1202NV19R0002.pdf

IDAWY ACQUISITION SERVICE CENTER INSTRUCTIONAL COVER SHEET

ISSUING OFFICE:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

IDAWY ACQUISITION SERVICE CENTER

1405 HOLLIPARK DR.

IDAHO FALLS, ID 83401

FAX (208) 557-5829

SOLICITATION NO. 1202NV19R0002

OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FOR: INVASIVE SPECIES/TEPS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IDIQ FOR THE SALMON-

CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST

SET-ASIDE: SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE

IMPORTANT – NOTICE TO OFFEROR:

AT A MINIMUM, OFFEROR SHALL SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS BACK WITH THEIR RESPONSE

TO THIS SOLICITATION:

1.SF-1449 Request For Quotation (Complete, date, and sign)

2.Section I – Schedule of Items (Complete Unit Price and Amount)

3.Technical Proposal

4.Representations and Certifications (Complete the Representations and Certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website at https://www.sam.gov)

5. Acknowledgement of Amendments (If Any)

IT IS REQUIRED YOU WRITE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR ENVELOPE.

Return to: IDAWY Acquisition Service Center 1405 Hollipark Drive Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Solicitation No. 1202NV19R0002

IT IS REQUIRED THAT ALL CONTRACTOR’S BE REGISTERED IN THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PRIOR TO AWARD UNDER THIS SOLICITATION. SEE CLAUSE 52.204-7

SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY.

IT IS THE OFFERORS RESPONSIBILITY TO WATCH FOR ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE SOLICITATION, WHICH SHALL BE ISSUED ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH FEDBIZOPS.

https://www.sam.gov/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

• SECTION B – Supplies or Services and Prices

• SECTION C – Descriptions/Specifications

• SECTION E – Inspection and Acceptance

• SECTION F – Description and Performance

• SECTION G – Contract Administration Data

• SECTION H – Special Contract Requirements

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

• SECTION I – Contract Clauses for Commercial Items

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS,EXIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

• SECTION J – Exhibits

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

• SECTION K – Representations, Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors or Respondents

• SECTION L – Solicitation Provisions

• SECTION M – Evaluation Factors for Award

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

1. REQUISITION NUMBER

PAGE OF

2. CONTRACT NO.

3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE

4. ORDER NUMBER

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

1202NV19R0002

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

04/29/19

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL

a. NAME

AMELIA VELASCO

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls)

(208) 557-5848

8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIME

05/31/19 1:00 p.m. MST

9. ISSUED BY CODE

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS: UNRESTRICTED or SET ASIDE: 100 % FOR:

IDAWY Acquisition Service Center

1405 Hollipark Drive Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Small Business Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Eligible Under the Women-Owned

Hubzone Small Small Business Program NAICS: 115310 Business Economically Disadvantaged Women-

Service-Disabled Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Size Standard: $7.5 Million Veteran Owned Small Business 8(A)

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS

A RATED ORDER

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING

11. Delivery for FOB

Destination unless Block is Marked

See Schedule

12. Discount Terms

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ IFB RFP

CODE

16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

15. DELIVER TO

See Delivery Schedule

Same as Block 9

17a. CONTRACTOR/ CODE

OFFEROR FACILITY

CODE 18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

TELEPHONE NO.:_____________________________________

DUNS NO:_____________________ CAGE Code. ___________________________

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture National Finance Center P.O. Box 60000 New Orleans, LA 70160-0001

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH

ADDRESS IN OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW IS

CHECKED SEE ADDENDUM

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

Invasive Species/TEPS Vegetation Management IDIQ, Salmon- Challis National Forest

This requirement is being procured as a fixed-price

Simplified Acquisition.

Faxes will not be accepted.

PLEASE PLACE YOUR QUOTE IN SECTION I-

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED.

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN _____

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

HEREIN.

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. ___________________ OFFER

DATED _________________. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES

WHICH ARE SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (TYPE OR PRINT)

30c. DATE SIGNED

31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (TYPE OR

PRINT)

AMELIA VELASCO

31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 5/2011)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED: ___________________________________________

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT

VERIFIED CORRECT

FOR

36. PAYMENT

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

37. CHECK NUMBER

PARTIAL FINAL

38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER 40. PAID BY

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT 42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE 42.b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42.c DATE REC’D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

Standard Form 1449 (REV. 5/2011) Back

1202NV19R0002 Invasive Species/TEPS Vegetation Management IDIQ Salmon-Challis National Forest

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B--SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES

Invasive Species/TEPS Vegetation Management Services IDIQ

Lemhi & Custer Counties, Idaho

B.1. BACKGROUND

B.1.1. The following Parts and Subparts of the FAR apply:

• FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, as Amended.

• FAR 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contracts Act – Price Adjustment

(Multiple Year and Option Year Contracts)

• FAR Part 16.504, Indefinite Quantity Contract.

B.1.2. Other Factors that Apply

This contract is a Firm-Fixed-Price, Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA) (FAR Subpart 37.6).

B.1.3. Total Contract Value

The estimated total value of all Task Orders issued over the life of the contract shall not exceed $1,500,000.

B.1.4. Authorized Ordering Official

The Forest Service officials authorized to award task orders under this contract are Region 4 Contracting Officers, or warranted 1105s with the proper authority level for award approvals.

B.1.5. Tasks/Work Activities/Line Items/Units and Costs

The Schedule of Items in B.2 shall be used by approved contractors in proposing the Task Orders.

B.1.6. Task Order Maximum Dollars

Refer to Section G, Contract Administration Data, G.1., Ordering Procedure

B.1.7. Pricing

The key factor for the approval of a task order is best value to the Government, or prices at or below the pricing thresholds authorized by this contract.

New pricing shall go into effect should an option to extend the term of this contract be exercised pursuant to Contract Clause No. 52.217-9.

The Economic Price Adjustment Clause does not appear in this contract because pricing is quoted for option years and needs to include reasonable rates for inflation and labor rate increases. New pricing will go into effect at the time of renewal, should an option to extend the term of the contract be exercised.

B.2. SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

This Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) (Task Ordering) Contract is for invasive species/TEPS invasive inventory, invasive species control, and vegetation monitoring for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

This contract complies with the procedures of FAR Part 12, “Acquisition of Commercial Items.”

Under this Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract, only approved Contractors are eligible to compete for the task orders issued for the line items listed below. Contractors will not be required to propose on every solicitation, particularly, if they have reached their maximum dollar limit in accordance with Contract Clause Number 52.216-19, Order Limitations (OCT 1995) and Contract Provision Number G-1, Ordering Procedure.

The solicitations for the task orders will provide the specifications required in order for a Contractor to respond with an offer. The award selection for the task orders will be based on the most reasonable competitive pricing offers and on the Contractor’s past performance on prior task orders awarded under this contract (When no prior task orders have been awarded that equals a neutral rating for past performance).

The period of performance is one base-year with four (4) option-years, starting on the effective date of contract award through May 31, 2024.

As shown below, the pricing for each of the three years, is based on the maximum pricing amounts or ceilings approved for this contract. It is not required to submit pricing on all items. Offerors shall submit pricing on those items in which they can perform.

BASE YEAR: JUNE 1, 2019 THROUGH MAY 31, 2020

Line Item Description Qty. Inventoried Unit Maximum Pricing/Acre

1 Survey/Inventory Each Acre $________

2 Vegetation/Soil Each Acre $________ Trend Monitoring

3 Herbicide Each Acre $________

4 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________ Ground Application Category I – Road/River Based (w/in 100 feet)

5 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________ Ground Application Category II – Road/River Based (<1/4 mile)

6 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________ Ground Application Category III – Road/River Based (>1/4 mile from Road/River OR Boat OR Stock Access Only

OPTION YEAR 1: JUNE 1, 2020 THROUGH MAY 31, 2021

Line Item Description Qty. Inventoried Unit Maximum Pricing/Acre

1.1 Survey/Inventory Each Acre $________

1.2 Vegetation/Soil Each Acre $________

Trend Monitoring

1.3 Herbicide Each Acre $________

1.4 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category I – Road/River Based (w/in 100 feet)

1.5 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category II – Road/River Based (<1/4 mile)

1.6 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category III – Road/River Based (>1/4 mile from

OPTION YEAR 2: JUNE 1, 2021 THROUGH MAY 31, 2022

Line Item Description Qty. Inventoried Unit Maximum Pricing/Acre

2.1 Survey/Inventory Each Acre $________

2.2 Vegetation/Soil Each Acre $________

Trend Monitoring

2.3 Herbicide Each Acre $________

2.4 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category I – Road/River Based (w/in 100 feet)

2.5 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category II – Road/River Based (<1/4 mile)

2.6 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category III – Road/River Based (>1/4 mile from

OPTION YEAR 3: JUNE 1, 2022 THROUGH MAY 31, 2023

Line Item Description Qty. Inventoried Unit Maximum Pricing/Acre

3.1 Survey/Inventory Each Acre $________

3.2 Vegetation/Soil Each Acre $________

Trend Monitoring

3.3 Herbicide Each Acre $________

3.4 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category I – Road/River Based (w/in 100 feet)

3.5 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category II – Road/River Based (<1/4 mile)

3.6 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category III – Road/River Based (>1/4 mile from

OPTION YEAR 4: JUNE 1, 2023 THROUGH MAY 31, 2024

Line Item Description Qty. Inventoried Unit Maximum Pricing/Acre

4.1 Survey/Inventory Each Acre $________

4.2 Vegetation/Soil Each Acre $________

Trend Monitoring

4.3 Herbicide Each Acre $________

4.4 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category I – Road/River Based (w/in 100 feet)

4.5 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category II – Road/River Based (<1/4 mile)

4.6 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application Category III – Road/River Based (>1/4 mile from Road/River OR Boat OR Stock Access Only

(Note: Please price on those items in which you can perform. Pricing shall be submitted to the nearest dollar.)

B.3. PRICING STRUCTURE

Maximum Pricing/Ceiling Amounts identified in the Schedule of Items above are the maximum prices per acre that contractors shall not exceed when competing on individual Task Orders. Contractors should take into account all cost elements such as, but not limited to, level of difficulty taking into account access and terrain, direct costs, and indirect costs when establishing their maximum/ceiling price per acre.

B.4. MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM

Each contract awarded as a result of this solicitation shall be subject to a guaranteed minimum over the life of the contract (base plus any exercised options) as shown below.

Guaranteed Maximum Minimum

$1,000 $1,500,000

B.5. MULTIPLE AWARD OPTION

The Government reserves the right to make multiple awards if, after considering the additional administrative costs, it is in the Government's best interest to do so.

B.6. PERMITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES - TAXES

Under clause 52.236-7, Permits and Responsibilities, Contractors shall be responsible for complying with any Federal, State, and municipal laws, codes and regulations applicable to the performance of the work. Questions regarding assessment of Idaho Use Tax on Government Furnished Property should be directed to the Idaho State Tax Commission at (208) 799-3491.

SECTION II - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

SECTION C – PROJECT DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

C.1. Scope of Contract

The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, equipment, supplies, services, permits, and licenses necessary to survey, inventory, control, and monitor invasive species infestations and rare plant populations (e.g. Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TEPS) plants, Species of Conservation Concern (SCC), etc.) on the Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF), including the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness (FC- RONRW) during the period from the date of contract award through December 31, 2023.

The statement of work for completing the tasks/subtasks shall comply with the Quality Assurance requirements of Section E. Services shall be performed in compliance with the terms, conditions, and work specifications in the individual Task Orders. Specific information and requirements, beyond the general requirements included in this section, for each task shall be indicated in the individual Task Orders.

Survey/Inventory Services:

The Contractor shall inventory for and map all SCNF rare plants (SCNF Rare Plants Exhibit) and/or all Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weed species (SCNF Invasive Species Exhibit) and other invasive plant species as specified by the Task Order throughout the full extent of identified sites within work areas. Survey and inventory work shall be completed as per Forest Service specifications and requirements (SCNF Data Collection Standards exhibits).

The Contractor shall provide digital and/or hard copy map and GPS data files as specified by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) delineating the rare plant populations, invasive species infestations inventoried and of the overall areas surveyed.

Invasive Plant Treatment Services:

As a ground-based operation, the Contractor shall (a) apply herbicides or biological control agents to target infestations of Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weeds and other invasive plant species (see SCNF Invasive Species Exhibit) as specified within the treatment areas defined by the individual Task Orders, in accordance with SCNF and FC-RONWR Herbicide Use Requirements (SCNF Herbicide Requirements and Biological Opinion [BO] exhibits), (b) inventory new infestations of invasive plants encountered in the work areas, (c) re-measure the size of existing invasive plant infestations that have increased or decreased since the last re-measurement (Data Collection Standards exhibits) and (d) conduct efficacy monitoring of treated infestations (Qualitative Efficacy Monitoring exhibit).

The Contractor shall provide digital and/or hard copy map and data files for each infestation, as specified by the COR, delineating the invasive plant infestations to which herbicides were applied per the requirements of the SCNF Herbicide Requirements, SCNF Master Herbicide Application Record and Qualitative Efficacy Monitoring exhibits.

Monitoring Services:

The Contractor shall collect vegetation and soil attribute data needed to determine the status and trend of invasive plant infestations, rare plant populations, native plant communities, and soil resources at specified sites per monitoring protocol instructions contained in the two exhibits for Quantitative Monitoring.

The Contractor shall provide digital and/or hard copy map and data files (as specified by the COR) for each monitoring site.

C.2. Task Order Period of Performance

The work period identified in individual Task Orders may be adjusted if weather or environmental conditions or plant phenology require a change. Survey/inventory, control, or trend monitoring work nevertheless may be suspended (a) in the late summer once active growth of the target rare plants and/or invasive plant species cease (typically with the onset of seed maturation), (b) at any time when weather conditions and/or work area accessibility preclude work and (c) at any time of year when the ground is frozen or snow covers the ground (regardless of the work period being adjusted). Invasive species control work may usually may resume in the fall, typically from mid-September through October, as agreed upon by the Contractor and COR. Working on weekends and holidays is acceptable with the exception of sites, such as campgrounds, that receive heavy recreational use on weekends and holidays. Exceptions will be approved by the COR.

C.3. Progression and Order of Work

The Contractor, as approved by the COR, will determine the order and progression of work within a work area.

The Forest Service reserves the right to determine the season of plant survey/inventory, timing of herbicide application or biological control releases, the priority of work areas and order of activities within work areas.

The Forest Service reserves the right to alter the location of work areas should planned work areas become inaccessible (e.g. wildfires or mass erosion events due to high intensity storms) with prior written notification of the change by a properly executed modification from the Contracting Officer. Only areas of comparable size, terrain, and accessibility will be considered for potential alterations.

Re-measurement and monitoring shall take place at the time each invasive plant infestation is treated with herbicides and/or biological control agents. Inventory of new infestations shall take place as they are encountered by the Contractor.

C.4. Herbicide and Application Rates

The Contractor may recommend the herbicide and application rate for a work area. The Forest Service reserves the right to require that a particular herbicide or application rate be used (see Sections C.5 and C.6 and the SCNF Herbicide Requirements exhibit).

C.5. Deliverable Products

Identified deliverables shall be provided in increments with invoices for partial payment. Upon completion of work, the Contractor shall submit hard copy and digital data to the COR as further specified in Section C, Performance Requirements in Section E and exhibits for survey/inventory, invasive species treatment, and soil/vegetation monitoring. These shall include the following C.1 items below.

These products shall be delivered two weeks prior to Contractor submitting an invoice for payment for the surveyed/inventoried areas or, if only one invoice is submitted, with that invoice. Delivery of these products is necessary for the COR to approve the submitted invoice.

C.5.1. Survey/Inventory

(a) Color hard copy maps (the COR will provide Contractor with a topographic background map with known rare plant populations and invasive plant infestations, symbolized attributes, and legend) shall contain, at a minimum, the area covered each day delineated and dated. Note that hard copy maps may NOT be submitted in place of GPS files, but shall be submitted as a supplement.

(b) GPS files in an ESRI ArcMap format (shapefiles or geodatabase) categorized by work area and rare plant populations, invasive plant infestations, treated areas, and/or monitoring sites along with the minimum required associated tabular attributes per Forest Service specifications and requirements (see exhibits for survey/inventory, herbicide application, qualitative and quantitative monitoring). Contractor may provide a zip file or drive of GPS data or other means pre-approved by the COR. Note that the Forest Service will NOT accept any file formats except current versions of ESRI ArcMap files.

(c) Hard copies or digital copies in a printable format (Word, Adobe pdf files, etc.) of all field notes, photos, etc. pertaining to the work areas and/or inventoried populations, infestations, treated areas, and/or monitoring sites.

C.5.2 Herbicide Application

(a) The Contractor shall be familiar with and comply with SCNF environmental protection design features and mitigation measures. The 2015 Salmon-Challis National Forest Forest-wide Invasive Species Management Environmental Impact Statement and the 2016 SCNF Invasive Species Management Record of Decision outline design features and mitigation measures for management of invasive plant species. These documents are available on the SCNF website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=36537.

(b) Hard copy herbicide application records matching the information required by the SCNF. See exhibits for Master Application Record for either the North Zone (i.e. Salmon National Forest) or the South Zone (i.e.

Challis National Forest). Completion of all fields is required. Multiple infestations of the same invasive plant species may be recorded on one application record as long as the infestations are contiguous or, if a series of small infestations in close proximity, as long as herbicide output is recorded for each infestation. Per Forest Service Business Rules, herbicide applications on infestations of different species must be recorded on separate application records, unless other arrangements are approved in advance by the COR. Herbicide applications made in different physical locations must be recorded on separate application records per FS Business Rules, unless other arrangements are approved in advance by the COR.

(c) Hard copy qualitative efficacy monitoring forms for each infestation treated using the form provided by the Forest Service in the Qualitative Monitoring Exhibit. Completion of all fields is required. A monitoring form is required for each treatment record.

(d) Color hard copy maps attached to each treatment record containing at a minimum: topographic background layer, outline of work area boundary and name, delineation of area and infestations sprayed each day with date of treatment and any recommendations regarding the area, new (refer to Inventory above in C.5.1) or existing infestations and further management.

(e) A zip file or drive or other means pre-approved by the COR providing the location of invasive plant infestations and treated areas inventoried as GPS files in a current version of ESRI ArcMap (shapefiles or geodatabase) categorized by work area and invasive plant species, along with minimum required associated http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=36537 tabular attributes per Forest Service specifications and requirements (see exhibits for Data Collection Standards and SCNF Herbicide Application).

C.5.3. Monitoring

(a) Hard copy data sheets and color photographs of each monitoring transect as required by Forest Service specifications and requirements (see Quantitative Monitoring Protocol and Data Form exhibits).

(b) A zip file or drive or other means pre-approved by COR containing digital files of color photographs at each monitoring transect taken per Forest Service specifications and requirements.

(c) A zip file or drive or other means pre-approved by COR of downloaded and processed GPS locations of relocated or re-established permanent monitoring transects as ESRI ArcMap shapefiles or as a geodatabase.

(d) A zip file or drive or other means pre-approved by COR of digital Microsoft Excel files of downloaded and summarized vegetation and soil surface factors data as required by Forest Service specifications and requirements.

(e) Hard copies or electronic copies on a zip file or drive or other means pre-approved by COR in a printable format (Word, Adobe pdf files, etc.) of all field notes pertaining to the work areas and/or monitoring transects.

C.6. Definitions

Carrier - For herbicide applications, only water shall be used as the herbicide carrier.

Datum – The datum used by SCNF is the North American Datum 1983, Universal Transverse Mercator, Zone 11N or 12N (as required by the location of the work area).

Efficacy Monitoring – collecting attribute data about the status of invasive plant infestations and effectiveness of herbicide application treatments by completing the qualitative efficacy monitoring form in the SCNF Qualitative Monitoring exhibit.

Endangered and Sensitive Plant Species/Invasive Species module (TESP/IS) - A nationwide Forest Service database that stores TESP plant species and invasive species inventory data. The TESP/IS database application includes spatially linked data entry and editing forms for survey-area polygons, TESP element-occurrence points and polygons, and Invasive Species Inventory polygons, based on annual Forest Service Business Rules.

The user is guided through the data entry/edit process with a step-by-step workflow called the ESRI Task Assistant extension in an ArcMap project. Intermediate ESRI ArcMap skills are required.

FACTS - Forest Activity Tracking System - A nationwide Forest Service database that tracks forest invasive species treatments accomplishments, based on annual Forest Service Business Rules. The user is guided through the data entry/edit process with a step-by-step workflow called the ESRI Task Assistant extension in an ArcMap project. Intermediate ESRI ArcMap skills are required.

Geographic Information System (GIS) software – the Forest Service utilizes ESRI ArcGIS software, including ArcMap and ArcPad. At a minimum, Contractors providing invasive plant inventory or soil and vegetation trend monitoring need access to ESRI software or other GIS software that the Contractor can easily crosswalk with ESRI products to meet requirements specifying delivery of digital products such as shapefiles.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Equipment – Resource grade GPS receivers or wireless GPS devices and portable data recorders capable of receiving and transmitting data dictionaries, Pocket Excel, ESRI ArcPad software, digital raster graphics and other GIS files for use in recording spatial and tabular data of treated infestations.

Herbicide – Only those herbicides listed specifically in the SCNF Herbicide Requirements exhibit may be applied to national forest system lands under the provisions of the Biological Opinion (see exhibits for full BO’s) from the National Marine Fisheries Service and Fish and Wildlife Service that, in part, govern the application of herbicides to lands administered by the Salmon-Challis National Forests, including lands in the FC-CWMA in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

Invasive Plant – Any non-native/non-indigenous plant species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health, as defined by federal law.

Invasive Plant Infestation – A discrete area infested with Forest Service, Idaho State and/or Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weeds or other invasive species as specified by the Task Order delineated by a point or a polygon. The number of invasive species plants in an infestation may be as low as a single plant to many thousands of plants. The area comprising the infestation may be as small as 1/1000 of an acre to thousands of acres if the invasive species distribution is large and continuous. Invasive species plant cover may vary from less than one percent of the plant community in the infested area to a percentage in which the invasive species is dominant in the plant community (e.g. 75% cover).

Inventory - Walking a grid system throughout an entire survey site within a work area in search of all of the Forest Service, Idaho State and/or Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weeds, and other invasive plant species, and/or rare plant species as specified in the Task Order. Once located, the outer perimeter of rare plant populations and/or invasive plant infestations and shall be mapped by taking GPS readings around the perimeter of each population or infestation, recording required data in the specified format for each population/infestation and, if necessary, converting these data to ESRI ArcMap software supported shapefiles and database files.

Monitoring – collecting vegetation and soil attribute data needed to determine the status and trend of invasive plant infestations, native plant communities and soil resources by following and completing the monitoring protocol and instructions as required by Forest Service specifications and requirements.

Monitoring Transects – Permanently established 25-meter transects for vegetation and soil trend monitoring.

Transects run perpendicular to the elevation contour. Transects are permanently marked at both the zero-meter and 25-meter ends with rebar topped with plastic caps.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) – a permit program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency that addresses water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to water of the United States. Herbicide applicators are required to submit an annual permit of applications made to Waters of the US (generally applications made in areas with riparian vegetation, within a floodplain, or at or below a mean high water mark.

Noxious Weed - Any of 64 invasive plant species having the potential to cause injury to public health, crops, livestock, land or other property and designated as “noxious” by Butte, Custer or Lemhi Counties and by the State of Idaho as of January 2007 (Noxious Weed Rules, IDAPA 02.06.22).

Plant Phenology – This phrase refers to any of the number of plant growth and life cycle stages, from germination to seed production to senescence. Herbicide application shall be timed to coincide with those stages of plant growth in which the target species is most susceptible to the effects of the herbicide. The COR may stop work during the time when the phenological stage of the target species precludes susceptibility to the mode of action of the herbicide required for use.

Rare Plant Species – Native plant species that are federally listed as Threatened or Endangered or Proposed for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act due to population or habitat decline or loss (TEP) OR a native plant species occurring on Forest Service lands for which there are viability concerns that declines or losses in population number or habitat could lead to listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Rare Plant Occurrence - A discrete area occupied by TEPS or other rare plants delineated by a point or as a polygon. The number of rare plants in an occurrence (i.e. population) may be as low as a single plant to many thousands of plants. The area comprising the infestation may be as small as 1/1000 of an acre to potentially hundreds of acres. Rare plant cover may vary from less than one percent of the plant community to a percentage in which the rare plant species is at least temporarily dominant in the plant community.

Re-measurement – Re-mapping an existing rare plant population or invasive plant infestation with a GPS receiver to reflect increases or decreases in population extent and/or cover and collecting attribute data per the requirements of Data Collection Standards exhibits when the population or infestation has changed in size and extent and/or canopy cover since the last measurement.

Work Area – Consists of a geographically and topographically defined area of work in which work shall be conducted, whether for survey/inventory, invasive plant control or monitoring or any combination therefore, for which site conditions are described under C.5.

C.7. Government Furnished Property

GENERAL

Government Furnished Property/Services, Data, ETC. QUANTITY Where, When, How to be Furnished to Contractor

Master Contract Exhibits 1 each In Section J Area locator maps (as necessary) and maps of work area(s) (i.e. the Item No.) One map or set Included in Task Order & provided at pre-work meeting Forest Travel Plan Map 1 Provided at pre-work meeting 1:24,000 scale topographical maps of work area (i.e. the Item No.)

One per work area

Provided at pre-work meeting

USGS Quadrangle Maps in Digital Format 1 Each Electronically downloaded to Approved GPS Receivers

SURVEY/INVENTORY

Government Furnished Property/Services, Data, ETC. QUANTITY Where, When, How to be Furnished to Contractor Master Contract Exhibits 1 each In Section J Survey/Inventory Equipment as specified by Task Order 1 set Provided at pre-work meeting

HERBICIDE/BIOLOGICAL CONTROL APPLICATION

Government Furnished Property/Services, Data, ETC. QUANTITY Where, When, How to be Furnished to Contractor

Master Contract Exhibits 1 each In Section J Biological Control agents approved for use on SCNF and made available for use through FS rearing programs/cooperative efforts

As specified in Task Order

No more than 24-38 hours prior to application

Herbicide/Biological Control Application Equipment as specified by Task Order 1 set Provided at pre-work meeting

VEGETATION/SOIL TREND MONITORING

Government Furnished Property/Services, Data, ETC.

QUANTITY Where, When, How to be Furnished to Contractor

Master Contract Exhibits 1 each In Section J Soil/Veg Quantitative Monitoring Equipment 1 set Provided at pre-work meeting

C.8. Contractor Furnished Critical Items/Services

GENERAL

Item # Quantity DESCRIPTION

1 1/crew Shovel, bucket and fire extinguisher for fire prevention regulations

2 1/crew Fire pan, if warming/cooking fires are intended in river corridor

3 1/crew Fully contained, portable toilet for removal of human waste from river corridor

4 1/crew GPS devices and/or portable data recorders (as defined by Task Order and approved by the COR)

5 1 Reliable communications system to contact COR as needed

SURVEY/INVENTORY

Item # Quantity Description

1 1/crew Digital camera with at least 5 mega pixel quality and software for downloading and printing 4X6 color photographs

2 1 Personal Computer and peripherals 3 1 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software

HERBICIDE/BIOLOGICAL CONTROL APPLICATION

Item # Quantity DESCRIPTION

1 As needed

Herbicide and adjuvants labeled for rangeland or semi/aquatic invasive plant species control meeting Salmon- Challis National Forest Requirements for Herbicide Application as specified by Task Order

2 As needed

All equipment & labor to control invasive plant species per Task Order, including transportation, sprayers/application equipment, water drafting equipment, operational spill incident kits, decontamination kits and personal protective equipment for each worker.

MONITORING

Item # Quantity Description

1 1/crew Digital camera with at least 5 mega pixel quality and software for downloading and printing 4X6 color photographs

2 1 Personal Computer and peripherals, including DVD burner and color printer

3 1 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software

Items, materials and supplies and/or equipment provided by the Forest Service are to be used only in the execution of tasks specified in this contract and may not be employed for personal use or in support of other Contractor work.

C.9. Performance Work Statement Tasks/Critical Subtasks

The performance work statement tasks/critical subtasks will be provided in the solicitations and the Task Orders. Site visits may be offered to assist in responding to a solicitation for pricing a Task Order.

C.10. Survey/Inventory Requirements:

Within each work area, the Contractor shall conduct inventory for all Forest Service, Idaho State and/or Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weeds and other invasive plant species and/or rare plant species as specified in the individual Task Order in all sites delineated for inventory per protocol provided in the exhibits for Data Collection Standards.

The Contractor shall utilize resource grade Global Positioning System receivers and software capable of using or converting to ESRI ArcMap file formats (shapefile or geodatabase) for mapping rare plant populations and/or invasive plant infestations and recording required inventory data. The COR must approve any Contractor owned/leased GPS/data collection system(s) at the pre-work meeting. The Contractor may not use unapproved systems as they could be incompatible with Forest Service data collection standards and databases.

1) Survey/inventory data shall be gathered in a manner consistent with Forest Service rare plant species/invasive plant species survey/inventory protocols and formats. These instructions are attached in the SCNF Rare Plants, SCNF Invasive Species and Data Collection Standards exhibits. The necessary digital GIS formats shall be provided to the Contractor by the COR at the pre-work meeting for each Task Order.

2) The Contractor shall adhere to standard Forest Service specifications for data-collection and GPS tolerances (see the Data Collection Standards exhibits).

3) Survey/inventory methodology will require the Contractor to follow a standardized grid system protocol approved by the Forest Service (see example in the Data Collections Standards exhibits). The Contractor will be required to map rare plant populations/invasive species infestations with resource grade GPS receivers and software to collect and record rare plant/invasive plant species data for all rare and/or invasive plant species located in each site delineated for inventory under specific Task Orders.

The Contractor shall provide data to the COR for inspection purposes all downloaded and processed digital GPS files complete with all required data fields of (a) gridded survey areas (even if no rare/invasive plant species were found) and (b) rare plant populations/invasive species infestations. If not collected in an ESRI ArcMap file formation, all GPS files shall be converted to ESRI ArcMap file formats (e.g. shapefiles of geodatabases). The Forest Service will not accept GPS files in any format other than ESRI ArcMap.

4) Comments about a site, including disturbance (e.g. off road vehicle traffic or domestic livestock presence, etc.), threats or vulnerability, plant community cover type, distance from water and other information helpful in managing the site are requested. These may be recorded in the Comments block of the inventory application (refer to Data Collection Standards exhibits).

C.11. Invasive Plant Treatment Requirements:

5) For herbicide application, the Contractor shall conduct a systematic grid search pattern within the perimeter of each invasive plant species infestation and/or work area, identified in individual Task Order, to detect and treat invasive plants (see Data Collection Standards exhibits). The Contractor shall extend this systematic grid search pattern beyond the perimeter of each infestation and/or work area by at least 50 feet in order to detect outliers. The distance between strips of the grid pattern will vary depending on terrain, slope, native plant cover and growth stage (phenology) of the target invasive plant species.

6) Biological control agents to control invasive plant species shall be applied per Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service standards under the Plant Protection Act of 2000 and the specifications of each individual Task Order.

7) Herbicides to control invasive plant species will be applied to infestations of target invasive plant species in specified work areas per Salmon-Challis National Forest and Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness requirements for Herbicide Application (see SCNF Herbicide Application Requirements, Master Application Records, and Biological Opinion exhibits).

8) Applicator shall be required to search from the leading edge of an infestation out 25 feet from the last outlying plant to detect and treat plants extending out from the main body of the infestations.

9) Herbicide application in riparian areas is stratified into buffer zones per National Marine Fisheries Service and Fish & Wildlife Service consultation requirements based on distance from water. The herbicides and adjuvants that may be used depend on the buffer zone (Refer to SCNF Herbicide Requirements and Biological Opinion exhibits).

10) Treated invasive plant infestations shall be qualitatively monitored to detect treatment efficacy and track the status and trend of invasive plant distribution and spread by completing the qualitative efficacy monitoring form displayed in the Qualitative Efficacy Monitoring exhibit. Efficacy monitoring attributes to be collected include examiner, date, time, site name and location information, target invasive plant species control rating, cover class by life form/soil surface characteristics and by individual plant species, and invasive plant species density, distribution and phenology ratings.

Completion of all fields is mandatory.

11) The Contractor shall utilize pre-approved resource grade Global Positioning System receivers and software for mapping treatment areas and recording required spatial and tabular treatment data (see Data

Collection Standards and Master Application Record exhibits). The Contractor may not use unapproved systems as they could be incompatible with Forest Service data collection standards and databases. If data is not collected in an ESRI ArcMap file formation, all GPS files shall be converted to ESRI ArcMap file formats (e.g. shapefiles of geodatabases). The Forest Service will not accept GPS files in any format other than ESRI ArcMap.

12) New invasive plant species infestations encountered by the Contractor shall be mapped with resource grade GPS receivers and software and all required attribute data shall be collected per the requirements of the Data Collection Standards exhibits.

13) Previously existing invasive plant infestations that have changed in size and extent and/or canopy cover since the last measurement shall be re-measured by mapping the infestation with resource grade GPS receivers and software (Data Collection Standards exhibits) and collecting attribute data per the requirements of contract specifications in Sections C and E. Lateral shifts in location, changes in size (whether increases or decreases) by 0.1 acre or more and changes (increases or decreases) in canopy cover trigger the requirement to re-measure the infestation.

Comments about the site, including distance from water and other information helpful in managing the site are requested. These may be recorded in the Comments block of the inventory application.

C.12. Monitoring Requirements:

1) At each established monitoring transect, vegetation and soil surface factors data shall be collected per protocol and instructions provided in the Quantitative Monitoring Protocol exhibits.

2) At monitoring transects where the rebar or plastic stakes marking the 0-meter and/or 25-meter ends are damaged or missing, the ends shall be remarked with rebar rods, plastic caps and flagging (see protocol).

The location of relocated or replaced 0-meter and/or 25-meter ends shall be mapped using Spatial and tabular.

3) The Contractor shall record GPS data required by the protocol utilizing pre-approved resource grade

Global Positioning System receivers and software. The Contractor may not use unapproved systems as they could be incompatible with Forest Service data collection standards and databases. If data is not collected in an ESRI ArcMap file formation, all GPS files shall be converted to ESRI ArcMap file formats (e.g. shapefiles of geodatabases). The Forest Service will not accept GPS files in any format other than ESRI ArcMap.

4) Depending on the specifications of each individual Task Order, the Contractor may be required to statistically summarize monitoring data for each data element in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format.

5) Final products to be submitted to the COR include GPS data in an ESRI ArcMap format, hard copy data sheets, photographs of each transect per monitoring protocol, any pertinent field notes and digital Excel files. Comments and recommendations from the Contractor regarding continued site monitoring and future site management are requested.

C.13. Work Area Description for General Work

Access to work areas is variable and may require more than one mode of transportation, including 4WD pickups, jet boats, small planes and hiking or backpacking. Travel time is dependent not only on distance but on local conditions at the time of travel, including human-related factors such as road and trail maintenance priorities and weather-related factors, such as storm events, snow pack depths, runoff and high water.

Transportation to work areas in the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness or the Wild River portion of the Salmon River Canyon will generally be by plane to a maintained wilderness airstrip and then foot travel to the work area or by 4WD pickup to the Corn Creek boat launch, jet boat to the nearest accessible beach along the Salmon River and then by foot travel to the work area(s). Distance traveled on foot depends on availability of the nearest maintained airstrip or beach accessible by jet boat at the time of travel.

Often there are no developed campgrounds or camp sites available in or adjacent to work areas. Primitive camping will be required. Camping at undeveloped sites within or near a work area is permitted, provided (a) sanitation requirements for garbage removal, human waste, etc. and (b) resource protection measures for sensitive resources (e.g. riparian areas) are met (see SCNF Use Regulations exhibit). Drinking water will have to be filtered at all sites and may have to be hauled for some distance from the nearest water source to the camp.

Terrain is variable depending on the work area, ranging from flat and gentle alluvial fans and benches to moderately steep slopes (30 - 40%) on sagebrush steppe plant communities in the uplands to very steep slopes (50% plus) with abundant surface rock and unstable terrain (e.g. in the river breaks in the Salmon River Canyon). Overall, the terrain in many work areas rates as steep to very steep and rocky with areas of raveling slopes or unstable scree. Due to the steepness of the slopes, rocks and rolling logs are common hazards.

Portions of some work areas may have burned in the recent past, introducing physical hazards such as burned out holes, destabilized rocks and logs and areas with thick ash. Accessing work areas, surveying/inventorying, and spraying herbicide will generally be very physically demanding.

Most target noxious weed species and/or other invasive plant species occur primarily in upland cover types;

therefore most work areas are located in these cover types. Most upland plant communities are comprised of bunchgrass habitat types with a variety of forbs and scattered sagebrush-steppe communities, generally on moderate slopes with sufficient soil depth. Conifer cover in work areas is generally sparse.

C.13.1. Work Area Description for Survey/Inventory

Survey/inventory areas for rare plant populations and/or invasive plant infestations may be anywhere on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, including the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness. Infestations of all invasive species on the Forest Service Watch List, Idaho State Noxious Weed list and the Butte/Custer/Lemhi County Noxious Weed list (see SCNF Invasive Plants exhibit) must be inventoried, as well as any other invasive plant species specified in the Task Order, and specified SCNF rare plant species (see SCNF Rare Plants exhibit).

Survey/inventory areas are often located in remote or difficult to access locations. The majority of inventory work will take place in upland plant communities, although some work may take place in riparian areas and occasionally in areas with conifer cover.

Target plant cover and density may be low in many work areas depending on the a variety of factors, such as rarity and population levels of rare plants and, for invasive species, the length of time since establishment, the species being inventoried and past control efforts. Locating individual plants and patches in each survey area will require a careful grid pattern search to achieve detection standards (see Section E and Data Collection Standards exhibits).

C.13.2. Work Area Description for Herbicide Application

Work areas may be anywhere on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, including the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness. Infestations of all invasive plant species on the SCNF Watch List, the Idaho State Noxious Weed list and the Butte/Custer/Lemhi County Noxious Weed list (see SCNF Invasive Species exhibit) and other invasive plant species specified in the Task Order must be treated.

The majority of work will consist of off-road herbicide application, often in…