Restoration of natural hydrology and creation of microtopography.

REV 11/18/2021 Page 1 of 3 PROCUREMENT JUSTIFICATION FORM (PJF) This form must accompany all contract requests and sole source requisitions (RQS) over $5,000 submitted to the Division of Procurement Services. INSTRUCTIONS: Please provide the requested information in the white spaces below. All responses (except signatures) must be typed; no hand-written forms will be accepted. See the guidance document posted with this form on the Division of Procurement Services intranet site (Forms page) for additional instructions. PART I: OVERVIEW Department Office/Division/Program: IFW/Resource Management/Wildlife Research and Assessment Section/Bird Group Department Contract Administrator or Grant Coordinator: Danielle DAuria (If applicable) Department Reference #: Amount: (Contract/Amendment/Grant) $ 102,606.00 Advantage CT / RQS #: 09A 20220803*393 CONTRACT Proposed Start Date: 8/26/2022 Proposed End Date: 3/31/2026 AMENDMENT Original Start Date: Effective Date: Previous End Date: New End

Date: GRANT Project Start Date: Grant Start Date: Project End Date: Grant End Date: Vendor/Provider/Grantee Name, City, State: Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge 321 Port Road Wells, ME 04090 Brief Description of Goods/Services/Grant: Restoration of natural hydrology and creation of microtopography. PART II: JUSTIFICATION FOR VENDOR SELECTION Check the box below for the justification(s) that applies to this request. (Check all that apply.) A. Competitive Process G. Grant B. Amendment H. State Statute/Agency Directed C. Single Source/Unique Vendor I. Federal Agency Directed D. Proprietary/Copyright/Patents J. Willing and Qualified E. Emergency K. Client Choice F. University Cooperative Project X L. Other Authorization DocuSign Envelope ID: D7C6B780-92A6-42D4-85E6-9AD3DFA44319 DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES iy DIVISION OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES Rsv wu he) BENNO} Procurement Justification Form (PJF) REV 11/18/2021 Page 2 of 3 Please respond to ALL of the questions in the following sections. PART III: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 1. Provide a more detailed description and explain the need for the goods, services or grant to supplement the response in Part I. The goal of this Tier 4 C-SWG project is to test a series of promising management actions that will most effectively conserve the Saltmarsh Sparrow (state species of special concern) and the suite of tidal marsh birds that share this habit. Work will be completed on Eldridge Marsh, which is conserved and managed by Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The integrity of this system is dependent on the restoration and maintenance of its tidal hydrology & sedimentation patterns, which allow vertical marsh growth to keep pace with sea-level rise. Restoration techniques will include cleaning select collapsed ditches, installing runnels to remove problematic areas of impounded surface water, modifying past salt march infrastructure (dikes, embankments), remediation of some ditches, and planting un-vegetated areas. These techniques are designed to reduce peat saturation, restore a vegetated march surface, and increase vertical marsh accretion to benefit Saltmarsh and Nelsons Sparrows on ~135 acres of land. Cleaning of collapsed ditches and the creation of runnels will result in sediment that can be applied in a beneficial way to the marsh surface. We will use this sediment to create higher elevation areas (microtopography) to support successful Saltmarsh Sparrow breeding within a ~50ac long-term Saltmarsh Sparrow demographic plot. Microtopography will be located where the Saltmarsh Sparrows are known to nest, using peat nest locations and topography to guide placement. Elevated areas will be planted with appropriate native, salt marsh vegetation propagated in Refuge greenhouse. Grant money will be allocated in a contract agreement for a scope of work that includes design plan, restoration work, & equipment operation required to restore natural hydrology and create microtopography. Although sediment from the hydrological restoration will be utilized in the creation of microtopography, we anticipate low volumes of sediment to be removed. 2. Provide a brief justification for the selected vendor to supplement the response in Part II. Reference the RFP number, if applicable. Rachel Carson is the landowner where the work will take place and they are also contributing match dollars. Justification for late start: Cooperative Reimbursement Agreement needed review by AG's office, USFWS and delays processing due to staffing shortages. 3. Explain how the negotiated costs or rates are fair and reasonable; or how the funding was allocated to grantee. Negotiated costs are fair and reasonable. Match for grant dollars is in part being provided by Rachel Carson NWR volunteer hours. 4. Describe the plan for future competition for the goods or services. Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is deemed a Land Management Demonstration site for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This project will showcase the use of innovative salt marsh management and restoration techniques for other land managers and natural resource practitioners. The need for effective salt marsh restoration in growing in order to conserve this habitat and the wildlife it supports in the face of the rising sea levels and other impacts of climate change. With this increased need, we also expect additional contractors to become more familiar with and skilled in these techniques, creating additional competition for such services in the future. DocuSign Envelope ID: D7C6B780-92A6-42D4-85E6-9AD3DFA44319 Procurement Justification Form (PJF) REV 11/18/2021 Page 3 of 3 PART IV: AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) / MAINE JOBS & RECOVERY PLAN (MJRP) Does this request utilize ARPA/MJRP funds? Yes If Yes, please attach the approved Business Case(s). No If No, proceed to Part V. PART V: APPROVALS The signatures below indicate approval of this procurement request. Signature of requesting Departments Commissioner (or designee): Typed Name: Date: Signature of DAFS Procurement Official: Typed Name: Date: DocuSign Envelope ID: D7C6B780-92A6-42D4-85E6-9AD3DFA44319 8/4/2022Judith A Camuso Thomas Paquette 9/20/2022 DocuSigned by: 249502C7B71A49A... [dill Camus 2E11918D8425475...