The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Forest Service, intends to award a sole source contract for the Kaleidoscope Pro software, which is essential for wildlife audio recordings. This Commercial off-The-Shelf (COTS) software is designed to assist biologists in conducting wildlife surveys for various species, including bats, birds, and amphibians, by enabling the sorting, auto-classification, and manual vetting of audio species detections. The software's unique features, such as acoustic clustering, noise analysis, and support for both standard and ultrasonic recording formats, play a critical role in long-term monitoring efforts and habitat restoration planning. Interested parties can reach out to Keith Bergstrom at keith.bergstrom@usda.gov for further information regarding this procurement opportunity.

Kaleidoscope Pro, a Commercial off-The -Shelf (COTS) so?ware that was developed specifically for wildlife audio recordings. Both the FS and USDA Research Stations across the country are implementing wildlife surveys for bats, avian and amphibian species using audio recording devices. Kaleidoscope Pro Software allows biologists to sort, auto classify and manually vet audio species detections. This software assists with information long term monitoring efforts, habitat restoration planning and Forest Plan revision work. Kaleidoscope Pro uniquely combines the following features: For analysis of recordings (except ultrasonic recordings of bats): o Supports Pulse Code Modulation WAV formats as well as Wildlife Acoustics proprietary W4V and WAC formats. Acoustic clustering feature scans recordings, detects animal vocalizations, and sorts vocalizations by similarity for rapid surveying of acoustic diversity Build custom acoustic classifiers from training data to scan new recordings for matching patterns. Noise analysis feature scans recordings, measures sound pressure levels using any combination of one-third octave bands, A, B, C, and D weightings, and NOAA cetacean/phocid/ottarid weightings with support for calculating cumulative Sound Exposure Levels. For analysis of ultrasonic recordings of bats: o Supports Pulse Code Modulation WAV formats including direct and time-expansion recordings, zero crossing recordings, and Wildlife Acoustics proprietary W4V and WAC formats. Supports analysis in both full spectrum and zero crossing Bat Auto ID feature identifies recordings to species (with some degree of error) with support for North America, Neotropics, Europe and South Africa regions. Calculates P-values using maximum-likelihood estimators for species presence/absence statistics. Supports rapid manual review and verification of automated species ID results. Supports acoustic clustering of narrowband ultrasonic signals for rapid surveying of signal diversity. Other features o Custom meta data fields Optional GPS fuzzing for deliberate obfuscation of latitude/longitude coordinates. Support searchable fully relational database using either PostgreSQL or Wildlife Acoustics Managed Cloud accounts Support direct access to cloud-based storage using AWS S3 or Wildlife Acoustics Managed Cloud Accounts. Support for cloud-based analysis (clustering, auto-id, file conversion, metadata extraction, noise analysis) for files stored in Wildlife Acoustics Managed Cloud Accounts o Convert data files from WAC, WAV, and Zero Crossing formats to WAV and Zero Crossing formats while filtering out unwanted signals. For mobile transects, GPS/KML feature will quickly generate Google Earth Files.

12760423P0011 Intent to award Sole Source for Kaleidoscope Pro Justification

Kaleidoscope JA.pdf

Kaleidoscope Pro, a Commercial off-The -Shelf (COTS) so􀃎ware that was developed specifically for wildlife audio recordings. Both the FS and USDA Research Stations across the country are implementing wildlife surveys for bats, avian and amphibian species using audio recording devices. Kaleidoscope Pro Software allows biologists to sort, auto classify and manually vet audio species detections. This software assists with information long term monitoring efforts, habitat restoration planning and Forest Plan revision work.

Kaleidoscope Pro uniquely combines the following features:

* + For analysis of recordings (except ultrasonic recordings of bats): o Supports Pulse Code Modulation WAV formats as well as Wildlife Acoustics proprietary W4V and WAC formats.
  + Acoustic clustering feature scans recordings, detects animal vocalizations, and sorts vocalizations by similarity for rapid surveying of acoustic diversity
  + Build custom acoustic classifiers from training data to scan new recordings for matching patterns.
  + Noise analysis feature scans recordings, measures sound pressure levels using any combination of one-third octave bands, A, B, C, and D weightings, and NOAA cetacean/phocid/ottarid weightings with support for calculating cumulative Sound Exposure Levels.
* + For analysis of ultrasonic recordings of bats: o Supports Pulse Code Modulation WAV formats including direct and time-expansion recordings, zero crossing recordings, and Wildlife Acoustics proprietary W4V and WAC formats.
  + Supports analysis in both full spectrum and zero crossing
  + Bat Auto ID feature identifies recordings to species (with some degree of error) with support for North America, Neotropics, Europe and South Africa regions. Calculates P-values using maximum-likelihood estimators for species presence/absence statistics.
  + Supports rapid manual review and verification of automated species ID results.
  + Supports acoustic clustering of narrowband ultrasonic signals for rapid surveying of signal diversity.
  + Other features o Custom meta data fields
  + Optional GPS fuzzing for deliberate obfuscation of latitude/longitude coordinates.
  + Support searchable fully relational database using either PostgreSQL or Wildlife Acoustics Managed Cloud accounts
  + Support direct access to cloud-based storage using AWS S3 or Wildlife Acoustics Managed Cloud Accounts.
  + Support for cloud-based analysis (clustering, auto-id, file conversion, metadata extraction, noise analysis) for files stored in Wildlife Acoustics Managed Cloud Accounts

                   o Convert data files from WAC, WAV, and Zero Crossing formats to WAV and Zero       Crossing formats while filtering                           out unwanted signals.

* + For mobile transects, GPS/KML feature will quickly generate Google Earth Files.

12760423P0011 Intent to award Sole Source for Kaleidoscope Pro Justification

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