Attachment 1 - Cattle Egret Habitat Removal_SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK- EGRET ROOKERY HABITAT REMOVAL

NOTE TO OFFERORS: PRICING STRUCTURE

This requirement will be solicited and awarded with a separate Base Item and an Optional Item for each of the three (3) properties. This structure provides the Government with maximum flexibility.

Offerors shall provide separate, distinct pricing for each of the six (6) Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) identified in the solicitation's price schedule. The work for each CLIN is described in the corresponding sections below.

1. General Requirement

Contractors shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, supervision, and other items and services necessary to execute tree removal on three (3) private properties, totaling approximately one (1) acre, in support of the installation's Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Program. In 2025, Cattle egrets established nesting colonies on said properties, frequently traversing the airfield and generating significant strike threats to aviation safety at Sheppard Air Force Base (SAFB).

The project involves one site containing two adjacent properties and the third being ~3.6 miles away. The work shall be performed at three (3) distinct, off-base properties, hereafter referred to as Property A, Property B, and Property C. These locations are detailed in Attachment 1: Site Maps.

The contractor shall remove all unmarked vegetation via cut-stump herbicide treatments. Trees to be saved will be clearly marked for preservation by SAFB officials. Contractor shall also be responsible for the onsite mulching, or off-site legal disposal of all woody debris associated with the project. Additionally, the contractor will be required to remove and replace in-kind, approximately 200 feet of livestock fencing engulfed by trees.

Cattle egrets are migratory birds and will not return to the project sites until Spring of 2026.

Cattle egret nests sites are regulated by State Law under Chapters 64 and 67 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, as well as Federal Law, under Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the United State Fish and Wildlife Services "Empty Nest Policy." These laws and policies prohibit disturbance of active rookeries that contain viable eggs, hatchlings, or dependent young. All locations will be inspected for nesting activity by USDA-Wildlife Services, prior to any work.

To effectively execute this contract, contractor shall complete felling of all trees by 1 April 2026.

A. Tree Removal:

With exception of trees that are selected and marked for preservation, contractors shall cut all woody vegetation to ground level not exceed two (2) inches in height above the soil grade. and be restricted to the following methods of felling:

1) Skid-steer or equivalent machinery fitted with hydraulic tree shear or saw.

2) Chain saws.

B. Herbicide:

Garlon 4 Ultra Herbicide (EPA Reg No. 62719-527) shall be the only herbicide authorized for this project. Herbicide shall be mixed, applied to stumps, and disposed of in a manner consistent with the herbicide label, manufacturer's guidelines, and special requirements specified herein. For quality assurance, contractor shall mix all herbicide with a compatible blue indicator dye.

Immediately following the removal of each tree, contractor shall treat each cut stump with herbicide. Prior to applying herbicide, contractors shall ensure the cut surface, as well as remaining vertical portions of each stump’s circumference, to ground line, is free of soil or debris that could impede herbicide absorption. In event of a stump being cut or covered below soil surface, contractors shall be required to expose the stump and properly apply herbicide.

Contractor shall thoroughly wet the entire cut surface with herbicide, being certain to treat the cambium and outer edges of stump. In addition to treating cut surfaces, contractor shall treat all vertical portions of the remaining stump, from origin of cut to soil surface, to the point of being wet, but not running off.

Exact quantities of the approved herbicide used per day must be recorded and submitted to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) at the end of the project for tracking purposes.

Contractors shall not store or dispose of unused herbicide at the worksite. Contractor shall be responsible for proper storage and/or disposal of any unused herbicide.

C. Disposal of Woody Debris:

All trunks, limbs, and branches within the project area shall be mulched on-site by the contractor.

Mulch shall either be evenly dispersed throughout the project area or transferred off-site for legal disposal. The method chosen will be submitted in writing for approval from the project manager before disposal.

D. Fence Removal and Replacement:

Demolition and Disposal: The Contractor shall completely remove all existing fence fabric, T-posts, and associated materials from the designated fenceline. All removed materials shall be legally disposed of off-site at the Contractor's expense.

Fenceline Clearing: The Contractor shall clear the fenceline path to allow for correct installation of the new fence. Any trees, limbs, or woody vegetation that have grown into the existing fence or otherwise obstruct the new fenceline shall be removed using the cut-stump herbicide method as specified in Section B.

New Fence Installation: Upon clearing the fence line, the Contractor shall furnish and professionally install a new fence according to the following minimum specifications.

Component Specification Field Fence 39-inch tall, 9-gauge galvanized steel field fence with a graduated mesh (6x3" at bottom to 6x7" at top).

Barbed Wire

A single strand of 12.5-gauge, 2-point galvanized barbed wire.

E. Quality Control and Payment:

SAFB will assign oversight personnel to this project for quality control and acceptance of work.

It is paramount that cut stumps be immediately treated with herbicide. Contractors will be required to stop all work in event of cut stumps not being promptly treated with herbicide. Acceptance of work and payment to the contractor will be contingent upon the following discrepancies being corrected:

a. Failure to remove all trees identified for removal

b. Failure to properly treat cut stumps with herbicide

c. Failure to dispose of all woody debris in accordance with Section C.

d. Failure to repair ruts or property damages inflicted by contractor*

e. Failure to professionally install new t-posts and in-kind fencing material.

* A joint pre-work site inspection with photo/video documentation shall be performed to establish a baseline condition.

Upon completion of work at each site, the Contractor shall ensure the worksites are left in a clean and orderly condition, free of all contractor-generated trash, material packaging, and fluid spills.

All work shall be subject to inspection and approval by the designated Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). The COR will conduct a final inspection of each property to ensure compliance with the requirements outlined for that specific location before formal acceptance is granted.

F. Safety

The Contractor shall be solely responsible for conforming to all applicable local, state, and federal safety regulations for all three worksites.

Aerial View of Worksites

Figure 1 Location

Figure 2 Property A & B

Figure 3 Property C