Natural Resources Ecosystem Mgt Hawaii | W9126G 21 2 SOI 2771

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the funding opportunity called and what is the funding opportunity number?

The opportunity is titled "Natural Resources Ecosystem Mgt Hawaii" and the Funding Opportunity Number is W9126G-21-2-SOI-2771.

2) Which federal agency is issuing this request?

This is a Department of Defense opportunity issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District.

3) What is being requested in this announcement?

The government is requesting Statements of Interest (RSOI) / Statements of Interest and Qualifications to identify qualified investigators to support the U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii Natural Resources Program.

4) Where will the work be performed?

The work supports natural resources management at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) and the Keamuku Maneuver Area (KMA) on the Island of Hawaii. The scope also requires onsite support personnel at PTA.

5) When is the project expected to start and how long is the performance period?

The project is planned to start in 2021. The period of performance includes an 18-month base period (with mandatory tasks beginning July 31, 2021), plus optional tasks and up to four additional 18-month option periods, with option exercise deadlines generally tied to July 31 each year from 2022 through 2026.

6) How much funding is anticipated for the base period?

The anticipated base-period funding level is about $3,284,150.

7) Is additional funding possible beyond the base period?

Yes. The government notes that additional funding may be available in later fiscal years for follow-on work if the initial effort is successful.

8) What is the overall purpose of the project?

The intent is to obtain on-the-ground professional and technical capability to help the Army meet conservation and compliance responsibilities under the Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1) and related requirements, including the Endangered Species Act and the installation's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP).

9) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to non-federal partners that are members of specific Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) regions: Californian, Hawaii-Pacific Islands, Pacific Northwest, or Rocky Mountains.

10) What type of award is expected?

The award instrument is expected to be a cooperative agreement (not a procurement contract). The announcement emphasizes that the work must serve a public purpose consistent with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreements Act.

11) Is there an indirect cost rate mentioned for CESU awards?

Yes. If awarded through the CESU program, the CESU Network indirect cost rate of 17.5% may apply, but only with mutual agreement and formal authorization by both parties.

12) What are the main work areas included in the scope?

The scope is broad and resembles comprehensive ecosystem and natural resources program execution for PTA and KMA. Major work areas described include botany and rare plant work, wildlife surveys/monitoring/management, invasive species control, fenced unit maintenance to exclude ungulates, support to the public hunting program, wildfire risk reduction and fuels work, data and geospatial management, technical support for planning and compliance, and substantial administrative/safety/human resources support to keep operations running.

13) What botanical (plant) work is described?

The botanical component centers on federally listed plants and includes field surveys to establish abundance and distribution, ongoing population monitoring to track trends and threats, determining when to collect cuttings or fruit/seed, and threat control around rare plant populations and outplanting sites (including control of invasive vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants). It also includes genetic conservation efforts (acquiring, curating, and maintaining long-term genetic material collections; managing viability and representation over time; and potentially sharing genetic material with other Hawaii conservation agencies when available). Propagation work at the Army Rare Plant Propagation Facility is also included to support reintroduction and augmentation on-site and off-site.

14) What wildlife work is described?

The wildlife component includes surveys, monitoring, and management for federally and state-listed animals. Species explicitly named include the Hawaiian hoary bat, nene (Hawaiian goose), io (Hawaiian hawk), Hawaiian dark-rumped petrel (uau), and band-rumped storm petrel (akeake). The scope also includes developing and implementing management protocols for nene, conducting invasive vertebrate control within management units and near sensitive populations, and rapidly addressing newly introduced invasive animals (incipient populations).

15) What does fenced management unit maintenance involve?

The project includes maintaining large fenced management units designed to exclude ungulates such as goats, sheep, and pigs. Responsibilities include scheduled inspections, coordination with the Army natural resources point of contact, and hands-on repair or replacement of fencing materials (fabric, posts, anchors, gates) to maintain fence integrity.

16) Does the scope include support for a public hunting program?

Yes. The project supports the USAG-PTA public hunting program. It requires coordination with installation command, Range Control, and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel, and includes tasks such as scheduling and advertising hunts, administering the program, coordinating access to hunting areas, providing hunter education, and coordinating with law enforcement at PTA.

17) What invasive plant management activities are included?

The invasive plants program includes controlling introduced/invasive plant species and even microorganisms within management units and around rare species. Methods are to be tailored to the situation and aligned with priorities set with the USAG-PTA natural resources lead.

18) What wildfire and fuels management work is included?

The scope includes fire pre-suppression and fuels work such as managing vegetation along priority fuelbreaks/firebreaks and coordinating with Range Control and the Installation Fire and Safety Office. It calls for extra precautions in sensitive habitat to avoid impacts to rare species. It also includes fuel cover assessments within established fuel monitoring corridors on a five-year cycle, with control actions triggered if fuel cover exceeds set thresholds. The awardee is expected to provide technical wildfire support including fire modeling, fuels analysis, and science-based recommendations to reduce wildfire impacts across PTA.

19) What data management and GIS deliverables are described?

Data management includes developing and maintaining databases for listed plants and animals consistent with Hawaii Natural Heritage Program standards (or another appropriate standard), building algorithms to enable useful queries for planning/monitoring/reporting, and maintaining geospatial databases to support program operations. The awardee is also expected to prepare maps and graphics in digital and print formats, with standards sufficient to share geodata with other Army programs and systems (including Integrated Training Area Management and DPW web mapping).

20) Are modernization tools like UAVs or remote sensing encouraged?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages modernization and efficiency improvements through new data collection and analysis methods such as remote sensing, UAV use, and satellite imagery analysis for operational and resource planning.

21) What kind of technical support to the Army is expected beyond fieldwork?

The scope includes responding to information requests from the USAG-PTA Natural Resources POC, the Command Group, and the Installation Fire and Safety Office on environmental issues and listed species. It also includes participation in meetings with local, state, and federal agencies as a subject matter expert, and providing recommendations and supporting documentation grounded in best available science and current management practices.

22) Does the project involve NEPA or other environmental compliance documentation?

Yes. The awardee is expected to support environmental planning and compliance documentation, including providing input for NEPA analyses (Records of Environmental Consideration, Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and similar documents), as well as supporting updates to installation SOPs and revisions to the INRMP.

23) What administrative and management responsibilities are included?

The solicitation describes significant administrative responsibilities, including preparing and tracking budgets, conducting quarterly reviews of spending rates with the Army POC, supporting purchasing and subcontract management (with examples such as helicopter operations and fencing contracts), and handling purchasing and maintenance for field vehicles.

24) What safety and training requirements are mentioned?

The awardee must develop, update, and maintain the Natural Resources Safety Program, including safety plans, risk assessments, and SOPs that are staffed annually through the Army Safety and Mission Support element. The awardee must also ensure required training and OSHA compliance.

25) Are there human resources (HR) expectations in the scope?

Yes. The solicitation anticipates full HR support to maintain operations, including hiring, performance evaluation, corrective action processes, accident and injury reporting, and compensation claims.

26) Are there any animal care compliance requirements?

Yes. For animal control activities, the awardee must ensure compliance with Institutional Animal Care and Use requirements.

27) Is public outreach or education included?

Yes. The effort includes public outreach and education support related to natural resources management at PTA, potentially through displays, printed materials, activities, and presentations.

28) What must be submitted at this stage (RSOI stage)?

Applicants were asked to submit a Statement of Interest/Qualifications by email rather than a full technical proposal or budget at this stage.

29) What format and length were required for the Statement of Interest/Qualifications?

The Statement of Interest/Qualifications was limited to 5 to 6 pages maximum, single-spaced, using 12-point font.

30) What information had to be included in the submission package?

The requested package includes organizational identifiers and contact information (name, organization, CAGE code, DUNS number, email) and a concise qualifications narrative covering a biographical sketch, relevant past projects and clients, available staff/faculty/students and their expertise, and capabilities supporting delivery (such as equipment, lab/greenhouse resources, and field facilities).

31) How and where was the Statement of Interest submitted?

Statements were to be submitted by email to Alisa.Marshall@usace.army.mil and Gregory.W.Bonnell@usace.army.mil.

32) What was the submission deadline?

The submission deadline was 5:00 PM Central Time on May 14, 2021.

33) How will submissions be reviewed and what happens after the RSOI?

The government indicated that statements would be reviewed by an evaluation board at the receiving installation/activity. The strongest match to the objectives and required capabilities would be invited to submit a full proposal later.

34) Is this opportunity described as a short study or a long-term program?

The structure (18-month base period plus up to four 18-month options) signals a multi-year program of work if performance and funding continue, rather than a short, standalone study.