A04_SOW.docx

Follow-up Herbicide Application for Woody Removal at Howard Farm WPA U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Minnesota Valley NWR/WMD

Statement of Work Exhibit A

Project: Herbicide application to woody regrowth, up to 73.3 acres Project Location: Howard Farm WPA, Blue Earth County: T107N: R28W: S10, 15, 16 Project Performance Period: July 15th, 2024 – September 1st, 2024 Project Manager: Dan Paulson (Daniel_Paulson@fws.gov 612-505-4258) Alternate Project Manager: Jacob Randa (Jacob_Randa@fws.gov 612-757-9781)

Bids and Site Visit All bids are to be submitted on a “PER ACRE” unit-price basis. If the contractor would like a site visit prior to submitting a bid for this project, please contact Jacob Randa (Jacob_Randa@fws.gov, 612-757-9781) or Dan Paulson (Daniel_Paulson@fws.gov, 612-505-4258). There will be one site visit with all contractors that would like one.

Location Project area includes the southern units of Howard Farm WPA (see attached map), located in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, approximately 2 miles southeast of Lake Crystal, MN. (T107N: R28W: S10, 15, 16)

Project Information Minnesota Valley NWR/WMD is seeking a qualified contractor to conduct follow-up herbicide treatment on woody species regrowth in management units that were mechanically treated (i.e. mowed) in June 2023. Follow-up treatment will reduce the vigor of woody regrowth, promote prairie plants, provide habitat for grassland dependent species, and increase prescribed fire efficacy by reducing heavy fuels.

Description of Work This is a non-personal services contract order for the application of approved herbicide UP TO 73.3 acres of woody regrowth. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, labor (e.g. herbicide application), equipment, supplies (e.g. herbicides, surfactant, water), 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 the contract.

Description of Project Areas:

Work Area: 73.3 Acres

The unit was burned in the spring of 2023 and mechanically treated in August of 2023. The work area has areas of heavy, moderate, and light infestation. Areas within this unit were rotary mowed, forestry mowed, cut stump/herbicide application, and foliar treated.

The contractor should use best professional judgement in application methodology. This site will provide various levels of infestation and may require foliar treatment, basal bark treatment, and limited cut-stump treatment. This is a restored prairie, and the contractor must try to reduce impact to non-target species, but broadcast spraying may be applicable in limited areas with the project managers approval.

Triclopyr ester (e.g. Garlon 4, Element 4, etc.) and triclopyr amine (e.g. Garlon 3a, Element 3a, etc.) formulations are the preferred herbicides, any other herbicides MUST be approved before use. All applications within 100 feet of a wetland must utilize the amine (i.e. 3a) formulation, or an aquatic approved herbicide. All labels and applicable state and federal laws must be followed. Other formulations (e.g. tank mixes with Garlon 3a and Milestone) and additional surfactants must be approved by the project manager prior to use. Basal bark and cut stump treatments must use either a commercially available carrier oil or kerosene. An indicator dye is required for ensuring coverage and inspection. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring spray conditions are suitable for application and do not pose a risk of herbicide drift or off-site impacts.

Contract Details Contractor must comply 100% with the agreed-upon plan of work. Method of treatment will be ground-based application via backpack, atv, or utv sprayer. Application of chemicals must be at the appropriate rate suggested by the manufacturer and in accordance with the product label. The Contractor must have a current Minnesota Pesticide Applicator license, and must be provided to the project manager. The Contractor must comply with all EPA, OSHA, and other Federal, State and Local Government statutes and regulations while performing the services stated in this Statement of Work. The Contractor MUST notify the project manager of any spills or safety incidents within 24 hours of the incident. The Contractor will give at least 24 hours notice before application commences. Note that the payment will be made only for actual acres treated which are agreed upon between the Contractor and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Dan Paulson or Jacob Randa), prior to commencement of operations.

The Contractor shall be responsible for collecting the following data for USFWS: Dates of operation, total acres sprayed, and chemical use report (detailing herbicide, herbicide rates, volumes, and adjuvants).

CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES

1. General - The Contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, herbicide and incidentals needed to perform the work.

2. The vendor must possess any/all required Minnesota licenses applicable to this job, including a license to apply herbicides

3. Apply specified herbicide mixes for maximum efficacy and minimal threat to off-site targets.

4. Ensure spray is applied to allow for a 24 hour dry-time. Application cannot be made within 24 hours of predicted rainfall.

5. Ensure spray is applied while winds remain under 12 mph.

6. Ensure spray coverage is a minimum of 90% of the area defined.

7. Equipment Maintenance: Throughout the period of performance, machines used to accomplish this contract shall be maintained in good and safe working order, and shall be free of fluid leaks in order to protect the Refuge environment. All equipment shall be cleaned prior to operation on Government lands (all dirt, grease, and plant parts shall be removed, to minimize risks of contamination of the Refuge). The Contractor shall not deviate from the equipment listed in its quote unless approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Safety

· At all times, the vendor will ensure the safety of all personnel involved in the operation including the mandatory use of all prescribed personal protective equipment

· Damages caused by spills caused by either the Contractor will not be the responsibility of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

· The Contractor agrees to abide by all local standards, protocols, instructions and briefings related to access the various sites. Any accident or injury resulting from the Contractor's failure to follow instructions will be the sole responsibility of the Contractor.

Statement of Guarantee The Contractor shall exercise his/her professional judgment as to the exact timing and extent of application of the herbicides/surfactants prior to the deadline. Care should be taken to avoid application on days with consistent wind speeds over 10 mph. No broadcast spraying shall be performed when wind speeds exceed specifications listed on the herbicide label, or when wind directions are likely to result in drift to non-targeted areas. At a minimum, herbicide cannot be applied when the forecast indicates a moderate probability (40% or higher) of significant precipitation during the 24 hours following application.

The Contractor warrants that: should the desired results not be achieved, the contactor will, at no additional cost to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, reapply herbicide to those areas where targeted vegetative growth persists post-treatment. The determination as to the acceptable performance of the Contractor and the need to reapply the herbicides will rest solely with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A request to re-treat an area may be either verbal or in writing. The desired results to be achieved are 75% kill of targeted woody vegetation delineated in provided map and shapefiles (if requested).

Contractor Safety and Experience

· Contractor and all employees assisting will have an excellent safety record.

· At all times, the Contractor will ensure the safety of all personnel involved in the operation including the mandatory use of all prescribed personal protective equipment.

· The Contractor must have a current Minnesota Pesticide Applicator license. The Contractor must comply with all EPA, OSHA, and other Federal, State and Local Government statutes and regulations while performing the services stated in this Statement of Work.

· Contractor will be fully insured.