09_0008_CORP_Appendix_A_FREWIN_Weeds.doc

CORP Specification Appendix A – Fremont Winema

Noxious Weed

CORP Specification Appendix A – Fremont Winema

Noxious Weed

NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

SECTION C--DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-1

SCOPE OF CONTRACT

This contract is a performance-based contract. This contract requires noxious weed treatment in compliance with its terms, specifications, and provisions. This includes furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, supplies (except those designated as Government-furnished) and incidentals. The work consists of applying herbicides to noxious weed sites. The objective of this effort is to acquire noxious weed control on a minimum of 200 sites (approx. 350 acres). Approximately 50% of the weed treatment sites are along roadsides. Most sites range from a few plants (0.1 acre) to numerous plants up to 40 acres in size. Based on historical data the site sizes were as follows: 1/10th acre plots accounted for approximately 58% of the sites, 14% of the sites were greater than 1/10th of an acre up to ½ acre plots, 6% of the sites were greater than ½ acre and up to 1 acre, 18% of the sites were greater than 1 acre and up to 10 acres, and 4% of the sites were greater than 10 acres.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-2

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The current project work areas will be located on the Deschutes, Ochoco or Fremont-Winema National Forest.

Work may be reached by improved gravel and unimproved dirt roads, which are accessible to the public by standard two-wheel and four-wheel drive pickups. Chains and tread tires may be required. Some treatment areas are located off existing roads and require foot travel of up to ½ mile. All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) travel is allowed on all improved roads and may be allowed in other areas.

In case of inaccessibility due to snow, mud, washouts, rock, slides, or fallen trees, the Government may, (1) provide an alternative route, (2) delete the inaccessible site(s), (3) clear the blockage, or (4) substitute a similar site.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-3

BACKGROUND

Current federal laws require agencies to control noxious weeds and prevent the further spread of noxious weeds. Noxious weed control of the selected sites is necessary to protect native and desirable plant communities from being invaded by noxious weeds. Noxious weed treatment will help prevent spread onto other private, county, state and federal lands.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-4

INQUIRIES (AGAR 452.204-70) (FEB 1988)

Inquiries and all correspondence concerning this solicitation should be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer. Offerors should contact only the Contracting Officer issuing the solicitation about any aspect of this requirement prior to contract award.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-5

STATEMENT OF WORK/SPECIFICATIONS (AGAR 452.211-72) (FEB 1988)

The Contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified), to perform the Statement of Work/Specifications referenced in Section J.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-6

APPLICABLE DIRECTIVES

The Contractor shall perform all work in accordance with all applicable directives.

Fremont National Forest EA, 1998; Noxious Weed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Record of Decision, 1986; National Forest EIS; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Biological Opinion (Ref: 1-7-96-1-250), Federal, State and local laws, regulations and ordinances regarding transportation, mixing, application and disposal of herbicides. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Biological Opinion specific requirements are as follows:

a. To prevent contamination of waters, herbicides shall not be applied within 50 feet of water, including wetland and riparian areas, when precipitation is predicted in 12 hours. The herbicide picloram shall not be used within 300 feet of water, nor will it be applied when widespread precipitation is predicted within 24 hours. Picloram shall not be used in pine plantations.

b. Glyphosate may be used in riparian areas, provided the formulation is approved for aquatic/riparian use such as Rodeo.

c. If the high water mark is farther than 10 feet from the water then only glyphosate shall be applied and must be dripped or wiped on.

d. Whenever a specification, State or Federal law, or label direction has a contradiction, the most stringent requirement shall take precedence. Picloram shall not be applied within 300 feet of any stream, spring, seep, or lake. In watersheds containing listed fish species, the only waters exempt from the 300 foot buffer are waterholes/dirt tanks.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-7

DEFINITIONS

Broadcast Spraying – Any herbicide applied with a boom mounted on a motorized vehicle or

Backpack sprayer.

Controlled – Weeds showing a dead root system after treatment.

Dye - Liquid or tablet chemical coloring agent added to herbicide tanks to result in a blue or purple color.

Herbicides - Chemicals including only glyphosate, picloram, and dicamba; in EPA registered formulations.

Noxious Weed - Plant classified by Federal, State or county jurisdictions as noxious.

Site - Location at least 0.1 acre in size identified on contract maps that require treatment.

Species –

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) musk thistle (Carduus nutans)

Scotch thistle

(Onopordum acanthium) spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)

Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens) diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)

Mediterranean sage (Salvia aethiopsis)

St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)

Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) white top (Cardaria draba)

Dyer’s woad (Isatis tinctoria) tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) field bindweed (Convolvulus arvense) yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) oxeye daisy

(Leucanthemum vulgare) perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) medusahead rye

(Taeniatherum caput-medusea) Levels of Difficulty –

Level 1: A treatment site whose boundary does not extend beyond 100 feet from a road driveable by a vehicle.

Level 2: A treatment site whose boundary extends beyond 100 feet but does not extend beyond 1320 feet (1/4 mile) from the roadside driveable by a vehicle.

Level 3: A treatment sites whose boundary extends beyond 1320 feet (1/4 mile) from the roadside driveable by a vehicle.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-8

CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES

The Contractor is responsible for supplying all spray equipment, herbicide formulations, supplies, labor, transportation, safety equipment, GPS units, and licenses required to fulfill the requirements of this contract. The Government will provide the Contractor with Global Positioning System (GSP) coordinates for every site requiring treatment. The required GPS unit shall be accurate down to 15 meters and shall be capable of using a position format of UTM UPS and a Map Datum of NAD27 CONUS. All Contractors are required to have a Commercial Pesticide Operator License with the Forestry and Rights-of-Way categories. The Forestry and Right-of-Way categories are required for licensed commercial applicators performing work on this contract. If a licensed commercial applicator can not be on site at all times, then a Directly Supervised Commercial Pesticide Trainee, who holds the same required categories, must be present.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-9

CONTRACTOR OBLIGATIONS

The Contractor obligations are listed below:

1. The Contractor shall control noxious weeds using the methods suggested by the Government unless an alternative method is submitted and approved by the Government in advance. Herbicides shall be applied in accordance with label instructions, except for the following: 1) herbicides may be applied at less than the label rate; 2) herbicides may be applied on a target plant not specified on the label if the application is to a site specified on the label and the label does not state that the herbicide can only be used for listed plants; 3) site-specific analysis indicates more restrictive measures are required.

2. Application of herbicides shall be performed or directly supervised by a State or Federally licensed applicator.

3. Prepare a Safety Plan and Emergency Spill Response Plan as required. Personal protective equipment shall be used in accordance with label requirements and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

4. Herbicide mixing and tank washing shall not occur within 150 feet of surface water. Rinse water shall be applied to treatment sites.

5. Fueling of gas-powered machinery and ATV’s shall not occur within 150 feet of surface water.

6. Empty pesticide containers and excess herbicides shall be disposed of in accordance with label requirements.

7. Equipment used for transportation, storage, or application of herbicide shall be maintained in a leak-proof condition. Inspect equipment and make periodic checks to ensure no spillage has occurred.

8. Dye, either blue or purple in color, shall be added to all herbicide mixes.

9. No herbicide application shall occur if precipitation is occurring or is imminent within 2-24 hours depending on label requirements for specific herbicides.

10. A pesticide flag shall be placed at each site sprayed. In a waterproof marker, write application date (all dates if more than one is needed), herbicide used, and Contractor’s name on back side of flag.

11. If the size of a site has increased from the Government flagging and the increase falls within the five percent acreage tolerance allowed per Task Order, the Contractor shall hang ribbon flagging around the perimeter of the additional acreage. If the Contractor treats additional acreage, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative before the sites are released for inspection, of the increase to ensure the Contractor gets paid for the additional amount treated. If the size of a site has increased from the Government flagging more than the five percent acreage tolerance allowed per Task Order, the Contractor shall contact the Contracting Officer’s Representative for direction before any further work commences on that particular site. For additional information on the 5 percent acreage tolerance allowed on this Contract, please refer to Section G-6.

12. Contractors must prepare a Safety Plan and an Emergency Spill Response Plan. Please see Section J for details. A current Safety Plan and Emergency Spill Response Plan shall be within vehicles used to transport pesticides at all times. A copy of the current Safety Plan and Emergency Spill Response Plan will be kept on file with the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

13. Contractors shall have a Pesticide Spill Kit located within every vehicle used for transportation of pesticides at all times. The kit shall be labeled and designated for use in handling pesticide spills only. The kit shall contain directions for use. Section J describes the minimum items that a Pesticide Spill Kit shall contain.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-9.1

FIELD WORK DOCUMENTATION

The Contractor shall complete all required fields on the Government-furnished Pesticide Application Record (PAR) for each individual site on each task order (See Exhibit B, Section J). PARs shall be turned in on a weekly basis to the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Payment will not be issued for sites that have incomplete PARs (see Section J).

The Schedule of Items includes a survey line item. The survey line item may be used sparingly, depending on location of sites, time of year, and noxious weed species present. If the survey line item is used, it means Forest Service personnel have NOT been to existing noxious weed sites listed on the task order the prior to issuing it to the Contractor. This means Forest Service personnel have been to the site in past years, but have not visited the site the same year the task order was issued. Therefore, the flagging has not been refreshed, the results of the previous years treatment is unknown, and the marker (which has the site identification number and the noxious weed species code) may not be staked upright. The Contractor would be asked to locate the site using the GPS coordinates, road information, and the legal description listed on the task order. When the site is relocated, the Contractor would then be asked to survey the site and determine whether the site needs chemical treatment, and which chemical to use, depending on the stipulations mentioned above. The Contractor will be required to hang ribbon flagging at each site on the task order using the survey line item to provide reference to inspectors that the site was visited. The ribbon flagging will be provided by the government.

If the Contractor locates an existing noxious weed site and after surveying, no plants were found, then the Contractor would use Exhibit F, in Section J, to note survey completed, but no treatment occurred. If the Contractor finds weeds while surveying the site and makes the decision to treat those weeds, the Contractor would then mark on Exhibit F that the site was surveyed, and the acreage treated under the appropriate difficulty level. The acreage treated does not have to match the acreage listed on the task order. If the Contractor’s survey reveals the site is larger than stated on the task order, then the Contractor shall note the acreage change on Exhibit F, under the corresponding difficulty level. The 5% acreage tolerance, Section G-6, applies as well. As noted above in Section FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-7, if the acreage of a site increases from the Government’s acreage, the Contractor shall hang ribbon flagging around the perimeter of the additional acreage. If the Contractor discovers a new site, the Contractor may treat this site, depending on environmental conditions, as long as the Contractor does not exceed the 5% acreage tolerance (Section G-6). If a Contractor discovers a new site, the required fields in Exhibit G must be completed. The Government will provide the Contractor with a list of site identification numbers the Contractor may use to identify new sites. Exhibit F and Exhibit G (if applicable) must be completed in order for a Contractor to receive credit for work performed under task orders using the survey line item. The government will use the same inspection procedures outlined in Section J, for task orders using the survey line item.

Oregon State Pesticide Use Reporting Requirements – Contractor is required to report (on-line) all pesticide application on National Forest lands. Applicable rules and instructions are available online at: http://purs.oda.state.or.us/purs.html

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-9.2

APPROVED HERBICIDES:

Only the herbicides glyphosate, dicamba, and picloram are approved for use on USFS lands. These herbicides shall be applied according to label directions and at recommended label rates.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-9.3

TIMEFRAMES FOR SUBMITTING DOCUMENTATION

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-9.4

RESOURCE PROTECTION

The Contractor shall take all practical precautions while working to minimize soil damage, and damage or destruction of sensitive or endangered species (plants and animals) and archeological resources. The work is limited as follows a.

Utilize existing roads to fullest extent without creating new roads.

b.

Utilize foot or ATV travel, where permitted, as the main mode of travel to treatment sites where off‑road travel is necessary.

c.

All roads (public and private) damaged or opened by the Contractor shall be restored (at no cost to the Government) to their condition prior to commencement of work.

d.

Perform services in a manner that will minimize impact on non‑target plants. If the Contractor expects damage to non-target plants, contact the Contracting Officer’s Representative in advance.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-9.5

PROTECTIVE MEASURES

The Government may issue a suspend work and/or, partially terminate any portion of the work due to discoveries of sensitive, threatened, endangered species, or archeological sites during contract operations.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-10

CONTROL OF WORK

a. The Government may specify a priority of work items during the period of the contract.

b. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer 24 hours in advance of changes in their established work schedule. Failure to do so may result in assessment of administrative costs.

c. Unknown cultural or archaeological sites discovered by the Contractor or his/her crews during the operations of this contract will be reported to the Contracting Officer. Work will be suspended in the immediate area until surveys are completed.

d. The Contractor is expected to perform to the standards as indicated in the Government Quality Surveillance Plan at a minimum. The Government Quality Surveillance Plan is Exhibit D in Section J.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS C-11

CONTRACTOR QUALITY CONTROL PLAN

The successful offeror’s Quality Control Plan will become part of the awarded contract and the Contractor shall provide inspection reports at the time the sites are released for inspection to the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

SECTION E--INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FAR 52.252-2) (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): www.arnet.gov/far/

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR CHAPTER 1) CLAUSES

52.246-4 Inspection of Services—Fixed Price (AUG 1996)

AGRICULTURE ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR CHAPTER 4) CLAUSES

452.246-70 Inspection and Acceptance (FEB 1988)

FRE-WIN-WEEDS E-1

INSPECTION--CONTRACTOR

The Contractor shall develop a Quality Control Plan and the Contractor shall follow their Quality Control Plan for the duration of the contract. The Contractor shall submit their inspection reports to the Contracting Officer’s Representative when the sites have been released to the Government for inspection.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS E-2

INSPECTION PROCEDURES—GOVERNMENT VERIFICATION

The Government will conduct verification inspections to determine compliance with specifications. Each site(s) will be verified separately and inspection results on one site(s) will not be averaged with those of other sub-items/units. Determination of the acceptability of the work performed will be based on these verification inspections and will be considered conclusive. The Contractor or a designated representative is encouraged to observe inspections while they are underway. Government inspection of a site(s) may or may not be performed immediately following treatment.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS E-3

INSPECTION-GOVERNMENT

To determine whether the acceptable quality levels (desired results) of control have been met the following inspection procedures will be followed by the Government. The inspection form that will be completed by the Government is Exhibit C in Section J.

The Government will formally sample 50 percent or more of the completed treatment sites. The Government will randomly select the time and place of the inspection. The selected sample sites will be distributed across all weed species over a range of site sizes.

The Government will walk through the treated areas to evaluate site conditions, collateral damage, and to ensure no noxious weeds were overlooked. A weed treatment site must meet or exceed 80 percent control to pass Government inspection, based on dividing the number of satisfactorily treated noxious weeds (to ensure control) by the number of noxious weeds found throughout the inspected area.

Percent control will be determined by post-treatment inspections. Inspection protocol will include one of the two following methods.

1. Complete Count - will consist of counting all live and dead plants/stems present. Sample plants will also be extracted and inspected for signs of both root and shoot damage/stress to determine if they are dead or likely to die. This method will be used at sites with <1000 plants/stems.

2. Partial Count - will be use at sites with >1000 plants/stems. Inspectors will use a compass to follow an azimuth through the treated site. While following the azimuth, the inspectors will only count live and dead plants/stems rooted within two feet of either side of them, thus producing a four foot wide belt. Multiple azimuths may be used to cover an entire treated site. Sample plants will also be extracted and inspected for signs of both root and shoot damage/stress to determine if they are dead or likely to die.

The control target is defined as meeting the desired result of at least 80 percent control of all weed species at each site, as indicated on the Task Order. Where control quality for a sub-item falls below the minimum acceptable quality level of 80 percent, the Contractor will be required to rework the site at no additional cost to the Government, and any actual damages incurred by the Government as a result of the rework may be assessed. Repeated failure to control the weeds at the 80 percent level or above may be grounds for termination for default.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS E-4

ACCEPTANCE

Final acceptance will be based upon 80% control of the weed treatment sites on a site-by-site basis for each task order.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS E-4.1

DOCUMENTATION

All documentation of completed treatment areas shall be submitted to the Government at the appointed time. The Government will inspect all documentation for legibility and consistency in reporting style. Any submittals not meeting these requirements will be returned and shall be re-done by the Contractor.

FRE-WIN-WEEDS E-5

FIRE PRECAUTION INSPECTION

The Contractor shall certify in writing, compliance with fire specifications in Section J, “Fire Protection and Suppression”, before beginning operations on this contract and shall update such certifications when operations change.

Prior to starting work, the Contractor shall provide a letter of Fire Specification Compliance stating that he or she has inspected all fire tools, vehicles, supplies, and equipment and that they meet or exceed the requirements of the contract specifications.

It will be the Contractor’s responsibility to conform to all fire regulations and/or Fire Supplemental Specifications. Equipment not meeting the contract requirements shall not be used and shall be removed off Forest Service lands. No further work shall be done until the fire tool box, vehicles, supplies, and equipment are in compliance with the contract specifications. It shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to check for the daily precaution classes during fire season.

PART III--LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J--LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

FRE-WIN-Weeds J-1

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Listed below are all of the documents attached to and forming a part of this contract.

Attachments No. of Pages Exhibit A – Vicinity Map 1 Page

Exhibit B – Pesticide Application Record 1 Page

Exhibit C – Noxious Weed Control Inspection Form 2 Pages

Exhibit D – Government Quality Surveillance Plan 2 Pages

Exhibit E – Requirements for Safety Plan, Emergency Spill Response Plan, Pesticide Spill Kit 2 Pages

Exhibit F – Supplemental Paperwork for Task Orders Using the Survey Line Item 2 Pages

Exhibit G – Noxious Weed Population Sighting Report 2 Pages

RAC Data Report Instructions and RAC Data Report Form 2 Pages

Wage Determination 1977-0079 Revision 35 (09/12/2006) 3 Pages

Fire Protection & Suppression R6-FS-6300-52 (5/97) 6 Pages NOTE: For potential quoters downloading this solicitation from the FedBizOpps internet site:

Availability of the project drawings and maps are not available at this site. These contract documents may be examined or obtained at the Silver Lake Ranger District, 65600 Hwy. 31, Silver Lake, OR 97638. If you would like these drawings faxed or mailed to you, please fax your request to (541) 947-7587, ATTN: JEANNETTE, or you may call (541) 576-7593. Quad maps are too large to be faxed and will be too large to be mailed without folding the maps several times.

Pesticide Application Record-Exhibit B Deschutes, Ochoco, or Fremont-Winema National Forests

Site #(s) _________________________________________________________________

Applicator(s) ________________________________________________________________________

Date of Application ______ /______ /______

Month Day Year

Time of Application ___________(AM)(PM) to ___________(AM)(PM)

Location:

T._______S. R._______E. Sec_______ ¼ Sec of the ¼ Sec. ______________________

UTM’s (Beginning) (Easting) __________________(Northing)______________________ (Ending) (Easting) __________________(Northing)______________________

Land Manager: ______Bly R.D._____Lakeview R.D._____Palsey R.D._____Silver Lake R.D.

County: ______ Klamath ______ Lake Road: ____________________________

Site Description: ___Forest ___Range ___R.O.W. ___Riparian ___Power Line ___Other (list)___________

Equipment Used:

____Hand Gun ____Back Pack____Hand Tools ____A.T.V.____Boom ____Granules

Pesticide Used:

EPA#

Amount of Chemical Used Concentration

________________(oz, gal)

________________(oz, gal) Amount of Spray Mix Used: ______gal(s) Additives Used Amount of Additive Used

Concentration

_______________(oz, gal)

_______________(oz, gal)

Weeds Treated: ___Canada Thistle ___Musk Thistle ___Scotch Thistle ___Leafy Spurge ___ White Top

___Spotted Knapweed ___Russian Knapweed ___Diffuse Knapweed ___Dalmatian Toadflax ___Yellow Toadflax

___Mediterranean Sage ___Medusahead ___St. Johnswort ___0ther (list)_______________________________

Acres Infested: _______ Gross Acres Treated: _______ Estimated Number of Plants Treated: __________

Plant Stage: ___Seedling, ___Rosettes, ___Bolting, ___Flowering, ___Mature, ___Senescent

Weather: Wind: ____Calm, ____0-5 MPH, ____6-10 MPH, ____N, ____S, ____E, ____W.

Temperature: _______ degrees F. @ ________ (AM)(PM)

Sky: _____Clear, _____Partly Cloudy, _____Cloudy, _____Showers _____Rain

Signature(s): ______________________________________________________________

Noxious Weed Control Inspection Form

Deschutes Ochoco or Fremont-Winema National Forests

Exhibit C Site #(s)______________________ Date__________________ Inspector ________________________

Visual Inspection Notes: _________________________________________________________________

Complete Count

Species____________ #Dead _________ #Alive ___________ %Mortality _____________

Belt Transect Start Point UTMs: E ___________ N _______________ Azimuth Degrees _________

Species____________ #Dead _________ #Alive ___________ %Mortality _____________

2nd Transect Start Point UTMs: E ___________ N _______________ Azimuth Degrees _________

Species____________ #Dead _________ #Alive ___________ %Mortality _____________

3rd Transect Start Point UTMs: E ___________ N _______________ Azimuth Degrees _________

Species____________ #Dead _________ #Alive ___________ %Mortality _____________

Average % Mortality ____________

Plot Transect Start Point UTMs: E ___________ N _______________ Azimuth Degrees _________

P1 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P2 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P3 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P4 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P5 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P6 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P7 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P8 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P9 Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

P10Species__________ #Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

Totals

#Dead _______ #Alive _______ %Cover Dead _______ %Cover Alive______

Average % Mortality ____________

Instructions

Complete Count – Use at sites with <1000 plants/stems. Total the number of dead/dying plants/stems and number of live plants and calculate % mortality.

For sites with >1000 plants/stems use one of the 100m transect methods. Stretch out a 100 m tape through a representative area of the site. Flag and GPS the transect start point and record the azimuth of the transect direction in degrees. Write the number of the transect on the flagging.

Belt Transect - Using a meter stick held perpendicular to the tape, count the number of dead/dying and live plants/stems in a 1 m wide belt located on the right hand side of the tape. Plants must be rooted in the belt to be counted. Calculate % mortality. Use up to 3 transects if results are close to the 80% cutoff, or to get a representative sample of the site. Average the transect results for the site.

Plot Transect – Use a meter square plot frame at 10m intervals along the transect tape, beginning at 10m. The frame will be positioned with the upper left hand corner at the 10m (20m, 30m, etc.) mark on the tape. Within the plot frame, either count the number of dead/dying and live plants, or visually estimate % cover of dead and live plants. Plants must be rooted in the plot frame to be counted. Total the results for all 10 plot frames and calculate % mortality. Use up to 3 transects if results are close to the 80% cutoff, or to get a representative sample of the site. Average the transect results for the site. This method will be used for sites where plants/stems are too numerous to count in a belt transect within a reasonable timeframe, or for rhizomatous species, where cover is a better measure.

Determining Mortality – Mortality is determined by looking at both top kill and root death. Look for indications of stress such as brown edges on leaves, and brown and curled buds and meristem. Determining kill in the time frames allowed within this contract can be difficult for musk thistle that has already bolted. If the main shoot has turned brown and is curled over, and other signs of stress, such as those mentioned above, are present, the plant is likely to die. In some instances, mature musk thistle plants will produce new buds after they are sprayed. However, past inspections have shown that the herbicide will eventually kill these mature plants before the buds have an opportunity to flower and produce viable seeds.

Root inspection is critical for determining mortality of perennial rhizomatous species. Dig up sample plants and look for dye at the base of the plants and 1-2” into the root system. Roots that have been effectively killed by the herbicide should be fairly dry, or at least lacking the moisture content of non-sprayed roots. Also examine rhizome buds. If the adventitious root buds are still pink or green, then the plant is still alive, even though the above-ground portion may have signs indicating stress from the herbicide.

Equipment Needed: Flagging, marker, GPS unit, 100m reel tape, meter stick, square meter plot frame (PVC or other), data sheets, shovel.

QUESTIONNAIRE

A. Quality Control Plan, Safety Plan, and Emergency Spill Response Plan

1. Develop a quality control plan that speaks to the accuracy of your GPS unit and if it is compatible with the GPS used by the Government in order to properly locate the noxious weed sites by their coordinates, Pesticide Application Record submissions, how the percent work quality based on plot or visual work data will be reported, and how the Contractor will ensure that the pesticides were applied to all plants in each site at a minimum:

GPS

PAR

Work quality

Quality assurance

2. Develop a Safety Plan that includes all necessary componenets listed in Section J. The Safety Plan should be completed on a separate sheet and submitted with the contract.

2. Develop a Emergency Spill Response Plan that includes all necessary componenets listed in Section J. The Emergency Spill Response Plan should be completed on a separate sheet and submitted with the contract.

B. Personnel Qualifications

1. Key personnel. (List all personnel who will be working on this project—be sure to include applicator.)

Name

Experience Doing This Type of Work

C. Past Performance History

1. List below the projects completed by your business within the last three (3) years which most closely relate to this type of work:

2. Have you failed to complete any project in the last three (3) years? [ ] Yes [ ] No

If “yes”, list all contracts not completed, provide explanation of the circumstances, remedy of situation, and action taken to avoid recurrence.

D. Technical Experience

1. Number of years this specific business entity has been doing this type of work.

Number of years experience under a different business name doing this type of work.

Name of business: _______________________________________________________________________

2. List supplies, tools, equipment, and facilities to be used.

3. List firm’s contractual commitments running concurrently with the work contemplated by this solicitation.

3. Evidence of licenses.

Commercial Pesticide Operator’s License with Forestry and Right-of-Way categories:

Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License with Forestry and Right-of-Way categories for the on-site representative or a Directly Supervised Commercial Pesticide Trainee, who holds the Forestry and Right-of-Way categories:

E. Local Labor

1. Provide a work plan that describes how you will utilize labor from the local workforce, other resources from the local communities, small, small disadvantaged, and women-owned small business subcontractors from the local area.