MODIFICATION
B -- HI-HI & PACIFIC IS NWRC-SEABIRD MONITOR
- Notice Date
- 8/22/2016
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- FWS, DIVISION OF CONTRACTING AND GE EASTSIDE FEDERAL COMPLEX 911 NE 11TH AVENUE PORTLAND OR 97232-4181 US
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- F16PS01191
- Response Due
- 8/26/2016
- Archive Date
- 8/27/2016
- Point of Contact
- Lautzenheiser, Karl
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a requirement for a coordinator to develop US Tropical Pacific Seabird Monitoring Framework. Project is unrestricted and is open to any size business. Applicable NAICS code is 541690. Small business size is defined as no more than $15.0 million annually. Performance period will run a year form date of award. The scope of work for these services are as follows: Justification: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has management responsibility for millions of seabirds across the Pacific, from Alaska to California and the tropical Pacific islands. Seabird conservation measures are hindered due to very limited or outdated data. The majority of colonial-nesting seabirds in the U.S. portion of the Tropical Pacific (USTP), consisting of Hawaii and other US islands in the tropical Pacific, nest on very remote National Wildlife Refuges or other public lands. Many of these species spend the majority of their time at sea and only return to land to breed. As a result, breeding colony surveys provide the most accurate and efficient method of assessing and monitoring population sizes. In some areas of the USTP, such as the Northern Mariana Islands, basic inventory of species is needed as well as more in-depth colony or population monitoring. Conducting surveys of breeding populations for colonial nesting seabirds requires a large-scale, scientifically sound framework primarily because seabird populations are very dynamic and sensitive to changes in the marine environment. Various species nest in different habitats (e.g., surface vs. burrow-nesting), often on remote or mostly inaccessible islands and cliffs that can be further complicated given species are active at different times of day ( e.g., diurnal vs. nocturnal) and most species in the tropical Pacific Islands are asynchronous and a seasonal nesters, meaning that they do not have a defined nesting season from year to year. Colony sizes can vary from one or two nesting pairs to more than a million birds. In addition, methods to conduct and analyze surveys in the past have varied within and among regions, which has precluded accurate spatial and temporal comparisons and complicated planning for future surveys. The asynchrony and a seasonality of some tropical seabird species also complicates the application of standard seabird inventory and monitoring techniques in the USTP. During a time of global decline for approximately 70% of seabird populations as well as shifting ranges, it is imperative to conduct a consistent comprehensive assessment of the abundance and distribution of colonial breeding seabirds, particularly for those species that are rarely monitored. These updated, scientifically sound data can be used for the following: - Identify priority species to be inventoried and monitored - Identify species at risk or in decline; - Identify important breeding areas for protection; - Manage and protect habitats on refuges; - Assess potential impacts from climate change including sea level rise, increasing storm surges, sea ice melt, ocean acidification, changes in upwelling, and changes in prey availability; - Assess damages from, marine debris, oil spills and other contaminants for Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR); - Document potential impacts of fisheries, energy production, land uses, or other threats; - Inform federal and state regulatory and permitting processes; and - Inform U.S. Coast Guard geographic response, ocean, and coastal management planning. Knowledge of sampling and experimental design techniques to provide advice in survey design considering constraints in collecting ecologically based data in challenging environments. Responsibilities: Coordinates planning and facilitates implementation of a USTP seabird workshop by gathering scientific information necessary to identify priority needs (including species and colonies) and standardize survey, analytical, data management and reporting methods to determine the breeding abundance and distribution of select seabird species throughout the USTP. Conducts and participates in pre-workshop conference calls with the USFWS Pacific Seabird Monitoring Working Group to discuss workshop planning including agenda, format, materials, participants, and venue; Creates a gap analysis of the current state of seabird monitoring in the USTP and a general methods manual for distribution to participants prior to the workshop; After the USTP workshop, serves as lead author of the prioritization report and blue print for the inventory and monitoring of USTP seabird species as identified at the workshop. Works directly with the advisory committee to develop, revise and complete the reports. Tasks: Prepares a gap analysis on the current inventory and monitoring of seabirds throughout the Hawaiian and tropical Pacific islands. Prepares a species specific methods manual to guide collection of data on seabird breeding distribution and abundance for seabird species in the USTP. The coordinator will provide this expertise through participating in conference calls, preparing and reviewing scoping documents, and playing a major role in planning and conducting a 2-3 day regional seabird monitoring workshop for the USTP during April 2017. The workshop will be sponsored by USFWS to convene USFWS, state, territory, and commonwealth staffs, conservation partners, and other scientific experts to prioritize seabird monitoring efforts in the USTP. Specific tasks for the coordinator will include the following: Prior to the workshop, prepares the gap analysis of the current state of seabird inventory and monitoring in the USTP Prior to the workshop, prepares a species specific general methods manual (field data collection, data management, data analysis, and reporting) for seabirds species found in the USTP. Plans and facilitates a USTP seabird monitoring workshop to gather essential information from conservation practitioners in the USTP and generate a prioritized list of seabird monitoring actions. Compiles and distributes a report of the prioritization findings and minutes from the workshop. Creates a blue print for the inventory and monitoring of seabirds species in the USTP. Deliverables: Prepares for and helps conduct a USTP seabird workshop during one week in the spring of 2017 focused on prioritizing inventory and monitoring efforts in the USTP. Coordinator will compile workshop notes formatted as a report, where this information will then inform the development of the survey protocol framework in accordance with the USFWS's Objective: Prior to the workshop the coordinator will perform a gap analysis to determine what seabird species are being monitored, how they are being monitored and where the monitoring is occurring within the USTP. With assistance from an advisory team, the coordinator leads preparation of a gap analysis for the USTP to support the prioritization of species to be inventoried and monitored. The coordinator will also assemble a species specific methods manual that highlights a range of possible monitoring methods for each USTP species. These methods will ensure the consistent collection of baseline data on breeding distribution and abundance for selected species. The gap analysis and methods manual will include the following: - Geographic scope and scale(s) of current inventory and monitoring efforts; - Data collection methodology and measured variables for select species ( e.g., arboreal-, surface-, burrow-, and crevice-nesters) currently surveyed; - Methods for data collection - Minimum number of replicates within and between years necessary to accurately estimate abundance and distribution for selected species; - Methods for data analyses including description of assumptions and limitations; - Formats for database management to facilitate data analyses, taking into account a seasonal and asynchronous nesting; - Formats for data reporting; and - Description of how this framework integrates with similar frameworks for Alaska and the California Current System for standardization the maximum extent possible. Duties and Responsibilities: Prior to the workshop the coordinator will conduct a GAP analysis of seabird monitoring throughout the U.S. Pacific Islands in the tropics and subtropics (USTP). The Coordinator will also prepare a methods manual for seabirds in the USTP that identifies potential methods to monitor USTP seabird species. The Coordinator leads the planning and implementation of a USTP seabird monitoring workshop resulting in a prioritized list of actions for seabird inventory and monitoring in the area. At the workshop the coordinator will be responsible for reviewing the findings of the GAP analysis and methods manual and facilitating a prioritization exercise leading to a list of seabird inventory or monitoring priorities for the USTP. Following the workshop the coordinator will create a report identifying the priorities and outlining a "blue print" for the methods and resources required to achieve the priorities. Specific duties and knowledge of the coordinator include the following: Skills Required: Professional expertise in marine ornithology, wildlife monitoring, management planning, and meeting organization and facilitation. The following attributes would be considered desirable: Training and experience with statistical analysis of comprehensive multi-species monitoring efforts; Skill in eliciting information from individuals and groups to aid in identifying capabilities and priorities. Knowledge of Pacific Island biogeography and seabird biology Survey Protocol Handbook. The expected time frame to prepare for the workshop and then develop the protocol framework thereafter is 1 year (July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017). During the 8 months before the workshop, there will be a more substantial time commitment to prepare the GAP analysis and methods manual whereas, the last 4 months will be focused on reporting the actions decided on in the workshop. Preparation work in advance of the workshop will involve participation on conference calls and assisting with development of scoping documents. Interested firms are invited to submit their technical capability to meet the Government requirement, along with resumes for key personnel and pricing. The Government will use ¿Trade Off ¿ in making a best value decision on a proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the Government that best fulfils the requirement of above scope of work at a reasonable price. Solicitation Number F16PS01191 with attachments is being posted with this synopsis notice with quotes due by 3 PM PDT on Friday, August 26, 2016. Quotes must be received by mail channels by no later that date/time or can be emailed directly to Karl_Lautzenheiser@fws.gov. No further notice will be posted on Fedbizopps. To be considered for award, interested contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database at (https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/) and Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) must be completed at this same website. For technical questions, please contact Beth Flint at (808) 792-9553 or email Beth_Flint@fws.gov. Contracting questions can be addressed to Karl Lautzenheiser at (503) 231-2052 or by email to Karl_Lautzenheiser@fws.gov.
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- SN04235402-W 20160824/160822235811-6f4d357d9bf38a8e52854d9aea8bc669 (fbodaily.com)
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