ATTACHMENT A PWS Herbicide Treatment Navajo Dam.pdf

Performance Work Statement Page 1 of 13

US Department of the Interior Western Colorado Area Office Bureau of Reclamation Durango, Colorado

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Herbicide Treatment at Navajo Dam Maintenance Facility

4/15/2021 thru 04/14/2026

1 SCOPE

1.1 Objective

The objective of this award is to acquire contractor services to control invasive plant and algae species and other undesirable plant and algae species within the Primary Jurisdiction Area (PJA) and the “Boneyard” at Navajo Dam in northwestern New Mexico. The approximate treatment area is 100 acres total, as described in Attachment A.

The two primary purposes for noxious weed control at Navajo Dam are: 1) safety of dams and related structures, and 2) noxious and/or nuisance weed control around public facilities and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) facilities. Certain weeds, primarily woody vegetation, must be controlled where species roots have the potential to cause or contribute toward structural problems on dams and related structures. Furthermore, noxious and nuisance weeds have the potential to create fire hazards, preclude desirable vegetation and associated wildlife, increase maintenance costs, and detract from aesthetics.

1.2 Background and Location

Navajo Dam Navajo Dam, which is part of the Navajo Unit of the Colorado River Storage Project, is located about 38 miles upstream of Farmington, New Mexico, and about 55 miles southeast of Durango, Colorado. Navajo Dam was completed in 1963 under the authority of the Colorado River Storage Project Act (CRSPA) to meet multiple water resource purposes. The reservoir provides important recreation and fish and wildlife benefits; however, its primary purposes are for flood control and to provide irrigation water for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP). Navajo Reservoir, which extends into both Colorado and New Mexico, has a surface area of 15,610 acres, is approximately 35 miles long, and includes over 150 miles of shoreline.

1.2.1 Excluded Areas

Areas excluded from this document are those areas outside of the PJA designated boundary, except for the Boneyard. See attached Appendix A.

ATTACHMENT A

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2 REFERENCES

The following list of documents is required in the performance of this contract:

Number Title & Edition Date Source

1 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan and Integrated Weed Management Plan 9/2020 US Bureau of

Reclamation

3 TASKS

This Performance Work Statement addresses vegetation management for the PJA and Boneyard area as defined in the map provided in Attachment A.

3.1 Treatment of Noxious Weeds and Other Undesirable Plant and Algae Species:

The contractor will be required to treat, at a 90% kill rate:

1. Noxious plants and algae identified on the State of New Mexico Noxious Weed List

(Appendix B), to include the priority species listed below:

a. Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare),

b. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

c. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)

d. Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)

e. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

f. Tamarisk or salt cedar (Tamarix spp.)

2. Priority non-noxious broadleaf plants to include the species listed in Appendix C.

3. Native plant species that have the potential to impact dam infrastructure, including, but not limited to, species listed in Appendix C.

4. Non-noxious aquatic plants growing along the San Juan River shorelines downstream from the dam, and in canals and ditches, including, but not limited to, species listed in Appendix C.

Kill rates of targeted species will be assessed by the contractor and Reclamation staff after thirty

(30) days to determine herbicide efficacy. If less than a 90% kill rate has not be obtained, the contractor will be required to retreat at their own expense. It is the responsibility of the contractor to attend the 30-day inspection, which will occur with or without the contractor’s presence.

3.2 Application Requirements:

Based on plant phenology and herbicide response, spring and fall treatments will be required. Depending on plant growth and weather conditions, 3-5 on-call treatments of annual and biennial species may also be required during the summer months.

Spring Treatments:

Spring treatments, which will be accomplished between April 15-June 1 each year, will focus on seepage areas and on the treatment of other early seral plant species. The spring spray will be accomplished in five (5) working days. No spraying or disturbance will occur within 150 feet of an osprey nest located near the spillway.

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Aquatic approved herbicide and surfactant must be applied to seepage, wetland, and riparian areas per herbicide manufacturer label instruction. Application of a colored biodegradable dye which holds its color for three days is required. Seepage areas include locations on the downstream face of the dam to include the right and left toe drains, face of the bench on the right side, and ten feet adjacent to the road system at the toe of the dam, starting at the O&M headquarters and ending at the Outlet Works. The contractor will be required to coordinate with the Maintenance Supervisor and COR to identify these areas prior to commencing spraying activities.

Bare ground treatment is required along roadways, at the parking lots located at the top of Navajo Dam, the Outlet Works Parking area, Headquarters, and the Boneyard. Furthermore, a 6’ kill zone is required on each side of fence lines located within and bordering the PJA.

Fall Treatments:

The fall treatment, which will be completed between September 1 and December 31 each year, will focus on woody plant control on the downstream face of the dam, along with the control of other woody plant species in the treatment area. Rabbitbrush and any other woody plants will be targeted; only grass should be left on the face of the dam for erosion control. Based on the efficacy of the spring treatment, additional treatment of the seepage area may be required, with an aquatic approved herbicide. Likewise, additional treatment of the bare ground areas may require spot spraying.

Summer Treatments:

Summer spraying will be coordinated with the contractor based on the growth and abundance of undesirable annual and biennial weeds. Treatment of woody plant species will not be required during the summer months.

Application Technique and Considerations:

Application of herbicide can be accomplished using a low-pressure hand sprayer, backpack sprayer, tractor, or all-terrain vehicle, depending on the location of the infestation. As some areas consist of steep, rock covered embankments, some non-technical climbing will be required to treat infested areas. When working on the dam, care must be taken to prevent damage to the embankment. There are some areas where a UTV might be able to access portions of the area, but it is anticipated that a large portion of the treatments will be done on foot.

The contractor will exercise care to preserve the natural landscape and will access and conduct work operations to prevent unnecessary destruction, scarring, or defacing of the natural surroundings in the vicinity of the work area. If damage to the property, other than the treatment of targeted vegetation, occurs, the contractor shall repair damage at their expense, as directed by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). This is to include privately owned vehicles parked in public parking lots on the top of Navajo Dam.

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The contractor will furnish labor, materials, and equipment to apply approved herbicides. An on-site storage facility for herbicide is not available, however, the contractor may furnish their own shed for herbicide and fuel storage for the duration of the contract. The contractor furnished shed shall not have a footprint larger than 20-ft x 20-ft. Water is available for herbicide mixing, but wash-out must occur off-site.

3.3 Notification and Work Hours:

The contractor will be expected to schedule work with the Navajo Dam Maintenance Supervisor or the COR three days prior to the anticipated start date of treatment activities.

The supervisor and/or COR’s contact information will be provided at the time of contract award.

The COR will be in contact with the contractor ten (10) days prior to the date of required treatment.

The contractor is expected to check in at the O&M headquarters building prior to starting any work at the site, including site inspections or treatment of plant species. The contractor is also required to check out at the same O&M headquarters at the conclusion of each workday.

All work must be completed between the hours of 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday-Friday. No work will be completed on Federal holidays or on weekends.

3.4 Cultural Compliance:

The contractor will be expected to coordinate with Reclamation regarding any activities that may impact cultural resources. The COR will make the contractor aware of any potentially impacted activities.

3.5 Reporting:

The contractor will be required to complete a report at the end of each treatment period that includes the following information:

• Treatment date(s)

• Map of treatment area, including shapefile of treatment sites

• Acres treated, including both treatment and coverage acres o Treatment areas are defined as the amount of area covered by herbicide.

o Coverage acres includes the total area covered by field staff assessing an area for weeds.

• Amount and type of herbicide used

• Percentage of target weed species remaining after treatment

• Representative photos

3.6 Development of Safety Plan:

The Contractor is required to furnish a Safety Plan to Reclamation’s technical representative within 20 days of contract award and to employees assigned to task work as follows: The

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Safety Plan, at a minimum, shall include requirements for use of protective clothing such as;

protective eye wear and long sleeves, as well as a summary of safety and emergency procedures to be used in the event of insect, rodent, or reptile bites (i.e. rattlesnake bites). A good source of Reference is Reclamation’s Safety and Health Standards, which can be found at the following website: https://www.usbr.gov/safety/rshs/index.html.

3.7 Certifications, Chemical Usage, and Personnel Requirements:

Qualified applicants shall be knowledgeable about plant species of northwestern New Mexico, including both native and nonnative species and be able to distinguish between them in the field. Preference will be given to contractors with five years or more of rangeland, riparian, and aquatic weed management experience.

Reclamation requires that the Contractor be fully certified to apply appropriate weed and vegetation control measures in the project area. The Contractor (or designated subcontractor) must possess, at a minimum, a commercial applicator’s license for the State of New Mexico to dispense herbicides in industrial-right-of-way, rangeland settings, and in wetland areas for weed control work involving herbicide application. Documentation must be furnished to Reclamation at the close of solicitation and/or when personnel changes occur.

A list of the chemicals intended for use in the Project area must be submitted, reviewed and approved by the Contracting Officer (CO) at least five (5) days prior to application and must be legal and appropriate to the site-specific conditions where they are to be applied. A safety hazard analysis and the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for chemicals used must be submitted to the CO for each chemical with the chemical list shall also be submitted to the CO at the same time.

Failure to comply with the manufacturer’s instructions, safety, and/or schedules may result, at the discretion of the Government, in the termination of this contract. No damage claims may be filed against the Government for the termination of this contract.

Reclamation defers to a list of herbicides approved by the BLM. Herbicides formulations approved for use on lands the BLM administers in the 17 Western States. The BLM list of approved herbicides can be found at:

https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/BLM%20Approved%20Herbicide% 20Formulations%20-%20April%204,%202019.pdf https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blm.gov%2Fsites%2Fblm.gov%2Ffiles%2Fdocuments%2Ffiles%2FBLM%2520Approved%2520Herbicide%2520Formulations%2520-%2520April%25204%2C%25202019.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cdhays%40usbr.gov%7C85b3881d7150441fad4f08d8b3da40d7%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C637457097257975374%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2Bv22W0kpiGQI7Av1F7eeptqHjxwwZBQ%2FSfF1OD9CWnk%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blm.gov%2Fsites%2Fblm.gov%2Ffiles%2Fdocuments%2Ffiles%2FBLM%2520Approved%2520Herbicide%2520Formulations%2520-%2520April%25204%2C%25202019.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cdhays%40usbr.gov%7C85b3881d7150441fad4f08d8b3da40d7%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C637457097257975374%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2Bv22W0kpiGQI7Av1F7eeptqHjxwwZBQ%2FSfF1OD9CWnk%3D&reserved=0

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4 Performance Requirements Summary Task Task Descriptions Timeframe Performance

Indicator Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

Surveillance Method Incentive & Disincentive

3.1 Treatment of Noxious Weeds and Other Undesirable Plant and Algae Species

Treatment shall include all State of New Mexico noxious weeds and all other undesirable broadleaf and woody plant species. Treatment of algae may also be required.

April-December annually

Percent cover of species

A 90% kill rate of target species has been achieved.

30-day post-treatment inspection

Document when performance exceeds the standard. If performance is below standard for a given period, require contractor to re-perform service at no additional cost to the government.

3.2 Application Requirements

Treatment will occur during the specified timeframes using approved herbicides and approved application methods.

Treatment commensurate with plant growth

Species are treated according to appropriate growth stage and desired herbicide response

Random inspection Same as above

3.3 Notification and Work Hours

Contractor must work specified hours and follow check-in and check-out procedures.

Communication with Reclamation

Clear communication and adherence to policies

Visitor logs and work reports Same as above

3.4 Cultural Compliance

The contractor will also be expected to coordinate with Reclamation regarding any activities that may impact cultural resources (e.g. repairing or removing structures, etc.).

Extent of contract

Communication with Reclamation

Prompt communication about any activities that have the potential to impact cultural resources

Random inspection Same as above

3.5 Reporting

This task will consist of completing report, which will include a synopsis of the assessments and treatment plans utilized, to include requirements outlined in the Tasks section above.

End of treatment period

Report submitted

Completion of report with required elements Read report Same as above

3.6 Safety Plan

The Safety Plan, at a minimum, shall include requirements for use of protective clothing such as;

protective eye wear, leather leg chaps, as well as a summary of safety and emergency procedures to be used in the event of insect, rodent, or reptile bites.

20 days within award of contract

Report submitted

Completion of report with required elements Read report Same as above

3.7 Certifications, Chemical Usage, and Personnel Requirements

Provide Commercial Applicator’s license documentation, Safety Hazard Analysis and SDS info.

At close of the Solicitation SDS 5 days before spraying.

Documentation submitted

Completion of report with required elements Read report Same as above

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5 DATA, REPORTS, AND DELIVERABLES

Item No.

Description Content Format Medium Delivery

1 Herbicide Spray Reports/Treatment Info

PWS Section 3.5

Microsoft Word

Electronic report and shp files of treatment areas

1 copy delivered to COR within 5 days of treatment

3 Safety Plan PWS Section 3.6

Microsoft Word

Electronic report 1 copy delivered to COR within 20 business days of award

4 Commercial Applicator’s License

PWS Section 3.7

PDF or JPEG Electronic report 1 copy delivered to Government at the close of the Solicitation

5 Safety Hazard Analysis and Safety Data Sheets

PWS Section 3.7

Microsoft Word of PDF

Electronic report 1 copy at least 5 days prior to application of any chemical

6 REGULATIONS

The Contractor must comply with State and local authority, laws and associated regulations, and chemical labels and SDS information and requirements as associated with any chemical applications.

Applicable Federal laws include:

• The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) o No chemicals that are banned or severely restricted under FIFRA will be used under the scope of this contract. All chemicals will be utilized in compliance with their labeled uses and precautions.

• Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) o Any disturbance of vegetation between April 1 and September 1 of any year will require pre-work surveys to ensure the activity will not disturb any nesting migratory birds. Contractor will be required to coordinate with Reclamation’s COR to schedule migratory bird surveys during these times; surveys will ‘clear’ an area of 5 calendar days.

• Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) o Integrated vegetation management activities are not anticipated to require disturbance of any vegetation with the potential for bald or golden eagle nesting.

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) o Reclamation will ensure any required NEPA compliance documentation is completed.

• Federal Noxious Weed Act

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• Clean Water Act (CWA)

• Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The Contractor must have a valid business license. Any vehicle or equipment operators operating on the site must have appropriate valid operators/drivers licenses.

The Government will periodically make field site visits (typically weekly or bi-weekly) to review the progress made in the completion of Tasks and provide instructions/comments on an as-needed basis. The Government shall also periodically review the safety practices of the Contractor.

7 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The contract base period will be from April 15, 2021 to April 14, 2022, with four potential option years to follow.

8 MATERIAL TO BE FURNISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT

The Contractor is responsible for providing all supplies, materials and equipment to accomplish these work items.

9 GOVERNMENT CONTACTS

Contract Specialist:

Nathan Crane – Contract Specialist Bureau of Reclamation – Upper Colorado Basin Region 7 125 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1147 Phone: 801-524-3718 Email: ncrane@usbr.gov

Contracting Officer:

Dan Hays – Contract Specialist Bureau of Reclamation – Upper Colorado Region 125 S. State St – Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1147 Phone: 801-524-3757 Email: dhays@usbr.gov

Contracting Officer’s Representative:

Shannon Hatch – Biological Science Technician Bureau of Reclamation – Western Colorado Area Office 185 Suttle Street, Suite 2 – Durango, CO 81303 Phone: 970-385-6573 Email: shatch@usbr.gov

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10 WORK PLAN AND COST FOR SERVICES

In response to this Performance Work Statement, the Contractor is required to provide a written Work Plan in their Quote package. The Work Plan must provide adequate information to give Reclamation a clear understanding of the level of effort, work schedule, anticipated labor mix, equipment, etc. proposed by the Contractor to complete the work.

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11 APPENDICES

Appendix A. Herbicide Treatment Area

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Appendix B. New Mexico Noxious Weed List; Updated June 2020

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Appendix C. Non-Noxious Plants and Algae Identified for Treatment at Navajo Dam

Broadleaf Plants Common Name Scientific Name Blue mustard Chorispora tenella Burdock Arctium minus Common purslane Portulaca oleracea Common sunflower Helianthus annuus Curly dock Rumex crispus Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis Flixweed Descurainia sophia Horseweed Conyza canadensis Kochia Kochia scoparia Lambsquarter Chenopodium species Marsh sowthistle Sonchus arvensis Phragmites Phragmites australis Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola Puncturevine Tribulus terrestris Ragweed Ambrosia spp.

Redroot pigweed Amaranthus retroflexus Russian thistle Salsola kali Spotted spurge Euphorbia maculata Tansy mustard Descurainia pinnata Tumble pigweed Amaranthus albus Western salsify Tragopogon dubius Yellow sweetclover Melilotus officinalis

Native Plants Common Name Scientific Name Rabbitbrush (chamisa) Ericameria nauseosa Willow Salix spp.

Aquatic Plants Common Name Scientific Name American pondweed Potamogeton nodosus Blue green algae Cyanobacteria Cattail Typha sp.

Common waterweed Elodea canadensis Northern watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum Sago pondweed Potamogeton pectinatus