Bird Surveys - Red Slough Wildlife Management Area

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Request for Quote (RFQ) for comprehensive bird surveys to be conducted at the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area of the Ouachita National Forest, Oklahoma. The contractor will be responsible for providing all labor, materials, supervision, transportation, and equipment necessary for these surveys.

• Comprehensive bird surveys at the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area.

• Performance Work Statement (PWS) and a map are provided as attachments.

• Wage Determination (WD 2015-5333 R30) is attached.

• This is anticipated to be a firm-fixed-price contract.

• It includes one (1) one-year base period and four (4) one-year option periods, for a total potential duration of five (5) years.

• The contract will be administered by USDA-FS CSA EAST 1.

• Offerors must submit completed SF1449, Past Performance information (3 references within the last 5 years), and a Technical Approach.

• The offer due date is July 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM CT.

• Offers should be submitted to Tobi Shumaker at tobi.shumaker@usda.gov.

• The offeror agrees to hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the offer due date.

• Evaluation will be based on a comparative methodology, seeking the best value to the Government, considering Technical Approach, Past Performance, and Price.

• The Government may consider quotations exceeding minimum requirements.

• The North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) code is 541990, with a size standard of $19.5 million.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses by reference, including FAR 52.212-1 (Instructions to Offerors) and FAR 52.212-4 (Terms and Conditions).

• Questions regarding the solicitation are due by June 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM CT.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To monitor the effects of management practices on bird populations within the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area, a 5,814-acre wetland project in southeastern Oklahoma managed cooperatively by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

• Conduct comprehensive bird surveys at the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area.

• Identify bird species by sight and sound within Southeast Oklahoma.

• Execute a total of 48 surveys and one final comprehensive report.

• Surveys must occur weekly, separated by at least three calendar days. No more than four surveys per month unless authorized.

• Each survey requires a minimum of six hours of active field time.

• From October 28, 2026, through January 26, 2027, focus shifts to waterfowl counts, submitted within 24 hours of completion.

• Data to be collected during each survey includes: time, species observed (detection method not required), quantity, and environmental conditions (sky coverage, temperature, wind, precipitation).

• Standard weekly survey and final report formats to be determined with the COR.

• Accuracy threshold for species identification: 95% or higher.

• Accuracy for cumulative data collected in weekly surveys: 95% or higher.

• Missing weekly surveys will not be eligible for payment.

• Inaccurate or late surveys/reports will result in payment reduction.

• Satisfactory performance is required for option exercise.

• The document specifies a date of 6/10/2026, but the performance period for surveys runs through January 26, 2027.

• Place of performance is the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area in southeastern Oklahoma.

• Contractor must possess expertise to identify all bird species in Southeast Oklahoma by sight and sound.

• Final report must segment data into four distinct seasonal categories: Fall (September-November), Winter (December-February), Spring (March-May), and Summer (June-August).

• Deliverables include Weekly Survey Data (due within 48 hours of visit) and a Final Report (due within 5 calendar days of final visit).

• No government-furnished items or travel are specified (N/A).

• No specific security requirements or data rights are detailed (N/A).

• Section 508 - Electronic and Information Technology Standards are not applicable (N/A).

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a map titled "Red Slough" dated 2026. It displays various land cover types and features within the Red Slough area, including parking lots, observation platforms, boundaries, lakes, woodlands, shrub/scrub areas, and wetlands.

• Legend: Identifies different land cover types and features with corresponding colors and symbols.
• Map Area: Depicts the "Red Slough" region with distinct zones of varying colors representing different land types.
• Roads and Water Bodies: Shows roads (e.g., Harris Rd, Fossil Valley Rd, Black Land Rd, Nelson Rd, Green Rd) and water features (e.g., Push Creek, Ward Lake).
• Scale and Coordinate System: Includes a map scale in miles and indicates the coordinate system as WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere.
• Data Sources: Lists various data sources used to create the map.

This map provides crucial spatial information about the Red Slough area. Bidders can use this to understand the geographical context, terrain, and land features relevant to any potential work or services associated with this opportunity. It helps in visualizing the scope of work and identifying potential logistical considerations.

Wage Determination

This document provides the official wage determination for various occupations under the Service Contract Act for the specified geographic area (Oklahoma Counties of Choctaw, Haskell, Latimer, McCurtain, Pittsburg and Pushmataha).

• Wage Determination Number: 2015-5333

• Revision Number: 30

• Date of Last Revision: 5/13/2026

• Applicable Area: Oklahoma Counties of Choctaw, Haskell, Latimer, McCurtain, Pittsburg and Pushmataha.

• The document lists numerous occupations with corresponding hourly wage rates.

• Occupations are categorized into broad groups such as Administrative Support and Clerical Occupations, Automotive Service Occupations, Health Occupations, Information Technology Occupations, and Mechanics and Maintenance Occupations, among others.

• Specific job titles within each category are provided with their respective minimum wage rates.

• Fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing.

• Specific health and welfare benefits are detailed, including rates per hour, per week, and per month.

• Provisions for paid sick leave under Executive Order 13706 are also outlined.

• Footnotes provide additional details, including applicability to computer employees, night pay, Sunday pay, and hazardous pay differentials.

• Information on vacation and holiday entitlements is included.

• Guidance on the conformance process for additional classifications and wage rates is provided.