Attachment_1-_SOW_Petroleum_County_Noxious_Weed_Inventory___Treatment.pdf

Statement of Work Solicitation No. 140L3625Q0001

Petroleum County Noxious Weed Inventory & Treatment

Montana

1.0 BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency of the United States Department of the Interior, is required by: the Carson-Foley Act of 1968, the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 as amended by Sec. 15 – Management of undesirable Plants on Federal Lands 1990, Executive Order 13751, and department manuals and handbooks; to inventory for, and treat, noxious weeds. The contractor shall inventory for noxious weeds in specific areas of Petroleum County and Fergus County Montana, map infestations found with GPS, and return to treat these areas with the appropriate herbicide within the same calendar year. Focus will be on inventory and treatment of: sulphur cinquefoil, spotted knapweed, Russian knapweed, and leafy spurge.

However, any other weed species listed on the Montana Noxious Weed Species list shall also be identified and treated per the requirements of this Statement of Work (SOW). See reference material and requirements sections below for protocol and methodologies for data collection.

2.0 SCOPE

The project area is identified as northern Petroleum County (as shown in corresponding maps) and is generally described as: north of Tin Can Hill Rd to the Charles M Russel National Wildlife Refuge (CMR), east from the Dovetail Rd. and the Horse Camp Rd to the CMR boundary, and north of Musselshell Trail to Elevator Ridge/McFarland Bench Rd (Fergus County). All BLM managed lands within this area will be inventoried for the presence of noxious weeds, all infestations of noxious weeds will be mapped using GPS, and these infestations treated with the appropriate herbicide as per the specific task orders outlined below. Entire project area consists of 152,300 acres of BLM managed lands broken down into four distinct areas, with one area to be completed each year of the contract. This contract is a four year option contract.

3.0 Objectives

Inventory for and treat noxious weeds on BLM managed lands in specific areas of Petroleum and Fergus County, MT over the course of four years.

4.0 Tasks

1. Inventory will be systematically conducted for noxious weed species on all BLM lands with a minimum of ¼ mile per width per section coverage (as in a full BLM section will be covered in a minimum of four passes, a ¼ mile section of BLM will be covered in a minimum of one pass). Any areas of vegetation that are too thick to verify presence/absence of noxious weeds using ocular aids will be traveled to and inventoried/treated.

2. Any road, two track road, camping/parking spot, or range infrastructure area would be of primary concern and used as a starting point for inventory of each section.

3. All suspected vegetation that is identified through ocular reconnaissance (either with or without visual aids) must be traveled to and verified.

4. Upon verification of a noxious weed patch, the entire infestation perimeter must be mapped using GPS technology. The entire drainage or ridge (or bowl) where an infestation is found must be systematically inventoried to find the extent of, or end of, each infestation.

5. All areas of noxious weeds found, and mapped, will be treated with the appropriate BLM approved herbicide(s) under the supervision of a MT licensed herbicide applicator, at the appropriate rates. Treatments may be conducted by vehicle mounted sprayers, vehicle mounted hand wands, backpack sprayers, or aerial sprayers that provide adequate coverage.

6. Project area has been broken down into four smaller areas (to be determined with Contracting Officer Representative (COR)), and each individual area must be completed before moving on to another area.

7. Records, to include all mapped infestations, treatment areas, and treatment records, will be provided to the BLM before exercising the next year contract option.

The Contractor Shall:

• Have prior knowledge and experience identifying Montana listed noxious weeds.

• Have prior knowledge and experience conducting herbicide treatments on noxious weeds.

• Have all, or have access to, all equipment needed to fulfill the tasks/duties of this contract.

• Submit a General Work Plan within two weeks of contract award. A General Work Plan shall contain the following:

o Schedule for starting and completing work on annual basis.

o General description of operating procedures.

o Methods to ensure thorough coverage of contract area.

o Methods of application, i.e., type of equipment to be used in various situations.

o Methods to ensure effective application of herbicide to all stages of plant development.

o Comply with Federal and Montana state pesticide laws.

o Be a licensed applicator for both general and restricted use pesticides and apply according to label specifications (label specifications are on the back of herbicide containers) and BLM guidelines within the H-9011-1 handbook (http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/weeds/9011.print.html).

o Provide copies of pesticide application records for each day of spraying, for each piece of equipment used. Records will show the date of application, start time, finish time, amount of herbicide and surfactant applied, application rate, type of equipment used weather, location, pest treated, and acres treated of BLM lands.

Records will be submitted to the BLM COR (Stephen Smith) annually.

o Adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures identified in Appendix 1 of this Statement of Work. Ensure that all personnel handling pesticides have read the appropriate MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS).

o Provide all GPS mapping data (including metadata) of the perimeter of all noxious weed patches/infestations that are found and treated.

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/weeds/9011.print.html o Provide a report describing your work with photos of treated sites. A minimum control of 90% is required on weed treatments. Performance standards are dead noxious weeds, standing noxious weeds with no developing (or developed fertile) flower/seed heads, and dead rosettes (rosettes present pre-treatment).

The BLM will conduct compliance inspections of contractor treated sites.

o Responsible for watching weather and ensuring contract is completed on time.

o Provide all equipment, personal protective equipment, and trained personnel to inventory for, and treat noxious weed infestations on BLM managed lands within the project area. Ensure that OSHA Standards are followed.

o Acknowledge that the BLM is not responsible for any damage that may occur to contractor supplied equipment or personnel.

o Provide supervision to ensure that the contract is completed safely, and herbicides are applied according to label specifications, BLM Standard Operating Procedures, and guidelines.

o The contractor shall be responsible for contacting the grazing permittees to schedule the inventory work and herbicide applications. The contractor shall return the confidential list of permittees to the Contracting Officer upon completion of the contract.

o The contractor is responsible for obtaining any access needed across private land.

o Only use herbicides/adjuvants approved by the BLM (see Attachments 1 and 2).

o A pre-work conference may be scheduled upon award of contract. Contractor will be notified of conference date.

The BLM Shall Provide:

• A list of BLM approved herbicides/adjuvants that can be applied on BLM lands.

• BLM standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines for herbicide application.

• Maps of the specific project areas.

• List of noxious weeds to be inventoried for and treated on BLM administered lands.

• Contact information for BLM permittees in the project area. Contact information must be returned to the Contracting Officer upon completion of the contract.

5.0 DELIVERABLES:

Data Disclaimer Message- Any records generated and/or created for the purposes of this contract are owned by the BLM and require review and permission prior to release of any information. The contractor cannot copyright, sell, release, or reproduce any of this material.

Images will not be protected from release through Freedom of Information Act requests.

The contractor must deliver GPS mapping data of all noxious weed infestations found and treated within the project area. GPS data will be collected to a in accordance with the National Map Accuracy Standard (NMAS):

• Horizontal and Vertical accuracies of 1-5 meters.

• Desired reference coordinate system is WGS 84, decimal degrees. Reference system used should be recorded in metadata.

• Datum: NAD 83 or WSG 84 GPS mapping data will be collected in the form of points, lines, and polygons. values to these features will be assigned as follows:

• Point values - 20ft buffer from each point

• Line values - 20ft buffer from each line

• Polygon Values - represents actual sprayed/inventoried area of contiguous patch/infestation but allows for aggregation of non-sprayed areas within the polygon.

• Required fields for each individual feature in the data dictionary: date, time, noxious weed species, and corresponding application record.

Digital data will be delivered electronically, email is preferred. Metadata will be attached as text or XML, to follow FGDC metadata standards as defined in link:

https://www.fgdc.gov/resources/dowload-geospacial-standards. Metadata should be clear and concise only describing details about the data as defined by the FGDC standards. All seven steps described in the above link are mandatory and should be completed prior to annual submission.

Pesticide application records for each day of spraying, for each piece of equipment used.

Records will show the date of application, start time, finish time, amount of herbicide and surfactant applied, application rate, type of equipment used weather, location, pest treated, and acres treated of BLM lands.

6.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Contact information for BLM permittees in the project area. Contact information must be returned to the Contracting Officer upon completion of the contract.

7.0 SECURITY

There are no unique security requirements associated with contract performance in the project area. Contractor will not have access to BLM facilities under this contract.

8.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Place of performance is northern Petroleum County and a small portion of Fergus County Montana described as: north of Tin Can Hill Rd to the Charles M. Russel National Wildlife Refuge (CMR), west from the Dovetail Rd and Horse Camp Rd to the CMR boundary, and north of Musselshell Trail to Elevator Ridge/McFarland Bench Rd (Fergus County); along with the contractors own facility.

9.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

https://www.fgdc.gov/resources/dowload-geospacial-standards

Submit a General Work Plan within two weeks of contract award in fiscal year 2024.

Begin contract inventory and treatment summer of 2025.

Submit all deliverables of annual work by September 1st each year for determination of exercising the next years option.

APPENDIX 1

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND HERBICIDE APPLICATION

SAFETY, EQUIPMENT & APPLICATION

The safety of the public shall be a primary consideration when conducting treatments.

Contractor will provide sufficient clean water to assure the opportunity for workers to wash off any chemicals splashed inadvertently onto skin or in the eyes.

All personnel involved in pesticide application must be trained and licensed. Protective clothing and equipment, as specified on EPA-approved labels and the BLM H-9011-1 Handbook (i.e., coveralls, unlined rubber gloves and boots, safety glasses, hard hat, respirator, as appropriate) will be worn by workers directly involved in herbicide applications and by employees using hazardous tools/equipment. The applicator must have and maintain a Montana Pesticide license or be trained in the use of herbicide application and working under the direction of a licensed applicator. All personnel handling pesticides will read the Material Safety Data Sheet and the label for each product prior to handling or applying the pesticide.

While mixing and loading, the individuals will wear appropriate protective gear as specified on the chemical label (examples--- full length apron, face shield, unlined rubber gloves, liquid repellant footwear).

Spray pressures for hand- held spray gun and/or boom will meet label and nozzle tip requirements. All equipment shall be properly calibrated before applications are made and to prevent gross errors in the field while mixing. Regular testing on field calibration and calculation will take place (once a month during use or more often if used frequently.)

Herbicides will be mixed and loaded in an area where an accidental spill cannot flow into a stream or water body or contaminate groundwater.

No mixing is allowed in riparian areas. Applicators are required to have an emergency spill kit to mitigate small spills. Spills of any size will be reported to the BLM LFO.

Low volatile formulations of phenoxy herbicides will be used to reduce the potential for off-site contamination.

Where vehicle and hand applications of herbicides are used, the wind velocity must be 10 mph or less.

Equipment shall be cleaned only in specifically designated areas away from waterways and reservoirs, wells, and stock tanks. All containers shall be triple rinsed and rinsate used in the spray tank. Containers will be disposed of at a state collection site for recycling, an approved landfill, or other specifically designated areas according to State, Federal, and County laws.

The licensed applicator will provide copies of pesticide application records for each application site, recording the date of application, start time, finish time, amount of herbicide, surfactant, and dye applied, application rate, type of equipment used, weather, location, pest treated, and acres treated. Records will be completed within 24 hours of application.

Fire Prevention and Liability: The contractor may be held liable for all operator fire starts. All applicable state and local fire prevention laws must be followed by the Contractor and the Contractor’s employees unless written direction is provided by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall have a safety plan in place. The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring all equipment is operated and maintained in a safe manner, has means of communications before and after application, has a plan of action should a fire start, notify appropriate dispatch center or 911 immediately of the location and status of any unplanned ignition, and notify the COR and the CO immediately of any incident.

TREATMENT

Treatments will be conducted in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local government regulations, including the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670 eL seq.), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (http://www.blm.gov/flpma/), the Federal Noxious Weed Control Act (http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/fedweed.html) as amended in Section 15 of Public Law 93-629. These laws and policy provide direction for BLM to coordinate with appropriate State and County entities and those related weed control agencies and to operate in harmony with State (http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/mt9605.html) and County weed control laws (http://mtwow.org/weed-laws.htm).

Hand pulling and using hand tools to remove noxious weeds may be used when no other means are available to control or eradicate the targeted noxious weed. This method may be effective on new infestations. Gloves and protective clothing will be worn.

Ordinarily, several considerations govern the choice of treatment method. The choice first depends upon the species of noxious weed.

Treatment objective, topography of the treatment area, expected costs, and equipment limitations are implied considerations. Another consideration is the selectivity of the herbicides.

Commercial products for noxious weed treatment will only be used if the noxious weeds are susceptible to the herbicide, i.e., that is with one treatment the herbicide will retard 90 percent of current years’ growth of the target noxious weed. In large dense stands, 90 percent control may not be realistic the first year.

Effort should be made to reduce adverse effects of spraying on non-targeted, native plant species. These species are important for wildlife habitat, soil stability and visual resources.