Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Monitoring

Background
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has been conducting surveys for the presence of the Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) (SWFL) along the lower Colorado River (LCR) since 1996. The SWFL is one of five subspecies of willow flycatcher recognized in North America. The breeding ranges of the five subspecies are not well known because of lack of breeding specimens, both in the East, where the species is apparently expanding its range, and in the West, where ranges had been assumed to be contracting. Migration patterns are largely unknown though southwestern willow flycatchers are thought to winter in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Plan (LCR MSCP), signed in April 2005, was developed for long-term endangered species compliance in association with management of LCR water resources. The LCR MSCP’s conservation measures call for continued SWFL surveys and research to better identify and evaluate this species and its habitat.

Work Details
Reclamation has a requirement for biological monitoring services to survey for and collect demographic data on the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. There are five tasks associated with this solicitation:
1) Presence/absence Surveys and Territory Monitoring of LCR MSCP conservation areas;
2) Presence/Absence Surveys and Territory Monitoring of Alamo Lake, AZ;
3) Presence/Absence Surveys, Territory, and Nest Monitoring of Topock Marsh, AZ;
4) Presence/Absence Surveys, Territory and Nest Monitoring of Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge, AZ;
5) Capture and Place Nano-Tags on Southwestern Willow Flycatchers.
Reclamation is seeking firms that have extensive knowledge of desert riparian systems and monitoring of southwestern willow flycatcher populations.

Period of Performance
The anticipated period of performance for this work is a one-year base period with two one-year option periods.

Place of Performance
The geographic location(s) where the contract will be performed include Arizona, southern California, New Mexico, southern Nevada, southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western Texas and extreme northwestern Mexico.