Attachment_1_-_Statement_of_Work.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

HERBACEOUS WEED CONTROL

USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

I. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this purchase order is to obtain services in the State of New York (NY) for Herbaceous Weed Control services for 2 properties located in the town of Champlain, NY. UTM Coordinates:

to easement entrance: -73 30.61 44 57.57 degree minutes. Description of services is listed below.

II. BACKGROUND

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NRCS has authority to administer voluntary conservation easement programs. All properties involved with this purchase order are enrolled in the former Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), which is now called the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easement component (ACEP-WRE). The Federal government has an in-perpetuity obligation to manage these lands as restored wetlands and wildlife habitat. Invasive herbaceous plant, common reed (Phragmites australis) is established in these former agricultural fields. These invasive plants need to be controlled before construction of the wetland can begin because they will outcompete native vegetation and decrease wildlife habitat quality for native reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds.

III. SCOPE

The Contractor shall follow the Statement of Work, applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations, and conservation practice standards and specifications to provide Herbaceous Weed Control services for the associated properties. The services entail the following:

1. Herbaceous Weed Control (315) – controlling a minimum of 90% of the invasive herbaceous plant species within targeted areas while minimizing impacts to non-target plants and animals.

IV. STANDARDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contractor shall follow the Statement of Work, applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations, and conservation practice standards and specifications to provide Herbaceous Weed Control services.

The individual Conservation Practice Standards and Specifications can be found at https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/NY/nyps315.pdf Other specifications specific to this contracted work are listed in Section V., Description of Services of this Statement of Work.

Please see Attachment 2. Maps to view the Invasive Plant Control Map, for the acreage and location of targeted invasive plant species identified for the property. Please see Attachment 4. Invasive Control Plan – Herbaceous Weed Control Job Sheet that require the Contractor to sign and acknowledge step and regulations.

The Contractor will follow all New York Pesticide laws and label requirements.

Solicitation #121A2318Q0017 Attachment #1 https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/NY/nyps315.pdf

The Contractor will read and follow label directions and maintain appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). MSDS and herbicide labels may be accessed on the Internet at:

http://www.greenbook.net/

The Contractor will follow all applicable local, state, and federal laws and ordinances.

The Contractor must have current commercial pesticide applicator license from NYS DEC.

The Contractor will carry out activities during appropriate weather conditions so that herbicide treatment is effective and impacts to non-target plants and animals are reduced.

The Contractor will develop a safety plan for individuals exposed to chemicals, including telephone numbers and addresses of emergency treatment centers and the telephone number for the nearest poison control center. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) telephone number in Corvallis, Oregon, may also be given for non-emergency information: 1-800-858-7384, Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The national Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTRAC) telephone number is: 1-800-424-9300

The Contractor will follow label requirements for mixing/loading setbacks from wells, intermittent streams and rivers, natural or impounded ponds and lakes, and reservoirs.

The Contractor will post signs, according to label directions and/or federal, state, tribal, and local laws, around fields that have been treated. Follow restricted entry intervals.

The Contractor will dispose of herbicide and herbicide containers in accordance with label directions and adhere to federal, state, tribal, and local regulations.

The Contractor will calibrate application equipment according to recommendations before each seasonal use and with each major chemical and site change.

The Contractor will replace worn nozzle tips, cracked hoses, and faulty gauges on spray equipment.

The Contractor will attend the pre-implementation meetings with the NRCS representative(s). The discussions and decisions shall be documented by the NRCS and the Contractor.

The Contractor will effectively communicate to NRCS the status of the Herbaceous Weed Control Services, beginning with the start of the first practice and through to completion. The contractor must notify the NRCS Inspector at least 24 hours before proceeding with the first treatment at each property.

The Contractor will communicate scheduling conflicts ahead of time. Any changes or modifications to the planned treatment acres will be communicated to and approved by NRCS.

The Contractor will evaluate the success of the Herbaceous Weed Control practice by evaluating regrowth or reoccurrence of target species after sufficient time has passed to monitor the situation and gather reliable data. Length of evaluation periods will depend on the herbaceous weeds species being monitored, proximity of propagules (seeds, plant materials and roots) to the site, transport mode of seeds (wind or animals) and methods and materials used.

The Contractor will monitor and perform any necessary follow-up treatments on any re-growth of the controlled invasive plant species or new noxious or invasive species in entire targeted treatment area during the two successive years after the initial treatment.

The Contractor will submit the following Records of Application documentation to NRCS within 14 days of Herbaceous Weed Control completion, on the Invasive Control Plan – Contractor Record and Certification of Conformance:

1. Extent of practice application (i.e. number of acres) and corresponding map

2. List of materials and methods used for practice implementation (see more specific deliverables for each practice below) and estimated hours of labor

Specific documentation for deliverables is listed below:

1. Herbaceous Weed Control

• Plant species controlled and percent kill of target species

• Extent of practice application (i.e. number of acres)

• Time and Dates of treatment

• Chemicals applied product brand name & active ingredients (also carriers, surfactants, and/or dyes if used)

• Product EPA Registration Number

• Amount of herbicide applied

• Method of application, including general equipment used

V. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

1. Herbaceous Weed Control

Farm, Tract, and Field Numbers:

FSN 2059 Tract 2876 field 5 & 6 FSN 2062 Tract 2874 fields 15 & UN-1 The size of the sites is approximately 13.2 acres, T-2874: Field 14 with 3.7 acres and Field UN-1 with 3.7 acres. T-2876: Field 5 has approximately 5.2 acres, and Field 6, with 0.5 acres Control of common reed (Phragmites australis)

The invasive species requiring treatment on the Doucherain/Lashway WRE easements is Common Reed (Phragmites australis). The phragmites is well established, has stalks over 6 feet tall and has approximately 90% cover within the planned treatment areas. See Attachment 2 for specific treatment locations. While the aforementioned species have been identified on site and compose the bulk of the treatment needs, all commonly known invasive plants (e.g. barberry, garlic mustard, etc.) encountered during application will be controlled within the treatment area.

The goal for this treatment is at least 90% reduction in phragmites cover after the initial application. Two additional years of follow-up treatment are planned to prevent surviving rhizomes from re-sprouting. (See Delivery Schedule).

The project proposes to treat 7 stands of Phragmites australis, located within the NRCS Easements on Southwick Road in the town of Champlain (see attached map).

There are 3 stands greater than 2 acres, and 5 stands under 1 acre in size. The control method selected is to apply a treatment of a glyphosate based herbicide, followed by cutting and a second application of glyphosate over a 3 year period.

Applications will be administered in accordance with the best management practices identified in the Field Office Technical Guide: Herbaceous Weed Control NYPS315 and Integrated Pest Management NYPS595.

The best time to treat phragmites is in late summer/early fall after the plant has flowered.

Treatment of phragmites will occur using an appropriate aquatic approved herbicide, surfactant, and dye. Due to the presence of uncommon and rare species and natural communities, care must be taken to avoid treating non-target species and prevent any herbicide reaching surface waters on site. Avoid wet rainy conditions when amphibians may be active at or near the ground surface.

Avoid direct spray on any wildlife found in the treatment area.

VI. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES:

The time spent to perform these items shall vary depending on the complexity. The contractor will have 1095 days to complete this project.

2018 Initial application of Herbaceous Weed Control to all targeted areas

2019 Monitoring of all targeted areas and follow up Herbaceous Weed Control as needed

2020 Monitoring of all targeted areas and follow up Herbaceous Weed Control as needed

VII. CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Requirements for applying conservation practice Herbaceous Weed Control:

1. The commercial applicator must have current commercial pesticide applicator Permit issues from NYS DEC which will be confirmed by NRCS.

2. Applicators must have excellent tree and shrub identification skills as there may be native plants in the treatment area.

3. Contractor is responsible for obtaining the appropriate permits to complete the work needed

The pesticide certification terms are from NY State Department of Environmental Conservation:

https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/8876.html

VIII. CIVIL RIGHTS AND PROGRAM DELIVERY

By signing this contract the Contractor assures the USDA that the program or activities provided for under this agreement will be conducted in compliance with all applicable Federal civil rights laws, rules, regulations, and policies. Any and all information gained through this Statement of Work or in the process of carrying out the Herbaceous Weed Control project are to be held confidential between the Contractor, NRCS, other designated partners and the landowner unless released by the landowner. Information gained may not be shared with others and are considered private to the landowner. The Contractor will protect the privacy of information collected during the technical assistance process according to the provisions of Section 1619 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

IX. CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO)

The designated Contracting Agency for this Statement of Work is NRCS. All administrative matters regarding this Statement of Work shall be directed to either the Contracting Specialist:

Gay Mullen-Brown, Contract Specialist

USDA NRCS

Contracting Services Branch, Team 1 Phone: (517) 324-5236 Email: Gay.Mullen@wdc.usda.gov

Only the CO may authorize changes to this Statement of Work.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/8876.html mailto:Gay.Mullen@wdc.usda.gov