Inactive

GOLDEN EAGLE MONITORING This is a sources sought notice and is not a solicitation to request for quote and no purchase order shall be awarded from this synopsis. It is not to be construed as a commitm... GOLDEN EAGLE MONITORING This is a sources sought notice and is not a solicitation to request for quote and no purchase order shall be awarded from this synopsis. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract and, it does not obligate the government to pay for any document preparation costs. This requirement is Subject to the Availability of Funds. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) is conducting market research to locate potential small business sources to provide the following service: USGS intends to arrange for the capture and tagging with a solar-powered GPS telemetry unit of approximately two adult golden eagles in coastal Southern California and helicopter nest surveys to determine nesting status and reproductive success during the 2019 breeding season. The specific territories targeted for capture efforts and nest surveys will be identified by the contractor together with USGS. Telemetry data will be collected at fine time intervals (~5 seconds between locations) for as long as the telemetry unit functions or until the project ends and the units are removed from the eagles. USGS will collect, analyze and interpret all data from the telemetry units. The project will be coming to a close in 2020 or 2021 and at the end of 2019 through the beginning of 2020, approximately 20 eagles will be recaptured, and their telemetry units will be removed. Unless otherwise specified, all supplies and equipment necessary to complete this requirement shall be provided by the contractor. Helicopter surveys will be arranged by the contractor but will be with a pilot and aircraft certified through DOI¿s Office of Aviation Services. The contractor shall provide the following: 1) Trapping of approximately two adult golden eagles in coastal Southern California during early 2019 and the recapture of approximately 20 golden eagles in late 2019 through early 2020. This will require a team that has all necessary animal handling permits, and all those permits and licenses required by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. All permits must be current and valid, as trapping will begin immediately in 2019 and continue outside of the nesting season and warmer summer months until the desired eagles are captured. This will also require experience with the location, behavior and population dynamics of the coastal Southern California golden eagle population. Sufficient experience in the team should include a project lead with demonstrated experience working with golden eagles in coastal Southern California and with trapping multiple territorial golden eagles specifically in this area. USGS will not provide status information on focal territories. 2) Deployment of solar-powered GPS-GSM telemetry units on golden eagles shall be conducted by the contractor with units provided by the USGS. This requires that the lead contractor possess knowledge and experience with cellular technology telemetry tracking devices, and the harnesses used for golden eagles. This technology is relatively new, and knowledge of both the bird and this specific type of telemetry unit is necessary. 3) Collection of blood and feather samples from the trapped birds. This also requires particular permits and licenses that must be actively and validly held by the individual completing the task. 4) Sampling and testing of the blood of captured birds using a field blood-lead test kit to determine if the bird has critical levels of lead poisoning, before telemetry devises are installed on the bird to protect the investment both of trapping effort and devise cost. 5) Recapture of golden eagles and removal of solar-powered GPS-GSM telemetry units shall be conducted by the contractor. This requires that the lead contractor possess knowledge and experience with recapturing golden eagles and the method of attachment for these units. This technology is relatively new, and knowledge of both the bird and this specific type of telemetry unit is necessary. 6) Conducting two rounds of helicopter surveys, approximately two days per round. Territories will be selected based on historical data, USGS telemetry and occupancy data, and data compiled from recent surveys conducted by other collaborators. Approximately 20 active territories will be surveyed. A total of two helicopter visits will be made to each territory. The first survey will occur early in the eagle nesting season during the incubating stage to verify nesting and the second will occur late in the nesting season to verify nesting success. Required Skills and Experience: Prospective offerors must provide documentation that the individuals who will be performing this requirement meet as a minimum, the following skills and experience in addition to the knowledge, skills, and permits and licenses identified: 1) Demonstrated experience with trapping and telemetry of wild, adult golden eagles and other large raptors in coastal Southern California. 2) Demonstrated experience working in coastal Southern California. 3) Demonstrated ability to catch large numbers of adult golden eagles in coastal Southern California in relatively short periods of time. 4) Demonstrated network of connections with landowners and managers in coastal Southern California to ensure land access for trapping. 5) Demonstrated experience applying and utilizing GPS-GSM telemetry units on wild, adult eagles. Failure to provide this information may result in rejection of the offer. 6) Holds concurrent and valid, all necessary Federal and California State animal handling permits, and all those permits and licenses required by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. 7) Holds concurrent and valid, all necessary permits and licenses necessary to collect blood and feathers from Golden Eagles. 8) Knowledge of the most current and historical Golden Eagle nesting locations in southern California and where to safely observe them from a helicopter. Required current and valid Federal and California State permits and licenses: 1) Federal Bird Banding Permit with authorization to trap, band, mark, and attach transmitters to golden eagles, as well as take, possess and transport blood and feather samples. 2) California Fish and Wildlife Scientific Collecting Permit and MOU with authorization to trap, and, mark, and attach transmitters to golden eagles, as well as take, possess and transport blood and feather samples and special permission to salvage and transport deer carcasses (for baiting). 3) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Eagle Scientific Collecting Permit with authorization to collect, possess, and transport blood and feather samples from golden eagles and salvage dead birds. 4) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Scientific Collecting Permit with authorization to collect, possess, and transport blood and feather samples from golden eagles and salvage dead birds. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 541620 ¿ Environmental Consulting Services, revenue size is $15,000,000.00. If your firm is capable of providing the product, please submit the following information to Dana Allan-Loucks; dallan-loucks@usgs.gov by 1500 EST NLT 17 Apr 2019. Do not send via FedConnect. 1. Company Name, DUNs #, and email/phone # of contact person 2. Company business size 3. Description of relevant capabilities of your product that meet the salient characteristics described in this notice. 4. GSA contract number if applicable