Statement_of_Work.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. BACKGROUND: Bird banding is an essential research and management tool that enables scientists to monitor avian populations and to determine harvest and survival rates for game bird species. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act requires the Department of Interior, through the use of a Federal Banding Permit, to authorize all persons engaged in avian marking and tagging activities. This responsibility is delegated to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Biological Resources Discipline (USGS-BRD) Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. The BBL procures and supplies numbered leg bands to such permittees. Because bird bands are uniquely numbered and available in over 30 sizes and in several types, it is necessary to have a central source to supply bands in order to ensure quality and to avoid duplication of numbers.

2. OBJECTIVE: Manufacture aluminum bands and hard metal bands, in sizes and numbering specified in the purchase order and according to the machining technical drawings provided. Quality and timely completion of orders is necessary for BBL to meet the needs for U.S. and Canadian permittees.

3. TASKS: Manufacturer develops die packs with automatic numbering heads, produce inscription stamps, procure raw material, construct a system to feed the raw material into a stamping machine suitable to maintain quality control of bird bands and avoid duplication of band numbers. When converting from English to Metric, the manufacturer shall assure that the inside diameter of the bands does not fall below the dimension given in the English system, i.e. round UP, not OFF. It shall be assured that bands do not become smaller and result in constriction injuries to the birds’ legs. Depending on band size, bands must be strung on, stainless steel wire, cotton twine or plastic tubing in such a manner that the bands remain in numerical order with the highest number bands of the series indicated with a loop through the specific band if cotton twine or stainless-steel wire is used. Bands must be strung in units of 50 or 100 bands. Depending on size, strung bands are packaged in envelopes or boxes with size, type, quantity, band span and manufacturer indicated on the packaging. Labels on internal boxes should indicate band size, band type, quantity, and band span inside (Swiss 721, size 8 font (Codesoft label design application) or comparable) in bold font. See drawing that details this packaging. Manufacturer(s) should consider shipping and handling costs in each band size bid and include in the unit price. Requestor will not be responsible for any separate costs associated with shipping and handling fees. Once bids have been awarded, manufacturer(s) will await further instruction from the Bird Banding Lab to include specific band numbers, band sizes, band types and quantities of strings to be produced.

4. DELIVERABLES: Aluminum and hard metal bands are to be delivered to the BBL; USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708-4037, by a delivery method using a PUP truck with lift as needed. Once the Bird Banding Lab assigns band orders, the desired delivery date shall be within 60 days of date of order and required delivery date shall be within 90 days of date of order. The requestor will have the option of selecting another vendor to complete the order if manufacturer is unable to meet required delivery date.

5. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: For manufacturers never producing the awarded band size/band type in the past, a limited run of bands not to exceed 10 bands per size and type will be forwarded to the BBL for inspection prior to producing the order. Production by the manufacturer may proceed upon receipt of the approval of the “first piece” inspection from the BBL Technical Liaison. The BBL Technical Liaison or designee will inspect arriving band shipments for compliance with the approved machining print or approved first piece. Technical Liaison will maintain in close communication with the manufacturer to resolve problems, and to assure timely manufacture and delivery. Technical Liaison will approve partial or full payments for all shipments.

6. TECHNICAL LIAISON (TL):

7. PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Technical Liaison or designee will approve payment for received bands upon receipt and verification of shipments. Partial order shipments will be accepted and encouraged in time critical situations.