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Amendment One- Statement of Work Correction Solicitation 3160006606 2024 GBNERR Mastication Project

Make sure to acknowledge amendment on your bid documents.

The statement of work is amended to read:

the change is from a 12” DBH threshold to an 8” DBH threshold

Introduction The Grand Bay Land Acquisition and Habitat Management project includes a combination of land acquisition and habitat management within the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), and Grand Bay Savanna Coastal Preserve boundaries in Jackson County, Mississippi. In coordination with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the MS Trustee Implementation Group, the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is working to restore and manage over 3,100 acres of wet pine savanna and wet pine flatwoods within an area historically called “Pecan,” in Moss Point, MS. Historical imagery from this area shows that grasslands dominated the landscape for most of the 20th century until the 1990s, when fire suppression led to increases in woody vegetation. This project was designed to reduce areal coverage of woody and invasive vegetation using combinations of mechanical, chemical, and prescribed fire treatments and thus promote recovery of native herbaceous vegetation.

Mastication The goal of this project is to selectively masticate the project area (see map) to reduce the amount of woody vegetation, allowing sunlight to reach the ground promoting herbaceous understory development. An insured and licensed contractor will use power tools and low ground pressure heavy equipment and avoid work during inclement weather to minimize ground disturbance and negative impacts on soils within the project area. The contractor is also expected to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of invasive species throughout the project area and will follow Best Management Practices (BMPs) as directed by Grand Bay NERR staff to minimize impacts on wildlife. Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) 8” DBH or more, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), live oak (Quercus virginiana), gum (Nyssa spp.), pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) will not be masticated since they provide food and habitat for wildlife and are representative species of the target habitats.

Firelanes An insured and licensed contractor, using low ground pressure heavy equipment, will re-open approximately 8,800 ft of pre-existing roadbeds to a width of 30 ft within the project area (called “Firelane (refresh)” in map below). The contractor will also cut a new firelane (called “Proposed Firelane” in map below), approximately 30 ft X 3,500 ft, along the

Amendment One- Statement of Work Correction Solicitation 3160006606 2024 GBNERR Mastication Project southern border of the Johnny’s management unit. Before moving to a new area, the contractor will ensure that their equipment has been cleaned properly to reduce the spread of invasive species across the project area.

Qualifications Bidders will provide three professional references and proof of license and insurance.

Experience with mastication (i.e., forestry mulching) for habitat restoration and knowledge of local flora is preferred.

Deliverables While using low ground pressure heavy equipment, a licensed and insured contractor will selectively reduce woody vegetation by masticating approximately 603 acres within the NRDA project area. The contractor will also re-open a 30 foot X 8,800 foot firelane and cut a new 30 X 3,500 foot firelane in the project area east of Bayou Heron Road. The contractor will give regular updates on progress made and notify the Project Manager and/or Natural Resource Manager of any issues that may arise.