INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Extend Wetland Mapping Using Aerial Imagery for Stereographic Pairs --Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Region 7, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, intends to sole source, 1) wetland inventory, classification, assessment and fieldwork for 545,000 acres of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Figure 1) using the Cook Inlet Classification System (CIWC), 2) Wetlands data merger with existing data and 3) participation in wetland management meetings hosted by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to answer questions concerning the functions of various map units in CIWC as applied to wetland management and functions. This will be a continuation of work by the Kenai Watershed Forum to extend their unique wetland delineation method, Cook Inlet Wetland Classification System (CIWC) to perform expert stereoscopioc evaluation, line work, fieldwork, hosting of final mapping, and combining new mapping of this requirement with existiong CIWC data. NAICS code for this procurement is 541370 with size standard of $4.5M. Only one responsible source and no other services will satisfy agency requirements. This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the test program for commercial items (section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996) or the authority of the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (41 U.S.C. 428a). Reason for Sole Source: Continuity of Existing Efforts. The CIWC system had the scientific rigor associated with it to be the scientific basis for the Matanuska-Susitna wetland planning framework, and is endorsed fully by the Borough and their interagency wetland group for the last four years and for continuation of this project for the next three years. KWF has been the sole wetland delineator for all CIWC mapping in the Borough (410,000 acres). Using KWF maintains continuity of the methods used to delineate the wetlands over the last four years as well as consistency of the fieldwork and data that has been created, as it will be the same people performing the work. Continuity across the landscape under the same political boundary in the Borough is important to ensure similar scientific rigor for future management and planning across the area, as well as maintain continuity with existing datasets developed within the Kenai Peninsula Borough for a eventual Cook Inlet-wide CIWC wetland map. The CIWC method is the original work of a KWF employee, who is currently completing a PhD thesis that describes the method in detail (unpublished). He is the expert in its application and has performed all mapping of CIWC for landscape level planning efforts to date in Southcentral Alaska. While summary descriptions on the various map units are available, the thesis is not yet in the public domain for more detailed explanations. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. This is not a request for proposal since the intent is a sole source procurement; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement which will be considered by the agency. The following FAR Clauses apply:52.212-3, 52.212-4, 52.212-5, Applicable statutes: 52.222-50, 52.233-3, 52.233-4, 52.203-6, 52.204-10, 52.209-6, 52.219-8, 52.219-28, 52.222-3, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52,222-35, 52.222-37, 52.222-40, 52.223-18, 52.232-34, 52.222-41, 52.222-42Full text of clauses available at http://farsite.hill.af.mil Statement of Work:Wetland Classification, Inventory and Assessment Using the Cook Inlet Wetland Classification System in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Overview and ObjectiveThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) requests services for 1) wetland inventory, classification, assessment and fieldwork for 545,000 acres of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Figure 1) using the Cook Inlet Classification System (CIWC), 2) Wetlands data merger with existing data and 3) participation in wetland management meetings hosted by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to answer questions concerning the functions of various map units in CIWC as applied to wetland management and functions. Figure 1. Mapping area broken into Phase I and II along with imagery acquisition area. Project Objectives are:To delineate wetlands over 545,000 acres and add to the last four years of wetland mapping using the Cook Inlet Wetland Classification System (CIWC) in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Figure 1). Note that this is intended as a landscape-level planning tool and not intended to meet Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requirements for wetland delineation. History:In 1998, a Kenai Watershed Forum employee developed CIWC and worked through the non-profit Kenai Watershed Forum to map the Kenai Peninsula at a high resolution and with CIWC. This mapping was then used by the Forum as well as agencies and the Kenai Peninsula Borough for planning purposes over 790,000 acres of land. In 2007, KWF began work in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and since then has mapped 410,000 acres of area there. In the Borough, it has been used for landscape level planning efforts and the basis of wetland management. CIWC is also currently used for planning within the city of Homer. The CIWC mapping effort is based on geomorphology and hydrology and is in the process of being demonstrated to be more effective than other hydrogeomorphic classifications or the National Wetland Inventory classification for predicting wetland functions in the Cook Inlet Region (Mike Gracz, unpublished PhD thesis). Project Deliverables are:" A GIS shapefile of wetlands with polygons CIWC attributed, consisting of a merge of new data and the last four years of data within the Borough and consistent with past data format." A MS Access database containing all data collected across the Borough (new data and the last four years of data) and consistent with past data format. The overall service requested includes the following components:" Acquisition of Aerial Stereo-Pairs" Linework and Digitization of Wetlands" Fieldwork" Database Formation" Borough Assessment and Management Plan Expert Participation Acquisition of Aerial Stereo-PairsAerial stereo-pair photography will be obtained to provide the imagery necessary for delineation over the areas delineated in Figure 1. Photography will be in true color and acquired at a scale of 1:18,000 during leaf on conditions. Photo imagery will be geo-rectified as well as printed at 17"x17". Linework and Digitization of WetlandsWetland boundaries will be interpreted by stereo-pair and drafted onto mylar sheets, which will be used to digitize the boundaries into a ESRI polygon shapefile as separate polygons. Comparisons are also to be made to NRCS soil mapping and existing NWI data as it exists within the acquisition boundary and polygons modified as appropriate. Preliminary CIWC attribute of each polygon will be made, subject to field verification. After fieldwork is performed, polygon boundaries and mapping units will be adjusted as appropriate. FieldworkWetland polygons will be checked in the field for correct CIWC and limited testing conducted. Total polygons field verified will be 10-20% of all polygons mapped and of the entire range of CIWC types mapped in the area. Field visits will consist of a photo of the wetland, reconnaissance view of plant cover, peat profile and water chemistry. To maintain consistency with previous mapping, the fieldwork will be performed as follows: Plant Cover. To maintain consistency with previous mapping, cover is recorded by tens, for instance, a cover value between 16-24% will be 20%. However, cover values 7% and less are to be recorded at 1%. Cover is based on the visual observation of homogenous vegetation classification within the polygon as per previous mapping efforts. Soil Testing. A peat profile will be described using NRCS classification scheme of fibric, hemic and sapric. Samples will be taken down to mineral soil and profile described. Tephra layers in the peat will be noted and thickness documented. Mineral soil encountered will be described (size, type). Total depth of peat will be documented. In the event the wetland is not peat, soil layers and wetland indicators will be described as per the 2007 corps Wetland Delineation Manual, Alaska Regional Supplement. Surface Water Chemistry.Surface water chemistry will be taken for pH, specific conductance, and alkalinity. pH and specific conductance will be measured with a YSI 63 meter, alkalinity with a Hach digital titrator. If surface chemistry does not conform to past chemistry of map unit classification, there are unusual conditions or interpretation of results is difficult, a deeper water sample will also be collected and tested with the addition of anion and cations and the stable isotopic composition of oxygen and hydrogen. To conform to previous efforts, deep samples are to be taken with a 3.2 cm diameter drive-point piezometer that can be driven up to 1 meter in depth. Database FormationAll data (polygon ID, map unit, fieldwork data, including photo number and photos), will be inputted into a MS Access database that conforms to previous format for past data acquisition. Data will be merged with the Cook Inlet wide database. Quality control will be performed and documented, included cross-referencing field notebooks. Borough Assessment and Management Plan Expert ParticipationThe Borough is leading an interagency group in forming a wetland functional assessment and management plan for the first 410,000 acres of area where wetlands were delineated by a KWF employee over the last four years. KWF will participate in these meetings and working with formation of these projects, interpretation of the CIWC, and to answer questions pertaining to it. An estimated ten, four hour meetings are expected over the next three years, with an anticipated 200 hours of time devoted to working outside the meetings. SubmittalsProgress reports will be sent to the Service project manager each yearly quarter starting April 15, 2012, for a total of nine reports, the last report being the Final Report. Reports will include a description of work performed to date, a map of areas delineated as appropriate, chemistry results and summary of fieldwork, any unusual or significant findings. A ESRI polygon shapefile of work performed to the reporting date is to be included as appropriate. KWF will allow two weeks of time after every draft product is formed prior to that season's fieldwork for the Service Project Manager to review the draft polygon shapefile and give comments. Final Report. A final report will be delivered that includes a description of all work, summary graphics of percent of wetland types, chemistry and other fieldwork, and a map of the wetlands broken out by CIWC, including descriptions of each map unit. Other deliverables for the final submittal include: " A final, reviewed, ESRI polygon shapefile of wetlands, with polygons CIWC attributed, consisting of a merge of new data and the last four years of data within the Borough and consistent with past data format and including a legend of all map unit descriptors." A final, reviewed and merged MS Access database containing all data collected across the Borough from 2007 (new data and the last four years of CIWC mapped data) and consistent with past data format." Host old and new merged, mapped data on existing website. ScheduleFebruary 29, 2012. All Aerial Photography Acquisition and Imagery Preparation Complete.June 15, 2012. Phase 1 Area Linework and Digitization of Wetlands Complete.October 1, 2012. Phase 1 Fieldwork Complete.March 1, 2013. Phase 1 Final Polygon Shapefile and MS Access Database Complete.June 15, 2013. Phase 2 Area Linework and Digitization of Wetlands Complete.October 1, 2013. Phase 2 Fieldwork Complete.March 1, 2014. Phase 2 Final Polygon Shapefile and MS Access Database Complete.April 15, 2014. Final Report and Submittal. Contact: Claudette McDonald by calling 907-786-3439 or emailing [email protected].