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Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole Source Procurement with the University of Alaska Systems - Fairbanks

Request For Expressions of Interest

General Information
Country:   United States
Notice/Contract Number:   fbo:701819r122
Publication Date:   Nov 20, 2009
Deadline:   Nov 24, 2008
Funding Agency:   Department of the Interior
Buyer:   Fish and Wildlife Service
Original Language:   English

Contact Information
Address:   United States

Assignments

 

Original Text

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The US Fish and Wildlife Services, Region 7, Alaska intends to negotiate directly on a sole-source basis with University of Alaska Systems _ Fairbanks, for a project related to collection of invertebrate specimens which involve preparation and identification of specimens by a taxonomist familiar with Alaskan boreal invertebrates. The details of the project scope and deliverables are as follows: Title: Invertebrates/ Insects & Plants Study Background: Kanuti NWR began collecting terrestrial insects in 2002 to provide baseline information on species diversity, and insect collection was incorporated into a refuge-wide inventory program that began in 2004 and is expected to continue for at least the next decade. In 2002, the temporary invertebrate curator at the University of Alaska Museum of the North (Museum) identified the insects collected that summer and returned them to the refuge. The curator position was then vacant until July 2006. Insects collected 2003 - 2005 were pinned, labeled, and identified by a private contractor and returned to the refuge. Insects collected in 2006 and 2007 were pinned, indentified, labeled, and housed by the Museum. The new curator corrected errors found for specimens collected in 2003 - 2005 and these insects, along with ones collected in 2002, are now stored at the Museum. Data from all insects collected on the refuge were entered into the Museum database. Invertebrates/Insects: Work Description: We anticipate collecting approximately 2,000 invertebrate specimens per year. Primary work involves preparation and identification of specimens by a taxonomist familiar with Alaskan boreal invertebrates. Specimens will be prepared and stored following standard archival methodology and will be entered in an internet-available database that is linked to a mapping program. Specimens will be held at a museum or other appropriate depository where they will be readily accessible for review by agency personnel, researchers, and members of the public who are focused on boreal or northern invertebrates. Duplicate or surplus specimens will be returned to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), or if not needed by them, distributed as duplicates to another museum or appropriate depository. 1. The contractor will offer suggestions and gear needed to undertake the best methods for collecting invertebrates in boreal forest communities.2. Personnel or volunteers of USFWS, when available, will mount specimens on pins prior to sending them to the contractor. This will involve initial on-site training at the facility with which the contractor is affiliated, and possible follow-up training as needed. If such USFWS personnel are not available to mount specimens, contractor staff will provide these services.3. Contractor will identify specimens to the lowest taxonomic rank possible without consulting with an outside specialist. 4. For specimens to be held as permanent vouchers at a museum or appropriate depository, the contractor will undertake or oversee the process of database entry, label printing and mounting, and storage of specimens in the invertebrate collection. 5. Specimen and site data will be entered into a database that is accessible to the public over the internet. The database is required to have an integrated spatial component that allows users to map collection locations.6. As needed, the contractor will act as an intermediate in contacting specialists to review or identify specimens that need special taxonomic review such as species from difficult taxonomic groups and/or potentially new species. Labor: The contractor will provide the following services for USFWS, as fundamentally described above. 1 Advice for the collection of specimens in the field, and any basic field gear if needed.2 Offer training to USFWS personnel, when available, in basic curation processes (e.g., pinning specimens) once specimens are collected. 3 Contractor will undertake all invertebrate identifications. The contractor will act as an intermediate with taxonomic specialists if they are needed for the final determination of select invertebrates. After consulting with USFWS personnel, contractor will be responsible for making any arrangements, and following through on the shipment of, and correspondence involving, any specimens that need to be sent to a taxonomic specialist. 4 Curate all specimens that are to be held as permanent vouchers, including their labeling and filing into a main archival collection and their entry into a web-based database linked to a mapping program.5 Export specimen data from database used by the contractor to Microsoft Excel in digital and printed forms. Products: The following final products will be offered to USFWS by the contractor. 1 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (digital and printout) of the identification of all invertebrate specimens submitted.2 Entry of permanent voucher specimens into a web-based database that is accessible to the public and is linked to a mapping program. 3 Archival permanent storage of all voucher collections, including specimen mounting, label printing, databasing, and systematic filing into an archival collection. This storage includes acid-free mounting and label paper, and sturdy, steel, pest-proof cabinets. 4 The contractor will offer a report, which can be described and requested for each respective project, on any significant taxonomic finds, range extensions, rare species, etc. that are found in the collections submitted. Plants: Work Description: We anticipate collecting approximately 100-150 plant specimens per year. Primary work involves identifying to species all specimens sent to the contractor by a taxonomist familiar with the Alaskan boreal flora. Those specimens that are to be held as permanent voucher records for any designated study will be prepared following standard archival herbarium methods and will be entered into an internet-available database that is linked to a mapping program. These specimens will be held as permanent specimens at a herbarium that is readily accessible for review by other researchers who are focused on the boreal or northern flora. Any duplicate or surplus specimens will be returned to USFWS, or if not needed by them, distributed as duplicates to another herbarium or appropriate depository. 1. The contractor will offer any suggestions and basic field gear (plant presses, bags) needed to undertake the best methods of collecting both vascular and non-vascular plant specimens in the field, and recording their associated field data.2. The contractor will provide identification to species of all specimens submitted under this contract by a taxonomist experienced with the northern or boreal flora.3. Personnel or volunteers of USFWS, with prior notice to the contractor, can be involved in on-site training in any aspects of the processing of specimens at the herbarium with which the contractor is affiliated.4. For those specimens to be held as permanent vouchers at a herbarium, the contractor will undertake or oversee the process of database entry, label printing, mounting, and/or filing of these specimens into a main herbarium collection available to all researchers and agency personnel. 5. As needed, the contractor will act as an intermediate in contacting specialists to review or identify specimens that need special taxonomic review such as many non-vascular species, and/or potentially new or very unusual vascular plant species from difficult taxonomic groups. The appropriate USFWS contact person will be informed in advance of in any transaction involving their specimens, and the costs, if any, involved in such situations. Labor: The contractor will provide the following services for USFWS, as fundamentally described above. 1. Advice for the collection of specimens in the field, and any basic field gear (plant presses, small bags for cryptogams) if needed.2. Offer training to USFWS personnel in the basic curation processes involved after collections are brought to the museum or depository. 3. Contractor will undertake all plant identifications. The contractor will act as an intermediate with taxonomic specialists if they are needed for the final determination of select plant groups. After consulting with USFWS personnel, contractor will be responsible for making any arrangements, and following through on the shipment of, and correspondence involving, any specimens that need to be sent to a taxonomic specialist.4. Curate all specimens that are to be held as permanent vouchers, including their mounting and filing into a main archival collection and their entry into a web-based database linked to a mapping program.5. Prepare a spreadsheet that includes all the plant specimens submitted for identification for USFWS. Products: The following final products will be offered to USFWS by the contractor. 1. Spreadsheet of the identification of all plant specimens submitted, including both those to be held as permanent vouchers at a publicly accessible herbarium and those to be returned to USFWS.2. Entry of the permanent voucher specimens into a web-based database that is accessible to the public and is linked to a mapping program. If requested by USFWS, any critical information, such as the exact location of rare or threatened species, can be masked within this database.3. Archival permanent storage of all voucher collections, including specimen mounting, label printing, databasing, and systematic filing into an archival collection. This storage includes acid-free mounting and label paper, herbarium folders, adhesives, and sturdy, steel, pest-proof cabinets.4. The contractor will offer a report, which can be described and requested for each respective project, on any significant floristic finds, range extensions, rare species, etc. that are found in the collections submitted.
Set-aside code: Total Small Business
Place of performance:
 Kanuti National Wildlife RefugeFairbanks, AK
 99701
 US
Contact: Margie Rhodes Contract Specialist 9077863413 MargieRhodes@FWS.gov

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Updated on 2008/11/19
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