Attachment_1-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex 694 Beech Hill Lane

Hardeeville, SC 29927

Scope of Work and Performance Work Statement

Hazard Fuel Reduction and Invasive Species Control Project (2025)

Primary POC: Shaw Davis, Deputy Project Leader shaw_davis@fws.gov

843-784-9911 (office) 912-312-5227 (mobile)

Alternate POC: Wayne Harris, Wildlife Biologist billy_harris@fws.gov 912-660-0779 (mobile)

Chuck Hayes, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist chuck_hayes@fws.gov 912-210-7366 (mobile)

Project Summary

The project is located on Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) (Beaufort County, SC) (Map 1). A total of 645 acres will be treated with herbicide for fuel reduction, invasive species control, and habitat improvement (Map 2). The treatment will focus on root and stump sprouts, remaining mature trees in wetland borders, and regeneration of invasive trees.

Completion of this project will result in everlasting improvements in hazard fuel reduction, invasive species control, and habitat management.

Scope of Work

Overview:

This treatment is needed to reduce root sprouts, stump sprouts, mature trees, and other regeneration of invasive trees following completion of mechanical fuel reduction. The objective of this treatment is to control at least 99% of all Chinese tallow stems and at least 75% of all sweetgum root and stump sprouts. Meeting this objective will promote an understory dominated by at least 75% coverage of native warm-season grasses and improve the efficacy of prescribed burns that minimize catastrophic wildfire hazard.

Once completed, the resulting native forest communities should be suitable for future under-planting of longleaf pine and frequent, low intensity prescribed fires. This schedule should maintain biological diversity and resiliency into perpetuity.

Stand specific treatment (2025)

Herbicide applications will be completed on suitable sites located throughout the treatment area.

All Chinese tallow stems within the project area are to be treated. Root and stump sprouts, saplings, and other low growing regeneration will be treated using ground crews employing backpack sprayers. Herbicides with the active ingredients imazamox will be used on all foliar treated Chinese tallow and applied at the maximum rate allowed by label. Mature Chinese tallow and other stems that are beyond foliar spraying will be treated by backpack crews using hack-n-squirt application of herbicide with the active ingredient triclopyr and applied at the maximum rate allowed by label. Sweetgum root and stump sprouts will be treated using ground crews with backpack sprayers. Herbicides with the active ingredient triclopyr will be applied at the maximum rate allowed by label. Other invasive species that may be encountered, such as Chinaberry, white mulberry, and non-native privets, should be treated using hack-n-squirt application of herbicide with the active ingredient triclopyr and applied at the maximum rate allowed by label.

Use of soil active herbicides, such as those with active ingredient imazapyr, are strictly prohibited.

Herbicides with triclopyr and imazamox as active ingredients are approved for use.

All Chinese tallow tree, including root sprouts, stump sprouts, and any residual trees in and around wetland areas, will be herbicide treated.

Contractor is responsible for transport of all equipment, herbicides, adjuvants, and water to and from the project site.

Contractor will ensure that all applicators have labeled Personal Protective Equipment.

Refuge Biologists will provide a shapefile defining the boundaries of the project.

Herbicide applicators will ensure that all areas, including those in ephemeral wetlands and other areas outside of mechanical treatments areas are treated for Chinese tallow tree.

All contracted personnel will pay close attention to avoid harm to curious Refuge visitors that may wander into the area of operations. Contractor should place orange cones adjacent to daily operation areas along established trails.

Operations will be suspended if weather conditions are such to cause damage to access roads and trails and/or reduce herbicide efficacy.

Refuge Biologists and Refuge Managers have the authority to halt operations anytime for unfavorable weather, damage to non-target vegetation, or non-cooperative operators.

Contractor shall be responsible for repairing any damage done by field crews to gates, fences, access roads, signs, structures, and any other infrastructure.

Refuge Biologists and Refuge Managers shall monitor all operations with frequent, on-site inspections.

No littering will be tolerated and all garbage, including empty herbicide and adjuvant containers, food waste, and other materials must be removed daily.

All operations should follow South Carolina’s Best Management Practices for Forestry as minimum standards for environmental protection (best-management-practices-manual.pdf (scfc.gov)).

All bids should be based on treatment price per acre, as there will be a not to exceed amount of funding for the total project.

Period of Performance:

All ground applied herbicide treatments should be completed during the period of August 15, 2025 through September 30, 2025. This period may be extended due to unforeseen circumstances related to weather and other variables, as approved by the Refuge Managers or Wildlife Biologists and contracting officer.