Attachment 02_Statement of Work 2023 PRRD.pdf

Solicitation 1282B123Q0128 PRRD Weed Treatment

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST

PINE RIDGE RANGER DISTRICT& OGLALA NATIONAL GRASSLAND

NOXIOUS WEED TREATMENT SERVICES

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 to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 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.

SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The services covered in this solicitation and resultant contract are for applying herbicides for the control of noxious weeds on Public Lands. Areas to be treated are predominately forested and rangeland with riparian areas (creeks, dams, or dugouts) within 2012 burn units on the Pine Ridge Ranger District and Oglala National Grasslands and areas where fuels have been treated since the fires. The species being targeted are: Canada thistle, Scotch Thistle, Hound’s Tongue and Black Henbane. Attached maps represent known locations of noxious weeds based on 2022 treatment and inventory.

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

Project areas that are included under this contract are Forest Service lands within the Chadron Creek drainage located on the Pine Ridge Ranger District south of Chadron.

Maps showing infestation locations and the treatment areas are attached. Areas of limited access exist within the treatment area. In these areas the contractor shall select a method of travel (motorized, foot, horseback) in meeting the contract specs.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PERFORMANCE STATEMENT OF WORK (PWS)

NOXIOUS WEED TREATMENT SERVICES

SECTION I – GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE OF WORK. The contractor shall be required to:

• Furnish any and all labor, transportation, equipment, herbicide, supplies (including personal protective equipment), water, services, supervision, permits, and licenses necessary to treat noxious weeds.

• Spot applications by equipment can require 25 gallons of water/herbicide mix per acre for the target species. Contractor will be required to transport water to all sites.

• Apply herbicide at optimal stage of plant development to be most effective. For the species being treated, this could require the contractor to return to an area at varying times. The preferred development stage for all targeted species is in the rosette to flowering stage or when at or beyond the bud stage (summer/fall application).

• The successful contractor shall submit treatment data in the specific data format of the Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands Noxious Weeds Geodatabase.

The database is an ESRI ArcGIS version 9.0 personal geodatabase. The database contains the spatial and tabular data. Many data elements are required.

• Contractor will provide GIS based maps along with raw GPS data (datum used shall be discussed with Forest Service before collection of GPS data) of treated areas along with pesticide application records to the Forest Service at the completion of treatment. The contractor will also be required to provide the Forest Service with total pounds of active ingredient per acre applied at the conclusion of the project.

• Contractor will comply with all pesticide use requirements set forth under Title 25, Chapter 2, Nebraska Administrative Code.

• This statement of work consists of completing the tasks/subtasks in Section V to the performance requirements of Section VII. Services shall be in compliance with the terms, conditions, and specifications herein.

1.1.1 LOCATION DESCRIPTION. The treatment area covers two priority sections of the Pine Ridge Ranger District. (See attached maps) These maps show the known infestation locations within these priority treatment areas based on past inventories. They are for reference only and are approximate in nature.

1.1.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. Services covered in this solicitation and resultant contract are to be performed during the 2023 field season. Work may begin when the target plants are actively growing, and weather conditions allow them to be susceptible to herbicide effects as per label directions. Work may begin on or about the beginning of August 11, 2023 and the Contractor shall complete all fieldwork by September 30, 2023. All reports are due no later than two weeks following completion of field work.

1.1.3 ACCESSIBILITY. Specific site maps identifying units and road access shall be provided to the contractor.

1.1.4 BOUNDARIES. Maps will be provided to the contractor detailing the treatment area and identifying any interior private lands.

1.1.5 NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE WEEDS. The contractor shall be experienced in noxious and invasive weed management and herbicide use. The contractor shall be able to identify target weed species in all stages of development and to distinguish between target and non-target species.

1.1.6 CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVE. The contractor shall provide a contract representative for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate(s) who shall 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 contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contractor representative and alternate(s) must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.

SECTION II – DEFINITIONS

2.1 STANDARD DEFINITIONS

2.1.1 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.

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

2.1.3 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.

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

2.1.5 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). A government person appointed by the contracting officer to help the contracting officer with contract administration and surveillance.

2.1.6 GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR. A government person responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.7 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.

2.1.8 QUALITY CONTROL. Those actions taken by a contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the requirements of the PWS.

2.1.9 SPRAY SHEET. Blank field spray sheets that the contractor uses to document location and type of herbicide used on a particular area will be provided by the NNFG. Spray sheets are required to be submitted to the COR/Inspector.

2.1.10 RANDOM SAMPLING. A sampling method in which each service output in a unit has an equal chance of being selected.

2.2 TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS

2.2.1 ACCESS TO TREATMENT AREAS: Access to treatment areas requires travel and treatment operations on or near: paved roads, graveled County roads, and non-graveled two track Forest Service roads. The treatment areas may be along or away from roads and within areas with no developed road access. Access is allowed off designated routes as displayed in the Nebraska National Forest’s Motorized Vehicle Use Map by authorization only issued by the Pine Ridge District Ranger. Your access must be timed such that road or trail surfaces are not subjected to unreasonable resource damage.

2.2.2 AQUATIC AREA: Any type of lake, pond, dam, spring, or stream course that contains an invasive plant species.

2.2.3 BOOM SPRAYER: Spray equipment capable of delivering a minimum of 20 gallons per acre. Boom sprayers shall be equipped with an identifier system to minimize swath overlap such as a ribbon or flagging system. ATV/UTV boom-less nozzles are not considered as boom sprayers.

2.2.4 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.

2.2.5 GIS & GPS SPECIFICATIONS:

Field Survey Operations and Procedures:

Treat and record noxious weed sites in accordance with the Nebraska National Forests and Grassland Noxious Weed User Guide (separate attachment) of this solicitation. The final product submitted is inventory and treatment data in the specific data format of the NNFG Noxious Weeds Geodatabase; this will be submitted to the COR upon completion of treatment. During the contract the contractor is required to submit raw GPS data and accurate field sheets to the COR bi-weekly to ensure that the information is being recorded correctly. The database is an ESRI ArcGIS version 9.3 personal geodatabase. The database contains the spatial and tabular data. All data elements are required.

Field survey operations using GPS shall be performed using:

1. Trimble GPS unit capable of loading and using NNFG Noxious weed data dictionary (.ddf) files. Concurrent GPS software.

2. Computer with hardware capacity to run ArcGIS software and to convert GPS data into ArcGIS shapefiles.

3. ArcGIS 9.3 or newer software (ESRI) for aggregating exported GPS files into ArcGIS shapefiles

4. Knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the NNFG

Noxious Weed User Guides.

5. Knowledge of GPS and ArcGIS accuracy and standards.

GIS Layer:

1. All weed treatment sites will be combined into one ESRI ArcGIS version 9.3 or newer polygon personal geodatabase. The database contains the spatial and tabular data. Geodatabase will be referenced to the North American Datum, 1983 (NAD83) in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), zone 13 projection will be used. Coordinates will be reported in meters.

2. GPS data will be referenced using the following export coordinate system, units, and velocity:

System UTM Zone 13 North Datum NAD83 (Conus) CORS96 Units Feet Altitude HAE Distance Feet Area Square Feet or Acre Velocity Feet per second

3. Shapefiles will be exported using code values assigned in the Data Dictionary along with the additional attributes:

• PDOP

• Receiver Type

• Correction Status

• Data File Name

Final GPS products submission

• The following digital data is to be electronic: Field/spraying sheets, raw GPS files that have been differentially corrected, and final GIS Geodatabase. Upon completion of an individual treatment area, the contractor shall submit all data within 10 calendar days to the COR or Inspector. If deficiencies are found, all data will be returned for corrections.

2.2.6 MIXING SITE: All mixing and rinsing during the operational period 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 National Forest.

Riseate will be reused as spray solution as much as possible until project completion. Riseate application rates shall not exceed ¾ ounce per acre.

2.2.7 NOXIOUS WEED LIST:

Code Scientific Name Common Name CIAR4 Cirsium arvense Canada thistle ONAC Onopordum acanthium Scotch thistle HICY Hieracium cynoglossoides Hound’s tongue CANU4 Carduus nutans Musk thistle HYNI Hyoscyamus Niger Black Henbane

2.2.8 SPRAY EQUIPMENT: All spray equipment shall be accurately calibrated to ensure herbicide is applied as per manufacturer recommended application rates.

Forest Service representative will be present to check calibration prior to starting.

All spray equipment would be operated in accordance with owner’s manuals.

Weed treatment accomplished by the use of spray equipment installed in trucks, ATVs, or UTVs would follow manufacturer specifications and recommendations, including those specific to weight restrictions.

2.2.9 WEATHER CONDITIONS: Herbicide shall not be applied if temperatures exceed 95 degrees and or the wind speed exceeds 15 mph in all areas excluding aquatic areas.

2.2.10 WEED DATA DICTIONARY: 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 allow crews to enter data in the correct format. This ensures data uniformity and integrity, as well as compatibility with the GIS database. The Government provides the data dictionary to the contractor.

SECTION VI - GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS/INDUSTRY STANDARDS/STATE

STANDARDS/GOVERNMENT STANDARDS/TECHNICAL EXHIBITS

Technical specifications and attachments:

• All spray equipment must be capable of delivering at least 10 gallons per acre.

• Contractor must certify that spray equipment can be accurately calibrated and the products applied at required label rates.

• Contractor shall comply with all federal, state, and local rules, regulations, and laws pertaining to the work required by this contract.

• Contractor will be required to adhere to all aspects of pesticide labels used during treatment.

• Target weed species shall be sprayed at optimal stage of development for herbicidal action to take place. Timing will be consistent with factors such as target species growth stage, product formulation and weather.

• Treatment areas shall be uniformly traversed with spray vehicles. Overlap of spray swaths should be kept to a minimum. Spray vehicles should be equipped with an identifier or an identifier system to insure reduced overlap of spray swaths. Spray will not come in contact with standing water in ponds or drainages. Care will be taken to avoid spray contact with adjacent crop fields, trees, and stock tanks.

• Spraying will cease in the event of rain or wind in excess of 15 miles per hour.

• Mixing and rinsing will take place in the field within treatment areas at a distance greater than 100ft. upstream of standing water, trees or crops. Rinseate will be reused as spray solution as much as possible until project completion. Final leftover rinseate may be applied to treatment areas.

• Contractor shall ensure all equipment moved onto National Forest system land is free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain or hold noxious weed seed. The Forest Service may request inspection of equipment prior to it being placed into service.

• Preparing tank mixes, cleaning spray equipment or disposing of herbicide containers shall not occur at any Forest Service facility.

• All equipment used in treatment will have adequate fire extinguishers and other fire prevention mechanisms.

• Payment for treatment will be based on acres of noxious weeds sprayed. Gpsed acres do not equal areas that have been treated. Discrepancy acres between contractor provided gps files and actual treatment acreage will be evaluated on case by case basis.

All equipment used in treatment will have adequate fire extinguishers and other fire prevention mechanisms.