Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Statement of Work for

Savanna Restoration through Basal Bark Herbicide Treatment

SCOPE: This statement of work defines the work required to perform herbicide treatment of a woody species infestation within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The extent of the herbicide treatment is assigned to the area on the attached map which is a collection of polygons that totals approximately 120 acres of distinct treatment areas. The entire herbicide treatment area is assigned to the refuge’s Prairie Oak Savanna Management Unit, a sandy upland zone. Portions of this management unit were treated with chemical application beginning in 2021 with some follow-up mechanical treatment already completed to remove deadened stems and plant material to improve access for future treatments. Recent regeneration warrants additional treatment.

The treatment strategy in 2026-2027 will focus on two basal bark treatments: 1) scattered black locust and red oak seedlings that persist within portions of the open grassland/savanna unit and 2) black locust saplings and buckthorn that have proven too tall for foliar treatment. Basal bark treatments will focus on all invasive woody species less than 7’’ diameter at breast height other than bur oak and white oak. Care should be taken to avoid herbicide treatments of bur oak and white oak trees.

The Contractor shall complete the required basal bark treatment throughout the approximately 120 acres identified on the attached contract map for the firm-fixed price.

1. Apply a basal bark herbicide application to 105 acres of very low-density black locust and other target woody species within the polygons identified in the attached map.

• Basal bark treatments are to consist of herbicides and herbicide mixtures with existing

Pesticide Use Proposals; applications must be performed in accordance with the applicable product label and be one of two approved pesticide use proposals, listed below. No other herbicides or mixtures are allowed or will be considered.

o Garlon 4 Ultra, Milestone and Aresenal AC: # R3-26-32579-006 o Polaris AC and Garlon 4 Ultra: # R3-26-32579-012

2. Apply a basal bark herbicide application to 15 acres of moderate density black locust and other target woody species less than 7 inches diameter at breast height within the polygons identified in the attached map.

• Basal bark treatments are to consist of herbicides and herbicide mixtures with existing Pesticide Use Proposals; applications must be performed in accordance with the applicable product label and be one of two approved pesticide use proposals, listed below. No other herbicides or mixtures are allowed or will be considered.

o Garlon 4 Ultra, Milestone and Aresenal AC: # R3-26-32579-006 o Polaris AC and Garlon 4 Ultra: # R3-26-32579-012

LOCATION: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Rd, Trempealeau, WI 54661

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Date of award through July 30, 2027. Chemical applications should occur during the following environmental conditions:

• 20ft winds are less than 10 mph

• Stems are dry and not ice covered

• Rain, ice or snow is not forecasted for the workday or for 48 hours post-treatment

All chemical applications shall be completed by April 30, 2027, and reported no later than July 30, 2027.

WORK SCHEDULE: Work will be performed Monday – Friday, except on Federal Holidays.

SITE VISITS: A site visit is not required, but highly recommended. Due to site conditions, treatment areas may require access and application on foot. The application sites are open to the public during daylight hours and may be visited at will. Contact Casey Bryan, Refuge Manager, casey_bryan@fws.gov, office: 608-539-2311 Ext. 6 with any site visit questions.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY AND INFORMATION

The Government will provide the Contractor with the following information and access necessary to perform the work:

• Maps identifying the designated treatment areas.

• Access to the treatment areas within Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge.

• Applicable approved Pesticide Use Proposals (PUPs) and Refuge-specific application requirements.

• Identification of known sensitive or restricted areas within the designated treatment area.

• A Government point of contact for coordination of site access, treatment activities, and inspection and acceptance.

• The Government will not furnish herbicide, application equipment, vehicles, personal protective equipment, or other supplies necessary to perform the work.

CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, transportation, equipment, materials, supplies, and other resources necessary to complete the requirements of this Statement of Work, except for those items specifically identified as Government-furnished.

Contractor-furnished items shall include, at a minimum:

• Herbicides and other application materials required to perform the approved treatments.

• Backpack, handheld, or other appropriate herbicide application equipment.

• Personal protective equipment required by applicable pesticide labels, laws, regulations, and safety requirements.

• Vehicles, tools, and equipment necessary to access and perform work within the designated treatment areas.

• Spill prevention, containment, and cleanup materials appropriate for the herbicides being transported and applied.

The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all Contractor-furnished herbicides, equipment, and supplies are suitable for the intended use and comply with applicable product labels, approved Pesticide Use Proposals, and contract requirements.

INSPECTION: The Government will perform periodic inspections of the treatment areas to verify that work has been completed in accordance with the requirements of this Statement of Work. Acceptance will occur upon the Government's determination that the required basal bark treatment of the designated 120-acre treatment area has been satisfactorily completed, and all required treatment records have been submitted. The Contractor shall correct deficiencies resulting from failure to perform in accordance with the contract requirements at no additional cost to the Government.

ACCEPTANCE: The performance standard for this work is that the contractor applies basal bark herbicide mixture to the target species’ stems within the treatment areas denoted on the contract map and reports herbicide use before target date Acceptable quality levels for this work are at minimum that 95 percent of target species’ stems within the treatment areas are treated with basal bark herbicide mixture. Random sampling of treatment areas will surveil whether the acceptable quality level has been met. If the sample area falls short of the acceptable quality levels, the contractor will basal bark treat additional stems to meet acceptable quality levels. If any white oak or bur oak stems are treated by mistake, the cost of $1,000.00 per impacted white or bur oak tree will be deducted from the contract payment.

PAYMENT: The Contractor shall invoice upon completion and Government acceptance of the required work. The firm-fixed price constitutes full payment for all labor, equipment, herbicide, supplies, transportation, and other costs necessary to complete the requirements of this Statement of Work.

CONTACTS:

Casey Bryan, Refuge Manager, casey_bryan@fws.gov, office: 608-539-2311 Ext. 6: cell: 608- 780-7301

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Trempealeau County, Wisconsin

The USFWS makes no warranty for use of this map and cannot be held liable for actions or decisions based on map content.

This map is intended as a general guide for the public use of National Wildlife Refuge lands.

The purpose of this map is to visually describe the locations of proposed invasive species treatments to support refuge habitat management.

Map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license.Copyright © 2021 Esri and its licensors. All rights

Produced in the Division of Refuges Onalaska, Wisconsin Produced: 2 August 2026; Bruce Henry, Forest Ecologist Basemap: Sources: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA FSA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community File Path: C:\Users\bhenry\Desktop\Henry Desktop File\ Refuges\Trempealeau\R3 Invasives Grant RFP

R e fu g e R d

Trempealeau National Wildlife

Refuge

Refuge Rd

Trem pealeau

River

R e fu g e R d

Refuge Rd

Re fu ge

Rd

Refug e

R d

Trempealeau River

W Prairie

Rd

Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Division of Realty, Sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community, Esri, USDA FSA

Contract Basal Bark Treatment Map

¯0 1,300 2,600650 Feet

0 380 760190 Meters

Legend Basal Bark Treatment Polygons

Focal treatment species include: black locust, common buckthorn, siberian elm, black cherry, and in the open savanna: oak grubs in the red oak group (Hill's/pin/blackoak). Avoid treating stems of the white oak group (bur/white/SWO). Focus on oak stems less than 4'' DBH, all other species can be more flexible. BE CAREFUL to avoid non-target species while treating under hackberry canopies in the mesic areas along road on north end