Job Specs Pyramid SWG T-145 DroneSpraying_Herbaceous.docx

Site Specific Job Specification Form FY 25 SWG T-145-D-1 Stewardship Project – Pyramid State Recreation Area Project Name: Pyramid State Recreation Area– aerial application of herbicide via drone at Pyramid State Recreation Area DNR Site Name and County: Pyramid State Recreation Area (Perry County) The following specifications shall be applied to the above-named job.

1. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

1.1. GOAL: this contract will fund a project to aerially treat invasive herbaceous vegetation using a drone(s) to apply herbicides for 173 hours of flight time, at Pyramid State Recreation Area, located in Perry County, Illinois

1.2. SUPPLIES AND/OR SERVICES REQUIRED:

1.2.1. The primary objective of the vendor will be to foliar treat invasive herbaceous and/or exotic vegetation on specific areas at Pyramid State Recreation Area boundaries (see attached map) as identified by the Primary Job Coordinator using a drone to apply herbicides for 173 hours of flight time. IDNR will flag the identified areas with flagging tape and/or provide maps to identify the project area. The vendor will use agricultural spray drones to foliar treat the identified areas, focusing on areas of autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, phragmites, and sericea lespedeza infestation. The contractor will provide the drones and all the necessary equipment to complete the aerial treatments. Maps and treatment summaries of all treated areas will be provided to IDNR upon completion of the project.

1.2.2. IDNR will provide all the herbicide, MSO and/or surfactant for this project.

1.2.3. The contractor will provide 173 hours of herbicide application/flight time for phragmites, sericea lespedeza, bush honeysuckle, autumn olive control or other species identified by the primary job contractor.

1.2.4. Details Applying to All Aerial Herbicide Application Utilizing Drones

1.2.4.1 For this work item, an unmanned aerial vehicle (hereafter referred to as a drone), meeting the specifications in 1.2.4.2, shall be used for aerial foliar application of herbicide according to the details in this site-specific job specification.

1.2.4.2 Vendor shall utilize a boomless drone. The herbicide tank size required on the drone will be a minimum of a 10-gallon capacity. The vendor shall have a minimum 50 (fifty) gallon capacity nurse tank. The vendor shall have a backup boomless drone available within 24 hours if the primary drone is not operatable.

1.2.4.3 The primary job coordinator will provide vendor the details which will include species to be treated, timing of herbicide treatment, type of herbicide and adjuvants to be used, and herbicide rate. Typical work will include mapping of polygons prior to herbicide application and herbicide application with both manual drone operation and GPS-guided navigation.

1.2.4.4 All foliar herbicide applications shall be applied with a non-ionic surfactant or MSO and water conditioning agent designed for hard water if specified on the label.

1.2.4.5 If standing water or identified sinkholes are present, only herbicides labeled for aquatic use shall be applied.

1.2.4.6 All herbicides, MSO and drift control agents for aerial herbicide application with a drone will be provided by the IDNR as identified in these specifications.

1.2.4.7 Vendor shall have all training, certificates, exemptions and pesticide license described in Section 1.4. of these contract specifications.

1.2.4.8 Vendor and Vendor’s staff shall follow all label restrictions for mixing and applying herbicides and shall use all herbicides according to the manufacturer’s label directions.

1.2.4.9 Vendor shall demonstrate to the Department possession of a valid Illinois Commercial Pesticide Applicators License, with Category Licensure in Right-of-Way pest control. All Vendor employees who handle and/or apply pesticides on the work site shall demonstrate possession of a valid Illinois Commercial Pesticide Operators License. Use of pesticides on the work site shall comply with the Illinois Pesticide Act and its associated rules, and all other Federal and State laws pertaining to the use and application of pesticides.

1.2.6..1.1 Foliar spraying shall be conducted with winds not to exceed ten (10) mph. Extreme caution shall be exercised to avoid over-spray and drift. Herbicide applicators shall use spray nozzle apertures to minimize drift and with precision shut-off valves to avoid over-spray and to minimize contact with native species.

1.2.6..1.2 Extreme care shall be taken to avoid non-target contamination with herbicides or herbicide spills within natural areas. The Primary Job Coordinator shall provide a map and list of species of special concern with the work order to assist Vendor’s staff in preventing unintentional treatment of endangered, threatened, or rare species. Notable damage to non-target species shall result in the termination of the work order.

1.2.6..1.3 The Vendor’s Crew Leader shall meet with the Primary Job Coordinator on-site prior to initiating work to identify access routes and locations for staging equipment and materials and for mixing of chemicals and filling of herbicide sprayers, site conditions for work, and chemical selection.

1.2.6..1.4 Vendor shall not apply herbicides to target plants if leaves or stems maintain any surface moisture (e.g., dew) or if rain is predicted within time constraints of labeled rain fast duration.

1.2.6..1.5 All mixing of herbicide and filling of herbicide sprayers shall be conducted outside of the natural area over a plastic tub to collect any spills. If a spill occurs, it shall be reported immediately to the Primary Job Coordinator and shall be cleaned up by the Vendor. Empty herbicide containers shall be properly disposed of as required by Federal law.

1.2.6..1.6 It shall be the responsibility of the Vendor to be aware of and adhere to all state and OSHA regulations. Herbicide applicators shall wear appropriate protective clothing as required in the herbicide label for the herbicide being applied.

1.2.5. General Work Details

1.2.5.1 The Primary Job Coordinator reserves the right to restrict access of Vendor to the job site with 24 hours’ notice. Vendor shall abide by all site and job-based restrictions imposed by the Primary Job Coordinator.

1.2.5.2 Vendor and vendor’s staff shall use all herbicides according to the manufacturer’s label directions. When at the work site, Vendor’s staff shall have material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all pesticides being used.

1.2.5.3 Vendor shall be responsible for ensuring employees strictly comply with all Federal and State laws. Illegal or criminal activity may result in the removal of Vendor employee(s) from the site.

1.2.5.4 The vendor shall be restricted from working from April 1st to June 30th annually to avoid impacts to grassland and shrub nesting wildlife. Exceptions to this work timeframe restriction can only be approved by the Primary Job Coordinator in agreement with the Site Superintendent and the district wildlife biologist.

1.2.5.5 Vendor shall limit vehicular access to paved roads or limestone trails or to routes approved by the Primary Job Coordinator. The Primary Job Coordinator may suspend all vehicle access or work if excessive damage to the area is noted. All existing trails, access lanes or roads within the project area must be maintained as open and free of any felled materials.

1.2.5.6 The Vendor shall meet with the Primary Job Coordinator on-site prior to initiating work to identify access routes and locations for staging equipment and materials and for mixing of chemicals and filling of herbicide sprayers, site conditions for work and chemical selection.

1.2.5.7 All equipment and work clothing including boots shall be clean and free of any weed seeds prior to entering or leaving the work area to prevent the spread of invasive species within and among job sites and other areas where the Vendor may have worked.

1.2.5.8 Keyed access may be required to reach project areas. Keys will be provided to the Vendor for the duration of the project. They shall be returned to the Primary Job Coordinator prior to any payment being made.

1.2.5.9 All questions or communications related to this Project from the public or news media shall be forwarded immediately to the representative Primary Job Coordinator (see Job Administration).

1.2.5.10 Equipment allowed within the work zone will be limited to trucks, trailers, UTV’s or ATV’s, vehicles, and any other equipment approved by the Primary Job Coordinator. All access to the site and staging areas of support equipment will be restricted to designated areas.

1.2.5.11 Any project details not included in these specifications must be agreed upon by the Primary Job Coordinator and the Vendor prior to commencing work.

1.2.5.12 INSURANCE: Vendor shall, at all times during the term of this contract and any renewals or extensions, maintain and provide a Certificate of Insurance naming the State as an additionally insured for all required bonds and insurance. Certificates may not be modified or canceled until at least thirty (30) days’ notice has been provided to the State. Vendor shall provide: (a) General Commercial Liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence (Combined Single Limit Bodily Injury and Property Damage) and $2,000,000 Annual Aggregate; (b) Auto Liability, including Hired Auto and Non-owned Auto (Combined Single Limit Bodily Injury and Property Damage), in amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence; and (c) Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the amount required by law. Insurance shall not limit Vendor’s obligation to indemnify, defend, or settle any claims.

1.2.5.13 Modifications to Scope of Work: Change orders must be determined by the Primary Job Coordinator to be germane to the original contract and that the price is fair and reasonable. When changes in or modifications to the work become necessary, the Vendor shall submit an itemized cost for the work and shall include appropriate documentation to support the cost for the labor, material and equipment. A fully executed contract change order, signed by both parties, must be in place for any contract changes to be effective.

1.3. MILESTONES AND DELIVERABLES:

1.3.1. To meet IDNR’s vendor requirement, the Vendor shall complete a daily work log for each day crews are working on site to document work completed. The completed log shall be provided to the Primary Job Coordinator by the Vendor at the completion of the contract via email to the following address: Stephen.Tillman@illinois.gov

1.3.2. Vendor shall notify the Primary Job Coordinator 24 hours before beginning work on a job.

1.3.3. Vendor shall notify the Primary Job Coordinator weekly via email or phone with updates on work planned the upcoming week and work completed the previous week.

1.3.4. Invoices may be submitted monthly, quarterly, or at the completion of the contract. A final invoice for the contract must be submitted by December 31, 2026.

1.3.5. Vendor must be able to complete the project within specified work dates under conditions that minimize harmful impacts to the site.

1.3.6. Work will NOT be permitted between the dates of April 1st and June 30th annually to avoid impacts to nesting grassland wildlife, unless approved by the Primary Job Coordinator.

1.3.7. Vendor will not be allowed to work if ground conditions become too wet to avoid rutting up the project area.

1.4. VENDOR / STAFF SPECIFICATIONS:

1.4.1. Vendor shall provide the required equipment and manpower to successfully complete the project in the time frame specified under conditions that minimize harmful impacts to the site.

1.4.2. The Vendor and Vendor’s drone operator must meet all requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for commercial drone operators including, but not limited to, training, certificates, and exemptions required under FAA 14 CFR part 107 and 14 CFR part 137. Certificates must be provided to IDNR upon request.

1.4.3. Vendor and Vendor’s drone operator shall have a valid Illinois Department of Agriculture Pesticide License for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems.

1.4.4. Vendor and Vendor’s drone operator must have experience with mapping of polygons prior to herbicide application, application to irregular-shaped polygons, and herbicide application with both manual drone operation and GPS-guided navigation.

1.5. TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY: Not applicable.

1.6. SUBCONTRACTING:

1.6.1. Subcontractors are allowed provided the subcontractor meets all the qualifications of the vendor in section 1.4. For purposes of this section, subcontractors are those specifically hired to perform all or part of the work covered by the contract. If subcontractors shall be utilized, Vendor must identify the names and addresses of all subcontractors it shall be entering into a contractual agreement in the performance of this Contract, together with a description of the work to be performed by the subcontractor and the anticipated amount of money to the extent the information is known that each subcontractor is expected to receive pursuant to the Contract. Attach additional sheets as necessary. Documentation of experience required in section 1.4 must be provided for all subcontractors. All information regarding subcontractors must be provided at the time of bidding.

1.6.2. If unanticipated subcontracting is needed during completion of the contract, Vendor must submit to the Primary Job Coordinator the names and addresses of all subcontractors, a description of work to be performed and anticipated amount of money, and documentation of experience required in section 1.4. Vendor must receive written approval for this subcontracting from the Primary Job Coordinator.

2. PRICING

2.1 TYPE OF PRICING: The Illinois Office of the Comptroller requires the State to indicate whether the contract value is firm or estimated at the time it is submitted for obligation. The total value of this contract is firm.

2.2 EXPENSES:

1.

2.

2.1 2.2

2.2.1 The Vendor shall be responsible for any expenses which may incur as a result of conducting the activities described in the Job Specifications, including repair, maintenance, or extraction of equipment.

2.2.2 The Vendor shall be responsible for any expenses which may incur as a result of inadequate treatment where follow-up is required to meet stated treatment standards.

2.2.3 Payment for this contract will only include the Vendor’s time working at the job site and will not include time spent traveling to or from the job site.

2.2.4 Vendor shall provide an hourly rate bid for 173 hours of the contractual work described above.

2.3 N/A

2.4 VENDOR’S PRICING:

2.4.1 Pricing shall be in the following format: Per Hour.

3. TERM OF CONTRACT:

3.1 TERM OF THIS CONTRACT: This contract shall commence upon the last dated signature of the Parties and shall terminate 31 December 2026.

3.1.1 In no event will the total term of the contract, including the initial term, any renewal terms and any extensions, exceed 10 years.

3.1.2 Vendor shall not commence billable work in furtherance of the contract prior to final execution of the contract except when permitted pursuant to 30 ILCS 500/20-80.

JOB ADMINISTRATION

Position: District Heritage Biologist

Address: 1027 S Division St, Carterville, IL 62918

Phone number: 618-964-4930 email: Stephen.tillman@illinois.gov

Position: District Heritage Biologist

Address: 1027 S Division St, Carterville, IL 62918

Phone number: 618-964-4930 email: Stephen.tillman@illinois.gov

Position: Site Superintendent – Pyramid State Park

Position: Regional Stewardship Specialist

Address: 4295 N. 1000th St., Newton, IL 62448

Phone number: (618) 554-2599 email: terry.esker@illinois.gov

ATTACHMENTS: Project Map, Work log Site map. Pyramid State Recreation Area: Yellow lines indicate property boundary, specific project areas within these boundaries will be communicated to vendor.

Captain Unit

Denmark Unit

Galum Unit ppBuilder for ArcGIS State of Missouri, Maxar Work log (to be filled out with at least one entry per work day):

Total

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