A04_Attachment_01_Statement_of_Work.pdf

NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE

STATEMENT OF WORK

INVASIVE PLANT TREATMENT SERVICES

1. INTRODUCTION

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (NERI) requires Invasive Plant Treatment services in seven

(6) locations in NERI and Bluestone National Scenic River (BLUE). Invasive plant species include Japanese hops, tree-of-heaven, autumn-olive, multiflora rose, bush honeysuckles, princess tree, and Japanese knotweed. The guidelines and methodology to achieve this objective shall be reviewed during the kick-off meeting.

2. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Work shall be conducted between July 1, 2024, and July 15, 2025. Steep Valley Wildfire 1 & 2 and Wild Rock Wildfire must be completed and invoiced No Later Than November 3, 2024.

3. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Invasive Plant Treatment services shall be performed within Fayette, Raleigh, and Summers counties, West Virginia, at Red Ash Island, Rush Run, Wild Rock Wildfire, Steep Valley Wildfire, and Bluestone DNR Area (maps provided).

Project sites are accessible by foot from:

• Red Ash Island

• Rush Run

• Bluestone DNR Area

• Steep Valley Wildfire 1

• Steep Valley Wildfire 2

• Wild Rock Wildfire

37.961906° N, -81.058118° W 37.963263° N, -81.023837° W 37.602275° N, -80.946233° W 37.845064° N, -80.985042° W 37.840798° N, -81.001034° W 38.080776° N, -81.081538 ° W

4. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

Contractor shall be authorized to apply pesticide/herbicide in the state of West Virginia and be registered with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA). The Contractor’s lead applicator shall have successfully completed the WVDA General Standards and Forest Pest Control exams. The Contractor shall have demonstrated experience in applying herbicide and treating non-native invasive plants, recording treatment data and the use of GPS equipment to record point data with relevant metadata.

5. SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall provide all labor, transportation, equipment, tools, pesticides, supervision, and administration services needed to complete Invasive Plant Treatment and related data collection in the specified locations.

5A. TREATMENT

Treatment shall be conducted using herbicide applied via foliar, frill-cut, and cut-surface techniques depending on species. Invasive plant treatments shall be conducted using Vastlan, Rodeo, Accord XRT II, Garlon 3A, Garlon 4 Ultra, Roundup, or Clearcast.

Total treatment area is estimated at 60 acres in NERI and 16 acres in BLUE, as referenced in Section 9, Attachments 1 - 4. All work shall be performed in accordance with pesticide labeling and the COR’s instructions. Treatment will include some or all of the following invasive plant species:

• Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

• Bush Honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.)

• Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

• Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)

• Japanese Hops (Humulus japonicus)

• Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

• Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

• Privets (Ligustrum spp.)

• Tree Of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

• Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)

The Contractor shall review all provided maps, treatment guidance materials, and manufacturer’s directions for the use of herbicides and related application hardware. Additional project area information may be requested from the COR as needed.

5B. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING

The Contractor shall provide records of GPS location data to indicate extent of treatment. Herbicide use data shall be recorded on data sheets provided by the COR (see Attachment 5, Contractor Herbicide Use Log).

5C. REQUIRED TREATMENT AREAS

Invasive Plant Treatment shall be performed in the following areas as described below. Note that invasive species coverage levels are estimates based on the best information available as of Spring 2024.

I. Red Ash Island

Located at 37.964173° N, -81.023692° W, invasive plant coverage in this 6-acre area is estimated to be comprised of approximately less than 1/4 invasive plant species (see pink polygon on Attachment 1, Rush Run Red Ash Treatment Area). The Southside Junction Trail may be accessible to a UTV from the Brooklyn Campground with prior coordination with the NPS.

Treatments for additional invasive species shall be conducted using Vastlan, Rodeo, Accord XRT II, Garlon 3A, Garlon 4 Ultra, Roundup, or Clearcast. Herbicide application shall be done with the use of backpack sprayers and/or a tank sprayer following all instructions on the herbicide specimen label.

Contractor shall erect caution signage at each site while herbicide is being applied. Contractor shall treat the following invasive plant species throughout the delineated area:

• Multiflora Rose

• Autumn-Olive

• Bush Honeysuckles

• Tree Of Heaven

• Asian Bittersweet

• Privets

• Japanese Barberry

• Japanese Knotweed

II. Rush Run

Located at 37.963263° N, -81.023837° W, invasive plant coverage in this 11-acre area is estimated to be comprised of approximately less than 1/4 invasive plant species (see pink polygon on Attachment 1, Rush Run Red Ash Treatment Area). The Southside Junction Trail may be accessible to a UTV from the Brooklyn Campground with prior coordination with the NPS.

Treatments for additional invasive species shall be conducted using Vastlan, Rodeo, Accord XRT II, Garlon 3A, Garlon 4 Ultra, Roundup, or Clearcast. Herbicide application shall be done with the use of backpack sprayers and/or a tank sprayer following all instructions on the herbicide specimen label.

Contractor shall erect caution signage at each site while herbicide is being applied. Contractor shall treat the following invasive plant species throughout the delineated area:

• Multiflora Rose

• Autumn-Olive

• Bush Honeysuckles

• Tree Of Heaven

• Asian Bittersweet

• Privets

III. Bluestone DNR Area

Located at 37.602275° N, -80.946233° W and 37.583883° N, -80.971566° W, the 16-acre floodplain field and forest plant communities contain rare species threatened by dense invasive plants (see Attachment 3, Bluestone Treatment Area). Invasive plant coverage in this area is estimated to be greater than 1/2. The Bluestone Turnpike Trail may be accessible to a UTV from Bluestone State Park and Lilly Parking Area with prior coordination with the NPS.

Treatments shall be conducted using Rodeo, Accord XRT II, Garlon 3A, Garlon 4 Ultra, Roundup, or Clearcast. Herbicide application shall be done with the use of backpack sprayers for foliar applications and hand sprayers for frill-cut and cut-surface treatments. The Contractor shall follow all instructions on the herbicide specimen label. Contractor shall erect caution signage at each site while herbicide is being applied. The Contractor shall treat the following invasive plants throughout the delineated area.

• Multiflora Rose

• Autumn-Olive

• Bush Honeysuckles

• Tree Of Heaven

• Japanese hops

• Privets

IV. Steep Valley Wildfire 1 and 2

Located at 37.845064° N, -80.985042° W and 37.840798° N, -81.001034° W, the treatment area is near War Ridge Campground and is approximately 12 acres (Steep Valley 1) and 12 acres (Steep Valley 2) primarily along firelines and old strip mines as well as the steep slopes surrounding these areas. Invasive plant coverage in this area is estimated to be less than 1/2. The site can be accessed from Fayette Road and War Ridge Campground located at 37.845064° N, -80.985042° W. Steep Valley 2 may be able to have some access granted to old road systems which could be used by a UTV (see Attachment 4, Steep Valley Treatment Area).

Treatments shall be conducted using Vastlan, Rodeo, Accord XRT II, Garlon 3A, Garlon 4 Ultra, Roundup, or Clearcast. Herbicide application shall be done with the use of backpack sprayers and/or a tank sprayer for invasive herbs and shrubs and frill-cut methods for invasive trees over 3" dbh.

Contractor must follow all instructions on the herbicide specimen label. Contractor shall erect caution signage at each site while herbicide is being applied. Contractor shall treat the following invasive plant species throughout the delineated area:

• Multiflora Rose

• Autumn-Olive

• Bush Honeysuckles

• Tree Of Heaven

• Princess Tree

• Privets

• Japanese Barberry

• Wineberry

V. Wild Rock Wildfire

Located at 38°05'18.4"N 81°05'09.6"W, the treatment area is near Taey's Landing and is approximately 19 acres along a trail as well as the steep slopes surrounding the trail. Invasive plant coverage in this area is estimated to be less than 1/3. The site can be accessed through the trail system on Hawk's Nest Connector Trail located at 38° 2' 59.97" N, 81° 2' 23.82" W. From this parking area, roughly 1.5 mi of trail facilitates access across much of the treatment area (see Attachment 2, Wild Rock Treatment Area).

Treatments shall be conducted using Vastlan, Rodeo, Accord XRT II, Garlon 3A, Garlon 4 Ultra, Roundup, or Clearcast. Herbicide application shall be done with the use of backpack sprayers and/or a tank sprayer for invasive herbs and shrubs and frill-cut methods for invasive trees over 3" dbh.

Contractor must follow all instructions on the herbicide specimen label. Contractor shall erect caution signage at each site while herbicide is being applied. Contractor shall treat the following invasive plant species throughout the delineated area:

• Multiflora Rose

• Autumn-Olive

• Bush Honeysuckles

• Tree Of Heaven

• Princess Tree

• Privets

• Wineberry

5D. Performance Measurement Treatment outcomes shall be surveyed via spot checks of representative portions of the treatment areas, with choice of sampling and methodology at the discretion of the COR. Treatment shall be considered successful and complete upon elimination of specified invasive species to the following extents:

• Red Ash Island

• Rush Run

• Bluestone DNR Area

• Bluestone Treatment 2

• Steep Valley Wildfire 1

• Steep Valley Wildfire 2

• Wild Rock Wildfire

80%

70% 70% 80%

6. PROJECT ADMINISTRATION

The Contractor shall provide ongoing project administration and project management throughout the period of performance to coordinate logistics, planning, schedule tracking, implementation, delivery of project data, invoicing, and all other activities relating to performing the services described in this Statement of Work with the COR. The COR shall be the Contractor’s primary point of contact unless otherwise specified by the Contracting Officer.

6A. POINTS OF CONTACT

Contracting Officer’s Representative Bryan Wender 304-719-5984 bryan_wender@nps.gov

Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) Doug Manning 304-719-7886 doug_manning@nps.gov

6B. TIMELINE

Refer to the table below for details on scheduled milestones and deliverables submissions.

DELIVERABLE DESCRIPTION DUE

Project Kick-off Meeting In-person or virtual meeting to review the contract objectives, scope, and schedule; NPS park resources;

and data/documents listed under Data and Materials Furnished by the Government.

Due within 14 days of POP start, to be scheduled at the Park’s discretion.

Invasive Plant Treatment See section 2A Due 11 days before end of POP

Herbicide Reporting MS Excel format Data Sheets Due 11 days before end of POP

GPS Data Files in .shp, .kmz, or .kml format Due 11 days before end of POP

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

All data, information and deliverables provided to or developed by the Contractor in relation to the services described in this Statement of Work are the property of the Government and shall be kept in strict confidence.

8. GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP

All notes, reports, GPS data, and other documents produced as a result of performing the services described in this Statement of Work shall be and remain the sole property of the Government and may be used on any other work at no additional compensation to the Contractor. The Contractor may retain copies of all such materials.

9. ATTACHMENTS

# NAME

1 Attachment 1 Rush_Run_Red_Ash_Treatment_Areas.pdf

2 Attachment 2 Wild_Rock_Treatment_Area.pdf

3 Attachment 3 Bluestone_Treatment_Area.pdf

4 Attachment 4 Steep_Valley_Wildfire_Area.pdf

5 Contractor Herbicide Use Log.xlsx