Statement_of_Work_Aerial_RIFA_bait_Application.docx

Performance Work Statement Red Imported Fire Ant Bait Application Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR Eagle Lake, Texas

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 General/Introduction: This is for aerial application of Extinguish Plus red imported fire ant (RIFA) bait on 5,069 acres of Attwater Prairie Chicken (APC) NWR. The Refuge will supply all RIFA bait. Vendor will aerially apply the RIFA bait on 5,069 acres on APC NWR as marked on attached map.

1.2 Period of Performance: Two (2) aerial applications will occur. The first application will occur during the fall of 2018 (October 15 – November 15, 2018) in which 2,464 acres will be treated. The second application will occur during the spring of 2019 (March 5 – May 15, 2019) in which 2,605 acres will be treated. Exact treatment dates will be discussed with refuge personnel and will be dependent upon ant activity, weather conditions, and delivery of ant bait product. Application should be conducted when fire ants are active (extremely cold or extremely hot ambient temperatures reduce fire ant activity).

1.3 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be located on Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR.

1.4 Type of Contract: This is a Firm-Fixed Price contract.

1.5 Security Requirements: n/a

1.6 PHYSICAL Security: N/A.

1.7 Key Control (if applicable).N/A

1.7.3 Lock Combinations (if applicable). N/A

1.8 Special Qualifications: N/A

1.9 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: N/A

1.10 Contracting Officer Representative (COR)/Government Representative (GR): N/A

1.11 Key Personnel: N/A

1.12 Identification of Contractor Employees: N/A

1.13 Data Rights (If applicable): N/A

II. BACKGROUND

2.1 Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), located approximately 60 miles west of Houston, Texas, is one of the largest remnants of coastal prairie habitat remaining in southeast Texas and home to one of the last populations of the critically endangered Attwater's prairie-chicken (APC), a ground-dwelling grouse of the coastal prairie ecosystem. Formerly occupying some 6 million acres of coastal prairie habitat, the APC was once one of the most abundant resident birds of the Texas and Louisiana tall grass prairie ecosystem. Presently, less than 200,000 fragmented acres of coastal prairie habitat remain, leaving the birds scattered among 2 Texas counties. The refuge is one of a handful of national wildlife refuges managed specifically for an endangered species; however, recovery activities for this imperiled bird and management of its declining ecosystem go beyond the refuge's boundaries.

Near complete brood failure has been identified as a major factor limiting Attwater’s prairie chicken (APC) recovery, and has been identified as a high priority issue by the APC recovery team and 2010 APC Recovery Plan. Like most gallinaceous birds, prairie-chicken chicks are primarily insectivorous during the first weeks of life. Data suggests that lack of availability of insects as a food source for newly hatched chicks is contributing to the extremely poor brood survival observed. The disruptive impacts of the invasive red imported fire ant (RIFA) on native insect communities are well documented. In order to control RIFAs and increase APC brood survival, 5,069 acres on Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR will need to be treated.

III. SCOPE

3.1 Objective: To provide control of red imported fire ants to help increase APC brood survival.

3.2 Contractor must comply 100% with the agreed-upon plan of work. Method of treatment will be by air by use of fixed-wing aircraft. Contractor must use the specified RIFA bait Extinguish Plus for this treatment (provided by refuge). Aerial application of Extinguish Plus must be at 1 ½ pounds per acre and in accordance with the label. One treatment will be applied between October 15 – November 15, 2018, and will be dependent upon ant activity, weather conditions, and delivery of ant bait product. A second application will occur between March 5 and May 15, 2019, and also dependent upon ant activity, weather conditions, and delivery of ant bait product. All work must be completed according to work statement, EPA standards, and label restrictions.

3.3 The Contractor shall provide all personnel, labor (i.e. bait application), equipment, supplies , transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other non-personal services necessary to perform the requirements of this contract order and shall plan, schedule, coordinate, and ensure effective performance of required services for the entire duration of contract.

3.4 The Contractor will provide adequate personnel for the purpose of loading and dispersing of the bait. The Contractor will be responsible for all unloading/loading operations. All personnel and equipment to be used will be appropriately licensed and certificated as appropriate for the work to be done. The Contractor will be responsible for providing sufficient equipment, fuel (for equipment), safety items, spill response kit, personnel and their subsistence needs during the project period, as well as checking all work sites for hazards of any type which could affect their ability to accomplish the project. NOTE: The Contracting Officer reserves the right to require the Contractor to replace any operating personnel, or equipment used in the performance of this Contract if the personnel, or equipment are violating, or have violated, any state or federal laws; or are unsafe; or for any valid reason. In this event, the Contractor shall as soon as reasonably possible, upon written or verbal notice (to be later reduced to writing) from the Contracting Officer, provide replacements satisfactory to the Contracting Officer at no additional cost.

3.5 The Contractor will provide USFWS with contact information for all ground personnel, and vehicle, equipment, and aerial aircraft identification information (including make, model, color, name of company, contact information, number of the aircraft, expected flight elevation, duration of flight, and time and date of flight, and flight route) at least 24 hours before implementation of the project.

3.6 The Contractor will supply equipment to meter bait application, and will provide loading equipment. The Contractor must be capable of calibrating equipment to the final application rate specifications.

3.7 The Refuge Manager must be notified at least 24 hours prior to any application of bait.

IV. APPLICABLE DIRECTIVES

4.1 All Contractor employees performing work directly onsite must adhere to all local regulations, rules, policies relating to the obtainment of proper clearances, building access, site access, and badges as applicable.

4.2 The Contractor must abide by all applicable regulations, publications, manuals, and local policies and procedures.

4.3 OSHA (if applicable)

4.4 EPA regulations

4.5 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

4.6 The Contractor (or their representatives) must not litter. Litter violations will be handled under Federal Code of Regulations 50CFR27.94(a) , which carries a fine of up to $100.00 or more per incident upon conviction.

4.7 The Contractor is responsible for acquiring and maintaining all federal and local licenses, certification, and permits as required. State Certified Pesticide Applicator (License). Licensed pilot (i.e. certified to fly aircraft in the State of where work is performed).

V. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

5.1.1 Method of treatment / type of aircraft to be used – fixed-wing aircraft

5.1.2 Apply the bait at 1 ½ pounds per acre.

5.1.3 The Contractor shall only apply RIFA bait that has been approved through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Pesticide Use Proposal process (Extinguish Plus). Confirmation of permitted RIFA bait shall be coordinated with the Government/Site Representative/Refuge Manager and approved well in advance of the application. The Contractor shall be held liable for the use of any non-approved RIFA bait or damage occurring from the usage of a non-approved RIFA bait.

5.2 Special Requirements

5.2.1 The Contractor shall clean and flush spray equipment in accordance with EPA guidelines.

5.2.2 Responsible for safe disposal of all empty RIFA bait bags/containers. Disposal must be according to state and federal regulations.

5.2.3 Non-Target Damage: The Contractor shall, to the best of his/her ability, avoid small ponds/wet areas, and avoid disturbance and impacts to native wildlife.

5.2.4 Handling and Disposal: All RIFA bait shall be handled and stored in accordance with instructions on the EPA registration label. Unless otherwise noted, the Contractor shall be responsible for handling of all RIFA bait.

5.2.5 Contractor is responsible for cleaning up any spillage that may occur.

5.2.6 Coordinate with the Government to determine the date(s) and time(s) of RIFA bait application to minimize impacts on other Government activities. Contractor must have work dates and a plan of work approved by the USFWS 24 hours prior to beginning work.

5.2.7 The Contractor shall avoid small ponds/wet areas as much as possible. The Contractor shall not collect, harass, harm, or molest native plants or wildlife. If damage occurs, the Contractor shall be held liable if damage was determined to be because of Contractor negligence, the result of improper treatment techniques, or the result of Contractor control activities.

5.2.8 Public Safety: Public safety must be ensured when applying RIFA bait. It shall be the ultimate responsibility of the Contractor to initiate operations – GO/NO GO.

5.2.9 The Contractor shall provide workers with all Personal Protective Equipment. Hazards to be considered include bait exposure, heat exhaustion and stress. Appropriate precautions shall be implemented by the Contractor.

5.2.10 All spray tanks and mixing tanks must be properly cleaned (triple rinsed) prior to arrival because this will not be allowed on site.

5.2.11 The Contractor shall be responsible for the removal of all trash and treatment-related equipment. Trash shall be removed on a daily basis.

5.3 Special Conditions

5.3.1 The contractor will make every effort to complete the entire job in the same day.

However, work could be temporarily suspended during prescribed fire operations, severe weather, or similar events. The Contractor will be notified in advance when these events will occur and when work shall resume. Weather and site conditions may interfere with the time schedule. The COR shall inform the Contractor of the time schedule as work progresses. However, the Contracting Officer may halt work at any time upon written notice.

VI. WORK TIME/HOURS OF DUTY

6.1 Work will not be performed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

6.2 Hours of Operation: The Contractor is responsible for conducting business, between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. For other than firm fixed price contracts, the Contractor will not be reimbursed when the government facility is closed for the above reasons. The Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is not closed for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

VII. SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND UTILITIES

NOTE: As a government agency dedicated to “working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) strives to incorporate the most ecologically sound and environmentally beneficial technologies, materials, and practices into all aspects of planning and operations. To help achieve this mission and meet Executive Orders (EOs) and Department of the Interior (DOI) planning requirements, the FWS has implemented strategies to reduce the environmental impacts associated with procurement, lease acquisition, waste prevention and recycling, facility design, construction, operation and management, contracting and permitted commercial visitor services. These strategies have been collectively referred to as the FWS’s Green Procurement and Waste Prevention & Recycling Program (Greening Program) and are a part of the FWS’s overall approach to environmental management.

7.1 Government-Furnished Property and Services. The Government will provide the Contractor with the following items:

7.1.1 Services/Supply: none

7.1.2 Facilities: none

7.1.3 Utilities: none

7.1.4 Equipment: none

7.1.5 Materials: The Refuge will supply the Contractor with Extinguish Plus fire ant bait

7.2.1 All equipment to be used in the performance of work described herein is subject to the approval of the Government Representative (GR).

VIII. SUPERVISION

8.1 In order to ensure performance and accomplishment of the work as outlined herein, the Contractor shall provide adequate and competent supervision at all times for all work to be accomplished by the Contractor’s employees. When contract work is in progress, supervisory personnel shall be available at all times to receive notices, reports, or requests from the GR/COR or his authorized representative. At no time shall Government representatives direct or supervise the activities of the Contractor’s employees.

8.2 On-site Supervision. An on-site supervisor, with the ability to speak and understand English clearly and with the authority to act for the Contractor on a day-to-day basis and to sign for inspection reports and all other correspondence on behalf of the Contractor, shall be present at the work site at all times when contract work is in progress, unless the contractor employee can act on the supervisor’s behalf.

8.3. Supervisory Responsibilities. Supervisory responsibilities shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

8.3.1 Providing an adequate labor force; this includes the immediate replacement of personnel dismissed for cause or leaving employment of their own volition.

8.3.2 Ensuring that Contractor personnel are properly trained to perform their assigned work in a proper, safe, and efficient manner, and ensuring that the proper supplies, materials, and equipment are on hand.

8.3.3 Taking action to prevent general carelessness by employees and/or abuse of facilities or equipment.

8.3.4 Establishing an effective and comprehensive safety program.

8.3.5 Indoctrinating employees to report fire, hazardous conditions, and maintenance deficiencies.

8.3.6 Continually ensuring that the conduct of the Contractor’s employees reflects favorably upon the Contractor’s and FWS organization(s).

IX. CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

9.1 Supervisory Personnel. All supervisory employees engaged in directing the work to be accomplished under this contract shall possess, at least with-in the last two years of recent, experience in directing the subject service-type operations in a supervisory capacity for a project of the approximate size/scope under this contract.

X. DELIVERABLES

10.1 The aircraft pilot shall be responsible for collecting the following data: application date, location (longitude & latitude), acres treated, and hours worked.

10.2 A chemical use report, detailing application rates, coverage area, and other facts will be completed within 2 weeks of task completion.

10.3 A detailed treatment report that will include a map that is geo-referenced to the treatment zone and flight path will be submitted within 2 weeks of completing the treatment.

DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

(This technical exhibit lists any reports or documentation that is required as a deliverable to include the frequency, # of copies, medium/format and who/where it is to be submitted. A deliverable is anything that can be physically delivered but may include non-physical things such as meeting minutes.)

X1. Attachment/Technical Exhibit Listing

Performance Requirements Summary (The Contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the minimum acceptable levels of service required for each requirement. These thresholds are critical to mission success.)

Performance Objective (The Service required—usually a shall statement)

Method of Surveillance

PRS # 1.

The Contractor shall comply with work production/work schedule except for Excusable Delays.

Perform work as scheduled/workers onsite as scheduled.

PRS # 2

The Contractor shall comply with all work requirements and standards as indicated within the Work Statement

PRS # 3

The Contractor shall not damage government resources, fish, wildlife, and/or property when onsite