Attachment_1_PWS.pdf

140L1221Q0066

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Performance Work Statement (PWS)

PROJECT TITLE:

Dry Valley Rim, Nevada 2021 Pre-emergent Herbicide Treatment

Contents PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement

PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work

PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s)

PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks

PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

PWS 6.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services

PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters

PWS 8.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions

PWS 9.0 Safety

EXHIBIT X: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

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PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement

The Bureau of Land Management is looking to acquire vegetation treatment services on selected sites administered by the Eagle Lake Field Office (see attached map). The work consists of applying herbicides in select locations for control of cheatgrass and medusahead on BLM administered lands. The work shall consist of application of contractor-furnished herbicide (Imazapic) within the potential project area as defined on attached maps. Application will occur within 10 units totaling 7,139 acres.

Application will occur in the fall prior to snow fall and freezing temperatures.

Application will preferably occur prior to forecasted precipitation, but is subject to contractor availability and scheduling.

PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work The Contractor shall furnish equipment to necessary to apply liquid herbicide to the designated areas in the time specified. The equipment shall be equipped to carry liquid with an equitable distribution rate of 8 oz/acre of Plateau Herbicide in uniform pattern. Contractors shall be capable of and experienced in use of the furnished equipment while applying liquid herbicide in rough terrain in varying temperatures.

The Contractor must provide a communication system so that contractor personnel engaged in the project at different locations can communicate at all times with each other, and so that government Project Inspectors or COR may communicate with the contractor at any time to discuss performance matters.

Navigation:

Differentially Correctable Global Positioning System (DGPS) is required for tracking and data collection. The Contractor shall provide all guidance equipment, materials, computers, printers, personnel, and services required for the system to be used. The system shall be sufficiently sensitive to provide immediate deviation indications (real-time). The DGPS system must be capable of determining a differentially corrected location with an error of no more than one to two meters in the horizontal plane. The guidance system shall be capable of updating current position at a rate of a minimum of one time per second.

Differential correction must cover the complete operational area. During operation, differentially corrected signal must be accurately recorded at least 90% of the operational time. Differential correction may be provided by a portable differential station, FM radio fixed towers, or satellite.

Software provided with DGPS must be designed for parallel offset in increments equal to the assigned swath width of the application equipment

Equipment Requirements:

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Software: Software provided with DGPS must be designed for parallel offset in increments equal to the assigned swath width of the application equipment.

Project Log: Must be capable of a minimum rate of one-second logging intervals.

Full record includes position, time, altitude, speed, track, application system on/off, job name/number, and differential correction status. The computer program must be capable of calculating and show total acres treated during the application and also capable of downloading to a computer for analysis and review. The project log must show and differentiate between spray-on and spray-off when viewed on a computer monitor or printer. Export files of each project log shall be provided and must be compatible with ArcView or ARC-INFO GIS system on a standard USB memory stick. The Contractor may provide software that is compatible and which will enable the files to convert into viewable files for

ArcView or ARC-INFO GIS. The contractor must, upon request by the COR or

Project Inspector, be able to supply project log data on a USB memory drive for review at any time during the contract. The Contractor will provide project log data at the end of each day’s application. The Contract will not be considered complete until the data has been reviewed and deemed complete with no skips in the sprayed areas. The DGPS system must be capable of zooming in on any portion of the treatment to view a specific area with greater detail.

Hardware: Visual Display Monitor and Control Keypad: (1) Capable of displaying swath width over project path; (2) mounted in a location that will allow the applicator to view the screen; (3) have a method to display nested polygons to indicate sensitive or no-spray areas within or adjacent to treatment blocks; (4) have a feature that allows the applicator to return to the exact location of application shutdown and complete application without omitted or doubled treated areas; (5) be able to input reference waypoints (A-B line); (6) have a feature which alerts applicator when they are about to enter or exit a specific treatment block or an exclusion area within a block.

Course Deviation Indicator (CDI): The course deviation indicator or course deviation light must have the capability to display both cross-track error and intercept angle to desired heading. Cross-track error shall be adjustable down to one foot.

Memory: Must be capable of storing up to 10 hours of continuous project log data.

DGPS navigation unit shall ensure straight and regular paths of travel. Irregular paths of travel will result in immediate stoppage of work. Corrective action shall be taken immediately by the contractor to insure evenly spaced, straight, and regular travel paths and complete coverage of areas included in the spraying job.

The entire surface within the designated boundaries of the project area shall receive uniform coverage with herbicide except for areas excluded by the

Government. Areas excluded from the herbicide operation within the designated boundaries will not be included in the acreage computed for payment. Dispersal shall be low enough to obtain proper distribution and uniform coverage of

PWS Page 4 herbicide. Liquid application shall not be made during a rainstorm, snowstorm, or when the ground is frozen. The Contractor shall contact the authorized BLM

Contracting Officers Representative 72 hours prior to implementing any work specified in this contract. Furthermore, the COR shall be present at the prescribed work sites to direct and inspect the Contractor. The Contractor shall submit completed Pesticide Application Records (PAR) no later than 2 weeks after applying the herbicide specified in this contract and will complete PARs within

24 hours of application.

Place of Performance:

The herbicide treatment areas are approximately 36 miles east of Susanville, California, just across the border, entirely in Washoe County, Nevada. Generally, the sites are east of the Skedaddle Mountains and along the western slope of the Dry Valley Rim. Areas to be treated for the contract will be 10 irregular shapes separated by buffered waterways of varying length/width that follow GIS coordinates. An exact GIS data (shapefile) will be provided to the contractor.

If ground conditions of the identified area are unsuitable for treatment, the Government will offer additional areas to be treated; this would be an acre-for-acre substitution. The total acreage to be treated will not exceed the original 7,139 acres.

The replacement units will be in the immediate vicinity of the current treatment units (not to exceed 10 miles.) Additional units will be identified on maps provided by the

COR.

The determination to substitute the treatment area will be made by the Contracting Officer.

Vicinity maps showing the project area within which the treatment units will be located are attached. Contractor will not treat areas outside of identified work areas. GPS equipment will be used to ensure herbicide is applied within the project boundary.

Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be for one (1) Base Year of 2.5 months The Period of Performance reads as follows:

Base Year: 9/16/2021 - 12/1/2021

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PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s) The objective of this work is to safely and accurately spray 7,139 acres with an 8oz/ac rate of Plateau herbicide and a 6 gallon/ac tank mix of water, while recording a detailed GPS route of the spray pattern.

PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks

Task 1: Herbicide Application and Documentation

4.1 Contractor shall provide a completed Pesticide Application Record (PAR) for each treated site. A GIS shapefile showing treated areas is required.

4.2 Approved Herbicides:

The prescribed herbicides will have the following EPA registration numbers:

Plateau- 241-365.

4.2.1 The MAXIMUM rate of herbicide application allowed by the label is as follows as expressed in active ingredients per acre (a.i./acre).

Application of Single Herbicide

Area Herbicide Maximum Rate

Project Area Plateau 0.177 lbs. a.i./acre/year

4.3 Herbicide will be applied utilizing water as a carrier, with no less than an average of 6 gallons/acre of water tank mix applied.

4.4 Ground activity and disturbance is limited to existing and established roads.

4.5 All roads (public and private) illegally damaged or opened by the Contractor shall be restored at no cost to the Government to their condition prior to commencement of work.

4.6 If sensitive, endangered, or threatened species (plant or animal) are discovered within the treatment area the contractor is to immediately notify the COR. The

Government may issue a suspend work and/or partially terminate any portion of the work due to discoveries of sensitive, threatened, endangered species or archeological sites during contract operations.

4.7 The Government may issue a suspend work order and/or partially terminate any portion of the work at any time when application conditions are considered sufficiently unfavorable to warrant stoppage. Stoppage shall continue until application operations are again authorized by the Government. No monetary compensation will be given to the contractor for work suspensions.

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4.8 Whenever a specification: Agency, State or Federal law; or label direction has a contradiction, the most stringent interpretation shall take precedence.

4.9 Herbicide shall not be applied within 200 feet of water sources (troughs, ponds, open water). Water sources will be marked on the GIS layer or map and given to the Contractor prior to herbicide application. Contractor is expected to apply the herbicide consistent with the maps and shapefiles provided by the Government.

4.10 Wind velocities for chemical applications of herbicides must be 6 mph or less in all instances. Precipitation in the form of rain, snow, or fog will halt herbicide application. Application would not occur if a greater than 50% chance of precipitation is forecasted.

4.11 Contractor is responsible for any ground or aerial hazards that would pose a danger to Contractor’s personnel or operating equipment must be identified and mitigated by the Contractor prior to commencing operations

4.12 Contractor is not permitted to cause any unauthorized ground disturbance on

BLM land.

4.13 Contractor is responsible for acquiring permission from private landowners for any activities associated with this project where non-federal lands would be used.

This could include; road use agreements and the temporary use of lands for staging, fueling or any other activities that may occur in these areas.

4.14 Spray strips shall be patterned to avoid overlap and in such a manner as to secure as high a uniformity of herbicide distribution as possible.

4.15 Contractor will not utilize roads with designated Sage-grouse timing restrictions during any ground operations. A shapefile identifying the roads with timing restrictions will be provided by the Government.

4.16 The Contractor must comply with all applicable federal, state and local regulations and land-use permitting procedures

4.17 The Contractor must coordinate agreements with military and it is the

Contractor’s responsibility to coordinate their activities with the scheduling office or Range Control. Close coordination is necessary to ensure compliance with applicable airspace coordination agreements that states have with military authorities.

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PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

The period of performance is from September 16, 2021 and will be completed no later than December 1, 2021 (depending on weather and soil conditions); this will depend on the time needed by the Contractor to complete the herbicide application. Government preference is starting and completing the project as quickly as possible, however due to weather conditions during this time, soil moisture, soil temperature, and time frames may need to be re-negotiated. Government preference is for application immediately prior to wetting rain/snow event.

There will be a pre-work conference prior to the start of the project at an agreed upon date between the COR and the Contractor. At the pre-work conference the Contractor shall provide the COR a written “work progress” plan that details his/her proposed workforce and schedule to provide for orderly completion of the work within the contract performance times. This work schedule must be acceptable to the government. At a minimum, the schedule should reflect a work progress rate equal to the available amount of contract performance time. The unit sequence work schedule will be determined by the COR at the pre-work conference and may be subject to change because of normal variations in weather conditions at no change in contract time or price.

The Contractor shall begin work within 7 calendar days from the effective notice to proceed. The Contractor shall continue performance of the work under the contract without delay or interruption except by causes beyond his control as defined by contract clauses, or by the receipt of a “Suspend Work Order” issued by the Government. Failure to do so may be cause for action under the “Default” clause. The Contractor shall complete all work required within the time specified.

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PWS 6.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services General:

The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, materials, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform the work tasks defined in this Performance Work Statement, no government-furnished items will be provided.

Applicable Publications (Current Editions) : Plateau Herbicide Label (current edition)

PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters

Communications:

“Time” for communications received after 3:00pm, after 12:00 pm locally on Fridays, or after 12:00 pm locally prior to a holiday will not start until the next business day. All times are local Pacific Standard Time.

Federal Holidays:

The following Federal Legal Holidays are observed:

New Year’s Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day President’s Day, Juneteenth, Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

Fire Danger Season:

If the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) allows the Contractor to continue work during periods of declared fire danger or season, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable state laws relating to fire prevention and with all special conditions of work as directed by the COR.

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PWS 8.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions

Standard Definitions:

Physical Condition The Physical appearance of Federal equipment or facilities that considers cracks, chips, dents, abrasions, rust, corrosion, general cleanliness, vibration, operating temperature, and discoloration and other items as identified by the COR..

Physical condition may be determined by visual as well as diagnostic means.

Contracting Officer (CO) The Secretary of the Interior or designated authorized representative who is the only agent capable of signing a federal award or obligating funds.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) The Contracting Officer’s designated representative as indicated in a delegation of authority letter.

Quality Assurance (QA) Surveillance of Contractor performance to determine performance requirements are met.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) (see Technical Exhibit below) The PRS identifies the key performance indicators of the Contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure Contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

Quality Control Those actions taken by the Contractor to control the production of goods or services so that they meet the requirements of the performance work statement.

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Technical Definitions:

Technical Exhibits:

EX 1: Performance Requirements Summary/Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

PWS 9.0 Safety

The contractor is responsible for providing a safety plan that identifies a point of contact in the event of any accident. The plan should include names and emergency phone numbers for personnel and facilities to contact, including Flight For Life/Life Flight/Care Flight, etc., in case an emergency warrants such actions. The plan should also include a description of on-site emergency procedures to follow in case of an accident. The plan should identify the insurance company providing coverage and the pertinent group coverage number.

Hazards such as the presence of power lines or anemometer towers on the work site and military operations areas (MOA) or restricted flight areas on or near the work site are the responsibility of the Contractor to identify. All appropriate precautions shall be taken by the Contractor. It is the Contractor's responsibility to make arrangements with the appropriate military personnel to get permission to operate within a restricted flight area or MOA. Hazards which have been identified by the Government in the Detailed Specifications or Work Location Maps may not be the only hazards present at the work sites and it is the Contractor's responsibility to check all work sites for flight or other hazards

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EXHIBIT 1: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

Work Tasks to be

Performed

Acceptable Quality Level Method of Surveillance Consequences, Remedies, and/or

Deduction(s)

Task 1 Herbicide Application and Documentation

All 7,139 acres were accurately sprayed with an 8oz/ac rate of

Plateau herbicide and a 6 gallon/ac tank mix of water, while recording a detailed GPS route of the spray pattern

The COR or another

Government Representative will inspect the application rate and adequate tank mix

For 1 unsatisfactory inspection, the COR will document this and inform the

Contractor what must be improved.

For 2 unsatisfactory inspections, a 10% deduction from the invoice for that Period of Performance.

For 3 unsatisfactory inspections, a 25% deduction.