Aerial_Herbicide_Application_SOW.pdf

Aerial Herbicide Application (helicopter) of 120.0 acres at Glacial Ridge National

Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Statement of Work

Project: Aerial Herbicide Application of Woody Vegetation on 120.0 acres Location: Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge – Herman Ridge Project Performance Period: August 1, 2023-September 15, 2023

Offers and Site Visit Quotes are to be submitted on a “PER ACRE" unit-price basis, any associated fees, and a total project cost. Contractor is responsible for providing designated herbicide. If the Contractor would like a site visit prior to submitting an offer for this project, please contact Eric Mark, 701-425-9080, eric_mark@fws.gov or Ben Walker, 218-230-5563, benjamin_walker@fws.gov.

Location The Project Areas are located in Section 26 of Tilden Township within 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 aerial application, via helicopter, of a tank mix on UP TO 120 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 A tank mix of Vastlan, Milestone, and Escort XP on to UP TO 120 acres of land within the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge boundary. The objective of this contract will be for the Contractor to provide aerial 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 and applying the mixture aerially via a helicopter. This application will require that a carrier of 10 gallons of water be applied per acre. The land is located in Section 26 of Tilden Township 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 1, 2023, through September 15, 2023 and this is a firm-fixed price commercial contract.

Contract Details Contractor must comply 100% with the agreed-upon plan of work. Method of treatment will be by air via helicopter. Aerial 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, FAA, 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 Audubon 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 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 aerial aircraft 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's aircraft pilot 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.

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: helicopter with spray system, pilot, 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 12 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.

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 Aircraft 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.

• Landing and 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 their 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 flying on 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.

• Contractor will make contact and attain approval with local airports prior to flight to insure safety of all parties.

• The Contractor must have a current Minnesota Pesticide Applicator license and an aquatic applicator endorsement. The Contractor must comply with all EPA, FAA, 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 Managers:

Eric Mark Glacial Ridge NWR 17788 349th St SE Erskine, MN 56535 eric_mark@fws.gov Mobile: 701.425.9080

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