Attachment 1 - Specifications.doc

PROJECT WFM-0811-17FHF

INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL IN THE LINVILLE GORGE AREA OF THE PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST: BIOLOGIST – COORDINATOR/INSPECTOR

STATEMENT OF WORK, SCOPE AND SPECIFICATIONS

Summary and Context This contract is part of a larger effort in the Linville Gorge Area to reduce the abundance of Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) and other non-native invasive species. Princess Tree abundance both inside and outside of the Linville Gorge Wilderness has increased dramatically, especially in areas that have been severely impacted by wildfire within the last decade. The larger project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, funds 3 private contractors, a cooperative agreement with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) to utilize the Bridge Crew program, and the employment of Job Corps crews and leaders. The goal is to treat as many acres as possible within the next 5 years and inventory invasive species in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. Priority treatment areas also include the Linville Gorge Wilderness, where herbicide use is currently prohibited. Efforts to gain approval for treating heavily infested areas of the Wilderness are underway, thus creating the possibility of treating select areas of the Wilderness within the project period, 2010-2014. Thousands of acres outside of the wilderness contain Princess Tree and other invasives and serve as the current target areas for treatment. The current contract is for a Biologist to coordinate herbicide application efforts, as well as inspect and monitor treatment effectiveness, 2010-2014.

Specifications The contractor is required to work the equivalent of 225, 8-hour days on the project over a 5 year period, with an expectation of approximately 70 % of this time in the field. The contractor will keep a daily log of work hours and report hours worked on a weekly basis to the project Contract Officer’s Representative (COR). This weekly report will also include a brief description of accomplishments during that week.

The contractor will work closely with NF in NC personnel in helping coordinate, inspect and monitor the invasive species treatment efforts. The coordinator will work closely with crew leaders/foremen representing 1) Invasive Plant Specialist Contractor, 2) Job Corp Crews and 3) the NCDENR Bridge Crews. During the summer of 2010, the Invasive Plant Specialist will be treating areas within the Dobson Knob area while the Job Corps crews will be working on either the western or eastern sides of the gorge. Thus, 2010 will likely require more coordination/inspection days in the field than subsequent years, 2011-2014, when only the Bridge Crews will be performing treatments. Workload distribution) is estimated to be approximately 65, 8-hour days (or the equivalent) in 2010, and 40 days each for the 4 remaining years, 2011-2014. Primary responsibilities include: 1) scouting areas to be treated to better coordinate treatment work, 2) helping train crews in species identification as needed, 3) inspecting the completed work, 4) collecting GPS data from treated sites and from treatment crews and creating GIS maps, 5) managing other data collected from treatment crews, 6) following a monitoring protocol that will provide an effectiveness assessment of treated areas, 7) compiling summaries of field work associated with mapped treated areas, and 8) provide monthly reports of accomplishments as well as annual reports of accomplishments including maps. The contractor is not expected to be in the field every day with the crews but is expected to be in the field often enough to effectively coordinate the work. Annual reports are due by November 1 of years 2010-2013 and by September 20 of the final year, 2014.

Quality Control and Monitoring Effectiveness

The contractor must be familiar with the treatment specifications and quality control expectations that each of the treatment groups (Contractor on Dobson Knob, NCDENR – Bridge Crews, and Job Corps crews) will be operating under. These specifications are included in an attachment under the list of attachments at the end of this document. An additional attachment describes the performance assessment methods and acceptable quality levels (AQL) that are given to those performing treatments.

The NF in NC Botanists/Ecologists and/or COR will direct the coordinator in terms of priority areas to treat and the application of the monitoring protocol. Monitoring effectiveness of treatment will involve the use of sample transects through treated areas. The first phase of this monitoring will take place immediately (or within 2 days where no rain occurred) following treatment. The purpose of this phase is to assess the percent of plants treated by species. The second phase will involve transect sampling as well, at least 2 months and up to a year following treatment. The purpose of this phase is to assess the kill rate by species. Details of the sampling protocol will be provided by the COR.

Equipment and Supplies

The contractor is responsible for all equipment and supplies required for the job including GPS equipment and computer mapping software.

Deliverables and Payment

Deliverables include brief weekly reports, all raw data and notes, GPS data and maps, monthly and annual reports of accomplishments. Partial payment shall be made to the contractor no less than monthly. The contractor will submit an invoice along with a brief summary of accomplishments along with relevant field data and maps. All other deliverables – remaining field data, reports, GPS files, maps and photos - will be delivered to the Forest Service COR no later than the annual report due dates, given above, following each field season, at which time the contractor will submit the final invoice for the annual work. After each invoice submittal the COR may take up to 5 days to review and approve the work and invoice. The contractor shall be paid 30 days after the designated billing office has received a proper invoice.

Provided by the Forest Service Maps of the project area will be provided to the Contractor (see attached maps), that show access to the site, as well as specific areas to be treated each year. Forest Service will provide access behind gated roads as appropriate.

Pre-bid Meeting

The Forest Service will hold a pre-bid meeting for interested contractors at the National Forests in North Carolina office in Asheville, NC, DATE TO BE DETERMINED at 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Access and Travel

Linville Gorge is located approximately 70 miles E-NE of Asheville, NC and 20 miles NE of Marion, NC off of I-40. From I-40, Linville Gorge can be accessed via 1) US 221 out of Marion, 2) State Highway 126 from Nebo, and 3) State highway 181 from Morganton. Three areas within the Linville Gorge Area, but outside the Wilderness boundary, serve as the project treatment areas and can be seen in the attached maps.

The Government will issue a key to any gated Forest Service roads needed for access by the Contractor. The Contractor shall be responsible if unauthorized entry to the facilities is gained by the use of the key. Issued key(s) shall be returned to the COR prior to final payment. Access on roads which are gated or waterbarred will be coordinated with the Contracting Officer`s Representative. Contractor will keep all gates locked at all times, unless otherwise directed by the COR.

The Contractor shall conduct his operations so as to minimize damage to all roads, road banks, trails, ditches, and other improvements in the operating area. Any damage caused by the Contractor, other than normal wear, shall be repaired at the Contractor`s expense. Access roads, trails, and/or protected streams will be kept free of logs, slash and other Contractor generated debris at all times. Road banks, ditches, and culvert openings must also be kept clear of Contractor generated debris Attachments (Documents, maps, links) for All Bid Items

· Schedule of Items: items_LG_inspect.doc

· Maps:

· Overview maps: LG_project_overview.pdf, LG_Inv_Control.pdf, LG_Inv_Control_topo.pdf

· Roads to be treated: LG_Project_Roads.pdf

· East of Gorge Area: LG_East_topo.pdf, LG_East_Aerial.pdf

· West of Gorge Area: LG_West_Aerial.pdf, LG_West_Topo.pdf

· Dobson Knob Area: LG_Dobson_access.pdf, LG_Dobson_aerial.pdf, LG_Dobson_aerial_trt.pdf, LG_Dobson_aerial_trt_east.pdf, LG_Dobson_aerial_trt_west.pdf, LG_Dobson_topo_trt.pdf

· Evaluation Criteria : Eval_LG_inspect.doc

· Table 2. Performance assessment methods and acceptable quality levels (AQL): AQL_Assessment.doc

· Invasive Control Specs taken from Contract Specs for Invasive Plant Specialist: InvasiveControl_specs.doc