A04__Sandy_BAR_SOW.docx

Department of the Interior National Park Service

Title: 2024 Sandy BAR

COR: William Snyder

Fiscal Year of Funding: FY 2024

Total Funding Not to Exceed: $387,500

Project Objective: As shown on the accompanying map: 1.) Grid survey the entire contract areas for presence of Melaleuca and Lygodium 2) Visually inspect each 250m grid for the presence of Melaleuca and/or Lygodium. 3.) Aerially treat all Melaleuca and Lygodium observed using a combination of boom or spot-spray techniques. 4.) Objective 1, 2 and 3 can be performed in one pass.

CONFIDENTIALITY: The information developed under this task order is the property of the U.S. government and shall be kept in strict confidence.

PERFORMANCE PERIOD: The work for this task order shall be provided from 1 December 2024 to Nov 30 2025.

While the POP is 12 months, it is understood that the optimal time to aerially apply herbicide is during the winter dry period. Work should commence as soon as environmental conditions allow.

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION: The work of this agreement shall consist of the services described below for the referenced project. In this document, the project shall be referred to as:

2024 Sandy BAR

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Project Size: Total gross acres of the project area: 19,800 acres

Habitat description and information: Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY) is a 729,000 acre unit of the National Park Service. The area is generally roadless with very limited access available only by use of an off-road vehicle. A variety of vegetation communities are represented within the contract area. Vegetation communities include open prairie, pineland, hammock, cypress forests and mangrove areas. This Task Order (TO) proposes the aerial treatment of Melaleuca and Lygodium within the areas depicted on the accompanying map. Big Cypress is home to several federally listed endangered wildlife species including the Florida panther, Red-cockaded woodpecker and the Eastern indigo snake.

II. FUNDING LIMITATIONS

The Government obligation for performance of this task order beyond this phase is contingent upon the availability of funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond the amount that has been authorized through the issuance of written task orders.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES-TASKS

Invasive plants of varying density levels are found throughout BICY. These plants have been actively treated since the late 1970’s. The goal of the BICY invasive plant program is the coordinated and consistent management of invasive plants in order to maintain their populations at the lowest feasible levels.

In this project BICY intends to contract for services to aerially treat two invasive plant species. It is understood that the primary species present in the area is Melaleuca and Lygodium. The accompanying map indicating presence and location of invasive plants within the treatment area are from aerial reconnaissance flights conducted between 2021 and the present.

· All equipment necessary for the execution of this task order will be provided by the vendor.

· Target species will be treated appropriately and left to naturally decompose.

· Vendor is responsible for aviation services.

· GOV will provide herbicide and surfactant and dye.

Herbicide Use:

1) Submit the proposed herbicides to be used on this project to the COR a minimum of four weeks prior to application. Per the base contract include the EPA registration number, the MSDS sheets, method of application, and approximate dates of application.

2) All herbicide applications shall comply with product labels, including the location where it shall be applied, and the plants to which it shall be applied.

3) Be familiar with, and adhere to, all Federal, state, territorial or local safety regulations pertaining to natural area weed control operations.

Schedule:

1) Provide a schedule for this project including start date, and overall completion date.

2) Provide schedule of breaks including number of breaks, when the breaks shall occur and how long breaks shall last.

Treatment:

1) Melaleuca and Lygodium will be identified and treated aerially. All identified invasive species will be treated using a combination of boom and/or spot aerial application techniques.

2) The contractor shall, on a daily basis, electronically record all treatment information for this project using AgNav or similar system specifically designed for aerial application of herbicide. For aerially treated sites that includes all spray-on spray-off data and herbicide use and formulation. On-off data must be discernable by date.

3) The contractor shall submit invoices to the NPS Contracting Officer and the COR.

4) All data submitted in association with application of herbicides will be submitted Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system UTM-17/NAD-83 datum.

5) GPS Information shall be submitted as an ArcGIS shapefile.

6) Any flight crew applying herbicide must possess a valid Florida Pesticide Applicators license with a natural area and aerial endorsement.

7) Project supervisor is responsible for sending two texts daily to COR. One in the morning indicating where they are working and the second in the afternoon upon exiting the field or ending aerial operations.

8) Aviation resources used for this TO must coordinate with NPS aviation management.

9) Python reporting and capture: If a python (Python molurus) is encountered during the conduction of exotic vegetation treatment during the period of performance for this task order, Matthew McCollister should be notified at (239) 994-6237 or Everglades Dispatch (305) 242-7740.

10) Final deliverables required before any payment is processed: 1.) Consolidated .shp file/s of all flight lines, from agNAV system depicting ferry flights to and from contract area and herbicide release discernable by date/day and activity. 2.) A table of treatments depicting by date: hours flown, amount of herbicide applied, herbicide product, rate and dilutent. 3.) A table of all treatment location by date: listing individual treatment centroid coordinate in UTM, herbicide release at that location, herbicide used, rate and dilutent.

Bidders information- For the attached area map, please include in your bid for evaluation information pertaining sites within the 2024 Sandy BAR area.

1. Flight Rate cost per hour for boom treatment NOT including herbicide

2. Flight Rate cost per hour for aerial spot-spray applications NOT including herbicide

3. Estimate number of hours to complete.

A geo-file with general infestation data will be made available to each bidder. The data provided in the geo-file is for general information only. The data was collected aerially from a moving aircraft. Thus, species densities are NOT to be relied upon for bidding, but rather a guide to which species were observed, general species densities and locations. The 250m squares depicted on the map indicate a presence of invasive plants. They are not dense areas of infestation and simply serve as a guide to where infestations have been observed. Understand that an additional visual inspection by the applicator is necessary prior to any application of herbicide.

Figure 1 Treatment Area Map

IV. QUALITY STANDARDS

All work performed shall comply with applicable laws, regulations, NPS policies and guidelines, the requirements of the base IDIQ contract if applicable, and as described in this statement of work.

A. Plant Knowledge: The contractor shall have an in-depth knowledge of the treatment area plant community. This includes plant identification skills for both native and exotic species.

B. Safety Protocol: Contractor shall follow safety protocols to prevent accidents.

Contractor and park shall develop accident reporting procedures and contacts.

C. Site Housekeeping: The contractor shall keep a clean job site. Dirt clods, trash, and other debris shall be removed from the jobsite prior to departure each day.

D. Quality Assurance: The contractor and staff shall have knowledge and experience with current control technologies of exotic pest plants common to the ecosystem being treated. The contractor shall fully comply with all applicable local, state and Federal regulations.

E. Clean Vehicle and Equipment Standards: All vehicles and equipment shall be inspected for mud, weeds, exotic seeds and other unwanted substances before their entry into Big Cypress National Preserve. The contractor shall power-wash all equipment before entry. The NPS reserves the right to reject equipment that is dirty and could potentially spread unwanted substances within the park. Vehicles may require cleaning upon leaving the site.

V. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Negotiable if necessary

VI. OTHER CONSIDERATION

N/A

VII. DELIVERY SCHEDULE

The contractor shall complete all work and services no later than November 30, 2025.

X. KEY PERSONNEL

National Park Service Park Representative William Snyder Big Cypress National Preserve Phone, FAX e-mail: 239-695-1112, william_snyder@nps.gov

Botanist Courtney Angelo Big Cypress National Preserve 33100 Tamiami Trail East Ochopee, FL, 34141 courtney_angelo@nps.gov

Principle Contractor

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