A04_SOW_LOX_Canoe_Trail_Cutting_2026.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

FWS ARTHUR R MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE NWR

10216 LEE ROAD

BOYNTON BEACH FL 33473

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) FOR

Aquatic Shredding of Canoe Trail Vegetation (Asset No. 10046174)

1. General

1.1 Description. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National

Wildlife Refuge (Loxahatchee NWR, Refuge), requires Bi-annual aquatic shredding of 5 to 6 miles of aquatic vegetation in a 12ft wide canal. The Everglades Canoe Trail, a 5.5-mile looped canoe trail through Everglades marsh habitat, begins at the Headquarters boat ramp area at the western end of Lee

Rd. The trail has interpretive display panels along the route and a floating platform at the half-way point to provide a resting area for canoeists. Small floating peat islands, water lilies, and other vegetation growing in the trail make navigation by canoe difficult.

1.2 Purpose/End Application. The Loxahatchee NWR’s Canoe Trail is an essential recreational asset. It receives a large number of visitors every year. Keeping the trail’s vegetation is of the utmost importance due to how remote and lacking of infrastructure it is. Alligators are common along the trail as well.

Vegetation growth encroaching on the trail makes paddling extremely difficult, ending in rescue operations having to be taken by staff. Mitigating aquatic vegetation through shredding allows visitors safe paddling and minimizes rescues.

1.3 Contractor Qualifications. The required equipment may include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Aquatic Vegetation Shredding Machine (cookie cutter) with two circular blades much like the sharp blades of a fan which provide both propulsion and cutting power. These blades overlap to cut a seven-foot path through vegetation and peat islands. The blades can be raised and lowered depending on material and project requirements. As well as all licenses and certifications required for operation

• An airboat as the means of transporting fuel and personnel to and from the work site. As well as all licenses and certifications required for operation.

1.4 Other: The Canoe Trail is a 5.5 mile looped canoe trail through Everglades marsh habitat. It begins at the Lee Road boat ramp area. The trail has interpretive display panels along the route and a floating platform at the half-way point to provide a resting area for paddlers. Small floating peat islands, water lilies, and other vegetation growing make the trail unnavigable.

2. Place of Performance and Period of Performance

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee NWR 10216 Lee Road Boynton Beach, FL 33473-4797

2.2 Period of Performance. May 2026 through May 2027 with 4 optional renewal years.

Work should be done bi-annually. Inclement weather may impact work being done, but rescheduling should take place within one to two weeks. Dry conditions may impact the ability for machinery to travel the whole trail so work should be done when water levels are high enough.

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2.3 Normal duty hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Contractor shall provide an contact information in the event of emergencies.

2.4 Non-duty hours include week nights, weekends, and Government holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin

Luther King JR.s’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day).

3. Scope

3.1 General Scope. Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, and incidentals to complete the project. The project officer will clearly identify the area to be cut. The contractor shall provide an Aquatic Vegetation Shredding Machine (cookie cutter) with blades that can be raised and lowered. The contractor shall also provide an airboat to transport fuel and personnel. This equipment will be used to clear a 12ft wide path along 5 to 6 miles of aquatic vegetation consisting mainly of peat islands, water lilies, sawgrass, and cattail. The canoe trail is 3 to 8 feet deep and 12 feet wide, but dry or wet conditions can impact depth. The contractor will launch equipment from the Lee Road boat ramp at the Headquarters area. The canoe trail begins on the western side of the L-40 canal (see attached project map). Refuge staff will close the canoe trail to the public while work is being done.

ARM LOXAHATCHEE NWR - CANOE TRAIL MAINTENANCE

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4. Deliverables and/or Delivery Schedule

4.1 Deliverables. Contractor shall provide the following, at a minimum:

Contractor will be responsible for the removal of all trash and trash related items generated by the project as well as the clean-up of any fuel/oil spills associated with the project. Contractor will also be responsible for removing all shredded vegetation from the trail. The contractor will follow all safety regulations while completing work on the trail.

4.2 Schedule. Bi-annual cutting will be scheduled with the contractor through Refuge Technical

Coordinator.

5. Data Management Plan (DMP)

5.1 DMP relevance: _X_ not relevant. This project does not include scientific data collection.

6. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) / Government-Furnished Information (GFI)

6.1 GFE/GFI: N/A

6.2 Limitations: None known or anticipated.

7. Evaluation and Acceptance

A final inspection will be performed to ensure work on the entire 5.5 mile Canoe Trail has been completed, leading to a 12-foot width the length of the trail. Inspection will also ensure that all trash, trash related items, and shredded vegetation has been removed from the trail.

8. Quality Control/Quality Assurance

8.1 Contractor Quality Control. Contractor shall:

• Ensure the work meets all contract guidelines and complies with scope of work within the contract.

• Ensure that the contractor meets all time schedules.

• Ensure that the contractor implements/completes project in a safe and effective manner.

8.2 Performance Requirements Summary (measurable standards).

The aquatic shredding of the Canoe trail consists of shredding 5 to 6 miles of aquatic vegetation in a 12ft wide canal using a vegetation shredding machine (Cookie Cutter) and an airboat to transport fuel and personnel. The project will focus on clearing small floating peat islands, water lilies and other vegetation in the trail.

• The contractor must complete all work as scheduled and comply with work schedules.

Government will accept 95% compliance (5% allowance due to possible uncontrollable events such as equipment breakdown and weather/water levels).

• All work must be completed appropriately with no deviation and with 100% compliance.

• Contractor will implement appropriate health and safety precautions to ensure the safety of all contract employees and the public. A safety plan shall be submitted before project begins.

• Contractor shall complete the standard FWS Daily Progress Report (DPR) documenting locations worked, completed work, and equipment used. Reports will be accepted on a weekly basis, but must be submitted biweekly at a minimum.

8.3 Surveillance Methods

• Periodic inspections by one of the Refuge project officers.

• Project officer will determine if 12ft width guidelines are being met.

• Project officer will determine if contractor is removing all loose vegetation from trail using shredding machine (Cookie Cutter).

• Contractor shall notify one of the project officers in the event that work on the project must be delayed due to equipment failure/breakdown, inclement weather or for any other reason.

8.4 Incentives

• Non-compliance with the scope of work will result in a negative performance evaluation/rating.

• A positive performance evaluation will be given for overall satisfactory work and compliance with the guidelines listed within the work statement.

• Entire payment will be held until a final inspection, performed by the project officer, determines satisfactory completion of the project.

9. Technical Coordinator