US Environmental Protection Agency, Program Contract Service = Center (3803R), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460-0001

B -- STATE OF THE SCIENCE REPORT: ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS SOL RFQ-DC-00-00073 DUE 042100 POC Naomi Jones, Contract Specialist, 202-564-4512 WEB: State of the Science Report: Ecological Indicators, http://www.epa.gov/oamhpod1/index.htm. E-MAIL: Contract Specialist, jones.naomi=40epamail.epa.gov. THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE PROCURED AS A SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE, SIC = CODE 8999, SIZE STANDARD OF =24 5 MILLION DOLLARS=21=21 BACKGROUND EPA = and other federal and state agencies charged with protecting environmental = quality require ecological indicators for two principle purposes: 1) to = report ecological status and trends in response to legislative mandates included in the Clean Water = Act, the Clean Air Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, = Compensation, and Liability Act, among others; and 2) to assess the = effectiveness of federal, state and other programs to improve or protect = ecological conditions under the aforementioned laws as well as under the = Government Performance and Results Act. To support this need, EPA*s = Office of Research and Development needs to produce a survey document, = called a *State of the Science* (SOS) report, to summarize and synthesize = the results of recent research concerning the development or use of = ecological indicators. Users of the report will include federal, state = and other users of ecological indicators, as well as researchers in need of up-to-date information about the current state of = research in this field. DEFINITION OF TERMS: *Ecological indicators* = are scientific measures that can be used to assess ecological status and = trends in the health of ecosystems. *Development* includes initial = testing of an indicator(s) in the field as well as refinement of previously= used indicators through verification, determination of variability, = application in additional spatial or temporal settings, etc. *Use* means = application of a previously developed indicator for one of two principal = purposes: (a) determining status or trends in ecological health of an = ecosystem(s); or (b) determining program effectiveness for an environmental= management program intended to improve or preserve the ecological health = of an ecosystem(s). *Recent research* generally means research completed and published between = 1997 and 2000, inclusive. In the case of the highly significant on-going = work that has not yet been published by the end of 2000, a limited = number of projects may be selected for inclusion, in consultation the EPA = project officer, in which preliminary findings have been submitted but not = yet accepted for peer-reviewed publication, provided other forms of widely = available documentation are publicly available, such as annual or final = reports to EPA or other federal funding agencies, or publication in = reports of major ecological symposia (e.g., the annual meeting of the = Ecological Society of America, or the equivalent.) SCOPE OF WORK The = contractor shall gather information about recently completed research on = the development and use of ecological indicators, and provide the project = officer with an initial list briefly describing identified research and = its results. The Contractor shall then consult the project officer and an advisory committee provided by EPA to narrow the initial list to research = projects that are most important in adding new knowledge in the field, and = in how widely the research is applicable to key federal, state and local = ecological indicator needs. It is anticipated the about 30 to 50 research efforts will be selected to form the bulk of the material = synthesized in the SOS report. Depending on how many research efforts are = found by the initial search, it may be decided by the project officer in consultation with the advisory committee that some = additional research efforts will be included in a section for *briefly = noted* research. Based on the above, the Contractor shall prepare a draft = report summarizing the findings of the selected research efforts. EPA = will send this draft for peer review and provide resulting comments to the = Contractor. The Contractor shall then incorporate the peer reviewcomments = in to a Draft final Report. The Contractor shall also prepare a *peer = review documentation* report presenting all comments received and = explaining how they were dealt with n the producing the Draft Final Report = (e.g., used a-is, used in modified form, or not used.) The peer review = documentation report should describe the rationale for any cases where = comments were modified or not used. PROCEDURES FOR INFORMATION GATHERING = The Contractor shall gather information concerning recently completed = research through the most cost effective combination of the following: = 1) a literature review of the principal relevant peer reviewed ecological = journals; 2) review of specific reports on government indicators research, = particularly those recommended by the EPA project officer; 3) review of = specific annual and final reports of external (non-federal) researchers = funded by EPA and partner federal agencies, particularly those recommended = by the EPA project officer; 4) gathering information through interviews = with researchers who attend ecological indicator workshop(s) or symposia = convened by EPA, other agencies or professional societies between the = initiation of the project and March, 20001; 5) facilitating and recording = up to two EPA workshops convening indicator experts to provide scientific = input for workshops convening indicator experts to provide scientific = input for sections of the SOS report; and 6) if necessary, site visits to = interview individual researchers whose work is particularly significant = but who cannot included through items 4 or 5 above. MANAGEMENT CONTROL = The material to be reviewed by the Contractor for inclusion in the SOS = report will include all materials provided to the Contractor by the = Project Officer. In addition, the Contractor shall review other relevant = materials that the Contractor has identified through literature review and expert knowledge of existing research, once those additional materials = have been approved for review by the Project Officer. All decisions on = specific procedures for information gathering (see above) must be approved = by the Project Officer. For example, the Project Officer will decide = which professional society meeting(s) if any the Contractor shall attend = in order to efficiently meet with large numbers of key indicator researcher= s, and the Project Officer will inform the Contractor as to which EPA = workshop(s) the Contractor shall attend in order to meet with indicator = researchers. The Project Officer will coordinate review of the interim = deliverables within EPA and by external peer reviewers. NOTICE REGARDING GUIDANCE PROVIDED UNDER THIS PURCHASE = ORDER Guidance is strictly limited to technical and analytical support. = The Contractor shall not engage activities of an inherently governmental = function such as the following: (1) Formulation of Agency policy; (2) = Selection of Agency priorities; (3) Development of Agency regulations. = Should the Contractor receive any instruction form an EPA staff person = that the contractor ascertains to fall into any of these categories or = goes beyond the scope of the contract or work assignment, the contractor = shall immediately contact the ProjectOfficer or the Contract Specialist. = The contractor shall also ensure that work by every member of its staff = does not con tain any apparent or real personal or organizational conflict = of interest. The contractor shall certify that none exists at the time = the State of the Science Report, Ecological Indicators is submitted to the = EPA. SCHEDULE AND DELIVERABLES 1) Initial summary of identified candidate = research projects -- 3 months from start date; 2) First draft State of the = Science (SOS) Report -- 6 months from start date; 3) Second draft SOS = Report, incorporating initial EPA comments-8 months from start date; 4) = Draft Final SOS Report, incorporating peer review comments -- 12 months = from start date; 5) Peer review documentation report -- 12 months from = start date. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. = GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE ESTIMATE For purposes of developing a price = quotation and technical proposal, the estimate should factor in the above = period of performance. It should be noted, however, that this information = should be used as general guidance and should not be construed as the = definitive requirement for this effort. PROPOSAL/QUOTATION SUBMISSION = INSTRUCTIONS (a) Contractor shall prepare a succinct written proposal = that addresses the work described in the Statement of Work ( technical = approach), a schedule of deliverables as outlined above and a budget. As = a guideline, proposals (not including resumes) should be fewer than 10 = pages, however, contractors shall not be penalized for exceeding 10 pages. = (b) Contractor shall include a budget that documents the projected = expenditures, clearly displaying wage rates, include the use of Direct = Labor, travel expenditures Other Direct Cost. AWARD EVALUATION CRITERIA, = All submissions will be evaluated on the following evaluation criteria, = which are listed below: *Knowledge of key current scientific and programmat= ic issues concerning development and use of ecological indicators, as = demonstrated in brief (up to 2 page) background discussion section of = proposal. *Work plan, including activities to gather background information=, support workshops, draft report, and incorporate comments. *Applicant*s = demonstrated expertise concerning ecological indicator development and = use. *Relevance of previous products as shown by publications list (this = may include publications and articles and government reports. Technical = evaluation factors: 1. Extensive knowledge of ecological indicators now = in use or development. a. Demonstrated not only through experience = compiling lists of possible indicators but also through experience = documenting data availability for various indicators, including spatial = and temporal extent and data quality. (That is, previous work products = would not be solely compilations of indicators, but would include = cataloguing of supporting data sets, assessed for quality, completeness, = etc.) b. Knowledge relevant to all media.. Experience with indicators = should include those for all media, i.e., freshwater, coastal water and = terrestrial. 2. Familiarity with the ways in which indicators are used in = practice by federal, state or local governments. Experience assessing the = availability and usefulness of indicators and data based on frameworks for = EPA and states to use them for purposes such as performance measurement = and/or status and trend reporting. 3. Scientific knowledge and credibility= . Experience developing/reviewing scientifically sound indicators and/or = advising other researchers on soundness of indicators. 4. Ability to = Produce Scientific synthesis Reports. Experience gathering extensive = technical information, through interviews with experts and convening = working groups, and synthesizing large amount of such information into = written reports. Past Performance: Provide three (3) of the most relevant = and related references for similar work in terms of size and scope over = the past three years. Provide the following information: a) the name and address of the organization for which services were = performed; b) the current telephone number of a responsible technical = representative of the organization and the current business contact; c) the contract number or purchase order number, d) the type of contract = performed; and e) a brief description of the services provided, including = the length of performance and the total dollar amount. Award will be = based upon Technical Expertise, Best Value (Price( BACKGROUND EPA and other federal and state agencies charged with protecting environmen= tal quality require ecological indicators for two principle purposes: 1) to report = ecological status and trends in response to legislative mandates included in the Clean Water = Act, the Clean Air Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability = Act, among others; and 2) to assess the effectiveness of federal, state and other = programs to improve or protect ecological conditions under the aforementioned laws as well as = under the Government Performance and Results Act. To support this need, EPA*s Office of Research and Development needs to = produce a survey document, called a *Sta te of the Science* (SOS) report, to summarize and synthesize the results of recent research concerning the development or use of ecological = indicators. Users of the report will include federal, state and other users of ecological = indicators, as well as researchers in need of up-to-date information about the current state of = research in this field. DEFINITION OF TERMS: . *Ecological indicators* are scientific measures that can be used to = assess ecological status and trends in the health of ecosystems. . *Development* includes initial testing of an indicator(s) in the field = as well as refinement=20 of previously used indicators through verification, determination of = variability, application in additional spatial or temporal settings, etc. . *Use* means application of a previously developed indicator for one of = two principal purposes: (a) determining status or trends in ecological health of an = ecosystem(s); or (b) determining program effectiveness for an environmental management = program intended to improve or preserve the ecological health of an ecosystem(s). . *Recent research* generally means research completed and published = between 1997 and 2000, inclusive. In the case of the highly significant on-going work = that has not yet been published by the end of 2000, a limited number of projects may be = selected for inclusion, in consultation the EPA project officer, in which preliminary findings = have been submitted but not yet accepted for peer-reviewed publication, provided = other forms of widely available documentation are publicly available, such as annual = or final reports to EPA or other federal funding agencies, or publication in reports of = major ecological symposia (e.g., the annual meeting of the Ecological Society of = America, or the equivalent.) -1-=20 SCOPE OF WORK The contractor will gather information about recently completed research = on the development and use of ecological indicators, and provide the = project officer with an initial list briefly describing identified research and its results. The Contractor will then consult the = project officer and an advisory committee provided by EPA to narrow the initial list to research = projects that are most important in adding new knowledge in the field, and in how widely the = research is applicable to key federal, state and local ecological indicator needs. It is = anticipated the about 30 to 50 research efforts will be selected to form the bulk of the material = synthesized in the SOS report. =20 Depending on how many research efforts are found by the initial search, it = may be decided by the project officer in consultation with the advisory committee that some = additional research efforts will be included in a section for *briefly = noted* research. Based on the above, the Contractor will prepare a draft report summarizing = the findings of the selected research efforts. EPA will send this draft = for peer review and provide resulting comments to the Contractor. The = Contractor will then incorporate the peer review comments in to a Draft = final Report. The Contractor will also prepare a *peer review documentatio= n* report presenting all comments received and explaining how they were dealt with n = the producing the Draft Final Report (e.g., used a-is, used in modified = form, or not used.) The peer review documentation report should describe = the rationale for any cases where comments were modified or not used. PROCEDURES FOR INFORMATION GATHERING The Contractor will gather information concerning recently completed = research through the most cost effective combination of the following: = 1) a literature review of the principal relevant peer reviewed ecological = journals; 2) review of specific reports on government indicators research, = particularly those recommended by the EPA project officer; 3) review of = specific annual and final reports of external (non-federal) researchers funded by EPA and partner = federal agencies, particularly those recommended by the EPA project = officer; 4) gathering information through interviews with researchers who attend ecological indicator workshop(s) or = symposia convened by EPA, other agencies or professional societies between the initiation of = the project and March, 20001; 5) facilitating and recording up to two EPA workshops convening = indicator experts to=20 provide scientific input for workshops convening indicator experts to = provide scientific input for sections of the SOS report; and 6) if necessary, site visits to interview = individual researchers whose work is particularly significant but who cannot included through = items 4 or 5 above. -2- MANAGEMENT CONTROL The material to be reviewed by the Contractor for inclusion in the SOS = report will include all materials provided to the Contractor by the Project Officer. In = addition, the Contractor will review other relevant materials that the Contractor has identified = through literature review and expert knowledge of existing research, once those additional materials = have been approved for review by the Project Officer. All decisions on specific procedures for information gathering (see above) = must be approved by the Project Officer. For example, the Project Officer will decide which = professional society meeting(s) if any the Contractor will attend in order = to efficiently meet with large numbers of key indicator researchers, and the Project Officer will inform the Contractor = as to which EPA=20 workshop(s) the Contractor will attend in order to meet with indicator = researchers. The Project Officer will coordinate review of the interim deliverables = within EPA and by external peer reviewers. NOTICE REGARDING GUIDANCE PROVIDED UNDER THIS PURCHASE ORDER Guidance is strictly limited to technical and analytical support. The = Contractor will not engage activities of an inherently governmental function such as the following: (1) Formulation of Agency policy (2) Selection of Agency priorities (3) Development of Agency regulations. Should the Contractor receive any instruction form an EPA staff person = that the contractor=20 ascertains to fall into any of these categories or goes beyond the scope = of the contract or work assignment, the contractor shall immediately contact the Project = Officer or the Contract Specialist. The contractor shall also ensure that work by every = member of its staff does not contain any apparent or real personal or organizational conflict = of interest. The contractor shall certify that none exists at the time the State of the = Science Report, Ecological Indicators is submitted to the EPA. -3- SCHEDULE AND DELIVERABLES 1) Initial summary of identified candidate research projects.............3 = months from start date 2) First draft State of the Science (SOS) Report...........................= .. 6 months from start date 3) Second draft SOS Report, incorporating initial EPA comments...8 months = from start date 4) Draft Final SOS Report, incorporating peer review comments....12 months = from start date 5) Peer review documentation report........................................= .......12 months from start date PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001 GOVERNMENT PERFO Posted 04/05/00 (D-SN441668). (0096)

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