Attachment 1 - SOW_RockLake -Invasive Removal.docx

CONFIDENTIAL - NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

STATEMENT OF WORK

Removal of invasive trees from Rock Lake Wetland Reserve Easement 668C301100ZM2, Guadalupe County, New Mexico

Part I: General Information It is the mission of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our nation’s natural resources and environment. The NRCS accomplishes this mission by providing technical and financial support through a number of federal programs. The Wetland Reserve Easements component of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP-WRE) provides habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wetland dependent wildlife, including threatened and endangered species; improves water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals; reduces flooding; recharges groundwater; protects biological diversity; and provides opportunities for educational, scientific and limited recreational activities.

A. Introduction/Background NRCS is soliciting proposals to treat Russian olive and salt cedar on a property with a conservation easement owned by the US government. The property is managed for wetland and wildlife values. Prior to implementing the proposed conservation practices, NRCS will submit a Biological Assessment to US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF). The implementation of the action must follow the conservation measures agreed to by these agencies.

In 2012 NRCS paid for removal of Russian olive which resulted in the flourishing of wetland grasses and forbs including several protected plants. However, Russian olive is an invasive tree which requires multiple and continued treatments to prevent it from increasing. Since 2012 the amount of trees has increased significantly so that areas that were previously grasses now appear to be forests. Removal of the invasives trees will benefit the wetland, the protected plants and increase the amount of grass that can be grazed if the landowner chooses to use the property for grazing.

Approximately 150 acres are wet enough to support Russian olive and salt cedar. Siberian elm is another invasive tree that may be present that needs to be removed. Approximately 70 acres have enough trees to consider in the cost estimate.

B. Applicable Legal Requirements This procurement contract must comply with the following regulations:

· National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969

· Pesticide labels and NMDA Pesticide Licensing

Part II: Work Requirements

The Contractor shall

· Furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, materials and incidentals necessary to perform the cutting of trees and application of herbicide.

· Complete work in the timeframe allowed which is expected to be from late-September through February.

· Ensure that all approvals, authorities, and permits for conducting the tasks have been obtained prior to initiating fieldwork.

· Provide the required training and safety equipment for their employees.

· Provide competent supervision and skilled personnel to accomplish all work in progress.

· Take appropriate actions necessary to protect the life and health of employees on the job and the safety of the public,

· Be responsible for all cleanup work on the project site(s) and at the equipment storage area(s) prior to final inspection and acceptance.

· Ensure that vehicles are not driven into wet areas where equipment will cause ruts or get stuck.

Qualifications of PI shall be:

· Knowledge and experience with plant identification,

· Knowledge and licensing for flying aircraft if bidding on aerial spraying

· Knowledge and licensing of pesticide application

· Knowledge of laws regarding handling of protected species and

· Experience with safety measures to avoid injuries or damage to property.

All vehicles and equipment entering the project area must be clean of noxious weeds and free from oil leaks and are subject to inspection by the NRCS. Wash all equipment to thoroughly remove all dirt, plant, and other foreign material prior to entering the project area. Particular attention must be shown to the under carriage and any surface where soil containing exotic seeds may exist. These efforts are critical to prevent the introduction and establishment of non-native plant species into the project area.

Proper corrective clean-up and safety actions shall be followed when gasoline, diesel fuel, antifreeze, hydraulic fluid, or any other chemical contained within the vehicle or machinery is released in the project area. Do not use equipment that is leaking. Repair oil leaks immediately on discovery. Have oil pans and absorbent material in place prior to beginning repair work. Have the “on scene” capability of catching and absorbing leaks and spillage of petroleum products including antifreeze from breakdowns or repair actions with approved absorbent materials. Keep a supply of acceptable absorbent materials at the project site in the event of spills. Dig up soils contaminated with petroleum products including antifreeze, place in appropriate safety containers, and dispose of according to state or federal laws and rules or regulations. At minimum, fire extinguishers and hand tools must be located on site in case of a fire ignition while operating machinery or equipment. During times of elevated fire risk, pressurized water and additional fire suppression resources may also be required. Communication via telephone, radio, or satellite device must be available to immediately report emergencies or wildfire if not quickly contained. NRCS may limit or restrict work activity during times of high fire risk.

The Contractor shall have a long-handled shovel; Pulaski, McLeod, or combi-tool; and a five-pound capacity ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher available at the project location when project activities are occurring in each skidder, dozer, other large equipment. Each passenger vehicle, light truck, or medium truck up to 40,000 GVW must be equipped with a long-handled shovel and a two and one-half pound capacity ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher; and the tools and fire extinguishers must be in good working condition.

Part III. Technical Requirements A. Pre-Field Work Requirements Prior to fieldwork, the Contractor will become familiar with the site.

Before beginning fieldwork, the Contractor will coordinate with the NRCS POC to schedule the tasks and secure proper access to the project area.

B. Russian Olive and Salt Cedar Treatment The project area for Russian olive and salt cedar treatment is approximately 150 acres within the Rock Lake WRP easement in Santa Rosa, Guadalupe County, New Mexico. The treatment will consist of herbicide applications such as cut-stump, frill cut, basal bark and mechanical removal. The exact acreage of each treatment method will vary based on final conservation measures determined by the agencies. Some acres have dense levels of tall mature trees. Other areas have smaller, scattered trees. The targeted treatment is 90-100% reduction in Russian olive and salt cedar.

Mechanical removal with masticator, forestry mulcher, flail shredder, hydro axe, brush cutter, etc. will be allowed where the ground is not too wet and where large equipment will not impact protected plants. Masticating the trees is preferred where possible to reduce the amount of woody material to remove. Hand treatment via cut-stump is required near sensitive plants and water bodies to cut the trees and saplings at least 1-inch in diameter, immediately followed by a crew of herbicide applicators with backpack sprayers to treat the stumps within 15 minutes of being cut. This is manpower intensive but causes little or no surface disturbance. Habitat, or generic formulations of herbicide approved for use next to water, must be used within 20 feet of surface water. The preferred herbicide for use away from surface water is Garlon 4 but other herbicides approved for use may be used mixed with a blue dye and carrier oil.

Cut woody material must be chipped at approved locations. This may require moving material to drier areas outside of the wetland. A masticator would only be allowed on dry ground and where protected plants are not present. Contractors may provide a bid that only includes hand treatment or a combination of hand and mechanical treatments.

Herbicide spraying may only occur under the following optimal environmental conditions: Moderate temperatures (60 to 80 ºF), high relative humidity (65 to 90 percent), and light winds (3 to 7 m.p.h.).

The ideal time of treatment is late September - October. If conditions and permits are not received in time to treat RO by February of 2026, the treatment must be delayed to September 2026.

Workers applying herbicides must use PPE required by the pesticide label. In addition, workers using chain saws and piling the cut woody material must wear appropriate safety equipment:

Figure 1. Map of planned treatment of Russian Olive, approximately 150 acres

C. Reporting and Deliverables Requirements

Contractor shall provide copies of herbicide application records that include the date, amount, and type of herbicide applied, location, and weather conditions (temperature, wind, etc.) to the Agency POC.

D. Period of Performance and Payment

· September 2025 – March 2026. If project is delayed due to weather or permits, the project may be completed from September 2026- March 2027.

· No work is to be done from April through mid-September.

The Contractor shall submit payment requests via the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

Part III: Supporting Information A. Confidentiality Information related to this contract is classified as confidential. Its distribution and use is restricted to the landowner and permitting agencies. Publication or disclosure of any part of this information is prohibited without the written permission of the NRCS and the landowner(s).

B. Place of Performance The project acre consists of 150 acres of wetland on private lands adjacent to the State Game and Fish Department Fish Hatchery on River Road in Santa Rosa.

C. Special Considerations NRCS will work with the Contractor and the landowner to resolve any access issues.

Technical questions should be directed to the Government Technical POC. Contracting questions should be directed to the assigned Contracting Officer.

Changes to task order content, analysis approach, level of effort, schedules and deliverables shall be made in writing by a revision to the task order by the Contracting Officer. These changes must receive written approval from the Contracting Officer before the additional work is started.

A task order is completed when the required end products are delivered by the Contractor and accepted by the NRCS in accordance with the executed task order and any formal revision thereof.

Rock Lake WRP Easement, ACEP-WRE Project Santa Rosa, Guadalupe County, New Mexico

Natural Resources Conservation Service 100 Sun Avenue NE, Suite 602, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109 Voice: (505) 761-4400 Fax: (855) 538-6003 NRCS is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

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