Tx-South Tx Rfgs Cmplx-Thornscrub Rstora   4

Background
This is a non-personnel services contract to provide restore native subtropical thornscrub in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of South Texas, USA. Thornscrub restoration will help mitigate the loss of previously existing thornscrub forest that was cleared recent border wall construction activities. Border wall construction activities removed approximately 200 acres of mature, forested thornscrub vegetation within the RGV. The region has lost more than 90% of this historical landcover since the early 1900’s due to agricultural land clearing and development. This subtropical habitat shelters 45 federally and state threatened or endangered species, 519 bird species, 316 butterfly species, and 1,200 plant species. The contract addresses the work required to substantially increase the ecological footprint of thornscrub habitat in southern Texas.

Work Details
The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personnel services necessary to perform thornscrub restoration. The service objectives include initiating new areas of thornscrub habitat for wildlife and recreational use in areas at lower risk from disturbance in the future. The project requires 800 reforested acres with specific restoration locations identified in collaboration with USFWS. The work also includes educational and public outreach components, research components, and development and implementation of methods describing how best to restore thornscrub forests making them as climate adaptive as possible.

Period of Performance
Period of Performance: 07/03/2023 to 09/30/2027

Place of Performance
The work to be performed under this contract will be performed on private and public lands throughout Southern Texas.