Attachment_4_Seed_TO.pdf

Attachment 4 140R3024R0027 Seed Task Order

Performance Work Statement Three Links Farm Conservation Easement Management and Monitoring and Cook's Lake Conservation Area Perimeter Maintenance

Part I. Three Links Farm Conservation Easement Management and Monitoring

CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILTIES

The contractor shall provide operation and maintenance activities that include the following:

(1) provide a biological technician level employee

(2) compliance monitoring and maintenance of the Easement (Figure 1)

(3) monitor stream flows and hydrology readings

(4) provide photo monitoring

(5) maintain communication with Reclamation and three (3) landowners

(6) provide monitoring and maintenance of the Riparian Management Zone (RMZ) fence lines

(7) remove trespass livestock from the RMZ

(8) deliver reports to Reclamation Successful contractor management of the Easement will be achieved by completing the following tasks.

Additional details regarding what is permitted and not permitted can be found within the Deed of Conservation Easement (Appendix A).

REQUIRED TASKS

Task 1 – Staffing The contractor shall provide a biological technician level employee that would function as an easement manager and provide other support staff as needed.

Task 2 – Compliance Monitoring The contractor shall monitor compliance with the Easement restrictions in the RMZ, Residential and Agricultural Zone, and Upland Zone. Monitoring shall be done in accordance with the Deed of Conservation Easement (2003).

a. Shall occur 2 times per week, biweekly (4 times a month or 48 visits a year) and includes the following:

(1) Monitoring the RMZ and the RMZ perimeter fence and gates with damaged sections repaired

(2) Monitor, document, and report unauthorized vehicles within the RMZ

(3) Monitor, document, and report all other activities in all three (3) zones not in compliance with the Easement, such as the dumping of toxic materials, prohibited vegetation conversion, damage, or removal, construction of structures, or trespass cattle. Report information via electronic communication with Reclamation. Notify Reclamation within 48 hours of noncompliant activity.

Noncompliant activity should also be documented within the midyear and annual reports.

b. Monitoring of the RMZ is prioritized but the focus of future monitoring efforts can be redirected by the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

c. Easement monitoring shall be done in conjunction with fence line monitoring and repairs.

d. Report the discovery and spread of nonnative wildlife and/or spread of invasive plant species within the midyear and annual reports.

Document and photograph noncompliance with the terms of the Deed of the Conservation Easement and notify Reclamation within 48 hours of violations. The primary point of contact for reporting violations is the Reclamation appointed Wildlife Biologist. Reclamation will notify the contractor in writing of the Wildlife Biologist assigned to management of the Easement. The Easement manager will be notified by phone or e-mail if the primary point of contact for Reclamation changes.

Task 3 –Monitor Stream Flows and Hydrology Readings The contractor shall monitor stream flows and perform hydrology readings on each well and monitoring water use compliance.

a. Stream flow monitoring shall be scheduled for one (1) day between September to April (1 visit a year). Reclamation will provide the contractor with a suitable flow meter to monitor stream flow. When in possession, the contractor shall accept responsibility for the care and maintenance of the device.

b. Install flow meters, if needed and requested by Reclamation, and monitor flowmeters quarterly (4 visits a year) on all residences, outbuildings, and irrigation lines. If needed, the flow meters will be purchased by the Government or by a parcel owner.

• The anticipated need for new flow meters is low since none have been installed since Reclamation acquired the easement in 2003.

c. Monitor the depth to static water level in retired wells and piezometers quarterly within the RMZ (Figure 2).

d. Coordinate with local TNC staff when needed.

Task 4 – Photo Monitoring The contractor shall conduct biennial photo monitoring on one day (1 visit every other year) between February 15 to April 15 and before trees’ leaf-out each year. The biennial photo monitoring shall be incorporated within the midyear and annual reports. The next photo monitoring is scheduled for 2025. For the location and number of photo points see Figure 3.

a. There are 17 biennial photo points, with a total of 42 views (to be provided). Multiple photos are taken at the 17 different locations to account for the 42 different views.

Task 5 – Communication

Maintain communications with landowners and Reclamation

a. Establish a cooperative working relationship with the three (3) landowners.

b. Provide landowners with information such as water use and flowmeter readings.

c. Reclamation will be the primary contact with landowners for maintaining communication and resolving conflicts, disputes, and easement compliance issues.

d. Maintain monthly communication with the Reclamation COR by e-mail or phone one time a month and more when necessary.

e. All requests for access for status surveys, monitoring, or research shall be directed to

Reclamation.

Task 6 - Maintenance and Repairs. The contractor shall be responsible for the monitoring and repairs to or replacement of approximately 45,336 feet (8.5 miles) of wildlife friendly four-stranded smooth- and barbed-wire fence of the RMZ. This includes the monitoring and repair to both river-gap fence crossings at the northern and southern crossings on the San Pedro River and when needed the Red Rock Canyon cattle gap. The southern river-gap fence is a key crossing that, when down from flood events, can result in trespass cattle entering the RMZ. Any downed sections must be repaired following a design modification to Figure 4.

Wildlife friendly fencing standards require smooth wire utilized for the bottom strand and barbed wire for the top three (3) strands. The four (4) strands of wire shall be placed as close as possible to the dimensions identified within Figure 4.

Damaged and downed sections of the RMZ fence line that are classified as minor repairs shall be repaired on the day of discovery. The river-gaps that are a component of the RMZ fence line shall be repaired on the day of discovery or when conditions following high-flow or storm events are suitable for repairs. The number and location of all fence repairs shall be documented and reported within the midyear and annual reports.

a. Minor Repairs: Minor fence repairs of barbed and smooth wire of up to six (6) occurrences per year and no greater than 36 feet each or 216 feet total, shall be conducted as part of normal maintenance and shall be conducted on the day of discovery. The fixed-price contract line item number (CLIN) of any maintenance-and-repair task order shall include the price for these minor repairs.

b. River-Gap Repairs: Fence repairs of barbed and smooth wire of up to 30 times per year for the northern and southern river crossings and the Red Rock Creek confluence. River-gap fence repairs are not restricted by their width, but repairs on the north gap may average 20 feet and the south gap may average 35 feet. At times the repairs could be greater because of the variation in severity of flood events. River-gap repairs will be a time-and-materials CLIN in a task order with fixed hourly rates.

Routine fence clearing is not a requirement, but locations along the fence line where it is identified that vegetation poses an immediate and near-future risk to its integrity should be cleared. Trimming should be minimized and where possible, trim tree branches rather than remove the entire tree. When necessary, small trees (< 5-inch trunk diameter) and shrubs should be removed from the fence line row. Trees with a trunk diameter of ≥ 5 inches shall not be removed without prior approval of the COR. All cut vegetation must be placed a minimum 15 feet from the fence line. Cleared vegetation (small branches and bushes) may be piled in small (< 4ft) high piles. Cut vegetation shall not be left adjacent to the fence. Fallen trees shall be cut into lengths, no longer than 6 feet, and again placed a minimum of 15 feet from the fence line.

Logs should not be stacked but dispersed randomly. Trees shall not be used as supports, posts, or braces for the fences or gates.

The contractor shall furnish all materials for minor and river-gap repairs of the fences and gates. This includes posts, wire, cement, sand coarse aggregate, reinforcement, and all necessary hardware, tools, and accessories for a complete installation and repair. All damaged fence material shall be removed unless otherwise authorized by the COR. The wire, posts, and all other material removed shall become property of the contractor and removed from the property and disposed of at an appropriate landfill. Mechanical clearing (other than chainsaws) of vegetation is not permitted. Vegetation clearing shall be limited to hand-clearing methods only.

Reclamation shall be notified and approval granted by the Contracting Officer prior to initiation of major repairs. Digital images of the major repair areas shall be recorded and sent to Reclamation. The contractor shall prepare a price quote for the major fence repairs, it shall be priced per foot. and it shall be initiated no later than 72 hours after the incident is discovered and Reclamation is notified of and has determined the need for repairs. Major fence replacement and repairs shall be completed within the quickest reasonable timeframe.

Task 7 – Reporting. The contractor shall submit to Reclamation a midyear report (covering January through June) and an annual report (covering January through December). The midyear and annual reports shall provide information on hydrology monitoring within the RMZ, residential water use, rainfall, fence maintenance, research and monitoring, conflicts, trespass, violations to the Easement, and other relevant information important to the management of the Easement. The midyear and annual reports shall be submitted within 30 days of the reporting periods, ending June 30 and December 31 respectively.

The midyear and annual reports shall be developed with the following pages and sections:

(1) Cover Page

(2) Table of Contents

(3) Three Links Farm Background

(4) Riparian Management Zone

a. General Conditions

b. Biological Surveys

c. Trespass Livestock

d. Fence Repairs and Maintenance

e. Other

(5) Monitoring

a. Precipitation

b. Streamflow

c. Groundwater

(6) Residential Parcels

a. Parcel 3

i. Water Use

ii. Compliance

iii. Landowner communication

iv. Other

b. Parcel 4

c. Parcel 5

(7) Outreach and Communications

(8) Photo Monitoring (biennial years)

GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT

No substantial involvement on the part of the Government is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives of this requirement. It is anticipated that the Government’s involvement will consist of standard federal stewardship responsibilities such as monitoring, project performance, technical assistance at the request of the contractor, etc.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government shall furnish the contractor with a water level sounder and suitable flow meter to monitor stream flow.

CITATIONS

FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1994. Biological Opinion on Transportation and Delivery of Central Arizona Project Water to the Gila River Basin (Hassayampa, Agua Fria, Salt, Verde, San Pedro, Middle and Upper Gila Rivers and Associated Tributaries) in Arizona and New Mexico and its Potential to Introduce and Spread Nonnative Aquatic Species. Phoenix, Arizona.

FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2001. Revised Biological Opinion on Transportation and

Delivery of Central Arizona Project Water to the Gila River Basin (Hassayampa, Agua Fria, Salt, Verde, San Pedro, Middle and Upper Gila Rivers and Associated Tributaries) in Arizona and

New Mexico and its Potential to Introduce and Spread Nonnative Aquatic Species. Phoenix, Arizona.

Easement (Deed of Conservation Easement). 2003. Contract Number 03-LA-32-3481.

Figure 1. Aerial image of the 3 Links Conservation Easement and the three (3) delineated management zones.

Parcel 3

Parcel 4

Parcel 5

Figure 2. Location of the wells in relation to the different easement zones.

Figure 3. Location of 17 biennial photo points.

Figure 4. The modified wildlife friendly fencing design that shall incorporate smooth wire for the bottom strand and barbed wire for the top three strands. The spacing between the strands that is identified within the graphic shall also be incorporated into the design and future repairs.

Part II. Cook’s Lake Conservation Area Perimeter Maintenance

SCOPE OF WORK

The contractor shall inspect the perimeter fence line, on foot, once a month from November to April (mid-month) and twice a month (at 2-week intervals) from May to October. Interior fences shall be inspected once every three (3) months during the months of January, April, July, and October and repaired as necessary to maintain the integrity of the fence. All repairs to all fence lines are categorized as routine, minor, and major repairs with routine and minor repairs completed on the day of discovery and major repairs when repair is authorized by the Contracting Officer. The trail through the property shall be inspected and cleared in April and October each year unless otherwise requested. The perimeter personnel access trail shall be cleared annually in November, and the perimeter fence shall be cleared in December.

Shortly after the initiation of this service contract, repairs to erosion cuts on the northern access road shall be made. Any additional erosion cuts that develop during the life of the contract shall also be repaired.

Finally, the applicant will monitor, treat, and remove buffelgrass within and outside the northeast portion of the property throughout the life of the life of the contract.

The purpose behind the above timelines is to ensure a consistent contractor presence on the property throughout each month and throughout each year. Deviation from all identified timelines must be authorized by the COR.

OBJECTIVES

Fence and Perimeter Path Maintenance The contractor shall be responsible for repairs to, or replacement of, approximately 13,512 feet of wildlife-friendly four-stranded smooth- and barbed-wire fence (see Figure 4) on the north, east, and west portions of the property, and approximately 1,850 feet of 3-rail pipe fence and an associated cattle trap on the south side (Figure C). In November of each year, the contractor shall spend an estimated 16 hours maintaining the 6,756-foot perimeter personnel access trail along the exterior/maintenance side of the wildlife-friendly four-stranded smooth- and barbed-wire fence line. The trail shall be maintained at a width of approximately 36-inches and seven-feet high to allow the safe and clear passage of one person. If the contractor believes the personnel access trail needs additional work beyond 16 hours in November of each year, then the contractor shall consult with the COR on reallocating some hours from the perimeter fence clearing identified below.

Monthly perimeter fence clearing is not a requirement, but the four-stranded smooth- and barbed-wire fence lines shall be cleared annually in December. Vegetation targeted for removal includes new- and old-growth woody vegetation such as mesquite, acacia, saltcedar, and other species that may create short- and long-term maintenance issues. If no vegetation is identified as posing short- or long-term maintenance issues, then the contractor will identify and prioritize areas along the fence line where clearing will be beneficial. The contractor should spend 40 hours annually performing this task; however, if the contractor believes the personnel access trail needs less or additional work, then the contractor shall consult with the

COR.

A maintenance trail along the eastern interior fence line was allowed to become significantly overgrown and fall into disrepair. Due to the severity of corrective action that is needed, the approximate 2,040-feet fence line will be addressed in two (2) phases over two (2) fiscal years under a grant to a local nonprofit.

Once each of the two (2) yearly phases has been completed, that segment of fence line will be included in trails that are monitored, cleared, and maintained under this contract. The COR will inform the contractor when each phase has been completed. When the segments have been completed, hours from the perimeter fence clearing budget will be used to maintain this pathway.

The western interior fence line at 1,952 feet will continue to require scheduled patrols and repair as needed. Due to the overgrowth of vegetation along this western interior fence line, the contractor should spend 16 hours annually in February developing and maintaining a new access trail on the western side of the fence. This shall start on the south side of the property and work its way north. If this work is completed by the end of year four (4) of the contract, the COR will redirect these hours to other duties in year five (5) of the contract.

There is no trail immediately adjacent to the 3-rail pipe fence that needs to be maintained, but there is a parallel vehicle road on the Salt River Project’s Adobe property that shall be walked to monitor the pipe fence. Vegetation along the 3-rail pipe fence shall only be cleared or removed when the fence needs repair.

Locations along the entire barbed- and smooth-wire fence line where it is identified that vegetation poses an immediate and near future risk to its integrity should be flagged and cleared when identified or during the next patrol.

Small trees (<5-inch trunk diameter) and shrubs that pose short- and long-term maintenance issues should be removed from the fence line right of way. Where possible, the contractor shall trim tree branches rather than remove the entire tree. Do not remove any tree with a trunk diameter of ≥5 inches without prior approval from the COR. All cut vegetation must be placed a minimum 15 feet from the fence line.

Cleared vegetation (small branches and bushes) may be piled in small (<4 feet high) piles. Cut vegetation shall not be left adjacent to the fence. Fallen trees shall be cut into lengths no longer than 6 feet and again placed a minimum of 15 feet from the fence line. Logs shall not be stacked but dispersed randomly. All material shall be placed within Reclamation property boundaries. Trees shall not be used as supports, posts, or braces for the fences or gates.

The contractor shall furnish all materials for repair of the fences and gates. This includes posts, wire, cement, sand course aggregate, reinforcements, and all necessary hardware, tools, and accessories for a complete installation and repair. All damaged locations shall be reported in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates, and all damaged fences shall be removed unless otherwise authorized by the COR. The wire, posts, and all other material removed shall become property of the contractor and removed from the property and disposed of at an appropriate landfill. Mechanical clearing (other than chainsaws) of vegetation is not permitted. Vegetation clearing shall be limited to hand-clearing methods only.

Routine Repairs: Repairs categorized as routine are not restricted to a predetermined number of occurrences. These repairs shall occur as needed and include adjusting the height of barbed and smooth wire, replacing fence clips, adjusting or replacing fence stays, and other insignificant-but-needed corrections to maintain fence integrity. The fixed-price CLIN of any maintenance-and-repair task order shall include the price for these routine repairs.

Minor Repairs: Minor fence repairs of barbed and smooth wire, of up to four (4) occurrences per year and no more than 55 feet each, shall be reported and conducted as part of the normal maintenance and shall be conducted on the day of discovery. The fixed-price CLIN of any maintenance-and-repair task order shall include the price for these minor repairs.

Reclamation shall be notified and approval granted by the Contracting Officer prior to initiation of major repairs per the PWS in the base IDIQ. Digital images of the major repair areas shall be recorded and sent to Reclamation.

Interior Trail Maintenance The contractor shall clear and maintain approximately 1.0 mile of historic interior trails running through the property that provides access to various features. There is approximately 0.25 miles of new trails on the south side of the property that may only be accessible seasonally due to water seepage from Israel Spring and flooding of the marsh. Trails will require semi-annual maintenance in April and October of each year and shall be maintained at a width of 36 inches and 7 feet in height. Fallen trees shall be cut back to the edge of the trail and the cut material dispersed.

Buffelgrass Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) is a weedy perennial grass and invasive species that was recently documented within and outside the northeast corner fence line boundary of Cook’s Lake. Due to its threat for displacing native plant communities, wildfire risk, and disrupting ecological systems and processes, the contractor shall be responsible for its documentation all perimeters of Cook’s Lake. Its presence within the property boundary was first noted in late summer 2022 and is minimal to only several small patches of varying size mostly located along an unnamed wash in northeast corner. Outside the property, it is also found in dispersed low-density clumps due to its recent establishment.

The contractor shall develop an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan for Cook’s Lake utilizing directives and standards from the Reclamation manual ENV 01-01 (https://www.usbr.gov/recman/env/env01-01.pdf). Completed IPMs developed by other Reclamation offices will be provided to the contractor within 10 business days of award to serve as a template and guidance for its completion of the IPM. IPM Plans provide general and specific guidance on how to handle different pest types and invasive species using the principles of IPM plan. Actions to chemically treat and remove buffelgrass cannot be taken without the development of an IPM plan. A draft plan will be developed and provided to Reclamation within 30 days from contractor’s receipt of templates and manual. Once received, the draft plan will undergo an internal review and comment period. The draft will be returned to the contractor within 10 business days to address edits and corrections. When the contractor has received final comments from Reclamation, it shall have 10 business days to address the comments and deliver a final digital draft to Reclamation. Once the plan is finalized, Reclamation is required to assess the actions identified within the IPM plan under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (516 and 517 DM 1), which can take several months. Reclamation will inform the contractor when the NEPA process has been finalized. Following that, the contractor shall commence buffelgrass treatments.

After approval of IPM plan and annually, during the month of August, the contractor shall monitor for buffelgrass along the north and east fence line boundary while patrolling for fence repairs. The contractor shall stay within 6 feet of the fence line during this patrol unless buffelgrass is observed from a distance.

If observed, Buffelgrass locations shall be recorded using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and reported to the COR. The contractor shall also be responsible for its chemical treatment and removal and monitoring buffelgrass presence within the northeast boundary of Cook’s Lake in an area of approximately 0.6-acres (Figure D). Removal within the northeast boundary will only occur during the first year of treatment; treatment and monitoring will continue through all contract years.

Buffelgrass that is removed shall be removed just above the surface to avoid disturbing the soils and impacting unknown cultural resources below the surface. Once it is removed, it becomes property of the contractor, and it shall be bagged and disposed of offsite at a landfill. The remaining identifiable stems and approximately one inch of soil immediately surrounding the stems shall be sprayed to minimize impacts to non-target species. A glyphosate and imazapyr herbicide mixture of 1% imazapyr (Brand:

Polaris or Habitat) and 3% glyphosate (Brand: Roundup Pro Conc) shall be used for green buffelgrass while a mixture of 2% imazapyr (Polaris or Habitat) and 3% glyphosate (Roundup Pro Conc) shall be used for brown buffelgrass plants. A red or blue dye shall be added to the solution to help identify previously treated plants. The Field Guide for Managing Buffelgrass in the Southwest (2014) shall be followed for other needed guidance on its application. Following recommendations within Rowe et al.

(2023), locations shall be treated three times (3X) to maximize effective control. During year 1, treatments will begin following the onset of the summer monsoon season, which runs from mid-June through September. Therefore, chemical treatments shall begin in August, with one treatment taking place in the month of August and September for a total of two treatments (2X). The third treatment (3X) will take place in February after the conclusion of the winter rainy season. The COR may adjust the treatment schedule beginning in year 2 if it is determined an alternative may be more effective.

Buffelgrass shall be chemically treated and monitored only—not removed—outside the fence line on property owned by American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) and within an area of approximately 1.2-acres (Figure D). In future option years, the COR may request the boundaries be modified or expanded to incorporate newly revised treatment and monitoring strategies and a larger treatment area within and outside of Cook’s Lake. All herbicide applications shall be conducted under the direction of an Arizona Certified Applicator that shall follow industry standards including the proper use of personal protective equipment and proper handling, storage, and disposal. The contractor shall be responsible for documenting buffelgrass chemical treatment, removal, presence, and likelihood of expansion within the northeast boundary of Cook’s Lake and outside the perimeter fence line along the northern boundary. Documentation shall include the annual production of a digital map file in ESRI ArcGIS showing known buffelgrass locations, newly documented locations, and locations or the general area that has been chemically treated. Metadata shall be incorporated into data points to identify the date of discovery and treatment. The digital file shall be provided to the COR by 31 October of each year.

Prior to conducting any buffelgrass treatment outside of the Cook’s Lake boundary fence line, the contractor shall be compliant with and follow all applicable terms of the Temporary Access Agreement (to be provided at time of award) granted by ASARCO mining company during the term of this contract and any extension thereof. A strict condition of the agreement is that the contractor shall procure, pay for and maintain in full force and effect at all times during the term of this Agreement policies of insurance issued by financially responsible carriers with Best’s ratings of no less than A:VII, licensed in the State of Arizona, that afford the coverages given below. The named insured parties under the policy shall be the Contractor.

1. Workers' Compensation Statutory

2. Business Automobile Liability coverage including owned, non-owned and hired car coverages.

Not less than $2 million each accident.

3. Commercial General Liability Policy (ISO occurrence or claims made form) including bodily injury, property damage, completed operations and products coverages.

Not less than $2 million per occurrence combined single limit for both bodily injury and property damage.

The policies are to contain, or be endorsed to contain, the following provisions with respect to Commercial General Liability and Automobile Liability Coverages, these policies shall (a) name ASARCO, its parent, subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, members, employees, representatives, agents, successors and assigns as additional insureds; (b) expressly include a severability of interest clause; and (c) be primary insurance. Any failure to comply with reporting provisions of these policies shall not affect coverage provided to ASARCO. Every policy shall contain a Waiver of Subrogation endorsement in favor of ASARCO, its parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, members, employees, representatives, agents, successors and assigns.

Each policy shall have a certificate evidencing the insurance coverage. The insurance company shall provide an endorsement to notify the Contracting Officer 30 days prior to the effective date of cancellation or termination of the policy or certificate; or modification of the policy or certificate which may adversely affect the interest of the Government in such insurance. The certificate shall identify the contract number, the name and address of the Contracting Officer, as well as the insured, the policy number and a brief description of contract services to be performed. The Contractor shall furnish the Contracting Officer with a copy of an acceptable insurance certificate prior to beginning the work.

Cattle/Livestock Trespass No trespass livestock incidents have happened in over 10 years, but the contractor shall be responsible for the prospective need of trespass cattle/livestock removal from the property, using humane and nonlethal means. Reclamation shall be notified immediately if trespass livestock, or signs of livestock, are observed within Reclamation’s fenced property. The contractor shall be responsible for setting the existing trap and baiting the livestock for up to 30 days via use of dogs or other contractor devised and Reclamation-approved methods. The cattle trap must be monitored daily when in use. The contractor shall be responsible for supplying the trap with hay and water. Water may be obtained at the SRP (Salt River Project) property approximately 1 mile south of the project area. The contractor shall coordinate with SRP for access to water. SRP must be notified anytime cattle trapping operations are initiated. The contractor shall be responsible for contacting the Brand Inspector and making all arrangements for disposition of trespass cattle/livestock. Livestock may be returned to the lawful owner if they are branded. Livestock may be transported through adjacent landowners (ASARCO or SRP) property only after prior notification and concurrence from the landowners. Trespass livestock must be confined within a stock trailer or other vehicle sufficiently secured to avoid escape prior to transportation through adjacent property. Livestock shall not be turned loose onto ASARCO or SRP properties. Removals will be a time-and-material CLIN in task orders with fixed hourly rates.

Access and North Access Road Repair and Maintenance Access through SRP property (south of Cook’s Lake) or through ASARCO (north of Cook’s Lake) has been approved through prior arrangements. The contractor will be responsible for all additional coordination required with respect to trespass cattle removal, monitoring, and maintenance. Within the first three months of the first task order, the contractor shall be responsible for the repair and maintenance of erosion cuts located within the northern most segment of the north access road. The access road is an unpaved compacted dirt road that is located on ASARCO property but provides access to the northern boundary of Cook’s Lake. For its repair, the contractor shall acquire appropriate fill from a material source certified by the Arizona Department of Transportation to ensure compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The contractor shall provide the COR documentation of the material source before its acquisition to repair the road. Once documentation of the material source has been confirmed by the COR, the contractor shall repair the erosion cuts. Once repaired, the contractor shall send digital images of the repaired road to the COR.

Any additional erosion cuts that develop during the life of the contract shall also be repaired. A fixed-price CLIN will be negotiated and established on a task order in the event the need arises.

Reports

The contractor shall prepare monitoring reports in an Excel spreadsheet format and emailed to Reclamation monthly. The report should contain the following information (at a minimum);

• Inspection Date

• Arrival and Departure Times

• Name of inspector

• Inspection of exterior fences

• Inspection of interior fences

• Clearing of interior trails

• Clearing of perimeter and interior fence trails

• Clearing of perimeter and interior fence lines

• Type of repair required, coordinates, and picture of repair

• Date repair was completed

• Presence of trespass cattle/livestock

• Date trespass cattle/livestock were removed

• Buffelgrass monitoring and treatments

• Date, contact person, and discussion synopsis for SRP or ASARCO coordination

• Additional comments as necessary

Integrated Pest Management Plan The IPM plan shall be developed with the following pages and sections. Additional sections can be incorporated as needed to improve the content of the plan.

(9) Cover page

(10) Table of Contents

(11) Cook’s Lake Conservation Area Background

(12) Areas of Concern

a. Cook’s Lake

i. Interior

ii. Boundary

b. ASARCO Lands

(13) IPM

a. Control

b. Early detection and rapid response

c. Prevention

d. Restoration

e. Adaptive management

f. Goals and objectives

(14) Targeted Pest

a. Buffelgrass

(15) Documentation and Monitoring

a. Control technique

b. Pesticide use proposal

c. Pesticide general permit

d. Aerial application

e. Pesticide and equipment use

f. Applicator certification

(16) Pesticide Discharge Management Plan

a. Spill response procedures

(17) Federally Listed Species and Species of Concern

a. Federally listed species

b. Critical habitat

c. Migrator birds

d. Pollinators

(18) Other Sections as Needed

Buffelgrass Reporting The contractor shall prepare and provide a digital map file in ESRI ArcGIS showing known buffelgrass locations, newly documented locations, and locations or the general area that has been chemically treated.

Metadata shall be incorporated into data points to identify the date of discovery and treatment. The digital file shall be provided to the COR by 31 October of each year.

Sources Cited United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2014. Field Guide for Managing Buffelgrass in the Southwest. Forest Service Southwest Region, September 2014.

Rowe, H.I., Sprague, T.A., Fastiggi, M. and Staker, P., 2023. Comparing common Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) removal techniques: cost efficacy and response of native plant community.

Biological Invasions, 25(9), pp.2901-2916.

GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT

No substantial involvement on the part of the Government is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. It is anticipated that the Government’s involvement will consist of standard federal stewardship responsibilities such as monitoring, project performance, technical assistance at the request of the recipient, etc.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS)

Performance Requirements Summary Table

Required Performance

Performance Standard

Performance Requirement for Acceptable Performance

Maximum Error Rate

(MER)

Method of

Surveillance Incentive Monthly Reports

The Contractor shall provide all required reports on time and complete.

Reports provided to the COR within the time specified.

Reports not provided to the COR within the time limits allocated more than twice.

Provided to Reclamation

Positive/ negative past performance.

Fence Maintenance

The contractor shall identify maintenance in monthly reports.

Minor and major fence repairs are performed within the time specified.

Fence repairs not completed within the time specified.

On site confirmation by COR once work has been completed.

Positive/

Trail Maintenance

The contractor shall identify biannual maintenance in monthly report.

Approximately

1.0 miles of trails are cleared and maintained in April and August of each year.

Trails are not cleared and maintained in April and August of each year.

On site confirmation by COR once work has been completed.

Positive/

Livestock Trespass

The contractor shall notify COR of trespass livestock by email and phone. There should be Identification of trespass livestock and removal in monthly reports.

Livestock are captured and removed from the property.

Failure to capture and remove trespass livestock.

On site confirmation by COR once work has been completed.

Positive/

Integrated Pest Management Plan

The contractor shall develop and provide a draft and final

IPM.

The draft and final IPM shall be provided to Reclamation on time.

The IPM is not developed or not provided to Reclamation within the identified time frames.

Reclamation COR receiving draft and final IPM and associated correspondence.

Positive/

The PRS provides the following information:

Required Performance. Lists the contract requirements that are considered necessary for acceptable contract performance (column 1). The absence from this PRS of any contract requirement, however, shall not detract from its enforceability or limit the rights or remedies of the Government under any provisions of the contract.

Performance Standard. Describes the standards that performance of each contract requirement must meet or exceed (column 2).

Performance Requirement for Acceptable Performance or Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). Set forth the AQL of performance for each listed service that must occur for the Contractor to receive a satisfactory rating for the listed service (column 3).

Maximum Error Rate (MER). Lists the maximum for not meeting the performance requirement before the incentive applicable (column 4).

Method of Surveillance. Sets forth the primary surveillance methods the Government will use to evaluate the Contractor’s performance in meeting the contract requirements (column 5).

Incentive. Lists the incentive, negative or positive to be applied once the MER is exceeded (column 6).

Figure A. Location of Cook’s Lake Conservation Area

Figure B. Boundary of Cook’s Lake Conservation Area.

Figure C. Location of fencing around and through the Cook’s Lake Conservation Area.

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In te rio n

Fe nc e

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In te rio r F en ce

Figure D. Location of both the interior and exterior treatment areas adjacent to PZ Ranch Road.