Blue-grey Taildropper Slug and Sharp-tailed Snake Habitat Use Surveys on Observatory Hill

Advance Contract Award Notice (16-22034)

Blue-grey Taildropper Slug and Sharp-tailed Snake Habitat Use Surveys on Observatory Hill

1. Definition of an ACAN

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

1. Definition of the requirement:

The Observatory Hill (NRC Herzberg) property in Victoria, B.C, is an island of relatively undisturbed habitat within an urban landscape. The site is home to over 20 species listed under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), including the nationally endangered Sharp-tailed Snake and Blue-grey Taildropper slug. The current project builds on previous efforts with the aim of obtaining information on patterns of distribution, abundance, and habitat use on the property. The proposed project focuses on addressing data gaps on habitat use with the goal of improving knowledge so critical habitat can be delineated for both species and appropriately managed.

Contractors will monitor the relative abundance, area of occupancy and habitat use of Sharp-tailed Snakes by surveying artificial cover objects at existing sampling plots and re-locating existing PIT-tagged snakes on Observatory Hill. They will also assess the importance of talus habitats by mapping their locations in detail on the property and conducting more intensive searches for snakes in these areas. Contractors will also test the hypothesis that snakes move from over-wintering/early spring habitats on talus slopes to more forested habitat in late spring/early summer. They will update the existing habitat suitability map based on the above surveys and from detailed habitat data collected at occupied sites.

Artificial cover objects will also be used to survey for the Blue-grey Taildropper. Surveys will provide information on the abundance of Blue-grey Taildropper and other slugs that are believed to be the main prey of the Sharp-tailed Snake. Information obtained from this study will support the continued updating of the Site Management Plan for Observatory Hill.

Suppliers must be recognized experts in species at risk in British Columbia, including particularly the Sharp-tailed snake and Blue-grey Taildropper slug, as demonstrated through publications in the primary literature or participation in recovery teams for these species. Suppliers must be knowledgeable of the other species at risk with potential to occur in the potential project area in order to avoid of minimize incidental impacts to these species. Suppliers must have at least three years’ experience in surgical implantation and associated health and safety and hygiene procedures for snakes, as demonstrated through a recent (i.e. within 5 years) Animal Care Certificate and Species at Risk Act permit. Experience performing species at risk studies at Observatory Hill is an asset.

1. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements) - Must have equivalent to the parties listed herein:

The biologists of Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd. (Christian Engelstoft, Kristiina Ovaska and Lennart Soppuck) are recognized experts on both the Sharp-tailed snake and Blue-grey Taildropper Slug. Due to their highly specialized expertise, they serve as members of the Recovery Team for these species. No other biologists have such a unique combination of expertise, and no other biologists have completed recent research on Sharp-tailed Snake or Blue-grey Taildropper on Observatory Hill.

Christian Engelstoft, MSc, RPBio. Senior Biologist, Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd. Since 1996, Christian has conducted numerous studies focusing on the Sharp-tailed Snake in B.C. These studies have included surveys, monitoring, population studies, and habitat and impact assessments, and have lead to the discovery of numerous new distribution records for the species. He has participated in gastropod surveys in B.C. He is a coauthor of the COSEWIC status reports and recovery strategy for the Sharp-tailed Snake, and he is currently the Scientific Advisor to the Sharp-tailed Snake Recovery Team. He is experienced in surgical implantation and associated safety and hygiene procedures for snakes

Kristiina Ovaska, PhD, MSc, Senior Biologist, Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd., Research Associate, Dept. of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia. Kristiina has worked on numerous inventory, monitoring, and research studies on wildlife at risk, many of which have focused on the Sharp-tailed Snake and Blue-grey Taildropper. She is coauthor of the COSEWIC status reports for both species and participated in the preparation of recovery strategies for them. Kristiina is co-chair of the COSEWIC Amphibians & Reptiles Specialist Subcommittee and member of the Sharp-tailed Snake Recovery Team. Kristiina has also worked extensively with terrestrial gastropods of B.C. over the past 15 years, including numerous studies focusing on the Blue-grey Taildropper.

Lennart Sopuck, MSc, RPBio. Senior Biologist, Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd. Lennart has been active in environmental consulting for over 25 years. He has conducted research on a wide variety of wildlife including reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds and terrestrial gastropods. He has several years of experience studying Sharp-tailed Snakes on Vancouver Island and is familiar with a number of survey methods for this species including artificial cover objects, PIT tag relocation, habitat assessment and searches of natural cover. He has also conducted numerous surveys for terrestrial gastropods, including the Blue-grey Taildropper, over the last 12 years. He is co-author of the COSEWIC status report on the Blue-grey Taildropper.

1. This procurement is subject to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

1. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

Pursuant to the Government Contracts Regulations of the Financial Administration Act, the contract is being awarded because it has been determined that only one vendor is capable of performing the contract for reasons listed herein.

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection 6 (d)"only one person is capable of performing the work" and Limited Tendering Reasons contained in the Trade Agreements 1016 b.

where, for works of art, or for reasons connected with the protection of patents, copyrights or other exclusive rights, or proprietary information or where there is an absence of competition for technical reasons, the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists;

1. Ownership of Intellectual Property: Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.

1. The period of the proposed contract date: July 01, 2016 - June 30th 2016.

NRC may choose to exercise 3 (three) optional 1 (one year) periods. The optional periods are renewable at the end of each expiry date.

1. Cost estimate of the proposed contract: the estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $200,000 - $300,000.

1. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier:

Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd.

1759 Colburne Place North Saanich,

British Columbia,

V8L 5A2

1. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities
   Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

1. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities: TBD
   

1. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities:

Senior Contracting Officer: Steve Cassidy
Telephone: 613-993-0851
E-mail: Steve.Cassidy@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca