B08_Sol_140P5423R0004_Attach__0005_-SOW_HID_Task_Order.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW)

Title: Everglades National Park, Hole-in-The-Donut (HID, Spoil Mound - Exotic Plant Management Treatment.

Project Objective: The Government wants to treat exotic vegetation on two (3) spoil mounds with additives that include treating exotic vegetation on up to seven (7) spoil mounds within the

HID.

Scope of Services: In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract, the Contractor shall perform the work of this task order for the National Park Service (NPS) as described below. The contractor is asked to perform the following services: furnishing all labor, equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), herbicides, dyes, and adjuvants for the control of exotic plants. Confidentiality: The information developed under this task order is the property of the U.S. government and shall be kept in strict confidence.

PERFORMANCE PERIOD:

The work of this task order shall be delivered from June 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023.

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION: In this document, the project shall be referred to as: HID – Mound Treatments.

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Project Location: Hole-in-the-Donut (HID) is in Everglades National Park (Figure 1).

Directions: From Homestead Florida take state road 9336 west to Everglades National Park. Do not go to the Ernest Coe Visitor Center. Instead, take Main Park Road through the fee booth station and turn left at signs for Royal Palm. Take your first right at the Daniel Beard Center/Bill Robertson Jr. Center sign. Then take the next right (at a stop sign) on to Research Road. Take Research Road 3-3/4 miles down to the Daniel Beard Center (a pink building on the left (or south) side of the road.

Project Size: Total potential acres including additives is approximately 228.5 acres.

Figure 1. The Hole-in-the-Donut wetland restoration project is located in Miami-Dade County, Homestead, FL within Everglades National Park.

Site Description and Information:

There are 8 spoil mounds located in the HID ranging in size from 14.9 acres to 43.7 acres. The mounds are built with the spoil material created from restoring the surrounding freshwater wetlands in the HID. They are approximately 35 feet tall, dry, and covered in native and exotic (non-native) vegetation. The area at the base of the spoil mounds (toe) may have standing water depending on the time of the year and water levels. The spoil mounds can be accessed by truck using unpaved/unimproved roads of the HID. The contractor may stage on the mounds themselves or on the adjacent unpaved roads.

For the purposes of this Task Order the mounds have been assigned a number. But in discussions they may also be referred to by their common names. Table 1 below shows the spoil mound number, common name, and acreage.

Table 1. The mound numbers, common names, and acreages for the mounds are provided below with (*) indicating the mounds the NPS would like to treat.

Mound Number Common Name Acres (ac.)

Mound 1 DBC Mound 21.7

Mound 2 East West Mound 30.1

Mound 3* ’03 Mound 30.3

Mound 4 ’04 Mound 14.9

Mound 5* ’05 Mound 28.3

Mound 6 ’07 Mound 30.2

Mound 7* ’14 Mound 29.3

Mound 8 ’19 Mound 43.7

The Government wants to treat Mound 3, Mound 5, and Mound 7. The government wants pricing for spoil mounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8. These mounds will be potential additives that the Government may also award. The potential total acreage of all the spoil mounds considered in this task order is 228.5 acres. Appendix A has maps and coverage data of nuisance and non-native species (shown as a FISC table in the appendix) of the mounds described in Table 1.

The maps and coverage data are intended to help the contractor with estimating effort.

Between this information and the site visits the contractor should have the ability to provide pricing.

II. FUNDING LIMITATIONS

The Government obligation for performance of this task order beyond spoil mound 5 and 7 is contingent upon the availability of funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond the amount that has been authorized through the issuance of written task orders.

III. SCOPE OF SERVICES-TASKS-ADDITIVES

Task 1.

Mound 5 (’05 Mound):

The prime contractor shall treat 100% of the Brazilian pepper - Schinus terebinthifolius, shoebutton ardisia - Ardisia eliptica, taro - Colocasia esculenta, Burma reed - Neyraudia reynaudiana, elephant grass - Pennisetum purpureum, and para grass - Urochloa mutica, growing on the mound (top and sides/slopes down to the toe of the mound). Treat plants with the appropriate herbicide, and hand-pull seedlings if able. Control efforts shall be 95% effective per each species. If a 95% kill rate is not achieved for each species after three months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the Government.

Task 2.

Mound 7 (’14 Mound):

The prime contractor shall treat 100% of the Brazilian pepper - Schinus terebinthifolius, shoebutton ardisia - Ardisia eliptica, taro - Colocasia esculenta, Burma reed - Neyraudia reynaudiana, elephant grass - Pennisetum purpureum, and para grass - Urochloa mutica, growing on the mound (top and sides/slopes down to the toe of the mound). Treat plants with the appropriate herbicide, and hand-pull seedlings if able. Control efforts shall be 95% effective per each species. If a 95% kill rate is not achieved for each species after three months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the Government.

Task 3.

Mound 3 (’03 Mound):

The prime contractor shall treat 100% of the Brazilian pepper - Schinus terebinthifolius, shoebutton ardisia - Ardisia eliptica, taro - Colocasia esculenta, Burma reed - Neyraudia reynaudiana, elephant grass - Pennisetum purpureum, and para grass - Urochloa mutica, growing on the mound (top and sides/slopes down to the tow of the mound). Treat plants with the appropriate herbicide, and hand-pull seedlings if able. Control efforts shall be 95% effective per each species. If a 95% kill rate is not achieved for each species after three months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the Government.

Additive 1 Mound 1 (DBC Mound):

The prime contractor shall treat 100% of the Brazilian pepper - Schinus terebinthifolius, shoebutton ardisia - Ardisia eliptica, taro - Colocasia esculenta, Burma reed - Neyraudia reynaudiana, elephant grass - Pennisetum purpureum, and para grass - Urochloa mutica, growing on the mound (top and side/slopes down to the toe of the mound. Treat plants with the appropriate herbicide, and hand-pull seedlings if able. Control efforts shall be 95% effective per each species. If a 95% kill rate is not achieved for each species after three months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the Government.

Additive 2 Mound 2 (East-West Mound):

The prime contractor shall treat 100% of the Brazilian pepper - Schinus terebinthifolius, shoebutton ardisia - Ardisia eliptica, taro - Colocasia esculenta, Burma reed - Neyraudia reynaudiana, elephant grass - Pennisetum purpureum, and para grass - Urochloa mutica, growing on the mound (top and sides/slopes down to the toe of the mound). Treat plants with the appropriate herbicide, and hand-pull seedlings if able. Control efforts shall be 95% effective per each species. If a 95% kill rate is not achieved for each species after three months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the Government.

Additive 3 Mound 4 (’04 Mound):

The prime contractor shall treat 100% of the Brazilian pepper - Schinus terebinthifolius, shoebutton ardisia - Ardisia eliptica, taro - Colocasia esculenta, Burma reed - Neyraudia reynaudiana, elephant grass - Pennisetum purpureum, and para grass - Urochloa mutica, growing on the mound (top and sides/slopes down to the tow of the mound). Treat plants with the appropriate herbicide, and hand-pull seedlings if able. Control efforts shall be 95% effective per each species. If a 95% kill rate is not achieved for each species after three months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the Government.

Additive 4 Mound 6 (’07 Mound):

The prime contractor shall treat 100% of the Brazilian pepper - Schinus terebinthifolius, shoebutton ardisia - Ardisia eliptica, taro - Colocasia esculenta, Burma reed - Neyraudia reynaudiana, elephant grass - Pennisetum purpureum, and para grass - Urochloa mutica, growing on the mound (top and sides/slopes down to the toe of the mound). Treat plants with the appropriate herbicide, and hand-pull seedlings if able. Control efforts shall be 95% effective per each species. If a 95% kill rate is not achieved for each species after three months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the Government.

Additive 5 Mound 8 (’19 Mound):

The prime contractor shall treat 100% of the Brazilian pepper – Schinus terebinthifolius, taro – Colocasia esculenta, para grass – Urochloa mutica, Burma reed – Neyraudia reynaudiana, Elephant grass – Pennisetum purpureum, and cattail – Typha spp. growing on the mound (top and sides/slopes down to the toe of the mound). Treat plants with the appropriate herbicide, and hand-pull seedlings if able. Control efforts shall be 95% effective per each species. If a 95% kill rate is not achieved for each species after three months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the Government.

General Services and Deliverables Applicable to each Task and Additives.

Herbicide Use:

1. All herbicide applications shall comply with product labels, including the location where it shall be applied, and the plants to which it shall be applied. The Contractor shall be familiar with and adhere to all Federal, state, and local safety regulations pertaining to aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial plant control operations including the transportation, application, and storage of herbicides.

2. Be familiar with, and adhere to, all Federal, state, territorial or local safety regulations pertaining to natural area weed control operations. The Contractor is liable for any penalty, fines, or damages resulting from the misuse of herbicides.

3. Any herbicide used shall be EPA/FDACS or have the appropriate Florida Special Local Needs (Section 24(c) FIFRA) registration. The contractor shall provide SDS information to the site manager and/or COR at least two weeks before the start of the project unless otherwise coordinated with the site manager and/or COR.

Treatment:

4. The prime contractor shall daily, record all treatment information for this project on NPS

Daily Progress Reports for Vegetation and keep GPS track log data of field crew activity. Each field employee shall be outfitted with a GPS unit (UTM compatible, a minimum of 10-meter accuracy), and one cellular phone per supervisor/applicator.

Treatment information shall include Date of treatment(s), Mound number and common name, Applicator, UTM Easting, UTM Northing, Species treated, Percent Cover of the Species treated, Acres treated, Herbicide brand name(s), Herbicide rate, Herbicide amount, Herbicide units, Adjuvant brand name(s), Adjuvant amount, Adjuvant rate, Adjuvant units, method of transportation, and equipment use.

5. The prime contractor shall obtain location coordinates and treatment information for all treatment sites using Global Positioning System (GPS). Location coordinates shall be in a Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system (UTM-North 17) using the NAD-83 datum. Information shall be recorded on the NPS Daily Progress Reports for Vegetation and supplied to the COR monthly. Fully charged GPS units shall be worn by individuals working on the project. The GPS track-logs shall be provided to the COR with the invoices. GPS Track Information shall be submitted as ArcMap GIS shape files compatible with ArcMap 10.X or ArcGIS Pro.

6. The prime contractor shall provide an on-site crew supervisor that is always present and is a certified pesticide applicator in the State of Florida. The ground crew supervisor should be able to communicate with all crew members in a common language and shall be responsible for:

a) overseeing all control activities and safety on project site including ensuring that crew members wear protective clothing, shoes, eye protection and any other items required by laws regulations, ordinances and/or manufactures instructions for materials and equipment.

b) assuring that all contract crew members are knowledgeable of local nuisance and exotic plant species and treat nuisance and exotic vegetation only within treatment boundaries;

c) coordinating with the NPS COR on a daily basis;

d) assuring availability and compliance with all appropriate herbicide labels, Safety

Data Sheets (SDS), and permit conditions;

e) assuring equipment is safe and in proper working condition;

f) avoiding damage to native/listed vegetation and wildlife;

g) having at least one working cell phone;

h) notifying ENP Dispatch (305) 242-7740 when they get to the work site in the morning, where contractor crews will be working for the day, and calling out at the end of the day when the contractor is leaving the work site;

i) being familiar with and adhering to any and all Federal, state or local safety regulations pertaining natural area weed control operations, and vehicle operations;

j) knowing all Category I and II invasive exotic plant species on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s (FLEPPC) 2019 List.

Equipment Use: Truck and ATVs/UTVs can be driven on paved and unpaved, unimproved roads within the project area. ATVs/UTVs and swap buggies are NOT permitted off road within this project area.

Python reporting and capture: If a python (Python molurus) is encountered during the conduction of exotic vegetation treatment during the period of performance for this project, the Python Sighting Hotline number should be notified 1-888-483-4681. Also, notify the COR.

IV. QUALITY STANDARDS

All work performed shall comply with applicable laws, regulations, NPS policies and guidelines, the requirements of the base IDIQ contract, and as described in this statement of work.

A. Plant Knowledge: The contractor shall have an in-depth knowledge of the treatment area plant community. This includes plant identification skills for both native and exotic species.

B. Site Housekeeping: The contractor shall keep a clean job site. Dirt clods, trash, and other debris shall be removed from the jobsite prior to departure each day.

C. Quality Assurance: The contractor and staff shall have knowledge and experience with current control technologies of exotic pest plants common to the ecosystem being treated. The contractor shall fully comply with all applicable local, state, and Federal regulations.

E. Clean Vehicle and Equipment Standards: All vehicles and equipment shall be inspected for mud, weeds, exotic seeds, snails, eggs of pest species, and other unwanted substances before their entry into Everglades National Park. The contractor shall power-wash all equipment before entry. The NPS reserves the right to reject equipment that is dirty and could potentially spread unwanted substances within the park. Vehicles may require cleaning upon leaving the site.

F. Safety. The Contractor is to follow, at a minimum, all OSHA rules, and procedures.

The contractor must:

Provide a safe and healthful workplace for all employees while on/in NPS sites.

Provide a safety plan outlining safety program specific to this SOW.

Provide a level of public safety commensurate with exposure at NPS worksites.

Comply in rectifying all unsafe or unhealthful conditions called to his/her attention by the contracting officer.

Allow for informal and formal, announced, and unannounced safety inspections by the COR and the appropriate safety office at the worksite.

Job safety is the responsibility of the contractor. The Park collateral duty safety officer or safety officer may make visit to the sites to verify inspection compliance.

V. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

National Park Service agrees, if needed, to provide keys to NPS gates. Contractor’s Field Supervisor will need to sign transfer of property agreement and return NPS gate key at completion of project.

VI. INVOICING AND PAYMENT

The prime contractor shall submit monthly invoices to the NPS Contracting Officer and COR.

Invoices shall include the following deliverables:

NPS Daily Progress Reports for Vegetation Management datasheets for the month matching the invoice, the herbicides used and per the base contract include the EPA registration number, method of application, and approximate dates of application.

GPS track logs for the month matching the invoice. GPS Track Information shall be submitted as ArcMap GIS shape files compatible with ArcMap 10.

The prime contractor shall comply with payment requirements per the IDIQ contract, Terms and Conditions. Travel and all other direct costs shall be included in the total price of this task order.

Payment for services under this order will be made based on fixed price per task and or additive awarded.

The Contractor’s invoices shall be paid only when the Government has received and accepted the deliverables and verified the areas treated. Unit prices will be established for each task and or additive awarded.

Please note: All invoices and deliverables will be submitted to the COR in this SOW prior to input into IPP.gov. Once the COR has approved all invoices, input into IPP.gov is required.

X. KEY PERSONNEL

National Park Service

Contracting Officer Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034-6733 Telephone: (305) 242-7742 Fax: (305) 242-7795

Principle Contractor

To be determined

Park Representative Jonathan Taylor Restoration Program Manager Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034 Telephone: (305) 242-7876 Fax: (305) 242-7836 E-mail: Jonathan_E_Taylor@nps.gov

Appendix A – Maps

Scope of Work – Tasks

Task 1. ’05 Mound

Task 2. ’14 Mound

Task 3. ’03 Mound

Scope of Work – Additives

Soil Disposal Mound

Common Name

FISC Percent Total

Cover

Nuisance Native

Species Percent

Total Cover

ACOE Performance Level

DBC Mound 0.26% NP Meets L2, L3, and L4

EW Mound 0.41% NP Meets L2, L3, and L4

03 Mound 9.19% NP Fails to meet L2, L3, and L4

04 Mound 25.63% NP Fails to meet L2, L3, and L4

05 Mound 25.91% NP Fails to meet L2, L3, and L4

07 Mound 0.46% NP Meets L2, L3, and L4

Additive 1. DBC Mound

Additive 2. East-West (EW) Mound

Additive 3. ’04 Mound

Additive 4. ’07 Mound

Additive 5. ’19 Mound