Attachment_1_-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE – MATHEWS BRAKE NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE

Latitude: 33° 22' 33.599" N Longitude: -90° 15' 43.200" W

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Project Name: Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) – Water Hyacinth Control

Location: Mathews Brake NWR – Leflore County, Sidon, Mississippi

1. SCOPE OF WORK

1.1 General

Conduct application of herbicide via watercraft and/or unmanned aircraft system (UAS; UAS must be Department of Interior approved) on Mathews Brake NWR to control water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes). The period of performance will be split between two treatment periods:

May 1 through June 30, 2026 AND August 15 through September 30, 2026. The project shall be fully completed (initial, retreat, inspection, invoice) by September 30, 2026 (unless an extension is approved). Equipment (i.e., boat/UAS/sprayer/etc.) and personnel will be in condition to render efficient, economical, and continuous service. Failure of the equipment and personnel to perform to the satisfaction of the Contracting Officer/Project Manager/Refuge Manager will be sufficient cause for the termination of the contract by the Government or the requirement by the Government that the equipment and personnel be replaced with equipment and/or personnel of satisfactory performance to meet the target objective of 95% of coverage area to be sufficiently treated per standards set forth in this Statement of Work (SOW).

The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform work as defined in this SOW.

1.2 Location of Work Area

The work area is located at Mathews Brake NWR in LeFlore County, Sidon, Mississippi.

Latitude: 33° 22' 33.599" N / Longitude: -90° 15' 43.200" W. Watercraft and/or UAS will be utilized to apply herbicide over water within the specified work area (map below). The

Contractor shall fully survey treatment area prior to application. The boundary of the treatment area will be identified by the Government and the appropriate map(s), GPS coordinates, and/or shapefiles provided to the Contractor before the mandatory pre-treatment on-site meeting. It is anticipated that the meeting will last no more than 1 hour.

1.3 Description of Work

Treatment of invasive exotic plants and their management have been identified as one of the highest priorities within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Invasive exotic plants threaten native plant communities and native wildlife including threatened and endangered species.

Refuges employ a variety of management techniques to control invasive exotic plants and invasive exotic removal work is performed by refuge staff, independent contractors, volunteers, and volunteer groups.

While work for this project involves the spraying of herbicide via a watercraft and/or UAS to specifically control water hyacinth, it may include the treatment of water hyacinth mixed with American lotus (Nelumbo lutea), Cuban bulrush (Cyperus blepharoleptos) and other aquatic plants. The target date ranges for spraying will take place during two separate periods: May 1 through June 30, 2026 AND August 15 through September 30, 2026. Spraying date(s) will be scheduled with the Project Manager/Refuge Manager in coordination with the Contractor.

The scheduled application dates shall be conducted during normal business hours, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, unless approved by the Project Manager/Refuge Manager in advance. The Contractor will supply the herbicide and surfactant and ensure it is mixed in accordance with the safety data sheet and product label. The Contractor is responsible for following all Environmental Policy Agency and label restrictions. Approximately 433 acres will be sprayed using the herbicide ProcellaCOR SC (2.7 fl.oz/acre) and surfactant Methylated Seed Oil (1 qt/acre). Application rates and number of applications shall be no more than the maximum permitted by label for controlling species to be treated or otherwise specified in the approved U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pesticide Use Proposal System (PUP). Refer to detailed map below that delineates the treatment areas. The Contractor will be paid following each successful treatment of the areas identified by the Government and within the specified spraying date range (May 1-June 30, 2026 and August 15-September 30, 2026).

Plants must be treated in suitable condition (no senescence, after water temperatures rise to a consecutive minimum temperature above 70°F or 21°C promoting new growth, before the first killing frost of the year, etc.) as described in the herbicide label. An extension may be allowed, but is not guaranteed, if weather or water levels delay spraying.

This application will be completed utilizing an appropriate watercraft and/or UAS to apply (spray) herbicide to the treatment areas. The Contractor will abide by all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations and all applicable safety data sheets and product labels. The Contactor will provide the necessary herbicide and surfactant. The Contractor will provide the watercraft and/or UAS and all other materials and equipment, all labor necessary to perform the work and all supplies, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other non-personal services necessary to perform the requirements of this contract order. The Contractor shall plan, schedule, coordinate, and ensure effective performance of required services for the entire duration of contract.

The Contractor will be responsible for mixing the chemicals and preventing spills and will properly rinse and dispose of the chemical containers as well as all other trash that is generated.

The Contractor is responsible for drift and will take all necessary precautions to control drift and prevent spraying non-target areas. The Contractor will supply all necessary drift control agent.

The Contractor will send the Project Manager/Refuge Manager the herbicide application rate, number of applications, and proposed adjuvants as soon as possible after contract award. These must be pre-approved by the Refuge through a PUP and Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation for the product prior to application. Work cannot proceed until a PUP is completed and approved.

2. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY

2.1 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) shall:

a) Hold an on-site briefing with the Contractor which should not last more than 1 hour.

During this briefing the Project Manager/Refuge Manager will discuss logistics and answer any outstanding questions.

b) Provide a point of contact (Project Manager/Refuge Manager or Service representative) to oversee on-site application.

c) Assume no responsibility for the equipment, or injury to employees of the Contractor, nor for any damages or injury to persons or property of third parties at any time during the life of the contract. The Contractor shall hold and save the Service and its officers and agents harmless from all claims arising out of prosecution of the work under this contract.

d) Inspect treatment area (Project Manager/Refuge Manager or Service Representative) within 10-14 days post-treatment to ensure 95% of target area demonstrates satisfactory kill.

e) Approve (Project Manager/Refuge Manager or Service Representative) services for payment upon satisfactory completion of each treatment.

f) Designate and schedule spraying events, with Contractor, that will occur between the two separate spraying periods: May 1 through June 30, 2026 AND August 15 through September 30, 2026.

3. CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 The Contractor shall:

a) Provide the Service’s Contracting Officer Representative with the following at least 48 hours before implementation of the project:

i. Access number, office telephone, and cellular numbers for all supervisors and personnel working on this contract.

ii. Electronic mail addresses for key contract personnel shall be provided to the Refuge.

iii. Vehicle and equipment identification.

b) Procure chemical (ProcellaCOR SC) and surfactant (Methylated Seed Oil) at the rates described in the 1.3 above to cover approximately 433 acres (as identified on map/provided shapefiles).

c) Provide or procure adequate water supply to effectively carryout this contract (Note:

there is not municipal water available on site).

d) Assume sole responsibility of the contract applicators for the movement of chemicals, water, and equipment in and around the treatment locations.

e) Contractor will attend a mandatory on-site briefing prior to or day of treatment, that will last no more than 1 hour, to ensure both the Government and Contractor understand the terms of the agreement and agree on the treatment areas and any other logistical questions.

f) Familiarize themselves with Refuge treatment areas and existing conditions prior to contract execution. All work shall be conducted between Monday and Friday unless approved in advance by the Project Manager/Refuge Manager. No work shall be conducted on federal holidays or weekends without prior approval.

g) Have an on-site supervisor, who is responsible for all contract execution, including herbicide mixing and storage, work assignments and crew supervision. Supervisor must be able to communicate effectively in English.

h) Provide all labor, equipment, transportation, fuel, mixing tanks and storage, to perform the work specified herein. Contractor must have all the required trainings, licenses, and approvals to use herbicides listed in this document.

i) Be responsible for all work performed until the completion and acceptance of the entire contract.

j) Re-treat areas not meeting the 95% coverage requirement within 10-14 days of notification, as determined by the Project Manager/Refuge Manager or their representative.

k) Provide shapefile of treated areas (specific acres) upon completion of each spraying event or no later than 14 days after the spraying event. Shapefile will be provided to Contracting Officer/Project Manager/Refuge Manager.

l) Provide specific volumes of herbicide applied per date at the end of each treatment period to the Project Manager/Refuge Manager.

4. SPECIAL CONDITIONS

4.1 The Contractor’s watercraft and/or UAS must have a GPS unit that will provide a transect map drawing of the area sprayed plus a calculation of the actual acres sprayed. The Contractor will provide that information to the Project Manager/Refuge Manager or the Contracting Officer within 14 days of completion of each spray period.

4.2 Spraying operations may be suspended temporarily due to weather conditions such as high winds, rain, or anticipated rain. The Contractor will not spray when wind conditions are not favorable or when rain is expected. No off-label spraying is approved.

4.3 No bathroom facilities are available at the work site.

5 MOBILIZATION

The Contractor will not be paid mobilization or demobilization. The Contractor may charge up to 1-hour for the pre-treatment meeting.

6 WEATHER

Spraying operations may be suspended temporarily due to weather conditions such as high winds (exceeding 10 MPH), rain, or anticipated rain. The Contractor will not spray when wind conditions are not favorable or when rain is expected.

7 WORK PERIOD

All work will be performed between May 1 through June 30, 2026 AND August 15 through September 30, 2026. Chemical applications will take place Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, unless prior approval from Contracting Officer. No spraying will be conducted on federal holidays or weekends.

8 SUPERVISION

The equipment described herein, for the purpose of ordering work when and as required, determining acceptability of work performed and inspecting equipment furnished by the

Contractor, will be under the supervision of the Contracting Officer’s representative/Project Manager/Refuge Manager.

However, this shall not relieve the Contractor or their responsible agents of any responsibility for the proper execution of the work in accordance with the contract and directives of the Contracting Officer issued thereafter.

9 INSPECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF EQUIPMENT

All equipment to be used in the work shall be inspected and approved by the Contracting Officer and/or an authorized representative/Project Manager/Refuge Manager, prior to its use.

10 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

10.1 The Contractor will be required to make their own provisions for parking of his equipment.

10.2 The Contractor will be required to furnish their own sanitary facilities, water, and operational necessities.

11 EXPENSES OF OPERATION AND REPAIR

The Contractor shall furnish, at their own expense, all skilled operators, labor, fuel, and necessary equipment for transportation of fuel to equipment, including operators, laborers, appliances, appurtenances, equipment, and supplies, and shall bear all expenses incidental to the efficient operation of the plant in connection with the work.

12 OBJECTIONABLE EMPLOYEES

The Contractor will remove from work under this contract any employee who in the opinion of the Contracting Officer is objectionable or incompetent. The requirement shall not be made based on any claim for compensation or damages against the United States or any of its officers or agents.

13 CONTRACTOR SUPERVISION

The Contractor shall provide a person at the work site to receive instructions from the Contracting Officer or his authorized representative. This person will be responsible for implementing the Government’s instructions and will be responsible for the direct supervision of all Contract employees.

Project Manager/Refuge Manager

Dr. Brett M. Moule, Theodore Roosevelt NWR Complex Project Leader Acting Refuge Manager USFWS NWRS (Region 4) 601-431-2063 Brett_Moule@fws.gov

Contract Specialist

TBD

mailto:Brett_Moule@fws.gov

1 Miles

Approved Treatment Private Land

Treatment

Mathews Brake NWR Herbicide Treatment Area

Total Treatment Area = 433 acres

D