Region 10, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Management Programs, Acquisition Team, 1200 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

R -- ESTABLISH, MANAGE, AND DIRECT PEER REVIEW PANEL SOL 99PER054 DUE 102099 POC Lily Savic, Contract Specialist (206)553-1275, Cara Berman, Project Officer (206)553-6246 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contract specialist or project, savic.lillian@epamail.epa.gov, berman.cara@epamail.epa.gov. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format of FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice, and FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This requirement is Set-Aside for Small Businesses. This announcement constitutes the only CBD solicitation. Proposals are being requested and must be received by 4:30pm PST on 10/20/99. Submit two copies of the proposal to Lily Savic, US EPA, 1200 Sixth Avenue, OMP-148, Seattle, WA 98101. The following is the Statement of Work, Project Proposal, and Technical Requirements. Statement of Work: Regional Temperature Criteria Project. Background: The U.S. EPA, Region 10 has completed Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Services) on Oregon's temperature standard. The Services, EPA, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have agreed to a two-year regional temperature criteria development process to address issues raised in the biological assessment and biological opinion. The intent of this effort is two-fold: (a) to develop EPA regional temperature criteria that better meets the biological requirements of listed salmonid species for survival and recovery pursuant to ESA and the Clean Water Act (CWA), and can be reasonably implemented; and (b) expected criteria adoption by EPA Region 10 Pacific Northwest states and tribes. The resultant criteria and associated products will be used by EPA, Region 10 as regional temperature criteria guidance to states and tribes and will be used by EPA to assess proposed revisions to temperature standards in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, as EPA headquarters will be undertaking a review of the national temperature criteria guidance, our regional effort will be a pilot to refine and inform national issues. This effort will be a focused, systematic review and evaluation of existing information rather than new scientific research. The effort builds upon past work including studies and reviews conducted by the National Academy of Sciences and those sponsored by states and tribes. Geographically diverse thermal regimes, hydrogeological constraints, zoogeography and salmonid life history patterns will be reviewed for criteria development. Although this criteria development effort may well serve as a context for interpreting the link between habitat and biology, this project should not be construed as a process to develop habitat criteria or to establish habitat related optimums. Where connections exist between this project and ongoing state and tribal efforts, coordination will occur. This effort differs from past EPA criteria development approaches in that we will focus regionally, and will broaden the scope to specifically address pervasive and persistent effects associated with nonpoint source pollution in variable landscapes. Key issues that will be considered in the development of regional temperature criteria include: sublethal thresholds; annual thermal requirements; thermal pattern, distribution, and connectivity; species distribution; thermal refugia; appropriate measurement units, and monitoring. The outcome of the effort may lead to criteria that are similar to current state temperature standards. Alternatively, recommendations may result in more substantial modifications to accommodate findings related to this project. Additionally, technical approaches and frameworks will be applicable to criteria development for other water quality parameters as well as water quality restoration efforts. In this way, criteria development and thermal restoration, will move forward hand-in-hand. This effort will require the formation of two workgroups responsible for the development and selection of regional temperature criteria. A technical workgroup comprised of federal, state, and tribal officials (i.e., EPA, the Services, northwest state(s), and tribes) will develop the temperature criteria option(s) and associated work products. Development of products will be based on consensus with dissenting views recorded and submitted to the policy workgroup. A policy workgroup comprised of federal, state, and tribal officials (i.e., EPA, the Services, northwest state(s) and tribes) will be charged with reviewing recommendations of the technical workgroup on the legal adequacy and feasibility of the proposed temperature criteria option(s), and selecting the regional temperature criteria to be used by EPA, states, and tribes. Objective: (a) To establish, manage, and direct the peer review panel ensuring timely and meaningful review of technical workgroup interim and final products. (b) To synthesize panel comments and recommendations and to provide them to the technical workgroup within 45 days of contractor receipt of interim or final technical workgroup products. Project period: November 1, 1999-October 31, 2001 Contractor Tasks:(1)The contractor shall exercise sole discretion in selecting the panel experts. The contractor may request that EPA provide a list of potential reviewers. Although the contractor has sole discretion in panel selection, EPA requests that the following areas of reviewer expertise be included on the panel: fish physiology, aquatic ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, landscape ecology, historical reconstruction, and temperature modeling. Additionally, we encourage the contractor to identify panel members that reflect broad geographic scope. The contractor has the authority to replace individuals that are unable to meet panel requirements for participation. (2)The contractor shall pay for such panel members by entering into appropriate subcontracting arrangements. (3)The contractor may appoint individuals that will exercise control over the panel meetings. (4)The contractor shall schedule meetings and develop meeting agendas. (5)The contractor shall provide direction as well as overall management of the panel. (6) The contractor shall receive and interpret for the panel any additional work orders given by the technical workgroup. The contractor may request that EPA attend peer review panel meetings to provide technical or historical information. (7)The contractor shall synthesize panel member comments on interim and final products developed by the technical workgroup and will provide comments and recommendations to the EPA contact. Reports shall be made available to the EPA contact within 45 days of contractor receipt of interim or final technical workgroup products. EPA will have 15 days to comment on summary reports. These comments will only verify completion of the work and ensure that peer review panel products meet the SOW. Upon completion, the Technical Workgroup shall provide the contractor with its project timeline. Interim and final peer review will include the following: (a)Review and provide recommendations on the written findings and recommendations prepared by the technical workgroup in addressing task 1 (see attached project proposal) .(b)Review and provide recommendations on the written findings and recommendations prepared by thetechnical workgroup in addressing task 2 (see attached project proposal). (c)Review and provide recommendation on the written findings and recommendations prepared by the technical workgroup in addressing task 3 (see attached project proposal). (d)Additional work orders may be prepared by the technical workgroup and provided to the contractor. Peer review panel review and development of recommendations will be expected within the 45 day time period mentioned above. (8)The contractor shall ensure that the peer review panel meetings are open to the public. The contractor is responsible for managing open meetings and making background materials available to all interested parties. Additionally, EPA will provide notice of all peer review panel meetings in the Federal Register. These notices will explicitly state that peer review panel meetings will be managed by the contractor, and that the contact person is the contractor or a contractor employee rather than an EPA employee. (9)The biological assessment prepared by EPA, the biological opinions prepared by the Services, and the DEQ temperature issue paper will serve as background material for this effort. Project Proposal: Framework for Work Completion The schedule for project development has been based on the absolute minimum of time required to address this complex issue. The project period will be May 1, 1999 to May 1, 2001. Four groups will be established to complete project tasks: A technical workgroup comprised of federal, state, and tribal officials (i.e., EPA, the Services, northwest state(s), and tribes) will develop the temperature criteria option(s) and associated work products. Development of products will be based on consensus with dissenting views recorded and submitted to the policy workgroup. The success of this effort will rely on the contributions of all technical workgroup members, operating as equal partners. It is therefore critical to the success of the project that dedicated staff time for the duration of the project be provided by all participating agencies. A peer review panel consisting of individuals knowledgeable of temperature-salmonid interactions and having published in refereed journals will be assembled by the peer review panel contractor. Specific areas of expertise will include: fish physiology, aquatic ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, landscape ecology, historical reconstruction, and temperature modeling. This panel will provide peer review of interim and final written products. A contractor will be hired and will be responsible for establishing the peer review panel, selecting peer review panel members, scheduling meetings and developing meeting agendas, and providing direction as well as overall management of the panel. Peer review panel meetings will be advertised in the federal register and will be open to the public. EPA will be available to provide the peer review panel with historical context and technical clarification during scheduled meetings. A detailed scope of work, as well as, selection of the peer review panel contractor will occur prior to the first technical and policy workgroup meeting (see task 1). A policy workgroup comprised of federal, state, and tribal officials (i.e., EPA, the Services, northwest state(s) and tribes) will be charged with reviewing recommendations of the technical workgroup on the legal adequacy and feasibility of the proposed temperature criteria option(s), and selecting the regional temperature criteria to be used by EPA, states, and tribes. To ensure project continuity, policy workgroup members will attend interim and final project reviews conducted by the technical workgroup. A public network comprised of interested public will be identified and facilitated sessions providing project updates and opportunities for public feedback will be conducted. Public network meetings will be scheduled throughout the region to ensure broad participation. To effectively manage this action, it must be made clear that the final decision regarding criteria acceptability lies with EPA, states, and tribes. Federal, state, and tribal officials will organize and facilitate public networking sessions. Specific roles and responsibilities of these officials must still be identified. Tasks and Project Timeline: Task 1: Develop EPA regional temperature criteria: Task 1 will begin with a concerted effort to integrate existing interdisciplinary experience and scientific information into conceptual models that attempt to make predictions about the impacts of alternative policies (Walters 1999). This is intended to address (1) problem clarification, (2) alternative screening, and (3) identification of key knowledge gaps (Walters 1999). The following areas will be reviewed and a synthesis and evaluation of findings will be developed: 1. Physiological and behavioral responses to thermal regimes. 2. Existing research portraying species distribution, pattern, and movement in relation to seasonal and annual thermal regimes. Field data relating species presence/absence, densities, and productivity to temperature. Studies related to community structure and the role of introduced and exotic species. Information to assess beneficial use designations in relation to spatial and temporal variability and life history. 3.The role of landscape context, complexity, and connectivity in mediating thermal exposure. Existing research linking species movements, thermal regime, and habitat usage. Research characterizing thermal regimes in managed and unmanaged systems. Variability at different spatial and temporal scales. Landscape capacity or potential. 4.The development and use of zoogeographic and landscape stratification scenarios to facilitate understanding of physiological and behavioral responses of native salmonids to temperature as well as variability in thermal regimes. 5. Using thermal characterization data, identify situations where site-specific "anomalies" may occur as well as data requirements for interpretation of thermal variability associated with specific biophysical units. Data reflecting managed and managed systems within biophysical units will also be assessed. 6. Review information correlating measurement unit or statistic e.g., daily average, daily maximum with biological response and distribution parameters. Address issues of uncertainty related to effects thresholds. Using the above information, develop temperature criteria option(s) and associated products including criteria to evaluate options, discussion of option(s) and the level of protection afforded as well as the implications for implementation, and development of a summary of the differing viewpoints for the policy committee. Task 2: Recommend appropriate monitoring and measurement approaches useful and pertinent to the temperature criteria project. The following areas will be reviewed and a synthesis and evaluation of findings will be developed: 1.Review temperature data collection protocols for accuracy and precision. 2.Recommend a measurement unit and monitoring protocol. Based on information gathered during Task 1, as well as, peer review panel comments of interim Task2 products, the technical workgroup will recommend appropriate monitoring and measurement approaches. This task is not intended to produce a comprehensive regional monitoring strategy. Rather, the recommendations will be useful and pertinent to the regional temperature criteria project and its successful implementation. Task 3: Develop linkages between regional temperature criteria and thermal restoration. Temperature criteria and thermal recovery are fundamentally linked by the physical processes that shape and maintain temperature in the landscape. Using conceptual models developed in Task 1, the technical workgroup will develop an influence diagram to characterize key processes and landscape elements responsible for shaping the thermal environment (see diagram 3). This diagram will be used to assess critical processes controlling temperature, assess land use and management actions that affect these processes, and identify effective and efficient actions for short and long-term thermal recovery. A narrative will be developed explaining use of the diagram including its use in identifying appropriate actions for thermal recovery. The peer review panel will provide review of the influence diagram. Peer review panel recommendations as well as technical workgroup discussions may lead to diagram modifications. Additionally, a catalog of research and information related to temperature will be developed and made available via an EPA web site. Task 2 and 3 products will be presented to the policy committee. Task 4: Identify critical research needs and data gaps. The technical workgroup will use the best information available to complete the temperature criteria project. However, it is probable that we will identify areas for study as well as data needs that will facilitate our future understanding of temperature/salmonid interactions. Task 5: Selection of EPA regional temperature criteria. Temperature criteria option(s) and related work products will be presented to the policy committee for decision-making. The policy workgroup will review recommendations of the technical workgroup and will select regional temperature criteria to be used by EPA, states, and tribes. The selection process will be based on evaluation criteria developed by the policy workgroup. All decisions regarding criteria selection including the criteria and evaluation process will be recorded. Reference: Walters, C. 1999. Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems. Con. Ecol. Vol 1(2). All proposals must respond to the following elements: 1. Provide the name of your current employer. The selected applicant must not be employed by federal, state, or tribal government. 2. Address technical skill requirements: Extensive experience interpreting temperature data at multiple spatial scales and conducting extensive regional research on pattern and distribution of native salmonids in relation to the thermal environment. Primary research should focus on the spatial geometry of the thermal environment and its effect on the distribution and viability of Pacific Northwest salmonids. Knowledge of native salmonid physiology, behavior, and life history. Knowledge of "forward looking infrared (FLIR)" videography and it applicability to assessing thermal pattern across multiple spatial scales is required. Research published in national and international peer reviewed scientific journals is required. Superior written and verbal skills are required. 3. Provide a resume or CV. 4. Provide your plan for establishing, managing, and directing the peer review panel including resources necessary to successfully complete the project. 5. Past performance information demonstrating successful establishment, management, and direction of diverse groups as well as the timely completion of quality product. Include name, employer, and phone number. The following provisions are incorporated into this RFQ by reference: FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items; FAE 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: technical capability, past performance and price. All evaluation factors other than cost or price when combined are significantly more important that cost or price. FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; and FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions-Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items. Posted 09/28/99 (W-SN385530). (0271)

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