Attachment_1_-_Draft_Statement_of_Work.pdf

DRAFT Statement of Work Biological and Ecological Studies MATOC

DRAFT

Table of Contents 1 Background 2 Scope of Work

2.1 Research Proposal Development and Study Implementation Planning

2.2 Fisheries Studies

2.2.1 Hydroacoustic and Video Fish Evaluations

2.2.2 Biotelemetry

2.2.3 Mass Fish Marking

2.2.4 Direct Fish Injury and Survival Studies

2.2.5 Fish Condition and Genetic Monitoring and Analysis

2.2.6 Statistics and Study Design

2.3 Ecological Studies

2.3.1 Environmental Sampling, Monitoring and Analysis

2.3.2 Ecological Modeling

2.3.3 Fish and Wildlife Habitat

2.3.4 Ecological Remote Sensing

2.3.5 Spatial Data Analysis

2.4 Data Management and Analysis

2.5 Independent Peer Review

2.6 Biological Risk Assessment

2.7 Monitoring and Management Implementation

3 Personnel

3.1 Personnel Disciplines Required

3.1.1 Program Manager(PgM)

3.1.2 Project Manager (PM)

3.1.3 Principal Investigator (PI)

3.1.4 Chief Scientist

3.1.5 Senior Biological Scientist

3.1.6 Biological Scientist

3.1.7 Biological Science Technician

3.1.8 Biological Science Aid

3.1.9 Senior Fishery Biologist

3.1.10 Fishery Biologist

3.1.11 Senior Fishery Veterinarian

3.1.12 Fishery Veterinarian

3.1.13 Fish Physiologist

3.1.14 Senior Wildlife Biologist

3.1.15 Wildlife Biologist

3.1.16 Senior Biometrician

3.1.17 Biometrician

3.1.18 Geneticist

3.1.19 Senior Engineer (Civil, Electrical, Electronic, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural)

3.1.20 Engineer (Civil, Electrical, Electronic, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural) .............................. 10 DRAFT

3.1.21 Engineering Technician

3.1.22 Statistician

3.1.23 GIS Technician

3.1.24 Senior Technical Writer

3.1.25 Technical Writer

3.1.26 Computer Scientist

3.1.27 Small Craft Operator

3.1.28 Database Developer

3.1.29 Certified Crane Operator ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

1 Background The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Portland District) requires a range of professional and technical scientific expertise to fulfill biological/environmental study and restoration objectives specific to the Columbia and the Missouri River basins.

The contracts will be multiple award task order contracts of indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (MATOC IDIQ). Individual delivery orders (task orders) for biological/ecological evaluations and will be competed among the base contractors. Work under this contract for the Columbia River basin is anticipated to occur throughout the Pacific Northwest, including but not limited to the Columbia, Snake, and Willamette Basins.

Studies in the Columbia River basin are identified primarily through the Anadromous Fish Evaluation Program (AFEP) program. The resultant contracts will be used to support the USACE needs to continue biological investigations, and respond to litigation-related issues associated with implementation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Endangered Species Act (ESA) and resulting FCRPS Biological Opinion (BiOp). Mandated requirements may change and affect future study objectives.

These IDIQ contracts will also be available to other USACE Districts within the Northwestern Division (Walla Walla and Seattle Districts for the Columbia and Puget Sound basins) and for biological/ecological requirements on an as needed basis throughout the geographical range described above.

2 Scope of Work Biological investigations have been readily accommodated in the past with a broad array of professional experience/expertise. This has occurred successfully through prime contractors working in collaboration, partnering, and teaming with other firms and professional biologists, engineers, and subject matter experts across the region and country to successfully execute complex biological studies.

The work may include studies of behavior, physiology, ecology, injury rates, survival rates, abundance, and population dynamics of fish, birds, and/or other organisms.

Components of the investigations may include literature reviews, study planning and execution, experimental design development, research in the field or elsewhere, data analysis, and data management. Biological investigations may be conducted either in a laboratory setting or in the field, at a hydroelectric site or other locations.

2.1 Research Proposal Development and Study Implementation Planning The Contractor shall provide capability to develop, plan and implement biological studies in the laboratory and field environment. Expertise shall be focused on applied fish and wildlife research within the Columbia River basin (Snake, Columbia, and Willamette River basins). This includes the capabilities to:

conduct literature reviews;

develop experimental study designs that describe detailed statistical and scientific methods, field and laboratory sampling methods, and logistics;

plan, implement and manage all facets of a research project from study development, execution, to final reporting prepare applications for and obtain permits with both State and Federal Agencies including those necessary to meet requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and state scientific collection permits;

respond to technical comments;

develop, organize and manage workshops to facilitate biological understanding and dissemination of research information;

give oral presentations at workshops and meetings with other scientific professionals.

2.2 Fisheries Studies

2.2.1 Hydroacoustic and Video Fish Evaluations

The Contractor shall provide appropriate personnel and equipment to conduct monitoring and research to detect, enumerate, and observe unmarked objects and organisms underwater. These technologies include split-beam and single-beam hydroacoustics, scanning sonar, optical video, and acoustic imaging (e.g.

DIDSON/ARIS, BlueView, etc). This includes expertise and technology capability to provide the following:

turbine passage enumeration and estimates of turbine intake screen fish guidance efficiency;

evaluation of fish behavior including fish vertical and horizontal movement, speed, and trajectory within specific locations at hydro facilities;

mobile hydroacoustic surveys in open water;

fixed location hydropower dam turbine intake, spillway, surface bypass routes, fish ladder entrances and exits, and other passage routes to evaluate proportions of fish populations passing particular routes;

monitoring and recording of juvenile and adult fish behavior and passage.

2.2.2 Biotelemetry

The Contractor shall provide expertise in design and execution of single release, paired release and virtual paired release study designs using injectable, gastric and surgical (both internal and external attachment) tagging of juvenile and adult salmon, steelhead, Pacific lampreys, bull trout, sturgeon, piscine predators and avian species of interest throughout tributaries, reservoirs, mainstem river systems, hydropower dams, estuaries and near-shore ocean environments for applications including but not limited to:

evaluation of behavior and determination of position, direction of travel, speed, and estimates of survival rates of marked animals;

tracking marked animals using boat-mounted fixed, and mobile antenna or hydrophones;

determination of route of passage and survival by route taken while passing hydropower projects for both juvenile and adult salmonids;

evaluation of post-tagging shed rates, post-tagging survival rates and evaluations of tag life and tag life corrections.

2.2.3 Mass Fish Marking

The Contractor shall provide capability and facilities to conduct large scale marking activities, such as PIT tagging tens of thousands of juvenile salmon per day at a hatchery, or several thousand per day marked at a mainstem dam collection facility. Mass marking may also occur in situ, on islands, rivers, tributaries, and estuaries. The Contractor shall provide expertise in development of fish marking plans, study plans, equipment deployment, data recording and analysis, and fish tagging techniques; this includes handling, anesthetics, recovery, and release of fish during marking activities specifically related to fish marking capabilities. Activities include, but are not limited to the PIT-tagging, coded wire tagging, adipose fin or maxillary bone clipping, or elastomer tagging of adult and juvenile salmon, steelhead, lamprey, and other fish.

2.2.4 Direct Fish Injury and Survival Studies

The Contractor shall provide the personnel and equipment to develop and implement studies to estimate the direct injury rates and types, and direct survival rates incurred by fish while passing through specific river reaches, various routes of a hydropower project, or other fish passage facilities. Direct survival rates do not include predation or mortality expressed well after passage, but instead it is a metric to measure direct survival soon after passage, for example, survival within 48 hours after passage during a particular study or test. The contractor shall also characterize the types of injuries observed. Some of these studies may require the use of sensors (pressure and acceleration) to characterize the physical and hydrological environment that can injure fish. The capability provided shall include expertise with various methodologies, including, but not limited to PIT tags, balloon tags, sensor fish, and the recovery of study fish using screw traps or other methods.

2.2.5 Fish Condition and Genetic Monitoring and Analysis

The Contractor shall provide the personnel required to develop and perform fish condition assessments, a metric for measuring the physical condition of fish and fish health, investigations and monitoring in the laboratory and field, including, but not limited to tissue sampling, handling and preservation techniques for diet, growth, molecular and tissue level analysis for stress indication, disease and pathogen diagnosis, smoltification, general health, energy budget, and fitness. This includes evaluations of the relationship of organism health and condition on the survival of native and non-native fish in both fresh and salt water phases to adult returns. The Contractor shall provide the expertise, equipment, and support facilities to perform laboratory simulations of physical and environmental conditions (swimming performance evaluations, hydrostatic pressure gradients, dissolved gas concentrations, shear forces, etc.) that exist near hydro projects (pools, tailraces, turbines, spillways, and fish bypass systems) and river systems. The Contractor shall provide the professional and technical personnel as well as the equipment and facilities necessary to design and implement genetic and fish condition studies. Expertise should include knowledge of marker choice, primer design, and PCR protocol development as well as analysis and interpretation of the resulting data.

2.2.6 Statistics and Study Design

The Contractor shall prepare scientifically defensible field and laboratory study plans and reports of study results. To accomplish this, the Contractor shall have capability and experience in applied statistics and experimental design for research efforts; scientific credibility in the field of biostatistics; experience in related fields of studies relevant to fish, wildlife and habitat assessment. Specific experience with salmon studies in the Pacific Northwest, and familiarity with salmonid life-cycle modeling are required.

2.3 Ecological Studies

The Contractor shall conduct ecological analysis including benefit cost analysis, cost effectiveness and incremental cost analyses using habitat evaluation procedure (HEP), survival and life-cycle models, RIVER and PHABSIM modeling, spatial database management for hydraulic and fish behavior and habitat data, Institute for Water Resources (IWR) Plan program and/or other USACE accepted analysis tools in adherence with the Principles and Guidelines (http://www.wrsc.usace.army.mil/iwr/pdf/p&g.pdf). The Contractor shall adhere to ER 1105-2-100. See the IWR website or the following website:

http://wwwpcml.com/iwrplan to locate IWR Plan software and procedures, or IWR Report 94-PS-2, Cost Effectiveness Analysis for Planning: Nine Easy Steps, dated October 1994.

2.3.1 Environmental Sampling, Monitoring and Analysis

The Contractor shall provide the personnel, equipment and facilities to perform the following types of surveys:

• Vegetation (type, density / cover, biomass above and below ground)

• Geomorphology (topography, bathymetry and channel networks and formations)

• Invertebrates (above and below ground)

• Sediment and water quality (water surface elevation, depth, velocity, temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids, Secchi depth, total dissolved gas, etc.)

DRAFT

http://www.wrsc.usace.army.mil/iwr/pdf/p&g.pdf http://wwwpcml.com/iwrplan

• Contaminants (within sediment, water, or tissues)

• Phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic organisms (sampling, identification, enumeration, and analysis)

• Photo-point collection and cataloging

2.3.2 Ecological Modeling

The Contractor shall conduct Environmental Benefits Outputs modeling using the Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) and associated Habitat Suitability Indices (HSI) for alternatives under consideration and for the future without project conditions.

The Contractor shall provide the personnel and equipment to statistically model hydraulic and hydrologic effects upon fish and invertebrate populations and conservation dynamics and trends, including evaluation methodologies for habitat modification which could include multi-dimensional and functional model schematics, coding, calibration, and performance validation with either commercially available process models and/or custom constructed models.

The Contractor shall conduct professional and unbiased reviews of hydrologic, water quality, fish population, and habitat process models utilized by the Corps and by the various regional entities. This includes models such as the Comprehensive Passage life cycle salmon survival model (COMPASS), Species Life Cycle Analysis Model (SLAM), and temperature models of the Snake, Columbia, and Willamette River Systems.

2.3.3 Fish and Wildlife Habitat

The Contractor shall conduct field investigations and/or species specific surveys to determine the presence/absence, abundance, genetic stock, distribution, and/or reproductive success (i.e. spawning ground surveys) of fish and wildlife in study area(s) (including genetic stock identification or other population analysis). The Contractor shall utilize qualified biologists and/or botanists to carry out fish and/or wildlife habitat evaluations to describe habitat types, ecological condition, amount, extent, and quality of habitat within the planning area. Contractor biologists shall have experience employing standard aquatic, wetland and upland habitat measurement methods and fish and wildlife assessment methods.

2.3.4 Ecological Remote Sensing

The Contractor shall produce remote sensing products based on boat-based, land-based, and/or aerial platforms in support of fishery and ecological studies. Services that may be required shall include but not be limited to:

True color and multispectral aerial imagery from manned and unmanned fixed and rotary wing aircraft for quantification of habitat and presence, absence, distribution and abundance of fish and wildlife.

Boat-based single beam and multibeam hydroacoustic surveys of natural and manmade channels and lakes for habitat quantification, bottom type classification, sediment transport analysis, hydraulic modeling, and object detection.

In situ sonar scanning and video (e.g. DIDSON/ARIS, BlueView, etc.) for detailed surveys and analysis of underwater structures and movement/passage behavior of fish and wildlife.

2.3.5 Spatial Data Analysis

The contractor shall conduct spatial data analysis including but not limited to the following examples:

quantitative analysis of 3d biotelemetry DRAFT surface generation cut/fill quantities spatial autocorrelation multi-criteria evaluations focal and zonal generalization of raster data

Automated feature extraction and density analysis

Hydrologic analysis

2.4 Data Management and Analysis

The Contractor shall provide technical expertise in the following:

Biological data management and analysis

Database development

GIS database management for analysis

This shall include having all the necessary infrastructure (i.e., software and hardware) and trained personnel capable of storing and organizing large data sets for analysis.

2.5 Independent Peer Review

The Contractor shall provide capability for independent peer review (IPR) of work performed by the Corps or others. IPR tasks accomplished under this contract may include but shall not be limited to:

Quality Assurance (QA) of data collection and analysis procedures

Document/report reviews

Checking computations, graphics and plans

2.6 Biological Risk Assessment

The Contractor shall provide expertise in biological risk assessment, risk profiles, structured decision making, and stakeholder coordination. This will include framework development, developing stakeholder relationships, collating objectives, describing states of nature/hypotheses, and presenting tradeoffs. The Contractor shall provide data management systems, software, equipment, personnel, and analytical expertise.

2.7 Monitoring and Management Implementation

The Contractor shall implement specified management and/or evaluation measures associated with Corps management and/or long term evaluation commitments. This includes implementing activities such as the following:

Quantification of fish species, stocks, and numbers of individuals passing fixed or temporary sampling stations (e.g., ladder count windows, weirs)

Avian dissuasion activities at nesting colonies (e.g., dissuasion of Caspian terns from nesting at specified locations)

Removal of piscine predators from specific locations through methods such as hook and line, gill nets, fyke nets, temporary weirs

3 Personnel

3.1 Personnel Disciplines Required

3.1.1 Program Manager(PgM) DRAFT

The PgM is accountable to executive sponsors for schedule, budget, and quality of all program elements.

The PgM leads high-level sessions for the program plan and schedule development. The PgM also reviews and approves project plans for conformance to program strategy, program plan and schedule. The PgM acts as the communications conduit to executive sponsors and program steering committee and conducts periodic briefings/status updates and escalates decisions to executive sponsors as necessary.

3.1.2 Project Manager (PM)

Responsible for the project management for all aspects of the development and implementation of individual Task Orders (TO) assigned and serves as a single point of contact for those Task Orders. The PM takes TO from original concept through final implementation and interfaces with all areas affected by the project including: end users, computer services, administrative modifications and client services, and provide invoice and billings oversight. The PM defines individual TO scope and objectives; develops detailed work plans, schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports; conducts project meetings and is responsible for project tracking and analysis. Ensures adherence to quality standards and reviews project deliverables. The PM also manages the integration of vendor tasks and tracks and reviews vendor deliverables. Also provides technical and analytical guidance to the project team. The PM also recommends and takes action to direct the analysis and solutions of problems.

3.1.3 Principal Investigator (PI)

The Principal Investigator (PI) is charged to conduct objective research that generates independent, high quality, and reproducible results. The PI is responsible for the management and integrity of the design, conduct, and reporting of research projects and for managing, monitoring, and ensuring the integrity of any collaborative relationships. Additionally, the PI is responsible for the direction and oversight of compliance, financial, personnel, and other related aspects of any research project conducted under each individual Task Order and for any necessary coordination with other entities to assure research in is conducted in accordance with any required Federal regulations.

3.1.4 Chief Scientist

Provide principal oversight to all aspects of scientific studies, experiments, and evaluations in field and laboratory settings. Provide expertise and advice in the conservation and management of biological resources. Act as primary scientific lead in the development and implementation of scientific studies, management of data collection, statistical analyses, and preparation of reports.

3.1.5 Senior Biological Scientist

Provide professional expertise in biology or related resource management. Advise, administer, and supervise research or other professional and scientific work or subordinate technical work in any field of science concerned with living organisms, their distribution, characteristics, life processes, and adaptations and relations to the environment.

3.1.6 Biological Scientist

Provide professional work in biology or related resource management. Perform research or other professional and scientific work or subordinate technical work in any field of science concerned with living organisms, their distribution, characteristics, life processes, and adaptations and relations to the environment.

3.1.7 Biological Science Technician

Provide practical knowledge of methods and techniques in one or more biological science. Provide technical support to the production, research, operations, or program administration efforts in laboratories, field, or other settings as applicable. DRAFT

3.1.8 Biological Science Aid

Provide practical knowledge of methods and techniques in one or more biological science. Provide technical support to the production, research, operations, or program administration efforts in laboratories, field, or other settings as applicable.

3.1.9 Senior Fishery Biologist

Provide oversight and expertise in developing, conserving, managing, and administering fishery resource projects. Act as a subject matter expert on projects and activities that impact or adversely effect fishery resources and their habitat.

3.1.10 Fishery Biologist

Develop, conserve, manage, and administer fishery resources and evaluate the impacts of construction projects and other socioeconomic activities that present potential or actual adverse effects on fishery resources and their habitat.

3.1.11 Senior Fishery Veterinarian

Supervise, lead, and perform work in the veterinary medical sciences. Promote health and welfare of animals and the public through diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and understanding of animal diseases, conservation of animal resources, and advancement of veterinary medical knowledge.

3.1.12 Fishery Veterinarian

Supervise, lead, and perform work in the veterinary medical sciences. Promote health and welfare of animals and the public through diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and understanding of animal diseases, conservation of animal resources, and advancement of veterinary medical knowledge.

3.1.13 Fish Physiologist

Conducts research on cellular structure and organ-system functions of plants and animals: Studies growth, respiration, circulation, excretion, movement, reproduction, and other functions of plants and animals under normal and abnormal conditions. Performs experiments to determine effects of internal and external environmental factors on life processes and functions, using microscope, x-ray equipment, spectroscope, and other equipment. Studies glands and their relationship to bodily functions. May specialize in physiology of particular body area, function, or system. May specialize in physiology of animals and be designated Animal Physiologist; of plants and be designated Plant Physiologist and be designated Medical Physiologist.

3.1.14 Senior Wildlife Biologist

Provide oversight and expertise in conserving, propagating, managing, protecting, and administering wildlife species. Play a lead role in establishing and applying biological facts, principles, methods, techniques, and procedures necessary to conserve and manage wildlife resources and habitats.

3.1.15 Wildlife Biologist

Conserve, propagate, manage, protect, and administer wildlife species, and determine, establish, and apply biological facts, principles, methods, techniques and procedures necessary for the conservation and management of wildlife resources and habitats.

3.1.16 Senior Biometrician

Provide expertise and guidance on the statistical evaluation of biological observations and phenomena.

Plan, design, develop, and implement sampling regimes and statistical analysis methods. Review, analyze, and evaluate statistical methods in reports and studies.

3.1.17 Biometrician

Evaluate biological observations, phenomena and relationships using statistical analysis. Provide knowledge on statistical and analytical methods and experimental design.

3.1.18 Geneticist

Performs experiments to determine laws, mechanisms, and environmental factors in origin, transmission, and development of inherited traits. Analyzes determinants responsible for specific inherited traits, such as color differences, size, and disease resistance to improve or to understand relationship of heredity to maturity, fertility, or other factors. Devises methods for altering or producing new traits, making use of chemicals, heat, light, or other means. May specialize in particular branch of genetics, such as molecular genetics or population genetics. May perform medical genetics; collaborates with biologists and other professionals to; conduct appropriate genetic and biochemical analyses; maintains laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results; prepare results of experimental findings for presentation at professional conferences or in scientific journals; searches scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals; supervises or directs the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.

3.1.19 Senior Engineer (Civil, Electrical, Electronic, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural)

Provide knowledge and skill in the specific discipline of engineering. Perform professional engineering and scientific work involving construction, renovation, design, inspection, decommissioning, or demolition of structures, mechanical devices, and electrical equipment and components.

3.1.20 Engineer (Civil, Electrical, Electronic, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural)

Provide knowledge and skill in the specific discipline of engineering. Perform professional engineering and scientific work involving construction, renovation, design, inspection, decommissioning, or demolition of structures, mechanical devices, and electrical equipment and components.

3.1.21 Engineering Technician

Provide technical knowledge of methods and techniques of engineering and architecture, and construction, application, properties, operations, and limitations of engineering systems.

3.1.22 Statistician

Manage, supervise, lead, and perform scientific work or provide professional consultation in applying statistical theory, techniques, and methods to gather, analyze, interpret, and/or report quantified information.

3.1.23 GIS Technician

GIS Technicians make maps and customized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications and manipulate data to serve a variety of purposes; read and interpret maps; manipulate and understand digital land data and manage data entered into a GIS database.

3.1.24 Senior Technical Writer

Apply technical writing and editing skills to increasingly complex reports, articles, releases, periodicals, regulations, manuals, and specifications as needed. Provide technical expertise in the development of such documents, as well as technical advice and oversight to lower graded technical staff.

3.1.25 Technical Writer

Writing or editing technical materials such as reports of research findings, scientific or technical articles, news releases, and periodicals, regulations in technical areas, technical manuals, specifications, brochures, and pamphlets, or speeches or scripts on scientific or technical subjects.

3.1.26 Computer Scientist

Application of computer science methods and techniques to store, manipulate, transform, and present information. Professional competence in the theoretical foundations of computer systems architecture and system software organization, theoretical models, and the representation and transformation of information.

3.1.27 Small Craft Operator

Operate watercraft, such as research vessels, and perform light maintenance of equipment.

3.1.28 Database Developer

Develops databases.