Attachment_1_Invasive_Plant_Motorized_SOW.pdf

Motorized Invasive Plant Treatments Grand Teton National Park

Statement of Work

1.1 Scope of Work: Front Country Cover Spray, Front Country Spot Treatments – Motorized

Item 1 ‐ Front Country Cover Spray: Tasks include the full coverage broadcast spraying of defined areas using ground unit boom sprayer(s), such as those attached to tractor or UTV. Spray equipment, personnel, and support equipment provided must be able to treat a minimum of 150 acres per work day (defined as 12 hours) and are required to apply herbicide at a rate no less than twelve (12) gallons per acre (GPA). Price per acre is cost of application of herbicide (treatment), herbicide used, and collection of electronic data. Survey for noxious weeds prior to treatment is not required. A daily treatment record will be completed for each day work is performed and for each treatment location. The Government estimates awarding a minimum of 400 acres per year.

The Base Year award is planned at approximately 581 acres.

Item 2 ‐ Front Country Spot Treatments‐Motorized: This item includes defined areas where motorized survey and treatment methods are approved for off road vehicles. Survey and treatment is to be conducted on foot or with Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) using handheld spray guns or short duration use of boom sprayers. (NOTE: All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or truck mounted spray systems are not approved for survey or treatment within these areas). Price per acre is cost of survey and application of herbicide (treatment), herbicide used, as well as collection of electronic data. A daily treatment record shall be completed for each day work is performed and for each treatment location. Government estimates awarding a minimum of 300 acres each year.

The Base Year award is estimated at approximately 326 acres.

This is a requirement for the ground‐based survey and application of herbicide to control targeted noxious weeds in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Equipment to be utilized and treatment methods will vary by site.

The Contractor shall furnish all necessary items but not limited to herbicides and adjuvants, materials, equipment, labor, licensing, supervision, transportation, operating supplies and incidentals necessary to safely survey assigned acreage and apply herbicides using ground‐operated equipment, in strict compliance with the herbicide labels. A variety of common herbicides and adjuvants may be used and will be described in the task orders.

Work to be performed by the Contractor includes but not limited to: (a) survey assigned acreages (Sites) for noxious weeds; b) mix and apply specified herbicide(s) to the target weed(s); (c) complete and submit Government provided daily herbicide treatment records; and (d) the collection of electronic data, which includes track logs that capture travel routes while both surveying and applying herbicide. A sample herbicide treatment record is included as an attachment (Attachment 6). The individual task orders will provide further specifics on the daily herbicide treatment records.

Task Orders will be issued by the Government for work ordered under this contract. Task Orders will include site‐specific descriptions and maps for the work to be accomplished, specify herbicides, adjuvants, and rates to be used, as well as provide additional details that will inform the Contractor of access points, water sources, and other details.

This work is ‘performance‐based’ with multiple contract awards (IDIQ, Base Year and Three Option Years). ‘Performance‐based’ means the Contractor is responsible for an end product/result. If an end product/result is not provided in compliance with the PWS and contract terms and conditions, rework will be required where possible and/or a payment reduction may result (referenced the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), Attachment 3).

1.2 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be for one (1) Base Year of 12 months and three (3) 12‐month option years. The Period of Performance reads as follows:

Base Year Option Year I Option Year II Option Year III

June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024 June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026 June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027

1.3 Schedule: Individual task orders will identify specific start work and completion dates. Start work dates may vary depending on treatment method, as well as site‐specific and/or environmental conditions. Work shall commence in a time period when target plants are actively growing and weather conditions make them susceptible to herbicide effects as per the manufacturers’ recommendations. It is estimated that work will be performed between June 10 and July 15 of each year.

1.4 Place of Performance: Project areas that are included under this contract are all National Park

Service lands within Grand Teton National Park and/or the John D Rockefeller Memorial Parkway.

Task orders will include maps and descriptions of project areas.

1.5 Hours of Operation: Work is be conducted during daylight hours, Monday through Friday. Work during weekends, holidays, or outside of daylight hours must be approved in advance by the Contracting Officer.

1.6 The following table contains the range of estimated acres to be treated; it is not a guarantee of minimum or maximum numbers of acres to be awarded.

NOTE: Specific information for Front Country Cover Spray, Front Country Spot, and Front Country Roadside Spot Treatments – Motorized will be provided with the individual Task Orders.

Estimated Acres by Treatment Type, Base & All Option Years

Treatment Type Applicable Contract

Period

Estimated Minimum Acres Per

Period

Estimated Maximum Acres Per

Period Front Country Cover Spray Base & Each Option Year 400 800 Front Country Spot Treatments ‐ Motorized Base & Each Option Year 300 800

1.7

1.8

2.0

2.1

2.3

2.4

2.5

INFORMATION RELATED TO ALL INVASIVE PLANT TREATMENT TYPES:

All weed treatment and pesticide application shall be in strict conformance with the product manufacturer’s recommendations and product labeling, in addition to complying with all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.

The Contractor shall conduct surveys to include the entirety of the defined site(s) and treat the invasive vegetation found within, unless otherwise described. In any particular project area, to exact location and the precise number of acres of any given noxious weed infestation will be unknown. The number of acres to be surveyed and/or treated, as well as the project areas, may vary from year to year; estimated acreage and project areas will be outlined in the individual Task Orders.

MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNTS

During the period specified in FAR 52.216‐18 – Ordering (OCT 1995), the Government shall place orders totaling a minimum of $2,500.00 for the work specified (Front Country Cover Spray and Front Country Spot Treatments – Motorized) , but not in excess of $249,000.00, collectively, over the life of the contract (Base and three Option Years).

DESCRIPTION OF SURVEY AND TREATMENT (PROJECT) AREAS

General: Survey and treatment sites may include, but are not limited to, front country areas such as restoration sites, grass or sagebrush dominated rangeland, disturbed construction sites. Access to project sites will generally be straightforward. Treatment methods may include motorized or non‐ motorized depending on site, which may include backpack, UTV boom and handgun, large‐scale boom, truck hose and handgun, or animal stock, and will be determined on a site‐specific basis.

Terrain: Terrain will vary from gentle to steep and may change within a project site; however most project sites will contain gentle to low/moderate slopes. Treatment locations may contain fences, irrigation ditches, or other features or obstructions that will require situational awareness and attentiveness to hazards in order to safely and efficiently conduct work.

Weed Densities (Estimate): Invasive vegetation densities vary across potential project sites.

Estimates indicate most sites will be in a 1‐10% range, with isolated patches approaching 20% or greater. These are estimates provided in an attempt to provide useful information to the Contractor. The Government will not be responsible for on the ground weed densities that vary from these numbers.

Project Site Access: Front country treatment sites will generally have road access to project locations and/or project staging areas. Roads may be paved or unpaved and may require 4‐wheel drive to access. Detailed maps will be provided with the task order showing site location, access roads, and staging areas.

Further details on treatment site(s) and methods, weed densities, access, and/or target weed species are described below, and/or will be described in task orders.

3.0 PAY ITEMS

All weed treatment and pesticide application shall be in strict conformance with the product manufacturer’s recommendations and product labeling, in addition to complying with all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.

The Contractor shall conduct surveys to include the entirety of the defined site(s) and treat the invasive vegetation found within, unless otherwise described. In any given project area the exact location and the exact acres of any given noxious weed infestation is unknown. Acreage to be surveyed and/or treated may vary from year to year; estimated acreage will be stated at the time of the task order.

4.0 REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS

4.1 Contractor Representative: The Contractor shall provide a contract representative for the performance of work. The name of this person and an alternate(s) who can act for the Contractor when the Contractor is absent shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer.

4.2 Site Manager: If the Contractor is to be absent from the jobsite at any time, a Site Manager shall be designated in advance who will directly supervise subordinate employees and oversee operations in the Contractors absence. Site Manager must have Wyoming Commercial Pesticide Applicators license and must have two (2) years of experience in noxious weed management and personnel supervision. Site Manager may also be the Contractor Representative. The name of this person shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer.

4.2 Certification and Personnel Requirements: The Contractor and employees shall be experienced in noxious weed and invasive weed management, plant identification, and herbicide application.

Regardless of area, the Contractor and employees shall be proficient in identifying target and non‐ target species in all stages of development. The Contractor performing herbicide mixing or application operations under this contract must hold a current Wyoming Commercial Pesticide Applicators License. Personnel employed by the Contractor must be briefed and trained in application and safety techniques. The Contractor shall provide a list of all employees with a copy of their certifications prior to issuance of the Notice to Proceed (NTP) with each task order.

Personnel employed by the Contractor must be under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator at all times on the Park. Personnel should have experience in GPS capability including point and line recording.

4.3 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND RELATED PROVISIONS

4.3.1 General: The Government is not responsible for the safety of the Contractor nor any operators or assistants. The Contractor shall provide and maintain work procedures which will safeguard the public and Government personnel, as well as the Contractor’s own personnel. The Contractor shall be expected to use reasonable safety procedures and equipment while operating on National Park lands.

The Contractor and all application personnel are required to review, understand, and follow the herbicide label recommendations, requirements, precautions, and prohibitions. The Contractor shall carry and have within easy access during all spraying operations, a label and MSDS for the herbicides being used.

The Contractor will keep spray rigs and equipment appearing neat, professional and organized. Dye stains on the rigs, tanks, and employee clothing will be kept to a minimum by regular cleaning. It is important to project a professional image and to demonstrate that the herbicide applications are performed carefully, professionally and without spillage.

4.3.2 Animal Presence: Domestic animals (cattle, horses) as well as wildlife (bison, elk, antelope, bear, birds, etc.) may be present at project sites. The Contractor and employees are expected to conduct themselves appropriately in situations where animals are present. See Wildlife Regulations, Attachment 4. The Government reserves the right to alter or relocate treatment operations if wildlife conflicts occur or are expected to occur.

4.3.3 Roadside Treatment Safety and Traffic Control: The Contractor will understand that its employees may be working alongside, near, and in some cases on the road. Proper safety protocols will be the responsibility of the contractor. Follow all pertinent safety standards for work zone safety and traffic control safety. During all operations the contractor will be required to wear safety clothing or vests and provide bright orange traffic signs and cones per MUTCD (Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices) standards. Both should be placed so that oncoming traffic has plenty of warning that work is being conducted ahead.

Contractor shall provide details on how compliance with MUTCD standard will be met.

Contractors shall ensure all employees are be trained and that a competent person is onsite. An OSHA "competent person" is defined as "one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them".

If working along the roadside, contractor shall call GRTE Dispatch at 307‐739‐3301 to indicate work areas of the day.

4.3.4 Weather: The Contractor is required to be aware of and regularly monitor weather conditions. Spraying shall not occur while it is raining or snowing. The Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to avoid spraying if it appears that precipitation sufficient to wash herbicide(s) off target species or into open water may occur within the label specified rain fast period of herbicides used. The Contractor is responsible for knowing these time periods and is responsible for retreatment of weeds that were initially treated within the applicable time period.

4.3.5 Triple Rinsing: The Contractor shall ensure that containers or tanks used for herbicide application are not washed within 150 feet of open water: springs, ditches, streams, ponds, or lakes. The Contractor will follow all State, Federal and label regulations involving rinsing and washing procedures.

4.3.6 Chemical Transport: A tight fitting and secure lid is mandatory on all spray tanks and herbicide containers. Transport concentrate containers only in a manner that will prevent spills. Transport herbicides and additives in a compartment that is isolated from food, clothing and safety equipment. The Contractor will inspect equipment daily for leaks and suspend operations until all leaks are repaired.

4.3.7 Chemical Spill: All spray operations and herbicide transport vehicles will have standard adequate spill containment and cleanup materials and equipment. Contractors and their employees will be trained in responding to and dealing with any spills of herbicide. Should a significant spill of concentrated herbicide occur, the Contractor will immediately follow standard and label stated procedures. The Contractor will then attempt to contact the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer (CO). If neither can be reached, then Teton Interagency Dispatch (307‐739‐3301), who will attempt to reach the COR or CO.

4.4 Scouting of Noxious Weeds in the Project Area: The Contractor is required to cover all of the project area as described in a Task Order to find the weed infestations. In any given project area the exact location and the exact acres of any given noxious weed infestation is unknown. The Government will give the Contractor an estimated amount of acres at the time of the Task Order.

4.5 Herbicide Treatment Standards: The Contractor will treat all targeted weeds with the appropriate herbicide at prescribed rate. The Government will identify which herbicide(s) to use, and at what rate, for each treatment area within task order. At a minimum, 90% of the weeds treated (for each species) and acreage claimed will show mortality or physical signs of herbicide treatment such as wilting, curling or discoloration. Contract inspections will allow sufficient time for target plants to exhibit herbicide effects. Intermittent and spot spraying will occur where target species densities are discontinuous and light to moderate. Broadcast application is appropriate for dense continuous stands of targeted weeds or where specified on a Task Order. Otherwise, avoid broadcast herbicide application where target species occur only sporadically in a dominant cover of non‐target plants. A water‐based dye or other approved color marking system will be used when determined appropriate. Treatments may require changing herbicides to meet the requirements and restrictions of the product labels and to minimize damage to non‐target vegetation. The Government will determine herbicides or tank mixes for each area.

4.6 Electronic Data Collection: Electronic data collection is defined as the collection of spatial and tabular data of the work being performed using GPS hardware and software. The Contractor is required to provide the electronic data to the Government. The Contractor shall utilize a GPS unit capable of recording tracks and points, which must be collected using the coordinate system of NAD 83. Track logs must be recorded for every employee performing survey and treatment. Point data to be recorded, if required, will be specified in the appropriate task order. The final submitted product will contain track logs, or point data if specified, for the for the entire area in which inventory and treatment was conducted, as defined in the task order, with date collected for every employee working on site. The Contractor will submit electronic data within fourteen (14) days of completing on‐site treatment.

4.7 Monitoring and Record Keeping Requirements for Treatments: Federal and State laws require record keeping for all applications of pesticides on Park Service lands. The Contractor shall provide complete, accurate, and detailed daily records throughout the duration of the contract and provide the Government with legible, readable copies of such records on Government provided forms (see Daily Treatment Records in attachments). The Contractor will submit completed, hard copy treatment records within fourteen (14) days of completing on‐site treatment.

4.8 Weed Free Equipment: The Contractor is required to furnish weed‐free equipment. The Contractor shall mobilize all vehicles, trailers, and equipment to the job site in a condition that is free of mud, dirt, and plant material. Pressure washing (or similar cleaning method) of equipment, prior to transport, will be necessary in order to comply with this requirement.

Livestock will be free of burrs/seedpods on animal or tack, will have been on weed free forage for two weeks prior to work, and only weed free feed will be used if feed is brought in with livestock.

Stock trailers will meet the same requirements as listed above, will be free of any outside material and will not be cleaned out on Park Service lands.

Prior to beginning work or transporting equipment to project site, the Contractor shall make equipment available for a Government inspection at an agreed upon location and shall obtain verbal approval to proceed from the CO or the COR. Equipment that is determined to be in non‐ compliance after inspection will be re‐cleaned, re‐inspected, and approved or rejected, at no cost to the Government, prior to use. All subsequent move‐ins shall be treated the same as the initial move‐in.

4.9 Equipment Maintenance: The Contractor shall be solely responsible for repair and maintenance of all equipment used in performance of the work, including the costs of repair parts. Furthermore, any delay caused by equipment malfunction or break down shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

4.10 Contractor Stock: The Contractor bears sole responsibility for health, illness, and injury of livestock, and under no circumstance will the Contractor be reimbursed by the Government for injury, illness, or death of any livestock. In the event of death of any Contractor stock, such deceased stock shall be removed from within Grand Teton National Park at the sole expense of the Contractor. If impracticable to remove a dead animal from a remote backcountry area, the use of explosives may be approved on a case‐by‐case basis to reduce the large carnivore activity that would otherwise be caused by the carcass.

Prior to mobilizing any stock to Grand Teton National Park, the Contractor shall provide to the CO written evidence of current five way equine vaccinations for all stock to be used, as well as negative Coggins results.

4.11 Availability of Water: Water for mixing herbicide is available at no cost to the Contractor at two locations: 1) Headquarters Campus, Moose, WY; 2) Moran Junction Administrative Site, Moran WY). Both locations are several miles from potential project sites and are accessible by paved roads. Water sources include municipal sources such as fire hydrant or 1.5” valve. The Contractor is responsible for providing necessary fittings and hose and must provide and use an approved back flow prevention device, or utilize an air gap of twice (2x) the diameter of the fitting being used.

Contractor is responsible for transportation of water to jobsite. Water sources in backcountry, non‐ motorized treatment areas will be limited, however municipal sources as listed above will be available.

5.0 GOVERNMENT PROVIDED PROPERTY

5.1 Livestock Pasture: The Government may make available pasture at Mormon Row for the use of Contractor livestock utilized for survey and treatment of task order projects. Up to four (4) animals per applicator shall be allowed to remain in the pasture. Animals may remain during nights, weekends, and holidays during the performance period; however, monitoring of the pasture, fence, water, and welfare of such animals is the sole responsibility of the Contractor. While adequate forage is generally available, it shall be the sole responsibility of the Contractor to provide any supplemental feed, salt, or mineral for the animals. The Government is in no way responsible for the health or safety of Contractor livestock on Government pasture. Pasture is located near Mormon Row, approximately two miles due east of Moose, WY.

5.2 Water Sources: Two locations are available and are situated several miles from potential project sites, accessible by paved roads.

1) Headquarters Campus, Moose, Wyoming; and/or

2) Moran Junction Administrative Site, Moran, Wyoming

Water sources include municipal sources such as fire hydrant or 1/5” valve. The Contractor is responsible for providing necessary fittings and hose and must provide and use an approved back flow prevention device, or utilize and air gap of twice (2x) the diameter of the fitting being used.

Contractor is responsible for transportation of water to jobsite. Water sources in backcountry, non‐ motorized treatment areas will be limited, however, municipal sources as listed above will be available.

6.0

7.0

Weed List: Weed List: Species to be treated include all those listed on the Grand Teton National Park Invasive Plant Priority List, Teton County Declared Weed List, and Wyoming State Designated Weeds list. The Contractor shall be thoroughly familiar with native and nonnative plant species common to the Intermountain west, as well as those species found on the attached noxious weeds lists.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

7.1. Contractor Quality Control: The Contractor is responsible for management and quality control actions to meet the terms and conditions outlined herein. The role of the Government is quality assurance to ensure contract standards are met.

A Quality Control Plan shall be provided by the Contractor within thirty (30) days of contract award.

The Plan shall demonstrate how the Contractor will monitor and inspect the work performed by the Contractor. Once work for a Task Order has commenced, Quality Control self‐inspections will be conducted by the Contractor daily, and records of such must be submitted to the Government weekly. Records of Quality Control inspections shall be kept and made available to the Government throughout the performance period and for the period after contract completion until final settlement of any claims under this contract.

7.2 Government Inspection and Acceptance: The Government will inspect completed work on each task order by reviewing the self‐inspection records and by verifying information in the field. The COR or designated Inspectors may conduct periodic inspections at discretionary times and locations while work is being carried out by Contractor. If, as a result of these periodic inspections, the COR or Inspector has concerns about the Contractor’s ability to meet defined Quality Standards, these concerns will be communicated to the Contractor.

The Government will conduct a final inspection at the treatment sites at least fourteen (14) days following completion of task order. The final inspection will be used to look for signs of herbicide damage to the plants (wilting, color change, or stunted growth). A determination of acceptance will be based on discoloration and wilt of the plants through ocular easements within the treatment or inventory area. If initial ocular inspection during the final inspection suggests treatment efficacy of less than 90 percent, monitoring plots will be utilized in order to determine whether quality standards have been met. If it is determined the Contractor has failed to meet the minimum 90 percent affected targeted plants, the Contractor shall rework the area. The work for a task order will not be accepted until 90 percent of the targeted species show signs of herbicide damage.

Failure to meet the 90 percent or greater quality standard will result in reduced payment or non‐ acceptance (See Sections 7.3 – 7.5).

Additionally, daily treatment logs and electronic data must be submitted within fourteen (14) days after the completion of the task order and prior to invoicing. These records and data will be reviewed by the Government to determine accuracy and completeness prior to final acceptance.

If monitoring plots are utilized, the location within the treatment area will be at the discretion of the Government. Plots will be a radius of 29.5’, which is equivalent to 1/16 acre. The number of plots to be used will be determined on a case by case. Weed kill count within this plot will be determined by ocular estimation of total percent of live versus dead weeds. These observations will be recorded on a monitoring sheet.

7.3 Government Quality Assurance: The purpose of the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) provides a systematic method to evaluate performance for the contract. The QASP explains what will be monitored, how monitoring will take place, who will conduct the monitoring and how the monitoring will be reported. The Government’s role and responsibility shall be to oversee and coordinate the monitoring activities among the Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer’s Representative and the Inspector(s). The Contractor representative(s) shall at a minimum provide an onsite contract manager (Site Manager), who shall be responsible for all contract requirements

Page 10 of and who fully represents the Contractor on all matters relating to the operation of this contract.

7.4 Ratings: Ratings will be given to the Contractor based upon the quality of work and are defined as the following:

Rating 1 (Fully Acceptable) = Tasks and deliverables meet all contract terms and conditions. The result is a positive performance rating and full payment.

Rating 2 (Requires Rework) = Deficiencies in performance are found during inspections or other contractual obligations are not met. Less than 90% but greater than 80% treatment efficacy ‐ rework at Contractors expense. If Quality Standards are achieved after rework, a positive performance rating and full payment will result. Failure to meet Quality Standards (e.g., less than 90% efficacy, but more than 80%) after second inspection ‐ 20% reduction in payment (reduction will apply to treatment areas on a case by case basis if the Task Order contains multiple treatment areas). Failure to submit treatment records and/or electronic data by specified time, inaccurate treatment records, or less than 90% complete electronic data shall mean 10% reduction in payment for applicable treatment areas.

Rating 3 (Unacceptable) = Unacceptable quality of tasks and deliverables. The services provided are not in compliance with contract terms and conditions and do not meet Quality Standards for rating 1 or 2. Negative performance rating will be assigned and no payment will be made if less than 80% of Quality Standard. Failure to provide any treatment records and/or electronic data for treatment areas within a Task Order shall mean no payment will be made.

The Government will document final performance by either ‘acceptable’ or ‘unacceptable’ performance, as defined below:

Acceptable performance: The Government will document positive performance. Any report may become a part of the supporting documentation for any contract action.

Unacceptable performance: When unacceptable performance occurs (e.g., Rating 3), this will be communicated to the Contractor in writing and acknowledged by the Contractor in writing. The COR will prepare a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) and provide copies to the Contractor and to the CO. The Contractor will clean up the work site and leave the work site.

Note: Any CDR’s may become a part of the supporting documentation for any contract action. The frequency of inspection will be completed as needed throughout the contract.

The Government will inspect as needed throughout the contract. The final inspection will occur at least 14 days after treatment and once treatment records and electronic data (if applicable) has been received.