Invertebrate INformation Gathering

The Forest Service intends to award this as a Sole Source contract, due to the existing database of information available through the Xerces Society. This is determined to be a substantial cost savings,while providing abundant information. Region 6 has a need to gather ecological and life history information including the species distribution/range, habitats, habitat elements, and threats/risk factors for 39 species of invertebrates. The USDA Forest Service issued a new planning rule (2012) for land management plan development, revision and amendment. The planning rule requires that each land management plan provides for the diversity of plant and animal communities. Ecosystem plan components that provide for ecosystem integrity and ecosystem diversity are expected to maintain or restore terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and maintain viable populations of each at-risk species. This information gathering will prepare Region 6 for plan revision in identifying at-risk species (i.e. species of conservation concern) and understanding and identifying those ecological conditions required for species persistence.