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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-037WORK ORDER NUMBER 1 PROJECT NAME: HCP Sea Turtle Monitoring — North Cou This Work Order Number _1_ is entered into as of this 20th day of February , 2018 pursuant to that certain Continuing Contract Agreement for Environmental and Biological Support Services, dated October 10`h, 2017, (referred to as the "Agreement"), by and between INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, a political subdivision of the State of Florida ("COUNTY") and Ecological Associates, Inc., ("Consultant"). The COUNTY has selected the Consultant to perform the Environmental and Biological Support Services set forth on Exhibit A (Scope of Work), attached to this Work Order and made part hereof by this reference. The Environmental and Biological Support Services will be performed by the Consultant for a Lump sum fee of $ 22,380.00. The Consultant will perform the Environmental and Biological Support Services within the timeframe more particularly set forth in Exhibit A, attached to this Work Order and made a part hereof by this reference all in accordance with the terms and provisions set forth in the Agreement. Pursuant to paragraph 1.4 of the Agreement, nothing contained in any Work Order shall conflict with the terms of the Agreement and the terms of the Agreement shall be deemed to be incorporated in each individual Work Order as if fully set forth herein. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Work Order as of the date first written above. CONSULTANT: Ecological Associates, Inc. By: -'sta—nicey F. DeForest Title: CEO BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION��tttt• t contM�s OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY i vo •s/�'F' By: • — Peter D., O'gryabj Chaiir BCC Approved Date: February 20, 2018 Attest: Jeffrey R. Smith, Clerk of Court and Comptroller (Oh"By: ),�� Deputy Clerk Approved: rAV i?� Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: Jason/E. Brojmn, County Administrator William K. beBraal, Deputy County Attorney Ms. Kendra Cope Indian River County Public Works 1801 27`h Street Vero Beach, Florida 32960 _4� 1� T L ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. December 12, 2017 RE: Revised Scope of Work and Cost Proposal for Sea Turtle Monitoring, Indian River County, Florida — 2018. Dear Ms. Cope: Ecological Associates, Inc. (EAI) is pleased to submit its Cost Proposal and Scope of Work for providing professional environmental services to Indian River County. This task is for sea turtle survey training, monitoring, and data management and reporting on non -project beaches in Sebastian Inlet State Park (Park) and the northern portion of Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) during the 2018 sea turtle nesting season, as described in the Scope of Work presented below. This monitoring will provide the requisite baseline data for future beach nourishment projects. At the Coun , 's request, EAI is providing for conducting, sea turtle surveys four days Wr week, as well as providing field training for Park and Refuge personnel and data management and reporting. SCOPE OF WORK A. Training (Task 1). The Survey Area encompasses approximately 4 miles of beach in northern Indian River County from the Sebastian Inlet south to approximately FDEP Range Monument R-20 in the Refuge. Qualified EAI biologists will provide initial and follow-up sea turtle nesting survey training to Park and Refuge staff. Initial training will take place in early March and cover pre-existing survey zone boundaries, data collection protocols, and sea turtle crawl identification. Follow-up training throughout the season will focus on nest monitoring, nest fate determination, and reproductive success protocols, and include QA/QC of field operations performed by Park and Refuge staff. B. Sea Turtle Nesting Surveys (Task 2). Daily morning sea turtle nesting surveys will be conducted beginning March 1, 2018 and will continue uninterrupted through September 15, 2018, according to a schedule mutually agreed upon by the County, EAI, and the Park/Refuge. Thereafter, surveys will be performed approximately three days per week until the last marked nest has been evaluated. Ecological Associates, Inc. • P.O. Box 405 • Jensen Beach, Florida 34958 Phone: (772) 334-3729 • Fax: (772) 334-4925 • infob-ecological-associates.com www.ecological-associates.com EAI Proposal — Indian River County Sea Turtle Monitoring Page 2 December 2017 Surveys will commence at or shortly after sunrise. Monitoring will be performed by a combination of EAI, Park, and Refuge staff either on foot or using ATVs. All emergences (turtle crawls) apparent from the previous night will be interpreted to determine which species of turtle came ashore and whether or not it nested. Crawls will be denoted as being above or below the previous high tide line. The approximate geographic location of each crawl will be determined by GPS (sub -meter accuracy, where available). In addition to segregating crawls into nesting and non -nesting emergences (false crawls), each false crawl will be assigned to one of the following categories denoting the stage at which the nesting attempt was abandoned: no digging, abandoned body pit, or abandoned egg cavity. Any obstacles encountered by turtles during their crawls will be documented. Stranding and Salvage. A requirement of FWC sea turtle permit holders conducting nesting surveys is to respond to the stranding of sick, injured and dead sea turtles within their survey area. These animals are examined, and if alive, transported to state - approved care facilities. A standard Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage data form will be completed and submitted for each stranded animal encountered by survey personnel. This information will be transmitted to FWC in accordance with established guidelines. Disorientation Reporting. During the course of daily monitoring, any evidence of hatchling misorientation or disorientation from either marked or unmarked nests will be documented on a FWC Marine Turtle Hatchling Disorientation Incident Report Form. Based on track evaluations, an estimate of the number of hatchlings disoriented will be recorded and light sources potentially responsible for the disorientation identified. A copy of the Report will be forwarded by email to FWC, as required by EAI's Marine Turtle Permit. Indian River County as well as the Park or Refuge (as applicable) will also be provided a copy of the Report so appropriate remedial action may be implemented. State and Federal Authorizations. All sea turtle monitoring and related activities will be performed under FWC Marine Turtle Permit #18-010 issued by FWC to EAI Senior Project Manager, Niki Desjardin. All persons engaged in monitoring performed by EAI will be listed on the permit unless the Park, Refuge, or other qualified individual obtain a separate permit. C. Nest Marking and Monitoring (Task 3). A representative sample of nests (not to exceed 50 nests) will be marked between March I and September 15, 2018. Nests will be marked using a series of stakes and surveyor's tape and will be monitored throughout their incubation period to determine nest fate (e.g., hatched, washed out, depredated, vandalized, etc.). After an appropriate incubation period, and in accordance with FWC guidelines, nests will be excavated to determine reproductive success. Two measures of reproductive success will be calculated: hatching success (the percentage of eggs in the nest that hatch) and emerging success (the percentage of eggs in the nest that produce hatchlings which successfully escape from the nest). EAI Proposal — Indian River County Sea Turtle Monitoring Page 3 December 2017 D. Data Management and Reporting (Task 4). EAI will be responsible for data entry for all surveyors, including Park and Refuge staff. All data will be subject to rigorous QA/QC protocols and stored in EAI's project - specific database. EAI will coordinate with Park and Refuge staff regarding survey data and nest inventories. EAI will compile INBS reports for both the Park and Refuge, as well as prepare SNBS and NPA forms at the end of the nesting season for submittal to FWC. The following reports will be furnished to Indian River County: 1. Monthly summary reports will tabulate the dates and times of monitoring, names of monitoring personnel, numbers of sea turtle emergences by species, and numbers of nests marked and evaluated for reproductive success, as applicable. Monthly reports will be submitted to the County on the last day of the month following delivery of services (e.g., March report due no later than April 30). *monthly summary reports on sea turtle nesting and predation will also be sent to the Park and Refuge to assist management efforts in those areas. 2. Statewide Nesting Beach Survey and Nest Productivity Assessment reports will be compiled and submitted to Indian River County and FWC upon established deadlines. EAI will submit its monthly billings for the services described above to Indian River County in accordance with the fees set forth in Attachment A. No deposit or advance mobilization fees are required. Ecological Associates, Inc. appreciates the opportunity to be of continued service to Indian River County. If you have any questions regarding this proposal or associated costs, I can be reached at (772) 334-3729. Sincerely, Niki Desjardin Senior Project Manager c: Stan DeForest[President Exhibit A ATTACHMENT A ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. BOX 405 JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA 34958 REVISED COST PROPOSAL — February 6, 2018 PROJECT NAME: Indian River County Sea Turtle Monitoring (EAI Project No. 18-1501) CLIENT: Ms. Kendra Cope Indian River County Public Works 1801 271h Street Vero Beach, Florida 32960 Phone: (772) 226-1569 Email: kcoMairc og v.com PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Sea turtle monitoring and ancillary professional services along approximately 4 miles of beach in northern Indian River County, Florida, as described in EAI's Scope of Work dated December 12, 2017. PROJECT DURATION: March 2018 — December 2018. COSTS: All services will be provided on fixed price basis, as itemized below. If the County chooses, Task 3a may be billed on a per nest basis. Task Description Cost EAI Surveys 4 Das per Week Training — 5 hours of initial training (March) and 10 hours of la follow-up training throughout nesting season with Park and Refuge $1,200.00 staff, including QA/QC Sea turtle nesting surveys — EAI surveys 4 days per week from 2a March 1 — September 15 and I day per week thereafter through 2"d $7,872.50 week of November; includes disorientation reporting Nest marking and monitoring for nest fate and reproductive success; 3a includes nest marking supplies (fixed rate or per nest rate $58.20, $2,960.00 not to exceed 50 nests Data Management and Reporting — Data entry into electronic database for all surveyors and related QA/QC measures; includes 4a coordination with Park and Refuge Staff re: data and nest $10,347.50 inventories; includes preparation of INBS, SNBS, and NPA reports and submittal to FWC TOTAL $22,380.00 TERMS: All terms and conditions related to this Scope of Work will be governed under EAI's Continuing Contract Agreement for Environmental and Biological Support Services dated October 10, 2017. January 30th, 2018 Florida Department of Environmental Protection Bob Martinez Center 2600 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 Kendra Cope Sea Turtle Coordinator/Environmental Specialist Indian River County Public Works 180127" Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 772-538-0616 kcope@ircgov.com Dear Kendra, Rick Scott Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera Lt. Governor Noah Valenstein Secretary With this letter, the Sebastian Inlet State Park is committing to assist in the gap year of sea turtle research & data collection along the north Indian River County turtle index nesting beach for the duration of March 1st, 2018 to September 30th, 2018. Three days a week (most probably Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) staff of the state park will assess, collect, and record sea turtle crawl data, mark nests, and monitor for disturbances. This monitoring and data collection will fulfill all requirements under the fore mentioned Habitat Conservation Plan. Sincerely, Kevin Jones Park Manager Sebastian Inlet State Park KJ/ep NT OR A United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE y�RCH 3 �Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Complex 4055 Wildlife Way Vero Beach, Florida 32963 February 6, 2018 Kendra Cope Sea Turtle Coordinator/Environmental Specialist Indian River County Public Works 1801 27`h Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 772-538-0616 Indian River County sea turtle monitoring assistance for 2018. Dear Ms. Cope, The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is willing to commit to assist in the 2018 gap year of sea turtle research and data collection along the north Indian River County turtle nesting beach for the duration of March 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018. Coordination with staff at Sebastian Inlet State Park, Indian River County, and Ecological Associates Inc. will occur to fulfill requirements of Indian River County's Habitat Conservation Plan. We are prepared to offer up to 3 days per week of collecting crawl data, marking nests, and monitoring disturbance. This includes our equipment, materials, and other supplies required during our survey days. Although we intend to fulfill the HCP requirements, human safety will be highest priority and we will not survey when conditions are not safe to do so. In order to deliver the support, we will need to be provided with appropriate training, permitting, and other requirements needed to fulfill the HCP survey needs. In addition we support Indian River County serving as primary point of contact for the efforts requested. Sincerely, Jere y Edwardson Deputy Project Leader Everglades Headwaters NWR Complex ��OS Or SERASrj�r� r CSO/Friends Sebastian Inlet State Park C/O Mclarty Treasure Museum 13190 North Highway AIA • Vero Beach, FL 32963 • 561-929-3688 Indian River County 180127`h Street Vero Beach, F1.32960 February 7, 2018 To Whom It May Concern In an effort to alieve the shortfall in funding for the sea turtle monitoring program for 2018 in Indian River County the Friends of Sebastian Inlet State Park is prepared to offer a onetime commitment of $5000. Hopefully, with others contributing, the program will be able to continue uninterrupted. We at Sebastian Inlet State Park are well aware the sea turtle nesting monitoring program is critical to the continued recovery of the sea turtle population. The funds will be available at the time of your choosing. Feel free to contact me with payment details. Sincerely, Gerryudlee President, Friends of Sebastian Inlet State Park Friends of the Carr Refuge, Inc. 4055 Wildlife Way Vero Beach, FL 32963 ( ) 321-872-8856 Indian River County 1801 27th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 January 30, 2018 To Whom It May Concern: It has been brought to the attention of Friends of the Carr Refuge that there is a shortfall in funding for sea turtle monitoring on the Indian River County portion of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge serves as one of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches in the world. We feel the continued monitoring of this area of beach is highly important to the research of sea turtles and efforts toward their conservation. Our board has budgeted $5000 to assist in funding this critical scientific monitoring program. We will be raising money through our fundraising efforts specifically earmarked for this project. Please note, though we don't foresee it, if we are unable to meet the fundraising goal we are prepared to use reserve funds to cover this cost. Please let us know if there is anything beyond this letter of intent that you require and we will be happy to provide it. Sincerely, Brandon Smith President, Friends of the Carr Refuge