Release and monitor captive-reared Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards

Active

Contract Opportunity

Notice of Intent
This is a notice of intent to solicit form a single source.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) intends to negotiate a purchase order with the Fresno¿s Chaffee Zoo Corporation to release contractor provided blunt nosed leopard lizards, monitor and analyze blood samples as described in the attached statement of work.

Award will be made in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) and the procedures at FAR Part 12 entitled, Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR 13 entitled, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Fresno¿s Chaffee Zoo Corporation is, to the USGS¿ knowledge, the only source who can provide captive reared blunt nosed leopard lizards to release and monitor, recapture and analyze their blood samples.
The purpose of this notice is to satisfy the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.2. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all responsible parties may submit a quotation by the closing date of this announcement which shall be considered by the agency. No solicitation will be issued. A determination not to compete this action based upon responses received is in the sole discretion of the Government.

The NAICS code for this action is 541990 ¿ All other Professional, Scientific and Technical services.

Responses or inquiries shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to aberry@usgs.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than
06/06/2025 at 0500 PD.
¿
STATEMENT OF WORK

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. Introduction
The overall goal of this work is to:
Release and monitor contractor provided captive-reared Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards to Panoche Plateau. Implement grazing trials and assess
impacts on both Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and the native plant community. Assess physiology of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and how it changes across seasons via VetScan blood panel, VitA, and VitD assays of blood collected from wild and
captive Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards

B. Background
Researchers began reintroducing captive-reared animals to Panoche Plateau in 2023 and have released 37 animals to date. We
monitor released lizards throughout their lives using CTT solar-hybrid digital radio transmitters along with both manual and automated receivers. We manually re-locate animals at least 1/wk during the active season (~April-October) and have installed
a large-scale Automated Radio Telemetry System (ARTS) with over 300 nodes which provides location data every ~5 minutes.
Results to date indicate that invasive grass growth is extremely limiting, with both wild-born and captive-reared lizards
avoiding vegetated areas on Panoche Plateau and instead relying on limited gravel and dirt roadways. Habitat management to reduce invasive grass cover appears necessary for successful recolonization of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards.
To properly assess health and development of captive-reared lizards or assess relative health of wild individuals exposed to various environmental threats, we need to develop standard ¿normal values¿ for the species. Because ¿normal¿ values change
with life stage (e.g. juvenile vs adult, gravid vs nongravid, active vs hibernating, etc) normal values must be measured throughout the year.
USGS partners have analyzed scat of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards from Panoche Plateau and additional sites throughout the
range to identify the dietary requirements of the species, and how diet varies across sites since 2020. We will continue this work in 2025. In 2024 USGS collected monthly plasma samples from 20 Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards maintained in a captive colony and
opportunistically collected plasma samples from all wild animals encountered (N = 129 samples from 53 lizards) which are currently stored in a -80C freezer.

C. Scope (state general purpose, objectives, magnitude).
The scope of work is to release blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards, monitor and analyze if the released blunt nosed leopard lizards
preferentially select grazed areas or ungrazed areas. Analyze results of collected blood samples via VetScan blood panel, VitA,
and VitD assays. Use of VetScan. Samples will be analyzed using mixed-effects general linear models and normal-value ranges
estimated as the interquartile range of each blood constituent.

II. WORK REQUIREMENTS
A. Technical Requirements.
Contractor will:
Release and monitor captive-reared Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards (Gambelia sila) to Panoche Plateau.
Implement grazing trials and assess impacts on both Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards and the native plant community.
Collect blood samples and Conduct blood panel tests to analyze blood samples from wild-born and captive-bred Blunt-nosed
Leopard Lizards released in the program.
Analyze results via VetScan blood panel, VitA, and VitD assays. Blood panel includes measuring: Aspartate Aminotransferase
(AST), Bile acids (BA), Creatine Kinase (CK) uric acid (UA), glucose (GLU), phosphorous (PHOS), calcium (CA++), total
protein (TP), albumin (ALB), Globulin (GLOB), potassium (K+), and Sodium (NA+).
Sequence whole genome of Xantusia vigilis.
Genotype Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards scat and barcode arthropod genetic sequences.

1. Criteria for acceptance of Service
Contractor will adhere to developed protocols and methods for capture, release and monitoring of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards,
and to collect and package samples in an appropriate manner to make them usable for genetic analysis.
Contractor will analyze and deliver sample data in accordance with standardized laboratory practices.

B. Deliverables.
Contractor will:
Produce data including results of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards surveys, total number of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards, individuals captured, released, monitored, and sampled.
Produce sequenced genomes of Xantusia vigilis.
Furnish laboratory results of Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards scat analyses
Furnish Blood panel tests including species of lizards and arthropods identified.
Delivery dates for work/product to be completed and point of delivery:
Services will be performed through October 2025. Point of delivery for laboratory results will be U.S. Geological Survey,
Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego Field Station, 4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California.

III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION
A. Place of Performance.
Panoche Plateau, Fresno CA

B. Period of Performance
Approximately June 11th, 2025 to October 11th, 2025.

C. Government Furnished Property (GFP): list property and its value.
NA

D. Special Considerations.
1. Key personnel qualifications (researchers, instructors, writers, project managers, programmers, etc.)
N/A

2. Data Rights, Safety, Environment.

3. Security/Privacy issues (ingress to Federal buildings, personnel clearances, computer security).
N/A

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