Synopsis_RGSM_SpawnEgg_Monitoring_2.pdf

Pre-Solicitation Notice

The Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, has a requirement to solicit federally endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM) Reproductive (Spawning/Egg) Monitoring services. The work to be performed is described below. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541620 Environmental Consulting Services and the related small business size standard is $15 million. Product Service Code (PCS) is B509 Special Studies/Analysis Endangered Species. This notice is not a request for proposals/quotations and the information presented in this announcement will not obligate the Bureau of Reclamation in any manner.

Background

Desert rivers of the American Southwest are impacted by physical modifications resulting from construction of dams, reservoirs, and diversion structures which fragment river reaches, alter habitat, and change the flow regime. Pelagic broadcast fish eggs are semi-buoyant, drifting with river currents downstream as they spawn in response to increases in flow that occur during spring runoff or other flood events (Platania and Altenbach 1998). The semi-buoyant nature of Pelagic spawning fish eggs consequently results in them drifting downstream which leads to the displacement of the eggs into reaches that are separated from upstream reaches where they originated.

Populations in upstream reaches may gradually decline and could disappear entirely if there is little retention of eggs and larval fish in upstream areas (Winston et al. 1991; Luttrell et al. 1999).

In the Rio Grande, populations of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM) in downstream reaches are threatened annually because of prolonged and extensive river drying in these areas. Drying tends to occur during irrigation season after the species spawns. These dynamics have important demographic and genetic consequences for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow.

Captive breeding facilities have been established to facilitate propagation and rearing of silvery minnow from eggs. Captive silvery minnow populations include City of Albuquerque BioPark, Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center (formerly known as Dexter National Fish Hatchery), and New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Los Lunas Silvery Minnow Refugium. Eggs are collected from the wild and transported to these facilities for rearing, propagation, and to be released back into the Middle Rio Grande after irrigation season.

Monitoring the reproductive effort of RGSM is required by the 2016 Final Biological and Conference Opinion for Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Non-Federal Water Management and Maintenance Activities on the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico (2016 MRG BO) (USFWS, 2016). Compliance under the 2016 MRG BO requires RGSM reproductive monitoring and assessment.

Objective

The Bureau of Reclamation seeks contractor services to provide Rio Grande silvery minnow (RGSM) (Hybognathus amarus) data collection that will enable characterization of the timing, duration, and magnitude of RGSM reproduction in the Middle Rio Grande. This includes sampling the river in three locations during the spawning season to detect spawning events and to inform and to coordinate with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, City of Albuquerque BioPark, and other entities or parties who annually conduct egg collection operations separately from this project. Secondarily, this project could provide assistance for salvaging eggs for movement to other sections of river, and may provide eggs for propagation (e.g., Albuquerque BioPark, Southwestern Native ARRC ). This item is listed in detail in the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Genetics Management and Propagation Plan, Production Goal #1): “Annual collection of a minimum of 500,000 eggs for captive rearing and subsequent stocking of Rio Grande silvery minnow in the Middle Rio Grande” (USFWS 2009). The Contractor may be requested to retain and provide egg samples as required for other program studies other than for purposes of rearing and breeding. This project also has an optional task, subject to Government approval to proceed, to utilize a Moore Egg Collector (MEC) boat when optimal conditions occur within the establish RGSM egg collecting timeframe.

Task Summary

1. Monitor spawning of RGSM in the Rio Grande by collecting data that will enable characterization of the timing, duration, and magnitude of RGSM spawning in the Middle Rio Grande and allow assessment of temporal differences in spawning effort.

2. Optional Task subject to Government Approval to Proceed: Moore Egg Collector (MEC)

Boat collection to record egg numbers detected and other data, compare data on eggs collected, record water temperatures, provide collected eggs to propagation facility.

The estimated period of performance is 5 years, which includes a Base plus 4 one-year option years.

Anticipated Solicitation Date: June 12, 2026

Other required information per FAR 5.207

(1) Action Code: 140R4026R0009

(2) Date: 5/12/2026.

(3) Year: 2026

(4) Contracting Office ZIP Code: 87102

(5) Product or Service Code: B509

(6) Contracting Office Address: 555 Broadway Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102

(7) Subject: RGSM Spawning & Egg Monitoring

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: 140R4026R0009

(9) Closing Response Date: NA

(10) Contact Point or Contracting Officer: Mary Maestas mmaestas@usbr.gov

(11) Contract Award and Solicitation Number. NA and 140R4026R0009

(13) Line Item Number: NA

(14) Contract Award Date: NA

(15) Contractor: NA

(16) Description: NA

(17) Place of Contract Performance: New Mexico (Middle Rio Grande)

(18) Set-aside Status: Small Business Set Aside.