Attachment_1-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

Performance Work Statement

Treatment of Invasive Species on Wassaw NWR – Chinese Tallow and Phragmites

Scope This project will be accomplished by employing a contracted ground crew of 6-8 individuals to treat a minimum of 300 acres for Chinese tallow control and treat a minimum of 3 acres of Phragmites. Application of Clearcast herbicide (or generic equivalent imazamox) and/or AquaNeat herbicide (or generic equivalent glyphosate) using backpack sprayers will be made to all Chinese tallow seedlings, advanced generation Chinese tallow, and Phragmites within the treatment areas. Ground crews will also have ready access to hack-n-squirt application equipment and Garlon 4 herbicide (or generic equivalent triclopyr) to enable treatment of any sapling Chinese tallow trees that may be too tall to treat with backpack sprayers. Savannah Coastal Refuges (SCR) will provide all necessary herbicides and all daily boat transportation to and from Wassaw Island, Monday-Thursday each week of the project. A refuge COR or other field representative will be present during all active treatment days. The project will be conducted during the period of 1 June through 31 August 2026, as weather and hydrological conditions permit.

Background

Invasive species control operations are part of a comprehensive strategy, based on the 2011 SCR Comprehensive Conservation Plan, draft Wassaw NWR Natural Resource Prioritization Phase I and II Decision Report, and other planning documents to remove Chinese tallow from Wassaw Island, the largest upland feature of Wassaw NWR.

This project will further reduce the Chinese tallow on Wassaw Island and result in eradication or near eradication of one of the most troublesome invasive species of the south Atlantic coast. The focus will be on treating all seedlings and any advanced regeneration encountered while working through mixed maritime forest and inter-dunal swale habitats. The contracted crew will work through at least at least 300 acres during implementation of this project. Resulting from a combination of all prior, highly successful treatments, current density of Chinese tallow seedlings and advanced regeneration within the project area is extremely low. Drier, more xeric areas, where native slash pine (Pinus elliottii) regeneration has captured sites once dominated by Chinese tallow, generally have 0 to 5 stems per acre. Some areas along the periphery of inter-dunal swales currently maintain 0 to 25 stems per acre.

Phragmites is an invasive, non-native grass that has the ability to completely take over natural wetlands, like those in the inter-dunal swales on Wassaw Island. Phragmites was first discovered on the island in late 2018 and is believed to have been established within the mapped 59 acre area by rain, wind, and tidal extremes associated with Hurricane Matthew. This area is contained withing the 300 acre Chinese tallow treatment area. The first two patches found were eradicated by refuge staff but others have since been found in nearby locations. A minimum of 3 acres of Phragmites is believed to occur in this area and is to be treated.

Completion of this project will effectively eradicate both Chinese tallow and Phragmites from Wassaw Island. Working on a barrier island is beneficial to reaching this goal due to the harsh, highly saline environment surrounding the island and isolation from the mainland, both minimizing outside influence of seed dispersal. By completing this project, we can ensure that long-term environmental degradation from Chinese tallow and Phragmites on the natural systems of the island is eliminated. The project will serve to protect maritime forest habitats utilized by many land birds, in particular, a dense summer breeding population of painted bunting (Passerina ciris).

These same maritime forest areas are also brimming with a great variety of neotropical songbirds during both spring and fall migration. Numerous species of wading birds use the inter-dunal swales within this project area as rookeries and for loafing, roosting, and feeding. Species known to regularly occur here include wood stork (Mycteria americana), white ibis (Eudocimus albus), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), great egret (Ardea alba), snowy egret (Egretta thula), little blue heron (Egretta caerulea), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). The completion of this project, and follow-up annual monitoring, will result in Wassaw Island being free of the environmental degradation that Chinese tallow has imposed on it for the at least the last 40 years and ensure that Phragmites impacts cease. Removing all Chinese tallow and Phragmites is an important step in conserving the refuge for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Objectives Suitable completion of this project will involve practices that: 1) remove 99.9% of all remaining Chinese tallow stems, 2) remove 99.9% of all Phragmites, 3) comprehensively treat at least 300 total acres for Chinese tallow and at least 3 acres for Phragmites, and 4) leave in place all native surrounding native vegetation that can capture the site in the future absence of Chinese tallow and Phragmites.

Performance Requirements o Remove 99.9% of all Chinese tallow and 99.9% of all Phragmites

• Visual inspection of results of herbicide treatment and efficacy o Treat at least 300 acres for Chinese tallow and at least 3 acres for Phragmites

• Visual inspection of results across the treated acreage

Deliverables o Initial work plan

▪ due within 15 days of award

▪ detailed plan including specifics on equipment and labor requirements

▪ include a list of all contractor employees that will be on site

▪ include a map of all work sites

▪ include pre-work photos o Weekly progress reports

▪ due each Monday for the previous work week

▪ specific updates, list percentage of total project performed as to date o Final project report

▪ due within 30 days of project completion

▪ include total herbicide usage, acreage covered, and estimated number of stems treated

▪ provide detailed recommendations for future management to ensure minimal issues related to Chinese tallow and Phragmites into perpetuity

▪ include post-work photos

Period of Performance Project will be completed during the period of 1 June 2026 through 31 August 2026. This period of performance may be extended if weather conditions, refuge management, or other unforeseen conditions cause extended delays in performance. Work activities can be done anytime during daylight hours, Monday-Thursday. Any decision to extend the period of performance must be approved by the SCR project leader.

Place of Performance Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge, Chatham County, Georgia, USA

Government-furnished Property/Services The government will provide all herbicides, adjuvants, water, boat transportation to and from the island, UTV transportation on the island, and administration of all agency requirements. Contractor will provide all labor, equipment, reports, maps, project photos, and PPE.

Security and Safety Requirements Contractor and all associated personnel must comply with Department of Interior safety standards, environmental regulations, access control, PPE, and equipment security. SCR will not be responsible for lost, broken, flooded, or stolen property belonging to the contractor.