Attachment_1_-_2025-2026_Reforestation_Contract_-PWS.pdf

US Fish & Wildlife Service Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge 2025-2026 Proposal for Restoration Project

The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (LSNWR) plans to plant 50 acres of longleaf pine on 8 sites in Dixie County, Florida.

The project is in Compartments 6A and 6B (see-attached maps 1 & 2). The attached maps show general site locations. Sites could be larger or smaller and less in number than the map depicts depending on site preparation. However total acres and trees planted will remain the same. An updated map will be supplied to the contractor before planting.

This Restoration Project is a site conversion from slash pine to longleaf.

60,000 containerized longleaf will be planted at the density designated below.

Sites 1 - 8 within Compartment 6A and 6B Longleaf Pine (6’x 6’) spacing ~ 1200 trees/acre 50 acres @ 1200 trees/acre ~ 60,000 trees

Trees will be purchased and delivered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) from Meeks’ Farm & Nursery Inc., 187 Flanders Rd., Kite, GA 31049.

Planting Method: Trees will be planted with the land’s natural contour in the spacing as recommended above with a hand planting crew supplied by the Tree Planting Contractor between December 8, 2025, and completed by February 6, 2026, as weather permits.

Planting areas may have been chemically treated for site preparation; however, hand planting may be complicated by natural vegetation. Some of the areas may have been controlled burned within the past year. Other areas may have low ground cover such as grasses with isolated areas of palmetto and some of the areas may be mowed or harrowed.

Special Conditions

1. It is recommended, but not required, that all Contractors examine the site for operability limitations and verify acres. Bidders are to be fully informed of conditions and materials to be encountered (i.e., location of the site, quality, and quantity of work to be performed, materials to be furnished, the nature of the ground and surface, location of buried utilities, any conditions surrounding and affecting the work, obstructions, the nature of any existing construction, and all other physical characteristics of the job.)

2. The contractor and/or their employees shall do all in their power to prevent and suppress forest fires; they shall pay the United States Government for any unnecessary damage resulting from the operation herein permitted; and shall repair all damages to roads, fences, gates, ditches, trails, telephone, and power lines resulting from the operation conducted hereunder except where otherwise provided for.

3. A pre-entry conference with the contractor and tree planters will be held prior to any work in the planting unit.

4. The Contractor shall provide Refuge Forester a 5-day notice prior to the date they anticipate commencement of planting to allow the Forester sufficient time to coordinate with the nursery.

5. The contractor will have access to only those lands described in the planting area and shall conduct planting operations during daylight hours only Monday through Friday. The Refuge Manager must approve operations conducted on Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal Holiday.

6. The contractor (or their representatives) will not litter. Littering violations will be handled under Federal Code of Regulations 50CFR27.94(a) and carries a fine of $125.00 per incident upon conviction.

7. All Refuge regulations apply unless superseded by these special conditions.

8. The Contractor will comply with the State of Florida Silviculture Best Management Practices as stated under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Silviculture BMPs publication Silviculture Best Management Practices Manual. This publication can be found on the internet at (Silviculture Best Management Practices / Forest & Wildfire / Home - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (fdacs.gov)).

9. The contractor shall notify the Refuge Forester of any oil or hazardous material spill as soon as possible. The contractor is responsible for cleanup and removal of any spilled oil or hazardous material.

10. Contractor shall submit an invoice upon completion of the work. Payments will be provided upon approval of invoices by the Refuge Manager.

11. The contractor shall provide all labor and equipment necessary for successful completion the project.

12. The contractor shall comply with all LSNWR rules and regulations. Note that the LSNWR land is open to public use and hunting. Contractor personnel shall wear state approved hunter safety orange if working during refuge hunting season.

Performance Requirements

1. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide and deliver to drop points, containerized longleaf pine seedlings from the nursery.

2. Contractor is responsible for meeting and unloading seedling delivery truck at drop points.

3. The contractor is responsible for transporting the containerized longleaf pine seedlings from drop points to all sites as shown on map.

4. The Contractor will hand plant 60,000 stems of containerized longleaf pine seedlings on 50 acres.

5. The planting density for the containerized longleaf pine and wiregrass will be ~1200 trees/stems per acre on an approximate 6’ by 6’ spacing.

https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Silviculture-Best-Management-Practices https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Silviculture-Best-Management-Practices

6. Trees will be planted with the land’s natural contour in the spacing as described with a hand planting crew supplied by the Tree Planting Contractor between December 8, 2025, and completed by February 6, 2026, as weather permits.

7. Seedlings shall be planted at the proper depth and spacing. The Refuge will use planting specifications from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service publication Tree Planting: Success or Failure Depends on You. This publication can be found on the internet at https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/For- Landowners/Programs-for-Landowners/Tree-Seedlings-for-Sale/Seedling-Care

8. The Refuge Forester shall monitor the planting operation with onsite inspections and audit planted areas.

9. The Refuge Forester shall select the area to begin work and shall determine the planting sequence of the sites.

10. The Refuge Forester shall approve the planting pattern. The planting pattern design must mimic a natural stand of pine; planting straight-line rows is unacceptable.

11. The planting foreman shall monitor planting density, ensure seedlings are correctly planted and make every effort to protect seedlings from sun, wind, and adverse temperature.

12. The contractor is required to cover seedling bundles with reflective tarps or covered trailer and place seedlings in shade where shade is present. Unused seedlings will be placed in a cool storage area at end of each planting day.

13. Containerized seedlings shall be handled in a manner as not to break soil away from the root mass.

14. The Refuge Forester has the authority to have any sites replanted at vendor’s expense due to improper planting or contractor’s personnel mishandled seedlings.

15. The Refuge Forester has the authority to stop the planting operation anytime if unfavorable weather conditions prevail.

16. Contractor shall be responsible for cleanup of seedling bundles, boxes, containers, and wrapping materials. The contractor shall properly dispose, after planting, all seedling bundles, boxes, containers, and wrapping materials.

17. Contractor shall be responsible for any damage done by crew to gates, fences, roadways, or other improvements.

Contact Information

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge Forester Daniel Barrand Cell: 352-210-5355 Office: 352-493-0238 Ext 233 Email: daniel_barrand@fws.gov Address: 16450 NW 31st Place Chiefland, Fl. 32626 https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/For-Landowners/Programs-for-Landowners/Tree-Seedlings-for-Sale/Seedling-Care https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/For-Landowners/Programs-for-Landowners/Tree-Seedlings-for-Sale/Seedling-Care mailto:daniel_barrand@fws.gov

Project Area

Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys NWR

Longleaf Planting Sites

Map 1 2025-2026

LSNWR

Habitat Restoration Project

National Wildlife Refuge Lower Suwannee

40,000 Feet

Map Creator: Daniel L. Barrand U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

16450 NW 31st Place Chiefland, Florida 32626

Phone: 352-493-0238 Fax: 352-493-1935

Esri, HERE, Garmin, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community, Esri, HERE, Garmin, NGA, USGS, NPS

Lower Suwannee 5,000

Feet

To C ro ss

C ity

C R

Willie Locker Mainline

Fishbone Creek Rd.

D ixie M ainline

Map Creator: Daniel L. Barrand U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

16450 NW 31st Place Chiefland, Florida 32626

Phone: 352-493-0238 Fax: 352-493-1935

2025-2026 Restoration Project

Sites: 1 - 8 50 Acres Map 2

Longleaf Planting Sites

Lower Suwannee NWR

National Wildlife Refuge