Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) will support the Canyon and Wash
Inventory, Assessment, and Monitoring Program at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
(MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms, California. The authority for this Cooperative Agreement is 16
USC §670c-1. Approximately $176,521.00 is expected to be available to support the
requirements of this project.
Item Estimated Funding
Base Period $176,521.00
Type of Assistance Instrument Anticipated: Cooperative Agreement
Authority: Cooperative Agreement under 16 USC §670c-1
Eligible Applicants: Any Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Californian, Desert Southwest, or
Colorado Plateau cooperative partner who qualifies under the DoDGARS Part 34 or 2 Code of
Federal Regulations 200 is eligible to apply.
Cost Sharing: Not required
Background:
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms (MCAGCC) is a major training
asset for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in the Mojave Desert. MCAGCC covers
roughly 1,100 square miles in San Bernardino County, CA. The harsh desert environment is
prone to extreme and isolated weather events. These sometimes sudden and violent events can
create significant erosion and flash flooding events when centered over the complex
mountainous and volcanic topography. Additionally, dynamic geologic changes occur in present
time to include significant earthquakes and earth movements along major fault lines that transect
the base. These events can restructure land biogeomorphology. Open and barren habitats do not
provide much vegetation anchoring in these environments, and micro-geomorphological features
such as slot canyons, dry waterfalls, impermeable lava dikes, etc. can concentrate flow and
enhance scouring.
In this environment, Marines conduct large and small unit training with varying scale and tactics,
utilizing the environment for concealment, advantage, and self-defense. This potentially places
units in high danger when these weather events develop, and can confound efforts to reach impacted Marines with emergency services.
Additionally, MCAGCC has a suite of rare species that are well adapted to finding and utilizing
small niche habitats for moisture content. These species and environments often occur in or take
seasonal advantage of relatively undetectable high watershed canyons and microdepressions such
as tinajas. These features are more easily found through GIS and remote sensing than ground
surveys due to the scale of the base and the difficulty of access. Highlighted and high priority
communities derived from the study will be directly applicable to the MCAGCC Integrated
Natural Resources Management Plan.
Brief Description of the Anticipated Work:
MCAGCC seeks an experienced team to perform an ecohydrology assessment which combines
creating an inventory of canyons and washes through mapping – remotely-sensed, ground-based
and GIS analysis, hydrological analysis potentially using conductivity sensors to detect surface
flow and soil moisture, remote sensing to map vegetation, and, lastly, highlighting areas of
vulnerability to climate change and strategically determining target areas for long-term
hydrology and biodiversity monitoring. The main final deliverable shall be a final report and GIS
SDSFIE-compliant geodatabase with a field-tested monitoring protocol for the base with
preliminary baseline data. This baseline data will come from the incorporated pilot study.
Task 1: Canyon and Wash Geomorphological Analysis
The Cooperator shall use available topographic, geomorphic, imagery data, and ground based studies to create, verify, and refine an inventory of canyons and washes throughout
the base. Identify hydrological potential and community productivity. Map vegetation in
priority canyons and washes using remotely sensed data. Once these major drainages are
confirmed, they will be prioritized for monitoring based on ecological value.
Task 2: Monitoring Protocol
The Cooperator shall develop a natural community based monitoring plan including field
reconnaissance to a prioritized monitoring schedule. The monitoring plan should outline
appropriate community-level protocols to document and track species diversity and
abundance (including keystones of various taxon), disturbance and invasive species, and
hydrological conditions. The protocol will recommend tools and forms for data
collection, and survey timing and frequency (every 2 years is anticipated).
Task 3: Protocol Enactment, Testing, and Baseline Data Collection (3 Years)
The Cooperator will also perform baseline monitoring over the course of 3 years to cover the
full terrain using this protocol prioritizing based on discoveries from Task 1 and previous
years of data collection as the task continues.
Task 4: GIS Development, Rating Systems, and Reporting
Outcomes from the effort will be used to develop recommendations for on-the-ground management, and will support adaptive management of the monitoring effort by
improving/modifying aspects of the methods (as appropriate). Any major recommended
changes to the protocol will be made at the time of final reporting and a revised
monitoring protocol will be included as a separate appendix to the final report, so that
staff going forward will be able to review the final report and find the latest guidance for
the next iteration of the event.
Reporting and Meetings
Reports and meetings are meant to satisfy all Tasks and Options exercised. All reports and
minutes are generated as draft by the Cooperator, proceed through review by the Government
(base and NAVFAC), before finalizing with incorporated comments.
Large and Complex Work Plan,
The Cooperator shall prepare a proposed Work Plan detailing how the Cooperator proposes to
accomplish all Performance. The Work Plan shall include, but not be limited to, methodologies
for executing each element of the project (both field and analytical treatments), data
measurements and requirements, accuracy assessment plans (methodologies and acceptable
range of results), project implementation (including site access, reports and their structures,
quality control procedures, and preliminary work schedule), personnel and agency roles and
qualifications, technical services and qualifications (if distinct from personnel and agency),
references, and the accident prevention plan. Modifications to the work plan may be made at any
point in the project so long as they are approved by the Cooperative Agreement Technical
Representative (CATR), Base Technical Representative (BTR), and the Cooperator before
applying those changes.
The final work plan will be distributed to the CATR and BTR electronically.
Accident Prevention Plan (APP).
The Recipient shall submit an Accident Prevention Plan/Health and Safety Plan concurrently
with the Work Plan, but it shall be printed under a separate cover/separate file from the Work
Plan. The APP will detail any anticipated hazards or threats to safety and detail any measures
that can or should be taken to avoid or mitigate them. This plan should include Activity Hazard
Assessments (AHAs) and any medical or safety certifications held by the project staff such as
40-hour EM 385 1-1 and OSHA training, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (all
examples given are mandatory).
Final APP will be distributed to the CATR and BTR electronically.
Semi-annual (6-month) Progress Reports.
The Cooperator shall prepare Progress Report(s) detailing incremental accomplishment of all
Performance Objectives under task orders. Reports shall be due quarterly by the 10th of the first
month of the Federal quarter. Progress reports shall be prepared on a quarterly basis on a
timeline that matches the timing of the submission of invoices. If no progress has been made or the project is on standby, a brief email will suffice to document that the quarterly report had no
significant findings.
Each report shall reference the Project, Document number, and Contract number. The report
shall include the dates of the reporting period, a detailed account of work accomplished, a
figure/map displaying locations of polygons surveyed, an estimate of percentage of work
completed, and an estimate of costs to date [written by email separately from the written report
and at the same time]. The report shall include any past or future potential issues. Progress report
structure and information required shall be amended as requested by the CATR.
Progress reports will be distributed to the CATR and BTR electronically.
Large Draft and Final Reports and Publications.
The Cooperator shall prepare a Draft (for Government review) and Final (incorporating
Government comments) Report detailing the accomplishment of all Performance Objectives
under task order during the project. The Draft Final Report is due within 45 days of completion
of work (to include field collection, laboratory work, and analysis) and within 60 days of the end
of the Period of Performance. The Final Report is due within 30 days of Government comments
or by the end of the Period of Performance, whichever is sooner.
The final report will be a comprehensive report compiling, summarizing, and describing the
information gathered in all years of the task order, satisfying the primary objectives.
The draft report shall include line numbering for ease of comment reference. For purposes of the
draft report all raw data, data sheets and electronic databases (including GIS data) shall be
included with the electronic copy.
The BTR and CATR will review the Draft Report and provide comments and/or modifications to
the Cooperator for incorporation into the report. If the Cooperator takes exception to any of the
requests for modification made, a meeting or telephone conference will be held to resolve the
issue. If there are unresolved differences, the Cooperator will address these in a separate letter
submitted to the BTR and the CATR.
Electronic, legible copies of all raw field data collected and any raw laboratory results are to be
submitted with the draft report. All electronic photographs are to be labeled with the project
name, location of the photo, and date of the photo.
Final Report Specifics
1) Photographs/images taken as part of the task order shall remain Government property and are
to be provided electronically on disc(s) with submission of the final report. Cooperators may use
the photos internally, and for publication with prior approval by BTR and only with appropriate
citation.
2) The final report will be submitted with all of the information contained in the draft report as
modified by Government comment. 3) GIS Data – The Cooperator shall submit any new GIS data generated during the field surveys
following the guidelines of the installation and the US Marine Corps GEOFidelis. GIS data will
be reviewed by the BTR and shall not be considered final until all comments have been
incorporated and data accepted by the BTR. Any elements that do not have a usable correlation
to the GEOFidelis model can be delivered in a separate geodatabase agreed upon by the
Cooperator and the BTR.
The final report will be distributed electronically to the CATR and electronically and in bound
hard copy to the BTR. The Cooperator shall provide one complete set of unbound hard and
electronic copies of the final report (including all photographs, appendices, copies of all data
sheets completed in support of the project, all databases and other supporting information) to the
NAVFAC SW regional NCR Records Management. The transmittal cover sheet and mailing
instructions can be found in Environmental Work Instruction EWI 4, Revision 6 revised 30
September 2021 (available on request to the CATR). The hard copy sent to NCR Records
Management shall be unbound and 3-hole punched without a binder. The digital copy provided
should be on the minimum number of DVD’s or CD’s necessary to hold the required
information. Two additional bound hard copies along with an electronic version and any
electronic data on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM will be sent to the BTR. All electronic deliverables
will also be delivered via DoDSAFE or similar mechanism with a drop-off request initiated by
the CATR or BTR upon Cooperator’s request.
On-Site Full-Day Kick-off Meeting.
Kick-off and Site Visit Meeting: The purpose of the kick-off meeting is to discuss any questions
the Cooperator may have regarding the contract, explain Base access and security
requirements/restrictions, clarify schedules and discuss other pertinent information on the work
to be performed. This meeting will also serve to introduce the Cooperator to the site and any
unique characteristics or specifics for application of the work plan.
Unless otherwise specified in the task order, the Cooperator personnel managing the task order
are expected to be present in person at all meetings.
The Cooperator shall provide meeting minutes to the CATR via e-mail within 15 days after the
meeting. Content of meeting minutes shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, a list of
attendees with contact information, topics/issues discussed, problems and solutions identified,
the “Task List” generated at the meeting with designation of responsible person for each task
listed and due dates. The Cooperator shall incorporate any Government comments received on
the meeting minutes. Revised meeting minutes shall be submitted via e-mail within five (5) days
of receipt of Government comments.
MCAGCC requires roughly a half-day of field briefings for all personnel entering the field.
These briefings include desert survival, range safety, UXO avoidance, and other mandatory
safety and protocol trainings. These trainings will be offered as part of the full-day kick-off
meeting or can be scheduled at convenience. On-Site Half-Day Meeting (Small).
Annual: There shall be a half-day meeting scheduled following the end of each field season on
an annual basis. This meeting will present findings and preliminary results, discuss next targets
and steps, determine any deliverables and publications upcoming for the next year, and conduct
an after-action style review for adaptive purposes.
End of Study: There shall be one more in-person meeting at the end of the project to discuss final
results including analysis, write-up, and any resulting publications the Cooperator may wish to
prepare and submit.
Unless otherwise specified in the task order, the Cooperator personnel managing the task order
are expected to be present in person at all meetings.
The Cooperator shall provide meeting minutes to the CATR via e-mail within 15 days after the
meeting. Content of meeting minutes shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, a list of
attendees with contact information, topics/issues discussed, problems and solutions identified,
the “Task List” generated at the meeting with designation of responsible person for each task
listed and due dates. The Cooperator shall incorporate any Government comments received on
the meeting minutes. Revised meeting minutes shall be submitted via e-mail within five (5) days
of receipt of Government comments. Please see Enclosure 1 (statement of work) and Enclosure 2
(terms and conditions) for additional information
Period of Performance:
The period of performance covered by this Cooperative Agreement is approximately 48 months
ending approximately on or before 15 September 2026. The end date is the anticipated date that
the Government accepts the final report. However, the parties may extend the term of the
Cooperative Agreement by written modification.
Materials Provided Upon Award:
MCAGCC will work with the cooperator to provide the latest GIS materials including LIDAR,
imagery, TINs, and DEMs for the base. The latest LIDAR was flown in 2009 with a 1-meter
resolution.
Other GIS data will be available upon request to include natural features and infrastructure
necessary to determine the work and the logistics to accomplish it.
Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications:
Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to: Kevin Magennis
(kevin.e.magennis.civ@us.navy.mil).
a. SF 424 (Enclosure 3) and Research & Related Senior/Key Personnel Form (Enclosure 4).
Please see Factor 1 for additional submittal requirements. b. Research & Related Budget Forms (Enclosure 5).
c. Please see Factor 3 for additional submittal requirements. SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities (Enclosure 6). If applicable, complete SF- LLL. Applicability: If any funds other
than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing
or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an
officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with
the grant/cooperative agreement, you must complete and submit Standard Form – LLL,
“Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying.”
Reimbursement of pre-award costs will not be allowed.
Please note, that some of the forms functionality may be lost. Please visit
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/r-r-family.html#sortby=1 to retrieve the forms directly
from the Grants.gov website.
Review of Statements Received:
Proposals will be evaluated as best value tradeoffs based on the following three factors: 1)
Credentials of Key Personnel, 2) Scientific Approach, and 3) Reasonableness of Cost.
NOTE: All requirements listed are minimum requirements. Offerors will be assessed on their
ability to adhere to the listed requirements, completeness of responses, follow directions, comply
with restrictions and provide quality control on their submittals. All page limits refer to 12 point
font and single spaced pages. Submissions that exceed the page limitation specified within its
corresponding factor may have additional pages removed from consideration.
Factor 1 – Credentials of Key Personnel
a. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: The Recipient shall designate one person as
responsible for ensuring that provisions are in place, project and personnel
supervision are sufficient, quality control and meeting of reporting requirements are
on met a daily basis. This person shall have, at the minimum:
1. Minimum three (3) years of professional experience with advanced data
management and GIS.
2. Minimum three (3) years of professional experience in geomorphology, remote
sensing, hydrological modeling, or similar discipline.
3. Minimum three (3) years of professional experience in desert, mountainous,
and barren environments.
4. A Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences, Natural Resource Management,
Geography, Data Management, GIS, or a similar discipline.
FIELD TECHNICIAN(S): The person shall have, at the minimum:
1. A Bachelor of Science degree in geography, geology, biology, or other related
field from an accredited college or university.
2. General knowledge of field data collection techniques in the method(s)
specified in the proposal and ability to perform the tasks specified in the proposal.
3. Ability to keep clear, legible and accurate notes.
4. Ability to perform moderate to difficult hiking and basic climbing (bouldering)
in a harsh desert terrain and high temperatures.
With the Research & Related Senior/Key Personnel Form, the Applicant shall provide type
written resumes, not to exceed 5 pages for each individual, single spaced with 12pt font for the
project manager and field technician(s) that are assigned to the project. Resumes must state
qualifications, experience with this type of project, professional registration and certificates. In
addition to the standard resume, please list applicable projects or research with reference points
of contact demonstrating each professional experience bullet above to cover both the technical
requirement and the time requirement. Indicate which requirement each project/research fulfills.
Factor 2 – Scientific Approach
Not to exceed 4 pages, the Offeror shall develop a description of their approach and methods to
addressing the anticipated work stated above. The Offeror shall be evaluated as to the soundness
of the overall approach and use of any innovative techniques to accomplish project objectives.
Factors for evaluation include:
a. Method of remote sensing and ground model development that uses existing data without
additional overflights, drone use, or other collection time and needs.
b. Flexibility of method and efficiency of data collection to work around prioritized military
training schedules.
c. Expected scale and resolution of the data and deliverables.
d. Reasonableness and approach to monitoring and ability to perform for 3 years within
budget.
e. Timelines likely to stay within fiscal deadlines.
f. Complexity and adaptability to environmental factors.
g. Innovation and efficiency of approach and the transferability to other Navy and Marine
Corps projects including scalability of protocols.
Factor 3 – Reasonableness of Cost
After technical evaluation of the proposal, the offers will be analyzed for fair and reasonable
pricing. The proposal will be analyzed to determine whether its pricing is
materially/mathematically balanced, and is fair and reasonable. The Offeror shall use OMB
Circular A-21 “Cost Principles for Institutions of Higher Education,”, 48 CFR part 31 “Contract
Cost Principles and Procedures,” or 2 CFR 200 Subpart F “Audit Requirements” as applicable.
Evaluations will include an analysis to determine the Offeror’s comprehension of the requirements of the solicitation as well as to assess the validity of the Offeror’s approach. A
clear cost breakdown of work elements to be accomplished detailing quantities for the various
work items, unit, unit prices and extended prices will be required and will be evaluated.
Evaluation will include an analysis to determine the Offeror’s comprehension of the
requirements of the proposed agreement as well as to assess the validity of the Offeror’s
methodology.
Please provide your proposed budget on the provided pdf titled, “Research and Related Budget”
form (Enclosure 5). *Form: RESEARCH AND RELATED BUDGET
Complete the Research and Related Budget form in accordance with the instructions on the form.
You must provide a detailed cost breakdown of all costs, by cost category, by the funding
periods described below, and by task/sub-task corresponding to the task number in the proposed
Statement of Work. You may request funds under any of the categories listed as long as the item
and amount are necessary to perform the proposed work and meet all the criteria for allowability
under the applicable Federal cost principles. The budget should adhere to the following
guidelines:
The budget should be driven by program requirements. Elements of the budget shall include:
Direct Labor – Individual labor category or person, with associated labor hours and
unburdened direct labor rates.
Indirect Costs – Fringe benefits, overhead, G&A, COM, etc. (must show base
amount and rate). Justify in Field K.
Travel – Number of trips, destination, duration, etc. Justify in Field K (on the
form). Subcontract – A cost proposal as detailed as the applicant’s cost proposal will be
required to be submitted by the subcontractor. If applicable, include a Research &
Related Subaward Budget Attachment Form. Consultant – Provide consultant agreement or other document that verifies the
proposed loaded daily/hourly rate. Include a description of the nature of and the
need for any consultant’s participation. Strong justification must be provided, and
consultants are to be used only under exceptional circumstances where no equivalent
expertise can be found at a participating university. Provide budget justification in
Field K. Materials – Specifically itemized with costs or estimated costs. An explanation of
any estimating factors, including their derivation and application, shall be
provided. Include a brief description of the applicant’s procurement method to be
used (competition, engineering estimate, market survey, etc.). Justify in Field K.
Other Directs Costs – Particularly any proposed items of equipment or facilities.
Equipment and facilities generally must be furnished by the cooperator/recipient
(justifications must be provided when Government funding for such items is
sought). Include a brief description of the applicant’s procurement method to be
used (competition, engineering estimate, market survey, etc.). Justify in Field K.
Budget Justification (Field K on the form): Provide the required supporting information
for the cost elements as shown above (see Research & Related Budget instructions) and
listed as follows: indirect cost, travel, consultant, materials, and other direct costs.
Provide any other information you wish to submit to justify your budget request. NOTE: Every deviation from the scope of work requirement must be identified. Proposer must
identify the paragraph in the scope of work that is applicable and provide sufficient information
to justify why the deviation is in the best interest of the government.
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF EVALUATION FACTORS – Factors 1, 2, and 3 are of
equal importance.
Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest:
We request that Statements of Interest be submitted by September 14, 2022 2:00 PM PDT. This
Request for Statements of Interest will remain open until an investigator team is selected.
Statements of Interest received after September 14, 2022 2:00 PM PDT is considered “late” and
may not be considered. Please submit requests for information/questions no later than September
12, 2022 2:00 PM PDT .
Please send electronic responses and questions only to:
Mr. Kevin Magennis, Contract Specialist Environmental Acquisition Core
kevin.e.magennis.civ@us.navy.mil
Point of Contact Information:
Mr. Kevin Magennis, Contract Specialist
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest
750 Pacific Highway, 12th Floor, San Diego, CA 92132
619.705.5566