Attachment 1 - Project Specifications.docx

SECTION C—DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

DIVISION 100 – GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110 – Scope of Contract

The intent of this solicitation and any resulting contract is to conduct stem injection herbicide treatment (“Cut and Frill Herbicide”, “Hack and Squirt” or “Frill and Spray”) on 295 acres within the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). Treatments will be conducted using protocols established by the U.S. Forest Service.

Only one type of treatment will be performed under this Hack and Squirt contract:

1. Site Preparation through hack and squirt.

a. It is the intent of this treatment to make incisions and treat with herbicide understory/midstory undesirable shade tolerant species to remove shade and prepare the site for regeneration. Species to treat may include: striped maple, American beech, black birch, pin cherry, sugar maple, red maple, black gum, American hornbeam and American hop hornbeam from 1.0 Inch DBH (diameter at breast height = 4.5’) and up. (See Contract Workplan table for site specific instructions)

**Non Native Invasive Species (NNIS): All NNIS greater than 1.0 inch DBH encountered inside the contract area boundaries of both treatments shall be treated. NNIS species include:

Tree of Heaven, Common buckthorn, and Glossy buckthorn. (If Glossy buckthorn is encountered in an area, flag the stem/stems and notify the COR.)

The primary treatment consists of making cuts with a hatchet or axe and subsequently applying herbicide to the frill cuts using contractor furnished equipment. The herbicide solution will consist of a 50/50 mix of Roundup Custom® (glyphosate) and water with an EPA approved blue dye. The solution will contain 26.9% glyphosate.

The objective of this contract is to introduce herbicide into the target stem using spaced cuts made at an appropriate height below the last live branch, around the trunk of the stem. Using a hatchet or similar device, frill cuts, or downward-angled incisions, are made evenly spaced around the stem, one per inch of diameter (two cuts minimum).

Frill cuts are approximately 2 inches long and spaced 1 to 2 inches apart. The cuts must penetrate through the bark into the living tissue or sapwood (the outer area of lighter-colored wood in the stem cross-section) and produce a cupping effect to hold the herbicide. Each cut is filled with herbicide using a spray bottle or gunjet herbicide gun attached to a backpack sprayer. Do not overfill to avoid run off. Herbicide that runs out is wasted and might impact nontarget plants. The herbicide solution is often mixed with colorants or dyes, thus allowing the applicator to see treated stems from a distance. (Penn State Extension -Using Hack-and-Squirt Herbicide Applications to Control Unwanted Trees (psu.edu) )

See the attached Contract Workplan Table for unit specific instructions.

120 – Location and Access

121 – The areas to be treated are located on the Bradford and Marienville Ranger Districts of the Allegheny National Forest. Project areas may be reached by Forest Roads that are accessible by standard pickup. The Contractor shall be responsible for any damage caused by their operations.

Some project areas are located behind locked gates and will require signing out a key.

A key can be signed out with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

122 – The general location of and access to each unit will be shown on project area vicinity maps which will be attached to the contract as a georeferenced pdf. Detailed unit specific maps will be made available to the successful bidder at the pre-work meeting.

130- Identification of Project

Unit boundaries are marked by existing Orange ribbon/flagging and/or painted Orange 3-stripes, unless otherwise noted by the COR.

Units will be identified by Orange cards with Project name “2025 HACK AND SQUIRT” & six digit Unit # identified, see example below. All cards will be read, ensured they are at the correct location and initialed by the Contractor or Contractor’s Representative prior to starting work in the unit. This is to ensure that contractor is at correct unit.

Example of project identification card in which contractors must sign to acknowledge they are at correct unit prior to start of project work:

140 – Contractor Furnished Property, Services, Responsibilities and Obligations

141 – Expertise - The contractor needs to have ability and experience to operate the tools for treating stems. They must also possess the ability to identify common Northwestern Pennsylvania tree species (specifically American beech, black birch, yellow birch, striped maple, sugar maple, red maple, black gum and oak species).

142 – Certification – The contractor shall have a representative on the site to supervise the mixing, loading, and application of herbicide who holds a current pesticide use applicator license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for forest pest control (Category 05 in PA).

143 – Project Supervisor – The Contractor shall designate in writing one person on the job to act as the Project Supervisor, representing the company in all contractual matters that require prompt attention. This person should be familiar with all equipment being used and shall attend any pre-work meetings.

This person shall coordinate between the Government and the Contractor including, but not limited to, logistics, equipment use, and weekly plans and schedules. The project supervisor shall notify the COR early in the day (by 8 AM) where he/she plans to work that day, or when he/she does not plan to work.

144- Contractor Supplied Hypohatchets, Hatchets and Spray bottles – As specified in contractor’s proposal.

145 – Flagging – If flagging is used by the contractor, they shall use only biodegradable or photodegradable flagging.

150 – Forest Service Furnished Property, Services, Responsibilities and Obligations

151 – PROVIDED by the Forest Service

1. Treatment Area Maps: Maps depicting location of treatment sites (See Attached Vicinity Maps). Unit specific maps will be provided to the successful bidder.

2. Project Workplan Table, which will provide detailed unit specific information.

3. Treatment Site Reporting Form: Form to be completed by contractor for each day of treatment which includes site conditions and treatment information (Attached)

4. Herbicide Treatment Notification Signs (Provided by the COR at the prework meeting.)

5. FS Contractor Tag for Vehicle

6. FS Gate Key

152– REQUIRED by the Forest Service

1. Completed Treatment Site Reporting Forms (Attached). A contractor signed copy shall be provided to the COR for each day of treatment within 10 calendar days of the completed treatment site.

2. Contractor shall provide the entire herbicide label and/or a copy of the label from the herbicide containers used. (Label information of interest includes the EPA registration number and EPA Establishment number (factory where it was produced).

160 – Notification

The Contractor is required to keep the Contracting Officer currently informed of their work schedule and physical location of their work force to permit ready location and timely inspection of accomplished work. The Contractor shall also notify the Contracting Officer at least monthly of the progress being attained on this project. This notification can be either oral or written.

170 – Safety

It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the work environment is safe for themselves as well as their employees. If the contractor feels that a requirement of this contract would place them, or their employees, in an unsafe environment, operations should cease and the contractor should contact the COR immediately. Work on other areas of the contract that the contractor does not view as unsafe shall continue.

The contractor is required to follow all applicable OSHA standards (CFR 29) while working on the job site. In addition, the successful contractor and employees are required to wear and use the following personal protective safety equipment/clothing to include a hardhat, eye protection and hand protection while working the project area.The contractor must keep the Government representative informed regarding current site work, and must be especially alert to vehicular traffic during field operations.

DIVISION 200 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

DIVISION 201 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SITE PREPARATION

201.1 – Vegetation

It is the intent of this treatment to make incisions and treat with herbicide understory/midstory undesirable shade tolerant species to remove shade and prepare the site for regeneration. Species to treat may include: Striped maple, American beech, black birch, pin (fire) cherry, sugar maple, red maple, black gum, American hornbeam and American hop hornbeam from 1.0 Inch DBH (diameter at breast height = 4.5’) and up.

In special circumstances, the COR may deviate from the list above. This will be specified in the Workplan Table.

201.1.1- Vegetation to be Retained:

The following desirable species are to be protected: Red oak, white oak and other oak, yellow poplar, cucumber tree, white ash, red maple, sugar maple, black cherry, basswood, all hickory species, butternut, American chestnut, black walnut, red pine, white pine, and hemlock. Care shall be taken to not damage or cut Desirable Species.

In special circumstances, the COR may deviate from the list above. This will be specified in the Workplan Table.

Boundary trees are not to be treated unless specified by the COR. Project area boundary trees are flagged with orange flagging.

201.1.2- Vegetation to be treated: (Not Marked – see Work Plan Table)

1) Beech: All live beech from 1.0 to 12.0 inches in diameter at a point 4.5 feet (breast height -dbh) above the ground shall be treated with 50% glyphosate solution.

2) Birch: All live black birch from 1.0 to 12.0 inches in diameter at a point 4.5 feet (breast height - dbh) above the ground shall be treated with a 50% glyphosate solution.

3) Striped Maple, Pin (Fire) Cherry, American hornbeam and American hophornbeam: All of these species 1.0” BDH and above shall be treated with a 50% glyphosate solution.

4) Red Maple and Sugar Maple: All live red maple and sugar maple from 3.0 to 10.0 inches in diameter at a point 4.5 feet (breast height - dbh) above the ground shall be treated with a 50% glyhosate solution.

The above listed species and diameters are a guide. Reference the Workplan Table for unit specific species and diameter instructions.

201.1.3- Vegetation to be treated: (Marked – see Work Plan Table):

1) All tree’s designated with flourescent orange paint shall be treated with a 50% glyphosate solution.

201.2 – Herbicide Application

201.2.1 – Herbicide Selection:

The contractor shall furnish the required quantities of glyphosate herbicide (Roundup Custom® is the mandatory brand to be used). The Rodeo® will be mixed to a 50% solution with water and water soluble dye. This mix will result in an herbicide solution containing 26.9% active ingredient Glyphosate.

The herbicide carrier shall use water obtained from approved domestic water systems or other approved fresh water sources. Any water supply must be approved by the Forest Service, have no visible suspended sediments, and water hardness not to exceed 60 mg. per liter.

Additives other than a water-soluble dye or approved surfactants (Aquachem 90) may not be used.

201.2.2 – Herbicide Application:

Glyphosate herbicide solution shall be applied at 1 milliliter (ml) per 2 to 3 inches of trunk diameter to evenly spaced cuts below all live branches. There will be one cut per inch of diameter of the stem with a minimum of 2 cuts per stem. Frill cuts should be approximately 2 inches long and spaced 1 to 2 inches apart. The cuts must penetrate through the bark into the living tissue or sapwood (the outer area of lighter-colored wood in the stem cross-section) and produce a cupping effect to hold the herbicide. Each cut is filled with herbicide using a spray bottle or gunjet herbicide gun attached to a backpack sprayer. Do not overfill. Herbicide that runs out is wasted and might impact nontarget plants. (Penn State Extension)

201.2.3 – Herbicide Equipment/Calibration Requirements:

To avoid nontarget contamination of areas not scheduled for treatment, Contractor must ensure that the spray system has no leaks and does not have excessive dripping from the nozzles.

**Application shall not exceed 2.5 Quarts/Acre Roundup Custom.

Mixing – Sites selected for mixing, loading, and cleaning of equipment shall be located to prevent contaminating streams, ponds, or spring seeps. The Forest Service shall approve such locations, if necessary.

Prior to herbicide application on the ANF, the contractor shall ensure all tanks and application equipment are clean of residual herbicide or material from other applications.

Prior to starting application on ANF lands, all herbicide application equipment and motorized staging equipment shall be visually inspected to ensure it is free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. The contractor shall not move equipment which last operated in an area that is infested with one or more invasive species of concern (identified prior to operations by the Forest Service) into a treatment block without ensuring the equipment is free of noxious weeds. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools are not required. The contractor must advise the COR what measures were taken to clean the equipment.

201.2.4 – Protection of Improvements, Buffers and Protected Areas:

Before beginning treatment in an area, the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) or Government Technical Monitor (GTM) and the Contractor’s representative may walk through the area to review special conditions or areas to avoid during spraying.

A COR or GTM may be on site during application on and off throughout the day.

Protection of Improvements: Care shall be used to minimize nontarget impacts and contractor damage to improvements through the life of this contract. Pipelines, oil, gas and mineral development, wells, power lines, trails, fences, survey monuments, roads, streams, and any other improvements designated by the COR shall be protected. If above-mentioned improvements are damaged by Contractor's Operations, Contractor shall restore them to conditions existing prior to damage or be held financially liable for the repair of the damage.

Buffers/Protected Areas: Reserve/Buffer areas or places where treatment is not permitted shall be identified by the COR or the inspector prior to beginning a unit. Minimum required buffer distances for water quality are as follows:

1. 10 feet wide along each side of perennial streams, impoundments, seeps, springs, or intermittent streams flowing water the day of spraying.

2. 10 feet wide along each side of dry intermittent streams, dry springs, and dry seeps.

3. 10 feet wide around wet areas (standing water), including vernal ponds, having no defined outlet.

4. There are areas within the project area that may contain “healthy beech”.

A “healthy beech” is defined as an American beech that is greater than 12” in DBH that exhibits resistance to the beech bark disease complex. It should be free of scale and show no signs of cankers or rot. It is thought that these trees may be resistant to Beech bark disease and they are in the process of being studied. The Allegheny Forest Plan standards, require no treatment shall be administered within 30 feet of a healthy beech stem. These areas/stems have been identified by the Forest Service in the field and are designated on the map. If the contractor encounters a healthy beech that is not reserved, they must not apply herbicide within 30 feet of the healthy stem and notify the COR of the location of the beech tree.

When spraying near unit or buffer boundaries, care shall be taken to ensure that no herbicide is applied outside of the designated spray area.

Application of spray material shall be confined to the designated spray area.

There may be treatment units that have special restrictions due to proximity to recreation trails.

Treatment of these sites may be limited to low traffic weekdays due herbicide reentry intervals. These units shall be designated by the Forest Service at the time of the post award meeting.

201.2.5 – Weather/Climate:

Application operations shall not occur when any of the following conditions exist. Determination to spray shall be made by the contractor; however, if the Forest Service feels the contractor is assuming unreasonable risk, the COR may halt operations.

Rain is anticipated within 1 hour at the spray area.

The contractor may be required to re-treat any area or portion of an area treated where rain falls within 1 hour of the time of treatment.

201.2.6 – Records/Notification:

The Contractor shall maintain an accurate record of the herbicide used on each area using the attached “Stand Data Sheet”. The completed stand data sheet shall be sent to the COR within two business days of the unit completion date.

The field representative shall notify the COR of the sites

201.2.7 – Accidents, Incidents and Spills:

Accidents, as used throughout this contract shall mean destruction or substantial damage to spray equipment, the service truck, and minor, serious, or fatal injury to personnel.

Incidents, as used throughout this contract shall mean any mishap, malfunction, or situation involving equipment or personnel, which results in a deviation from standard procedures or has the potential of resulting in an accident, injury, or death.

Herbicide Spills. The Contractor must have a spill prevention and clean-up plan approved by the COR prior to July 1st. Herbicide wasted through spills greater than 5 gallons of diluted product, or 1 quart of undiluted product must be reported to the COR and the appropriate state and federal agencies.

The Contractor or Project Supervisor shall report all accidents or incidents associated with this contract to the COR within 24 hours. This report shall contain description, cause, and future actions contemplated to avoid future occurrences.

201.2.8 – Safety:

· The Contractor shall comply with all Federal and State regulations for applying herbicide.

· All persons who may come in contact with the spray solution shall wear the proper PPE to label standards.

· The contractor shall provide soap and water for personnel to wash with on the job site.

· Security – The Contractor shall be responsible for the security of all herbicide, equipment, and materials furnished for this project.

· Herbicide and Container Disposal. Contractor shall dispose of any excess herbicide and used herbicide containers in accordance with the label.

DIVISION 300 – MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

310 – Measurement

Acreage is determined using GPS/GIS satellite mapping. This measurement shall be utilized for payment purposes, unless the actual acreage on the ground for a given area varies by more than 10% from the estimated acreage for that unit, as described below in Specification 320.

320 – Suspected errors in measurements

If the contractor requests a re-measurement of any area and the results of the re-measurement show that the acreage is more than 10% different from original measurement, the Government shall pay at the unit price for the number of acres shown on the re-measurement and the cost of the re-measurement itself. If, however, the re-measurement shows the acreage to be within the 10% allowable variation, payment will be for the original acreage for that unit and the contractor will pay for the cost of the re-measurement. The Forest Service will determine the method of re-measurement. The Forest Service will perform all re-measurements.

330 – Inclusions

The acreages shown in the Schedule of Items have not been reduced to account for Inclusions which are unsuitable for spraying due to topography, soil conditions, standing water, or buffer strips. Though some of these inclusions exist within the project areas, no reduction shall be made in the contract payment to account for them. All areas within units shall be treated except for designated no spray inclusion areas.

340 – Payment

Payment shall be made at the contract unit price for each completed unit acceptably sprayed with herbicide and meeting the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) outlined in Section F- Inspection and Acceptance. Payments can be processed monthly for completed units, or in one lump sum at the of the contract.

SECTION D—PACKAGING AND MARKING

{For this Solicitation, there are NO clauses in this Section}

SECTION E—INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, The full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): www.arnet.gov/far/

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS (48 CFR CHAPTER 1) CLAUSES

52.246-4 Inspection of Services – Fixed-Price (AUG 1996)

DISINCENTIVE

Twenty percent of the assigned acreage should be completed within the first twenty days of the corresponding delivery schedule as listed in Section F – “Deliveries and Performance”. If requirements are not met, a 20% decrease in payment for the associated treatment acres shall be made.

If there are more than one combination of an accident or herbicide spill that require reporting to the COR, as required by the specifications, total contract price for all units, application will be decreased by a 10% premium for that year.

TIME FRAME

TO AVOID DISINCENTIVE

59 acres done by September 8th

** All timelines must be met by the dates listed above to avoid the disincentives.

For cases of poor or late performance, in which the assigned acreage is not completed in accordance with delivery schedule as listed in Section F – “Deliveries and Performance” or there are multiple accidents or herbicide spills that require reporting to the COR, as required by the specifications, the Forest Service may reserve the right to terminate the contract and collect a disincentive of 10% for units not complete.

SECTION F—DELIVERIES AND PERFORMANCE

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance of this contract is from August 11, 2025 to September 30, 2025.

The Contractor is required to treat units in accordance with the dates listed below. Failure to complete work in the specified timeframe may result in penalties or in cases of extreme negligence immediate termination for default.

All Units shall be completed between August 11, 2025 and September 30, 2025.

Twenty Percent of the treatment shall be completed by September 8, 2025.

The Forest Service reserves the right to terminate the contract if conditions do not warrant an effective treatment of the desired target species.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Table 4. Performance Measures.

Periodic inspections of treatment as work occurs shall also take place as work progresses.

Forest Service shall inspect units 3 weeks post treatment. Vegetation should be showing signs of treatment stress. If there is no sign of “treatment stress” the Forest Service reserves the right to inspect up to 4 weeks post treatment.

An FS Inspector may be on site for the Oust only treatment units to ensure application coverage.

If less than 10% of treatment acres show no evidence of the effects from herbicide treatment (yellowing, drooping, death, etc.) = 100% payment.

If greater than 10% of treatment acres show non-treatment, contractor shall be required to rework sites within contract performance period. If rework cannot be accomplished during contract performance period payment shall be reduced by the cost per acre of the acres not treated.

Contract objectives met for the site.

Retreatment inside the contract deadline:

Units that do not meet the AQL outlined in Section F- Performance Measures shall be retreated to meet contract specifications. There will be no additional payments made for retreatment.

Retreatment of units inside the contract deadline, but outside of their treatment window can and will be performed if the AQL is not achieved for the unit. There will be no additional payments made for retreatment.

Retreatment outside of the contract deadline:

There are no options under this contract for retreatment outside of the contract deadline of September 30, 2025.

SECTION G—CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

AGAR 452.215-73 Post Award Conference (NOV 1996)

A post award conference with the successful offeror is required, the time and place of the meeting can be negotiated between the successful offeror and COR. The meeting must occur prior to the July 10th performance start date.

SECTION H—SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel (FEB 1988)

(a) The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel: Project Supervisor, Licensed Operator.

(b) During the first ninety (90) days of performance, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required by paragraph (c) below. After the initial 90-day period, the Contractor shall submit the information required by paragraph (c) to the Contracting Officer at least 15 days prior to making any permanent substitutions.

(c) The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the person being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Listed below are all the documents attached to and forming a part of this contract.

Location Table Attached

Work Plan Table Attached

Stand Data Sheet (Example) Attached

Location Maps Attached

Attachment 1: Stand Data Sheet– To be completed for each day of treatment.

Project Area Name: Date:

Contract Information

Contract Number:

PA Certified Pesticide Applicator License Number

Contractor Name:

Expiration Date

Address:

Contractor’s Personnel on Site

Phone Office:

Phone Cell:

Site Information

Weather (Sun, Partly Cloudy, or Cloudy)

Rainfall within last 24 hours (Yes/No)

Wind Speed (MPH)Required for Herbicide Treatment Open area <10mph Closed Canopy <4 mph

Record mph at site:

NA

Notification Signs in Place (Yes/No) If no explain.

Temperature 0F

Treatment Information

Treatment Type: Hack and Squirt

Water Source Used

Comments/remarks (include information such as encounters with people, equipment issues, unusual conditions, etc.)

Contractor’s Signature Inspector’s Signature:

Attachment 2: Treatment Reporting Form – To be completed for each day of treatment.

Work Items

Stand #

Acres Treated

Start Time Military: (HHMM)

Stop Time Military: (HHMM)

Volume of Water (Gals)

Volume Of Roundup Custom (Ounces)

Total Solution Volume Applied

Conversion Factors 1gallon = 128 ounces 1quart = 32 ounces image1.jpeg