Attachment_1__SOW_14_MAY_24.pdf

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS

NOXIOUS/INVASIVE WEED INVENTORY

2024 Bear Lake East Noxious/Invasive Weed Inventory

1. Approximate Acreage: The inventory area is approximately 13,000 acres. Grid inventories are required at 50-yard spacing between ATV’s/UTV’s or by foot with 100% coverage of project boundary.

2. Location of Work Site as Shown on Work Location Maps: The Bear Lake East Noxious/Invasive Weed Inventory project area is located approximately 9 miles SSE of Montpelier Idaho in Bear Lake County. The project is bordered on the North by Highway 30 and bordered to the South by the Idaho/Utah state line. Only BLM administered lands will be inventoried under this contract.

3. Performance Times Allowed: Base Line Item – 60 Working Days

4. Requirements of Equipment to be supplied by the Contractor: Sufficient to meet specifications of the contract. Contractor will be required to stage along roadsides or pull-out areas void of tall vegetation. Contractor needs to be cautious of ATV/UTV mufflers in tall vegetation when stopped. ATVs/UTVs must be equipped with a spark arrestor and have a current registration with the State of Idaho. Work crews will be required to carry fire suppression tools when traveling cross-country including a shovel, bladder bag and an ABC fire extinguisher. If a fire is started or discovered, work crews will immediately notify Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center (208) 524-7600. Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan will be followed.

5. Work Crew Requirements: Work crews should be well trained in Idaho noxious weed identification specifically, Black Henbane, Canada Thistle, Houndstongue, Leafy Spurge, Musk Thistle, Rush Skeletonweed, Spotted Knapweed, Yellow Toadflax, though other noxious weed species may be present. Idaho’s noxious weed list can be found at https://invasivespecies.idaho.gov/plants/. In addition to the 67 weed species designated by the state of Idaho as noxious, crews will also be responsible for recording all sightings of Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum).

6. GPS: A Trimble GPS or equivalent data collection unit is required. Collected data will consist of species, location, and approximate size of infestation. Contractor is required to map all areas discovered. Infestations will be mapped according to the BLM NISIMS Data Standard. GPS tracklog lines will be recorded where inventories are conducted at all times of inventory operations. GPS data will be recorded in UTM NAD 1983 Zone 12N and submit uncorrected GPS files to the COR upon project completion.

7. Photos: Photos will be taken of each invasive and noxious weed species discovered. At least one photo per mapped species will be required. The photo may be taken with a camera, cell phone, or other device, but the photo must be linked to the specific location, and species, and clearly depict the distinguishable features of the plant to allow for identification.

8. Remarks and Other Requirements: Inventories will begin in June 2024 and continue until all areas are inventoried, approximately 60 workdays.

Attachment 1: SCOPE OF WORK https://invasivespecies.idaho.gov/plants/

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 The purpose of this contract is to secure services for on-the-ground inventorying for the presence of invasive and noxious weed species. All services will be done on-the-ground with ATVs, UTVs, or by foot. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, supplies, and incidentals; and perform all work necessary to complete the specifications in this contract.

1.2 The common noxious weed species that may be encountered within the project area include:

Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense), Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula), Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans), Rush Skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea), Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe), and Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris). Invasive species that may be encountered in the project area include cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), and North African grass (Ventenata dubia).

1.3 The Government will pay for inventory by the inventoried acre upon submission of proper invoices, after acreage is determined to have been inventoried by using the computer-generated shapefile from a Global Positioning System (See Section 4.5 – GPS).

1.4 The Government will have the option to inspect the contractor's equipment and work before, during, and after completion of this contract.

1.5 The contractor shall adhere to the Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan and will need to stop work if Stage II Fire Restrictions are implemented. Information regarding the Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan and Stage II Fire Restrictions can be found on www.idahofireinfo.com.

2.0 LOCATIONS

2.1 The Government will provide work location maps for all sites that are to be inventoried.

2.2 The Government will provide GPS perimeter data of the boundaries of all sites that are to be inventoried.

2.3 The Government will provide travel variances for all sites that are to be inventoried.

3.0 EQUIPMENT

3.1 General:

3.1.1 The Contractor shall inventory designated areas in conformance with these specifications and the Detailed Specifications. Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor shall furnish all equipment, labor, supplies, and materials required to complete the job. The Contractor shall furnish properly equipped personnel experienced in identifying invasive and noxious weed species. The Contractor shall service and repair his/her equipment as necessary to maintain satisfactory progress on work. Contractor is responsible for all costs incidental to equipment move-in and move-out associated with the project.

3.2 Equipment:

3.2.1 The Contractor shall furnish sufficient equipment to satisfactorily inventory the designated areas in the time specified as required in the Detailed Specifications. The contractor is required to have a communication device (cell phone, sat phone, etc.) for emergency purposes and communicating with the COR/PI.

3.3 Work Crew:

3.3.1 Work crew - Shall be furnished by the Contractor for inventorying for the presence of http://www.idahofireinfo.com/ invasive and noxious weed species and for the loading/unloading/operating of equipment. The Contractor shall furnish the necessary qualified mechanics for maintenance of equipment and shall furnish all fuel, oil, and service required for operation of equipment and vehicles. All expenses relating to the maintenance and operation of equipment shall be included in the unit price bid per inventoried acre.

3.3.2 Work crews should be well trained in invasive and noxious weed species identification in Idaho for all stages of development. Work crews shall be well trained with the use of GPS units. A designated trained crew lead will need to be on-site during the duration of the project to secure project specification compliance.

3.4 Global Positioning System (GPS)

3.4.1 Requirement – A Trimble GPS or equivalent data collection unit that is capable of recording points, lines, and polygons. A data dictionary or geodatabase with required input fields will be provided to the contractor by the Government for data collection units.

3.4.2 Memory/Battery: Must be capable of storing and operating up to 8 hours of continuous project log data.

3.4.3 GPS data will be recorded in UTM’s with a Datum of North American Datum (NAD) 1983 (Conus) Zone 12 North.

3.4.4 Contractor required to log GPS tracklog lines during all times of on-the-ground inventories.

3.4.5 The contractor is required to log GPS locations of infestation areas according to the BLM NISIMS Data Standard, summarized below.

National Invasive Species Information Management System (NISIMS) Business Rules for GPS Mapping

a. Each infestation represents only one species; therefore, infestations may overlap. If multiple species are identified, then multiple infestation records should be generated.

b. Infestations of the same species must be 40 yards or 120 feet apart to be a unique infestation. Infestations closer than 40 yards (120 feet) shall be treated as one infestation.

c. When collecting a point stand in the center of the feature.

d. Do not allow a polygon to intersect itself. End or complete feature before reaching starting point.

e. Infestation points need to have an appropriate size class associated with each point:

i. Less than 0.10 acre

ii. 0.10 – 0.50 acre

f. Infestations larger than 0.5 acre in size need to be mapped as a polygon.

4.0 EXECUTION OF WORK

4.1 Pre-Work Conference - Prior to commencement of work, a meeting may be requested by the

Contracting Officer to be attended by the Contractor, the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and the Project Inspector(s). The meeting will be held at the Pocatello Field Office at a time mutually agreeable to the Contractor and the Contracting Officer to discuss the work schedule and to familiarize both parties with the responsibilities of each under this contract. At this time a work schedule showing dates, locations, equipment, and employees working on this project shall be provided by the Contractor to the Contracting Officer.

4.2 Progress Reports- Contractor will provide weekly progress summaries to the BLM Representative (COR and/or PI). Regular communication between BLM Representatives and the contractor is required to help alleviate any problems or potential delays.

4.3 Inventorying

4.3.1 On-the-ground grid inventories required, 50-yard spacing between workers with 100% coverage of entire project boundary. See Detailed Specifications.

4.4 Field Quality Control

4.4.1 Tests for Uniformity: The Government representative will make tests to determine uniformity of inventory compliance.

4.4.2 GPS data from GPS units will be used to ensure compliance of inventories. GPS tracklog lines will be recorded during all times of inventory. GPS data will be used to create an ArcGIS shapefile to determine inventoried areas.

4.5 Work stoppages - The Contractor agrees to work diligently to complete the inventory. The Government reserves the right to stop inventory operations at any time when conditions are considered sufficiently unfavorable to warrant stoppage. Stoppage shall continue until inventory operations are again authorized by the Government. Because of the nature of the work, any time for which work is suspended by the Government because of unsuitable conditions or Stage II Fire Restrictions will not be counted against the contract completion time. However, no monetary compensation will be given to the Contractor by reason of such work suspension.

4.6 Termination for convenience of the Government - Because of the nature of the work, the Contracting Officer may, by written notice to the Contractor, terminate this contract, in whole or in part, when it is in the best interest of the Government. To the extent that this contract is so terminated, the Government shall be liable only for payment in accordance with the payment provisions of this contract for work satisfactorily completed prior to the effective date of termination.

4.7 Completion of contract - The Contract will be considered completed and payment due when all areas furnished to the Contractor by the Government have been inventoried to the standards specified above. Test for uniformity will be made at the time of inventory, and final completion of the contract will be determined by these tests.

4.8 Risk damages - The Contractor shall assume all risks in connection with performance of the contract and shall be liable for any or all damages to persons or property in connection with the execution of work by employees of the Contractor.

5.0 MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

5.1 Method of Measurement

5.1.1 Units: Inventorys will be measured and paid for by the number of acres inventoried to the nearest whole acre.

5.1.2 Measurement: Measurement for payment for inventorying will be the actual area, in acres, within the designated boundaries satisfactorily inventoried in conformance with these specifications. Measurement will be made from either physical inventories of the areas or a computer-generated shapefile created from GPS data at the option of Government. The shapefile will be used in ArcGIS for final acreage measurement.

Acreages will be computed from horizontal distances as shown on maps at the option of Government.

5.1.3 Remeasurement: Remeasurement of the acreage under this contract will be made upon the written request of the Contractor. The request for remeasurement must be made in writing within 10 calendar days after completion of the work. If remeasurement indicates a difference of not more than 5% from the original measurement, the Contractor shall pay the actual cost of the remeasurement. Payments will be based on the second measurement where the difference between measurements is more than 5%. Where the difference is less than 5%, the results of the first measurement will be used.

5.2 Basis of Payment:

5.2.1 Payment: Payment will be made at the unit price per treated acre specified in the Bid

Schedule which is made a part hereof and shall include the cost of all work described in this paragraph and the Detailed Specifications, including any re-inventory, if such work is required.

Attachments (attached separately)

1. Map 1 Area Map

2. Map 2 Location Map

3. Wage Determination