Statement of Work_MTH_NSO.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

South Five Mile, Grasshopper, Gate, Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS, and Hootnanny Planning Area Northern Spotted Owl Surveys

Statement of Work

Contents Project

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

2.0 Background

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Government Furnished

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Security Requirements

9.0 Data Rights

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards

Attachment

Project South Five Mile, Grasshopper, Gate, Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS, and Hootnanny Planning Area Northern Spotted Owl Surveys

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

The purpose of this solicitation is to have approximately 35** monitoring stations within the South Five mile planning area, 45** stations within the Grasshopper planning area, 15** stations within the Gate Planning area for 2024 surveying, and 2025 surveying, with an optional 100**stations within the Eastside Roadside EIS planning areas for 2024 and the addition of 15** stations within the Hootnanny in 2024 and 2025 surveyed for Northern Spotted Owl. The protocol for these surveys is described in the 2012 Revised Protocol (US Fish and Wildlife Service) under the heading “Complete Visits” and “spot checks” and requires six survey visits to each station or 3 visits to each station.

**The actual number and location of calling stations will be designed and located by the qualified contactor following the protocol referenced under 2.0 Background. Final locations will be reviewed by the Wildlife Biologist for the Barlow and Hood River Ranger District prior to survey implementation.

Work will be completed within 0.25 miles of the boundaries of units proposed for treatments.

Maps and GIS layers will be provided to allow for proper location of units. Within the project area boundaries, Hwy 197 and Forest Service Roads 44, 4430, 4440 and will be the primary access to the survey units for the South Five Mile Planning area. Forest Service Roads 48, 4810, 4811, 4880, and 4860 are the primary access for the Grasshopper Planning area. Forest Service Roads 48, 4830, 4841, and 4811 as primary access for the Gate Planning area. Friend Road and Forest Service Rd 27 will be the primary access to survey units for Hootnanny. Forest Service Roads 13, Lost Lake Road, 48, and Hwy 35 and Mount Hood Meadows Road will provide primary access for the Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS. Several of the owl calling points will need to be accessed by trail or cross country (off trail) travel.

2.0 Background

Project areas are required to be surveyed for Northern Spotted Owl to meet Northwest Forest Plan and Endangered Species Act Requirements. Survey protocols can be found here: Protocol for Surveying Proposed Management Activities That May Impact Northern Spotted Owls, February 2, 2011, Revised January 9, 2012.

https://www.fws.gov/yreka/ES/2012RevisedNSOprotocol-2-15-12.pdf.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

Task list: Mandatory South Five Mile, Grasshopper, and Gate 2024and 2025 surveys shall be completed prior to June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025 respectively, with the optional surveys for the Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS (2024 only) and Hootnanny (2024-25). Planning Areas completed by June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025 respectively.

Mandatory-South Five Mile (3 visit call-back survey): April 11, 2024

Grasshopper (3 visit call-back survey): May 1, 2024 Gate (3 visit call-back survey): April 11,2024 South Five Mile (3 visit call-back survey): April 11, 2025 Grasshopper (3 visit call-back survey): May 1, 2025 Gate (3 visit call-back survey): April 11,2025

Optional- Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS: (6 visit call-back Survey) April 11, 2024

Hootnanny: (6 visit call-back Survey) April 11, 2024 Hootnanny: (6 visit call-back Survey) April 11, 2025

Performance Requirements:

Contractor shall adhere to the survey protocols. There will be flexibility in meeting the survey protocol start time as the window for access to survey stations may be delayed due to snow. The delay in access will be documented in writing and submitted with final survey forms.

Surveyors shall have their own copy of the protocols.

Mandatory South Five Mile, Grasshopper, and Gate 2024and 2025 surveys shall be completed prior to June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025 respectively, with the optional surveys for the Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS (2024 only) and Hootnanny (2024-25).

Planning Areas completed by June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025 respectively (see Schedule of Items Table on page 1).

Contractor shall submit a Quality Control Plan and a Progress Work Schedule before or at the pre-work meeting that addresses how the requirements of the contract will be met.

Field forms shall be completed weekly and be legible.

Previous experience in northern spotted owl surveying is required for all surveyors.

Surveyors must meet the credential and qualification standards outlined in Appendix 4 of the 2012 Fish and Wildlife Survey Protocol referenced earlier.

Performance Requirement

Performance Standard

Performance Measurement

1. Adhere to survey protocols

▪ All documentation within protocols with the exception of the above-mentioned inaccessibility due to late snow melt.

▪ Inspection of 100% of forms to ensure compliance to protocols.

▪ Inspection of survey procedures may be ongoing while survey is in progress.

2. Progress updates. ▪ Contractor will provide COR with bi-weekly updates, as well as prompt notification when the contractor

▪ Progress schedule and ongoing communication between contractor and

COR.

Performance Requirement

Performance Standard

Performance Measurement arrives and leaves the area after an extended absence from surveying.

3. Field Forms ▪ Complete field forms with pencil or pen.

▪ Writing shall be legible.

▪ Forms shall be complete and accurate.

▪ All Field Forms shall be completed as indicated in the protocols.

▪ Inspect 100% of field forms.

4. Data Management

▪ Complete the required weekly forms and follow-up forms as provided in the current protocol.

▪ Attach copies of field notes to field forms.

▪ Turn in completed field survey forms monthly. May turn in electronic progress forms as an option to submitting field forms. Turn in all field forms when surveys are complete.

▪ Contractor may be asked to relocate target species sites with the COR at a time convenient to both parties.

▪ Inspect 100% of field forms, field notes and maps to verify performance standards are met.

5. Quality Control ▪ Contractor shall develop a quality control plan to ensure the functions described in the Performance Requirements Summary are met in a continuous and efficient manner.

▪ The plan shall describe the methods to be used to identify and prevent defects in the quality of service performed.

4.0 Government Furnished

Government Furnished Property:

The following property will be furnished to the Contractor at the pre-work conference, after award.

Topographic and project maps necessary to complete the contract

GIS geodatabase files to locate GPS coordinates

One set of Field data forms (Contractor to copy) and Technical Exhibits

Contractor Furnished Items:

The contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, supplies (except those designated as Government furnished), training, and incidentals to conduct surveys.

All other supplies and equipment including photocopies of protocols.

Plastic flagging for marking calling station locations. All flagging colors will be determined during the pre-work conference.

GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers with at least 15-meter (49.2 feet) accuracy.

Identification keys and field guides.

4-wheel drive vehicle not required but may be desirable.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

Key Deliverables Mandatory South Five Mile, Grasshopper, and Gate 2024and 2025 surveys shall be completed prior to June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025 respectively, with the optional surveys for the Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS (2024 only) and Hootnanny (2024-25). Planning Areas completed by June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025 respectively.

Mandatory Work Items

Item Deliverable Estimated Start Date

Completion Date

1 South Five Mile 2024 (3 visit call-back survey)

April 11, 2024 June 30,2024

2 Grasshopper 2024 (3 visit call-back survey) May 1, 2024 June 30, 2024

3 Gate 2024 (3 visit call-back survey) April 11, 2024 June 30, 2024

4 South Five Mile 2025 (3 visit call-back survey)

April 11, 2025 June 30,2025

5 Grasshopper 2025 (3 visit call-back survey) May 1, 2025 June 30, 2025

6 Gate 2025 (3 visit call-back survey) April 11, 2025 June 30, 2025

Optional Work Items

7 Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS 2024 (6 visit call-back Survey)

April 11, 2024 June 30,2024

8 Hootnanny 2024 (6 visit call-back Survey) April 11, 2024 June 30,2024

9 Hootnanny 2025 (6 visit call-back Survey) April 11, 2025 June 30,2025

6.0 Travel

The locations of the units to be surveyed are not marked on the ground. GIS data will be provided so GPS locations can be generated to locate the survey areas.

Technical Exhibit A is a map of the South Five Mile planning area, Technical Exhibit B is a map of the Grasshopper planning area, Technical Exhibit C is of the Gate planning area, Technical Exhibit D and E are of the Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS and Technical Exhibit F is a map of the Hootnanny planning area with all Technical Exhibits showing the suitable habitat to be surveyed.

South Five Mile is approximately 17 miles west of Dufur, Oregon, Grasshopper and Gate are 20 miles west of Tygh Valley, Oregon and Hootnanny is 14 miles Southwest of Dufur, Oregon. All are in Wasco County. The East Side Roadside Fuel Break EIS is composed of 2 different call areas one in Wasco County on Forest Service 48 Road (30 miles Southwest of Dufur, OR) and one in Hood River County on the Forest Service 13 Road 21 miles west of Parkdale Oregon.

Access: For South Five Mile; State Highway 197 and Forest Service Roads 44, 4430, 4440 are the main access routes to the survey areas. For Grasshopper, State Highway 197 and Forest Service Roads 48, 4810, 4811, 4880, and 4860 are the main access routes. For Gate, State Highway 197 and Forest Service Roads 48, 4830, 4841, and 4811 are the main access routes.

Forest Service Roads 13 and 48, Lost Lake Road, Hwy 35, and Mount Hood Meadows Road will provide primary access for the Eastside Roadside Fuel Break EIS. Road conditions within the project areas will vary. In some situations, high clearance vehicles are recommended. Several units may need to be accessed by walking on trails, decommissioned roads, or cross country.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

Previous experience in northern spotted owl surveying is required for all surveyors. Surveyors must meet the credential and qualification standards outlined in Appendix 4 of the 2012 Fish and Wildlife Survey Protocol referenced earlier.

Surveys may cross rough and steep terrain and thickets of dense vegetation. Surveyors must be physically fit. Forest product harvesters and other forest users may be present in the work area during the period of the contract.

8.0 Security Requirements

None. Yale key will be provided for access to Forest Service gates.

9.0 Data Rights

N/A

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards N/A

Attachments

1. Revised 2012 Northern Spotted Owl Survey Protocol

2. Tech_Exhibit_A_2024_MTH_SouthFivemile_Owl_Georef

3. Tech_Exhibit_B_2024_MTH_Grashopper_Owl_GeoRef

4. Tech_Exhibit_C_2024_MTH_Gate_Owl_Georef

5. Tech_Exhibit_D_2024_MTH_EastsideRoadside_48ROwl_GeoRef

6. Tech_Exhibit_E_2024_MTH_EastsideRoadside_13RD_GeoRef

7. Tech_Exhibit_F_2024_MTH_Hootnanny_Owl_GeoRef