A04_-_Statement_of_Work_-_Control_of_Sericea_Lespedeza_(Flint_Hills_NWR).pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Control of Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge

1. GENERAL

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), requires the application of herbicide to control infestations of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) within the Refuge boundaries.

The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, equipment, transportation, personal protective equipment, and other resources necessary to perform the work described in this Statement of Work (SOW), except for Government-furnished materials specifically identified herein.

The Government estimates that approximately 500 acres of known sericea lespedeza infestations require treatment. The actual acreage treated may vary depending on the availability of funding.

The Contractor shall provide a firm-fixed price per acre for herbicide treatment of sericea lespedeza. The per-acre price shall include all costs necessary to perform the work, including labor, supervision, equipment, transportation, fuel, mobilization, demobilization, personal protective equipment, equipment setup, travel between treatment areas, and all other direct and indirect costs, overhead, and profit.

2. LOCATION OF WORK

The work will be performed at:

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge 530 W Maple Ave Hartford, Kansas 66854

The treatment areas are identified on the maps attached to this SOW.

• The Contractor shall initially prioritize the mapped treatment areas.

• The Contractor shall identify and report additional sericea lespedeza infestations observed within the Refuge boundaries.

• The Contractor shall obtain approval from the Contracting Officer prior to treating additional infestations outside the mapped treatment areas.

The Government estimates that approximately 500 acres of known sericea lespedeza infestations require treatment. The actual acreage treated may vary depending on the availability of funding.

3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Treatment may be performed from August 20, 2026, through September 30, 2026, subject to suitable weather and site conditions.

The Contractor shall coordinate the work schedule with the Refuge Manager or designee.

4. HERBICIDE AND GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED MATERIALS

The Government will provide the following materials:

• Escort or Escort XP herbicide;

• Dye;

• Surfactant; and

• Water.

Other trade name chemicals may be substituted if the active ingredient is the same

The Contractor shall be responsible for the proper handling, transportation, mixing, and application of Government-furnished materials in accordance with the applicable pesticide label and all applicable Federal, State, and local requirements.

• The Contractor shall use only the Government-furnished chemicals

• Any substitute product must be applied in accordance with its approved pesticide label and application requirements.

5. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall apply herbicide to sericea lespedeza infestations using an application method appropriate to the density, size, terrain, and location of the infestation.

Application methods may include, as appropriate:

• Handheld spot spraying;

• Backpack spraying;

• ATV/UTV-mounted spraying;

• Boom spraying; or

• Other application methods approved by the Government.

Boom spraying may be appropriate for dense infestations where the application can be conducted without unacceptable impact to non-target vegetation. Spot spraying or other targeted application methods may be required in areas with scattered plants or where non-target vegetation is present.

The Contractor shall apply herbicide in accordance with:

1. The applicable pesticide label;

2. All applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations;

3. Applicable recommendations approved or published by Kansas State University

Agriculture Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service; and

4. Any additional written directions provided by the Refuge Manager or designee.

• The Contractor shall properly calibrate and maintain application equipment to ensure that the required application rate is achieved.

• The Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent herbicide from contacting non-target vegetation, open water, wetlands, sensitive areas, or other areas not authorized for treatment.

• Applications shall not be performed under weather or site conditions that are inconsistent with the pesticide label or reasonably likely to result in unacceptable drift, runoff, or damage to non-target areas.

6. TREATMENT PERFORMANCE STANDARD

• The Contractor shall apply herbicide to achieve adequate coverage of the target sericea lespedeza plants within each treatment area.

1. For purposes of this requirement, an adequate application means that the target plant receives herbicide applied in accordance with the applicable pesticide label, including the required concentration, application rate, and application method.

2. The Contractor shall achieve adequate herbicide coverage on at least 85 percent of the target sericea lespedeza plants within each treatment area.

• The Government may inspect treated areas during or after application to determine compliance with the performance standard.

1. If the Government determines that a treatment area does not meet the required 85-percent adequate-coverage standard, the Contractor shall retreat the deficient area at no additional cost to the Government.

2. Government inspection of the application will occur in randomly selected areas after application is completed. Depending on the timing, standard will either be based on presence of dye on sericea lespedeza plants or by observing dying/dead sericea lespedeza plants. Inspection will happen within 4 weeks post treatment.

• Acreage will be calculated using Government-provided maps and designated treatment-area boundaries.

• Only acreage authorized by the Government and actually treated in accordance with the requirements of this SOW shall be eligible for payment.

• Areas treated without authorization, areas outside designated treatment boundaries, and areas that fail to meet the performance requirements and are not properly retreated shall not be eligible for payment.

7. EQUIPMENT AND CONTRACTOR-PROVIDED ITEMS

The Contractor shall provide all equipment and supplies necessary to perform the work, except for Government-furnished materials identified in Section 4.

Contractor-provided items shall include, as applicable:

• Herbicide application equipment;

• Vehicles and transportation;

• Fuel;

• Equipment necessary to access treatment areas;

• Personal protective equipment;

• Tools and supplies;

• Spill-response materials; and

• Other items necessary to safely and properly perform the work.

All application equipment shall be properly maintained and calibrated.

8. PESTICIDE APPLICATOR REQUIREMENTS

• The Contractor shall ensure that all personnel applying herbicide possess all licenses, certifications, training, and registrations required by applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.

• The Contractor shall comply with all applicable requirements governing the handling, mixing, transportation, storage, and application of pesticides.

9. DAILY SPRAY LOGS

The Contractor shall submit a daily spray log to the Refuge Manager or designee for the previous day's work.

Daily spray logs shall include, at a minimum:

• Date of application;

• Names of personnel performing the work;

• Treatment location;

• Map reference, GPS coordinates, or other location identifier;

• Acres treated;

• Application method;

• Product name and active ingredient;

• Application rate and concentration;

• Quantity of herbicide and spray solution applied;

• Weather conditions, including temperature and wind conditions;

• Start and stop times; and

• Any spills, accidental releases, drift incidents, or other unusual events.

Daily spray logs shall be submitted no later than one week after application to the Refuge Manager or designee.

10. ACCESS AND COORDINATION

• The Contractor shall coordinate daily work activities with the Refuge Manager or designee.

• The Contractor shall comply with all Refuge access, safety, traffic, visitor-use, and operational requirements.

• The Contractor shall immediately notify the Refuge Manager or designee of any accidental herbicide release, spill, drift, or application to a non-target area.

11. GOVERNMENT INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

The Government may inspect the Contractor's work during and after performance to determine compliance with this SOW.

The Government may inspect:

• Treatment areas;

• Herbicide coverage;

• Application methods;

• Daily spray logs;

• Equipment and application practices; and

• Compliance with applicable pesticide requirements.

The Government will accept and authorize payment only for acreage treated in accordance with the requirements of this SOW.

12. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED INFORMATION

The Government will provide the Contractor with:

• Maps identifying the initial treatment areas;

• Access information necessary to perform the work;

• Government-furnished herbicide and other materials identified in Section 4

13. POINT OF CONTACT

The Contractor shall coordinate technical and scheduling matters with:

Refuge Manager or Designee: Branden Doering Telephone: (620)-203-1470 Email: branden_doering@fws.gov

The Contracting Officer is the only Government official authorized to make changes to the contract, authorize additional work, or otherwise modify the Contractor's contractual obligations.

Spraying Map

Earthstar Geographics

World Imagery

Low Resolution 15m Imagery

High Resolution 60cm Imagery

High Resolution 30cm Imagery

Citations

19m Resolution Metadata

5/7/2025 0 1 20.5 mi

0 2 41 km

1:92,627

A04 - Reyer Map 2026.pdf