C05 12444726Q0053 Site Visit QA.pdf

Green Mountain Finger Lakes Invasive Species Map and Control

12444726Q0053

Site Visit Questions and Answers

The questions and answers highlighted in yellow are updated from the answers given during the site visit.

Q1: Is Rocky Hollow still being treated?

A1: No. Rocky Hollow was removed from the contract this year. If there is funding in future years, it will likely be included in a future contract.

Q2: Concerns for treatment area locations at Greendale Road.

A2: The Greendale Road treatment area location can only be accessed from the northern end of the road. There is no connection between the northern and southern ends. The northern section of the road ends at a landing area, which contains NNIP populations of goutweed, chervil, and knotweed. The additional knotweed population (in purple) is just past the landing area. Please note that forest service land is interspersed with private land. There are populations of invasive species on private land, but these should not be treated. Pay attention to the shapefiles given. Do not treat on private land.

Q3: Would bat restrictions affect the treatment of any of the areas?

A3: Generally May to August 30th if a bat is located in the area. Will check the contract for details regarding time frame of mitigation. There are a couple buckthorn trees that may be of concern for this mitigation based on their size.

Q4: Can you answer additional questions via email at later date?

A4: Yes, we can answer questions as they come up.

Q5: How would we calculate acres when it comes to treating an area?

A5: You can charge once for each line item/treatment category. For example, you can charge the area once for treating herbaceous species with foliar spray (Treatment category 2.1), and that same area again for woody species (Treatment category 1.1). Please see the Table in Appendix B for treatment categories allowed/specified in the contract at each site.

Q6: If we want to treat the same species in the same area with two passes (one early in the year and one later), can we charge for both passes? For example, we like to treat bittersweet once early in the year, and once later. Can we charge for the second pass?

A6: No. This would increase the acreage in the contract, and the number of acres have already been finalized.

Q7: Could we charge a lump sum for treatment per acre?

A7: That would be an acceptable way to do it.

Q8: Could a contractor treat infestations outside of the known area?

A8: It depends. At Catamount Cobble and Benson Road section 2, please stay within the survey/treatment boundaries (marked in purple at Catamount Cobble and orange at Benson

Road). For the remainder of the treatment areas, the shapefiles show individual known populations. For these known populations, please do treat individual plants that extend up to 30ft past the shapefile boundaries. Plant populations may shift over time, and there may be small mapping inaccuracies; this could result in some individual plants that are growing just outside of the given shapefile. We want to make sure that the entire population is treated. Use your best judgement. If a population extends more than 30ft past a shapefile boundary, please contact the

COR (Stephanie Erlandson) for follow-up guidance. Note: At Rake Branch, the population of parsnip extends up and down the entire road; please stay within shapefile boundaries of the parsnip species at this site.

Caveat: Please do not treat on private land. Some sites have infestations that traverse both public and private land.

Q9: Is the map for Benson Road section 2 accurate?

A9: Please see the updated map online. The orange treatment boundary does not include the pond or wetland area surrounding the pond.

Q10: Sometimes there are areas where the bittersweet is all over trees. Is this condition present in any of the treatment areas?

A10: It could be present. It is possible that there is a small infestation of bittersweet plants all over the trees at White Hill.

Q11: Preferred method is to treat the bittersweet twice, would that be allowed with second charge?

A11: No, this would increase the acreage in the contract.

Q12: What’s the density of the species?

A12: It varies from site to site. Benson Road is heavily infested with dense populations of many species. Other sites have a lower density of invasive species.

Q13: How would you quantify the size/density of species in the survey? Overall lump sum of species in the area or smaller segments based on the size of the infestation?

A13: You will need a separate polygon (or multiple separate polygons) for each species, depending on their distribution across the site. For example, if a species, let’s say honeysuckle, is present throughout an entire site, you’ll have one honeysuckle polygon. If another species (let’s say buckthorn) has three distinct clusters of individuals in three different areas, you’ll need three different polygons. Of course, this means that some polygons may be overlapping (you may have a buckthorn polygon inside a honeysuckle polygon).

Q14: Do you have a preference on data collection applications or what applications are you using?

A14: Survey 123 and ArcMap are the online platforms available. We will also provide paper copies of datasheets. We need both tabular (e.g. datasheets) and spatial data (shapefiles or online geospatial files). For the tabular data, we ask that you collect specific data. See the example tables at the end of this document. There is separate information we are looking for in surveys versus treatments.

Q15: With areas with standing water, how can we treat in there?

A15: Do not treat areas in standing water. Please advise the COR if you encounter treatment areas with in standing water as those areas may be able to be removed from treatment area.

Q16: For inaccessible areas as they come up, do we not treat them, or contact you?

A16: We are flexible about whether or to remove an area if you can’t access it. Contact us to determine if the area is inaccessible.

Q17: Kill rate is determined as 10-15%. How was that determined and would it be possible to have a defined number of 10% or 15%. What would be the time frame for inspection of work?

A17: Kill rate is meant to be flexible (10-15%). Please see the table on page 11 of the Statement of Work, called “PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

PLAN.” There are two different inspections that will happen. One will occur at the time of treatment or just after. The COR will inspect the presence/absence of blue dye to determine that

Quality Standards (QS) are met. About two weeks after treatment, the treatment area will be inspected to ensure that the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) is met. Expect that the COR will inspect the entire treatment area if the infestation is linear or along a road/trail.

Q18: Does blue dye have to be used?

A18: Yes, dye of some color (blue, red, purple) must be used. This is to ensure quality control.

Q19: With the Japanese Knotweed, would it be possible to use an injection to treat the site?

A19: We looking further into this, and will have a response on a separate amendment.

Q20: Does one company get the whole contract?

A20: We intend to award this entire project for RFQ 12444726Q0053 to one vendor.

Site Visit Benson Road:

Q21: On map, is the red area is the mapped area?

A21: The red area on the map is the “Benson Road” site, where populations are known and have been surveyed. The orange outline is the “Benson road section 2” area, which has large, dense infestations that have not been mapped. It contains additional species to treat.

Q22: The gov website map is not accurate for the general shape and acres for the treatment area.

A22: Updated map has been posted as part of Amendment 0003.

Q23: Is the cost for treatment for the red area on the map or for the whole area?

A23: The cost is separate for the red area and the yellow area on the map. These are two different sites.

Q24: Would there be an estimate for both areas?

A24: Yes, both areas would need to be quoted.

Q25: Would we be able to use an Argo (six wheeled side by side) to access this area?

A25: Yes, an Argo (six wheeled side by side) to may be used access this area.

Q26: There is a discrepancy on when the proposals are due depending on which site bidder found the posting. Which is the actual deadline?

A26: The deadline for quotes has been updated to is 11:59pm eastern time November 2, 2026,all of the information for this RFQ is on SAM.gov.

Site Visit Catamount Cobble:

Q27: How should we map the populations treated?

A27: If an entire area is infested with something, say, honeysuckle, you can create one large polygon and do your best to fill out the datasheet (estimating percent cover, etc) for that entire polygon. However, if there are separate discrete clusters of plants in distinct locations, please do create a polygon for each clump. Use your best judgement. You’ll need a separate polygon for each species. There will probably be overlap. For example, you might have a small clump of buckthorn inside a large polygon of honeysuckle.

Q28: Are heights of the found species a concern?

A28: Nope. Height is not a concern.

Q29: Will the area be flagged in or will there be shapefiles for the areas given to the contractor?

Shapefiles are more useful for the contractors than flagging.

A29: We will share shapefiles to the awarded contractor.

Q30: Will the contractor be given access to prior surveys of the areas?

A30: Yes, we can provide the previous surveys to help after award.

Site Visit White Hill:

Q31: Can you describe the site?

A31: White Hill west has scattered individuals, as well as a few larger clumps, but the site has a much lower density than Benson Road. The buckthorn population near the pond, marked in brown, has been decimated by beavers. However, saplings may emerge next spring. White Hill east has: scattered large and small clusters of individuals of different species, a large buckthorn tree, a wildlife opening filled with multiflora rose, and a stretch of dense Japanese knotweed along the road.

Table 1. Survey data collection form (in response to question 14)

Activity type Treatment Survey Date Time Surveyor Name Town Site Name

Dominant life form at site algae forb fungus graminoid (grass/sedge) lichen shrub sub-shrub tree

Site Comments (optional) Species Infested Area Infested Area units acres meters squared feet squared other - see comments

% Infested T (0.1-1%) 1 (1-5%) 2 (5.1- 25%) 3 (25.1-50%)

4 (50.1- 75%) 5 (75.1-95%)

6 (95.1- 100%)

Stem count (optional) Phenology plant type F (forb)

G (graminoid)

Phenology F1 -vegetative

F2 -flowering F3 - fruiting

F4 -senescent/dormant

G1 - leaves partially developed

G2 -inflorescence inside the sheath

G3 - flower partially or fully exerted from the sheath

G4 -seeds maturing

Distribution clumped linear distribution scattered evenly scattered patchy

Table 2. Treatment data collection form (in response to question 14)

Activity Type Treatment Survey Date Start Time End Time

Wind Velocity (mph) Wind Direction N NE E SE S SW W NW Temperature (F) Precipitation (inches)

Condition (approx % cloud cover) 0-1% 5-10% 25% 50% 75% 100% Applicator Work crew

Infestation

ID

This will be provided to you

Town

Site Location White Hill West Boy Blue

Greendal e Road

Rake Branch

White Hill East

Benson Road

Application Area (acres)

Target Species (allow only one)

Only one species per form

Application Method basal bark cut and stump foliar spray hack-and-squirt hand-pulling weed wrench spot sprayin g

Other -see comment s

Herbicide (allow only one)

Aminopyrali d

Clopyrali d

Glyphosat e

Glyphosat e for use near water

Imazap yr

Sethoxydi m

Triclopy r

Other -see comment s

Comments (optional)

Commercial Formulation EPA Reg Number** Restricted Use** %AI in formulation* Carrier Dilutant**

Application Rate (% of mix)** Adjuvant**

Application rate (% of mix)**

Total Volume of Mix Applied (gallons)** Gallons/acre of mix**

Herbicide Comments (optional)