Big_Oaks_Privet_Aerial_Herbicide_SOW.pdf

140FS223Q0159 Aerial Herbicide Application (via Helicopter) Page 1 of 4 USFWS Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge

USFWS

SCOPE OF WORK

PROJECT: Aerial Herbicide Application for Invasive Privet and Bush Honeysuckle

Location: Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Ripley and Jefferson Counties, Indiana

Project Information:

The project entails providing and applying herbicides aerially via helicopter at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Herbicide application will be over dormant forest overstory to control invasive shrubs including privet, bush honeysuckle, and autumn olive found in the understory.

Big Oaks NWR is situated on over 50,000 acres approximately 5 miles north of Madison in southern Indiana about 55 miles north/northeast of Louisville, Kentucky and just north of the Ohio River. The Refuge is rectangular with the approximate dimensions of 15 miles in the north-south direction by 6 miles in the east-west direction. The Refuge occupies land north of the firing line of the former Jefferson Proving Ground.

Description of work:

Work includes but is not limited to: contractor shall provide all parts, labor, materials, supplies, and equipment necessary to perform aerial spraying with helicopter of selected herbicides at the rates listed below for treatment areas totaling about 250 acres with herbicide mixtures of #1 and #2 (surfactant adjusted by polygon to adjust for target species). Maps with detailed spray areas will be provided to successful contractor once quotes are known; general spray areas are shown on attached refuge map. While we anticipate about 250 acres area to be contracted, should bid prices differ from our estimate, we reserve the right to limit the number of acres to be sprayed to prevent us from going over budget on this project. Offers for the approximate 250-acre plot will be used to convert to a per acre price to adjust the number of acres up (to a maximum of 400 acres) or down as needed. The priority time period for the work would be from October 20 to November 20, 2023; alternatively, a spring window would be March 25 to April 13, 2024 or the following fall window October 20 to November 20, 2024. Both windows require a dormant overstory and photosynthetic target species. Upon unfavorable conditions (dormant target species, excessive drought, windy conditions, rain, etc.) in 2023 that would prevent contract completion during that time period, FWS will work with the successful contractor to modify this offer in 2024 for the spring and fall dates in 2024. Optimal window for treatment would require close monitoring of conditions and communication to the successful bidder for the timing of the treatment.

140FS223Q0159 Aerial Herbicide Application (via Helicopter) Page 2 of 4

Herbicide Mix #1

4 qt /acre of Glyphosate/ac (54% AI, 5.4 lbs per gallon of AI) Accord Concentrate, Aqua Neat, or similar generic aquatic approved formulation 1 qt/acre non-ionic surfactant 8 oz Interlock or RRSI Velocity/acre as drift control agent if needed (ideal conditions preclude use or the use of devices that control droplet size) Carrier (water) 20 gallons per acre

Herbicide Mix #2 (Autumn Olive areas)

4 qt /acre of Glyphosate/ac (54% AI, 5.4 lbs per gallon of AI) Accord Concentrate, Aqua Neat, or similar generic aquatic approved formulation 1 qt/acre MSO surfactant 8 oz Interlock or RRSI Velocity/acre as drift control agent if needed (ideal conditions preclude use or the use of devices that control droplet size) Carrier (water) 20 gallons per acre

2. Safety

• Contractor employees will have a history of excellent safety performance.

• At all times the Contractor will ensure the safety of all personnel involved in the operation including the mandatory use of all prescribed personal protective equipment.

• Contractor will ensure that each of its employees has read and understands the instructions and precautions on the herbicide labels, MSD sheets, and knows what steps to take in the event of a spill or accidental exposure to the herbicide.

• Contractor will have spill kits(s) available to immediately respond to an accidental spill.

• Contractor will have fully equipped First Aid emergency kit(s) on site including an extra radio for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) personnel to provide direct communications to pilot or have radio capable of using frequency 169.150 RX/TX to communicate with (USFWS) personnel.

• All aircraft services and personnel procured under this project shall meet and comply with all Federal, State, and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and Federal Aviation Regulations, including 14 CFR Parts:

o Part 91 for low level missions o Part 133 for external load operations o Part 135 for air carrier operations o Part 137 for agricultural operations

Site Specific Safety Considerations:

Big Oaks NWR was established on the former Jefferson Proving Ground, an Army ammunition testing area. Unexploded ordnance is still present on the site and can be encountered on the refuge. The contractor agrees to abide by all local standards, 140FS223Q0159 Aerial Herbicide Application (via Helicopter) Page 3 of 4 protocols, instructions and briefings related to access to the various sites. Any accident or injury resulting from the contractor’s failure to follow instructions will be the sole responsibility of the contractor.

3. Pilot Experience

• Indiana license including license to apply herbicides listed above.

• Experience using GPS technology (all aspects) in herbicide applications.

• Demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills in directing pesticide applications.

• One year of herbicide experience in Indiana (not a requirement but would be beneficial).

4. Application performance & Post Application Follow-up

• In general, the applicator will use industry standard applications techniques.

Applications will not be made during inversion conditions, when winds are gusty, or any other conditions which allow drift. Equipment designed to minimize drift and/or a drift control agent may be added at the recommended label rate.

• Pro Team applicators are preferred for this application.

• Ability to uniformly deliver application rates of 20 gallons per acre.

• Boom/Nozzle configuration (including controlled pressure and nozzle orientation) that will provide a controlled droplet application. Skips will not exceed 5% of area treated.

• Pattern spraying will be the norm (squares, strips, and spot spraying) as determined by the USFWS. More than one direction of spraying may be required on dense or tall brush to be determined by the USFWS.

• Fully functional GPS guidance system providing parallel swath control, navigation, and data logging that documents/maps the area of applied materials.

• Air speed and release height will be optimized to deliver the most effective swath coverage.

• Knowledge of the Indiana habitats and experience controlling invasive plants of Indiana using the herbicides listed above.

• Company representative must be onsite during application.

• Contractor will provide follow-up on-site evaluation up to two times per year and continuing for up to three years. This includes providing herbicide manufacturer representatives for consultation purposes as schedule permits.

5. Mixing and Loading

• One or more tank trucks equipped with an agitation system capable of keeping the herbicides evenly distributed in the carrier, plus all necessary pumps, hoses and metering devices to determine correct mixing and loading. Personnel will include at least one qualified person at heliport capable of mixing and loading the required herbicide formulation.

• Applied herbicide materials will be batched, or premixed only prior to being loaded in helicopter tank.

• A dedicated water transport tank truck with air gap water transfer system.

140FS223Q0159 Aerial Herbicide Application (via Helicopter) Page 4 of 4

• Batch water must be clean, free of sediment, and procured from pre-approved sources. If necessary, batch water may be drafted in the field.

• Equipment used to pump herbicide will not be used to pump water from any source. An air gap must be provided between the receiving tank and water source.

• Contractor will provide mechanical field support and have available sufficient equipment parts to make timely repairs.

• Each herbicide container will be rinsed using standard triple rinsing procedure or the equivalent, and the rinsate added to the tank mix for immediate application to the contract area.

• Use of returnable closed system container for herbicides to assure correct mixing of spray loads and reduce container waste in Indiana landfills is preferred.

• Applicator will maintain detailed batch records.

6. Time Frame

• Earliest start date is 20 October 2023

• To be completed by 20 November 2023

2024 (If cannot be completed in 2023, contract will be adjusted as needed)

• Earliest start date is 25 March 2024

• To be completed by 13 April 2024

• Earliest start date is 20 October 2024

• To be completed by 20 November 2024

7. Insurance

• Worker’s compensation and Employer’s Liability Insurance

• Comprehensive General Liability Insurance (not less than $1,000,000)

• Comprehensive Vehicle Liability Insurance (not less than $1,000,000)

• Aircraft Liability Insurance (chemical $200,000, property/injury $1,000,000)

• Comprehensive Chemical Liability / Property Damage Insurance ($200,000)

8. Guarantee A guarantee of 70% kill rate of target vegetation (as listed in herbicide label) treated with herbicide mix within treatment areas. If treated areas are not within this kill rate, the manufacturer of the herbicide will provide the chemicals for retreatment.