Agency Natural Resources Dept

Contractor National Audubon Society/ Audubon Minnesota

SWIFT Contract Number 43313/3000015260

Project Name Species of Concern: Investigations

Project Number (if applicable) N/A

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: This contract was for the completion of a comprehensive, statewide Breeding Bird Atlas survey, begun in 2008, documenting the breeding distribution of Minnesota’s birds which resulted in a breeding bird atlas. Atlases are used throughout the world to document and map the distribution of breeding birds. This information is vital to scientists and conservationists, allowing focus of conservation investments in the most strategic and effective manner. These funds were used for the final 2-years of data collection, review, and organization, followed by a year of analysis and product preparation. ENRTF funds were supplemented with $222,570 provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Audubon Minnesota, and the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union. Data was collected at the township level by volunteers recruited and trained by project staff and by paid, specially trained observers conducting limited, standardized point counts and surveying underserved parts of the state. Combined, these methods provided the most complete picture to date on the overall distribution of all bird species as well as relative abundance estimates and detailed breeding habitat analysis for a majority of the breeding bird species of Minnesota.

Project Duration

Start Date Sun, 12/11/2011 - 00:00

Original end date Mon, 06/30/2014 - 00:00

Actual end date Mon, 06/30/2014 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $250000.00

Amendments $0

Contract total $250000.00

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? LCCMR Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

Is this a sole source contract? Yes

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) Audubon Minnesota, acting through the National Audubon Society, was determined to be the only organization that had the appropriate level of technical expertise relating to birds, data collection, data management, and volunteer organizational capabilities that could carry out and complete this project within the time frame provided for this project.

Evaluator Name Carrol L. Henderson

Evaluator Email Address carrol.henderson@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness Contractor did an excellent job of setting timelines and meeting goals for organization and training of volunteers, collection of bird data and validation of that data, and summarizing those results by deadlines set for the project.

Evaluate the contractor's quality Audubon Minnesota did an outstanding job of maintaining a high degree of quality control to ensure that the data being collected was reliable and valid so the final products would be of highest quality.

Evaluate the contractor's cost The cost for this project was appropriate for the value of the product produced and Audubon Minnesota generated substantial amounts of matching funds from other sources to match the ENRTR monies.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance Performance was outstanding and has resulted in an exceptional Breeding Bird Atlas baseline for breeding birds in Minnesota.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): N/A

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied