1202NV20R0001.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. 1202NV20R0001

OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FOR: AERIAL APPLICATION IDIQ

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 (See Section L and M)

4.Representations and Certifications. (Complete the Representations and Certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website at https://beta.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. 1202NV20R0001

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 FEDERAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WEBSITE AT

HTTPS://BETA.SAM.GOV.

https://beta.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 – Documents, Exhibits, and Attachments

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

1202NV20R0001

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

02/18/2020

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL

a. NAME

AMELIA VELASCO

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls)

(208) 557-5848

8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIME

03/18/2020 1 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: 115112 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

Aerial Application 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

1202NV20R0001 Aerial Application IDIQ Salmon-Challis National Forest

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B--SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES

Aerial Application Services IDIQ

Lemhi County, 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.

FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation.

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 the life of each contract shall not exceed $5,000,000.

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 Purchasing Agents 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

FAR 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, labor rate increases, etc. 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 aerial survey/inventorying/monitoring of invasive plant species infestations, application of biological control agents or herbicides to invasive plant infestations or to provide rehabilitation/restoration services by applying soil amendments (e.g. fertilizer) mulch, and/or seed for the Salmon-Challis National Forest. This contract complies with the procedures of FAR Part 15, “Contracting by Negotiations.”

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 FAR 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 May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2025.

As shown below, the pricing for each of the four years, is based on the maximum pricing amounts or ceilings approved for this contract. Contractors will not be allowed to exceed their maximum pricing listed in the schedules below for any task order awarded through this IDIQ contract.

It is not required to submit pricing on all items. Offerors shall submit pricing on those items in which they can perform and specify the line items they cannot perform

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

BASE PERIOD – May 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021

Line Item Description

Quantity Unit Maximum Price

1 Plant Survey/Inventory/Monitoring Each Acre $ 2 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Liquid or

Pelleted Each Acre $

3 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Containerized Each Flight $ 4 Herbicide Application Each Acre $ 5 Seeding Each Acre $ 6 Fertilization, Liquid/Granular/Pelleted Each Acre $ 7 Mulching, Straw, Wood Shavings or Similar Each Acre

OPTION YEAR 1 – May 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022

OPTION YEAR 2 – May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023

OPTION YEAR 3– May 1, 2023 – April 30, 2024

OPTION YEAR 4 – May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025

Quantity Unit Maximum Price/Acre

1.1 Plant Survey/Inventory/Monitoring Each Acre $

1.2 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Liquid or

Pelleted Each Acre $

1.3 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Containerized Each Flight $

1.4 Herbicide Application Each Acre $

1.5 Seeding Each Acre $

1.6 Fertilization, Liquid/Granular/Pelleted Each Acre $

1.7 Mulching, Straw, Wood Shavings or Similar Each Acre

2.1 Plant Survey/Inventory/Monitoring Each Acre $

2.2 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Liquid or

Pelleted Each Acre $

2.3 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Containerized Each Flight $

2.4 Herbicide Application Each Acre $

2.5 Seeding Each Acre $

2.6 Fertilization, Liquid/Granular/Pelleted Each Acre $

2.7 Mulching, Straw, Wood Shavings or Similar Each Acre

3.1 Plant Survey/Inventory/Monitoring Each Acre $

3.2 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Liquid or

Pelleted Each Acre $

3.3 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Containerized Each Flight $

3.4 Herbicide Application Each Acre $

3.5 Seeding Each Acre $

3.6 Fertilization, Liquid/Granular/Pelleted Each Acre $

3.7 Mulching, Straw, Wood Shavings or Similar Each Acre

4.1 Plant Survey/Inventory/Monitoring Each Acre $

4.2 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Liquid or

Pelleted Each Acre $

4.3 Biological Control Agent Distribution, Containerized Each Flight $

4.4 Herbicide Application Each Acre $

4.5 Seeding Each Acre $

4.6 Fertilization, Liquid/Granular/Pelleted Each Acre $

4.7 Mulching, Straw, Wood Shavings or Similar Each Acre

B.3 – PRICING STRUCTURE

Maximum Pricing/Ceiling Amounts identified in the Schedule of Items above are the maximum prices per acre/flight 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 difficult 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 $5,000,000

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 FAR 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 – General

C.1.1 - Scope of Contract

This solicitation and any resultant contract(s) are for the purpose of the Salmon-Challis National Forest obtaining helicopter-based aerial services described herein (note that services using fixed wing aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles are not being solicited for this contract/s). All services procured shall be accomplished in a safe, effective, environmentally aware manner and in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

The intent of this solicitation and any resultant contract(s) is to support natural resource management activities and initiatives on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, including fuels reduction, watershed protection and restoration, wildlife habitat improvement (e.g. greater-sage grouse or big game winter range), and forest and rangeland health through the control of non-native invasive species and the rehabilitation or restoration of desirable or native plant communities.

Services under this contract would be obtained for the following types of work: (a) application of herbicides or biological control agents to invasive plant infestations, (b) provide rehabilitation/restoration services by seeding or applying soil amendments (e.g. fertilizer), mulch, etc. (c) aerial inventory of invasive plant species infestations (e.g. cheatgrass inventory) or surveys or monitoring of forested or rangeland plant communities to assess conditions. Services for specific projects would be obtained under individual task orders applied against this contract(s).

Work could occur anywhere within or around the boundaries of the Salmon-Challis National Forest in central Idaho, including Butter, Custer and Lemhi Counties outside of wilderness areas.

Unless specified in individual task orders as furnished by the Government, the Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, equipment, operating materials and operating supplies, transportation services, permits, and licenses necessary safely survey/monitor, apply herbicides, fertilizers, seed or biological control agents using appropriate helicopter-mounted equipment, in accordance with the contract specifications and applicable federal and State of Idaho regulations. This includes fuel, fuel truck, support vehicles and personnel, and any other services or supplies necessary to support aerial operations.

• Survey/Inventory/Monitoring Services The Contractor shall (a) survey for and map infestations of target Idaho State, Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious invasive plant species (e.g. leafy spurge) and other invasive plant species (e.g.

cheatgrass), or (b) survey and monitor site conditions as specified by the individual task orders throughout the full extent of identified sites within project area(s), per specifications and requirements.

• Invasive Plant Treatment Services As an aerial operation, the Contractor shall apply herbicides or biological control agents to target infestations of Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weeds, invasive annual grasses, and other invasive plant species as specified within the treatment areas defined by the individual task orders, in accordance with specifications and requirements.

(Note: Depending on the task order, the Contractor may be responsible for furnishing herbicides and adjuvants. Alternatively, the Forest Service (FS) may provide these as Government-Furnished Property.

The FS will provide the biological control agents as a Government-Furnished Item and would be contracting to secure flight services to distribute the agents.)

• Rehabilitation/Restoration Services As an aerial operation, the Contractor shall apply seed, fertilizer, mulch, or other soil amendments, for rehabilitation/restoration purposes, as specified within the treatment areas defined by the individual task orders, in accordance with specifications and requirements.

(Note that the FS may supply seed, fertilizer, mulch, soil amendments, and seed as government-furnished property, unless specified in the task order as Contractor-furnished property or agreed otherwise between the Contractor and the Government.)

Specific information and requirements, beyond the general requirements included herein, shall be indicated in the individual Task Orders for each task.

C.1.2 – General Project Areas Description

Work under this contract may include vegetation surveys and/or applications of biological control agents, herbicide, fertilizer, mulch and/or seed on contiguous or disparate land areas that are 10’s to 1000’s of acres in size depending on project needs.

The work may occur during any time of the year. Most work will occur during the months of April- November, annually.

Most areas will be in mountainous terrain with elevations ranging from 3,000 ft. to 11,000 ft. Aerial applications will generally be conducted in areas that are not accessible by ground equipment or in areas where it is more efficient to use aerial applications due to amounts of material to apply and large sizes of treatment units.

General mixing and loading sites will be accessible by road. These sites will be identified and discussed with the Contractor prior to commencement of work to coordinate logistics. The Contractor will receive authorization to drive support vehicles behind gated forest roads as needed.

Project areas will be identified in each task order. Sites to be scheduled for aerial activities may consist of linear features (such as roads) or a combination of narrow or wide, small or large polygons in open forests, rangelands, big game winter range, burned areas, etc. in Butte, Custer or Lemhi Counties.

Topography and plant communities may vary from one project area to the next. Topography could range from open rolling hills to steep mountain sides to vertical canyonlands. Plant communities would range from grasslands to sagebrush-dominated plant communities to forested plant communities. The amount of overstory conifer canopy would vary between project areas, but would generally be 30 percent or less. Patches of dense forest canopy within project areas would be excluded from treatment activities.

Environmentally sensitive areas, such as lakes, ponds, streams, rare plant populations, developed recreation sites, etc. could occur within or adjacent to linear or polygon features. All environmentally sensitive areas occurring within project areas would be buffered and excluded from treatment activities. All of these sites would be clearly displayed on project area maps under specific task orders.

C.1.3 – Task Order Period of Performance

The period of performance for each individual task orders will be specified in that task order.

The work period identified in individual task orders may be adjusted if weather, environmental conditions or plant phenology require a change.

The Government may halt aerial operations if weather or site conditions alter to the point the government feels the treatments may not be effective.

The Contractor may be asked to time activities to avoid conflicts with forest users, in particular, project areas near developed recreation sites during periods of high public use, or to stop work if people are found to have somehow entered the project area.

Working on weekends and holidays may be acceptable with the exception of sites, such as campgrounds, that receive heavy recreational use on weekends and holidays. Weekend and holiday work and exceptions must be submitted to the COR two weeks in advanced of desired work dates and must be approved by the COR prior to work being performed.

C.1.4 – Task Order Progression of Work

The Contractor, as approved by the COR, will determine the order and progression of work within a project area. The Forest Service reserves the right to determine the season of work and the prioritization of project areas if there multiple project areas covered by one task order.

The government 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, etc. will be selected for substitutions.

C.1.5 – Deliverable Products

Deliverable products include completion of field work, and GPS/GIS products for surveys/inventory/monitoring, application of biological control agents or herbicides, and application of soil amendments, mulch, seed, etc. as defined by the general specifications described herein and specific requirements provided in each individual task order.

Spatial and tabular deliverable products shall be provided as zip files or on external drives, including

(a) GPS files as ESRI ArcMap shapefiles (or geodatabase) with minimum required attributes per Forest Service specifications and requirements, (b) digital or hard-copy treatment records for biological control agent or herbicide applications, (c) digital or hard-copy maps of work areas, (d) field notes, whether digital (in a printable format such as Adobe Acrobat PDF files) or hard-copy and (e) any color photographs of work areas and/or infestations surveyed/inventoried/monitored or treated.

Identified deliverables shall be provided to and approved by the COR prior to the Contractor submitting invoices for payment. The Contractor shall submit hard copy and electronic data to the COR as specified within two weeks of completion of work. Delivery of these products is necessary for the COR to approve the submitted invoice. Failing to provide deliverable products in a timely manner shall constitute non-performance and may be grounds for contract termination for failure to perform.

C.1.5.1 –Documentation

Daily progress reports shall be provided to the COR at the end of each operational period or the next day during the morning briefing, as requested. No additional work that day will commence until documentation is provided.

A. Color hard copy or digital maps attached to each treatment record, as requested, 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 or existing infestations and further management.

B. Daily Operational Report, as requested. The following information may be required:

1. The approximate number of acres treated at each site by treatment type.

2. Total flight time (hours) for each aircraft and treatment or assignment.

3. Total amount of mulch or soil amendments (tons) delivered to Staging Area(s).

a. Copies of weight tickets for each load delivered.

b. Copy of Noxious Weed Free Forage and Straw Certification Program Inspection Certificate from appropriate State for each Load (Transit Certificate).

c. In states with tag system Five (5) bale tags from each load of agricultural straw delivered attached to a separate sheet.

4. Total of seed (pounds) delivered to Staging Area(s).

a. Seed tags from each lot of seed delivered attached to a separate sheet.

C. Final Report. A final report (1 digital copy with photos and maps) shall be provided as requested which includes at a minimum:

1. A written report shall contain daily field conditions, application rates and areas covered, site conditions, and any other pertinent data that records the treatment. The report shall contain a summary of treatment results.

D. Application/Treatment Records as required by FS and/or Federal Law

C. 2. – Definitions

Carrier - For herbicide applications, only water shall be used as the liquid carrier. Carriers such as wood shavings, etc. could be used for seeding operations.

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.

Geographic Information System (GIS) software – the Forest Service uses and operates ESRI ArcGIS software, including ArcMap and ArcPad. At a minimum, Contractors providing invasive plant survey/inventory/monitoring, control treatments and rehabilitation/restoration actions needs access to GIS software that the Contractor can easily and fully convert to ESRI products to meet requirements specifying delivery of digital GIS products. Note that the Forest Service will NOT accept any deliverable GIS product other than an ESRI ArcGIS product.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Equipment – Commercial grade GPS integral receivers or wireless GPS devices and software (e.g. AgNav, TracMap, etc.) capable of receiving and transmitting, for example, data dictionaries, 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 individual task orders may be applied to national forest system lands under the provisions of the Biological Opinion 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 Forest.

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 Butte/Custer/Lemhi Counties designated noxious weeds or other invasive species as specified by the task order delineated by a point or a polygon. 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 – Using a grid system throughout an entire project area in search of all of the Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weeds, and other invasive plant species, as specified in the task order. Once located, the outer perimeter of invasive plant infestations shall be mapped by taking GPS readings around the perimeter of each infestation, recording required data in the specified format for each infestation and, if necessary, converting these data to ESRI ArcMap software supported shapefiles and database files.

Noxious Weed - Any of 67 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.

Project Area – Consists of a geographically and topographically defined area of work in which work shall be conducted for which specific site conditions are described in each individual task order.

Re-measurement – Re-mapping an existing invasive plant infestation with a GPS receiver and collecting attribute data per specifications when the infestation has changed in size and extent and/or canopy cover since the last measurement.

C. 3. – Government Furnished Information/Items

For those task orders under which the Contractor is to provide material and supplies, the Contractor will be responsible for transport and handling to/from staging areas, protection, storage and other requirements before/after application commences.

Depending on the Task Order, Government Furnished Information may include the following:

Government Furnished Information Item # Quantity Where, When, How Furnished General Idaho State/County Noxious Weed Lists 1 In Section J of task order Inventory Data Collection Standards 1 In Section J of task order Inventory Data Collection Fields and LOV’s 1 In Section J of task order GPS System and Tolerance Standards 1 In Section J of task order SCNF Use Regulations 1 In Section J of task order Area locator maps and maps of work area(s) One each In Section J of task order USGS Quadrangle Maps in Electronic Format 1 Each Electronically downloaded to

GPS

SCNF Mitigation Measures for Herbicide Application

SCNF Herbicide Application Record 1 each In Section J of task order

Government Furnished Items Herbicide Applications Item # Quantity Where, When, How Furnished

Herbicide As needed Delivery to Contractor per mutual arrangement at beginning of performance

Adjuvants As needed Delivery to Contractor per mutual arrangement at beginning of performance

Biological Control Agent Applications Item # Quantity Where, When, How Furnished Biological Control Agents As needed Delivery to Contractor per mutual arrangement at beginning of performance Soil Amendment, Mulching and Seeding Applications Item # Quantity Where, When, How Furnished Amendments, Mulch or Seed As needed Delivery to Contractor per mutual arrangement at beginning of performance

C.4 – Contractor Furnished Items

Where the Contractor is required to supply materials and supplies, the Contractor is responsible for procuring, ensuring state certification and testing requirements are met and delivery and transport to staging areas.

Item # Quantity Description General 1 1 kit/crew Shovel, bucket, fire extinguisher for fire prevention regulations 2 Minimum 1/crew GPS devices recorders (as approved by the COR) 3 1/crew Reliable communications system to contact COR as needed

4 Minimum 1/crew Camera equipment equivalent to modern smartphone camera (i.e. no less than 10 megapixels)

5 1 each Personal Computer and peripherals

6 1 each ESRI ArcGIS software (ArcMap and ArcPad) OR software that will convert interim and final products to ESRI shapefiles, as required under Deliverables.

Survey

1 As needed

All equipment & labor to survey vegetation per task order, including transportation, helicopter(s) with appropriate GPS/GIS and Camera equipment meeting FS requirements, and chase truck and support personnel, as needed.

Herbicide Applications

1 As needed

All equipment & labor to control weeds per task order, including transportation, helicopter(s) with spray equipment meeting FS requirements, chase truck and support personnel, water drafting equipment, operational spill incident kits, decontamination kits and personal protective equipment for each worker.

2 As needed Herbicide for aerial application per SCNF requirements, as specified by task order.

3 As needed All necessary adjuvants, including surfactant and drift control agents, as specified by task order.

Biological Control Agent Applications

1 As needed

All equipment & labor to disperse biological control agents per task order, including transportation, helicopter(s) with appropriate equipment meeting FS requirements, chase truck and support personnel.

Soil Amendment, Mulching and Seeding Applications

1 As needed

All equipment & labor to apply soil amendments, mulch or seed per task order, including transportation, helicopter(s) with application or seeding equipment meeting FS requirements, chase truck and support personnel, water drafting equipment (if needed), operational spill incident kits, decontamination kits and personal protective equipment for each worker.

Items 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.5 –Licensing Requirements

Aircraft/Pilot Licensing – In order to be considered for IDIQ award, prospective contractors shall provide aircraft and pilots licensed to perform commercial aerial services. These certifications shall be made available to the CO and COR for each task order request. Proposals without this documentation will be rejected and will not be considered for award.

Herbicide Licensing - In order to be considered for IDIQ award, pilots shall be licensed Professional Applicators with the State of Idaho and have the proper endorsements for agriculture/forest herbicide applications. These certifications shall be made available to the CO and COR for each task order request.

Information on licensing requirements may be obtained from the Idaho Department of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Technology, 2270 Old Penitentiary Road, PO Box 790. Boise, Idaho, 83701. Telephone (208) 332-8600. Prospective contractors shall provide a copy of their pilots’ applicator's licenses with their proposals. Proposals without this documentation will be rejected and will not be considered for award.

C.6 - Equipment Requirements

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and directives pertaining to safety, maintenance, and performance of all aircraft proposed for use under this contract/s. Additionally, aircraft shall be maintained in accordance with all manufacturer’s guidelines and bulletins.

In order to be considered for IDIQ award, prospective contractors shall provide evidence of federally required aircraft maintenance. These certifications shall be made available to the CO and COR for each task order request. Proposals without this documentation will be rejected and will not be considered for award.

Note that the Forest Service are not responsible for the safety of the Contractor nor any operators or assistants.

The Contractor shall use and maintain work procedures which will safeguard the public and Government personnel, as well as the Contractor’s own personnel.

C.6.1 – General Conditions of Equipment Contractor-furnished aircraft and equipment shall be operable, in good mechanical condition, free of damage, and in good repair. Aircraft systems and components shall be free of leaks except within limitations specified by the manufacturer.

C.6.2 – Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Requirements

• All aircraft, application equipment (e.g. sprayers), and ground-based chase or transport vehicles shall be maintained in a condition that minimizes the potential for spills of materials such as fuel, oil, herbicide, liquid or granular fertilizers, etc.

• Contractor is responsible for providing spill containment kits for all petroleum, herbicide, adjuvant and other products used to complete contract.

• The Contractor spill response plan must meet state and federal standards and requirements for the management of spills. Depending on task order, a spill response plan may be requested prior to task order award.

• All spray operations equipment and transport vehicles will have adequate spill containment and cleanup materials and equipment. Operators will be trained in responding to and dealing with spills.

• The Contractor shall be responsible for all cleanups of fuel and oil on airport ramps, staging areas, parking areas, landing areas, etc., when caused by Contractor aircraft or personnel. If a spill occurs, the Contractor assumes all liability and responsibility for clean-up to meet all applicable federal and state standards.

• When cleaning paved areas, the contractor shall utilize cleaning agents that are biodegradable and non-toxic. Contaminated soils shall be removed to appropriate containers and disposed of as hazardous waste.

• The Government may, at its option, assign an area to be utilized by the Contractor for storage of equipment used in support of Contract performance. Oil, solvents, parts, engines, etc. shall be stored and utilized in a manner consistent with acceptable safety, health and environmental concerns.

• The contractor shall ensure that they are in compliance with 40 CFR Part 112: Oil Pollution Prevention;

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan Requirements (SPCC). An SPCC plan is required for each mobile fueler used on this contract regardless of bulk storage container (tank) size.

C.6.3 – Invasive Species Prevention Equipment Requirements To reduce the possibility of spreading invasive species, all equipment assigned to a task order shall be cleaned thoroughly prior to commencement of work. Equipment shall be free of weed seeds or other reproductive propagules, plant matter, mud and dirt to comply with SCNF Invasive Species Prevention Requirements. All equipment must pass weed prevention inspections prior to commencement of work.

C.7 – Environmental Responsibilities and Resource Protection Objectives

The Contractor shall be familiar with and comply with SCNF environmental protection design features and mitigation measures. Specifics are contained in the 2015 Salmon-Challis National Forest Forest-wide Weed Management Environmental Impact Statement and the 2016 SCNF Weed 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.

Generally, these requirements are encapsulated as:

• The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all maintenance, fueling, and flight activities do not cause environmental damage to natural resources or to federal infrastructure or facilities.

• The Contractor and all application personnel are required to review, understand, and follow the labels for fertilizer, herbicide and soil amendments as well as product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) requirements, precautions, and prohibitions. Labels and associated SDS must be carried and be within easy access during all spraying operations.

• All spray tanks and other containers for liquids will have tight fitting and secure lids. Equipment will be inspected regularly for leaks.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=36537

• Materials shall be transported in a manner that will prevent spills and in containers that are isolated from food, clothing and safety equipment.

• Spray equipment will be calibrated for each project and/or product and recalibrated as needed.

Calibration of equipment shall be complete prior to start of work and before the Contractor mobilizes into the project area. Calibration calculations shall be provided to the Government on request. The spray pattern, application rates and calibration shall be reviewed before beginning a project and monitored during the project. Additional calibration checks may be required by the Government if there is question or indications of inaccurate application rates.

• Fertilizer, herbicide, soil amendment, seeding and mulching application near streams, ponds, or wetlands will occur only when winds are 6 mph or less and blowing away from these areas.

• Disposal of wastewater and herbicide containers shall be done off National Forest lands and in accordance with local, state and federal regulations.

• A pumping system shall be used to fill water tanks that will prevent contamination of wells, springs, streams, lakes, and ponds. The system shall be so constructed that a back flow from the mixing or application tanks is not possible.

• Contractor is responsible for cleaning of all vehicles to ensure they are free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain or hold non-native noxious weed seed prior to entering Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state, county, or private lands. Contractor shall certify in writing, compliance of terms prior to moving equipment onto job site and shall present all equipment to COR and Inspectors for inspection and approval.

• Aerial projects will be managed adaptively; i.e. lessons learned from each project will be used to improve safety, resource protection, reduce human health risks and improve efficacy on subsequent projects. These adaptations will be incorporated into subsequent task orders.

• All work shall be accomplished in compliance with contract terms, specifications, and provisions that are established in this contract or at the time a task order is placed.

C.8 – Technical Specifications C.8.1 – Staging Areas

Final decisions on the use of staging areas will be agreed upon by the Contractor, local officials (such as the District Ranger, or acting), Forest Service partners, and the COR.

Contractor shall outline their procedure for precautions and mitigation used to limit spread of material prior to project initiation. This includes daily clean-up plans, mitigation strategies, and equipment that will be used to meet above mentioned specifications.

• Special precautions will be in place prior to aerial operations to limit spread of materials from staging areas.

This may include, but is not limited to, fencing and daily clean-up of work site to reduce the spread of project materials.

• Disposal of spilled mulch/seed, packing materials, pallets and/or other waste material is the responsibility of the Contractor.

• Contractor will be responsible for all restoration and rehabilitation of staging areas on federally administered land if COR determines such is needed. Clean-up and restoration will require that the restoration of sites will allow recovery to original pre-use conditions.

• For staging areas located on lands other than federally administered lands, the contractor will be responsible for all use arrangements, rental agreements, liability to property, and transporting of equipment and supplies necessary to execute this contract, including the storage of mulch material and seed as necessitated by weather conditions. If staging areas on land other than federally administered lands, the contractor shall take measures to ensure the staging areas are free of noxious weeds or other invasive plants to ensure the products being applied are not contaminated by invasive plant seeds or reproductive propagules. The contractor must comply with restoration and rehabilitation requirements of staging areas on all lands. The requirements for staging area restoration and rehabilitation may be different for lands other than federally administered lands.

C.8.2 –Survey/Inventory/Monitoring For the IDIQ contract, all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, incidentals, clean-up, and staging area rehabilitation to complete all facets of each task order.

Project area, target species and survey/inventory/monitoring specifications will be provided in individual task orders. Tasks will take place during seasons when target species or conditions are most visible on the landscape.

• The Contractor is responsible for demonstrating knowledge of target Idaho State, Butte/Custer/Lemhi

County designated noxious and/or invasive plant species.

• The season and timing of survey will be determined by the COR for each project as specified in each task order.

• Weed infestation levels vary from light to heavy in the treatment areas and occur on a variety of habitat types, aspects, elevations and canopy covers. The Contractor is not responsible for detection when cover and density of the target species is too low to be detected by helicopter at a safe altitude.

C.8.3 – Biological Control Agent Applications For the IDIQ contract, all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, incidentals, application, clean-up, and staging area rehabilitation to complete all facets of each task order. Biological control agents shall be provided by the FS for each individual task order.

• Biological control agents shall be applied by aerial application in designated areas to assist with the control of target invasive plant species.

• Biological control agents may consist of disease pathogens (e.g. bacteria, rust or fungal agents) or insects.

Disease pathogens may be formulated as liquids, granules, or attached to plant materials. Insect agents may be packaged in a variety of ways (e.g. cardboard containers, tubes, vials, wood shavings, etc.).

• The season, timing, density or rate of application will be determined by the COR for each project as specified in each task order.

C.8.4 – Herbicide Applications For the IDIQ contract, commercial contract applicators must include a copy of the front and back of their pilots’ Idaho professional pesticide applicator’s licenses with their proposal for this solicitation. Proposals without this documentation will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for contract award.

Depending on the task order, the Contractor may be responsible for furnishing herbicides and adjuvants.

Alternatively, the FS may provide these as government-furnished property.

For the IDIQ contract, all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, incidentals, herbicide application, clean-up, and staging area rehabilitation to complete all facets of each task order.

Weed infestation levels vary from light to heavy in the treatment areas and occur on a variety of habitat types, aspects, elevations and canopy covers.

The Contractor will treat all of the target species as identified by individual task orders with the appropriate herbicide at the prescribed rate per requirements.

Hard copy herbicide application records using the form approved by the Forest Service 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.

• All application of herbicides will be performed by, or supervised by, a state licensed applicator following all current legal application procedures administered by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

• All herbicides will be handled following the EPA label guidelines and other state and federal laws for storage, application, and disposal methods.

• No ether-based herbicides or surfactants are allowed.

• Water shall be the ONLY herbicide carrier.

• The Contractor shall mix only the amount of herbicide that will be used for the operating period or load.

The Contractor shall take special care to avoid mixing more than the amount to be used in the event the weather changes into no spray conditions. The Government does not guarantee that other areas will be available to treat in the event a weather change occurs and mixed herbicide is left over.

• Mixing and loading operations shall occur no closer than 300 feet from open water or other sensitive sites unless spill containment devices are readily available and the Government has pre-approved the practice and location.

• Applicators will review stream and wetland areas to assure that fertilizers, other soil amendments and herbicides will not be applied to open water. The SCNF requires a 300-foot buffer from open water.

• Herbicide applicators will not initiate spraying when heavy rains are forecast that could cause offsite herbicide transport into sensitive resources such as streams.

• The Government may stop spraying operations if wind speed and/or temperature rises or the relative humidity drops to a point the Government feels the treatments will not be effective.

• Herbicides will not be applied if snow or ice covers the target vegetation.

• The Contractor shall apply herbicides at as low an elevation as possible subject to vegetation, terrain and safety considerations.

• Herbicide shall be applied in a water/herbicide mixture at rate of no less than 2 gallons per acre unless otherwise specified or the COR and Contractor agree in advance to another rate. Herbicide selection and use rates shall be determined in consultation with the COR, per individual task order, and never at a rate that exceeds label direction.

• Low boom pressure, as agreed upon by the Contractor and COR, will be used to reduce drift. The definition of “low pressure” will depend on the type of equipment used, product being applied, use of drift control agents and the site type and location.

• Drift agents and surfactants will be applied with herbicides when recommended by the Contractor or as…