SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey
- Notice Date
- 6/26/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 813312
— Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations
- Contracting Office
- FWS, DIVISION OF CNTRCTING AND FCLT4401 NORTH FAIRFAX DRIVE, MS 7118-43ARLINGTONVA22203-1610USA
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- PR0040047856
- Response Due
- 7/3/2012
- Archive Date
- 8/2/2012
- Point of Contact
- Gary Lehmann 7033581846
- E-Mail Address
-
Contract Specialist
(gerald_lehmann@fws.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is an RFI (Sources Sought) intended to obtain information/potential sources. The government may or may not issue a solicitation or contract for this requirement, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information in connection with this RFI (Sources Sought). The Government is requesting sources with the capability of performing within the standards outlined in the below SOW. Submit company information and synposis of past performance that is relevant to work described in the SOW to include similar locations along with proof of the authority to perform the service within the confines of the locations outlined in the below SOW. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Evaluating Singing Ground Survey timing and detectability of American Woodcock using autonomous audio recorders Statement of Work 1. GENERAL The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (Services) Division of Migratory Bird Management seeks a qualified contractor to evaluate: 1)If the American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey (SGS) is ideally timed (time of season and time of day) to coincide with peak calling activity in the three most northerly survey windows for the American Woodcock SGS located in Canada. 2)If the current survey protocol for the SGS is maximizing the probability that a route runner will detect the species 3)The detection probability for American Woodcock occupancy and explore the extent to which the SGS covers the woodcock breeding range in Canada 2. BACKGROUND This evaluation will address Priority 4 (Improve the Singing Ground Survey) as outlined in Priority Information Needs for American Woodcock: A Funding Strategy. Specifically, this project will evaluate two key assumptions of the woodcock SGS: (1) seasonal survey windows are ideally timed with phenology of peak calling rates; and (2) diurnal criteria for conducting surveys (temperature, cloud cover) are appropriate to maximize the probability of detection. We will also determine detection probabilities for woodcock on SGS routes (also identified as a priority) and investigate temporal and spatial patterns in call rates. The results of the proposed work will help to ensure that management decisions regarding woodcock are based on the best data possible. It is important to base recommendations on ideal timing of surveys on more than one year of data. Three years of data collection (pilot season + 2 years) will allow coverage of a wide geographic area and also allow an analysis of annual variation in peak calling activity. 3. WORK TO BE PERFORMED BY CONTRACTOR The Contractor will evaluate the timing of the SGS in Canada using autonomous audio recorders placed in areas with known breeding woodcock. To assess survey timing, they will sample prior to and after the current survey windows in Canada. To evaluate the diurnal timing of surveys in relation to sunset, they will record before sunset and will stop recording at two hours after sunset. They will also place recorders in areas north of the current SGS coverage to assess survey coverage of the woodcock breeding range. They will determine the probability of detecting species occupancy in relation to environmental conditions. Audio recordings will not allow determination of abundance, so initial analyses will focus on presence/absence in an occupancy modeling framework. To complement the occupancy analyses, they will look at the distribution of frequency of calls (e.g., calls/minute; intervals between calls) and use that to determine how frequently an observer would miss a woodcock at a station (i.e. rate of false negative) where the species was detected on the audio recording. This will be done for individual stations, across stations and by region. Finally, they will determine whether timing of calling varies with latitude, with time of day, temperature and light intensity. 4. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED MATERIALS/SERVICES None. 5. QUALIFICATIONS The Contractor must have experience conducting American Woodcock Singing-ground Surveys following a standardized protocol for survey timing. They must have expertise in using autonomous audio recorders and analyzing acoustic data from these recorders. The must have experience conducting occupancy modeling using presence/absence data. An established working relationship with state and federal partners, specifically coordinators of the American Woodcock SGS in Canada, is required. 6. SUMMARY OF MILESTONE DUE DATES The contractor will provide annual progress reports and the final report in the form of a graduate thesis and/or peer-reviewed journal publication which will be delivered by 28 February 2014. 7. DELIVERABLES The following deliverables will be produced: 1)Database of audio recordings 2)Annual progress reports 3)A technical report of project results 4)a graduate thesis and/or peer-reviewed journal publication 8. PROJECT COMPLETION/DELIVERY SCHEDULE The project shall be completed by 28 February 2014 and a final internal technical report in the form of a graduate thesis or a journal manuscript will be submitted. 9. ADDRESS FOR DELIVERABLES All deliverables shall be submitted to the following address within the specified timeframes. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Attention: Tom Cooper Division of Migratory Bird Management 5600 American Blvd. West, Bloomington, MN 55437 Ph: 612-713-5338 e-mail: tom_cooper@fws.gov 10. TRAVEL EXPENSES Travel expenses and accommodations will be covered for field work based on contractor budget 11. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance of this order shall begin upon the date of award continuing through 28 February 2014 with a Government option for four additional years. 12. LOCATION OF WORK The Contractor will conduct planning, coordination, analytical, and report-writing work at its own place of business. Field work will be conducted at locations within the woodcock breeding range in Canada. 13. TECHNICAL LIAISON The Technical Point of Contact for this task order is: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Attention: Tom Cooper Division of Migratory Bird Management 5600 American Blvd. West, Bloomington, MN 55437 Ph: 612-713-5338 e-mail: tom_cooper@fws.gov
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- Record
- SN02786737-W 20120628/120626235501-798569cfe7492178da173c3cf6530f28 (fbodaily.com)
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