchecked the residual stands of invasive plants and the subject two hardwoods (poisonwood and willow bustic) would have potentially reform thick covers of plant growth that would have inhibited further establishment and growth of significant endemic native species of concern. The excessive amounts of the aforementioned native trees were successfully removed in mid to late 2014. Subsequent treatment and removal activities in 2015 and 2016 have met with equal success.

It is important to note that the current location and status of federal, state, and local listed sensitive plant species at the subject restoration site would need to be confirmed prior to carrying out any of the proposed plant removal and monitoring activities.

The performance of the requested services would be accomplished by:

- Establishing the current ecological status of the subject site through the performance of a detailed botanical/ecological assessment (and production of a subsequent summary report and associated maps) of the current presence, extent, and condition of both native and non-native plant species.

- Performing follow-up site treatment and removal activities for the cost-effective removal of other native hardwood tree species (e.g., sea grape) that are not endemic to pine rocklands, along with residual or recently introduced invasive and exotic species. This would include cutting, herbicide application, and hauling and disposal of vegetation from the site and off the base. Only herbicides listed on the most recent version of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) Standard Pesticide

List can be used for any basal applications and stem treatments.

- Monitoring the effect of the vegetation/herbicide treatment activities on the botanical/ecological condition of the subject site.

- Before the end of the contract performance period, a detailed botanical/ecological assessment (and production of a subsequent summary report and associated maps) of the subsequent presence, extent and condition of both native and non-native plant species at the subject study area, and analysis of site composition and changes in composition to what previously existed over the years.

- Evaluation and recommendations for suggested areas) for new plantings of key endemic pine rockland plants including those important as host and nectar plants for endemic at-risk native butterflies.

- Arrange through the Connect to Protect Program at Fairchild Tropical Botanical

Gardens, to coordinate the acquisition and plantings of key endemic pine rockland plants at the site.

See Figure 2 for the extent of the subject study area.

In carrying out the work assignment issued under this contract, the Contractor shall furnish the personnel, services, equipment, materials, facilities, and other requirements necessary for, or incidental to, the performance of work set forth herein. The Contractor and team members shall work and coordinate closely with the base’s Natural Resources

Program Manager, who will be an integral member of the team. The local Program

Manager shall be the point of contact (POC) at Homestead ARB for all environmental issues regarding this contract.

Primary technical services shall be performed by individuals who are credentialed, experienced members of the wildlife and natural area management and restoration professions. Generally, a credentialed professional (a) is one who is licensed or certified to practice in the state where a facility is located or (b) commands the necessary expertise and recognition by the local, state and federal wildlife agencies, in terms of intimate knowledge, bona fide local experience, publications and training to undertake the specified task. In particular, the contractor should have demonstrated experience, expertise, and familiarization with the proper means of natural area management and restoration of the unique plants known to be present within pine rockland communities known to occur in South Florida, especially within the vicinity of former Homestead

AFB. Preference would be given to consultants with proven track record within Miami-

Dade County.

1.0 SCOPE

The Contractor shall provide A-E Services in support of Homestead ARB. The purpose of the contract is to perform the necessary research, observations, investigations, and consultations needed to develop and provide an acceptable updated report and associated maps.

The Contractor shall be capable of addressing and interpreting all aspects of applicable project-specific county, state, and federal environmental laws, regulations, statutes, and guidelines. In addition, the contractor shall have demonstrated experience and understanding of working within an active military facility.

An updated detailed botanical inventory will be conducted. All federal-listed, state-listed, and county-listed threatened, endangered or candidate plant species, and plant species listed as Critically Imperiled by the Institute for Regional Conservation will mapped using properly calibrated handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units. Areas inhabited by these species will be flagged so as to alert the plant removal and treatment crews of their presence during questerly monitoring activities to prevent their being harmed or destroyed. Upon completion of the subject inventory, a comprehensive updated plant list with good representative digital photographs will be prepared as well as site maps displaying locations of all rare plant species.

Also upon completion of the aforementioned botanical inventory and flagging field activities, site treatment activities for the monitoring and cost-effective removal of residual invasive plant species and the extensive growth of residual native hardwood species that are not endemic to Pine Rockland habitat will be undertaken to produce a more open canopy. These activities would include, but are not limited to, the cutting, herbicide application, and hauling and disposal of unwanted vegetation off site. Only

DoD/USAF acceptable herbicides can be used for any basal applications and stem treatments. All herbicide applicator personnel must be properly licensed by the state of

Florida. All cutting and treatment work will be performed under the supervision of an on-site biological monitor to ensure that critical native and protected species are not harmed during field activities. All cut vegetative material will be moved to designated staging areas adjacent to the study site. The grinding and/or mulching of the removed vegetative material will be allowed as long the resultant mulch is removed from the study area to an acceptable disposal facility off base.

2.0 SERVICES REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide a full range of environmental services, utilizing such technical and administrative resources as may be required, to successfully complete all aspects of the work specified. These services include, but are not limited to, providing the necessary project management, labor, materials, supplies, and incidentals, to perform the following studies and activities, provide the necessary technical support, and prepare the associated documents. These are to:

- Prepare an updated detailed baseline survey to document the site’s status before the requested vegetation clearing and maintenance activities are undertaken;

- Properly coordinate tree/brush removal and herbicide application activities;

- Post removal action survey to document subsequent site conditions;

- Summary report of above actions along with good photographic documentation;

- Description, mapping and laying out of suggested areas for nature trail pathways;

- Description, mapping and marking in the field of suggested areas for planting of key native plants; and

- Prepare Geographical Information System (GIS) maps showing before and after location and extent of native and invasive plant species of concern according to both federal and state criteria.

The Contractor shall coordinate field activities, review of applicable documents, and/or other relevant actions with base personnel to facilitate successful execution of the tasks specified herein and ensure the accuracy and completeness of the various documents.

Specific requirements are described in Part C of this SOW.

PART B – ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide management, planning, performance measurement and cost status reporting pertinent to the performance of the requirements identified in this

Contract.

3.0 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable: (1) federal, state, and local environmental statutes, instructions, manuals, handbooks, regulations, guidance, policy letters, and rules

(including all changes and amendments), and (2) Presidential Executive Orders and

Memorandum, in effect on the date of issuance of this contract. Specifically, the

Contractor shall rely upon, but not be limited to the following documents or sources for information and guidance in the preparation of the requested environmental documents.

Any amendments or updates to these Acts and documents or other documents used in the development of the analysis, shall be documented.

- Executive Order (EO) 13112, Invasive Species;

- Endangered Species Act (ESA);

- Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant (FLEPPC) List;

- United States Fish and Wildlife Services List of Endangered, Threatened and

Candidate Species;

- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) List of Endangered, Threatened and Candidate Species; and

- the federal Sikes Act and Amendments.

4.0 TASK ORDER MANAGEMENT, PLANNING, AND REPORTING SERVICES

The Contractor shall plan project activities, including the development, implementation, and maintenance of project schedules, events, status of resources, report(s) on the activities, and progress toward accomplishing project objectives. The Contractor shall document for government review and approval the results of the project efforts for this contract.

4.1 Schedule and Planning Requirements

4.1.1 Project Planning Chart (PPC)

The Contractor shall prepare and submit a PPC for approval. The PPC shall detail the project schedule and status, which shall depict percent complete for this contract.

4.2 Photographic Documentation

The Contractor shall prepare digital photographic documentation, as appropriate, to support the activities required under this contract. The Contractor shall include photographic documentation of site features, nearby surface features and structures, and key plant species encountered, as appropriate, in the ensuing report specified for this contract. Photography of any kind must be coordinated through the Homestead ARB point of contact (POC).

4.3 Meeting and Conference Services

4.3.1 Meeting/Teleconference Support

The Contractor shall participate in one post-award kickoff meeting at Homestead ARB.

The meeting will discuss project background, roles and responsibilities, base logistics and study site access, and arrangements for temporary security and vehicle passes. The

Contractor shall prepare the meeting agenda, minutes, and presentation materials. The

Contractor also shall be prepared to participate in document review teleconferences (on an as needed basis), to discuss review comments on the Air Force review of the draft and draft final versions of the reports and associated maps.

4.4 Notification Requirements

The Contractor is required to notify the Contracting Officer (CO) and/or Contracting

Officer’s Representative (COR) of critical issues that may affect the contract performance. The types of issues that require notification include, but are not limited to, changes in critical personnel. On critical issues, oral notification should be made immediately, followed by written notification as soon as practical.

4.5 Work Site Coordination

The Contractor shall advise the base POC at least two (2) working days prior to any field visits. Contractor shall coordinate work site activities to ensure the protection of human health and the environment; the prevention of damage to property, utilities, materials, supplies, and equipment; and the avoidance of work interruptions.

The government will not provide temporary office space during Homestead ARB site visits for Contractor personnel. The government will provide access to historical documents within the base’s Natural Resources administrative records as they apply to this contract. Due to limitations on the number of photocopies allowed on government photocopiers, the Contractor shall be prepared to use off-base commercial sources for photocopying. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing all other facilities, equipment, computer hardware and software, and materials required for completion of these tasks.

The Contractor must comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA) safety and health regulations and local safety office requirements. The

Contractor is required to provide the CO copies of any OSHA report(s) submitted during the duration of the contract.

Specifically, the Contractor, in conjunction with the Natural Resources Program

Manager, shall coordinate worksite activities with applicable installation, and or regulatory agencies personnel. Examples of the offices/departments with which the

Contractor shall coordinate activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Police/Security/Pass and Identification; Fire Department, Local, State and Federal

Regulators, and Air Field Management.

4.6 Spatial Data (Map) Requirements

The Contractor shall prepare clear, user-friendly maps and other graphics, as appropriate, to support the activities required under this contract. All maps and graphics will be prepared in a format that is compatible with the Homestead ARB Geobase system. GIS maps shall use coordinates compatible with the Florida State Plane East. Shape files will be in accordance with ESRI ArcGIS 10.3. All in-field GPS mapping shall be within a minimal accuracy of +/- one (1) feet.

PART C – PLANNING SERVICES

The contractor shall provide environmental services in support of installation planning and programming activities. Planning activities may include those activities necessary to assess and manage environmental implications and conditions of proposed installation activities as well as planning associated with managing the installation and its associated infrastructure.

5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING

The Contractor shall develop, update, integrate, publish and present environmental planning and programming services as specified in this contract.

5.1 Pine Rockland Habitat Restoration and Preservation Project Process

The Contractor shall support with activities such as the preparation of the project-specific assessment report and other associated documents. Supplemental activities include support on data identification; collection (including site visits and interviews), development, and interpretation; environmental impact evaluations and reports; and regulatory agency meetings, if deemed necessary. In all cases, Homestead ARB shall make the final decision as to whether or not there is a need for further environmental review of the project findings. In general, the documents prepared shall include, but not be limited to:

- Descriptions of the existing affected and unaffected physical, and biological, environments encountered;

- Descriptions of the qualifications and quantifications of the type, quality and value of the various key plant species specimens and populations encountered, and field sheets used;

- Descriptions and mapping of the distribution and density of key pine rockland indicator plants encountered within the subject site;

- Descriptions and mapping of the occurrence, distribution and density of federal, state and county listed plant and animal species (i.e., threatened, endangered, and species of concern) encountered within the study area;

- Description and mapping of native plants conducive for attraction of endemic butterflies (both host and nectar plants);

- Description, mapping and marking locations in the field of suggested areas for planting of key native plants;

- Descriptions and mapping of the occurrence, distribution and density of residual exotic invasive plants and animals encountered within the study area; and

- Documentary support for all of the above.

Existing data, available from Federal, state, and local government agencies or private entities shall be fully utilized whenever possible in order to avoid duplication of previous research that may be pertinent to the proposed project, assuming the data is widely considered as accurate and extant. The Contractor shall be responsible for thoroughly reviewing and assessing the validity of any previously generated data which it utilizes, and shall provide in the project-specific Administrative Record, a complete detailed description of the methodology used in this review and assessment.

The Contractor shall, at all times, keep Homestead ARB apprised of its progress and findings. Any finding(s) holding the potential for significantly delaying the completion of the proposed project activities and work products shall be verbally communicated to the

Natural Resources Program Manager as soon as the Contractor learns of the finding(s).

The Contractor shall put the finding(s) in writing to Homestead ARB within 48 hours of this verbal communication.

The Contractor shall institute a professionally acceptable program of empirical research and data collection, and shall establish a data baseline in those areas where data does not exist, is insufficient for thorough analysis, or is deemed obsolete. The use of field studies and on-site investigations, various analytical models, literature searches, and contact with the appropriate outside government agencies and private organizations (e.g., Fairchild

Tropical Botanical Gardens) may be used by the Contractor in effectively assessing the subject wetland areas.

If the expert judgment and determination of officials from outside government agencies or other expertise groups are included in the project work products as a part of the data collection process (or as documentation for use in the project-specific Administrative

Record), the name, agency/organization, job title, and qualifications of the individual providing the information shall be properly referenced in the subject delineation document.

The Contractor shall not be limited to the collection and analysis of data in these areas, but shall be responsible for obtaining and utilizing all data necessary for the satisfactory completion of the requirements of this contract. Information should be organized in an interdisciplinary manner in order to enable the reader to more readily understand the overall environmental status, condition, and ramifications of the presence of federal, state and/or county listed plant species to overall base military operations and base security.

5.1.1 Description of Proposed Pine Rockland Habitat Restoration and Preservation

Report and Associated Maps and Figures

The Contractor shall prepare the aforementioned documents with associated GIS maps. In the preparation of the subject documents, the Contractor shall clearly state the nature of the project and the potential problem(s) that the presence of federal, state and/or county listed plant species would have on the base’s military mission, and discuss what potential actions or range of alternatives would resolve the problem(s).

5.2 Natural and Cultural Resources

5.2.1 Cultural Resources

No known cultural resources are located within the subject pine rockland habitat to be assessed.

5.2.2 Natural Resources

The Contractor shall perform technical activities and analyses in support of requirements to comply with federal, state, and local statutes, rules and regulations. Activities may include but are not limited to collecting and analyzing data in support of federal and state threatened and endangered and candidate plant and animal species.

5.2.3 Threatened and Endangered Species/Species of Special Concern

The Contractor shall collect and review available data and reports from previous projects on base, and nearby and regional investigations regarding the biological characteristics of the pine rockland and immediate vicinity of Homestead ARB/Former AFB. The

Contractor shall contact appropriate agencies/organizations and sources for information on species and habitats of importance. Based upon this information, the Contractor shall prepare a written description of the existing ecology, vegetation and wildlife communities as well as any nearby threatened and/or endangered plant and animal species.

5.3 Site Access Agreements

Homestead ARB will provide necessary safety and security briefings, base permits, passes and escorts, as needed.

PART D – ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

6.0 OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide all labor, materials, and services necessary to deliver, for government review and approval, those services that support environmental programs and projects at locations of interest to the government.

All material and software gathered and/or developed in the performance of the tasks listed in this statement of work shall be the property of the government and shall not be used or distributed by the Contractor without written approval of the CO. Materials not provided by the government, to include adjoining land use, and digitized background maps, shall be purchased by the Contractor and shall become the property of the government upon publication of any document or completion of this task order.

Neither the Contractor nor the Contractor's personnel shall give news releases, conduct media interviews, or provide information concerning the work performed under this contract, unless approved in advance by the Homestead ARB Public Affairs Office

(PAO) and as required by the CO and the COR. All inquiries should be directed to the

Homestead PAO, the CO, or the COR, as appropriate.

6.1 Record Keeping and Reporting

The Contractor shall establish and maintain a complete project-specific Administrative

Record which will include, but is not limited to, all technical data, expert opinions, completed studies, and other background data that form the basis of the requested follow-up assessment report. The project-specific Administrative Record will serve to document all research performed under this contract. It shall specifically list the dates and sources of data used in all documents produced under this contract. All documents supporting the requested work activities and work products shall contain specific references to their source data. The complete project-specific Administrative Record shall be organized, indexed, and delivered to the Natural Resources Program Manager prior to final payment of this contract.

6.2 Deliverables

The development of the Follow-up Pine Rockland Habitat Restoration: Assessment, Monitoring and Maintenance Report and associated maps shall consist of three stages:

“draft”, “draft final”, and “final”. The “draft” and “draft final” versions can be submitted electronically to the Homestead Natural Resources Project Manager for review. Please note that the “Final” will not be considered as complete until written approval (via e-mail) is received from the Natural Resources Project Manager.

All hard copies will be submitted in adequately sized three-ringed binders. No spiral binding of reports will be accepted. The final version of the documents shall consist of two (2) hard copies and three (3) CD copies. One of the subject CDs will contain both pdf and Word versions of the report text, and stand-alone copies of the report figures in a format suitable for use in power-point presentations. This CD will be marked accordingly for easier identification and access by future users.