groundSOLICITATION_2012_hnflcf.pdf

AG-03H6-S-12-0010

Ground Based Application Noxious Weed IDIQ Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD 1.THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER RATING PAGE OF

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700) 1 67 PAGES

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER 4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION 5. DATE ISSUED 6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE

AG-03H6-S-12-0010 SEALED BID (IFB) 07/09/2012 NUMBER

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

7. ISSUED BY CODE 8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than Item 7)

Eastside Acquisition Team, USFS for the Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forest(s)

Eastside Acquisiton Team, Helena National Forest 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT 59602

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and 1 copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if handcarried, in the depository located in Supervisor’s Office, Helena NF until 07/31/2012 local time 4:30 p.m. MDST

(Hour) (Date) CAUTION - LATE Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals: See Section L, Provision No. 52.214-7 or 52.215-1. All offers are subject to all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation.

10. FOR

INFORMATION A. NAME B. TELEPHONE NO. (NO COLLECT

CALLS)Area Code/Number/Extension C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

CALL: Lori Austad – Contracting Officer Mandy Alvino - Technical Rowdy Wood- Technical

406-495-3707 406-495-3933 409-791-7706 laustad@fs.fed.us malvino@fs.fed.us rwood03@fs.fed.us

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

(X) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S) (X) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S)

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

X A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 1 X I CONTRACT CLAUSES 43-50

X B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS 3-6 PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

X C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT 8-23 X J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 51-56

X D PACKAGING AND MARKING 24 PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

X E

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 19-20 X

K REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND

57-64 X F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 21-22 OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

X G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 23-24 X L INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 65-66

X H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 27-42 X M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 67

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

NOTE: Item 12 does not apply if the solicitation includes the provisions at 52.214-16, Minimum Bid Acceptance Period.

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the offeror) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT 10 CALENDAR DAYS 20 CALENDAR DAYS 30 CALENDAR DAYS CALENDAR DAYS (See Section I, Clause No. 52-232-8) % % % %

14. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amend-ments to the SOLICITATION for offerors and related documents numbered and dated):

15A.

NAME AND

ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

CODE FACILITY 16. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN

OFFER (Type or Print)

15B. TELEPHONE NO. (Include area code and extension)

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS

17. SIGNATURE

18. OFFER DATE

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER

SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED 20. AMOUNT 21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ITEM

10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)

) 41 U.S.C. 253(c)

) (4 copies unless otherwise specified)

24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7) CODE 25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 28. AWARD DATE

(Signature of Contracting Officer) IMPORTANT - Award will be made on this Form, or on Standard Form 26, or by other authorized official written notice.

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION STANDARD FORM 33 (REV.9-97)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(c) mailto:laustad@fs.fed.us mailto:malvino@fs.fed.us mailto:rwood03@fs.fed.us

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

PART I—THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B--SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

CONTRACTOR NAME: _____________________________________________________________

Please provide your DUNS Number (In accordance with FAR 52.204-5 Central Contractor Registration

(APR 2008)): _________________________.

Please provide your TIN Number (In accordance with FAR 52.204-3 Taxpayer Identification (OCT 1998)). _______________________________.

B.1 Period of Award:

B.1.1 Base year = is from time of award through May 31, 2013 B.1.2 Option year 1 = June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014 B.1.3 Option year 2 = June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015 B.1.4 Option year 3 =June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016

B.2 SPECIAL NOTE:

• YOU MUST PROVIDE A QUOTE FOR THE BASE YEAR, OPTION YEAR 1, OPTION

YEAR 2 & OPTION YEAR 3 FOR AN ITEM NO. (e.g. B.3.2. must have base year, option year 1 and option year filled in). If you do not provide a quote for base year, option year 1, option year 2 and option year 3 for an item, your Bid may not receive consideration.

• You do not need to submit a quote for all types of equipment listed under a forest.

• You may provide quotes for either the Helena National Forest, the Lewis & Clark National

Forest or for both. More than one contract may be awarded by forest and item no.

ITEM

NO.

DESCRIPTION

UNIT

OF

ISSUE

PRICE /

ACRE

BASE

YEAR

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

ONE

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

TWO

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

THREE

Helena National Forest – Treatment without electronic data collection

Noxious Weed Treatment by Truck/tractor with treatment data as defined in the Performance Work Summary (PWS)

Acres

Noxious Weed Treatment by OHV with treatment data as defined in the Performance Work Summary

(PWS)

Noxious Weed Treatment by Backpack with treatment data as defined in the Performance Work Summary (PWS)

Horse pack with treatment data as defined in the Performance Work

UNIT

OF

ISSUE

PRICE /

ACRE

BASE

YEAR

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

ONE

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

TWO

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

THREE

Helena National Forest – Treatment WITH electronic data collection

Noxious Weed Treatment by Truck/tractor with ELECTRONIC treatment data as defined in the Performance Work with ELECTRONIC treatment data as defined in the Performance

Backpack with ELECTRONIC treatment data as defined in the Performance Work Summary

Horse pack with ELECTRONIC treatment data as defined in the Performance Work Summary

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

UNIT

OF

ISSUE

PRICE /

ACRE

BASE

YEAR

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

ONE

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

TWO

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

THREE

Helena National Forest – Inventory with ELECTRONIC inventory data collection

Noxious Weed Inventory by Truck/tractor with ELECTRONIC inventory data as defined in the Performance Work

Noxious Weed Inventory by OHV with ELECTRONIC inventory data as defined in the Performance

Noxious Weed Inventory by Backpack with ELECTRONIC inventory data as defined in the Performance Work Summary

Noxious Weed Inventory by Horse pack with ELECTRONIC inventory data as defined in the Performance Work Summary

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

UNIT

OF

ISSUE

PRICE /

ACRE

BASE

YEAR

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

ONE

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

TWO

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

THREE

Lewis and Clark National Forest -– Treatment without electronic data collection

Noxious Weed Treatment by Truck/tractor with treatment data as defined in the Performance with treatment data as defined in the Performance Work Summary

Backpack with treatment data as defined in the Performance Work

Horse pack with treatment data as defined in the Performance Work

UNIT

OF

ISSUE

PRICE /

ACRE

BASE

YEAR

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

ONE

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

TWO

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

THREE

Lewis & Clark National Forest – Treatment WITH electronic data collection

Noxious Weed Treatment by Truck/tractor with ELECTRONIC treatment data as defined in the Performance Work with ELECTRONIC treatment data as defined in the Performance

Backpack with ELECTRONIC treatment data as defined in Performance Work Summary

Noxious Weed Treatment Horse pack with ELECTRONIC treatment data defined in Performance Work

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

UNIT

OF

ISSUE

PRICE /

ACRE

BASE

YEAR

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

ONE

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

TWO

PRICE /

ACRE

OPTION

YEAR

THREE

Lewis & Clark National Forest – Inventory with ELECTRONIC inventory data collection

Noxious Weed Inventory by Truck/tractor with ELECTRONIC inventory data as defined in the Performance Work

Noxious Weed Inventory by OHV with ELECTRONIC inventory data as defined in the Performance

Noxious Weed Inventory by Backpack with ELECTRONIC inventory data as defined in the Performance Work Summary

Noxious Weed Inventory by Horse pack with ELECTRONIC inventory data as defined in the Performance Work Summary

B.5 AGAR 452.216-73 MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNTS (FEB 1988)

During the period specified in FAR clause 52.216-18, ORDERING, the Government shall place orders totaling a minimum of $2500.00, but not in excess of $900,000.00 for the duration of the contract.

In order to be eligible for a contract award under this solicitation, you must be completely registered in the Central Contractor Registration (www.ccr.gov) and the Online Representation and Certification Application (ORCA) program (https://orca.bpn.gov/).

If you are not registered in both programs at the time of quote evaluation or you do not submit the requested information in the Solicitation Provisions, you will be considered non-responsive and your quote will not be considered for an award.

Non Discrimination Statement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply http://www.ccr.gov/ https://orca.bpn.gov/

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, ect.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

52.216-27 Single or Multiple Awards (Oct 1995) The Government may elect to award a single delivery order contract or task order contract or two award multiple delivery order contracts or task order contracts for the same or similar supplies or services to two or more sources under this solicitation.

(End of provision)

52.217-5 Evaluation of Options (JULY 1990)

Neither a Pre-bid meeting nor site visit is scheduled. It is the contractor’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with the normal terrain. Spraying is normally performed within lodgepole, Douglas pine, ponderosa pine, spruce, aspen, range areas, and areas treated with fire. You may Google: Helena National Forest and Lewis and Clark National Forest for information on roads, pine beetles, terrain, and other pertinent information.

All questions must be submitted in writing to: Lori Austad, USDA Forest Service, 2880 Skyway Dr, Helena, MT 59602, or via email to laustad@fs.fed.us. Questions must be received by July 20, 2012 - any questions received after this date will not be considered.

mailto:laustad@fs.fed.us

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

SECTION C--DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 SCOPE OF WORK

This statement of work consists of ground based application of herbicide to control targeted noxious weeds on lands administered by the Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests in the following counties: (HNF) Lewis & Clark, Jefferson, Broadwater, Powell, Meager; (LCNF) Lewis & Clark, Meager, Judith Basin, Teton, Cascade, Pondera, Fergus, Wheatland, Choteau, Glacier, Golden Valley, Sweet Grass, Park. The work to be performed includes mixing and applying the specified herbicide to the target weed(s) and completing and submitting government provided application, treatment and/or inventory records.

The contractor shall provide any and all labor, equipment, supplies, services, permits, licensing, supervision, workman’s compensation, unemployment insurance, and transportation to accomplish weed treatment and weed inventory projects. Equipment being used for the requirements under this contract shall be cleaned prior to entering the Forest and cleaning may be required between sites. Supply of water may or may not be available in the local area of work, if not; the contractor will be required to furnish water. This statement of work consists of completing tasks in accordance with Section V, and the performance requirements summary in Section VII.

The government will provide the herbicide, surfactants, and dyes used by the contractor.

C.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Services covered under this Performance Work Statement and contract are to be performed during the base year June 1, 2012 (or when awarded) through May 31, 2013, and with the possibility of three option years ending no later than May 31, 2016. Work shall commence when target plants are actively growing and weather conditions make them most susceptible to herbicide effects as per the manufacturers’ recommendations. Individual task orders will identify specific start work and completion dates. Work will generally begin on or around June 1st of each year.

C.2.1. Pre Bid Tour- None Scheduled. For questions contact Mandy Alvino, Helena National Forest, 406 495-3933 or Rowdy Wood Lewis & Clark National Forest, 406 791-7706.

C.3 LOCATION DESCRIPTION

Project areas that are included under this contract are all Forest Service administered lands within the Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forest. Each task order shall be accompanied with specific project area location map(s).

C.3.1 ACCESSABILITY

A vicinity map identifying each Forest and Ranger District is attached to this contract. Specific site maps identifying units and road access shall accompany all task orders. There may be areas that have limited access due to travel restrictions and/or terrain within each District. Within these areas the contractor shall select a method of treatment that meets the contract or task order requirements. Some of these areas may be limited to foot or horse travel.

C.3.2 BOUNDARIES

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

Each project shall be identified separately on the specific task order map(s). Boundaries are generally identified as roads, topographic features (ridge tops, drainages), private lands, fences, etc.

C.4 CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVE

The contractor shall provide a contract representative for the performance of work. The name of this person and an alternate(s) who can act for the contractor when the contractor is absent shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. The contractor representative or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contractual matters relating to daily operation of this contract, and must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.

C.5 QUALIFICATIONS

The contractor and employees shall be experienced in noxious weed and invasive weed management, plant identification, and herbicide application. Regardless of area, the contractor and employees shall be proficient in identifying target and non-target species in all stages of development. Contractor shall comply with all Montana state laws, certifications and applicator requirements prior to treating noxious weeds.

If the contractor has a crew, the crew foreman shall have experience in managing crews as well as educating crew members in herbicide application and plant identification. Foremen and/or crew members should be versed in mixing tanks with the correct herbicide/water ratio or experience in using injector systems. They should also be educated in pump systems on ATV’s or truck mounted. Foremen and/or crew members should have the ability to identify areas of sensitive plants through maps that are provided and have the ability to inform crew members of these locations.

Personnel should have experience in GPS capability including point and line recording.

The contractor or contractors shall possess a basic knowledge of regional sensitive plant species and the Forest’s or Grassland’s species of local concern. Upon request, the Forest Service shall be available to provide training and assistance required for sensitive plant identification prior to each field season.

C.6 SAFETY AND CONTAMINATION

The contractor and the Forest Service will follow all manufacture label directions in dealing with application rates, personal safety, and contamination. Contractor is required to wear all label required personal protective equipment. Contractor shall take special care when operating boom sprayers in close proximity to crops, water developments, fields, and sensitive plants as to minimize over spray or contamination. Preparing tank mixes, cleaning equipment, disposing of herbicide containers shall not occur at any Forest Service Administrative site or other public facility. Safety and mitigation requirements, such as; daily herbicide application forms, Montana county noxious weed list, mitigation check list of herbicides applications in riparian zones, mixing plans, herbicide spill plan, spill information plan, and other mitigations identified in various Forest’s noxious weed plans will be attached as appendices to the specific task orders

The COR will determine when special safety measures may be required when spraying along some roads. If special measures are needed, warning signs shall be located on the road, in both directions so that citizens driving on the road are aware of the spray operations in progress. The signs shall alert traffic that personnel and equipment are working ahead along the road right-of-way. Hazard/warning lights are advised on the vehicles involved in the spraying operation.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

The Contractor shall take at least two (2) relative humidity readings on each day that herbicides are applied.

The readings shall occur mid - day (noon) and during the hottest time of day, approximately 2 pm. Spraying shall not occur when the relative humidity reading drops below 25%. The daily humidity readings shall be recorded on the daily application record.

Appendices will be provided with all task orders identifying mitigation measures, mixing and loading procedures, spill plans, etc. Compliance with these appendices is mandatory. All spray operations and herbicide transport vehicles will have standard adequate spill containment and cleanup materials and equipment.

Contractors and their employees will be trained in responding to and dealing with any spills of herbicide.

Should a minor or major spill occur, the contractor will immediately contact Forest Service personnel. The contractor will attempt to contact the Contract Inspector first, then the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), then the Forest Haz Mat Coordinator, assigned to each Forest, then Forest Dispatch Center. The contractor will ask Dispatch to reach the Inspector, COR if they are not on site, or Haz Mat Coordinator.

C.7 STANDARD DEFINITIONS

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL):

The maximum allowable deviation from perfect performance that may occur before the Government will invoke payment deduction. An AQL does not allow a contractor knowingly to offer defective service, but limits reduced payment to circumstances in which defective performance results in a measurable reduction in the value of services rendered.

DEFECTIVE SERVICE:

A unit of service, which contains one or more defects, or nonconformance with specified requirements.

OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE(OHV):

A type of motorized vehicle used to travel off road, such as an ATV, UTV or amphibious vehicle.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS):

Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards, are met by the contractor.

QUALITY ASSURANCE:

Those actions taken by the Government to assure services meet the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE (COR):

Government personnel appointed by the Contracting Officer to help the Contracting Officer with contract administration and surveillance.

GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR:

Government personnel responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP):

An organized written document used for quality assurance surveillance. The document contains specific methods the Government will use to perform surveillance of the contractor.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

QUALITY CONTROLPLAN:

Plan of actions to be taken by a contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the requirements of the PWS.

NOTICE TO PROCEED (NTP):

Contractor’s authority to start work as required under the contract. Contractor cannot start work until the NTP is issued. Starting work without a NTP does not guarantee the Contractor will receive payment.

SPRAY SHEET:

Sheets that the contractor uses to document location and type of herbicide used on a particular area. Spray sheets are required to be submitted to the COR/Inspector upon completion of a task order. Spray sheets are included with each task order.

C.8 TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS

BOOM SPRAYER:

Spray equipment capable of delivering a minimum of 20 gallons per acre. A minimum of 20 gallons of carrier per acre is required. Boom sprayers shall be equipped with an identifier system to minimize swath overlap such as a ribbon or flagging system. ATV boom-less nozzles are not considered as boom sprayers.

SPRAY EQUIPMENT:

All spray equipment shall be accurately calibrated to ensure herbicide is applied as manufacturers recommended application rates.

Weed treatment requiring the use of OHV equipment will follow manufacturer recommendations specific to weight restrictions.

MIXING SITE:

All mixing and rinsing during the operational period of each task order if needed will take place in the field within the treatment areas at a distance no less than 100’ from any stream course, trees, or crops. All mixing and rinsing prior to the start of each season or at the end of the season, shall be prohibited on any Federal Lands included under this contract.

WEATHER CONDITIONS:

Herbicide shall not be applied when any one of the following conditions exists in a treatment area:

• Wind velocity exceeds ten (10) miles per hour, or exceeds label direction.

• Relative humidity readings are less than 25%.

• Frost, snow or ice covers target plants.

• Emergency closures such as Fire Restrictions, unless authorized by the COR.

• When in non-compliance with the contract provisions.

C.9 ELECTRONIC DATA COLLECTION

If contractor is performing noxious weed treatment WITH electronic treatment data (Items 5-8 and 17-20), or noxious weed inventory WITH electronic treatment data (Items 9-12 and 21-24), electronic data collection is defined as the collection of spatial and tabular data of the noxious weeds treated using GPS hardware and software.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

The contractor shall utilize a GPS unit capable of loading and using ArcPad software sufficient to collect and attribute ArcGIS shapefiles is required. The final product is a ArcGIS polygon shapefile containing all inventory, treatment and monitoring sites.

Specifications are outlined in the “Monitoring and Record Keeping” section below.

C.10 TREATMENT DATA COLLECTION

If contractor is performing noxious weed treatment WITHOUT electronic treatment data (Items 1-4 and 13-16), treatment data collection is defined as the collection of spatial and tabular data of the noxious weeds treated using paper forms, maps and GPS points.

Specifications are outlined in the “Monitoring and Record Keeping” section below.

C.11 DESCRIPTION OF TREATMENT TYPES

Broadcast application of herbicide with larger equipment in amounts ranging from 20 – 25 gallons of water/herbicide mixture per acre. Truck, ATV, or trailer boom type sprayers may be used in other broadcast applications. Generally truck, ATV, or trailer boom type sprayers are limited to areas that are open and free of trees or brush. If the contractor chooses to use boom sprayers and during inspections it is found that weeds are being missed, the contractor shall be directed to use equipment that meets the requirements of the PWS.

Weed free areas will not be treated with herbicides.

Weed treatment will occur along roads and trails, on open rangelands, and in some open timber stands.

Treatment areas will be identified on maps. Terrain will vary from gentle (0 to 30%) to slopes up to 60%. The district weed manager will estimate the percentage of the treatment area that is accessible by truck, OHV, backpack or horse spraying and slope. Motorized off-road and off-trail travel for weed control will be authorized on an area by area basis. Travel off-road or trail may be restricted in some sensitive areas, task order will specify all restrictions.

Some treatment requests will be for only roads.

Weed infestation levels vary from light to moderate to heavy in the treatment areas depending on aspect, elevation, canopy cover. Target weed species are all weeds on the Montana Noxious Weed List. Broadcast application is appropriate for dense continuous stands of targeted weeds. Intermittent and spot spraying will occur where target species densities are discontinuous and light to moderate.

No treatment method will create any new permanent wheeled tracks in the soil. Treatment activity and techniques will not contribute to measurable or noticeable erosion, extensive or intensive (localized) soil disturbance or long term physical damage to desirable vegetation. Soil disturbance will not exceed 10% on any site, or an alternative method will be chosen by the Forest Service.

Road right-of-way spraying with vehicle Trucks must be capable off spraying from the roadside edge outward a minimum of 30 feet. This can be accomplished by using flood jet nozzles or hand gun and hose reel application. Hand gun applications maybe required within or beyond 30 feet depending on the infestation size and terrain.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

Roadside spraying is defined as 30 to 35 feet either side of the centerline; one mile of roadside spraying is equal to 7 to 8.5 acres. Annual acres to be treated are estimates only and will vary with available funding. If possible, roads will be retreated every two to three years.

Avoid broadcast herbicide application where target species occur only sporadically in a dominant cover of non-target plants. These micro sites will be spot treated, or a transition to a selective herbicide will be made to reduce non-target plant injury/mortality. Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or Inspectors will dictate this change. However, the contractor will be responsible for notifying the COR or Inspector if they are unaware of this situation.

Weeds are often found every few feet along roads, although it is unusual to have stretches of roads longer than 100 feet with large infestations. These areas may require the use of broadcast spraying in small areas to achieve an effective treatment. Many roadsides are nearly weed-free and will only need spot spraying. While most weeds are found on the road edge, it is not unusual to have to pull hose off the main road surface to spray cut and fill-slopes.

Some roads have restricted seasonal vehicle access or yearlong vehicle closures and if appropriate, the contractor will receive authorization to treat weeds behind these closures with vehicles as needed. When a contractor is authorized to be in a closure area, they will be issued a key, a written authorization and signs to post in public areas. The contractor may be directed to time treatment to avoid conflicts with other users in particular treatment areas.

Weed infestation levels vary from light to moderate to heavy in the treatment areas depending on aspect, elevation, canopy cover. Intermittent target weeds will be found on cut and fill slopes, along the road edge and, in the case of unmaintained roads, within the roadbed and centerline. The roadside spraying scheduled for intermittent herbicide treatment consists of both maintained and unmaintained, gravel and dirt system roads.

The cut and fill slopes vary from slight to steep.

Riparian areas frequently are adjacent to the roads and it will require switching to different herbicides, which are labeled for aquatic use. For this contract, Picloram will not be used within 50 feet of streams or subirragated lands. A site characteristic evaluation (Relative Aquifer Vulnerability Evaluation RAVE) may indicate more restrictive parameters than 50 feet. Other herbicides and surfactants need to comply with the label direction regarding the use and distance to water. As applicable, each task order will have specific mitigation related to herbicide use near water.

Off Road Motorized These treatment areas tend to be meadows, trails, open rangelands, gravel pits, or terraces; and are accessible by a truck, tractor, or ATV.

OHV – Off Highway Vehicles only (such as an ATV or UTV) will treat weeds in areas with physical limitations (width of trail, rocks, slopes too steep for truck), travel restrictions, or other resource concerns.

Weed infestations to be treated range from widely scattered to dense patches in meadows near riparian areas.

When treating weeds on trails using an OHV, trails will be sprayed 35 feet either side of the trail and one mile of trail equals 8.5 acres of spraying. Annual acres to treat are estimates only and will vary with available funding.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

Riparian areas frequently are adjacent to the roads and it will require switching to different herbicides, which are labeled for aquatic use. For this contract, Picloram will not be used within 50 feet of streams or subirragated lands. A site characteristic evaluation (Relative Aquifer Vulnerability Evaluation RAVE) may indicate more restrictive parameters than 50 feet. Other herbicides and surfactants need to comply with the label direction regarding the use and distance to water. As applicable, each task order will have specific mitigation related to herbicide use near water.

Off Road Non- Motorized Non-Motorized – Backpack or horse spraying includes treatment of wilderness trails or remote areas that are too steep to access by motorized equipment or where motorized vehicle use is not acceptable. Water is usually less than ½ to 1 mile from the site.

Backpack spray only – These treatment areas are steep rugged terrain that is not accessible to pack stock.

C.12 HERBICIDE

Herbicides, surfactant and dye will be provided by the government to the contractor for all task orders issued.

All herbicides used will be EPA and State approved. The government will inform the contractor at the pre-work what herbicides are being planned and will inform the contractor during the contract of any changes in herbicides.

Application rates and products applied to various species of noxious weeds are dependent upon plant and stage of plant growth. When working in riparian/wetlands, the Contractor shall use aquatic type herbicides. A dye in the herbicide shall be used to identify location of treatments.

C.13 HERBICIDE TREATMENT STANDARDS

Mixing, loading and disposal of pesticides

• All mixing of pesticides will occur at least 100 feet from surface waters or well heads.

• Mixing and loading of tanks will occur 300 feet from live water where possible.

• In no case will mixing, loading or disposal occur closer than 100 feet of live water.

• Dilution water will be added to the spray container prior to addition of the spray concentrate.

• All hoses used to add dilution water to spray containers will be equipped with a device to prevent back siphoning.

• Applicators will mix only those quantities of pesticides that can be reasonable used in a day.

• During mixing, mixers will wear all necessary personal protective equipment as required by the pesticide label.

• All empty containers will be triple rinsed and rinsate disposed of by spraying near the application site at rates that do not exceed those on the spray site.

• All empty and rinsed pesticide containers will be punctured and properly disposed of.

Disposal records will be maintained using a container disposal log.

Environmental protection measures

• Picloram will not be used within 50 feet of streams or sub irrigated land, regardless of the application method.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

• Herbicide will be used in accordance with USEPA label instructions and restrictions.

Application will be done or supervised by licensed applicators, as required by law.

• Glyphosate, picloram, imazapyr, hexazinone, triclopyr, 2,4-D and dicamba will not be directly sprayed on aspen.

• Silicone base surfactants will be used outside of riparian areas or other high-runoff sites.

They will be tanked mixed and used according to labeling for both the herbicide and the surfactant.

• Water soluble colorants will be used. Dye amount in the herbicide must be visible on the sprayed sites for a minimum of 24 hours after application.

• Only aquatic label herbicides will be used near perennial seeps, springs and wetlands.

Use will be in accordance with herbicide label restrictions.

• The state certified applicator will obtain a current weather forecast for the proposed treatment area prior to applying herbicides. Weather conditions will be monitored too so that applications comply with label recommendations for wind, temperature, precipitation and humidity.

• Applicators will have the herbicide emergency response spill plan on site during treatments. The plan will identify methods to report and clean up accidental spills. An emergency response spill kit containing clean up equipment and materials is required on site or within spraying vehicles.

Application/Equipment Herbicide application operations will not occur when any one of the following conditions exists in a treatment area:

• Wind velocity exceeds ten (10) miles per hour, or exceeds label direction.

• Relative Humidity readings are less than 25%.

• Frost, snow, or ice covers target plants.

• Emergency closures such as Fire Restrictions, unless authorized by the COR.

• When in non-compliance with the contract provisions

Water shall be used as a carrier and will be mixed according to season and climatic conditions at the time of application. The carrier volume may range from 10 to 20 gallons/acre.

Signs will be posted at access points of heavily used recreation areas (as identified on the individual task orders) to let the general public avoid herbicides. Minimum information includes the date of treatment, the re-entry period, the herbicide used, and a name and phone number of who to call for more information.

Buffer strips may be designated by the Forest Service during operations to protect threatened, endangered or rare plants, amphibian or water influenced areas from potable water development, and 1/4 mile municipal water divergent point or existing bio control sites. No spraying shall occur within these designated buffer strips and the width of the buffers will be designated in the task order.

No ester formulation of herbicides will be used.

Treatments may require changing herbicides to meet the requirements and restrictions of the product labels and to minimize damage to non-target vegetation. Mixing of different herbicides will not be done.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

All equipment will be in good mechanical condition and will be inspected prior to work. The spray pattern, application rates and calibration shall be checked before beginning the job and may be checked during the project or more frequently if deemed necessary by the Forest Service. The contractor will inspect equipment daily for leaks and suspend operations until all leaks are repaired.

A pumping system may be used to fill the spray mixing and spray application tanks provided it will avoid contamination of wells, springs, streams, lakes, and ponds used as a water source. The system shall be so constructed that a back flow from the mixing or application tanks will not be possible if the pump loses prime.

Herbicide will not be applied at a pressure that exceeds 40 pounds per square inch (psi) at the nozzle.

No spraying shall be done inside ditches containing water unless it is within the labeled use of the particular herbicide being used.

Spraying shall not occur while it is raining or snowing. The Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to avoid spraying if it appears that precipitation sufficient to wash herbicide(s) off target species or into open water may occur within 2 hours after herbicide application or as cautioned by the herbicide label.

The Contractor shall insure that containers or tanks used for herbicide application are not washed out within 150 feet of open water: springs, ditches, streams, ponds, or lakes. The contractor will follow all State, Federal and label regulations involving rinsing and washing procedures.

The Contractor will remove all herbicide containers from the National Forest and dispose of them in accordance with all local, state and federal requirements.

The Forest Service is not responsible for the safety of the Contractor nor any operators or assistants. The Contractor shall provide and maintain work procedures which will safeguard the public and Government personnel, as well as the Contractor’s own personnel. The Contractor shall be expected to use reasonable safety procedures and equipment while operating on National Forest lands.

The Contractor and all application personnel are required to review, understand, and follow the herbicide label recommendations, requirements, precautions, and prohibitions.

The Contractor shall carry and have within easy access during all spraying operations, a label and MSDS for the herbicides being used.

The contractor will keep spray rigs and equipment appearing neat, professional and organized. Dye stains on the rigs, tanks, and employee clothing will be kept to a minimum by regular cleaning. It is important to project a professional image and to demonstrate that the herbicide applications are performed carefully, professionally and without spillage.

All equipment and vehicles to be used at the job site shall be cleaned and free of noxious weeds and their seeds prior to entrance onto the project site. This shall include equipment and vehicles intended for off-road as well as on-road use, whether they are owned, leased, or borrowed by the contractor or any subcontractor. Livestock will not have weed burrs on animal or tack and only weed seed free forage will be used if feed is brought in

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests with livestock. The COR/Inspector will complete an inspection of equipment at random intervals throughout the performance period of the task order.

C.14 VEHICLE CLEANING

To help stop the spread of weeds, this work will require the contractor to wash all equipment, off forest; prior to bringing it on the job site and each time it is removed and returned to the job site. The equipment shall be washed with a pressure washer that is capable of producing enough water force to thoroughly remove all organic and mineral debris, including excess grease from the machine. All spray equipment will be inspected by COR or Inspector and must be washed and cleaned prior to beginning each task order. Any time the equipment is removed and used on lands not included under this contract the COR shall be notified and equipment shall be cleaned prior to commencing work under the contract. In order to minimize the potential for weed spreading, spray trucks and equipment will be pressure washed before moving from one type of infestation to another, unless combinations of infestations already exist.

C.15 CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL

Clean up and disposal of excess herbicide and empty containers is the contractor’s responsibility and will be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and applicable to Federal and State Laws.

C.16 WATER/WITHOUT WATER

With Water areas are identified as natural and or developed water source areas that water is available in the general area and does not cause the contractor to travel more than a 10 mile radius of the treatment area to collect water. Pumps and suction hoses used at natural and or developed water sources for drafting purposes shall be equipped with foot valves. Areas identified as Without Water require the contractor to transport supply water to the project area.

C.17 ACCESS TO TREATMENT AREAS

Access to treatment areas will require travel on backcountry roads, graveled County and Forest Service roads, non-graveled two track roads, areas with restricted travel and areas with no mechanical travel allowed. The treatment areas as can be along or away from roads. Individual task orders will identify area (s) to be treated.

C.18 MONITORING AND RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENT FOR TREATMENTS

Federal and State laws require record keeping for all applications of pesticides on National Forest 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 on Forest Service provided forms (see Appendix forms, Daily Herbicide Application Logs).

Upon completion of each project or unit of work on the contract, and prior to or accompanying each invoice, the Contractor shall provide the Government with a summary of all applications on that invoice or project along with individual daily application records. At the end of each spray season or by September 30, the Contractor will provide a summary of areas treated including acres, herbicides, weeds species treated, application rate, application dates, miles treated, road or trail number, and herbicide additives.

The Contractor is required to complete the Daily Herbicide Application form for the areas treated and submit the original (or readable photocopy) to the Forest Service.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

Upon completing of an individual task order, the contractor shall submit all data requirements within 14 calendar days to the COR/Inspector.

The Contractor will notify the Inspector or COR within 48 hours of discovery of any Category 2, 3 and 4 noxious weeds on the Montana County Noxious Weed List. Contractor and/or Inspector or COR will record the locations of Category 2, 3, and 4 weeds either by GPS or map recordings. Records will be submitted to the COR at the end of each treatment season.

Daily weather records will be recorded on the daily application forms.

The contractor shall update the COR/Inspector daily on which units were completed that day and provide the map of the completed unit if requested.

C.19 ELECTRONIC DATA COLLECTION

If contractor is performing noxious weed treatment WITH electronic treatment data (Items 5-8 and 17-20), or noxious weed inventory WITH electronic treatment data (Items 9-12 and 21-24), electronic data collection is defined as the collection of spatial and tabular data of the noxious weeds treated using GPS hardware and software.

The contractor shall utilize a GPS unit capable of loading and using ArcPad software sufficient to collect and attribute ArcGIS shapefiles is required.

The final product is a ArcGIS polygon shapefile containing all inventory, treatment and monitoring sites.

Shapefiles will be referenced to the North American Datum, 1983 (NAD83) in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), zone 12N.

A data dictionary is a list of features and attributes that are collected in the field. It ensures that the collected data is always consistent. In the field, the data dictionary structures and speeds up data collection and allows crews to enter data in the correct format. The Government provides the data dictionary to the contractor upon request or prior to May 1 of each year.

All treatment sites will be attributed with all system generated items plus the following user defined items: date, site id, plant code, task order number, examiner, infested area size, unit of measure, dom_spec_density (dominant species density), canopy cover percent, chemical treatment, other treatment.

For each sub-species of weed within a site, the following attributes are required: plant code, infested area size, unit of measure, sub_spec_density (sub species density), sub_spec_canopy cover percent.

If IS-Mobile is not used, then inventory, treatment or monitoring areas will have the hard copy record completed using the same reference identification as the provided inventory polygon site id.

All inventory, treatment and monitoring sites will be drawn on 1:24,000 scale map or aerial photo, referencing the original inventory site.

If ArcPad and IS-Mobile software is used to attribute the inventory data, the hard copy map is still required.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

The followed digital data us to be provided on a CD: field data files and the final GIS layer. Upon completing of an individual task order, the contractor shall submit all data within 14 calendar days to the COR/Inspector.

C.20 TREATMENT DATA COLLECTION

If contractor is performing noxious weed treatment WITHOUT electronic treatment data (Items 1-4 and 13-16), treatment data collection is defined as the collection of spatial and tabular data of the noxious weeds treated using paper forms, maps and GPS points.

The contractor shall utilize a GPS unit capable of recording points at treatment sites.

All inventory, treatment and monitoring sites will be drawn on 1:24,000 scale map or aerial photo, referencing the original inventory site.

C.21 AQUATIC AREA

Any type of lake, pond, dam, spring, or stream course.

C.22 RESTRICTED AREA

An area designated as a non-motorized travel area. Within these areas travel is limited to foot, horse, or non-motorized equipment unless otherwise designated. Individual task orders shall identify if a treatment area is designated as restricted.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

C.23 WEED LISTS:

Priority/Category

Common Name Scientific Name

1a (not present) yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis

1b (limited presence) dyer’s woad Isatis tinctoria flowering rush Butomus umbellatus

Japanese knotweed complex Polygonum spp purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria rush skeletonweed Chondrilla juncea

Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum scotch broom Cytisus scoparius curlyleaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus

2a (common in isolated areas) tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaea meadow hawkweed complex Hieracium spp orange hawkweed Hieracium aurantiacum tall buttercup Ranunculus acris perennial pepperweed Lepidium latifolium yellowflag iris Iris pseudacorus blueweed Echium vulgare hoary alyssum Berteroa incana

2b (abundant) Canada thistle Cirsium arvense field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis leafy spurge Euphorbia esula whitetop Cardaria spp.

Russian knapweed Centaurea repens

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa

Dalmatian toadflax Linaria genistifolia

st. Johnswort Hypericum perforatum sulfur cinquefoil Potentilla recta common tansy Tanacetum vulgare oxeye daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale yellow toadflax Linaria vulgaris salt cedar Tamarix ramosissima

2b (L&C co) black henbane Hyoscyamus niger common burdock Arctium minus common mullein Verbascum thapsus musk thistle Carduss nutans

2b (Powell co.) wild caraway Carum carvi

3 cheatgrass Bromus tectorum hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata

Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolis

REFERENCE BOOK: Weeds of the West, 9th Edition 2000

Note: Additional weed species not listed in this contract that are on individual State noxious weed list, shall be treated along with invasive species that may be added during the life of the contract.

Individual task orders may identify specific weed species to treat.

Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests

C.24 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT TASKS AND CRITICAL SUBTASKS

NOXIOUS WEED TREATMENT BY TRUCK/TRACTOR WITH TREATMENT DATA:

Treat weeds using a truck or tractor with hose reel and hand gun. The contractor shall treat weeds according to the manufacturers label directions. Contractor may use existing water for mixing purposes. Flag the perimeter of treatment area. Flags will remain in place until the COR/inspector has completed the field inspection. Fill out treatment data table (provided) and collect digital GPS points of those treats sites.

NOXIOUS WEED TREATMENT BY TRUCK/TRACTOR WITH ELECTRONIC TREATMENT

DATA:

Treat weeds using a truck or tractor with hose reel and hand gun. The contractor shall treat weeds according to the manufacturers label directions. Contractor may use existing water for mixing purposes. Flag the perimeter of treatment area. Flags will remain in place until the COR/inspector has completed the field inspection. Collect electronic data of spatial and tabular data of the noxious weeds treated using specific hardware and software.

Specifications are found in the “Monitoring and Record Keeping” section above.

NOXIOUS WEED INVENTORY BY TRUCK/TRACTOR WITH ELECTRONIC INVENTORY DATA:

Inventory weeds found while in route to treatment areas, using a truck or tractor. Collect electronic data of spatial and tabular data of the noxious weeds inventory using specific hardware and software. Specifications are found in the “Monitoring and Record Keeping” section above.

NOXIOUS WEED TREATMENT BY OHV WITH TREATMENT DATA:

Treat weeds using an off highway vehicle with hose reel and hand gun. The contractor shall treat weeds according to the manufacturers label directions.