USDA Forest Service Land Management Integrated Resources (LMIR) BPAs Land Mgmt Plan for Greater Sage Grouse

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Performance Work Statement Contents Project Title 3 General Information 3 1.0 Background and Purpose 3 2.0 Definitions 3 Contractor Requirements 4 3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks 4 3.1 Task 1: Project Kick-off, Project Management, and Coordination 4 3.2 Task 2: Planning Record 6 3.3 Task 3: Public Engagement Support 6 3.4 Task 4: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Draft Record of Decision 7 3.5 Task 5: Content Analysis of Public Comments (NOI/scoping and NOA) 9 3.6 Task 6: Biological Assessment 10 3.7 Task 7: Writer and Editor Functions 11 3.8 Task 8: Supporting Objections and development of the final Record of Decision (ROD) (Option 1) 11 4.0 Deliverables / Schedule 11 4.1 Key Deliverables 11 4.2 General Project Schedule and Milestones 14 5.0 Government Furnished 14 6.0 Travel 15 7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel 16 8.0 Security Requirements 16 9.0 Data Rights 17 10.0 Section 508 - Electronic and Information Technology Standards 18 11.0 Performance Requirement Measures 19 Project Title Programmatic Land Management Plan Amendment Support for Greater Sage Grouse General Information 1.0 Background and Purpose Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; GRSG) is a species dependent on sagebrush steppe ecosystems. These ecosystems have been managed in partnership by state wildlife agencies, federal agencies, local authorities, and many others to conserve the species and its habitat. In 2010, a United States Fish and Wildlife Service listing decision prompted a Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management joint planning effort to amend Forest Service land management plans and Bureau of Land Management equivalents to incorporate conservation measures to support the continued existence of greater sage-grouse. This effort culminated in the Forest Service Greater Sage-grouse Records of Decisions that were signed on September 16, 2015. On October 2, 2015, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service found that listing the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act was not warranted based on regulatory certainty from the conservation measures in the land management plan amendments and revisions, as well as on other private, state, and federal conservation efforts. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management proposed plan modifications in 2017. Although the Forest Service completed its planning process in 2020, decisions were never finalized. The Bureau of Land Management continued revising its management plans and recently signed new Records of Decision in December of 2024 and 2025. The Planning Service Organization is responsible for completing land management plan revisions and programmatic amendments, leveraging knowledge from inside and outside the Forest Service to accomplish work across boundaries. This collaborative way of working improves both the quality of Forest Service land management plans, as well as internal and external relationships during and after the plan revision and amendment processes. The Planning Service Organization provides technical assistance to forests and grasslands with dedicated expert employees and contractors. The PSO is supporting an effort to consider amending several Land Management Plans regarding management direction for greater sage-grouse. Changes in Bureau of Land Management plans, advances in science, and difficulties in implementing the 2015 GRSG amendments suggest a need to review LMPs and current management. To support the Planning Service Organization with the additional capacity needed for this effort, this PWS requests: Professional environmental consultant services to support completion of the Greater Sage-Grouse Programmatic LMP Amendment from evaluation of scoping comments on the need to change and proposed action through developing the final Record of Decisions. The period of performance is tentative to start in July 2026 and continue through December 2028. 2.0 Definitions USDA – United States Department of Agriculture FS – Forest Service PSO – Planning Services Organization Forest Service CO (CO)– Agency Contracting Officer Forest Service COR (COR) – Agency Contracting Officer Representative: Assigned Planning Services Organization (PSO) staff that will coordinate between the Forest Service CO, PM, technical experts as well as the Contractor Project Manager. Forest Service PM (PM) – Agency Project Manager: Assigned staff representative from the Mountain Planning Services Group that will serve as the main point of contact and technical expert for all tasks associated with this performance work statement (PWS) GRSG – greater sage-grouse IDT – Interdisciplinary Team: team of multiple resource and subject matter experts that work together to develop and plan projects, land management planning documents, and other multi-resource efforts. SME – Subject matter expert LMP – Land Management Plan Pinyon/Box – Agency’s cloud-based file management system to be used for collaboration and providing deliverables to the Forest Service CO, COR, PM, and technical experts. EIS – Environmental Impact Statement NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act Project – The planning effort whether that be a land management plan revision or an LMP Programmatic Amendment Contractor Requirements The Contractor will be responsible for any or all, and not limited to, the following: The Contractor will meet with the Forest Service PM, COR, and other Forest Service personnel on a regular basis. The Contractor will facilitate the meetings and draft meeting notes for Forest Service approval. It is assumed that the Contractor will include meetings and coordination in the Project schedule. The Contractor will have demonstrated project management experience, and the ability to meet expedited timelines for completion of a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS), NEPA documents, and supporting tasks outli…