Atch_1_-_Noxious_Weed_Spraying_PWS.pdf

Attachment 1 FA7000-16-T-0058

Performance Work Statement

Rangeland Noxious Weed Control Services at the U.S. Air Force Academy

(25 February 2016)

Scope of Work:

The contractor shall annually spray DoD approved herbicides on 450 acres of unimproved rangeland at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) and Farish Recreation Area (Farish) to control spotted, diffuse, and Russian knapweed; leafy and myrtle spurge; musk, Canada, bull and scotch thistle; hoary cress (white top); St. Johnswort; Fuller’s teasel; field bindweed;

yellow and dalmation toadflax; houndstongue; and other noxious weeds identified by

USAFA personnel. The timing, location, and priorities for spraying noxious weeds shall be coordinated through USAFA Natural Resources at (719) 333-3308.

Natural Resources will provide geo-referenced noxious weed survey data and up-to-date maps or aerial photographs for the Academy and Farish. The contractor shall rely on this information and coordination with USAFA Natural Resources to locate, prioritize, and spray the target weeds. The goals and objectives of the USAFA noxious weed management program are outlined in the Integrated Noxious Weed Management Plan.

Numerous sensitive areas, including threatened species habitat (Preble’s Meadow Jumping

Mouse), wetlands, rare plant populations, vegetation monitoring plots, cultural resource sites, weed biological control release areas, and high quality natural areas occur on USAFA and

Farish. In coordination with Natural Resources, the contractor shall be responsible for becoming familiar with the location of these sensitive areas and taking appropriate precautions to prevent adverse impacts from the weed spraying.

Specifications:

The contractor shall have a Colorado commercial applicator’s license for rangeland weed control and must annually provide copies of all professional certifications and licenses to the

Contracting Officer.

The contractor shall have a safety plan and spill response plan, and all field applicators and supervisors must receive training covering the procedures outlined in both plans. Spill containment and cleaning kits must be carried in each contractor’s vehicle. Any spill must be immediately reported to the USAFA Pest Management Coordinator and the USAFA Spill

Response Team. The contractor shall not mix chemicals or store herbicides or equipment on

DoD property.

All herbicides, marker dye, surfactant, labor, equipment and supplies needed to perform the

SOW shall be furnished by the contractor. The contractor must submit a product label and material safety data sheet to the Pest Management Coordinator and Natural Resources

Manager for each herbicide proposed for use. All herbicides must be approved by the Armed

Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) and the Academy’s Pest Management

Attachment 1 FA7000-16-T-0058

Coordinator. Chemicals that are equally effective and economical, but require less active ingredient per acre to achieve the same degree of control shall be used whenever possible.

Pesticide usage is tracked through the USAFA HAZMAT Management Process. All herbicide applications, including the amount of active ingredient applied, shall be recorded on the provided Air Force Pest Management Record spreadsheet and sent to the Pest

Management Coordinator and Natural Resources Manager at the end of each month of weed treatment.

The application methods used for weed control shall include boom and spot spraying using tractor-mounted, truck-mounted, all-terrain vehicle, or backpack equipment. Spraying shall be timed to occur during the most susceptible growth stage for each target weed species. At least 90% of the treated weeds shall show visual evidence of damage (leaf curling, browning, etc.) or control within 30 days of treatment. Any areas with less than 90% control shall be re-sprayed at no additional cost to the government.

The Contractor shall follow all herbicide manufacturer safety and application instructions to maximize treatment efficacy. The contractor shall not apply herbicides if the sustained wind speed exceeds 10 miles per hour, rainfall is forecast within 6 hours, or the air temperature is not conducive to plant uptake.

The contractor shall provide USAFA Natural Resources with monthly mapping of the areas sprayed and a description of the weed species targeted. Geo-referenced mapping (i.e. track logging, point data) shall be collected with a hand-held GPS that creates data files importable to ArcGIS 9 (ArcMap Version 9.3.1). Any newly identified weeds species, or significant unmapped populations of previously known weeds, shall be reported within 5 working days to Natural Resources.

USAFA Natural Resources shall provide the Contractor with geo-referenced weed locations that are importable into compatible hand-held GPS devices (e.g. Garmin or equivalent).

Period of Performance: Herbicide applications shall occur during the growing season (1 April

– 31 October) or whenever the growth condition of the weeds is conducive to achieving the required degree of control.