A04_Herbicide_Performance_Work_Statement.docx

Performance Work Statement Performance Work Statement Performance Work Statement Performance Work Statement

US Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS)

SELA Refuges Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Bogue Chitto NWR, and Bayou Sauvage Urban NWR

985-640-3277

6/2022

Contractor must comply 100% with the agreed-upon plan of work. Contractor must have work dates and a plan of work approved by the USFWS 48 hours prior to beginning work, preferably established during a face-to-face prework meeting. Contract is to spray herbicides to control broadleaf hardwoods competing with pine trees on three National Wildlife Refuges identified.

1.0 Introduction

The contractor will apply herbicide and appropriate adjuvant to up to 9 areas totaling approximately 1995.5 acres on Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, and Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuges.

Application must be done by aerial application and the choice of herbicides must be pre-approved by the FWS to maximize effectiveness of the treatment. Herbicide will be applied to areas that have been pre-defined and mapped within the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) geographic information system (GIS) database (see attached maps).

The contractor will apply enough herbicide to control 95% of ALL Broadleaf species (including Chinese Tallow, Wax Myrtle, & Yaupon) located in the midstory and understory but damage or kill no more than 5% of southern pine over story and grass species in areas located on Big Branch Marsh NWR in Saint Tammany Parish, LA, adjacent to and near the City of Slidell, LA, St Tammany parish and on Bogue Chitto NWR, located near Sun and Bush Louisiana, St Tammany Parish.

The contractor will apply enough herbicide to control 95% of ALL Chinese tallow trees in the Highway 11 spray units and all hardwoods in the Interstate 10 corridor units, including Chinese tallow and willow trees.

2.0 Background

Hurricanes and wildfires have reduced the amount of over story trees in the proposed treatment areas, and Chinese tallow tree, wax myrtle, yaupon, and others in the midstory and understory are becoming abundant due to an increase in sunlight through the forest canopy. On Big Branch Marsh and Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuges; similar to the effects of prescribed fire, herbicide control of broadleaf vegetation for pine release will promote wildlife habitat, reduce midstory vegetation, increase the growth of remaining pine trees, ultimately reduce wildland fire hazardous fuels, and promote the establishment of a native plant understory and associated animal communities on US Fish and Wildlife Service lands. On Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, herbicide spraying will remove all hardwood trees in select areas to create a vista view off Hwy 11 and interstate 10 for motorists to see refuge marshes.

3.0 Scope

The name brand and quantity of herbicide proposed by the contractor must be pre-approved by the USFWS through a Pesticide Use Proposal 30 days prior to application. Rates applied will likely be the highest rate recommended on the label for that treatment. Upon request, the USFWS can supply a list of commonly used and approved chemicals for the Southeast Region. The contractor will apply chemicals aerially to control at least 95% of broadleaf species under the overstory within map units provided.

3) All work must be done according to the plan of work, EPA standards, and herbicide label restrictions.

4) The contractor will supply all material, equipment, and labor to perform the herbicide treatments as well as supplying all chemicals, including herbicide and adjuvant.

5) The contractor will supply equipment to meter chemicals and water mixtures, and will provide mixing and loading equipment and water. Water hauling services may be required.

6) Equipment and personnel must be able to work at a semi-remote and semi-primitive site (i.e., no electrical or water hookups, bathrooms, or other facilities available). location of helicopter landing zones must be made at the responsibility of the contractor. The refuge does not guarantee a helispot to provide to the contractor. However, with coordination with refuge staff, landing zones may be obtained within or near refuge property for some units.

7) The contractor must be capable of calibrating equipment to the final application rate specifications.

8) The Refuge Manager must be notified at least 48 hours prior to any application of chemicals. No applications will be made during hunting seasons on the refuge to avoid spraying over the public.

9) The contractor will provide adequate personnel for the purpose of loading and dispersing of the chemicals. 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, equipment fuel, 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 spraying project.

10) The contractor will be responsible for all loading operations. Movement of chemicals, water, and equipment in and around an operation location will be the sole responsibility of the applicators.

11) The contractor will provide USFWS with contact information for all ground personnel, and vehicle and equipment identification information (including make, model, and color) at least 24 hours before implementation of the project.

12) No chemical applications may be made when sustained wind speeds exceed 8 MPH, when temperatures exceed 95 F, or when precipitation is forecast within 6 hours. Minimum buffers must be maintained to prevent spray drift onto undesired vegetation.

14) Period of Performance: September 1, through August 30, with no performance allowed between October 1 through March 31 because of public hunting. If work is prohibited by the USFWS due to extended wet weather, negotiations may be made to lengthen the contract period. This is a two year contract ending September 30 on the second year after awarded.

4.0 Applicable Directives

· 52.237-02 Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment, and Vegetation

· 52.222-54 Employment Eligibility Verification

· 52.236-13 Accident Prevention

· 52.237-03 Continuity of Service

· 52.249-14 Excusable Delays

5.0 Performance Requirements

1. Apply herbicide according to desired outcomes as per label directions and quantities.

2. Report proposed herbicide brand and adjuvant with application rates to the Refuge with bid. Herbicide must be approved by the Refuge.

3. 100% coverage of the treatment area, 95% minimal control of target vegetation measured within one month after last application by Refuge staff.

4. Minimal kill of 5% residual midstory and understory pine trees or other desirable native grass species. Current overstory tree density ranges from approximately 0-120 square feet of basal area per acre and canopy closure from 0-90%.

6.0 Deliverables

· Contractor shall provide:

· Daily logs to document work.

· Proposed herbicide and adjuvant with application rates. MSDS and herbicide labels may be required as well as a safety/spill response plan.

· A government representative will inspect all areas periodically during the contract period and will perform a final inspection of all areas 30 days following treatments.

7.0 Maps.

Line item 10: Bayou Sauvage Urban NWR: Bid per acre: Interstate 10 aerial chemical control of all hardwoods (510 acres).

Figure 10. Location of interstate 10 corridor for aerial hardwood control.

Line item 20: Bayou Sauvage Urban NWR: Bid per acre: Highway 11 Chinese tallow tree aerial chemical control.

Figure 2. Location of tallow tree control zones on Bayou Sauvage Urban NWR.

Line item 30: Bogue Chitto NWR: Bid Per Acre: Lock 3 aerial spray unit to release pine trees (307 acres).

Figure 3. Location of Lock 3 aerial pine release spray unit.

Line Item 40: Bid Per Acre: Big Branch Marsh NWR. Boy Scout Rd aerial spray unit to release pine (205 acres).

Figure 4. Location of Boy Scout aerial pine release unit.

Line Item 50: Bid Per Acre: Big Branch Marsh NWR. Mossler M North (60 acres).

Figure 5. Location of Mossler M aerial pine release spray unit.

Line Item 60: Bid Per Acre: Big Branch Marsh NWR. Mossler North aerial spray unit (78.5 acres).

Figure 6. Location of Mossler North aerial pine release spray unit.

Line Item 70: Bid Per Acre: Salmen aerial pine release units (436 acres).

Figure 7. Location of Salmen pine release aerial spray units.

Line Item 80: Bid Per Acre: SNG aerial pine release spray unit (90 acres).

Figure 8. Location of SNG aerial pine release spray unit.

Line item 90: Big Branch Marsh NWR: Boy Scout Unit (205 acres).

Figure 9. Location of Boy Scout aerial herbicide spray unit for pine release.

End of Performance Work Statement.

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