SOURCES SOUGHT
C -- Big Meadow Creek Watershed Ecological Assessment
- Notice Date
- 5/2/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, R-5 IBET Province, Eldorado N.F., 100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA, 95667
- ZIP Code
- 95667
- Solicitation Number
- RFP-IBET-03-03-125
- Archive Date
- 9/30/2003
- Point of Contact
- Kathy Griffin, Contracting Officer, Phone 530 621-5295, Fax 530 621-5258, - Carrol Jagger, Procurement Assistant, Phone 530 621-5232, Fax 530 621-5258,
- E-Mail Address
-
kgriffin@fs.fed.us, cjagger@fs.fed.us
- Description
- Lake Tahoe is designated as one this country?s outstanding water resources. A large and deep lake nestled against the crest of the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe has long been famous for its clarity; in 1871 Mark Twain described the clarity as not being merely transparent but ?dazzlingly brilliantly so?. Unfortunately at the present time, clarity is declining at a rate of nearly one foot per year. Many years of scientific research have determined that lake clarity is linked to historic and current land use that impacts natural processes: these do not only affect Tahoe?s clarity, but have reduced the overall health of ecosystems throughout the basin. The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) of the USDA Forest Service is responsible for managing 77 percent of the land in the Lake Tahoe basin. The LTBMU is responsible for restoring natural processes that sustain healthy ecosystems on these lands. The LTBMU believes that restoration of natural processes will lead to healthier functioning ecosystems that will improve the clarity of Lake Tahoe. Big Meadow Creek is a tributary watershed of the Upper Truckee River. It has a long history of land use and impacts from humans. The Forest Service believes that the cumulative affects of land use are negatively impacting ecosystem processes in this watershed. A comprehensive ecosystem analysis is needed to understand those impacts. Assessment findings will be used to develop a long-range restoration plan for the Big Meadow Creek watershed. The LTBMU is seeking SF-254s and SF-255s from qualified consultants to provide professional services for a comprehensive ecosystem assessment and long-range restoration plan for the Big Meadow Creek Watershed. PROJECT SITE DESCRIPTION Big Meadow creek is 5.5 square mile triangular-shaped watershed. Elevation in the Big Meadow Creek drainage ranges from 6500, to over 9000, feet. The underlying bedrock is granodiorite of Sierra Nevada Batholith. Tertiary volcanic rocks cap the southwestern quadrant. The longitudinal profile of the watershed is stair-stepped, a pattern typical of glaciated headwater basins in the Sierra Nevada. Meadows have formed along low gradient treads. The vegetation is typical of that found in upper montane and sub alpine watersheds in the central Sierra Nevada. The project is located in El Dorado County and is accessible from US Highway 89 south of the City of South Lake Tahoe. The main components of this project are: 1. GEOMORPHOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY - watershed morphological characteristics created by climate, glaciation, faulting, landslides, land management etc. that impose physical controls on the geomorphic function of the ecosystem - Time series aerial photo analysis of watershed changes from 1939 to present - Description of the fluvial geomorphic system?s dynamic stability under the current climatic regime (i.e. the range of inherent variability in channel dimension, pattern, and profile under the full range of discharges, description of current sediment and nutrient transport dynamics, etc.) ? Description of the hill slope geomorphic system?s dynamic stability under the current climatic regime (the range of inherent variability in erosion potential and sediment production during climatic events typical for this environment) Determine the influence of groundwater and surface flow on hillslope and stream environment zone (SEZ) function A focused assessment on meadow sedimentary and hydraulic function at Cookhouse Meadow (the range of natural variability in plan view dimensions, stratigraphy, erosion dynamics, and flow connectivity under a full range of discharges) A description of the history of livestock grazing and its effect on ecosystem processes. A focused assessment on how sheep grazing affected hill slope geomorphic function and how cattle affected meadow and SEZ geomorphic function. 2. .FOREST HEALTH - Assessment of stand dynamics (health, structure, species composition) -Compilation of historic aerial photography, ground photography and historic documentation of forest conditions - Logging History - document the spatial and temporal account of logging activities - assess historic logging methodologies and objectives and their impacts on stand dynamics (health, structure, species composition) - assess logging impacts on large wood recruitment to the fluvial system - Assessment of fire fuels conditions (stand density, pathology, mortality) 3.SOILS AND VEGETATION - Compilation of latest available information on watershed soils - Compilation of latest available information on watershed vegetation - A focused assessment on the affect of hydrologic and hydraulic process on meadow vegetation. A description of the effect of livestock grazing on soils and vegetation. A focused assessment on how sheep grazing affected hill slope and how cattle affected meadow and SEZ soils and vegetation. 4.FIRE HISTORY - Assessment of the pre-human-disturbance fire regime - History of fire as a management tool - Impacts of fire exclusion on ecosystem processes - Effects of fire on aspen stands and other SEZ vegetation 5.WILDLIFE INVENTORY, DYNAMICS, AND HABITAT - Collection of all existing data (BE/BAs) that will support planning of future restoration projects in the watershed - Assessment of primary wildlife habitat types and functional processes that maintain dynamic equilibrium in species abundance and diversity Qualitative analysis of terrestrial and aquatic species communities? interrelationships with each other and their habitats and how those interrelationships have been affected by human disturbance - Assessment of beaver activity and its fluvial geomorphic and biological role in the ecosystem ? 6. HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE ? A description of the road system and its effects on ecosystem function A focused assessment of the HWY 89 culvert crossing above and below Cookhouse meadow and its impacts on meadow ecosystem processes and function ? Location of public utilities and how they will affect planning and implementation of projects ? Land ownership ? Recreation A thorough account of current and traditional recreation activities and their impacts to ecosystem function ? Cultural Interests Compilation of all existing information on Heritage Resources that will support future planning of restoration projects in the watershed 7.RESTORATION PLAN - A thorough description of desired conditions - A long-range restoration plan that will achieve desired conditions established in the Ecosystem Assessment - A set of proposed actions that meet the goals of the long-range restoration plan - Technical documentation that justifies and supports proposed actions and selected alternatives in the NEPA process - Cost/benefit analyses of proposed actions, alternatives to proposed actions (either generated in the NEPA process or identified by LTBMU Restoration Staff), and no action alternatives that assist the LTBMU Forest Supervisor in making informed management decisions -Biddable, certified-engineer-stamped designs and specifications for selected restoration projects. The statement of work for the assessment /design contract includes: 1. USFS COORDINATION -A USFS Restoration hydrologist/or Aquatic Biologist will be part of the consultant?s assessment/design team from assessment through conceptual design to final design. There will be bimonthly coordination with the restoration group, as needed, regarding the progress and status of the project and related issues through meetings or personal communications.2.WATERSHED ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT - A professional report that summarizes all analyses and conclusions described in the Components of the Assessment section above, and any other analyses developed during contract negotiation and/or during the assessment phase of the contract and agreed upon by both USFS Restoration Staff and the contractor. 3. Watershed Restoration Plan - A professional report that includes all components in the Components of the Restoration Plan section above, and any others developed during contract negotiation and/or during the assessment and/or restoration plan phases of the contract and agreed upon by both USFS Restoration Staff and the contractor. 4. PREPARATION OF DESIGN PLANS AND PROJECT REPORT ---Project designs shall emphasize the use of passive watershed or bioengineering methods and approaches. Design plans shall be stamped and signed by a civil engineer registered in California. Final plans shall be detailed to the degree necessary that they can be used for construction drawings (main sheets at 1: 40 scale) and shall include, at a minimum, a cover sheet, location map, legend, abbreviation list, general notes, plan and profile sheets, cross sections, details, temporary erosion control, land capability, revegetation, bioengineering techniques, land disturbance calculations, soil excavation quantity calculations, and instream structures. Plans shall also show the location of construction and maintenance access and haul roads if required. The project report shall include, at a minimum, project introduction, problem and project need descriptions, project goals and objectives, proposed improvements, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis with findings and recommendations, and a construction cost estimate. 5. CONTRACT DOCUMENTS. --This includes technical specifications that shall include, at a minimum, description of bid items and materials specified, quantity takeoff, order of work, types of equipment to be used, all procedures and equipment for purchasing, installing, and maintaining all BMPs If the project requires a phased approach for implementation, the contract documents shall reflect this. The consultant shall also provide a final engineer?s construction cost estimate for each phase and the project in total. 6. FIELD REVIEWS.--Consultant shall lead four field reviews of the project at preliminary, 50%, and 90% phases of project design with the USFS, Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada, TRPA, LRWQCB, CTC, League To Save Lake Tahoe, and Army Corps.of Engineers. The fourth field review shall be for the Forest Leadership Team (FLT): Forest Supervisor, Deputy Forest Supervisor, and Staff Officers. 7. ATTENDANCE AT AGENCY/ORGANIZATION MEETINGS. --This includes two meetings: 50% and 90% phases of project design. Consultant shall be prepared to present the project design and respond to questions. Consultant shall respond in writing to comments presented at the meetings as well as to comments received in writing from the USFS. 8. DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS. --Provide two sets of reproducible, stamped and signed original final plans for bidding purposes and one electronic file of the final plans in a format compatible with Land Desk Civil Design. 9. MONITORING PLANS. --Consultant shall develop a monitoring plan for the project, in conjunction with the Forest Service, shall include constituents for stream channel morphology, aquatic habitat, revegetation, and erosion and sedimentation. *********************************************************** Contractors shall be evaluated in terms of: (1) Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services; (2) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required, including, where appropriate, experience in energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, and the use of recovered materials; (3) Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time; (4) Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules; (5) Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project; (6) Demonstrated competence in the areas of ecosystem assessment, ecosystem restoration project planning and design, knowledge of applicable codes and regulations for restoration work in forests, streams, and riparian areas of the agencies involved in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Proposals shall be evaluated based on the thoroughness, clarity, and quality of the material presented with emphasis on relevant experience, project staffing, proximity to the site, understanding of the project, and knowledge of the watersheds of the Lake Tahoe Basin. For technical information contact Craig Oehrli at 530-573-2681. The estimated value of the construction work resulting from this contract is $1-3 million. Please submit your SF-254 and SF-255 to the USDA Forest Service, IBET Province, Eldorado National Forest, 100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667 Attn: Acquisitions. They are due by close of business (4:30 pm) on June 3, 2003. The SF-254 and SF-255 are available on the internet at http://www.gsa.gov - click on Federal Forms.
- Place of Performance
- Address: USDA Forest Service,, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
- Zip Code: 96150
- Zip Code: 96150
- Record
- SN00316745-W 20030504/030502213234 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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