Environmental Consulting Service (Wetland and Endangered Species)

STATEMENT OF WORK FOR MGT, SPECIES, INVERTEBRATES (BLACK ABALONE) XUMUOS278412-C at VANDENBERG AFB, CA FY 2012 The project will involve coordination with natural resource managers in the 30th Civil Engineering Squadron (30CES/CEANC) at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) for access to the project site. Background: Black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) are shallow-living, relatively sedentary, marine gastropods and are one of seven species of abalone that are native to the west coast of North America. Black abalone occur in rocky intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats on exposed outer coasts, where they can be found primarily in crevice microhabitats and feed preferentially on large drifting fragments of marine algae such as kelps. Complex surfaces with cracks and crevices in upper and middle intertidal zones may be crucial recruitment habitat and appear to be important for adult survival as well. Black abalone were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2009. Critical habitat for black abalone was designated on October 27, 2011. The rocky intertidal habitats and coastal marine waters offshore of VAFB were included in this designation. At the VAFB Harbor (or "Boathouse"), black abalone were documented on the west side of the breakwater and a few abalone were observed on reefs offshore of the breakwater in the early 1980's. Abalone were not observed in the Harbor area during surveys conducted in 2000. After very significant population declines believed to be caused by "withering syndrome," it is unknown if abalone are currently present on the harbor breakwater. Project Description Contractor shall conduct a detailed evaluation of the harbor breakwater (both inside and outside) prior to the next planned harbor dredging (October 2012). See additional details under "Tasking," below. ). Contractor shall also conduct a detailed evaluation of the harbor area for black abalone within 2 weeks of dredging actions currently planned for October of 2012. Justification - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543). - Sikes Act and Sikes Act Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 670a-f).and AFI 32-7064, Integrated Natural Resources Management: Military departments are required to coordinate with federal and state agencies in the planning and management of natural resources on military installations. - National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) Tasking Task 1: Brief Kick-off meeting. All contractor personnel conducting site work will participate in a brief meeting, primarily covering site safety, prior to project initiation. Principal Investigator participation by telephone will be satisfactory. Task 2: Contractor shall conduct a brief assessment and site evaluation with VAFB staff. The primary purpose of this task is to discuss site access and determine site selection parameters. Task 3: Contractor shall: a.) Select 60% of the inside breakwater and determine count and frequency (14 ten- meter sections) of black abalone. Select 30% of the outside breakwater and determine count and frequency (7 ten- meter sections) of black abalone. b.) Conduct Habitat Characterization inside breakwater (10 ten-meter sections). Conduct Habitat Characterization outside breakwater (5 ten-meter sections). This task refers to actions equivalent to the critical habitat characterization completed for the National Marine Fisheries Service c.) Sampling set-up, inside breakwater (10 ten meter sections). Sampling set-up, outside breakwater (5 ten meter sections). This task refers to the installation of markers that allow for reoccupation of sites Task 4: Contractor shall conduct post-dredging surveys for black abalone inside and nearby the VAFB harbor in the period of approximately 2 weeks after dredging operations conclude (currently scheduled for October 2012). Standard Conditions: 1. A draft report will detail all actions taken under this agreement. 2. This Statement of Work includes all labor and supplies for completing this project. 3. Vehicles, computers and office support will not be provided by the U.S. Air Force. Government Contact: Mr. Rhys Evans is the CEANC point of contact for this project. Expected Outcome: This project requires the production of a brief written report of findings resulting from black abalone surveys. Additionally, a brief report documenting results of October/November post-dredging surveys will be required. This project will fulfill adaptive management obligations of the VAFB Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP). Deliverable format(s): A draft survey report including maps (2 hard copies, 1 electronic copy with the document in Word format, data in Excel and maps as .mxd files) will be provided to CEANC no later than 1 September 2012. The Government will require a 30-day review period. Following receipt of comments from all interested parties and consolidated by CEANC, a final report and final maps will be provided within 30 days (4 copies with comb, spiral or similar binding; 2 electronic copies on CD, with the document in .pdf format and the maps as GIS .mxd files and/or .pdf). A draft post-dredging report including maps (2 hard copies, 1 electronic copy with the document in Word format, data in Excel and maps as .mxd files) will be provided to CEANC no later than 15 December 2012. The Government will require a 30-day review period. Following receipt of comments from all interested parties and consolidated by CEANC, a final report and final maps will be provided within 30 days (4 copies with comb, spiral or similar binding; 2 electronic copies on CD, with the document in .pdf format and the maps as GIS .mxd files and/or .pdf). Milestones ECD Action (include deliverables) Responsible Party 1 June 2012 Kick-off meeting Rhys Evans 30 CES/ CEANC 1 September 2012 Draft Survey Report to 30 CES/ CEANC Contractor 1 October 2012 Gov't review and comments Rhys Evans 30 CES/ CEANC 1 November 2012 Final Survey Report Contractor 15 December 2012 Draft Post-Dredge Report to 30 CES/ CEANC Contractor 15 January 2013 Gov't review and comments Rhys Evans 30 CES/ CEANC 15 February 2013 Final Post-Dredge Report Contractor Deliverables Deliverable # hard copies # e-copies (include format types) Estimated pages/layers Date Due or Days after award Draft Survey Report 2 1 - Word, Excel, maps in .mxd 20 max 1 Sep 2012 Government Review 30 days Final Survey Report 4, comb or spiral 1 - pdf, maps in .mxd 20 max 1 Nov 2012 Draft Post-Dredging Report 2 1 - Word, Excel, maps in .mxd 10 max 15 Dec 2012 Government Review 15 Jan 2013 Final Post-Dredging Report 4, comb or spiral 1 - pdf, maps in .mxd 10 max 15 Feb 2013 Point of Contact Name Organi-zation Mailing address Phone number Fax no. E-mail address Rhys Evans CEANC 1028 Iceland Ave, VAFB, CA 93437 805-606-4198 606-6137 rhys.evans@ vandenberg.af.mil Special Conditions Government furnished information/materials. CEANC will provide any existing information and metadata for GIS coverage. Qualified personnel to perform contract tasks. The contractor shall ensure that only qualified, competent personnel carry out the tasks outlined in this SOW. Competent is defined as registered or certified professional or, where registration is not applicable, trained and certified with a degree in a related field of study. Exceptions are administrative and support personnel who participate in logistics and/or document publication. All deliverables are property of the USAF. All data and materials gathered and/or developed in the performance of these tasks listed shall be returned to and become property of the USAF; and shall not be used and/or distributed by the contractor without specific written permission of the 30 CES/CEANC Project Manager. Data or other findings shall not be released to media, regulators or any other entity without advance notification to and approval from the Project Manager. any consultation with NOAA-NMFS, California Department of Fish and Game, universities, consultants or other private or public groups or regulators will be conducted with the full knowledge of and with invited presence of the CEA project manager, either in person, by telephone, via e-mail or other communication means. Deliverable Formats. All electronic documents are to be in Microsoft Office (or whatever format is compatible with installation IT system). All documents, including photographs and maps, are to be dated. Final electronic deliverables are to be in MS Word (*.doc or *.docx), Microsoft Excel (*.xlsx or *.xls), Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf), and ArcGIS (.mxd and shapefiles). Data Standards. GeoSpatial Data shall be consistent with the "30th Space Wing GeoBase Spatial Data Submittal Standards" (8 Dec 2009) which will be provided upon contract award. Public disclosure. The contractor (nor staff) shall not give news releases or conduct media interviews concerning the work performed or results thereof. All information for public release will be released by the installation PAO; all requests for information, including any citing the Freedom of Information Act, shall be directed to the PAO and installation project manager. Contract Type X Firm Fixed Price Period of Performance Final post-dredging report is required by 15 February 2013. All project tasks, including report and data delivery, must be completed by __1 April 2013_ or no more than __11___ months.