Reptile and Amphibian Surveys

Background
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District Office (WDO) is responsible for analyzing all external and internal projects that may impact species of concern, particularly those included in the new BLM NV Special Status Species (SSS) List released on 11/17/2023.

The WDO has identified a lack of observation data for certain reptile and amphibian species, which hinders their ability to estimate project impacts, recommend mitigation practices, or implement conservation actions. The species of concern include the greater short-horned lizard, pygmy short-horned lizard, Northern rubber boa, Western toad, Northern leopard frog, and Columbia spotted frog.

To address this data gap, the WDO seeks a contractor to conduct surveys across the district to better understand the presence and habitat selection of these species. This information will assist in estimating potential wildlife impacts from proposed projects and guide habitat restoration efforts.

Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for surveying targeted areas to determine the presence or absence of three reptile species and three amphibian species as outlined in the Statement of Work. Specific tasks include:
1. Conducting field surveys in designated survey units;
2. Collecting data on species presence and habitat conditions;
3. Analyzing collected data to assess habitat selection;
4. Reporting findings to the BLM WDO;
5. Ensuring compliance with BLM priorities such as the SSS Instructional Memorandum (NV-IM-2024-003) and the Partners in Amphibians and Reptile Conservation plan.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025.

Place of Performance
The contract work will be conducted within the geographic boundaries of the BLM-NV Winnemucca District Office.