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Sources Sought (Special Notice) The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research to determine the availability of qualified businesses capable of providing captive-reared blunt nosed le... Sources Sought (Special Notice) The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research to determine the availability of qualified businesses capable of providing captive-reared blunt nosed leopard lizards and releasing them into the wild, monitoring the cohort and analyzing blood and scat samples. as described in the attached Statement of Work. This sources sought announcement is not a request for quote or proposal and the Government is not committed to award of a purchase order or contract pursuant to this announcement. The information resulting from this market research is simply for planning purposes to assist the Government in determining its acquisition strategy. The Government will not pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this notice. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code – 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services associated size standard $19.0 million apply to this announcement. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement detailing the ability of their service to meet the statement of work included with this announcement. Responses to this announcement shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to aberry@usgs.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than 05/30/2025 at 5:00am PDT. Responses submitted by hardcopy or the FedConnect web portal or the FedConnect Message Center shall not be accepted or considered. Statement of Work: I. GENERAL INFORMATION A.Introduction The overall goal of this work is to: Release and monitor captive-reared Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards to Panoche Plateau. Implement grazing trials and assess impacts on both Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and the native plant community. Assess physiology of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and how it changes across seasons via VetScan blood panel, VitA, and VitD assays of blood collected from wild and captive Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards. B.Background Researchers began reintroducing captive-reared animals to Panoche Plateau in 2023 and have released 37 animals to date. We monitor released lizards throughout their lives using CTT solar-hybrid digital radio transmitters along with both manual and automated receivers. We manually re-locate animals at least 1/wk during the active season (~April-October) and have installed a large-scale Automated Radio Telemetry System (ARTS) with over 300 nodes which provides location data every ~5 minutes. Results to date indicate that invasive grass growth is extremely limiting, with both wild-born and captive-reared lizards avoiding vegetated areas on Panoche Plateau and instead relying on limited gravel and dirt roadways. Habitat management to reduce invasive grass cover appears necessary for successful recolonization of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards. To properly assess health and development of captive-reared lizards or assess relative health of wild individuals exposed to various environmental threats, we need to develop standard “normal values” for the species. Because “normal” values change with life stage (e.g. juvenile vs adult, gravid vs nongravid, active vs hibernating, etc) normal values must be measured throughout the year. C.Scope (state general purpose, objectives, magnitude). The scope of work is to release blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards, monitor and analyze if the released blunt nosed leopard lizards preferentially select grazed areas or ungrazed areas. Analyze results of collected blood samples via VetScan blood panel, VitA, and VitD assays. Use of VetScan. Samples will be analyzed using mixed-effects general linear models and normal-value ranges estimated as the interquartile range of each blood constituent. II. WORK REQUIREMENTS A.Technical Requirements. Contractor will: Release and monitor captive-reared Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards (Gambelia sila) in Panoche Plateau. Implement grazing trials and assess impacts on both Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and the native plant community. Collect blood samples and Conduct blood panel tests to analyze blood samples from wild-born and captive-bred Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards released in the program. Analyze results via VetScan blood panel, VitA, and VitD assays. Blood panel includes measuring: Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Bile acids (BA), Creatine Kinase (CK) uric acid (UA), glucose (GLU), phosphorous (PHOS), calcium (CA++), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), Globulin (GLOB), potassium (K+), and Sodium (NA+). Sequence whole genome of Xantusia vigilis. Genotype Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards scat and barcode arthropod genetic sequences. 1.Criteria for acceptance of Service Contractor will adhere to developed protocols and methods for capture, release and monitoring of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards, and to collect and package samples in an appropriate manner to make them usable for genetic analysis. Inappropriately handled samples will not be accepted. Contractor will analyze and deliver sample data in accordance with standardized laboratory practices. B.Deliverables. Contractor will: Provide data including results of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards surveys, total number of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards individuals captured, released, monitored, and sampled. Produce sequenced genomes of Xantusia vigilis. Furnish laboratory results of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards scat analyses Furnish Blood panel tests including species of lizards and arthropods identified. Delivery dates for work/product to be completed and point of delivery: Services will be performed from June 2025 for a period of 1 year. Point of delivery for laboratory results will be U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION A.Place of Performance. Panoche Plateau, Fresno CA B.Period of Performance 1 year from award date C.Government Furnished Property (GFP): list property and its value. NA D.Special Considerations. 1.Key personnel qualifications (researchers, instructors, writers, project managers, programmers, etc.) N/A 2.Data Rights, Safety, Environment. N/A 3.Security/Privacy issues (ingress to Federal buildings, personnel clearances, computer security). N/A ? The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code ¿ 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services associated size standard 19.0 million apply to this announcement. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement detailing the ability of their service to meet the Statement of Work included with this announcement. Responses to this announcement shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to aberry@usgs.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than 05/30/2025 at 5:00am PDT. Responses submitted by hardcopy or the FedConnect web portal or the FedConnect Message Center shall not be accepted or considered. Statement of Work: I. GENERAL INFORMATION A.Introduction The overall goal of this work is to: Release and monitor captive-reared Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards to Panoche Plateau. Implement grazing trials and assess impacts on both Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and the native plant community. Assess physiology of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and how it changes across seasons via VetScan blood panel, VitA, and VitD assays of blood collected from wild and captive Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards. B.Background Researchers began reintroducing captive-reared animals to Panoche Plateau in 2023 and have released 37 animals to date. We monitor released lizards throughout their lives using CTT solar-hybrid digital radio transmitters along with both manual and automated receivers. We manually re-locate animals at least 1/wk during the active season (~April-October) and have installed a large-scale Automated Radio Telemetry System (ARTS) with over 300 nodes which provides location data every ~5 minutes. Results to date indicate that invasive grass growth is extremely limiting, with both wild-born and captive-reared lizards avoiding vegetated areas on Panoche Plateau and instead relying on limited gravel and dirt roadways. Habitat management to reduce invasive grass cover appears necessary for successful recolonization of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards. To properly assess health and development of captive-reared lizards or assess relative health of wild individuals exposed to various environmental threats, we need to develop standard ¿normal values¿ for the species. Because ¿normal¿ values change with life stage (e.g. juvenile vs adult, gravid vs nongravid, active vs hibernating, etc) normal values must be measured throughout the year. USGS partners have analyzed scat of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards from Panoche Plateau and additional sites throughout the range to identify the dietary requirements of the species, and how diet varies across sites since 2020. We will continue this work in 2025. In 2024 USGS collected monthly plasma samples from 20 Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards maintained in a captive colony and opportunistically collected plasma samples from all wild animals encountered (N = 129 samples from 53 lizards) which are currently stored in a -80C freezer. C.Scope (state general purpose, objectives, magnitude). The scope of work is to release blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards, monitor and analyze if the released blunt nosed leopard lizards preferentially select grazed areas or ungrazed areas. Analyze results of collected blood samples via VetScan blood panel, VitA, and VitD assays. Use of VetScan. Samples will be analyzed using mixed-effects general linear models and normal-value ranges estimated as the interquartile range of each blood constituent. II. WORK REQUIREMENTS A.Technical Requirements. Contractor will: Release and monitor captive-reared Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards (Gambelia sila) in Panoche Plateau. Implement grazing trials and assess impacts on both Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and the native plant community. Collect blood samples and Conduct blood panel tests to analyze blood samples from wild-born and captive-bred Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards released in the program. Analyze results via VetScan blood panel, VitA, and VitD assays. Blood panel includes measuring: Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Bile acids (BA), Creatine Kinase (CK) uric acid (UA), glucose (GLU), phosphorous (PHOS), calcium (CA++), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), Globulin (GLOB), potassium (K+), and Sodium (NA+). Sequence whole genome of Xantusia vigilis. Genotype Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards scat and barcode arthropod genetic sequences. 1.Criteria for acceptance of Service (how will contractor's compliance be measured). Contractor will adhere to developed protocols and methods for capture, release and monitoring of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards, and to collect and package samples in an appropriate manner to make them usable for genetic analysis. Contractor will analyze and deliver sample data in accordance with standardized laboratory practices. B.Deliverables. Contractor will: Provide data including results of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards surveys, total number of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards individuals captured, released, monitored, and sampled. Produce sequenced genomes of Xantusia vigilis. Furnish laboratory results of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards scat analyses Furnish Blood panel tests including species of lizards and arthropods identified. Delivery dates for work/product to be completed and point of delivery: Services will be performed through September 2025. Point of delivery for laboratory results will be U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego Field Station, 4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION A.Place of Performance. Panoche Plateau, Fresno CA B.Period of Performance (expressed as number of days, must include the time necessary to test, review, and/or install the deliverable). 1 year from award date C.Government Furnished Property (GFP): list property and its value. NA D.Special Considerations. 1.Key personnel qualifications (researchers, instructors, writers, project managers, programmers, etc.) N/A 2.Data Rights, Safety, Environment. N/A 3.Security/Privacy issues (ingress to Federal buildings, personnel clearances, computer security). N/A ¿