ANNOUNCEMENT FOR STUDENT SERVICES CONTRACT

United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Western Ecology Division, Corvallis , OR. The Western Ecology Division (WED) of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking a graduate student to provide services under a contractual agreement to assist with estuarine ecology studies. The student contractor must be at least 18 years of age, completed a B.S. degree in biology, marine science, oceanography, ecology, environmental science, fisheries and wildlife, zoology or related field, and must have completed at least one year of graduate studies in one of these academic fields. The student contractor must be familiar with basic laboratory/field health and safety. The Western Ecology Division (WED) is one of four ecological effects divisions of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory. The four divisions are distributed bio-geographically. WED scientists provide information to EPA offices and regions nationwide to improve our understanding of how human activities affect estuarine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. The Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch of WED is involved in a number of projects investigating the effects of nutrients and other stressors on estuarine ecosystems, including impacts to seagrasses. For additional information regarding the Western Ecology Division, visit its home page at http://www.epa.gov/wed/. The student contractor shall assist in the measurement of the area of seagrass or other estuarine habitat types, and their condition, using side scan sonar, echo sounder sonar, and underwater video at several locations within Yaquina Bay and other estuaries in Oregon (USA). This equipment will be provided by WED for shared use by the student contractor; transportation to field sites will be provided by WED. The student contractor shall become familiar with the operation of this equipment; develop Standard Operation Procedures and quality assurance plans for data collection with this equipment; use the equipment to collect data on habitat patch location, area, and condition; transfer the data to an ArcInfo/ArcView geographic information system database (GIS); conduct GIS and statistical analyses of the data with to compare the mapping accuracy and precision of each method; and develop methods for integrating data from the mapping methods and evaluate the mapping accuracy and precision of the integrated mapping methods. The student contractor shall also prepare technical reports on this research, including progress reports at 6 month intervals, and a final report in a scientific journal format containing the final evaluation of the methods for mapping change in habitat-patch area and condition. The student contractor shall perform duties, as requested , according to specifications and instructions provided by the mentor. The student will assist in a study to measure change in the area and condition of habitat patches in Pacific northwest estuaries. Field data will be collected by several methods (including underwater video, side scan sonar, aerial photography, and echo sounder sonar) to determine the areas of several habitat patches, to compare the measurement accuracy and precision of each method separately and integrated combinations of methods, and to evaluate the best combination of methods for measuring change in habitat-patch area. Additional studies will be conducted to evaluate the use of these methods for detecting or measuring changes in the condition of habitat patches, such as the density and size of seagrass plants, or the abundance and types of fauna within a habitat patch. Where appropriate, the student will maintain careful and accurate records in designated field notebooks and/or datasheets. These notebooks and all other data produced under this contract will be the property of the Environmental Protection Agency. All necessary equipment, instructions and training will be provided by Dr. Theodore DeWitt (dewitt.ted@epa.gov) who will serve as the student mentor. The contract period of performance will be for 12 months (approximately October 1, 2004 - September 30, 2005) with an option for an additional 12 months (approximately October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006). Exercising the optional 12 month period will be at the discretion of the Government. It is anticipated that the student contractor will work 20 hours per week during the academic year (approximately October to early June) and 40 hours per week during the summer (approximately early June to late September) with the majority of the work being Monday through Friday of each week. The duty location is Western Ecology Division, 2111 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport, OR 97365. Work will be performed under a variety of settings including office, library, laboratory (in Newport, OR), and the field (Yaquina Bay and other Oregon estuaries on boats or on foot on tide flats). Field work will be somewhat strenuous, requiring the ability to deploy and retrieve underwater remote sensing equipment (video cameras, sonar fish; approximately 25 lbs weight) over the side of boats, and to walk across or through soft sediments on intertidal mud flats. The student contractor must have current CPR and first aid certification as of the first day of work. The student will be given additional safety training at WED. The student contractor is responsible for all costs of transportation to and from the principal duty station location. EPA does not provide housing, meals or other living expenses while working at the principal duty station. EPA will provide transportation to field sites and travel expenses from the principal duty station to field sites if required as part of the job. The hourly rate of $17.04 is commensurate with the level of education and experience necessary. The student contractor will be paid the basic hourly rate only for the number of hours worked. The student does not accrue leave or holiday benefits and is not paid for any non-work days, regardless of the reason. Federal, State and Social Security taxes will not be withheld; student contractors are responsible for reporting income to authorities and paying all taxes. Non-U.S. citizens may be eligible to participate, depending on their immigration status and the applicable regulations of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration (BCIS), formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Interested student must submit a one or two page resume or a statement of qualifications including (1) full legal name; (2) mailing address; (3) telephone number; (4) e-mail address (if any); (5) date of birth; (6) social security number; (7) place of birth; (8) citizenship or, if not a US citizen, immigration/VISA status; (9) education, including description of relevant classes; (10) work or volunteer experience related to the scientific field; (11) laboratory/field experience, and (12) names of three references who can speak to your scientific and technical capabilities and work habits. Attach a copy of your most recent graduate school and undergraduate transcripts, listing courses taken, grades and overall GPA. The preferred student contractor will have graduate or undergraduate training and/or experience in GIS, statistics, remote sensing, estuarine ecology, and/or electronic equipment. Send your resume or statement of qualifications to Jennifer Hill, Contracting Officer via email at hill.jennifer@epa.gov or via fax to 919-541-4273 AND Connie M. Hays, Western Ecology Division, via email at hays.connie@epa.gov or via fax to 541-754-4518. All interested parties are required to visit the EPA procurement home page at: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd/ to learn full details of the proposed contract opportunity. Under the section entitled "Student Services, RFQ-RT-04-00357", read all of the attached documents. This website should be visited periodically to check the status of this procurement and to see whether or not any changes have been made. If you have any questions on the information contained in this website, please contact the EPA Contracting Officer Jennifer Hill at hill.jennifer@epa.gov. Questions regarding the technical aspects of the contracted duties and responsibilities should be directed to Dr. Theodore DeWitt, the EPA technical mentor for the contracted activities, at dewitt.ted@epa.gov or (541) 867-4029 or Connie Hays, the Western Ecology Division Acquisition Program Manager, at hays.connie@epa.gov or (541) 754-4504. The Government will make contract award based on the student's works experience, knowledge and skills, training and course work as it relates to the services described in the announcement. Please check the evaluation factors document on the website given above. Students who perform under contract for EPA are required to undergo a background check, check of FBI fingerprint files and a suitability determination by the EPA. Responses to this Announcement will be accepted through September 15, 2004, 12:00 p.m. EDT.