A06_SOW_Tree_Planting_FY25.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Tree Planting

Marais des Cygnes NWR 24141 KS Hwy 52; Pleasanton, KS 66075

1. General:

1.1 In General

This is a tree planting project intended to restore oak-hickory forests on Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and support ecologically sustainable forest management.

1.2 Purpose/End Application:

The Refuge occurs on the western edge of the central hardwood region, an area once dominated by oak-hickory forest. Forests have been disrupted by agricultural activity prior to Refuge establishment. The Refuge has allowed time for voluntary germination of trees in these upland areas dominated by undesirable species and invasive plants. In particular, sericea lespedeza has colonized large areas and currently require extensive time and funding to control. However sericea is shade intolerant, and has visibly diminished from previous forest restoration sites.

Restoring these low quality grasslands to forests will fulfill the refuge purpose by increasing the area of contiguous forest. This will benefit forest interior nesting species.

Additionally, these restoration areas will naturally provide excellent shrubland habitat as trees mature. A range of shrubland birds will benefit as the seedlings grow over the next 1-2 decades. This action will ultimately increase habitat suitability for a diversity of wildlife species.

1.3 Contractor Qualifications:

Contractor qualifications and certifications, as required by law, are required for this contract. Contractors are requested to provide a technical approach based on past experience doing similar work.

1.4 Other:

Specialized equipment will be required for planting. See Section 3 for specifics.

2. Place of Performance and Period of Performance (Where and When) the project is being completed.

2.1 Place of Performance:

Work will be completed on Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge (Figure 1). The Refuge is located in Linn County in east central Kansas – 45 miles south of Overland Park, KS. The Refuge’s headquarters building is located at 24141 KS Hwy 52, Pleasanton, KS, 66075.

The two required parcels are located on the south side of the refuge to the north of 1250th Road, east of Wattles Road, and west of York Lane with a small amount of acres on the east side of York Lane. An optional location is also on the south side of the refuge to the north of 1275th Road and west of State Line Road. See Section 10 for a map with specific locations.

2.2 Period of Performance:

This project will be completed the spring of 2025. The work for this project should occur when the ground is dry or firm enough to hold the weight of the utilized equipment. and minimize habitat disturbance (e.g., avoid creation of deep ruts/tracks). Planting should occur during the spring between late February and early April.

The planting described in this Statement of Work may be completed during daylight hours (no work sunset thru following morning’s sunrise). The work may be completed Sunday thru Saturday, outside of Normal Duty Hours, as described below, and also can be completed outside Non-Duty Hours, as described below. The contractor may adjust work hours during weekdays or weekends and holidays as long as prior coordination is made with the Refuge POC and approved by the Contracting Officer. The full project area is within huntable lands on the refuge, however conflicts with other users of the refuge are unlikely to occur during the appropriate planting timeframe.

The Notice to Proceed will only be given following the contract award and notification by the Contracting Officer. All work must be completed within Period of Performance unless a change in scheduling is arranged with the Refuge POC and Contracting Officer.

2.3 Normal Duty Hours

Normal duty hours are Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. In the event of emergencies, Contractor shall provide contact information.

2.4 Non-Duty Hours

Non duty hours include week nights, weekends, and Government holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King JR.s’s Birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day). In the event of emergencies, Contractor shall provide contact information.

3. Scope

This project consists of the required planting of 100,000 bare-root seedlings of the following species: pin oak, persimmon, chinkapin, pecan, or acceptable substitute (as accepted by the Refuge POC). Trees will be be from a local provider who propogates a native seed bank. The area for planting includes required parcels and an additional optional unit, which may be exercised as the Refuge sees fit. The planting areas include a combination of dense sericea and fescue which have been resisting the natural regeneration of trees. All areas have been treated heavily for sericea over the past 2-3 years. Soils are moderately poor due to extensive historical agricultural use and are primarily Osage Clay. The fescue creates mats that may make closure of the kerf more difficult. Plantings will be across two required units (427 acre unit size) for a total of 176 planted acres (West Eureka - 76 acres, Hays - 100 acres). The optional unit, Zig Zag (89 acre unit size), will have approximately a 50 acre planted area. This brings the total acreage to 226 acres.

The contractor will need to obtain seedlings, pick them up from the nursery, transport them to the refuge, and while on-site, store seedlings in a refrigerated semi-truck/reefer unit. This will prevent roots from drying and maintains the proper temperature. Finally the contractor will need to plant the trees using the following specifications.

Trees will be planted on a 10x10 foot spacing using a planting machine mounted on a 3-point hitch of a tractor with front wheel assist and dual rear wheels. The planter must have a 36 inch coulter wheel to cut through the soil plow pan and ensure greater seedling survival. Packing wheels or down-pressure must be adjustable in order to close the kerf on the seedlings to ensure good root-to-soil contact.

Any modifications to this Scope of Work will be approved and documented by the Refuge

POC.

4. Deliverables and/or Delivery Schedule: (for extended list a bid schedule and/or use of line item detail on the PR is recommended)

4.1 Deliverables

Contractor will furnish all labor, services, equipment, specified materials, and supervision to plant trees on Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge.

When utilizing heavy equipment or accessing work area via motorized means, ground conditions need to be checked before going off road or off trail. Ground disturbance will be kept to a minimum due to long-term damage and recovery rates of ruts in the heavy clay soils. Contractor should prioritize minimizing ground disturbance and damage to native vegetative species.

4.2 Required Documentation

The Contractor will document in the form of daily work logs identifying work completed and weather/ground conditions. Due to the nature of this work and the lifespan of the bare root stock, extensions will not be authorized for this project.

5. Data Management Plan (DMP):

N/A

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

6.1 GPE and GFI

Government will not furnish any equipment, services, labor, or daily supervision of contractor or contractor employees. Government will provide support in the form of overall project guidance and oversight. Government will also provide maps and initial access to the project area.

6.2 Limitations

Limitations are previously discussed in Sections 1-3.

7. Evaluation and Acceptance

7.1 The contractor will be evaluated as detailed herein. Government acceptance is contingent upon:

Refuge staff, such as the Manager, Biologist, 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.

Government acceptance is contingent upon meeting the work and specifications outlined in this Statement of Work.

8. Quality Control/Quality Assurance:

8.1 For commercial supplies reference clauses for inspection and acceptance. Where appropriate, QC will be maintained according to industry standards and made available to the agency with the contractor’s proposal.

Refuge staff, such as the Manager, Biologist, 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.

Government acceptance is contingent upon meeting the work and specifications outlined in this Statement of Work.

8.2 Measures for assessing quality control and acceptance.

N/A

9. Technical Coordinator:

Contacts Name Title Phone Email Primary Tim Menard Refuge

Biologist o 620-352-5553 m 620-392-5768 tim_menard@fws.gov

Alternate Heidi Henderson

Wildlife Refuge Specialist o 913-352-8956 m 620-437-7787 heidi_henderson@fws.gov

10. Maps

Figure 1: Marais des Cygnes NWR unit locations within Refuge boundary.

Figure 2: Unit locations in need of tree plantings on the Refuge.