A1 Project Statement of Work.pdf

BACKPACK FOLIAR HERBICIDE APPLICATION ON THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST

SECTION C—DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

DIVISION 100 – GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110 – Scope of Contract

The intent of this solicitation and any resulting contract is to apply herbicides on understory vegetation in designated areas on the Allegheny National Forest using contractor supplied spray equipment.

120 – Description and Location

121 – The areas to be sprayed are located on the Allegheny National Forest. The Allegheny National Forest is located in a 4-county area of northwestern Pennsylvania. (Warren, McKean, Forest and Elk Counties) Item 1 will include areas that are located on the Marienville Ranger District. The Marienville District is located north of the Clarion River to Route 666. Item 2 will include areas that are located on the Bradford Ranger District. The Bradford Ranger District in located north of Route 666 and south of the New York State line.

122 – See attached Location Table and Project Area Location Maps for specific location information.

123 – The general location and access to each unit will be shown on attached project area location maps which will be attached to the contract as a pdf. Detailed unit specific maps shall be made available to the successful bidder at the pre-work meeting.

All pdf maps supplied by the Forest Service are geo referenced. They can be loaded into apps such as Avenza and used for navigational purposes.

Some Area boundaries are marked by existing painted two or three stripe. In most cases, the unit boundaries will be flagged with “pink” ribbon/flagging. Protected Areas (No Spray zones) will also be flagged out on the ground. Check with the COR for details on flagging color.

All Projects will be identified by pink cards with unit description number and project name “BACKPACK FOLIAR HERBICIDE” identified, see example below. All cards will be read, ensured they are at the correct location and initialed by contractor prior to start of project. This is to ensure that contractor is at correct project area.

Example Of Pink project identification card in which contractors must sign to acknowledge they are at correct project area prior to start of project work.

124 – Interfering understory vegetation may include fern, grass, rubus, bindweed, American beech, black birch, striped maple an mountain laurel. Each unit may have one or more of these species identified for treatment, as well as the prescribed herbicide and surfactant mixture to be applied to treat the entire stand area. Oust XP® and Roundup Custom® -are the mandatory herbicide brands to be used on a majority of the units in the contract.

(If the above brands are not available, the contractor may discuss other options with the

COR)

There may be instances where additional herbicides and /or surfactants are called for to be used. The contractor must make sure to use the herbicides/surfactants defined in the Project Table. They are also to ensure they apply at the appropriate rates defined in the Project Table. If there are any issues meeting the requirements set forth in the Project Table, the contractor must bring it to the COR’s attention and negotiate an alternate for approval by the contracting officer.

125– ALL Nonnative Invasive Species (NNIS) encountered inside the unit boundaries shall be treated with herbicide and noted on the Stand Data Sheet (Attached).

NNIS species include: Japanese stiltgrass, Amur honeysuckle, Autumn olive, Bell’s honeysuckle, Marrow’s honeysuckle, Tartarian honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet, Tree of Heaven, Multiflora rose, Border privet, Common barberry, Japanese barberry, Common buckthorn, Common privet, European privet, Glossy buckthorn, Japanese Barberry, and Winged euonymus.

130 – Contractor Furnished Property, Services, Responsibilities and Obligations

The contractor shall furnish all equipment (except for that listed as Government Furnished Property), labor, materials, herbicide(s) (Ex. Oust XP® and Roundup Custom ®), surfactant(s) (Ex. Aquachem 90 ®, Cide Kick® ), transportation, supervision, and incidentals necessary to apply herbicide in accordance with the specifications of this contract.

131 – Contractor Supplied Sprayer(s) – As specified in contractor’s proposal.

Appropriate sprayer equipment for this contract may include: Hand Spray Bottles, Low volume manual pump backpack spray units, Mistblowers, or ATV/UTV mounted spray units.

The contract table will list appropriate methods of application; however, spray equipment can always be negotiated with the COR on the contract. The FS COR has the final say in which equipment can and cannot be used on specific blocks.

The contractor shall also ensure the proper nozzles are being used to apply the herbicides to the vegetation. This is to ensure only the required amount of chemical is being applied to the vegetation targets and to avoid runoff/over application.

132 – Project Supervisor – The Contractor shall designate in writing one person on the job to act as the Project Supervisor, representing the company in all contractual matters that require prompt attention. This person shall be familiar with all equipment being used and attend any pre-work meetings.

Before starting each day’s operations, this person shall coordinate all activities between the Government and the Contractor including, but not limited to, logistics, equipment use, and daily plans and schedules. The project supervisor shall notify the Government Contracting Officer Representative (COR) early in the day (by 8 AM) where they plan to work that day, or when they do not plan to work.

133- The contractor may choose to utilize more than one herbicide spray device at once.

134 – Certification – The contractor shall have a representative on the site to supervise the mixing, loading, and application of herbicide. The representative must possess a current pesticide applicator license in the State of Pennsylvania.

135 – Flagging – The contractor shall use only biodegradable or photodegradable flagging to mark spray strips or improve spray boundaries. The flagging must be an odd color (not Orange, Pink, or Yellow)

DIVISION 200 – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210 – Equipment Requirements

To avoid contamination of areas not scheduled for treatment, Contractor must ensure that the spray system has no leaks and does not have excessive dripping from the nozzles.

220 – Herbicide

221 – The contractor shall furnish the required quantities of the designated herbicides. Most commonly the herbicides are sulfometuron methyl and glyphosate herbicide Oust XP ® and Roundup Custom ® are the mandatory brands to be used, unless otherwise agreed upon with the COR, or requested in the Project Table.

The contractor is also responsible for supplying all surfactant necessary to complete the project. Most commonly, non-ionic surfactants are requested. Aquachem 90 ® is the mandatory surfactant to be used, unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR, or requested in the Project Table.

222 -- The herbicide carrier shall use water obtained from approved domestic water systems or other approved fresh water sources. The COR may approve, on occasion, water drafting zones to supplement domestic water trucked to treatment areas, if it is convenient to application operations and the COR approves the drafting site. The Allegheny National Forest reserves the right to reject any water drafting zones it regards as unsuitable. Any water supply must be approved by the Forest Service, have no visible suspended sediments, and water hardness not to exceed 60 mg. per liter.

223 -- Additives other than a water-soluble dye or approved surfactants may not be used.

230 – Application Rate

231 -- Herbicides shall be applied at the rate specified in the attached Work Order Project Table.

Sulfometuron Methyl is applied in ounces active ingredient per acre. Oust XP® formulation is applied, 2 ounces of Oust XP ® product per acre unless otherwise stated in the attached Project Table.

Glyphosate is applied in quarts of active ingredient per acre. Roundup Custom ® formulation is applied 1.0 quarts of Roundup Custom ® product per acre unless otherwise stated in the Project Table.

The application rate shall not exceed 120% of this rate on average of all units treated.

On individual units where the vegetation is very thick or tall, the application rate shall not exceed 150% of the above stated rate.

232 -- Some treatment areas may require the use of specific hand application equipment due to sensitive plants or desirable regeneration. These areas shall be sprayed by using a low volume pump system with a hose and nozzle. See attached Project Table for unit specific guidelines.

233 -- Herbicide solution shall be applied at the appropriate calibrated rate to achieve the desired amount of product per acre while also achieving the desired coverage of the primary/alternate target. Rates shall at the minimum meet the desired rate/acre of product; however, not exceed 2.5 Quarts/Acre Roundup Custom ® and 3.5 Ounces/Acre of OUST XP.

240 – Performance Requirements

241 -- Equipment Calibration and Spray Characterization. The Contractor shall be required to calibrate to the specified application rate and characterize the spray system. Forest Service personnel may observe this activity which shall occur at a mutually agreed upon location, date, and time before work begins on this project, and during the project if required by the Forest Service. Water shall be used for this exercise.

242 -- Mixing – Sites selected for mixing, loading, and cleaning of equipment shall be located to prevent contaminating streams, ponds, or spring seeps. The Forest Service shall approve such locations, if necessary.

243 -- Prior to herbicide application on the ANF, the contractor shall ensure all tanks and application equipment are clean of residual herbicide or material from other applications. When changing from application of a blend of Glyphosate and Oust (Sulfometuron Methyl) to Oust only, the contractor shall ensure all residual herbicide is removed from machine or used prior to applying an Oust only application.

244 -- Prior to starting application on ANF lands, all herbicide application equipment and motorized staging equipment shall be visually inspected to ensure it is free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. The contractor shall not move equipment which last operated in an area that is infested with one or more invasive species of concern (identified prior to operations by the Forest Service) into a treatment block without ensuring the equipment is free of noxious weeds.

Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools are not required.

The contractor must advise the COR what measures were taken to clean the equipment.

250 -- Application

Forest Service personnel have marked spray area boundaries with pink flagging. In accordance with the Forest Service Environmental Impact Statement the following procedures are required:

251 – Before beginning treatment in an area, the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) or Government Technical Monitor (GTM) and the Contractor’s representative may walk through the area to review special conditions or areas to avoid during spraying.

252- A COR or GTM may be on site during application on and off throughout the day.

253 -- Seeded roads, landings, or gravel pits shall not be treated with herbicides.

254 -- When spraying near unit or buffer boundaries, care shall be taken to ensure that no herbicide shall drift out of the designated spray area.

255 -- Buffer areas or places where spraying is not permitted shall be identified by the COR or the inspector prior to beginning a unit. The boundaries of these buffer areas have been flagged in pink. Minimum required buffer distances for water quality are as follows:

A - 50 feet wide along each side of perennial streams, impoundments, seeps, springs, or intermittent streams flowing water the day of spraying.

B - 10 feet wide along each side of dry intermittent streams, dry springs, and dry seeps.

C - 50 feet wide around wet areas (standing water), including vernal ponds, having no defined outlet.

256 -- In stands that have been identified as containing desirable regeneration, the contractor must use care to avoid spraying desirable species. The contractor may be required to use specific types of application equipment. (See Project Table)

257 -- Application of spray material shall be confined to the designated spray area.

258 -- Units may require treatment on weekdays only due to safety concerns. These units shall be designated by the Forest Service at the time of the post award meeting.

260 – Climatic Limitations

Spraying operations shall not occur when any of the following conditions exist. Determination to spray shall be made by the contractor; however, if the Forest Service feels the contractor is assuming unreasonable risk, the COR may halt operations.

261 - The wind exceeds 10 mph in the open or 4 mph under the canopy, or

262 - Rain, fog, or morning dew causes moisture to drip from the foliage, or

263 - Air turbulence (thermal updrafts, etc.) is so great at the spray area as to seriously affect the normal spray pattern, or

264 - Rain is anticipated within 4 hours at the spray area.

265 - Re-spray for Unexpected Rain – Contractor may be required to re-spray any area or portion of an area treated where rain falls within 4 hours of the time of treatment.

270 - Records

The Contractor shall maintain an accurate record of the herbicide used on each area using the attached “Stand Data Sheet”. The completed stand data sheet shall be sent to the COR within two business days of the unit completion date.

280 - Safety

281 – The Contractor or Project Supervisor shall report all accidents or incidents associated with this contract to the COR within 24 hours. This report shall contain description, cause, and actions planned to avoid future occurrences.

282 -- The Contractor shall comply with all Label, State and Federal regulations for spraying herbicide.

283 -- All persons who may come in contact with the spray solution shall wear the proper PPE to label standards.

284 -- The contractor shall provide soap and water for personnel to wash with on the job site.

290 – Accidents, Incidents, and Spills

291-- Accidents, as used throughout this contract shall mean destruction or substantial damage to spray equipment, the service truck, and minor, serious, or fatal injury to personnel.

292 -- Incidents, as used throughout this contract shall mean any mishap, malfunction, or situation involving equipment or personnel, which results in a deviation from standard procedures or has the potential of resulting in an accident, injury, or death.

293 -- Herbicide Spills. The Contractor must have a spill prevention and clean-up plan approved by the COR prior to July 1st. Herbicide wasted through spills greater than 5 gallons of diluted product, or 1 quart of undiluted product must be reported to the COR and the appropriate state and federal agencies.

294 -- Security – The Contractor shall be responsible for the security of all herbicide, equipment, and materials furnished for this project.

295 -- Herbicide and Container Disposal. Contractor shall dispose of any excess herbicide and used herbicide containers in accordance with the label.

DIVISION 300 – MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

310 – Measurement

Acreage is determined using GPS/GIS satellite mapping. This measurement shall be utilized for payment purposes, unless the actual acreage on the ground for a given area varies by more than 10% from the estimated acreage for that unit, as described below in Specification 320.

320 – Suspected errors in measurements

If the contractor requests a re-measurement of any area and the results of the re-measurement show that the acreage is more than 10% different from original measurement, the Government shall pay at the unit price for the number of acres shown on the re-measurement and the cost of the re-measurement itself. If, however, the re-measurement shows the acreage to be within the 10% allowable variation, payment will be for the original acreage for that unit and the contractor will pay for the cost of the re-measurement. The Forest Service will determine the method of re-measurement. The Forest Service will perform all re-measurements.

330 – Inclusions

The acreages shown in the Schedule of Items have not been reduced to account for Inclusions which are unsuitable for spraying due to topography, soil conditions, standing water, or buffer strips. Though some of these inclusions exist within the project areas, no reduction shall be made in the contract payment to account for them. All areas within units shall be treated except for designated no spray inclusion areas.

340 – Payment

Payment shall be made at the contract unit price for each completed unit acceptably sprayed with herbicide and meeting the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) outlined in Section F- Inspection and Acceptance. Payments can be processed monthly for completed units, or in one lump sum at the of the contract.

The Contractor is required to spray units in accordance with the dates listed below. Failure to complete work in the specified timeframe may result in an immediate termination for default.

Item1: MRD

Item 2: BRD

The Forest Service reserves the right to terminate the contract if field conditions do not warrant an effective treatment of the desired target/alternate species.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Table 4. Performance Measures.

Task Performance

Standard Inspection/Surveillance Acceptable Quality Level

(AQL)

Herbicide Application

Contractor will treat units according to contract specifications.

Forest Service shall be on site at the start of the contract.

Periodic inspections of treatment as work occurs shall also take place as work progresses.

Forest Service shall inspect units 3 weeks post treatment.

Vegetation should be showing signs of treatment stress. If there is no sign of “treatment stress” the Forest Service reserves the right to inspect up to 4 weeks post treatment.

An FS Inspector may be on site for the Oust only treatment units to ensure application coverage.

If less than 10% of treatment acres show no evidence of the effects from herbicide treatment (yellowing, drooping, death, etc.) = 100% payment.

If greater than 10% of treatment acres show non-treatment, contractor shall be required to rework sites within contract performance period. If rework cannot be accomplished during contract performance period payment shall be reduced by the cost per acre of the acres not treated.

Contract objectives met for the site.

ACRES

TREATMENT

OUST ONLY

CIDE KICK/GLYPHO/OUST

GLYPHO/OUST

July 1- July 26 July1-August 31

CONTRACT TIME FRAME

August 12 - September 16

ACRES

TREATMENT

GLYPHOSATE/OUST

GLYPHOSATE/OUST July 1 - August 31

August 12 - September 16

CONTRACT TIME FRAME

Retreatment inside the contract deadline:

Units that do not meet the AQL outlined in Section F- Performance Measures shall be retreated to meet contract specifications. There will be no additional payments made for retreatment.

Retreatment of units inside the contract deadline, but outside of their treatment window can and will be performed if the AQL is not achieved for the unit. There will be no additional payments made for retreatment.