A04_-_Statement_of_Work_-_Herbicide_Application.pdf

Herbicide Application

92.0 acres at Glacial Ridge National

Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Statement of Work

Project: Herbicide Application of Woody Vegetation on 92.0 acres Location: Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge Project Performance Period: August 21, 2026-September 21, 2026.

Quotes and Site Visit All quotes are to be submitted on a “PER ACRE" unit-price basis, a quote for each project area and a combined quote. If the Contractor would like a site visit prior to submitting a quote for this Project, please contact Eric Mark (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 701.425.9080, eric_mark@fws.gov or Ben Walker at 218-230-5563, benjamin_walker@fws.gov).

Location The Project Areas are located within the boundaries of Glacial Ridge NWR; Polk County, MN (see attached map).

Project Information Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is seeking a contract to reduce the woody vegetation cover on select management units located 6 miles west of Mentor, MN. The results from this treatment will promote a higher-quality and more diverse tallgrass prairie habitat which will benefit a suite of wildlife species for years to come.

Description of Work This is a non-personal services contract order for the chemical application of a tank mix on UP TO 92.0 acres of trees and brush. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, labor (e.g., herbicide application), equipment, supplies, (e.g., chemicals, 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.

Project Area 1 A tank mix of Vastlan, Milestone, and Escort XP on to UP TO 92.0 acres of land within the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge boundary. The objective of this contract will be for the Contractor to provide herbicide treatment to 100% of woody vegetation within the designated polygon. A map showing the treatment area is attached. The work will involve mixing a tank mix of 2 quarts/acre of Vastlan (Corteva), 5 oz/acre Milestone (Corteva) and 1 oz/acre of Escort XP(Bayer) herbicide with the recommended amount of drift control agent and non-ionic surfactant. The land is located within Polk County, MN (see attached map). Herbicide will only be applied to uplands (no wetland areas) which are currently owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The performance dates for this contract are from August 21, 2026-September 21, 2026.

Contract Details Contractor must comply 100% with the agreed-upon plan of work. 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. 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 shall have and provide the Project Manager with a safety/spill response plan. 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, the Contracting Officer, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Eric Mark, prior to commencement of spraying operations.

The Contractor will provide the US Fish and Wildlife Service with contact information for all personnel, and vehicle, equipment, and identification information. All Contractor personnel involved in performing this contract as well as the equipment used will be appropriately licensed and certified for the work to be done as stated in this Statement of Work. The Contractor is responsible for the repair or replacement of any faulty or sub-standard equipment to be used during herbicide application and will notify the US Fish and Wildlife Service within 48 hours of discovery of necessary repair or replacement. Weather conditions will be monitored by the Contractor prior to each spraying event. Spraying may be prohibited by the US Fish and Wildlife Service when environmental conditions (e.g., wind, temperature, humidity) are not within the herbicide label application parameters.

The Contractor shall be responsible for collecting the following data for the US Fish and Wildlife Service spraying date, location (longitude & latitude or UTM) and number of acres sprayed, chemical use report detailing herbicide rates/volume, hours worked, and weather conditions during spray event services for the entire duration of the Contract.

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 aquatic herbicides

3. Provide: spray system, fuel and all other staff and associated supplies needed to mix and apply herbicide.

4. Apply specified herbicide tank mix at the rates listed above.

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

6. Ensure spray is applied while winds remain under 10 mph.

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

8. 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.

9. Funds will not be expended on covered UAS, as defined in OPM-11, for achieving approved objectives and will not be operated on Department-managed lands.

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. All services & personnel provided under this project shall meet and comply with all Federal, State, and occupational safety & health administration (OSHA) regulations and Federal aviation regulations.

• Loading sites may be located on-site or off-site at the determination of the Contractor. Similarly, damages caused by spills caused by either the Contractor or other parties 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 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 and an aquatic applicator endorsement. 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

Project Manager:

Eric Mark Glacial Ridge NWR 17788 349th St SE Erskine, MN 56535 Eric_mark@fws.gov

701.425.9080 cell

Project Manager:

Ben Walker Glacial Ridge NWR 17788 349th St SE Erskine, MN 56535 Benjamin_walker@fws.gov Cell: (218)-230-5563