Endangered Species Surveys & Invasive Weed Control at Kokee AFS, Kauai

This is a sources sought notice to identify small business firms capable of providing the below services. Please provide list of experiences in work similar in type and scope to include contract numbers, project titles, dollar amounts, and points of contact with phone numbers. Please submit responses to Mr. John Haberlach at john.haberlach@hickam.af.mil. Information received will be used to assist with a determination of the most appropriate acquisition strategy. Responses shall be limited to no more than 10 pages total. Failure to submit all information requested will result in a firm being considered "not interested" in this requirement. Interested firms are reminded that in accordance with FAR 4.12, prospective contractors shall complete electronic annual representations and certifications in conjunction with FAR 4.11 required registration in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database prior to award of a contract. Description of Services: 1. The US Air Force has a requirement to assess the presence and behavior of endangered Hawaiian Petrels, threatened Newell's Shearwaters and endangered Hawaiian hoary bats, and to protect their habitat, at upper-elevation installations on Kaua`i to include Kokee Air Force Station (AFS) and Kokee Microwave Antenna Site (MAS). Kokee AFS occupies 10.0 acres of mountaintop habitat adjacent to Kokee State Park. Approximately half of the installation is intact native forest, while the other half is cleared and landscaped and contains a radome operated by Hawaii Air National Guard to assist in tracking all aircraft in the Hawaiian Islands. Kokee MAS occupies a triangular piece of land 1.25 acres in size approximately 7.5 miles down the road from Kokee AFS and contains a tall antenna. 2. Newell's Shearwater and Dark-rumped Petrel surveys a. Personnel at Kokee AFS have reported finding Newell's Shearwaters on the ground at the installation. Newell's Shearwaters and Hawaiian Petrels nest primarily in upper elevations and may be attracted to lighting at the installation and strike an antenna or supporting guy wire, resulting in take under the Endangered Species Act. A monitoring survey specifically focused on shearwaters and petrels is to determine the presence of flight corridors over or adjacent to the installations and recommend actions that can be taken to minimize impacts to these species. b. The contractor shall identify the presence of flight paths of juvenile/adult Newell's Shearwaters and Hawaiian Petrels over Koke`e AFS using ornithological radar and acoustic surveys . The contractor shall perform two two-night surveys during the nesting season from April through September. One of the surveys must occur during the fledging season in September/October. For each two-night survey, Kokee MAS shall be surveyed one night and Kokee AFS the other night. Data collection requirements include sampling during the evening commute period (approximately 2 hours beginning at dusk) and record the number, time and flight direction of seabird targets detected on radar and acoustically. Structures at Koke`e AFS and Koke`e MAS are required to be surveyed for flight hazards (e.g. guy wires, unshielded lights). c. The contractor shall submit a brief report entitled Surveys of endangered Procellariformes at Koke'e AFS/MAS and recommendations to minimize potential take. The report shall include raw survey data and any data that has to date been collected from the nearby area by Kauai Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) which the government will provide upon request. The report shall also include an analysis of flight hazards (unshielded lights and guy wires). A draft report shall be submitted to the government first for review and approval and then a final report shall be submitted for approval prior to contract completion. 3. Hawaiian Hoary Bat surveys a. The Hawaiian hoary bat has been previously reported at Kokee AFS. Recent studies have concluded that electromagnetic radiation can exert an aversive behavioral response in bats. Such a response can be considered take under the Endangered Species Act. The contractor shall perform a monitoring survey by using a US Geological Survey (USGS)/US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) approved acoustic bat detector (ANABAT - manufactured by Titley Electronics, Ballina NSW, Australia - www.titley.com.au) to determine and quantify level of bat activity within the Kokee AFS cantonment area and assess changes in level of bat activity during radar transmission as compared to non-transmission periods. Immediately following each seabird survey at Kokee AFS, the detector is to be used to determine bat presence in the area. The contractor shall mount the detector in the field and leave it at the site to record long-term data (approximately one-month following each visit). Military employees stationed at Kokee AFS will retrieve the unit and return it to contractor for data downloading and analysis. b. The contractor shall submit a brief report entitled Effects of radar transmission on Hawaiian Hoary Bat activity at Kokee AFS. The report shall include raw data and analysis using ANALOOK software of bat activity during radome transmission and non-transmission periods. The report shall also include relevant citations obtained from a scientific literature search to put the behavioral effects (if found) on radar transmission into the context of current knowledge in this area. A draft report shall be submitted to the government first for review and approval and then a final report shall be submitted for approval prior to contract completion. 4. Invasive weed control a. The managed, fenced area of Kokee AFS is mostly lawn, with a few ornamental, non-invasive trees. However, five species of invasive plants have been recorded in the managed, fenced area and adjacent forest line. These are kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum), faya tree (Morella faya), fleabane daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus), blackberry (Rubus argutus) and banana poka (Passiflora mollissima) . In a recent survey of the installation, kahili ginger was observed in an isolated patch outside the eastern fence line, but may be growing in clumps deep within the forested area. Three faya trees were observed within the installation and several more were observed outside the north and northwest fence line, including several mature trees more than 15 feet tall. Fleabane daisy was observed in spreading clumps in breaks in the forest canopy outside the north fence line. Blackberry was also observed in breaks in the forest canopy and scattered along the fence line, although the plants did not appear vigorous. One banana poka vine was observed climbing through native forest outside the eastern fence. A biocontrol fungus has been introduced to control banana poka, and the threat of heavy infestations occurring is now much reduced. The contractor shall survey the entire installation acreage for the above invasive species and conduct 100% mortality. Kahili ginger shall be cut at the base of the stem and the exposed roots shall be cut and sprayed with herbicide or removed mechanically. Flower heads shall be bagged in plastic to prevent spread of seeds. The fleabane, banana poke, and blackberry shall be sprayed with herbicide or removed mechanically. Small faya trees shall be cut to ground level and given an application of Garlon or other topical, systemic herbicide. Large faya trees shall be treated with herbicide, either through notching or by stumping followed by application to the face of the stump. b. The contractor shall submit a brief report documenting qualitative extent of coverage and treatment of above invasive weeds, including recommendations for follow-up treatment. A tabulation of herbicide products and quantities used shall be submitted along with the report. 5. Qualifications needed: The contractor shall possess experience or training in use of ornithological radar and acoustic surveys for montane-nesting procellariformes and the use of USGS/FWS- approved bat detection equipment. Appropriate experience or training shall be documented as part of the resume submitted along with the quote. 6. Equipment: The contractor shall provide an USGS/FWS approved bat detection unit which will be retained by government upon contract completion. The contractor shall make arrangements with Kauai DOFAW to rent the ornithological radar equipment. 7. Travel costs: All travel costs (flights, lodging, rental car, per diem), while the contractor is in a government authorized travel status, will be reimbursed to the contractor in accordance with the DoD Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR). Local accommodations are available in Kokee (Camp Sloggett cabins) and in Waimea (Waimea Plantation Cottages). 8. Deliverables: Final report (electronic): Surveys of endangered Procellariformes at Koke'e AFS and recommendations to minimize potential take Final report (electronic): Effects of radar transmission on Hawaiian Hoary Bat activity at Kokee AFS Final report (electronic): Invasive weeds coverage and treatment at Kokee AF