Description

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) in Kearneysville, WV, requires services to develop river-specific population decision-support tools for Gulf sturgeon, a species of federal management concern. Research will focus on synthesizing existing adult population growth and seniority probability data to produce quantitative recovery criteria, including refinement of modeling approaches and decision frameworks necessary to optimize output for regulatory and management needs. Services include consultation and recommendations on the interpretation of population trends and the translation of model outputs into recovery-plan-ready products and Section 7 consultation guidance. Services include model development and iteration, synthesis of published population data, production of river-specific status diagnostics, creation of a decision framework, preparation of regulatory-ready deliverables, and a final report. The total anticipated period of performance will be from date of award to June 30, 2026. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to Big Fin Scientific unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they have similar technical expertise and can provide the same service(s). Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Miranda Blankenship, via email at Miranda_blankenship@ios.doi.gov no later than 1:00 PM EDT, Wednesday, May 20th, 2026, with an affirmative answer. Sole Source Justification States the Following Parts: Contracting Agency and Activity: The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) in Kearneysville, WV. Nature of Action Being Approved: Firm fixed price award to the Big Fin Scientific for Gulf sturgeon decision support model to assisting in listing decisions under the Endangered Species Act. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis in accordance with: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) ¿Only One Source Reasonable Available¿ Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. Big Fin Scientific is the only entity reasonably available that possesses the specific, project-critical expertise required to develop defensible, river-specific population decision-support models for Gulf sturgeon within the required timeframe. This determination is based on the vendor¿s direct role in generating and interpreting the foundational demographic parameters that underpin the proposed modeling effort, combined with demonstrated quantitative expertise and established federal partnerships necessary to execute the work. Staff affiliated with Big Fin Scientific have developed and published the life-history, survival, and population growth relationships that form the basis of current Gulf sturgeon demographic understanding across multiple river systems. They hold unique, non-transferable knowledge of parameter derivation, underlying assumptions, data limitat…

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Contracting Office

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