United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
National Capital Region
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Maryland
April 29, 2016
REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF INTEREST and QUALIFICATIONS
Project Title: Develop Vegetation Management Strategies for Managed Landscapes and Visitor Use Areas for Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal NHP) (Maryland)
Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for a project to be funded by the National Park Service which seeks to Develop Vegetation Management Recommendations for Managed Landscapes and Visitor Use Areas in the C&O Canal NHP. The project area includes sites in Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Montgomery Counties in Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Approximately $70,000 is expected to be available to support this project. This Request for Statements of Interest and Qualifications has been distributed to partners of the South Atlantic and Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU).
Background: Trees in visitor use areas throughout the park have experienced considerable die-off over the past several years due to forest pests, disease, and root compaction from heavy use and construction. The current strategy for managing these areas is typically limited to hazard tree removal with little or no associated restoration.
In addition to their ecological benefit, trees and other vegetation are often part of the landscape that draws in visitors. Anticipating that several areas of the park may require hazard tree removal in the near future, managers would like to develop a plan that will offer site specific recommendations for replanting, compatible with each sites designated recreational use and cultural landscape considerations.
Objectives:
The park is proposing to enter into a Task Agreement with a member of one of the NPS CESUs to conduct an assessment of the park campsites (31 hiker-bikers, 3 drive-in, 2 walk-in, and 5 group sites), 13 recreation areas and 15 boat ramps. The assessment will make recommendations on how vegetation at each of these sites could be managed including removal of dead/dying vegetation, removal of invasive vegetation and will suggest future native vegetation planting strategies that are compatible with each sites use patterns, management objectives, and cultural and ecological values.
Brief Description of Anticipated Work:
- Collaborate with NPS personnel to identify recreational use, important natural areas and cultural landscape considerations in visitor use areas throughout the park.
- Conduct visits to each site, assessing condition of vegetation including dead/dying vegetation that should be removed, invasive vegetation that needs to be removed/managed, and important natural/cultural resources surrounding the use area.
- The NPS will provide access to relevant GIS data layers within the park GIS data management system. The park will also provide reports on important cultural and natural resources in each area that should be considered when recommending removal/restoration.
- Provide site specific recommendations on vegetation removal, restoration strategies and monitoring recommendations at each site.
- Prepare a written report that includes:
- An evaluation of each use area that identifies dead/dying trees and hazard tree removal needs at each site
- Identification of hazardous/noxious vegetation that should be prioritized for removal (considering both cultural and ecological values of the area and the importance of visitors not coming in contact with plant material that could spread to other areas)
- Site specific recommendations for planting of native vegetation that:
- Promotes the overall ecosystem health at the site
- Supports sustainable vegetation management consistent with long-term recreational use designated at each site
- Supports cultural resource/landscape considerations
- In situations where it appears that non-native species should be considered to meet cultural landscape objectives, the National Capital Region “Non-Native Plant” evaluation process will be followed.
- Planting recommendations should identify the number and species to be planted at each site, along with information on placement/density of plantings
- Prepare a GIS database (with accompanying metadata), documenting site specific recommendations for removal and planting.
Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications:
Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to: christine_arnott@nps.gov
(Maximum length: 5 pages, single-spaced 12 pt. font).
1. Name, Organization and Contact Information
2. Brief Statement of Qualifications (including):
- Biographical Sketch(s) for key personnel (faculty, staff), including a description of discipline(s) of expertise. Curriculum vitas can be submitted as an attachment and not included in the above-stated 5-page limit.
- Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects
- Brief description of the proposed approach(es) for developing Vegetation Management Strategies for Managed Landscapes and Visitor Use Areas
- Any brief description of capabilities to successfully complete the project you may wish to add (e.g., GIS capability, access to information sources, previous research experiences at the park or region, experience synthesizing multidisciplinary data and information, etc.).
Note: A proposed budget is requested at this time.
Review Criteria:
Based on a review of the Statements of Interest received, an investigator or investigators
will be invited to prepare a full study proposal.
Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s interdisciplinary expertise and capabilities in Landscape Architecture (10 points), understanding of native vegetation and restoration plantings (5 points), horticulture/arboriculture (5 points), and demonstrated skills in GIS (5 points). Previous experiences studying at the park or within the region will also be considered (10 points). Because of the broad scope of this project, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary.
Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: Review of Statements of Interest will begin May 20, 2016
Please send responses or direct questions to:
Michelle Carter
Natural Resources Program Manager
1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301.714.2225