Notice of intent to issue a sole source contract for Clarks Nutcracker Telemetry Data and Resource Selection Analysis for an ongoing NPS wildlife resource study, North Cascades National Park, WA. In accordance with FAR Parts 5.2 and 6.302-1, this notice advertises the government's intent to negotiate and award a sole source contract for Clarks Nutcracker Telemetry Data and Resource Selection Analysis for an ongoing NPS wildlife resource study for the National Park Service (NPS), North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA). We intend to negotiate a contract for a base year plus up to two (2) continuing project years, for a total contract period not to exceed three years (base period upon initial award to 5/31/2021 and continuing project years, through 5/31/2023). The Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition is posted below. Comments and questions regarding this sole source procurement may be directed to Myron (Ron) Forsberg, Contracting Officer, at
[email protected]. Include your business name, qualifications, and point of contact. All comments received on or before May 29, 2020 will be considered. ------------------------------------------------------ JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION for SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS ($10,000 to $250,000) (See FAR 13.106-1) Prepared in accordance with AP&P 1443.06-01 Enhancing Competition and Contracting by Other than Full and Open Competition, Rev. 1. Thresholds updated per DOI-AAAP-0148. Date: May 15, 2020 FBMS Requisition # 40488322, IAP: 5248, NOCA: R9471201074 Identification of the Agency and the Contracting Activity: Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS), Pacific West Region, North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA). 1. Nature and/or description of the item/service being procured and its intended use (include the anticipated cost): This justification seeks approval for North Cascades National Park (NOCA) to negotiate and award a sole source contract for Clarks Nutcracker Telemetry Data and Resource Selection Analysis for an ongoing NPS wildlife resource study project to Ms. Taza Schaming, Ph.D., in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 253(C) (1). 1.1 Background: Clarks Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), a keystone species, is important for forest regeneration and seed dispersal of at least 10 conifer species, including Whitebark pine. Nutcrackers shape the ecosystem by each storing up to 98,000 seeds in thousands of separate locations, annually: seeds not retrieved for food are able to germinate. Nutcrackers disperse seeds up to 20 miles, moving them longer distances than wind, rodents, and all other birds, enabling rapid migration of seeds and contributing to gene flow across and between habitat islands. Nutcrackers move seeds across altitude and elevation, as well as into disturbed areas. In the face of climate change, the long-distance dispersal of conifer seeds, and thus the association between nutcrackers and conifers, is critical for mitigating local genetic bottlenecks and inbreeding depression at an ecosystem scale. Whitebark pine is a keystone species in Washington s Cascades, and an obligate mutualist of Clark's Nutcrackers. Whitebark pine is rapidly declining, and seedling and sapling densities in North Cascades NPS Complex (NOCA) are unsustainable. Evidence suggests this decline is leading to local nutcracker population decline, which will promulgate even more rapid Whitebark declines. From 2016 to 2020, NOCA, the Institute for Bird Populations, and Dr. Taza Schaming have collaborated on data analysis from NPS long-term monitoring data for Whitebark pine and Landbirds to help understand this relationship and its implications for NPS lands across the NPS North Coast and Cascades Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Network and NPS Sierra Nevada I&M Network. This collaboration brings a wide breadth of expertise and science to addressing important resource questions for NPS. Since 2018, Dr. Taza Schaming has successfully satellite-tracked 7 nutcrackers in the North Cascades Ecosystem to evaluate spatial habitat use and selection in high density Whitebark pine habitat (Study # NCCO-00029). Analysis of those data are needed to develop resource selection function maps, which can inform Whitebark pine restoration efforts, including best locations to plant seedlings, and to define which habitat qualities are important for nutcracker population stability and resilience under environmental change. However, more nutcrackers need to be captured and fitted with radio-transmitters in NOCAs lower density Whitebark pine habitat to determine if the NOCA nutcrackers are using those resources differently or switching food sources altogether, and to identify critical connectivity between NOCA and adjacent forests. NPS Natural Resource Regional Block (Pacific West Region) funding has been awarded to NOCA for this work, to begin in FY20. Clarks nutcrackers are considered an at-risk species in NOCA, and telemetry data tracking for this at-risk species is considered a critical part of the NOCA strategy for the protection of its resources. As such, NPS proposes to contract Dr. Taza Schaming to complete the analysis of her existing telemetry data, as well as capture 4 additional nutcrackers in NOCA and provide the park with those tracking data. Dr. Schaming is a leading expert on Clarks nutcrackers and maintains a federal Bird Banding Permit to capture and handle nutcrackers, as well as the Washington State Scientific Collection Permit, and concurrence from the NPS Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee on her capture and handling protocol within NOCA. NPS will authorize services for analysis and report of existing telemetry data, and capture and telemetry tracking of nutcrackers at a fixed services cost of $23,400, with an option to fund services in 2021 for additional telemetry satellite use if birds are successfully transmitting data ($3,000). The period of performance is expected to be July 1, 2020 through May 30, 2023. 2. Sole Source Justification rationale (Check one and explain below): _X_ Only one responsible source. __Urgent and compelling circumstances exist. __Other Explain: As indicated above this is an ongoing project and the contract will pertain to analysis and interpretation of proprietary data owned by a single independent researcher (Taza Schaming, Ph.D, DUNS: 117451755) and thus is the only source. The additional work of radio-tagging four more birds under the same protocols and permits is the most efficient means to ensure data continuity given the short timeline needed. 3. Market Research. Please explain the results or why one was not performed. State whether any other offers were received, or anyone expressed interest: Limited market research was performed by the Project Manager because the data for analysis are proprietary to the researcher who collected them. The timeline necessary to tag four additional birds is too short for another entity to procure all federal and state permits, as well as reach protocol concurrence with the NPS Institutional Care and Use Committee. This timeline is urgent because the previously tagged birds are ceasing radio transmission and the additional birds must be tagged without a gap in data transmission. Additional market research was conducted by the Contracting Officer (CO) as required by FAR Part 10, to verify the aforementioned factors are accurate. 4. If this is a determination for sole source, the Contracting Officer certifies: a. Only one source is available, or urgent and compelling circumstances exist. b. The anticipated price will be determined fair and reasonable using the price analysis techniques described in FAR Part 13.106-3(a). Signatures: Jason I. Ransom, Wildlife Biologist and Project Officer Myron (Ron) Forsberg, Contracting Officer Over $25,000 (if applicable): Warranted Individual One Level above Contracting Officer Sarah J. Welch, Contracting Officer ------------------------------------------------------