A04_-_Statement_of_Work_-_Noxious_Weed_Control_USFWS.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Herbicide Application/Noxious Weed Control on U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service Lands (FWS)

1. General:

1.1 Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, Lostwood Wetland Management District and Crosby Wetland Management District are requesting a contractor to map noxious weeds (Leafy Spurge and Baby’s Breath) and chemically spray noxious weeds on refuge lands. Exact treatment areas will be provided to the contractor. The contractor will apply herbicides as specified in the approved Pesticide Use Proposals (PUPs) and product labels, including product selection, rates, adjuvants, and timing. Use adjuvants only as permitted by the label; specify type/rate per label & PUP. Maps showing the general area are included. All pesticide applications will comply with the law, FWS policies, and follow the approved Pesticide Use Proposal.

1.2 Contractor Qualifications: Contractor must hold all relevant licensing required for herbicide applications in the state of North Dakota.

1.3 Other: All work shall be conducted in compliance with applicable National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation, Biological Opinions, and refuge-specific management plans.

2. Place of Performance and Period of Performance: Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, Lostwood Wetland Management District and Crosby Wetland Management District are soliciting offers to map noxious weeds (Leafy Spurge and Baby’s Breath) and chemically spray noxious weeds on refuge lands for a period of 06/29/2026-09/30/2026.

2.2 Treatment timing shall follow label and PUP guidance for the specific products selected.

Treatment and survey locations as follows:

o Crosby Wetland Management District: (Divide and Williams County, ND)

• Green Lake Waterfowl Production Area (WPA), T.159N R.100W Sec 4 and 9. Unit

Acres 378. Estimated acres to treat, 15. Targeted weed species, Baby’s Breath.

• Hamlet WPA, T.160N R.96W Sec 34 and 35. Unit acres 386. Estimated acres to treat,

200. Targeted weed species, Baby’s Breath.

• Hedlund WPA, T.159N. R.94W. Sec 6. Unit Acres 155. Estimated acres to treat, 15.

Targeted weed species, Baby’s Breath.

o Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge: (Burke County, ND)

• Central Core, T.159N R.91W Sec 9. Unit acres 1900. Estimated acres to treat 150.

Targeted weed species, Leafy Spurge.

• Thompson Lake, T.160N R.91W Sec 26. Unit acres 1500. Estimated acres to treat 150.

Targeted weed species, Leafy Spurge.

o Lostwood Wetland Management District: (Mountrail County, ND)

• Moen WPA, T.154N R.89W Sec 15. Unit Acres 310. Estimated acres to treat, 150.

Targeted weed species, Leafy Spurge.

2.3 Normal duty hours are Monday–Friday, 08:00–16:30 local. Operations are limited to daylight.

Contractor shall provide 24/7 contact for coordination.

2.4 Non-duty hours include week nights, weekends, and Federal holidays as observed by OPM (e.g., New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day as applicable, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day).

2.5 Contractor shall coordinate treatment timing with Chad Zorn the Refuge Manager point of contact at least 48 hours prior to application and receive approval to proceed.

3. Scope

3.1 The contractor shall treat within label/PUP windows (e.g., June–September unless label/PUP specify otherwise). Product selection and rates shall follow PUPs & labels. The contractor will provide, labor, and equipment needed to complete the mapping and herbicide application (see maps, legal descriptions and estimated acres to be chemically treated). All pesticides approved for use will be provided by FWS. All equipment used in performance of this work shall be thoroughly cleaned and free of all debris, including soil, plant material, invasive species, and noxious weeds, prior to arrival on site. Equipment that does not meet this requirement will not be allowed to operate on site. The herbicide application and contractor must meet the following specifications:

A. The contractor will use Escort XP herbicide with water as listed on the label to control invasive baby’s breath.

B. The contractor will use Method 240SL herbicide with water as listed on the label to control invasive leafy spurge.

C. All treatments will be made in accordance with manufactures instructions for use.

D. Contractor will use only label‑approved adjuvants/drift agents at label‑specified rates.

No unlisted adjuvants. Drift control agents and adjuvants must be approved for use with Escort XP and/or Method 240SL and used in accordance with the herbicide label.

E. Set swath width per manufacturer & calibration, verified by flow‑rate and pattern tests documented before full‑rate operations.

F. Establish temporary closures and signage as needed. Maintain minimum 300 ft lateral standoff from people/vehicles unless refuge staff have closed the area and the contractor controls access. Apply label‑specific buffers near open water/wetlands.

G. Maintain ND Commercial Pesticide Applicator license in appropriate category;

comply with Worker Protection Standards (training, PPE, posting, REI). Follow labels, PUPs, and federal/state law.

H. Contractor will follow herbicide labels to comply with all, agency, State and Federal laws.

I. Operations are limited to daylight,; night ops prohibited.

J. The contractor will carry at least $1,000,000.00 in commercial liability insurance against potential loss, damage, or injury to the Service or to the Public.

K. The Lostwood Refuge staff will provide maps to the contractor indicating areas to be sprayed. Do not treat outside mapped polygons without written COR approval. Submit GIS tracks and treated area polygons as deliverables.

L. Contractor shall comply with all avoidance and minimization measures related to threatened, endangered, and sensitive species, cultural resources, and wetlands as identified by the Service. No application shall occur outside approved treatment areas.

M. Halt operations during temperature inversions; when sustained wind exceeds label threshold (e.g., >10–12 mph or as specified); when gust spread >5 mph; or during precipitation. Record on‑site weather per sortie.

N. Contractor shall immediately notify the Service of any spills, misapplications, or incidents involving herbicides, fuel, or equipment and shall be responsible for all required cleanup and reporting. Provide written incident report to COR within 24 hours.

O. Areas not treated in accordance with this SOW may require re-treatment at no additional cost to the Government.

P. The Service reserves the right to observe application activities to ensure compliance with contract specifications.

4. Deliverables and/or Delivery Schedule:

4.1 A pesticide application record documenting the application as required by North Dakota law in either hardcopy or electronic format will be submitted within 30 days of treatment completion accompanied by GIS shapefiles of mapping of infestations.

5. Technical Coordinator(s):

5.1 Chad Zorn, Refuge Manager, 701-385-4046 x225 or cell 701-848-6616. USFWS, 42000 520th ST NW, Kenmare, ND 58746.

A04 - FWS Unit Maps.pdf