STATEMENT OF WORK_NWI_in_Arkansas_ScalableAreas v2.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

National Wetlands Inventory V2 Mapping for scalable data areas of Arkansas

1. GENERAL: The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) was established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to conduct a nationwide inventory of U.S. wetlands and surface waters to provide biologists and others with information on the distribution and type of these features to aid in conservation efforts. To do this, the NWI developed a wetland and deepwater classification system (Cowardin et al. 2013, 2nd Edition) that is now the official FWS wetland classification system, the federal standard for wetland classification (adopted by the Federal Geographic Data Committee on July 29, 1996: 61 Federal Register 39465) and “Data Collection Requirements and Procedures for Mapping Wetland, Deepwater and Related Habitats of the United States” (August 2015). The wetlands data created for this project will be included in the Wetlands Layer of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, which is a National Geospatial Data Asset and must comply with the aforementioned standards.

2. SCOPE: This work will result in the creation of new digital NWI Version 2 data for 48 USGS 1:24,000 quadrangles located in southwestern Arkansas encompassing approximately 1,900,000 acres (Figure 1). Imagery used will be the most recent available imagery (2017 NAIP) and ancillary false color near-infrared imagery, topographic maps, soils maps or other information that will assist in accurate identification of wetland habitats. The contractor will work with the Wetlands Database Administrator to acquire the project areas and current wetlands data. The contractor will work with the National Quality Assurance Coordinator to formulate a quality assurance and quality control plan which will include an initial review of the wetlands data, 100% internal Quality Control, Regional review of 30% of the project area, and a final national review of 10% of the project area. The digital data will be delivered to the Service in the standard file geodatabase format and data schema provided by the Service after passing the FWS Wetlands Data Verification Toolset. The digital data must comply with the data quality guidelines and include a publication quality, project metadata document for posting on the Wetlands Mapper web application. Field Trips will be required to verify classification of remotely sensed wetlands.

Close coordination with the Service’s technical personnel at the National Standards and Support Team (NSST) will be necessary to establish deliverables.

3. DELIVERABLES AND TIME TABLES: Specific tasks for this contract include:

A. Data: NWI Version 2 wetlands data will be created and delivered for the project area located in southwestern Arkansas encompassing approximately 1,900,000 acres.

B. Reports: The Contractor will provide a copy of publication quality project metadata for the project area to be posted on the Wetlands Mapper web application.

C. All reviews should be completed and the final report and data submitted within 2 years of receiving the project dataset.

4. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE: Data will need to pass the Wetlands Data Verification Toolset, 30% Regional Quality Control and 10% National Quality Assurance before acceptance into the National Wetlands Inventory database.

5. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT:

A. Access to the original wetlands data from the NWI Master Geodatabase.

B. Rules and regulations regarding GFE&I shall be the same for the contractor as for the government employee, including GSA travel regulations.

6. AVAILABILITY: Access to work locations will be coordinated locally. Weather can be an obstacle at some locations as well as restricted access for ecological/private property reasons.

7. TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATORS:

Mitch Bergeson, Project Leader, NSST, 608 238-9333 ext. 112 (technical) Rusty Griffin, National Quality Assurance Coordinator, NSST, 608 238-9333 ext. 113 (technical) Jane Harner, Wetlands Database Administrator, NSST, 608 238-9333 x. 114 (technical) Sonjia Harris, Ecological Services Administrative Officer, 703 358-1867 (administrative)

Figure 1. Project area that includes 48 USGS 1:24,000 quadrangles located in southwestern Arkansas encompassing approximately 1,900,000 acres image1.png