solicitation.pdf

IDAWY ACQUISITION SERVICE CENTER INSTRUCTIONAL COVER SHEET

ISSUING OFFICE:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

IDAWY ACQUISITION SERVICE CENTER

1405 HOLLIPARK DR.

IDAHO FALLS, ID 83401

FAX (208) 557-5829

SOLICITATION NO. AG-02NV-S-16-0033

OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FOR: INVASIVE SPECIES/TESP VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IDIQ FOR THE SALMON-

CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST

SET-ASIDE: SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE

IMPORTANT – NOTICE TO OFFEROR:

AT A MINIMUM, OFFEROR SHALL SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS BACK WITH THEIR RESPONSE

TO THIS SOLICITATION:

1.SF-1449 Request For Quotation (Complete, date, and sign)

2.Section I – Schedule of Items (Pages 6-8). (Complete Unit Price and Amount)

3.Technical Proposal (Pages 99-107)

4.Representations and Certifications (Pages 79-98). (Complete the Representations and Certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website at https://www.sam.gov)

5. Acknowledgement of Amendments (If Any)

IT IS REQUIRED YOU WRITE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR ENVELOPE.

Return to: IDAWY Acquisition Service Center

1405 Hollipark Drive

Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Solicitation No. AG-02NV-S-16-0033

IT IS REQUIRED THAT ALL CONTRACTOR’S BE REGISTERED IN THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PRIOR TO AWARD UNDER THIS SOLICITATION. SEE CLAUSE 52.204-7

SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY.

IT IS THE OFFERORS RESPONSIBILITY TO WATCH FOR ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE SOLICITATION, WHICH SHALL BE ISSUED ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH FEDBIZOPS.

https://www.sam.gov/

AG-02NV-S-16-0033 Invasive Species/TESP Vegetation Management IDIQ

Salmon-Challis National Forest

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – Supplies or Services and Prices

SECTION C – Descriptions/Specifications

SECTION E – Inspection and Acceptance

SECTION F – Description and Performance

SECTION G – Contract Administration Data

SECTION H – Special Contract Requirements

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I – Contract Clauses for Commercial Items

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS,EXIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J – Exhibits

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K – Representations, Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors or Respondents

SECTION L – Solicitation Provisions

SECTION M – Evaluation Factors for Award

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

1. REQUISITION NUMBER

770793

2. CONTRACT NO.

3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE

4. ORDER NUMBER

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

AG-02NV-S-16-0033

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

6/22/2016

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL

a. NAME

KELLIE SHAW

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls)

(208) 557-5766

8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIME

7/20/16 1:00 p.m. MST

9. ISSUED BY CODE

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS: UNRESTRICTED or SET ASIDE: 100 % FOR:

IDAWY Acquisition Service Center

1405 Hollipark Drive

Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Small Business Women-Owned Small Business

(WOSB) Eligible Under the Women-Owned

Hubzone Small Small Business Program NAICS: 115310

Business Economically Disadvantaged Women-

Service-Disabled Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Size Standard: $7.5 Million

Veteran Owned

Small Business 8(A)

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS

A RATED ORDER

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING

11. Delivery for FOB

Destination unless Block is

Marked

See Schedule

12. Discount Terms

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ IFB RFP

CODE

16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

15. DELIVER TO

See Delivery Schedule Same as Block 9

17a. CONTRACTOR/ CODE

OFFEROR

FACILITY

CODE 18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

TELEPHONE NO.:_____________________________________

DUNS NO:_____________________ CAGE Code. ___________________________

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

National Finance Center

P.O. Box 60000

New Orleans, LA 70160-0001

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH

ADDRESS IN OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW IS

CHECKED SEE ADDENDUM

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

Invasive Species/TESP Vegetation Management IDIQ, Salmon-

Challis National Forest

This requirement is being procured as a fixed-price

Simplified Acquisition.

Faxes will not be accepted.

PLEASE PLACE YOUR QUOTE IN SECTION I-

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED.

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN _____

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

HEREIN.

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. ___________________ OFFER

DATED _________________. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES

WHICH ARE SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (TYPE OR PRINT)

30c. DATE SIGNED

31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (TYPE OR

PRINT)

31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 5/2011)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED: ___________________________________________

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT

VERIFIED CORRECT

FOR

36. PAYMENT

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

37. CHECK NUMBER

PARTIAL FINAL

38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER 40. PAID BY

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT 42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42.b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42.c DATE REC’D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

Standard Form 1449 (REV. 5/2011) Back

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B--SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES

Invasive Species/TESP Vegetation Management Services IDIQ

Lemhi & Custer Counties, Idaho

B.1. BACKGROUND

B.1.1. The following Parts and Subparts of the FAR apply:

FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, as Amended.

FAR 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contracts Act – Price Adjustment

(Multiple Year and Option Year Contracts)

FAR Part 16.504, Indefinite Quantity Contract.

FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items.

B.1.2. Other Factors that Apply

This contract is a Firm-Fixed-Price, Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA) (FAR Subpart 37.6).

B.1.3. Total Contract Value

The estimated total value of all Task Orders issued over the life of the contract shall not exceed $900,000.

B.1.4. Authorized Ordering Official

The Forest Service officials authorized to award task orders under this contract are Region 4 Contracting

Officers, or warranted 1105s with the proper authority level for award approvals.

B.1.5. Tasks/Work Activities/Line Items/Units and Costs

The Schedule of Items in B.2 shall be used by approved contractors in proposing the Task Orders.

B.1.6. Task Order Maximum Dollars

(Ref to Section G, Contract Administration Data, G.1., Ordering Procedure.)

B.1.7. Pricing

The key factor for the approval of a task order is best value to the Government, or prices at or below the pricing thresholds authorized by this contract.

New pricing shall go into effect should an option to extend the term of this contract be exercised pursuant to

Contract Clause No. 52.217-9.

The Economic Price Adjustment Clause does not appear in this contract because pricing is quoted for Option-

Year One and Two and needs to include reasonable rates for inflation and labor rate increases. New pricing will go into effect at the time of renewal, should an option to extend the term of the contract be exercised.

B.2. SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

This Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) (Task Ordering) Contract is for invasive species/TEPS invasive inventory, invasive species control, and vegetation monitoring for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

This contract complies with the procedures of FAR Part 12, “Acquisition of Commercial Items.”

Under this Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract, only approved Contractors are eligible to compete for the task orders issued for the line items listed below. Contractors will not be required to propose on every solicitation, particularly, if they have reached their maximum dollar limit in accordance with Contract Clause

Number 52.216-19, Order Limitations (OCT 1995) and Contract Provision Number G-1, Ordering Procedure.

The solicitations for the task orders will provide the specifications required in order for a Contractor to respond with an offer. The award selection for the task orders will be based on the most reasonable competitive pricing offers and on the Contractor’s past performance on prior task orders awarded under this contract (When no prior task orders have been awarded that equals a neutral rating for past performance).

The period of performance is one base-year with two (2) option-years, starting on the effective date of contract award through May 31, 2019.

As shown below, the pricing for each of the three years, is based on the maximum pricing amounts or ceilings approved for this contract. It is not required to submit pricing on all items. Offerors shall submit pricing on those items in which they can perform.

BASE PERIOD, FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF AWARD THROUGH MAY 31, 2017

Line

Item Description Qty. Inventoried Unit Maximum Pricing/Acre

1.1 Survey/Inventory Each Acre $________

1.2 Vegetation/Soil Each Acre $________

Trend Monitoring

1.3 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application

Category I – Road/River

Based (w/in 100 feet)

1.4 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Category II – Road/River

Based (<1/4 mile)

1.5 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Ground Application

Category III – Road/River

Based (>1/4 mile from

Road/River OR Boat OR

Stock Access Only

SECOND YEAR (OPTION YEAR ONE), FROM JUNE 1, 2017 THROUGH MAY 31, 2018

1.5 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Category III – Road/River

Based (>1/4 mile from

THIRD YEAR (OPTION YEAR TWO), FROM JUNE 1, 2018 THROUGH MAY 31, 2019

1.5 Invasive Plant Treatment Each Acre $________

Category III – Road/River

Based (>1/4 mile from

(Note: Please price on those items in which you can perform. Pricing shall be submitted to the nearest dollar.)

B.3. PRICING STRUCTURE

Maximum Pricing/Ceiling Amounts identified in the Schedule of Items above are the maximum prices per acre that contractors shall not exceed when competing on individual Task Orders. Contractors should take into account all cost elements such as, but not limited to, level of difficulty taking into account access and terrain, direct costs, and indirect costs when establishing their maximum/ceiling price per acre.

B.4. MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM

Each contract awarded as a result of this solicitation shall be subject to a guaranteed minimum over the life of the contract (base plus any exercised options) as shown below.

Guaranteed Maximum

Minimum

$1,000 $900,000

B.5. MULTIPLE AWARD OPTION

The Government reserves the right to make multiple awards if, after considering the additional administrative costs, it is in the Government's best interest to do so.

B.6. PERMITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES - TAXES

Under clause 52.236-7, Permits and Responsibilities, Contractors shall be responsible for complying with any

Federal, State, and municipal laws, codes and regulations applicable to the performance of the work. Questions regarding assessment of Idaho Use Tax on Government Furnished Property should be directed to the Idaho

State Tax Commission at (208) 799-3491.

SECTION II - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

SECTION C – PROJECT DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

C. 1. GENERAL

C.1.1 - Scope of Contract

The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, equipment, supplies, services, permits, and licenses necessary to survey, inventory, map, control, and monitor invasive plant infestations and Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TEPS) plant populations on the Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF), including the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness (FC-RONRW) during the period of Date of Contract Award through December 31, 2020. Specific information and requirements, beyond the general requirements included in this section, for each task shall be indicated in the individual Task Orders.

Survey/Inventory Services:

The Contractor shall inventory for and map all Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious invasive plant species (Exhibit 1) and other invasive plant species as specified by the Task Order and TEPS plants (Exhibit 12) throughout the full extent of identified sites within work areas. Survey and inventory work shall be completed as per Forest Service specifications and requirements (Exhibits 1, 2A and 2B).

The Contractor shall provide digital and/or hard copy map and data files as specified by the Contracting

Officer’s Representative (COR) delineating the invasive plant infestations inventoried and of the areas surveyed.

Invasive Plant Treatment Services:

As a ground-based operation, the Contractor shall (a) apply herbicides or biological control agents to target infestations of Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weeds (Exhibit 1) and other invasive plant species as specified within the treatment areas defined by the individual Task Orders, in accordance with SCNF and FC-RONWR Herbicide Use Requirements (Exhibits 3, 4A and 4B and 5), (b) inventory new infestations of invasive plants encountered in the work areas, (c) re-measure the size of existing invasive plant infestations that have increased or decreased since the last re-measurement and (d) conduct efficacy monitoring of treated infestations.

The Contractor shall provide digital and/or hard copy map and data files for each infestation, as specified by the

COR, delineating the invasive plant infestations to which herbicides were applied.

Monitoring Services:

The Contractor shall collect vegetation and soil attribute data needed to determine the status and trend of invasive plant infestations, TEPS plants, native plant communities, and soil resources at specified sites per monitoring protocol instructions contained in Exhibits 6A and 6B.

The Contractor shall provide digital and/or hard copy map and data files (as specified by the COR) for each monitoring site.

The statement of work for completing the tasks/subtasks shall comply with the “Quality Assurance

Requirements” of Section E. Services shall be performed in compliance with the terms, conditions, and work specifications in the individual Task Orders.

C.1.2 – Task Order Period of Performance

The work period identified in individual Task Orders may be adjusted if weather or environmental conditions or plant phenology require a change. If the work period is adjusted, inventory, control or monitoring work nevertheless may be suspended (a) in the late summer once active growth of the target TESP and/or invasive plant species ceases (typically with the onset of seed maturation), (b) at any time when weather conditions and/or work area accessibility preclude work and (c) at any time of year when the ground is frozen or snow covers the ground. Work may usually may resume in the fall, typically from mid-September through October, as agreed upon by the Contractor and COR. Working on weekends and holidays is acceptable with the exception of sites, such as campgrounds, that receive heavy recreational use on weekends and holidays. Exceptions will be approved by the COR.

C.1.3 - Progression and Order of Work

The Contractor, as approved by the COR, will determine the order and progression of work within a work area.

The Forest Service reserves the right to alter the location of work areas should planned work areas become inaccessible (e.g. wildfires or mass erosion events due to high intensity storms) with prior written notification of the change by a properly executed modification from the Contracting Officer. Only areas of comparable size, terrain, and accessibility will be considered for potential alterations.

The Forest Service reserves the right to determine the time of herbicide application or biological control releases, the priority of work areas and order of activities within work areas.

Re-measurement and monitoring shall take place at the time each infestation is treated with herbicides and/or biological control agents. Inventory of new infestations shall take place as they are encountered by the

Contractor.

C.1.4 - Herbicide and Application Rates

The Contractor will recommend the herbicide and application rate for a work area. The Forest Service reserves the right to require that a particular herbicide or application rate be used (See C.5 and C.6 and Exhibits 3, 4A and 4B and 5).

C.1.5 – Deliverable Products

Identified deliverables shall be provided in increments with invoices for partial payment. Upon completion of work, the Contractor shall submit hard copy and electronic data to the COR as specified in Section C.5.1.2, Section E, Performance Requirements and Exhibits 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B, 5, 6A, 6B and 11. These shall include the following C.1.5 items below.

These products shall be delivered the two weeks prior to Contractor submitting an invoice for payment for the surveyed/inventoried areas or, if only one invoice is submitted, with that invoice. Delivery of these products is necessary for the COR to approve the submitted invoice.

C.1.5.1 – Survey/Inventory

(a) Color hard copy maps with symbolized attributes and legend containing at a minimum: topographic background layer, outline of work area boundary and name, all GPS invasive plant points and TEPS plant points collected identified by NRCS species code and text boxes with general notes and any recommendations regarding delineation of GPS data as a polygon feature.

(b) A CD/DVD/zip file or drive of any color photographs of work areas and/or infestations and TEPS plant populations inventoried.

(c) A CD/DVD/zip file or drive providing the location of invasive plant points and TEPS plant points inventoried as GPS files and as ESRI ArcMap shapefiles (or geodatabase) categorized by work area and invasive plant species/TEPS plant species, along with minimum required associated tabular attributes per Forest

Service specifications and requirements

(d) Hard copies or electronic copies on a CD/DVD in a printable format (Word, Adobe pdf files, etc.) of all field notes pertaining to the work areas and/or inventoried infestations.

C.1.5.2 – Herbicide Application

(a) The Contractor shall be familiar with and comply with SCNF environmental protection design features and mitigation measures. The 2015 Salmon-Challis National Forest Forest-wide Invasive Species Management

Environmental Impact Statement and the 2016 SCNF Invasive Species Management Record of Decision outline design features and mitigation measures for management of invasive plant species. These documents are available on the SCNF website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=36537.

(b) The Contractor shall be familiar with and comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s National

Pollution Discharge Elimination System permitting and herbicide application requirements (Exhibit 10).

(c) Hard copy herbicide application records using the form provided by the Forest Service in Exhibits 4A and

4B for either the North Zone (i.e. Salmon National Forest) or the South Zone (i.e. Challis National Forest).

Completion of all fields is required. Multiple infestations of the same invasive plant species may be recorded on one application record as long as the infestations are contiguous or, if a series of small infestations in close proximity, as long as herbicide output is recorded for each infestation. Per Forest Service Business Rules, herbicide applications on infestations of different species must be recorded on separate application records, unless other arrangements are approved in advance by the COR. Herbicide applications made in different physical locations must be recorded on separate application records per FS Business Rules, unless other arrangements are approved in advance by the COR.

(d) Hard copy qualitative efficacy monitoring forms for each infestation treated using the form provided by the

Forest Service in Exhibit 5. Completion of all fields is required. A monitoring form is required for each treatment record.

(e) Color hard copy maps attached to each treatment record containing at a minimum: topographic background layer, outline of work area boundary and name, delineation of area and infestations sprayed each day with date of treatment and any recommendations regarding the area, new (refer to inventory above) or existing infestations and further management.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=36537

(f) A CD/DVD/zip file or drive providing the location of invasive plant and treatment points inventoried as

GPS files and as ESRI ArcMap shapefiles (or geodatabase) categorized by work area and invasive plant species, along with minimum required associated tabular attributes per Forest Service specifications and requirements.

C.1.5.3 – Monitoring

(a) Hard copy data sheets and color photographs of each monitoring transect as required by Forest Service specifications and requirements.

(b) A CD/DVD/zip file or drive containing electronic files of color photographs at each monitoring transect taken per Forest Service specifications and requirements.

(c) A CD/DVD/zip file or drive of downloaded and processed GPS locations of relocated or re-established permanent monitoring transects as ESRI ArcMap shapefiles or as a geodatabase.

(d) A CD/DVD/zip file or drive of electronic Microsoft Excel files of downloaded and summarized vegetation and soil surface factors data as required by Forest Service specifications and requirements.

(e) Hard copies or electronic copies on a CD/DVD/zip file or drive in a printable format (Word, Adobe pdf files, etc.) of all field notes pertaining to the work areas and/or monitoring transects.

C. 2. DEFINITIONS

Carrier - For herbicide applications, only water shall be used as the herbicide carrier.

Datum – The datum used by SCNF is the North American Datum 1983, Universal Transverse Mercator, Zone

11N or 12N (as required by the location of the work area).

Efficacy Monitoring – collecting attribute data about the status of invasive plant infestations and effectiveness of herbicide application treatments by completing the qualitative efficacy monitoring form in Exhibit 5.

Endangered and Sensitive Plant Species/Invasive Species module (TESP/IS) - A nationwide Forest Service database that stores TESP plant species and invasive species inventory data. The TESP/IS database application includes spatially linked data entry and editing forms for survey-area polygons, TESP element-occurrence points and polygons, and Invasive Species Inventory polygons, based on annual Forest Service Business Rules.

The user is guided through the data entry/edit process with a step-by-step workflow called the ESRI Task

Assistant extension in an ArcMap project. Intermediate ESRI ArcMap skills are required.

FACTS - Forest Activity Tracking System - A nationwide Forest Service database that tracks forest invasive species treatments accomplishments, based on annual Forest Service Business Rules. The user is guided through the data entry/edit process with a step-by-step workflow called the ESRI Task Assistant extension in an

ArcMap project. Intermediate ESRI ArcMap skills are required.

Geographic Information System (GIS) software – the Forest Service utilizes ESRI ArcGIS software, including

ArcMap and ArcPad. At a minimum, Contractors providing invasive plant inventory or soil and vegetation trend monitoring need access to ESRI software or other GIS software that the Contractor can easily crosswalk with ESRI products to meet requirements specifying delivery of digital products such as shapefiles.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Equipment – Resource grade Trimble GPS receivers or wireless GPS devices and portable data recorders capable of receiving and transmitting data dictionaries, Pocket Excel, ESRI ArcPad software, digital raster graphics and other GIS files for use in recording spatial and tabular data of treated infestations.

Herbicide – Only those herbicides listed specifically in Exhibits 3, 4A and 4B may be applied to national forest system lands under the provisions of the Biological Opinion from the National Marine Fisheries Service and

Fish and Wildlife Service that, in part, govern the application of herbicides to lands administered by the

Salmon-Challis National Forests, including lands in the FC-CWMA in the Frank Church-River of No Return

Wilderness.

(Any Glyphosate products applied between 0 and 15 feet of surface water must be formulated without the addition of surfactants (i.e. an aquatic formulation). Any 2,4-D products applied between 0 and 15 feet of surface water must be labeled as suitable for application in or near an aquatic environment.

Invasive Plant – Any non-native/non-indigenous plant species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health, as defined by federal law.

Invasive Plant Infestation – A discrete area infested with Forest Service, Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi

County designated noxious weeds or other invasive species as specified by the task order delineated by a point or a polygon. The number of invasive species plants in an infestation may be as low as a single plant to many thousands of plants. The area comprising the infestation may be as small as 1/1000 of an acre to thousands of acres if the invasive species distribution is large and continuous. Invasive species plant cover may vary from less than one percent of the plant community in the infested area to a percentage in which the invasive species is dominant in the plant community (e.g. 75% cover).

Inventory - Walking a grid system throughout an entire survey site within a work area in search of all of the

Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi County designated noxious weeds, and other invasive plant species, and/or

TEPS plant species as specified in the task order. Once located, the outer perimeter of invasive plant infestations and TEPS plant populations shall be mapped by taking GPS readings around the perimeter of each infestation or population, recording required data in the specified format for each infestation/population and, if necessary, converting these data to ESRI ArcMap software supported shapefiles and database files.

Monitoring – collecting vegetation and soil attribute data needed to determine the status and trend of invasive plant infestations, native plant communities and soil resources by following and completing the monitoring protocol and instructions as required by Forest Service specifications and requirements.

Monitoring Transects – Permanently established 25-meter transects for vegetation and soil trend monitoring.

Transects run perpendicular to the elevation contour. Transects are permanently marked at both the zero-meter and 25-meter ends with rebar topped with plastic caps.

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) – Environmental Protection Agency program authorized under the Clean Water Act of 1972 to control water pollution through the permitting and regulation of discharge pollutants into waters of the United States (https://www3.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/).

https://www3.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/

Noxious Weed - Any of 64 or more invasive plant species having the potential to cause injury to public health, crops, livestock, land or other property and designated as “noxious” by Butte, Custer or Lemhi Counties and by the State of Idaho as of January 2007 (Noxious Weed Rules, IDAPA 02.06.22).

Plant Phenology – This phrase refers to any of the number of plant growth and life cycle stages, from germination to seed production to senescence. Herbicide application shall be timed to coincide with those stages of plant growth in which the target species is most susceptible to the effects of the herbicide. The COR may stop work during the time when the phenological stage of the target species precludes susceptibility to the mode of action of the herbicide required for use.

Re-measurement – Re-mapping an existing invasive plant infestation or TESP plant population with a GPS receiver (minimum GPS system and tolerance standards are displayed in Exhibit 2A) and collecting attribute data per the requirements of Exhibits 2A and 2B when the infestation or population has changed in size and extent and/or canopy cover since the last measurement.

TEPS Plant Species – Native plant species that are federally listed as Threatened or Endangered or Proposed for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act due to population or habitat decline or loss (TEP) OR a native plant species occurring on Forest Service lands for which there are viability concerns that declines or losses in population number or habitat could lead to listing under the Endangered Species Act (Sensitive plant species).

TEPS Plant Occurrence - A discrete area occupied by TEPS plants delineated by a point or as a polygon. The number of TEPS plants in an occurrence (i.e. population) may be as low as a single plant to many thousands of plants. The area comprising the infestation may be as small as 1/1000 of an acre to potentially hundreds of acres. TEPS plant cover may vary from less than one percent of the plant community to a percentage in which the TEPS plant species is at least temporarily dominant in the plant community.

Work Area – Consists of a geographically and topographically defined area of work in which work shall be conducted, whether for survey/inventory, invasive plant control or monitoring or any combination therefore, for which site conditions are described under C.5.2 and in the individual Task Orders.

C. 3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY/INFORMATION

GENERAL

Government Furnished Property/Services, Data, ETC.

QUANTITY

Where, When, How to be

Furnished to Contractor

Idaho State/County Noxious Weed Lists 1 In Section J

Inventory Data Collection Standards 1 In Section J

Inventory Data Collection Fields and LOV’s 1 In Section J

GPS System and Tolerance Standards 1 In Section J

SCNF Use Regulations 1 In Section J

FC-RONRW Use Regulations 1 In Section J

Salmon River Wild Rivers Regulations 1 In Section J

Area locator maps (as necessary) and maps of work area(s) (i.e. the Item No.)

One map or set

Included in Solicitation & provided at pre-work meeting

Forest Travel Plan Map 1 Provided at pre-work meeting

1:24,000 scale orthophoto quad maps of work area (i.e. the Item No.)

One per work area

Provided at pre-work meeting

USGS Quadrangle Maps in Electronic

Format 1 Each

Electronically downloaded to

PDR/GPS Receivers

SURVEY/INVENTORY

Data, ETC.

QUANTITY

Where, When, How to be Furnished to Contractor

Survey/Inventory Data Collection Standards 1 In Section J

Survey/Inventory Data Collection Fields and

List of Value’s

In Section J and electronically downloaded to PDR/GPS Receivers

GPS System and Tolerance Standards 1 In Section J

HERBICIDE/BIOLOGICAL CONTROL APPLICATION

Data, ETC.

QUANTITY

Where, When, How to be Furnished to Contractor

Biological Control agents approved for use on SCNF and made available for use through

FS rearing programs/cooperative efforts

As specified in task order

No more than 24-38 hours prior to application

Salmon-Challis National Forest Mitigation

Measures for Herbicide Application

In Section J

Frank Church – River of No Return

Wilderness Mitigation Measures for

Herbicide Application

In Section J

NPDES Equipment Calibration Forms 1 each In Section J

Master Copy of Salmon-Challis National

Forest Herbicide Application Records 1 each

In Section J and electronically at pre-work meeting

Qualitative Efficacy Monitoring Form

In Section J and electronically at pre-work meeting

VEGETATION/SOIL TREND MONITORING

Government Furnished Property/Services, Data, ETC.

QUANTITY Where, When, How to be Furnished to Contractor

Monitoring protocol/data forms 1 In Section J

C.4 - CONTRACTOR FURNISHED CRITICAL ITEMS/SERVICES

GENERAL

Item # Quantity DESCRIPTION

1 1/crew Shovel, bucket and fire extinguisher for fire prevention regulations

2 1/crew Fire pan, if warming/cooking fires are intended in river corridor

3 1/crew Fully contained, portable toilet for removal of human waste from river corridor

4 1/crew GPS devices and/or portable data recorders (as approved by the COR)

5 1 Reliable communications system (Suggest Satellite Phone) to contact COR as needed

SURVEY/INVENTORY

Item # Quantity Description

1 1/crew

Digital camera with at least 5 mega pixel quality and software for downloading and printing 4X6 color photographs

2 1 Personal Computer and peripherals, including DVD burner and color printer

3 1 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software

4 1 ESRI ArcGIS software (ArcMap and ArcPad)

HERBICIDE/BIOLOGICAL CONTROL APPLICATION

Item # Quantity DESCRIPTION

1 As needed

Herbicide labeled for rangeland or aquatic invasive plant species control meeting Salmon-Challis National Forest

Mitigation Measures for Herbicide Application

2 As needed

All necessary adjuvants, including surfactant and indicator dye meeting Salmon-Challis National Forest Mitigation

Measures for Herbicide Application

As specified in

Task Order

Commercially available biological control agents for invasive species plant control as specified by species and amount in task order

4 As needed

All equipment & labor to control invasive plant species per task order, including transportation, sprayers/application equipment, water drafting equipment, operational spill incident kits, decontamination kits and personal protective equipment for each worker.

MONITORING

Item # Quantity Description

1 1/crew

Digital camera with at least 5 mega pixel quality and software for downloading and printing 4X6 color photographs

2 1 Personal Computer and peripherals, including DVD burner and color printer

3 1 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software

4 1 ESRI ArcGIS software (ArcMap and ArcPad)

Items provided by the Forest Service are to be used only in the execution of tasks specified in this contract and may not be employed for personal use or in support of other Contractor work.

C. 5. PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT TASKS/CRITICAL SUBTASKS

The performance work statement tasks/critical subtasks will be provided in the solicitations and the

Task Orders. Site visits may be offered to assist in responding to a solicitation for pricing a Task

Order.

C.5.1.1 – Survey/Inventory Requirements:

Within each work area, the Contractor shall conduct inventory for all Idaho State and Butte/Custer/Lemhi

County designated noxious weeds and other invasive plant species and/or TESP plant species as specified in the individual Task Order in all sites delineated for inventory per protocol provided in Exhibits 2A and 2B.

1) The Contractor shall utilize portable data recorders or Global Positioning System receivers with (a)

ESRI ArcPad software and (b) incorporated global GPS or with separate GPS devices using wireless Bluetooth technology for mapping invasive plant/TESP plant species and recording required inventory data. The COR must approve the Contractor’s GPS/data collection system at the pre-work meeting. The Contractor may not use unapproved systems as they could be incompatible with Forest Service data collection standards and data bases.

2) Inventory data shall be gathered in a manner consistent with Forest Service invasive plant/TESP plant species inventory protocols and formats. These instructions are attached to this solicitation under Exhibits

1, 2A and 2B and 12 and shall be provided to the Contractor in the necessary electronic formats by the Forest

Service at the pre-work meeting.

3) The Contractor shall adhere to standard Forest Service specifications for data-collection and GPS tolerances. These specifications and GPS tolerances are attached to this solicitation under Exhibit 2A.

4) Inventory methodology will require the Contractor to follow a standardized grid system protocol approved by the Forest Service (see example in Exhibit 2A). The Contractor will be required to map infestations/populations with GPS receivers and/or portable data recorders and collect and record invasive/TESP plant species data for all invasive/TEPS plant species located in each site delineated for inventory. The Contractor shall provide (a) downloaded and processed shapefiles of gridded survey areas (even if no invasive/TEPS plant species were found) and (b) downloaded and processed shapefiles of invasive/TEPS plant species complete with all required data to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for inspection purposes.

5) The Contractor shall download and process in database format all shapefiles of surveyed areas and invasive/TEPS plant species and associated data. The Contractor shall provide all electronic files to the COR at the end of every work hitch.

6) New invasive/TEPS plant species or infestations/populations encountered by the Contractor shall be mapped using ESRI ArcPad software on portable data recorders and wireless (Bluetooth) GPS receivers

(Exhibit 2A) and required attribute data shall be collected per the requirements of Exhibits 2A and 2B.

7) Comments about the site, including distance from water and other information helpful in managing the site are requested. These may be recorded in the Comments block of the inventory application (refer to

Exhibit 2B).

C.5.1.2 – Invasive Plant Treatment Requirements:

1) The Contractor shall conduct a systematic grid search pattern within the perimeter of each invasive plant species infestation and/or work area, identified in individual Task Order. The Contractor shall extend this systematic grid search pattern beyond the perimeter of each infestation and/or work area by at least 50 feet in order to detect outliers. The distance between strips of the grid pattern will vary depending on terrain, slope, native plant cover and growth stage (phenology) of the target invasive plant species.

2) Biological control agents to control invasive plant species shall be applied per Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service standards under the Plant Protection Act of 2000.

3) Herbicides to control invasive plant species will be applied to infestations of target invasive plant species in specified work areas per Salmon-Challis National Forest and Frank Church – River of No Return

Wilderness Mitigation Measures for Herbicide Application (Exhibit 3).

4) Herbicide application shall be required from the leading edge of an infestation out 25 feet from the last outlying plant.

5) Herbicide application in riparian areas is stratified into buffer zones per National Marine Fisheries

Service and Fish & Wildlife Service consultation requirements based on distance from water. The herbicides and adjuvants that may be used depend on the buffer zone (Exhibit 3).

6) Treated invasive plant species infestations shall be monitored to detect treatment efficacy and track the status and trend of invasive plant species infestations by completing the qualitative efficacy monitoring form displayed in Exhibit 5. Efficacy monitoring attributes to be collected include examiner, date, time, site name and location information, target invasive plant species control rating, cover class by life form/soil surface characteristics and by individual plant species, and invasive plant species density, distribution and phenology ratings. Completion of all fields is mandatory.

Comments and recommendations from the Contractor regarding future site management are requested.

7) Existing invasive plant species infestations that have changed in size and extent and/or canopy cover since the last measurement shall be re-measured by mapping the infestation with a COR approved GPS receiver (GPS Tolerance Standards are displayed in Exhibit 2A) and collecting attribute data per the requirements of Exhibits 2A and 2B. Lateral shifts in location, changes in size (whether increases or decreases) by 0.1 acre or more and changes (increases or decreases) in canopy cover trigger the requirement to re-measure the infestation.

8) New invasive plant species infestations encountered by the Contractor shall be mapped with a GPS receiver and required attribute data shall be collected per the requirements of Exhibits 2A and 2B. There are nine required attribute fields, including Date, Examiner, Site Location Name, Invasive Plant Species, Plant

Phenology, Percent Cover Class, Distribution, Cover Type and Other Invasive Plant Species Present.

Comments about the site, including distance from water and other information helpful in managing the site are requested. These may be recorded in the Comments block of the inventory application.

Spatial and tabular attributes of invasive plant species infestations treated by Contractor must be documented with Forest Service approved GPS equipment. The Contractor shall utilize portable data recorders or Global

Positioning System receivers with (a) ESRI ArcPad software and (b) incorporated global GPS or with separate

GPS devices using wireless Bluetooth technology for mapping invasive plant species infestations and recording required inventory data. The COR must approve the Contractor’s GPS/data collection system at the pre-work meeting. The Contractor may not use unapproved systems as they could be incompatible with Forest Service data collection standards and data bases.

C.5.1.3 - Monitoring Requirements:

1) At each established monitoring transect, vegetation and soil surface factors data shall be collected per protocol and instructions provided in Exhibits 6A and 6B.

2) At monitoring transects where the rebar or plastic stakes marking the 0-meter and/or 25-meter ends are damaged or missing, the ends shall be remarked with rebar rods, plastic caps and flagging (Exhibit 6A).

The location of relocated or replaced 0-meter and/or 25-meter ends shall be mapped using portable data recorders and wireless (Bluetooth) GPS.

3) The Contractor shall download from the portable data recorders, process and statistically summarize monitoring data for each data element in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

4) Final products to be submitted to the COR include hard copy data sheets, photographs of each transect per monitoring protocol, any pertinent field notes and electronic Excel files. Comments and recommendations from the Contractor regarding continued site monitoring and future site are requested.

C.5.2 – Work Area Description:

C.5.2.1 - GENERAL

Access to work areas is variable and may require more than one mode of transportation, including 4WD pickups, jet boats, small planes, saddle and pack stock, and hiking or backpacking. Travel time is dependent not only on distance but on local conditions at the time of travel, including human-related factors such as road and trail maintenance priorities and weather-related factors, such as storm events, snow pack depths, runoff and high water.

Transportation to work areas in the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness or the Wild River portion of the Salmon River Canyon will generally be by plane to a maintained wilderness airstrip,whitewater raft or saddle and pack stock and then foot travel to the work area or by 4WD pickup to the Corn Creek boat launch, jet boat to the nearest accessible beach along the Salmon River and then by foot travel to the work area(s).

Distance traveled on foot depends on availability of the nearest maintained airstrip or beach accessible by raft or jet boat at the time of travel.

Often there are no developed campgrounds or camp sites available in or adjacent to work areas. Primitive camping will be required. Camping at undeveloped sites within or near a work area is permitted, provided (a) sanitation requirements for garbage removal, human waste, etc. and (b) resource protection measures for sensitive resources (e.g. riparian areas) are met. Drinking water will have to be filtered at all sites and may have to be hauled for some distance from the nearest water source to the camp.

Terrain is variable depending on the work area, ranging from flat and gentle alluvial fans and benches to moderately steep slopes (30 - 40%) on sagebrush steppe plant communities in the uplands to very steep slopes

(50% plus) with abundant surface rock and unstable terrain (e.g. in the river breaks in the Salmon River

Canyon). Overall, the terrain in most work areas rates as steep to very steep and rocky with areas of raveling slopes or unstable scree. Due to the steepness of the slopes, rocks and rolling logs are common hazards.

Portions of some work areas may have burned in the recent past, introducing physical hazards such as burned out holes, destabilized rocks and logs and areas with thick ash.

Accessing work areas, inventorying and spraying will generally be physically demanding.

Noxious weed species and most target invasive plant species occur primarily in upland cover types; therefore most work areas are located in these cover types. Most upland plant communities are comprised of bunchgrass habitat types with a variety of forbs and scattered sagebrush-steppe communities, generally on moderate slopes with sufficient soil depth. Conifer cover in work areas is generally sparse.

C.5.2.2 – SURVEY/INVENTORY

Survey/inventory areas may be anywhere on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, including the Frank Church –

River of No Return Wilderness. Infestations of all noxious weed species on the Idaho State Noxious Weed list and the Butte/Custer/Lemhi County Noxious Weed list (see Exhibit 1) must be inventoried, as well as any other invasive plant species specified in the task order, and SCNF TEPS plant species (Exhibit 12).

Survey/inventory areas are often located in remote or difficult to access locations. The majority of inventory work will take place in upland plant communities, although some work may take place in riparian areas and occasionally in areas with conifer cover.

Target plant cover and density may be low in many work areas depending on the length of time since establishment, the species being inventoried and past control efforts. Locating individual plants and patches in each survey area will require a careful grid pattern search to achieve detection standards (Section E).

C.5.2.3 – HERBICIDE APPLICATION

Work areas may be anywhere on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, including the Frank Church – River of No

Return Wilderness. Infestations of all noxious weed species on the Idaho State Noxious Weed list and the

Butte/Custer/Lemhi County Noxious Weed list (see Exhibit 1) and other invasive plant species specified in the task order must be treated.

The majority of work will consist of off-road herbicide application, often in remote or difficult to access locations. Access to the treatment areas is variably difficult and, for many areas, a steep elevation gain is required to reach the sites.

In general, there are four native plant community types in which target invasive plant species infestations may be schedule for treatment with herbicides: sagebrush/bunchgrass, upland shrub, conifer forest and deciduous riparian. Most sites where target invasive plant species occur are in open sagebrush/bunchgrass communities or open conifer communities.

The sagebrush/bunchgrass cover type is the most common cover type. Sagebrush is very susceptible to herbicide over spray and must be avoided as much as possible. Many native upland forbs are more resistant to the effects of herbicide while mature perennial grasses are not affected.

The upland shrub cover type consists mainly of stands of mountain mahogany, an important big game forage, and is limited in extent. It occurs mainly in rock outcrops, however, mountain mahogany also occurs on alluvial fans. Mountain mahogany is very sensitive to herbicide over spray and care must be taken to avoid non-target herbicide damage to this species.

The conifer cover type occurs intermixed with riparian communities along streams, as islands and stringers in draws and as open or closed forests on the ridges at the higher elevations. Conifer sites that contain invasive plant species infestations are usually open grown and scattered. Care must be taken to avoid over spray on conifer regeneration. The COR may require that certain herbicides be used in areas where conifers are regenerating.

The deciduous riparian cover type occurs along perennial and intermittent streams as well as scattered seeps and springs. Vegetative cover is often dense to very dense. Mid to tall willow communities are the typical cover type, usually with an under story of tall grasses and forbs. The water table is typically high to very high. The

Salmon-Challis National Forest and Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness Mitigation Measures for

Herbicide Application (Exhibit 3) stipulate that only certain herbicides may be used in riparian areas or within a certain buffer distance from water. The Contractor is responsible for complying with these requirements.

Invasive plant species cover and density may be low in many work areas depending on the length of time since the infestation established and the number of years infestations have been under treatment with herbicides.

Locating individual plants and patches in each work area will require a careful grid pattern search to detect and treat the invasive plant species.

C.5.2.4 - MONITORING

Access to monitoring transects is variable and may require more than one mode of transportation, including

4WD pickups, hiking on trails or orienteering cross-country, but generally transects are located close to road or trail access. Travel time is dependent not only on distance but on local conditions at the time of travel, including human-related factors such as road and trail…