PRRIP Request for Proposal: Habitat

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PRRIP - ED OFFICE FINAL 05/20/2008 177 proposals should provide detailed explanation of proposed mark-recapture methods and intended 178 statistical analyses to be used for pazameter estimation. 179 180 The interior least tem is a federally- and state-listed endangered species; the piping plover is a 181 federally- and state-listed threatened species. Any proposed bird handling will require a U.S. 182 Fish and Wildlife Service Threatened and Endangered Species permit and a Nebraska Game and 183 Parks Commission scientific collecting permit. Submitted proposals should include detail about 184 any such permits currently held and any past experience conducting research or monitoring on 185 terns and plovers that included bird handling and the acquisition of required permits. Proposals 186 submitted in response to this RFP will be reviewed by a Proposal Evalua.tion Team on behalf of 187 the Program, as well as by personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nebraska 188 Game and Pazks Commission to ensure the proposed study methods would be allowable and 189 covered by permit requirements. 190 191 The Program currently implements annual tem and plover and forage fish monitoring protocols 192 on the central Platte. Data collected through tliese protocols will be made available to the 193 selected contractor, so proposals should explain if and how this monitoring data might be 194 applicable and useful to the foraging study. The Program currently does not implement an 195 aquatic invertebrate monitoring protocol, so proposals should explain any proposed methods to 196 determine the prey base for piping plovers. 197 198 The contractor will be responsible for field surveys, da.ta entry, data summary, basic analysis, 199 and report preparation. The contractor shall furnish all personnel, equipment, materials, 200 transportation, and services to ensure the completion of the contract. Methods and draft reports 201 will be reviewed by the ED Office and the TAC to ensure scientific integrity. Development of 202 study design and publication of collected da.ta and results in coordination with the ED OfFice is 203 strongly encouraged. 204 205 STUDY AREA AND TIMING 206 The area within 3.5 miles either side of the Platte River beginning at the junction of U.S. 207 Highway 283 and Interstate 80 near Lexington, Nebraska and extending eastwazd to Chapman, 208 Nebraska. When side channels of the Platte River extend beyond the 3.5 mile area, a two-mile 209 area is included around those channels. Field work will be completed during at least two nesting 210 seasons and may be extended dependent upon data needs, results, and budget. Typically, piping 211 plovers arrive in the area in mid-April and initiate nesting by May 5. Least terns arrive in mid- 212 May and initiate nesting by May 25. Both species typically leave the area by mid-August. The 213 study duration will be 2008-2010, based on available funding. A determination of extended 214 study duration will be made by November 30 following the second nesting season and will be 215 based on field experiences/data needs, funding availability, and overall Program needs. 216 217 BUDGET 218 The approved Program budget for this study in FY 2008 is $120,000, which is intended to cover 219 the full study over the course of two consecutive nesting seasons. Submitted proposals should 220 pmvide a detailed budget for all scoping and preparation activides in 2008 and all field data Page 5 of 6