Permitting Specialist

Questions and Answers
All questions pertaining to this solicitation was to be submitted to the Contracting Officer via email by 03:00pm ET on August 3, 2018. No further questions are being accepted at this time.
1.QUESTION:
Regarding Categorical Exclusion Question #6, "Will the project or associated land disturbance have significant impacts on species listed, or proposed to be listed, on the Federal List of Endangered or Threatened Species or have significant impacts on designated critical habitat for these species?" The note states: "Not all areas will have endangered and threatened species. With the Department of the Interior¿s guidance, the evaluator (if the evaluator has the expertise to make this determination) may not need to consult with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). However, if the evaluator does not have the expertise or recent documentation with the endangered and threatened species determination, a consultation with the FWS must take place. All consultations will be performed by your respective Environmental Program Manager. Attach the Fish and Wildlife Service determination documentation for all consultations. If consultations were not performed, a detailed explanation must be provided."
With regard to the statement in the note that ¿All consultations will be performed by your respective Environmental Program Manager,¿ will the consultant/contractor act as the Environmental Program Manager or will USGS perform this role? (i.e., will USFWS consultation be conducted by the consultant or USGS?).
ANSWER:
perhaps it is easier to resolve all three questions by clarifying what we want the contractor to do with the CatEx item #6:
We are expecting that the contractor will provide a list of any endangered species that exist at the site, along with a brief statement with additional information to help justify why the proposed site does/doesn't have significant impact on the species. Typically, we have used online resources, though contractors may have better tools. For example, here is text that was used in a previous report: "The WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) lists the area as having a Roosevelt Elk concentration, though the affected area they show is 2000 square miles and not in any way exclusive to the proposed seismic site."
No special consultations with USFWS are needed from the contractor.
The Environmental Program Manager is a USGS employee who will ultimately approve the whole package. If she deems that a consultation with USFWS is needed, she will contact them and arrange it. But it will be after the contractor has completed the report and handed it off to USGS, so the contractor won't be involved
2.QUESTION:
With regard to the statement in the note that "Not all areas will have endangered and threatened species. With the Department of the Interior¿s guidance, the evaluator (if the evaluator has the expertise to make this determination) may not need to consult with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). However, if the evaluator does not have the expertise or recent documentation with the endangered and threatened species determination, a consultation with the FWS must take place."
If any areas do have threatened or endangered species, and the consultant/contractor is to conduct the consultation, what procedure does the USGS advise the consultant/contractor to use in Section 7 consultation with USFWS? (i.e., does USGS have their own Section 7 consultation procedure with USFWS?)
ANSWER:
The contractor will not need to perform the consultation (see question 1).
3.QUESTION:
With regard to the statement in the note that "With the Department of the Interior¿s guidance, the evaluator (if the evaluator has the expertise to make this determination) may not need to consult with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)."
Under what circumstances would a USFWS consultation NOT be required?
ANSWER:
A USFWS consultation will never be required by the contractor.
4.QUESTION:
Is there an archaeologist from USGS that needs to be coordinated with for that documentation? For cultural resource information agencies use an online system with literature data on sites in Washington. Can you provide any additional information on how USGS will to address cultural resource?
ANSWER:
We are expecting that the contractor will provide those resources themselves. The USGS does not have archaeological or cultural resource information readily available
5.QUESTION:
will the selected candidate need to be on-site in Seattle and or Portland? If not, will they need to be available for meetings on-site?
ANSWER:
¿No face to face meetings needed either in Seattle or Eugene
¿No on-site visits to locations in the list in the SOW.
¿Contractor can work from any location, as long as they are reachable by phone and email.
¿We anticipate of having at least one conference call (maybe with video too?) post-award to make sure everyone understands what needs to be done
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