A04_SOW_Mechanical-Brush_Tree-Control_Quivira_2022_v7-21-22.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

1434 NE 80th Street, Stafford KS 67578

July 21, 2022

Woody Brush and Invasive Tree Control by Tracked Equipment with Brush Cutter/Forestry cutter/Tree Puller Attachments with Chemical follow up as needed.

Deliverable: Contractor will furnish all labor, services, equipment, and supervision to mechanically or chemically control areas that have extensive woody brush (shrubs) and invasive trees on Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). Reducing cover of brush and trees of various species such as plum, rough-leaf dogwood, red cedar, locust species, Siberian elm, Russian olive, and salt cedar will occur over multiple locations on the Refuge where encroachment and invasion has occurred in upland prairie and wetland areas. Most of the mowed areas are dominated by plum (<8 ft height). The preferred heavy equipment to be approved for use would be a tracked type of skid steer loader, or the equivalent, using various attachments such as a hydraulic tree puller, brush cutter, and mulching head attachment to minimize disturbance to grassland and wetland habitat. This type of mechanical removal has been successfully used in the surrounding area where brush can be mowed (low; <3-4” stumps), and trees can be physically pulled up by the roots and dropped in place. The size and model of the equipment is not specified; however, a 95-horsepower skid steer (or similar) machine has been used successfully with minimal ground disturbance on past projects. The size of trees pulled will vary from slender (pencil sized) to 8” diameter mature growth trees. The maximum size limit will also be determined by size of the equipment, as well safety in handling larger diameter and taller trees. Trees pulled up will not be hauled off site but left where pulled or stacked in small piles. Chemical treatment may be required in some areas in combination with mechanical action (such as black locust), or as a sole treatment if equipment access is difficult or limited. Contractor should prioritize minimizing ground disturbance and non-target kill over 100% kill of invasive shrubs and trees. Contractors are requested to provide a technical approach based on past experience, as well as the cost for controlling invasives in the Central Unit (Priority), and South, Northwest, and Northeast (optional areas) as follows:

1. Identify the equipment that will be used to control/access the site and move around within the priority and optional areas.

2. Identify the methods of mechanical control (mowing, mulching, pulling, etc).

3. Identify the treatment method (i.e., Foliar, girdling, cut stump, basal, etc.) if needed, and timing of application. Note: Chemical treatment requested as a follow-up when mowing dogwood. Chemical treatment requested for locust species, Siberian elm, Russian olive, and salt cedar where the roots cannot be successfully pulled up using mechanical methods.

4. Identify the chemicals (including surfactants) to be used and formulations.

5. Identify any follow-up treatment needed to ensure restoration of native habitat and provide separate cost estimates for each option year.

6. Identify the recommended time frame(s) for treatments assuming the contract will be awarded in the fall, 2022. Close planning will need to occur with the Refuge Manager as some areas are sensitive to disturbance during the waterbird migration period.

7. Identify a method to document all areas that have been treated, and how success will be determined.

8. Please provide cost/hour and hour estimates for each treatment unit (priority and optional units) separately and include any savings from treating multiple sites.

Although a crew of several workers (including equipment) may be deployed to accomplish this work, the quote is to be based on the cost/hour, including all other expenses such as cost of chemical, if needed.

Mobilization or other fees should be incorporated in the cost/hour.

It is strongly suggested for vendors to plan a site visit (visualize scope of project) prior to submitting a formal cost per hour bid for the project for a more accurate assessment of the condition and intensity of work involved with each unit.

Period of Performance:

The brush and tree removal projects will be completed within 1 year (365 days) of the Notice to Proceed, weather permitting, and most brush mowing should occur in April and May 2023. If more time is needed for brush mowing, then some mowing of plum may occur in March and/or August where the understory is mostly native plants (NOT where understory is bare ground, cheat grass, or Japanese brome). Chemical follow up not required for plum mowing. Any treatment of areas dominated by rough-leaf dogwood (mostly <15 ft height) should occur in mid-April through mid-May, after bud break when carbohydrate root reserves are low, and a chemical treatment will be required. Tree-pulling may occur during the year except not in June and July during peak bird breeding season and should occur when the ground is dry or firm enough to hold the weight of the skid steer and minimize habitat disturbance (e.g., avoid creation of deep ruts/tracks). The Notice to Proceed will only be given following the contract award and notification by the Contracting Officer. All work must be completed within one year of the Notice to Proceed unless a change in scheduling is arranged with the Refuge Manager and Contracting Officer.

Location The refuge comprises over 22,000 acres of wetland and native prairie habitat in Stafford, Reno and Rice Counties, Kansas. Priority and optional (included if/as funding become available) work areas have been identified. However, work may be influenced or adjusted based on conditions, such as weather, ground conditions, wildlife disturbance potential, or other activities. To facilitate planning, work sites are identified in four general project locations (Central, South, Northwest, and Northeast) that vary in area (acres) and the amount and density of brush/trees.

Bids must be submitted in cost/hour for the priority area, the Central Unit (1,007 acres), AND must include line-item bids for the other optional areas (South, Northwest, and Northeast Units) that may be included as part of the contract if/as funding becomes available.

Unit Location Total acres* of area polygon

Bid cost per hour ($/hr.)

Treatment Target period (time schedule)

Central Unit (Priority) 1,007 Brush mowing – April to May Tree pulling – All year except for June and July Chemical follow-up treatment – species dependent

Optional Areas South Unit 834 Brush mowing – April to May

Tree pulling – All year except for June and July Chemical follow-up treatment – species dependent

Northwest Unit 934 Northeast Unit 206

*Acres = the area within Unit boundaries and NOT the acres of shrub and/or trees in Unit. Percent cover of shrub and tree vary among Units (or polygons, on map below).

In General

Most brush mowing sites will have shrub cover >70% and 75% to 90% of shrub will be mowed, depending on site. Tree-pulling sites have variable tree cover, often <25-50% tree cover scattered in selected sites, and all tree species listed will be pulled. No treatment will occur in woodland groves.

Native trees, such as cottonwood, willow, and soapberry, will not be treated.

The work sites occur in prairie/meadows and wetlands with scattered woody vegetation subject to extremely wet conditions during the fall and spring seasons. Some brush mowing will occur on choppy sand ridges with sandy soils and slopes (5-15%), mainly in optional units. Contract extension may be approved if climate conditions are unsuitable during portions of the contract period, and the vendor is prevented from working. Documentation in the form of daily work logs should identify work completed and weather/ground conditions. An extension to the period of performance will not be allowed without daily logs from the contractor.

Brush and tree treatment will occur on sites located from 1 mile to 14 miles away from the main headquarters/office area. The office is approximately 7 miles northeast of Stafford, Kansas. The contractor will be issued keys to gated areas where work will occur when necessary. Refuge staff, such as the biologist, manager, or other designated representative, will make frequent site inspections and observations during the work process to verify quality of work and quantify percentage of work completed.

The contractor may adjust work hours during the weekdays or weekends, as long as prior coordination is made with the refuge manager and approved by the Contracting Officer. Work will only be approved during daylight hours. Certain areas of brush and tree treatment are within hunting, grazing, and farming sections of the refuge, and timing may need to be adjusted to avoid conflicts with other users.

Please contact Mike Oldham for technical guidance on brush and tree control locations, refuge access, or work schedule (620-405-0140).

Photos: Examples of some conditions needing tree removal under contract.

Sites that need brush mowing/trees pulled, but contract work could include additional areas within refuge boundaries. Work sites are adjusted with changing conditions (e.g., wet vs. dry).

Priority Central Unit

South Unit

Northwest Unit

Northeast Unit