AG0356S160012__Pintler_Aerial_Weed_Spray.pdf

AG-0356-S-16-0012

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Service

Aerial Weed Spraying

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in

FAR 12.6, in conjunction with FAR 13 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.

This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; Quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ), solicitation number AG-0356-

S-16-0012. This procurement is a 100% small business set-aside. The North American Industry Classification

System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 115310. For the purpose of this procurement the small business size standard is $17.5 million. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-86, Award will be a firm fixed price contract.

Paper copies of the Request for Quotation will not be made available. Quotations can be e-mailed to the following e-mail address: trevorbmattson@fs.fed.us to the attention of Trevor Mattson. NOTE: Quotations must be received by June 14th, 2016, 4:00 PM MST; late quotations will not be considered for award.

Prospective Offeror must be registered and have an active status in the System for Award Management (SAM)

(www.sam.gov) in order to be eligible for award. Responsible sources may submit a quotation which, if timely received, shall be considered by this agency. All quotes shall be valid for 30 days.

DOCUMENTS TO RETURN:

The following documents shall be submitted by the offeror for evaluation to be considered responsive:

1. Pricing Page 2.

2. Experience document showing recent and relevant experience in relation to the work set forth in the solicitation. The following information shall be included to be considered responsive.

-Current copy of Montana Pesticide Applicators License.

-Make, model, and type of aircraft offered. If multiple aircraft are offered, a separate price schedule can be provided for each type of aircraft.

-Type of air-to-ground communication equipment and type of aerial spray navigation system offered, please include capabilities of the equipment.

3. The following information is optional and has no value in the evaluation for award.

-Other accessories or application methods that are available and may be used for this contract. The Government is particularly interested in practices or equipment to minimize drift.

*Please return all required documents to trevorbmattson@fs.fed.us mailto:trevorbmattson@fs.fed.us

CONTACTS

Contracting Officer Trevor Mattson at (406) 494-0242 or email at trevorbmattson@fs.fed.us

Technical Specifications Cameron Rasor (406) 859-3211 or email at crasor@fs.fed.us

PRICING

Item # Item Description QTY Unit Unit Cost

Aminopyralid (7 oz)

Unit Cost Clopyralid (2/3 pint)

Unit A Sawmill Gulch Area -

Aerial Application 25 Acre

Unit B Sawmill Gulch Area -

Aerial Application 27 Acre

Unit C Sawmill Gulch Area -

Aerial Application 30 Acre

Unit D Sawmill Gulch Area -

Aerial Application 25 Acre

Unit E Sawmill Gulch Area -

Aerial Application 152 Acre

Unit F Sawmill Gulch Area -

Aerial Application 28 Acre

Maywood Maywood Ridge - Aerial Application

315 Acre

Drift Agent*

602 Acre

Surfactant*

602 Acre

*Drift agents and surfactants may or may not be used depending on conditions when treatment is completed. Quotes must include cost/unit in the event they are needed and applied.

*Unit costs for Aminopyralid and Clopyralid shall be included; timing of actual application will determine what herbicide is used to treat the infestations.

SCOPE OF WORK

(a) Herbicide Applications: This contract is for aerial application of herbicide by helicopter in

Granite County on Montana. Contractor shall furnish all materials, herbicides, equipment, labor, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals necessary to safely apply herbicides using aerial spraying apparatus, in accordance with the contract specifications, terms, conditions specified on the herbicide label(s), and State of Montana regulations. This includes fuel, fuel truck, and driver; water for mixing; and any other supplies necessary unless the contract states they will be furnished by the Government.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The areas scheduled for aerial herbicide treatment on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest consists of polygons (such as rangelands, big game winter ranges, burned areas and general forest areas) on Pintler Ranger District. The topography varies from open rolling hills to steep, high elevation mountain sides. Overstory canopy varies and there may be areas with too dense of forest canopy to aerially spray within the polygons to be treated. All identified polygons may have live streams running in or adjacent to them. Closed timber overstory areas and live water are not to be sprayed. Sensitive areas, such as, plants and/or water will have 300 foot buffers around these sensitive sites. Buffer strips may be designated by the Government during operations to protect rare plants, water, riparian zones or other sensitive resources.

Mix and loading sites will be identified and discussed with the Contractor prior to treatment date and will be accessible by road. The Contractor will receive authorization to drive mix and support vehicles behind gated forest roads as needed. The Contractor may be asked to time treatment to avoid conflicts with other users in particular treatment areas (e.g. periods of high public recreation), or to stop treatment if people are found to have somehow entered the treatment area during treatment. Based on experience, such treatment stoppage is anticipated to be the exception and not the rule, but can happen.

The Contractor shall apply the herbicides at as low an elevation as possible subject to vegetation, terrain and safety considerations. Herbicide amounts per acre shall be applied in a water/herbicide mixture at a minimum rate of 2 gallons per acre unless otherwise specified.

Weed infestation levels vary from light to heavy in the treatment areas and occur on a variety of habitat types, aspects, elevations and canopy covers. Spotted knapweed is the most common weed on the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest, but other weed species will be found in treatment areas.

HERBICIDE TREATMENT STANDARDS

(a) Weeds to be Treated: The Contractor will treat all of the target species identified by the

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest “Weeds to be Treated” (refer to Section 1.7) with the appropriate, Government approved herbicide at the prescribed rate.

(b) Drift Agents and Surfactants: Drift agents and surfactants will be applied with herbicides when requested by the Forest Service. These products will be applied according to label. Specific products in these categories are subject to prior approval by the Government.

(c) Carrier: Water shall be used as the herbicide carrier.

(d) Maximum Herbicide Rate: The Contractor shall treat the target species with the specified herbicide at the rate identified by the Government and never at a rate exceeding label direction.

(e) Calibration: Calibration of equipment shall be done prior to start of work, and before Contractor brings equipment onto public land. Calibration calculations shall be provided to the Government prior to commencement of work. The spray pattern, application rates and calibration shall be reviewed before beginning a project and monitored during the project. Additional calibration checks may be required by the Government if there is question or indications of inaccurate application rates.

(f) Mixing Practices: Contractor shall mix only the amount of herbicide that will be used for the operating period or load. Contractor shall take special care to avoid mixing more than the amount to be used in the event the weather changes into no spray conditions. The Government does not guarantee that other areas will be available to treat in the event a weather change occurs and mixed herbicide is left over.

(g) Mixing Locations: Mixing and loading operations shall occur no closer than 150 feet from open water or other sensitive sites unless spill containment devices are readily available and the Government has pre-approved the practice and location. Mixing, loading, and equipment cleaning shall be done more than 200 feet from private land unless an agreement exists between the landowner and the contractor to allow this use.

(h) Waste Disposal: Disposal of wastewater and herbicide containers shall be done off National Forest lands and in accordance with local, state and federal regulations.

(i) Aerial herbicide application shall not occur within 300 feet of live water unless specified by the

Forest Service through drift monitoring procedures. Drift cards may be placed to monitor herbicide deposition within the spray area and in buffer areas adjacent to sensitive resources. The contractor may need to adjust application operations to allow placement and pick up of drift detection cards.

(j) Aerial applications shall not occur during or when heavy rains are forecasted that could cause offsite herbicide transport into sensitive areas such as streams or when a temperature inversion is occurring or predicted. Application shall not be done when it is raining or snowing.

(k) Spray drift shall be avoided. Aerial application shall occur only when winds are 6 mph or less.

(m) The Government may stop spraying operations if the temperature rises or the relative humidity drops to a point the Government feels the treatments will not be effective.

MINIMUM QUALITY STANDARD

(a) Weed Mortality: At a minimum, 80% of the weeds treated and acreage claimed will show mortality or physical signs of herbicide treatment such as wilting, curling or discoloration. Contract inspections will allow sufficient time for target plants to exhibit herbicide effects.

(b) Coverage: Contractor shall provide uniform herbicide coverage on the designated treatment sites, with a minimum size and number of unintentional skips within the designated area. An unintentional skip is an area that is untreated due to Contractor error. An intentional skip is an area that is untreated due to safety, difficult terrain, sensitive plants or water.

MONITORING AND RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS FOR HERBICIDE

TREATMENTS

(a) Federal and State law require record keeping for all applications of herbicides on public lands. The

Contractor shall provide complete, accurate, and detailed records throughout the duration of the contract and provide the Government with legible, readable copies of such records.

(b) The Contractor will complete the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF Daily Herbicide Application Record

(form enclosed) for the areas treated and submit the original (or readable photocopy) to the COR.

Documentation shall be provided within 72 hours of completion of application, in addition to shapefiles showing actual area treated.

(c) Daily weather records will be kept showing: site location(s), high and low temperatures during the daily applications; high and low relative humidity readings during the daily applications; highest wind speed during daily applications; wind direction during daily applications; any precipitation during the daily applications; etc. A form for this information is included with the Daily Herbicide Application

Record (form enclosed).

CERTIFICATION AND PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

Herbicide mixing and application operations under this contract must meet the State of Montana certification and application requirements for the use and application of Restricted Use Herbicides.

The Contractor must hold a current Montana Commercial Pesticide Applicators License. Personnel employed by the Contractor must be briefed and trained in application and safety techniques.

Personnel employed by the Contractor must be certified themselves or under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator at all times on the National Forest.

The Contractor and all application personnel are required to review, understand, and follow the herbicide label and MSDS requirements, precautions, and prohibitions. Herbicide labels and associated MSDS must be carried and be within easy access during all spraying operations.

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

(a) All equipment will be in good mechanical condition and will be inspected prior to work.

(b) A pumping system shall be used to fill water tanks that will prevent contamination of wells, springs, streams, lakes, and ponds. The system shall be so constructed so that a back flow from the mixing or application tanks will not be possible.

(c) All spray tanks and herbicide containers will have tight fitting and secure lids. Equipment will be inspected regularly for leaks.

(d) Herbicides shall be transported in a manner that will prevent spills and in containers that are isolated from food, clothing and safety equipment.

(e) The Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest Spill Plan is included in this package. Compliance with this plan is mandatory. All spray operations and herbicide transport vehicles will have adequate spill containment and cleanup materials and equipment. Operators will be trained in responding to and dealing with herbicide spills.

(f) The Contractor will be familiar with the Forests’ environmental protection Mitigation

Measures These measures outline the standard mitigation measures from the 2002

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Noxious Weed Control Record of Decision. A copy of this document is available upon request.

WEEDS ON THE BEAVERHEAD-DEERLODGE NATIONAL FOREST

Scientific Name Common Name

Potential invaders (currently absent)

Goal is to prevent and eradicate promptly if found

Bryonia alba White bryony

Centaurea repens Russian knapweed

Centaurea solstitalis Yellow starthistle

Chondrilla juncea Rush skeletonweed

Crupina vulgaris Common crupina

Iris pseudacorus Yellowflag iris

Isatis tinctoria Dyers woad

Lythrum spp. Purple loostrife

Polgonum cuspidatum Japanese Knotweed

Tamarix spp. Salt cedar

New invaders

Goal is to eradicate small new infestations and reduce larger infestations

Cardaria draba White top

Centaurea diffusa Diffuse knapweed

Echium vulgare Blue weed

Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed

Hieracium piloselloides / pratense/ et al Meadow/Yellow hawkweed complex

Lepidium latifolium Perennial pepperweed

Linaria vulgaris Common toadflax

Ranunculus acris Tall buttercup

Senecio jacobaea Tansy ragwort

Widespread Weeds

Goal is to contain inside infested area and reduce plant populations

Cardus nutans Musk thistle

Centaurea maculosa Spotted knapweed

Chrysanthemum leucanthemem Oxeye daisy

Cirsium arvense Canada thistle

Cynoglossum officinale Houndstongue

Euphorbia esula Leafy spurge

Hypericum perforatum St. Johnswort

Linaria dalmatica Dalmatian toadflax

Potentilla recta Sulfur cinquefoil

Sisymbrium altissimum Tumble mustard

Tanacetum vulgare Common tansy

Verbascum spp. Mullein

In addition to the above, the following weeds were added to the Montana Noxious Weed list on

March 27, 2008 and will be reported as potential invaders and treated if encountered:

Berteroa incana Hoary alyssum

Butomus umbellatus Flowering Rush

Cytisus scoparius Scotch broom

Polygonum cuspidatum, sachalinense and polystachyum Japanese knotweed complex

ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTIONS

The below environmental protection measures, included in the 2002 Beaverhead-Deerlodge

NF Noxious Weed Control Record of Decision apply to operations under this contract.

1) Information learned from each project will be used to improve safety, resource protection, reduce human health risks and improve efficacy on subsequent projects.

2) All weed treatment activities will comply with state and local laws and agency guidelines.

3) All application of herbicides will be performed by, or supervised by, a state licensed applicator following all current legal application procedures administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture.

4) All herbicides will be handled following the EPA label guidelines and other state and federal laws for storage, application, and disposal methods.

5) No Ether based surfactants are allowed.

6) Campgrounds adjacent to treatment areas will be closed during the application period.

7) Mixing will take place at least ¼ mile from open water unless spill containment devices are readily available and an anti back siphoning device is used when drafting water.

8) Applicators will review stream and wetland areas to assure that herbicides will not be applied to open water. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest requires a 300 foot buffer from open water.

9) Herbicide applicators will not initiate spraying when heavy rains are forecast that could cause offsite herbicide transport into sensitive resources such as streams.

10) Herbicide application near streams, ponds, or wetlands will occur only when winds are 6 mph or less and blowing away from these areas.

11) Herbicides applicators will be familiar with and carry an Herbicide Emergency Spill Plan (attached) to reduce the risk and potential severity of an accidental spill. Herbicides applicators will also carry spill containment equipment.

12) Herbicides will not be applied if snow or ice covers the target vegetation.

13) Spray equipment will be calibrated each season and recalibrated as needed during the spray season.

14) Low boom pressure (less than 40 pounds per square inch) will be used to reduce drift.

15) Drift reduction products will be used as needed near sensitive resources.

16) Commercial contract applicators will present their Montana commercial pesticide applicators license at the beginning of work under this contract.