A--Performing a two-year, two-part project to identify Gila River basin streams that are fishless or occupied only by native fishes.

COMBINED SYNOPSIS AND REQUEST FOR QUOTE The Fish and Wildlife Service anticipates entering into a contract with a suitable Contractor, hereinafter referred to as "Contractor" and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hereinafter referred to as "Service." Contractor shall perform a two-year, two-part project to identify Gila River basin streams that are fishless or occupied only by native fishes. HISTORY: Fish & Wildlife Service and other personnel from academia, state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and other entities have repeatedly sampled and recorded the fauna of many Gila River basin streams in Arizona and New Mexico. Native species now are extirpated from some places and most reaches have mixed faunas of native and non-native fishes. A few streams have intact native communities absent an introduced component, and some apparently were fishless, at least at time(s) of visitation. There also are some waters that have not recently, or in some cases ever, been sampled comprehensively. Among the last three kinds of streams, fishless, native only, and unsampled, there may be some where suitable habitat is available for possible establishment or re-establishment of one or more native fish species, including threatened loach minnow and spikedace. Such sites may be especially amenable to native fish management because they may not require a barrier to protect the fauna or renovation to remove an unwanted non-native species or community. PURPOSE: A contractor shall perform a two-year, two-part study to identify Gila River basin streams that are fishless, native only, or unsampled. This work is a fundamental prerequisite to transferring native species into such streams to establish new populations, replicate existing ones, or repatriate populations that have been extirpated. OBJECTIVE: Objective of the contract is to identify fishless and native only streams in the Gila River basin. This objective is to be met by successful completion of the following general tasks: (1) review available data bases and published and agency collection records, and interview knowledgeable professionals and lay persons to identify potential streams (fishless, native only, or unsampled), (2) design a field protocol to perform fish collections that verify fish occurrence or absence in streams identified in Task 1, and (3) implement the protocol developed under Task 2. The Service in cooperation with contractor and the Central Arizona Project Fund Transfer (CAP) Technical Committee will determine final site selections for sampling. Specific objectives to be accomplished under each general task are provided in responsibilities below. SCOPE OF WORK: Contractor shall perform a comprehensive review of published and unpublished databases, published literature, and gray literature to include agency and contract reports, files, web sites, and other materials. From this information contractor will specifically identify streams or stream reaches that are thought to be fishless, occupied only by native fishes, or that have never or not recently been sampled. Contractor will augment this information through interviews with knowledgeable professionals and other individuals. Contractor will identify potential streams or stream reaches that meet the above criteria on 7.5-minute topographic maps. Task 1.) Contractor will develop a generalized field protocol to verify the status of potential streams and stream reaches identified in Task 1 as fishless, native only, or unsampled. The protocol will incorporate schedule and timing, methods, data recording and management, personnel requirements, and equipment needs. It is anticipated that each stream site will be sampled more than once and that collections will be made when conditions are suitable (i.e., periods of high discharge, runoff, inclement weather, etc. are to be avoided). Contractor will submit the draft field protocol to the Service, and incorporate Service comments and suggestions into a final protocol that will guide conduct under Task 3. Protocol should be generally applicable across all streams of the Gila River basin upstream and including the Hassayampa River subbasin. The Service in cooperation with Contractor and CAP Technical Committee will make the final site selections. It is anticipated that changes in the protocol may be necessary during the course of field studies, and such changes should be communicated to the Service at Contractor's earliest convenience. The Service does not anticipate a need for field surveys in the Verde and Blue river drainages, as relatively recent comprehensive surveys there have been accomplished. However, relevant data reviews of those drainages are to be included in the final report. Task 2.) Contractor will perform field studies according to the protocol and site selections developed under Task 2. Sampling is to be opportunistic and intensive with the primary purpose of detecting and identifying fishes present. Contract will maintain contact with and apprise Service of progress, problems encountered, and solutions to problems. Contractor must have appropriate permits and permissions in hand when conducting field operations. For example, a scientific collection permit issued by Arizona Game and Fish Department is required to authorize fish collections in the state, and other authorizations may be required by other permitting entities. It is Contractor's responsibility to be aware of and comply with all such requirements. Further, it is Contractor's responsibility to obtain permission, preferably in writing, to access and sample on private lands, Native American reservations, or anywhere else that such permission is required. Task 3.) Contractor will prepare a draft Final Performance Report for the Service that incorporates all methods, results, analyses, conclusions, recommendations and other materials derived from completion of Tasks 1-3. The report will include a tabulation of all streams and stream reaches reviewed (Task 1) and indicate the fish community status for each (i.e., non-native only, mixed native-non-native, native only, fishless) on the basis of that review, and also indicate the actual status of each stream-stream reach based on the field surveys performed as part of Task 3. All streams and stream reaches will be identified on 7.5 minutes topographic maps and related by stream or stream reach name to the tabulation. The field protocol (Task 2) and any modifications thereto, or adjustments made during the course of the study, will be incorporated into the report. SERVICE WILL: a. Provide technical coordination and consultation within the Service, Contractor, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and other cooperating entities to exchange information and optimize the probability of successful completion of the project. b. Be available as necessary to meet with Contractor to discuss progress and results. c. Provide timely review of and comments on the Field Protocol developed under Task 2. d. Provide site selections for field surveys. e. Provide timely review of the draft final performance report. Pricing shall include delivery and all applicable local, state, and federal taxes. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Complete Task 1- 120 days Fish & Wildlife Service Reviews - 30 days Complete Task 2 and submit field protocol - 180 days Fish & Wildlife Service reviews and comment on protocol - 30 days Incorporate comments - 30 days Fish & Wildlife Service selects survey sites - 30 days Complete Task 3 field surveys - 365 days Meet as needed - once monthly Submit draft Final Report - at end of performance period Fish & Wildlife Service reviews and provides comments on Draft Final Report - at the end of performance period Contractor incorporates comments and submit Final Report - 30 days REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: 1. Stream Status. Contractor shall provide a list of references, databases, professional contacts, etc. developed in Task 1 to identify fishless, native only, and unsampled streams and stream reaches. Contractor shall provide a tabulation of all streams and stream reaches reviewed (Task 1) and indicate the fish community status for each (i.e., non-native only, mixed native-non-native, native only, fishless) on the basis of that review. 2. Topographic Maps. Contractor shall provide copies of 7.5-minute topographic maps that identify by name and location the streams or stream reaches tabulated as part of Task 1. 3. Field Protocol. Contractor shall submit the draft field protocol developed under Task 2 to the Service, and incorporate Service comments to produce the protocol used to guide field collections made as part of Task 3. 4. Draft Performance Report. Contractor shall prepare and submit five (5) copies of a draft Final Performance Report for the Service that incorporates all methods, results, analyses, conclusions, recommendations and other materials derived from completion of Tasks 1-3. Contractor shall present field results from Task 3 that verify or correct the status assessments (i.e., fishless or native only) based upon the Task 1 review. Contractor also shall identify other streams or stream reaches that were occupied by non-native only or mixed native-non-native fish communities. 5. Final Performance Report. Contractor shall submit ten (10) copies of a Final Performance Report that addresses comments that result from the Service review of the Draft Final Performance Report. FISHLESS AND NATIVE FISH ONLY STREAM IDENTIFICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA: Successful Contractor Should Demonstrate: 1. Competence with identification and biology of all extant and some extirpated species of native and introduced fishes of the Gila River basin. 2. Experience with database management and Geographic Information Systems. 3. Ability to assemble an experienced fishery crew for stream surveys. 4. Written and verbal communication skills, including the production of technical reports. 5. Past performances meeting project time schedules and budgets. 6. Cost-effectiveness, professionalism, and biological expertise in the preparation of the proposal. 7. No conflict of interest. 8. The ability to complete the task with a maximum of 20% overhead or indirect cost charges in compliance with policies of the Interagency Central Arizona Project Implementation program. (The purpose of the Central Arizona Project Transfer Program is to implement conservation actions that are identified in existing and future recovery plans for Gila River basin Federal/State-listed or candidate native fish species. The Program provides a maximum of $500,000 annually for a total of 25 years toward this goal. Because funding is limited and the conservation project needs for the fishes are greater than those funds can accommodate, the Program has established a maximum allowable overhead rate for all potential recipients of Program funding. This rate shall be no greater than 20 percent of the total project costs, exclusive of personnel benefits routinely included in calculation of hourly salary rates.) Should you have any questions regarding this evaluation criteria contact Dr. Paul Barrett, Fish and Wildlife Service, at 520/670-6144 extension 228. The provision at FAR 52.212-01, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, and FAR provision 52.212-02, Evaluation Commercial Items, are applicable to this acquisition, 52.212-03 Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, the Clause at FAR 52.212-04, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, and the Clause at FAR 52.212-05, Contract Terms and Conditions required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders-Commercial Items. All interested parties must be registered in Central Contractor Registration (CCR) as prescribed in FAR 52.204-7. Evaluation of Commercial Items: the Government will award to the responsible offeror who conforms to the solicitation and is considered most advantageous to the Government, based on 1. Past Performance; 2. Technical; and 3. Price. FAR clauses can be accessed at the following websites: http://www.arnet.gov/far and http://www.doi.gov/pam/pamare. Vendors wishing to respond to this combined synopsis/RFQ should provide this office with the following: price quote, responses to evaluation criteria and resumes of staff, a completed copy of FAR Clause 52.212-03, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, and an information sheet on items being quoted. The Offeror agrees to hold the prices in the offer firm for 45 calendar days from the date specified for the receipt of offers. Proposals are due no later than 3:30 p.m. (local time), February 28, 2005 and should be electronically submitted via e-mail to [email protected] or mailed to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CGS) 500 Gold Ave., SW, Room 5108, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103.