A04_SOW_Antelope_Butte-Table_Mountain_Midslope_Fuelbreak_Herbicide_FY26.docx

Antelope Butte-Table Mountain Midslope Fuelbreak Herbicide FY26 Statement of Work

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Bureau of Land Management in collaboration with the Wildland Fire Service is seeking contractor services for vegetation treatment on selected sites administered by the Battle Mountain District (see attached map). The work consists of applying herbicides in select locations near Antelope Butte in Lander County, Nevada, and Table Mountain in Eureka County, Nevada, for control of invasive and/or noxious weeds on BLM administered lands. The work shall consist of application of contractor-furnished herbicide and adjuvant within the potential project areas as defined on the attached maps. Application will occur in fire-impacted areas. The areas covered under this Contract contain at least 7,649 acres, with the Government Option to extend the areas to 9,300 acres total. The Contract areas contain expansive sections, with many sections potentially ranging greater than 60 % slope.

1.2 The Antelope Butte Unit, consisting of 7,649 acres, is guaranteed with this contract. The Government Option area, Table Mountain Unit, consisting of 1,651 acres, will be awarded based on the average price per acre of the bid price of the Government Option area and may not be filled completely, or the Government Option area may also not be awarded.

1.3 There is no ground disturbance allowed within the project areas due to the potential to create additional disturbance that could further the spread of invasive weeds or impact cultural resources that are susceptible to damage from overland travel.

Table 1: Summary of Units

Guaranteed:

Antelope Butte Unit 7,649 acres

Government Option:

Table Mountain Unit 1,651 acres

Total (Including Government Option) 9,300 acres

2.0 Background

2.1 The purpose of the project is to reduce hazardous fine fuel loading, prevent spread of wildfire through the grassy understory in future wildfire events, to create a safer environment for fire personnel during an incident response, and to improve the success of fire suppression activities within the project area. This project is also intended to improve the overall health of sagebrush and woodland ecological sites in order to promote more fire resistance and resilient communities. Decreasing the fine fuel loading will assist in reducing the risk and severity of wildfire and improve other resource values within the treatment area.

2.2 Vegetation in these units is typical for the Great Basin and consists of a mixture of pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush, bitterbrush, and various grasses. The treatment units may have areas with slopes that exceed 60%, but the overall topography is relatively average for these sites, with slopes mostly ranging from 5% to 50%.

3.0 General Information

3.1 Site Tour: Interested parties are urged and expected to inspect the site where services are to be performed to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the cost of contract performance, to the extent that the information is reasonably obtainable. The BLM will not be conducting a pre-bid tour of the project area. In no event shall failure to inspect the site constitute grounds for a claim after contract award. Inquiries about project location are welcome, and maps to assist in site visits are available at the Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820.

3.2 The Contractor shall provide such operation facilities as may be required for competent performance of contract. Use of any operation area shall be arranged by and at the discretion and risk of the Contractor, and the Government shall not be held responsible for any loss, mishap, or accident due to conditions of any operating facility used. Contractor will return sites and any roads utilized for operations of contract performance to pre-use condition.

3.3 Designated areas shall be treated in conformance with these specifications and this Statement of Work. Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor shall furnish at work sites all equipment, labor, supplies, and materials required to complete the job as specified in this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for service and repair of equipment as necessary to continually maintain satisfactory work progress. The contractor shall be responsible for the transportation and storage of the supplies and equipment used for the project.

3.4 The contractor is responsible for making sure that the correct treatment specifications are followed within each designated area.

3.5 Work Crew: Crew for operation of equipment and any additional site needs.

4.0 Scope of Work: Herbicide Application without Ground Disturbance

4.1 Pesticide Application Record (PAR): For all pesticide applications the Contractor shall fill out a PAR within 24 hours of application of treated sites.

4.1.1 The Contractor shall submit to the COR/Project Inspector (PI) within 3 business days of project completion

4.1.2 The Contractor shall complete all fields on the PAR form.

4.1.3 The Contractor shall fill out a separate PAR for each day of treatment and for each site at a minimum (if multiple sites are visited in one day, the Contractor shall submit multiple PARs).

4.1.4 The Contractor may include more than one species on the same PAR if those species are treated in the same location with the same pesticide (See Attachments – BMDO Pesticide Application Record (PAR)).

4.1.5 As part of the PARs process, the Contractor shall provide onsite spot weather while applying the herbicide.

4.2 Mixing Methods:

4.2.1 All mixing shall be done to label, BLM, and state policies and requirements. This can include secondary containers, specific measurements and calibrations, spill containment and cleanup, and ensuring mix sites are in correct locations.

4.2.1.1 The applicators and Contractor shall ensure they follow these policies.

4.3 Quality Assurance and Quality Control Methods:

4.3.1 The Contractor shall furnish equipment to monitor and ensure evenly spaced, straight, regular, and complete coverage of all areas included in the Contract.

4.3.1.1 The Contractor shall ensure the correct spray rate is applied and that there is quality control in place to ensure the ground coverage is complete and accurate.

4.3.2 Both the Contractor and the Government will conduct tests as operations progress to determine uniformity of application.

4.3.3 The Contractor shall provide to the Government:

4.3.3.1 A written plan explaining how the Contractor will determine uniformity of spraying, and

4.3.3.2 All records of outcomes during implementation.

4.3.4 The Contractor and the COR/PI will both monitor to determine the uniformity of herbicide application.

4.3.4.1 If coverage is deemed unsatisfactory, the Contractor shall treat those areas again at no additional cost to the BLM.

4.4 Application:

4.4.1 Battle Mountain District Office has approval for the Contractor to use the following Herbicides:

Table 2: Imazapic Herbicides Approved for Use in Battle Mountain District

4.4.2 Battle Mountain District Office has approval for the Contractor to use the following Surfactants:

Table 3: Non-ionic Surfactants Approved for Use in Battle Mountain District

4.4.3 The Contractor shall ensure the rate of application does not exceed the maximum rates of herbicide application and surfactant application listed on the manufacturer labels.

4.4.4 The Contractor shall apply the Herbicide utilizing water as a carrier.

4.4.5 The Contractor shall use 2 or more gallons of water per acre when applying.

4.5 Environmental Considerations:

4.5.1 Work Period

4.5.1.1 Spraying Operations will be permitted only during daylight hours.

4.5.1.2 The Contractor shall have personnel on project site prior to commencing daily application, during application, and will notify COR/PI of changing weather conditions.

4.5.1.3 The COR/PI will allow Contractor to continue or stop application as weather factors dictate.

4.5.1.4 The COR/PI will give permission to start approximately one (1) hour from notification of conditions, depending on the location of the project area from the Battle Mountain District Office.

4.5.2 Wind

4.5.2.1 The Contractor shall follow the Label Section on Spray Drift Management - Wind.

4.5.2.2 Local wind can influence wind patterns. Every applicator shall be familiar with local wind patterns and how they affect drift.

4.5.2.3 The Contractor shall cease all applications if winds are gusty and/or exceed 6 mph for all applications.

4.5.2.4 The Contractor shall collect measurements on-site during the time of application.

4.5.3 Relative Humidity

4.5.3.1 The Contractor shall refer to the manufacturer label when making applications in low relative humidity conditions.

4.5.3.2 The Contractor shall collect measurements on-site during the time of application.

4.5.4 Precipitation

4.5.4.1 The Contractor shall refer to the manufacturer label when making applications while rain is in the weather forecast.

4.5.4.2 If a forecasted precipitation event takes place following an application and washes out the herbicide, then the Contractor shall treat those areas again at no additional cost to the BLM.

4.5.5 Site Conditions

4.5.5.1 The Contractor shall not conduct spray treatment if conditions do not meet federal, state, BLM, or manufacturer label requirements

4.5.5.2 Whenever a specification by Agency; State or Federal law; or manufacturer label direction has a contradiction, the most stringent interpretation shall take precedence.

4.5.6 Waterways

4.5.6.1 The Contractor shall not apply Herbicide within 100 feet of water sources (troughs, ponds, open water)

4.5.6.2 The Contractor shall apply Herbicide consistently with the maps and shapefiles provided by the BLM.

4.5.6.3 The applicator and the Contractor shall use due diligence to ensure all applications uphold all applicable policies.

4.5.7 The Contractor shall restore all roads (public and private) damaged or opened by the Contractor to their condition prior to commencement of work, at no additional cost to the BLM.

5.0 Other Restrictive Features

5.1 The Government may issue a suspend work order and/or partially terminate any portion of the work at any time when application conditions are considered sufficiently unfavorable to warrant stoppage.

5.1.1 Stoppage shall continue until application operations are again authorized by the Government.

5.1.2 No monetary compensation will be given to the contractor for work suspensions.

5.2 Risk Damages:

5.2.1 The Contractor shall assume all risks in connection with performance of the Contract.

5.2.2 The Contractor shall be liable for any damages to persons or property in connection with the prosecution of the work, including the applicator or other employees of the Contractor.

6.0 Location

6.1 These projects units are located in Lander and Eureka Counties, Nevada.

6.1.1 The Antelope Butte Unit, guaranteed with this contract, is located west of Nevada Hwy 305 in Lander County, Nevada.

6.1.2 The Table Mountain Unit, the Government Option area, is located east of Nevada Hwy 278 in Eureka County, Nevada.

6.2 The project units are found within the following legal land descriptions (Mount Diablo Base & Meridian):

6.2.1 Antelope Butte Unit (guaranteed with this contract):

Township 24N, Range 41E; Sections 13, 23, 24, 26, 27, 34, and 35 Township 24N, Range 42E; Sections 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 31, and 32 Township 23.5N, Range 41E; Sections 2 and 3 Township 23N, Range 41E; Sections 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, and 35 Township 23N, Range 42E; Sections 5 and 6

6.2.2 Table Mountain Unit (Government Option):

Township 26N, Range 51E; Sections 35 and 36 Township 25N, Range 51E; Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, and 25

7.0 Expected Delivery or Performance Times

7.1 The period of performance is between September 15, 2026 to December 30th, 2026.

7.2 Government preference is starting and completing the project in November. However, due to weather conditions during this time, soil moisture, soil temperature, snow cover, and time frames may need to be re-negotiated. Government preference is for application immediately prior to wetting rain/snow event.

7.3 The Government acknowledges that weather conditions during this time may impede this time frame. The contract performance period will not be extended due to misallocation of time or resources by the contractor. Winter weather will most likely impact the project toward the end of the period of performance, so extensions will most likely not be allowed due to weather affecting completion of the project.

7.4 The Contractor shall contact the authorized BLM COR/PI 72 hours prior to implementing any work specified in this contract. Furthermore, the COR/PI may be present at the prescribed work sites to inspect the Contractor. The contract is not complete until all GIS and PARs have been submitted and accepted by BLM.

7.5 At the pre-work conference the Contractor shall provide the COR a written “work progress” plan that details his/her proposed workforce and schedule to provide for orderly completion of the work within the contract performance times. This work schedule must be acceptable to the government. At a minimum the schedule should reflect a work progress rate equal to the available amount of contract performance time. The unit sequence work schedule will be determined by the COR at the pre-work conference and may be subject to change because of normal variations in weather conditions at no change in contract time or price.

7.6 The Contractor shall begin work within seven calendar days of the start date set/agreed upon at the pre-work conference. The Contractor shall continue performance of the work under the contract without delay or interruption except by causes beyond his/her control as defined by contract clauses, or by the receipt of a “Suspend Work Order” issued by the Government. Failure to do so may be cause for action under the “Default” clause. The Contractor shall complete all work required within the time specified.

8.0 Boundaries

8.1 Maps and GIS shapefiles of the unit boundaries will be provided for upload into a GPS unit provided by the selected contractor. The selected contractor will be responsible for navigating with a GPS unit to stay within the project boundaries. The Government will only be on site for periodic work inspection.

8.2 Only BLM land is allowed to be treated under this contract. The Contractor is responsible for determining that the treated area is within the correct area and on BLM-administered land only. The Contractor should not treat any areas on private land under this contract.

8.3 Minor boundary adjustments to treatment units, up to 10% of the total project area, may occur for administrative purposes during project implementation that would potentially change the size or shape of treatment units. These adjustments WILL NOT change the total project size.

9.0 Access

9.1 Travel over rugged terrain should be expected to access portions of the project area. Some slopes may have precipitous terrain and obstructions within the project area.

9.2 Contractor is responsible for identification and avoidance of any ground and aerial hazards.

10.0 Contractor Furnished Property and Services

10.1 Contractor must hold a current Nevada Commercial Applicator License (Please note Nevada does not allow reciprocity with other states for Applicator Licenses). All vegetation control measures shall comply with the provisions set forth in the Record of Decision for the Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic EIS (September 2007), as well as all federal, state, and local regulations and applicable land-use permitting procedure.

10.2 The contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, fuel, supervision, supplies (except those designated as Government-furnished) and incidentals to perform all work as set forth in the specifications. The contractor will be responsible the transportation and storage of the supplies and equipment used for the project. The contractor will provide their own GPS unit that and will GPS daily all areas sprayed. The GIS data submitted to the Battle Mountain District will be VMAP or NISIMS (National Invasive Species Information Management System) compatible, if not already GPSed with the S1 Toolbar. The contractor will provide their own quality and quantity control methods. These methods will be included with the initial submission of the application.

10.3 The contractor shall be responsible for purchasing, safely transporting, storing and disposal of the herbicide as follows:

10.3.1 Herbicide

10.3.1.1 *A BLM-approved Imazapic at 8 fluid ounces per acre.

10.3.2 Adjuvants

10.3.2.1 *BLM approved surfactant compatible with the application type, active ingredient, and applied at the rate identified on product’s labels.

10.3.3 **See section 4.4 for the Chemical and Adjuvant options available for use within this contract.

10.3.4 The contractor shall ensure the application of the herbicide meets all label specifications. The contractor shall be responsible for cleanup of accidental spills, following proper handling and storage precautions, and ensuring proper exposure control and personal protection is provided, as defined by the Herbicides’ and Adjuvants’ herbicide Safety Data Sheets.

10.3.5 The contractor shall comply with all Federal, State, and Local regulations.

11.0 Required Equipment

11.1 Software: Software provided with DGPS must be designed for parallel offset in increments equal to the assigned swath width of the application equipment.

11.2 Project Log: Must be capable of a minimum rate of one-second logging intervals. Full record includes position, time, speed, track, application system on/off, job name/number, and differential correction status. The computer program must be capable of calculating and show total acres treated during the application and also capable of downloading to a computer for analysis and review. The project log must show and differentiate between spray-on and spray-off when viewed on a computer. Export files of each project log shall be provided and must be compatible with ESRI ArcGIS. The Contractor will provide project log data at the end of each day’s application in a format able to be viewed on ESRI ArcGIS or other appropriate format (shapefiles, .gpx, .kml, etc.). GIS data must be provided daily to the COR or designated representative. The Contract will not be considered complete until the data has been reviewed and deemed complete with no skips in the sprayed areas. The DGPS system must be capable of zooming in on any portion of the treatment to view a specific area with greater detail.

11.3 Hardware:

11.3.1 Requirements for Visual Display Monitor and Control Keypad

11.3.1.1 Capable of displaying swath width over project path.

11.3.1.2 Mounted in a location that will allow the applicator to view the screen.

11.3.1.3 Have a method to display nested polygons to indicate sensitive or no-spray areas within or adjacent to treatment blocks.

11.3.1.4 Have a feature that allows the applicator to return to the exact location of application shutdown and complete application without omitted or doubled treated areas.

11.3.1.5 Be able to input reference waypoints (A-B line).

11.3.1.6 Have a feature which alerts applicator when they are about to enter or exit a specific treatment block or an exclusion area within a block.

11.4 Course Deviation Indicator (CDI): The course deviation indicator or course deviation light must have the capability to display both cross-track error and intercept angle to desired heading. Cross-track error shall be adjustable down to one foot.

11.5 DGPS navigation unit shall ensure straight and regular paths of application. Irregular paths of application will result in immediate stoppage of work. Corrective action shall be taken immediately by the contractor to ensure evenly spaced, straight and regular application paths and complete coverage of areas included in the spraying job. The entire surface within the designated boundaries of the project area shall receive uniform coverage with herbicide except for areas excluded by the Government. Areas excluded from the herbicide operation within the designated boundaries will not be included in the acreage computed for payment. Dispersal shall be low enough to obtain proper distribution and uniform coverage of herbicide. Liquid application shall not be made during a rainstorm, snowstorm, or when the ground is frozen.

12.0 Government Furnished Property and Services

12.1 Government shall provide maps depicting the project area and may include avoidance areas or other special features, if present. A GIS shapefile, KMZ file, and a geo-referenced PDF can be provided, to the contractor, of the project boundary to be uploaded to a GPS or mobile device. Whatever device is used to track the progress of the project, it must be sufficiently sensitive to provide an accuracy of ± 15ft in either the WGS84 or NAD83 datum.

13.0 Bid Packets

13.1 Bid submissions should include the following:

13.1.1 Overall cost estimate, with a breakout of itemized price proposal.

13.1.2 List of personnel numbers and equipment proposed for the project.

13.1.3 Descriptions of similar projects performed.

13.1.4 Estimated timeline to complete the project.

13.1.5 Contractors are to submit a single bid for the Antelope Butte Unit, guaranteed within this contract, along with the Table Mountain Unit, the Government Option, on a per acre basis.

14.0 Measurement and Payment

14.1 Application of liquid herbicide will be measured and paid for by the number of acres treated to the nearest acre.

14.2 Measurement for payment for herbicide treatment will be the actual area, in acres, within the designated boundaries satisfactorily treated in conformance with these specifications. Measurement will be made from either physical surveys of the areas or a computer-generated file created in a GPS Differential Guidance System at the option of the BLM. The shapefile will be used in ArcGIS for final acreage measurement. Acreages will be computed from horizontal distances as shown on maps at the option of the BLM.

14.3 If the quantity of a unit-priced item in this contract is an estimated quantity and the actual quantity of the unit-priced item varies more than 10 percent above or below the estimated quantity, an equitable adjustment in the contract price shall be made upon demand of either party. The equitable adjustment shall be based upon any increase or decrease in costs due solely to the variation above 110% or below 90% of the estimated quantity. If the quantity variation is such as to cause an increase in the time necessary for the completion the contractor may request, in writing, an extension of time, to be received by the Contracting Officer within 10 days from the beginning of the delay, or within such further period as may be granted by the Contracting Officer before the date of final settlement of the contract. Upon receipt of a written request for an extension, the Contracting Officer shall ascertain the facts and make an adjustment for extending the completion date as, in the judgment of the Contracting Officer, is justified.

15.0 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and/or Project Inspector (PI)

15.1 The COR will be appointed by the Contracting Officer upon award of the contract. The COR/PI will be responsible for giving the contractor any special instructions or guidance necessary to complete delivery as required by the contract. The COR and/or PI does not have the authority to modify or in any way amend the terms of this contract.

16.0 Safety

16.1 The contractor is responsible for providing a safety plan that identifies a point of contact in the event of any accident. The plan should include names and emergency phone numbers for personnel and facilities to contact, including Flight For Life/Life Flight/Care Flight, etc., in case an emergency warrants such actions. The plan should also include a description of on-site emergency procedures to follow in case of an accident. The plan should identify the insurance company providing coverage and the pertinent group coverage number.

16.2 In addition to being responsible for the safety of their employees, the contractor is also responsible for providing for the safety of the public during operations. This includes compliance with all OSHA and State of Nevada regulations for the use of equipment.

16.3 Any hazards that would pose a danger to Contractor, Contractor’s personnel, the public or operating equipment should be identified, mitigated and/or avoided by the Contractor and brought to the Government representative’s attention.

16.4 Transportation of herbicides - The Contractor shall be responsible for the transport of chemical herbicides used to fulfill the specifications of this contract to the Contractor’s loading site. The Contractor shall secure herbicide containers in mixing area to prevent spillage. The Contractor shall load and transport herbicide from the pickup point to the work sites and shall be responsible for its protection from loss or damage due to weather, rodents, insects, theft, or any other hazard.

16.5 Protective clothing and equipment for contract employees exposed to herbicides - The Contractor shall supply protective clothing and equipment to contract workers that guarantee minimal exposure throughout the herbicide application process. The Contractor shall follow all advice on protective clothing and equipment which appears on the herbicide label and/or SDS documentation. The Contractor shall make available cleanup facilities to contract employees exposed to herbicides or herbicide-contaminated equipment.

16.6 Storage of herbicides - The Contractor will be responsible for the storage of all chemicals.

16.7 Mixing and Application of Herbicides:

16.7.1 The Contractor shall mix herbicides in accordance with the proportions listed on the product labels and Detailed Specification Section. The Contractor shall provide adequate protective clothing and equipment for contract employees who mix the herbicides.

16.7.2 By law, the application of an herbicide, either directly or through drift, must not expose workers or other people. The Contractor shall be very aware and cautious of any environmental hazard present during herbicide application. Upon completion of herbicide application, the Contractor shall thoroughly clean equipment and dispose of waters, residues, rinses, and unused herbicides only according to EPA and Nevada State regulations. All empty herbicide containers will be tripled rinsed, labels removed, and punctured by the Contractor after mixing. The Contractor shall be responsible for disposal of the empty boxes, labels, and lids. The Contractor shall be responsible for disposal or recycling of the empty containers.

16.8 Spills and Accidents:

16.8.1 The Contractor shall ensure a spill cleanup kit is available wherever pesticides are used, transported, or stored. A Spill Containment Kit shall be of sufficient size to contain 10% more herbicide than the Contractor has on site, plus additional items such as absorbent material, shovel, garbage bags with ties and labels, paper towels, hose clamps, duct tape, and hand tools sufficient to stop the leak and contain the spill.

16.8.2 The Contractor shall be responsible if accidents and chemical spills occur. The Contractor shall report spills and accidents immediately to the BLM-authorized officers and appropriate local authorities. The Contractor shall provide immediate treatment of contaminated or injured persons and seek professional medical attention when necessary. The Contractor shall control chemical spills quickly and shall secure additional help when the Contractor cannot effectively or safely handle the spill cleanup. Spills will be the responsibility of the Contractor and shall be cleaned up to the satisfaction of the local authorities.

17.0 Special Needs

17.1 Aviation Utilization:

17.1.1 If UAS will be utilized (i.e., Unmanned Aircraft System) please describe the equipment to be used, compliant with OPM-35 and DOI covered UAS assessment Guide Version 4.0 (see attached).