B08_Attch1_PWS_STRC_WUIbreakMaint2022_13pp.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

1.1 SCOPE OF WORK: Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, training, operating supplies, and all other items and services necessary to ensure Herbicide treatment and Mechanical control of woody and non-woody plants that overhang or occupy the existing Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) fire breaks (traditional breaks) on the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. All woody material cut within the designated WUI fuel breaks shall be chipped by a mechanical chipper. All woody material cut within the designated WUI fuel breaks shall be discarded off and away from the fuel break/roads. After WUI fuel breaks have been cut and cleared, specific herbicides shall be applied to grass, herbaceous plants, and woody stumps according to procedures indicated in Technical Exhibit 2, Specifications for Herbicide Use. The Contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 PERSONNEL:

1.2.1 CONTRACT MANAGER. The Contractor shall provide an onsite contract manager who shall be fully responsible for the performance of the work under the requirements and specifications of this contract. The name of this individual (and an alternate person who shall act for the Contractor when the manager is absent), shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and the

Contracting Officer (CO).

1.2.2. AUTHORITY. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract.

1.2.3. AVAILABILITY. The contract manager or any alternates shall be available at the work site during normal work hours to meet with Government personnel designated by the CO to discuss any progress status or current concerns.

1.2.4. LANGUAGE. The contract manager and any alternates must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English fluently.

1.3 QUALITY CONTROL:

1.3.1 ESTABLISH & MAINTAIN. The Contractor shall establish and maintain a complete Quality Control Plan (QCP), to ensure the requirements of the contract are provided as specified. One copy of the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan shall be provided to the Contracting Officer not later than the pre-performance conference. An updated copy must be provided to the CO on the contract start work date, and as changes occur.

1.3.2. CONTENT. The QCP shall comply with the requirements of Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Clause 52-246-4, Inspection of Services - Fixed Price, which is incorporated in the contract. The plan shall include the following:

1.3.3. INSPECTION SYSTEM. An inspection system covering all the services specified in this (PWS). It must specify the areas to be inspected on either a scheduled or unscheduled basis (Random), how often inspections will be accomplished and the title

Attachment 1-2 of the individual(s) who will perform the inspections.

1.3.4. IDENTIFICATION AND PREVENTION. The methods for identifying and preventing defects in the quality of service performed before performance becomes unacceptable.

1.3.5. RECORDS. On-site records of all inspections conducted by the Contractor, and necessary corrective action taken. This documentation shall be made available to the

COR & CO during the term of the Delivery Order.

1.3.6. GOVERNMENT REVIEW. The Contractor QCP shall be submitted to the CO for approval. If the plan is not adequate as submitted, then the deficiencies will be identified to the Contractor in writing. The Contractor shall correct all identified deficiencies and submit a corrected Contractor QCP within 10 days or contract start work date, whichever is sooner.

1.4 QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA):

1.4.1. QUALITY ASSURANCE EVALUATORS (QAE). The COR or a designated inspector shall monitor contractor performance, and inspect and accept or reject the services performed, as required by the Delivery Order. The name and telephone number of the COR and/or inspector will be furnished to the Contractor in writing by the CO.

1.4.2. GOVERNMENT EVALUATION. The COR or designated inspector will evaluate the Contractor’s performance under this contract using a visual inspection

(Random or Scheduled). If the inspection reveals that any contract provision has not been met the COR will inform the contract manager (or alternate) of the discrepancies.

The contract manager will then inform the COR of when the discrepancies will be corrected and available for reinspection by the Government.

1.5 HOURS OF OPERATION:

1.5.1. NORMAL HOURS: All work on this contract shall be conducted between daylight and dark. For work requiring coordination with the COR, work must be conducted between Sunday- through Saturday, from sunrise to sunset. No work is to be performed by the Contractor outside of normal work hours, unless it has been requested and agreed upon, and/or previously approved by the COR.

1.6. DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDS: All documentation, records and schedules, as described in this PWS that are the responsibility of the Contractor, are the property of the

Government and shall be turned over to the Government upon completion or termination of this contract. All records are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and to the Privacy Act and any such requests for release of any records shall be handled accordingly.

Attachment 1-3

DEFINITIONS

2.1 STANDARD DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO): A Government person that has been delegated authority to enter into, administer, and terminate contracts and make determinations and findings on behalf of the Government.

2.1.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR): A Government person appointed by the Contracting Officer (CO), to help the contracting officer with contract administration. This person may also be responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.3. DEFECTIVE SERVICE: A unit of service which contains one or more defects, or nonconformance with the specified requirements.

2.1.4. QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA): Those actions taken by the Government to assure that services meet the specifications and requirements of the (PWS). Such as

Random Inspection and Final Inspection methods.

2.1.5. QUALITY CONTROL (QC): Those actions that are taken by the Contractor to control the performance of the services so that they meet the requirements of the (PWS).

2.3 ACRONYMS:

CO Contracting Officer

COR Contracting Officer’s Representative

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PWS Performance Work Statement

QA Quality Assurance

QAE Quality Assurance Evaluator

QC Quality Control

QCP Quality Control Plan

STRC South Texas Refuge Complex

WUI Wildland Urban Interface

Attachment 1-4

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, MATERIALS and SERVICES

3.1. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED MATERIALS:

3.1.1. The Government shall supply all materials for chemical treatments, including herbicides, surfactants (if used), and colorants (if used).

3.2. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED SERVICES and FACILITIES:

3.2.1. The Government will provide an agency representative to acquaint the

Contractor with the work area(s) to be completed.

3.2.2. Adequate maps for orientation of contractor personnel working on this contract will be available.

3.2.3. There are no Government-furnished facilities available under the terms and specifications of the contract.

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4.1. GENERAL. Except for those items or services specifically stated to be Government furnished, the Contractor is responsible for furnishing and providing everything required to perform the Line Items tasks and requirements in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The

Contractor shall furnish and provide all labor, trained crew personnel, appropriate equipment (in good working condition), facilities, materials, trained equipment operators, supervision, training, supplies, tools, transportation and any other items and services needed to perform the specified Line Item tasks of this Delivery Order.

4.2. VEGETATION CUTTING, CLEARING EQUIPMENT. No Soil disturbing equipment or tracked vehicles shall be used during the performance of this contract. These include, but are not limited to bulldozers, graders/maintainers, or disking equipment. Equipment used on refuge

WUI fuel breaks/roads may not be wider or higher than established paths, generally 15-20 feet wide with a minimum overhead clearance of 12 feet.

Attachment 1-5

DETAILED REQUIREMENTS & SPECIFICATIONS

5.1. GENERAL: The Contractor is solely responsible for familiarizing themselves with the work locations, as well as the nature and scope of the tasks.

5.1.1. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. In order to accomplish this work (in the approved WUI breaks, trails and roads) the Contractor shall begin work after Notice to

Proceed has been issued and is given a period of 365 days to accomplish the designated work. The Contractor will be required to review the work areas and develop a schedule of work to be submitted to the COR for their review and approval before any work begins on each task. The priority will be based on mutual agreement between the

Contractor and the COR; i.e., where significant vegetation re-growth has occurred undermining the effective use of the WUI breaks, and roads being of highest priority for the tasks.

5.1.2. FREQUENCY SCHEDULE

The WUI breaks, road and trail maintenance work shall be conducted three (3) times a year (March, July, and October).

5.1.3. LENGTH OF CONTRACT- The contract is for the period of one (1) year, with up to four (4) option years (subject to the availability of funds).

5.1.4. WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS. Certain weather conditions may require work restrictions. Rain events of over one-inch rainfall in the Rio Grande Valley usually make refuge roads undriveable due to the clay soils of the region. No vehicles will be allowed to operate on unpaved refuge roads or trails under these conditions. The COR will determine when such conditions exist and require these restrictions. Usually if the rain event is followed by one or more full days of dry weather the vehicle restriction can be lifted. Extreme fire danger in the project area may require work shutdowns or reduced hours of operation (i.e., no saws or machinery after 1 p.m.). The South Texas Refuge

Complex (STRC) Fire Management Officer (or his acting) will determine when such conditions exist and will notify the COR the day prior to the restrictions going into effect. The Contractor will be informed by the COR when these restrictions are in effect.

5.1.5. CONFLICTS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT USE. The Contractor

acknowledges that this project is on a National Wildlife Refuge and agrees to move their personnel, equipment and operations at their expense if the area that tasks are being performed is needed for other Government use. In the event of interference due to such requirements, the Government shall grant additional time to complete the tasks not completed, based on a day for day basis.

5.1.6. ENDANGERED WILDLIFE. Unplanned contact with or disturbance of threatened or endangered wildlife or plant species within a work area may require suspension of work in that area. The Contractor shall inform the COR immediately if such contact is suspected (the Government may provide a substitute area for the

Contractor to work in if one is available within the same magnitude of task).

Attachment 1-6

5.2 SAFETY and HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:

5.2.1. WORK REQUIREMENTS. The contractor shall perform work in a safe manner and is responsible to be in full compliance with all Federal (including OSHA), State and local policies, rules, regulations and requirements pertinent to the work/tasks being performed under this contract. The Contractor must be licensed to handle and treat with the herbicides it will use.

5.2.2. EQUIPMENT CONDITION. All equipment shall be maintained in good operating condition. All safety precautions and requirements shall be implemented and complied with when using equipment. All safety devices shall be in place on-site and function properly on all equipment being used. All operations shall be conducted in compliance with all Federal, State, and local occupational health and safety laws and regulations, including OSHA.

5.2.3. GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING and SANITATION. The Contractor shall be responsible for proper handling and disposal of all waste including (but not limited to) general trash/waste, human waste, hazardous materials, and haz-waste (i.e., oily rags, discarded oil or fuel). All trash is to be picked up and removed daily. No government facilities (i.e., restrooms or trash receptacles) are available at the work sites.

5.2.4. FIRE RESPONSIBILITY. Any fire starts that are caused by the Contractor shall be quickly extinguished. The Santa Ana Fire Dispatch shall be informed immediately by calling (956)784-7520. Each vehicle used on the contract shall have a 5-pound, ABC rated fire extinguisher mounted in the vehicle. Fire extinguishers shall be readily available for any fire starts. All fire extinguishers shall be inspected and certified for use

(with inspection tag attached) prior to starting this contract.

Attachment 1-7

SPECIFIC TASKS

SITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION/STANDARDS

6.1. CUT WOODY PLANTS: All woody plants along the approved scheduled WUI breaks shall be cut from within the WUI break profile (15-20 feet wide) according to Technical Exhibit

1.

6.1.1. QUALITY STANDARD: After cutting, all WUI breaks shall be free of overhanging woody plants within the WUI break profile up to a height of 12 feet from the ground. Large trees that have limbs high above the travel paths (foot or vehicle) need not be disturbed unless necessary for the safety of the workers.

6.2. CLEAR MATERIAL CUT: All cut plant materials shall be cleared from within the

WUI break and road profiles.

6.2.1. QUALITY STANDARD: After clearing all WUI fuel breaks profiles shall be free of cut plant materials. Cuttings shall be chipped and scattered in the immediate vicinity or hauled away to a designated, central site on the refuge to be chipped. Chips may not exceed a thickness of 1-inch, a width of 3 inches, or a length of 6 inches.

6.3. CUT GRASS AND OTHER NON-WOODY PLANTS: All grass and other non-woody plants along the scheduled WUI breaks shall be cut from within the WUI break profile (See

Description of Work for widths and lengths/distances). All grass and other non-woody plants along the scheduled roads shall be cut from within the road profile and shoulders.

6.3.1. QUALITY STANDARD: After cutting, all grass and non-woody plants on WUI breaks shall not exceed a height of 3 inches above soil level within the WUI fuel break or road profile above soil level. The shoulders of paved roads shall be cut 4 feet out onto each shoulder from the outside edge of the pavement and to the same height as unpaved roads.

6.4. CUT WOODY AND NON-WOODY PLANTS: All woody and herbaceous plants existing within designated WUI break (see Description of Work for widths and lengths/distances) shall be cut except for scattered individual reserve trees marked with flagging for retention by the COR or inspector.

6.4.1. QUALITY STANDARD: After cutting, all woody and non-woody plants (except for reserve trees) shall have been cut and woody plant stump height shall not exceed 3 inches, with no live limbs below the cut. Stumps are to be cut clean and flat (0 slope or angle) so as to provide for a suitable surface for hand application of herbicide.

Application of this herbicide is described in Technical Exhibit 2. Grasses and other non-woody plants shall be cut to a height not exceeding 4 inches above soil level. Grass clippings shall be directed and discharged away from paved roads and refuge fences.

Attachment 1-8

6.5. CHIPPING OF WOODY DEBRIS: All woody material cut within the WUI breaks and paved roads shall be chipped by a mechanical woodchipper.

6.5.1. QUALITY STANDARD: Chips shall not exceed a thickness of 1-inch, a width of 3 inches, or a length of 5 inches. Outflow of chips from the chipper shall be directed away from the fuel break. Accumulations on the ground shall not exceed a depth of 3 inches.

6.6. HERBICIDE APPLICATION: After cutting, all woody and non-woody plant stumps or stubble shall receive an application of prescribed chemical herbicide according to Technical

Exhibit 2, Specifications for Herbicide Use.

6.6.1. QUALITY STANDARD: All cut woody and non-woody plant surfaces shall exhibit tracer dye residue to verify herbicide application has occurred per Technical

Exhibit 2. Chemical usage reports shall be provided to the COR as indicated in

Technical Exhibit 2.

Attachment 1-9

Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Description of Work

This project is designed to reduce the threat of fire to the refuge and the associated structures and improvements and maintain the existing Wildland Urban Interface Fuel breaks (WUI breaks) for public and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purposes. The WUI breaks are located on the property boundaries between the refuge and private landowners. The WUI breaks provide fire protection to urban development and the refuge by reducing and/or eliminating fire spread.

The WUI Fuel Breaks on the refuge are accessible by two-wheel drive pickup trucks and crew haul vehicles.

Grass in the WUI fuel breaks shall be mowed to a height not exceeding 3 inches above soil level. The WUI breaks shall be mowed to a width of 15-20 feet (see Technical Exhibit 1) from private landowner boundary inward onto refuge property.

The WUI fuel break maintenance shall consist of cutting and trimming up vegetation overhanging the typical travel paths and vertical profile of the fuel breaks. All plants shall be trimmed up to a height of 12 feet from the ground within the WUI fuel break profile. Large trees that have limbs high above the travel vehicle paths shall not be disturbed unless necessary for the safety of the workers. Any woody vegetation cut from along the WUI break shall be chipped or hauled off to an appropriate area to be chipped. Chips may not exceed a thickness of

1-inch, a width of 3 inches, or a length of 5 inches. The outflow of chips from the chipper shall be directed away from the private property boundary and the WUI break profile onto the refuge.

The chipper shall be moved along as work progresses to prevent chips from accumulating in brush/tree canopies or creating piles on the ground. Accumulations on the ground may not exceed a depth of 3 inches. Some WUI fuel breaks may require the Contractor to discharge chips onto a small containment trailer and haul them to a storage area on the refuge due to the dense vegetation along the WUI fuel break not allowing chips to fall to the ground.

Follow up maintenance of the grassy portions along the WUI fuel breaks shall receive an application of prescribed chemical herbicide according to Technical Exhibit 2, Specifications for Herbicide Use.

Certain weather conditions may require work restrictions. Rain events of over one-inch rainfall in the Rio Grande Valley usually make refuge WUI fuel breaks and roads un-drivable due to the region's clay soils. No vehicles will be allowed to operate on unpaved refuge roads, WUI fuel breaks, or trails under these conditions. The COR will determine when such conditions exist and require these restrictions. Usually, the vehicle restriction can be lifted if the rain event is followed by one or more full days of dry weather. Extreme fire danger in the project area may require work shutdowns or reduced hours of operation (i.e., no saws or machinery after 1 p.m.)

—the STRC Fire Management Officer (or his acting) will determine when such conditions exist and notify the COR the day before the restrictions go into effect. The Contractor will be informed by the COR when these restrictions are in effect.

Attachment 1-10

The Government will occasionally monitor the work as it progresses for compliance to the contract. Inspections will be made by the Government using a visual examination of the work areas for compliance with all terms and specifications within 5 calendar days after notice is given to the COR that the work is completed. If the work does not meet contract requirements, corrections shall be made within 7 calendar days. The Contractor shall maintain an inspection system.

Attachment 1-11

Technical Exhibit 1:

LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY NWR DESIGNATED FUEL BREAKS

(Revised 4/2022)

Item Tract Name

Strip

Width Est. Distance Acres per

Location by

City

Number (ft.) (ft.) treatment and County

1 Ranchito 20 7,429 3.41 Brownsville

(Hwy 281 fence) 6 3,168 0.44 Cameron

2 NW Ranchito 15 6,621 2.28 San Benito

Cameron

3 Garza-Cavazos 15 (avg.) 3,042 1.06 Brownsville

Cameron

4 Villa Nueva 20 (avg.) 5,080 1.45 Brownsville

(Hwy 281 fence) 6 2,115 0.29 Cameron

5 Phillips Banco 15 243 0.08 Brownsville

Cameron

6 Jeronimo Banco 20 1,241 0.57 Brownsville

Cameron

7 Bosque de la 20 1,056 0.48 Brownsville

Palma Cameron

8 Tiocano Lake 20 (avg.) 1,410 0.52 Santa Rosa

White Ranch Roadside 393' x 20' 0.18 Cameron

9 Pharr Basin 15 (avg.) 3,461 1.32 Pharr

Hidalgo

10 Granjeno 25 350 0.20 Granjeno

Hidalgo

Attachment 1-12

LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY NWR DESIGNATED FUEL BREAKS

(revised 4/2022)

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 1, Page 2 of 2

Item Tract Name

Strip

Width Est. Distance Acres per

Location by

Number (ft.) (ft.) Treatment and County

11 Tortuga Banco 20 393 0.18 Mission

Hidalgo

12 Palmview 20 (avg.) 9,119 4.50 Palmview

Hidalgo

13 La Joya 15 488 0.17 La Joya

Hidalgo

14 Alto Bonito 15 2,600 0.90 Alto Bonito

Starr

15 La Grulla 25 893 0.51 La Grulla

(Retama) Starr

16 La Brisa 20 1,780 1.23 Garciasville

Starr

17 La Puerta 20 (avg.) 3,990 1.78 La Casita

Starr

18 Las Velas 1 20 5,808 2.67

Rio Grande

Starr

19 Las Velas 2 20 143 0.06

Rio Grande

Starr

Total Acres

24.28

Attachment 1-13

Technical Exhibit 2:

Specifications for Herbicide Use

The Contractor shall obtain the necessary permits (providing the COR with a copy of the commercial permit), training, and provide for worker safety as required by the State of Texas in order to apply agricultural chemicals. All chemicals shall be used according to the manufacturer’s label specifications, and according to the special instructions given below. The

Government will provide pesticide use forms. These shall be completed by the Contractor for each project area and given to the COR at the completion of each application of herbicide.

Imazapyr & Glyphosate Mixture with non-ionic surfactant: This is an aqueous solution to be mixed with water and applied as a spray for control of most annual and perennial grasses and broadleaf weeds on non-cropland areas. The application of this type of herbicide is most effective when the target plants are actively growing. The grasses and weeds targeted for control in the WUI fuel break are primarily Guineagrass, Buffelgrass, and broadleaf weeds.

The herbicide shall be applied during daylight hours; when temperature is at or above 70˚F; and a maximum wind speed of 10 mph. The rate at which Imazapyr (27.6 percent active ingredient) shall be applied is a 1-percent solution mixed with a 1-percent solution of glyphosate (48.7 percent active ingredient) delivered at 6 to 12 gallons per acre. Tracer dye approved for use with herbicides shall be used to confirm uniform coverage of the vegetation foliage, and inspection processes. The Imazapyr/Glyphosate solution shall be applied according to the Specimen Label with particular adherence to controlling droplet size, application height, drift, and sensitive areas. Lack of seasonal rainfall and weed growth may result in delays and waiting for the appropriate timing for effective herbicide application. The Contractor shall obtain verbal approval from the COR prior to application of this type of herbicide.