Atch_1_SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Aerial Spraying Services for Badlands NP and Wind Cave NP

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, and equipment for aerial application of herbicides over park lands, to control the growth and spread of mullein, Canada thistle, horehound, annual brome, in accordance with the attached specifications, except as noted in the following specifications.

All licenses and certificates necessary for complying with Federal, State, Local and Municipal laws, codes and regulations applicable to the performance of the work are the responsibility of the contractor to acquire and possess during performance.

Table of Contents Project Summary

I. Introduction

A. Treatment Areas B. Herbicides C. Application Dates

II. Contractor Provided Services

A. Systems

1. Spray Systems

a. Spray Boom

b. Tanks

c. Emergency Dump System

d. Shut-off Mechanism

e. Autocalculators

2. Load Records

3. Communications

B. Ground Support Equipment Specifications C. Herbicides D. Support Personnel Qualifications and Requirements

1. Other Support Personnel

a. On-Site Company Representative

b. Security

c. Subcontractors

E. Other Services/Requirements

1. Equipment Maintenance

2. Field Expenses

3. Spray Area GPS Data

III. Government Provided Services and Materials

A. Herbacide

1. Aminopyralid

2. Indaziflam

B. Surfactant

1. Spreader 90 C. Project Personnel

1. Contracting Officer's Representative D. Services Provided

1. Spray Block Delineation

2. Field Observation

3. Weather Monitoring

E. Equipment, Supplies, Materials

1. Maps

2. Safety Data Sheets

3. Supplies

IV. Application Specifications, Conditions, and Restrictions

A. Pre-performance Briefing B. Environmental Limitations C. Other Constraints

1. Holiday and High Visitor Use Periods

2. Calibration and Characterizations

3. Protection of Park Wildlife

V. Safety Requirements

A. Accidents and Incidents B. Hazardous Materials Spill Plan

VI. Payment

I. INTRODUCTION

The scope of this contract involves the aerial application of herbicide in South Dakota at Wind Cave National Park and Badlands National Park to control the invasive species mullein, Canada thistle, horehound, annual brome.

Badlands National Park is characterized by rugged badlands terrain, with elevations averaging 2,500 feet.

Wind Cave National Park is a forested grassland system with deep canyons in areas of the park.

This contract will be effective for a base period of 12 months, with two (2) ordering periods, commencing on the date of the contract award within the defined scope of the contract.

A. Treatment Areas

The project may involve the treatment of up to 2,000 acres of mullein, 4,000 acres of Canada thistle, 1000 acres of horehound, and 1000 acres of brome species annually using the herbicide aminopyralid for Mullein and Canada thistle, Metsulfuron methyl for horehound, and indaziflam for annual brome in Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park. Target areas and logistical support will be discussed in detail at the pre-performance conference between the Contractor and Contracting Officer Representatives. A generalized map showing potential treatment areas for Wind Cave is found in Attachment. The entire north unit of Badlands National Park will be considered the treatment area, see Attachment. Original maps will be provided at the pre-performance conference.

B. Herbicide

The Government shall supply the herbicide aminopyralid (i.e., Milestone), Indaziflam (ie EsplAnade),and Metsulfuron methyl (i.e. Escort XP) plus adjuvant to treat Canada thistle, mullein, horehound, and annual brome in target areas at the 6 ounce per acre rate of aminopyralid plus 4 ounce per acre rate of adjuvant with total solution sprayed at 5 gallons per acre for Canada Thistle and Mullein.

Metsulfuron at 1 ounces per acre rate plus 4 ounce per acre of adjuvant with total solution sprayed at 5 gallons per acre for horehound, This will be mixed with milestone in order to spray Canada thistle, mullein, and horehound at the same time. Indaziflam at 7 ounces per acre rate and 4 ounces of adjuvant with total solution sprayed at 7.5 gallons for annual brome. If the rates need to be changed the COR/or acting will advise the contractor in this event.

The Contractor shall be responsible for handling, safeguarding, mixing, loading, and disposing of all herbicides as prescribed by the label of the product. The Contractor is also responsible for providing all equipment, personnel and auxiliary items and materials to accomplish the aerial application.

C. Application Dates

Application dates range from June 1 to October 30 for mullein, horehound, and Canada thistle and year around for Indaziflam depending on plant phenology. Weather conditions and nightly cooling trends will be monitored. Actual spray dates will be more definite near application time. Spraying may be prohibited on holidays and during high visitor use or when environmental conditions (wind, temperature, humidity, etc. as set forth herein are not within prescribed label parameters).

D. Estimated Hours of Application and Ordering Period

Ordering Period 1 - (6/1/2024 - 5/31/2025) Ordering Period 2 - (6/1/2025 - 5/31/2026) Ordering Period 3 - (6/1/2026 - 5/31/2027)

Line Item No. Location

Estimated Hours Not to Exceed per Ordering Period

00010 Badlands National Park

00020 Wind Cave National Park

II. CONTRACTOR PROVIDED SERVICES

The contractor shall furnish all equipment and vehicles necessary to produce a final application.

The pilot(s) must possess skill in mullein, horehound, and Canada thistle identification at various growth stages while applying herbicide which requires the use of a helicopter to accomplish.

The contractor will need to fly low through canyons/uneven terrain and hover in place in order to effectively identify noxious weeds and apply herbicide effectively. Consequently, fixed winged aircraft are not suitable for this task.

The contractor shall provide appropriate equipment to satisfactorily spray the designated areas in the time specified herein. Equipment shall be capable of traveling at moderate/slow speeds to ensure proper control and distribution of the herbicide.

The Contractor shall provide all necessary herbicide mixing and transport trucks, fuel trucks, and water trucks. Water for mixing and application is the responsibility of the Contractor. Personnel to operate the above equipment and qualified mechanics shall be provided by the Contractor. An on-site representative who can act on all matters relating to contractual matters shall be designated. The Contractor shall provide all security and maintenance of their equipment. The Contractor shall make the final determination of helispot location(s). Loading and mixing areas shall be mutually established between the Government and the Contractor.

All operations shall conform to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, manufacturer's herbicide label instructions, and the appropriate state and federal requirements for storage, transportation, application, and disposal of herbicides. The contractor shall possess a valid South Dakota commercial aerial applicator’s license.

The Contractor is responsible for the repair or replacement of any faulty or substandard equipment, within 48 hours.

A. Systems

1. Spray System

a. Spray boom

The application aircraft shall be equipped with a microfoil spray boom system. Six-inch wide airfoil-shaped nozzles will be mounted on the boom. Each nozzle will contain 120 needle like orifices along its trailing edge. The orifice size will be 0.28 inch ID to produce droplets with a volume diameter of 800 to 1000 microns. A functioning spray pressure gauge of the 0-100 pounds per square inch (PSI) type and producing and sustaining boom pressure from 20-45 PSI shall be located so that the pilot can easily read

it. The microfoil spray boom system shall contain shut-off valves to portions of the boom to treat small infestations. If a different spray system is to be used it must be approved before the equipment arrives on site to begin the contract.

b. Tanks

Leak-proof, corrosion-resistant tanks with exterior filler openings are to be used. Filler openings or neck should be large enough to prevent surging during filling. Tanks shall be equipped with internal agitation. Bypass return is best located at the bottom of the tank to prevent foaming.

c. Emergency dump system

Aircraft shall be equipped with an emergency jettison-able load dumping system or emergency non-leaking dump valves of adequate capacity and adequately vented to dump the load. They shall be installed to prevent blowback into the fuselage. Exposed valve control linkage shall be protected to prevent unintentional opening of the valve in any manner. The control lever shall be substantially mounted in the cockpit within easy reach of the pilot.

d. Shut-off mechanism

To avoid spraying areas not scheduled for treatment, the entire spray system shall be leakproof and have a positive shutoff mechanism capable of eliminating dripping from the atomizers.

e. Autocalculators

Equipment must be equipped with an autocalculator to automatically measure chemical output regardless of speed.

2. Load Records

The Contractor shall maintain an accurate daily record of the herbicide solution metered out of the aircraft, hours treated (hobbs), weather, and acreage treated. The contractor shall provide a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit on the aircraft to map sprayed area, area covered, and to track acres treated. This data shall be provided to the government upon completion of the work in a format that will enable the data to convert into shapefiles. Each day the file will be closed, and a new file started in case there is a glitch in the system to prevent major loss of data.

3. Communication

The application aircraft shall possess a working business frequency two-way radio in order to facilitate any needed communications with the government.

B. Ground Support Equipment Specifications

Necessary herbicide mixing and transport trucks for transporting herbicide and water shall be required by the Contractor. All motor vehicles must meet all requirements of the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

C. Herbicide

The Contractor shall be responsible for all handling, mixing, and safeguarding of herbicides.

D. Support Personnel Qualifications and Requirements

The Contractor shall provide the necessary trained, qualified, and experienced personnel needed for mixing and loading the herbicide, and properly servicing all aircraft. All ground support personnel shall be equipped and trained to take proper action in an emergency. Standard personal protective equipment and safety precautions shall be observed in handling the herbicide solutions. The Contractor shall be required to replace any ground support personnel who does not demonstrate the knowledge and capability of performing their duties.

1. Other Support Personnel

a. On-site company representative

The Contractor shall designate one of their personnel to act as representative of the company in all contractual matters that require prompt attention. This representative shall delegate his/her authority in the event that s/he becomes unavailable.

b. Security

If guard service for the equipment is required or desired by the Contractor, s/he shall provide the necessary personnel.

c. Subcontractors

Subcontractors are permitted under this agreement with the limitation that at least fifty

(50) per cent of the direct support (mixing, loading, aircraft) shall be provided by the primary Contractor.

The Contractor shall also supply to the Government at the time of the request, all license requirements (reference Section II) for the subcontractor. The Contractor shall, however, assume full liability and responsibility for the work to be done by the subcontractor and shall assure compliance with all requirements of the contract.

E. Other Services/Requirements

1. Equipment Maintenance

The Contractor shall provide all maintenance on all equipment, vehicles and accessories, mixing and pumping systems, storage tanks, etc. utilized in support of this contract. Care should be taken to prevent leakage of spray material at all times. Routine maintenance is to be conducted at times that will not interfere with the scheduled spray operation. Only emergency repairs shall be performed during scheduled spray hours.

2. Field Expenses

With the exception of the herbicide, all costs and expenses incurred by the Contractor shall be included in the per acre cost to be submitted; i.e., operation and maintenance of equipment and vehicles, fuel, water, personnel compensation (salary, food, lodging, transportation to work sites) etc.

The Contractor is responsible for transporting their personal to the worksite(s). Airtime used to transport personnel to job sites shall be limited to flights that are essential to job efficiency and not unnecessary activities in order to limit noise exposure to Park visitors and wildlife.

3. Spray Area/GPS Data

The contractor shall provide GPS data that define the geographic extent of each area sprayed. Minimum data accuracy shall not exceed plus or minus 2 meters. The GPS data shall be delivered to the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) as well as the

Northern Great Plains Exotic Plant Management Team Liaison no later than 2 weeks after application completion. Payment is contingent upon receipt and approval of the GPS data.

III. GOVERNMENT PROVIDED SERVICES AND MATERIALS

The Government shall provide the contractor with proper amount of aminopyralid and adjuvant to treat Canada thistle, mullein, Metsulfuran Methyl to horehound, and Indaziflam to annual brome. Herbicide treatment will be applied at 6 ounce per acre rate of aminopyralid + 4 ounce per acre rate of adjuvant for Canada thistle, mullein, 1 ounce per acre of Metsulfuran methyhl + 4 ounces of adjuvant to horehound, and 7 ounces per acre of Indaziflam + 4 ounces per acre rate of adjuvant for annual brome Each task order shall list the government property required for the task order in accordance with FAR 52.245-1 (description, quantity, units, unit price, extended price).

A. Herbicide

1. Aminopyralid with the trade name “Milestone” will be provided for the completion of aerial spraying at Wind Cave and Badlands NP’s for Canada Thistle and Mullein.

Aminopyralid is a pyridine carboxylic acid active ingredient that provides systemic control of target species.

Aminopyralid is manufactured by Dow Chemical, MSDS link -http://ws.greenbook.net/Docs/Msds/M79670.pdf Aminopyralid will be provided in 2.5 gallon containers.

2. Indaziflam with the trade name “EsplAnada” will be provided for the completion of aerial spraying at Wind Cave and Badlands NP’s for annual brome.

Indaziflam is manufactured by Bayer, MSDS link -http://ws.greenbook.net/Docs/Msds/M79670.pdf Indaziflam will be provided in 2.5 gallon containers.

3. Metsulfurn Methyl with the trade name Escort XP (which will be mixed with milestone) will be provided for the completion of aerial spraying at Wind Cave for horehound.

Metsulfuran Methyl is manufactured by Bayer, link-https://www.cdms.net/label-database

B. Surfactant

1. Spreader 90 or equivalent will be provided as the surfactant to be used in the completion of aerial spraying at Wind Cave and Badlands NP’s.

Spreader 90 is formulated for Loveland Products.

Spreader 90 is a low foam, non-ionic surfactant used to improve the efficacy of herbicides.

MSDS - http://www.cdms.net/ldat/mp4Q2000.pdf

Herbicide and surfactant will used by the contractor “as-is” and can be viewed at the herbicide storage shed at Badlands National Park.

http://ws.greenbook.net/Docs/Msds/M79670.pdf http://ws.greenbook.net/Docs/Msds/M79670.pdf http://ws.greenbook.net/Docs/Msds/M79670.pdf http://ws.greenbook.net/Docs/Msds/M79670.pdf https://www.cdms.net/label-database http://www.cdms.net/ldat/mp4Q2000.pdf http://www.cdms.net/ldat/mp4Q2000.pdf http://www.cdms.net/ldat/mp4Q2000.pdf

C. Project Personnel

a. Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)

A COR will be assigned for this project. The COR shall act on behalf of the Contracting Officer on matters of day-to-day coordination and inspection at both Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks.

D. Services Provided

a. Spray Block Delineation

The Government shall furnish and supervise personnel that may be necessary for marking treatment area boundaries.

b. Field Observation

The Government shall furnish ground personnel to observe the spray operation.

c. Weather Monitoring

The Government shall provide personnel to conduct temperature and wind monitoring.

E. Equipment, Supplies, Materials

a. Maps

The Government shall furnish topographic/GIS maps (1:24,000 scale) of the areas to be treated at the pre-performance conference and shall make them available during the spray project.

b. Safety Data Sheets

The Government shall make available all manufacturer label and safety data sheets for herbicides used in the project.

c. Supplies

All supplies (excluding herbicides and adjuvants) for the project shall be provided by the contractor.

IV. APPLICATION SPECIFICATIONS, CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS

A. Pre-performance Conference

A meeting will be held at or near Badlands National Park or Wind Cave National Park (whichever park is being treated) prior to the spray operation date to discuss, but not limited to: safety and operational procedures, chemical use, treatment and helispot location(s) (if applicable), areas to be sprayed (see Attachments), and contractor/government spray schedule.

The Contractor shall verbally describe his/her hazardous materials spill plan. The plan should outline techniques or materials that will be on site to contain and remove any spills of fuel or herbicide. The Contractor shall present the spill plan to the government at the pre-conference briefing.

B. Environmental Limitations Operations will be prohibited when any one of the following conditions exist in the treatment area.

(Herbicide label restrictions shall take precedence over the conditions listed below when label restrictions are more limiting.)

• Wind velocity above 15 miles per hour as measured at ground level in an area within or close to the spray block.

• During rainy or foggy weather, or when there is an imminent threat of rain.

• Temperatures in excess of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Temperature inversions sufficient to interrupt the proper settling of spray material.

• When air turbulence (thermal updrafts, etc.) is so great that normal spray patterns may be seriously affected.

C. Other Constraints

1. Holiday and High Visitor Use Periods

No application shall be allowed on holidays or during periods of high visitor use.

No day shall start before 6:00 am or run more than 12 hours unless approved by the onsite Government representative.

2. Calibration and Characterization

The rate of discharge from the spray system shall be checked periodically during the spray operation. The project may need to be temporarily stopped so adjustments may be made to maintain the range of desired droplet size and application rate within five per cent of the recommended rate per acre.

3. Protection of Park Wildlife

All trees and standing water inside the treatment areas will be avoided during spraying operations. It is expected that prairie dogs will retreat underground and large ungulates will leave the area with the approach of the aircraft. If they do not, the contractor will make a “dry pass” to encourage the prairie dogs and bison to retreat prior to making a “spray pass.”

V. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

A. Accidents and Incidents

The Contractor shall maintain a record of all incidents and accidents. The Contractor shall fully cooperate in any investigation and provide any needed records, statements, or parts. The Contractor shall make these records, statements, and/or parts available upon request.

B. Hazardous Materials Spill Plan

The Contractor shall have a Hazardous Materials Spill Plan and verbally describe that plan to the government. This plan shall be presented at the pre-performance briefing.

VI. PAYMENT

Payment shall be based on the number of hours spent treating or scouting based on contract specified application rate (amount of herbicide used) and receipt/approval of the GPS data file.