Musselshell Country Contracted Noxious Weed Spraying Specifications.docx

MUSSELSHELL COUNTY CONTRACTED NOXIOUS WEED SPRAYING SPECIFICATIONS

CONTRACT INFORMATION

TABLE 1

CONTRACTED WEED SPRAY LOCATIONS

PROJECT SITE

ESTIMATED SPRAY ACRES

WEED INFESTATION

The estimated weed infestation for Zone 1 = 15%, Zone 2 = 25%.

PREDOMINANT WEED SPECIES

SPECIFICATIONS FOR WORK:

Contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, materials, incidentals, and traffic control necessary to provide noxious weed and vegetation control of all State and County listed noxious weeds within Musselshell County along the MDT maintained right of ways listed in Table 1. Zone 1 (Road Edge to 15 Feet) will be treated first on all listed corridors followed by Zone 2 (15 Feet to R/W Line) as time or contract funding allows unless specified by the MDT Project Manager. Treatment will be by spot spraying. With prior approval from the MDT Project Manager heavily infested areas may be sprayed with a broad jet. Contractor will GPS treatment areas or use maps to mark treatment areas. GPS data and/or treatment maps will be provided to MDT along with Records of Application. All invoices will include the date, Purchase Order number, zone sprayed, corridor with mile marker begin and end, acres sprayed, chemical used, and costs. Table 1 lists MDT maintained corridors with right of ways pertaining to this contract, their priorities, estimated spray acres, and a list of dominant weed species within these locations and corridors. It is the responsibility of all interested bidders to familiarize themselves with the corridors and their right of ways, type of weeds and acres infested, prior to submitting a bid. MDT has responsibilities to control county and state designated noxious weeds on properties owned, under proprietorship or through shared management with private entities under the Montana County Weed Act.

MDT intends to issue a contract to a licensed commercial pesticide applicator to visit and control noxious weeds on the State maintained right of ways as detailed in the specifications herein. A valid MT Pesticide Applications license is required to be considered as a viable bidder. A copy of the license must be provided in the bid submittal.

The Contractor shall not work on Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays observed by the state unless specifically approved in writing by the Maintenance Chief. Requests must be made in writing and received by the Department’s Project Manager by noon of the preceding Wednesday.

All invoices will include the date, Purchase Order number, zone sprayed, corridor with mile marker begin and end, acres sprayed, chemical used, and costs and must be submitted by June 24th.

All Contracted Weed Spraying shall be in accordance with the Department’s book entitled “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”, 2025 edition or as amended by current supplemental specifications and our Statewide Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Plan.

1) The following Standard Specification Sections apply in their entirety:

a. Section 101

2) The following Standard Specifications Articles apply in their entirety:

a. 102.02, 102.04, 102.05, 102.06, 102.07, 102.08, 102.10

b. 107.11.5, 108.01, 108.05, 105.06

c. 618.03.3

**Traffic Control provided by Contractor? |_| Yes |_| No

**Is this, or any part of this project on a reservation? |_| Yes |_| No

DESIGNATED CONTRACT DATE:

WORK IS REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE: JUNE 30, 2026

TOTAL CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED: $12,000.00 PER YEAR

QUANTITY WORKSHEET

Contractor to provide all equipment, labor, and materials necessary to conduct chemical weed control on MDT maintained rights of ways per the specifications listed herein. Contractor to provide cost per acre for spraying Zone 1 and Zone 2 and the listed chemical pricing shown on Table 2. The cost of mobilization, equipment, materials, and project management/administration is included in the cost.

Contract will be awarded to lowest total cost for spraying Zone 1, Zone 2, and Chemical Costs. The quantity of “1” unit of each chemical is for bidding purposes only.

TABLE 2

APPLICATION

COST PER ACRE

CHEMICAL NAME

UNIT

QUANTITY

COST PER UNIT

NOTE: The above Quantity Worksheets are for informational purposes only. Bids are required to be submitted through eMACS on the Items tab. Bids not submitted on the eMACS Items tab will be disqualified.

SPECIAL PROVISIONS - CONTRACTOR NOXIOUS WEED SPRAYING

1.1. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor is required to be a licensed Pesticide Applicator for Agricultural Plant Pest control. All personnel working on the State maintained right of ways must have the skill to identify the full spectrum of state and county designated noxious weeds in all growth stages.

1.2. LICENSING AND REGULATIONS

A valid MT Pesticide Applicators license is required in order to be considered as a viable bidder. The applicator must be certified to apply restricted-use herbicides and be current in training credits. A copy of that license or certification must be provided to MDT as part of the bid package.

The applicator must comply with all pertinent state and local environmental protection and worker protection laws during this contract and while in the commission of work related to this contract. Abide by all conditions of each Tribal and/or County Weed Management Plan where the State maintained right of ways are located. Posting requirements must be followed.

1.3. WEED IDENTIFICATION

The applicator and all operators must be able to identify the full spectrum of state and county designated noxious weeds in all growth stages, including residual growth from previous years. In order to maintain the biological functions of the environment, the protection of non-target plants is critically important.

1.4. SCHEDULING

The Contractor must have adequate time available to treat all the MDT maintained right of ways. All spraying will take place between April 15TH and October 15TH unless specified by the MDT Project Manager. All MDT maintained right of ways must receive at least one complete treatment application per contract year unless specified by the MDT Project Manager or the contract funding has been utilized.

1.5. PROJECT AREA

Refer to Table 1 for the spray locations, corridors, a list of dominant weed species within these locations and corridors.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

1.6. APPLICATION EQUIPMENT

The applicator must be able to furnish all water, materials, equipment, and vehicles necessary to properly conduct herbicide applications on MDT maintained right of ways. This could include but is not limited to:

· A truck mounted spray unit capable of carrying a minimum 100-gallon tank mixed herbicide or a herbicide injection system.

· An ATV/OHV or other type of OHV with mounted tanks to treat small areas and those inaccessible with a pickup truck.

· A backpack sprayer to treat areas not accessible by an OHV or ATV.

· A vehicle equipped with a spray jet or boom sprayer for applying herbicide to large areas.

· All equipment must be calibrated prior to application.

Each motorized spray unit must have a functional “boomless” nozzle and handgun attachment for both broadcast and spot applications. It is anticipated that all above listed equipment will be necessary to complete the treatment of the MDT maintained right of ways.

1.7. HERBICIDE SELECTION

Prior to conducting herbicide applications, submit to MDT a detailed itemization of what herbicides, rates of active ingredients, and surfactants that will be used to treat each weed species, in the MDT maintained right of ways. All herbicide applications must have enough marking dye to readily show treated areas should MDT personnel inspect the site within 78 hours of application and prior to heavy precipitation.

The Contractor will follow all Montana State Laws and label directions in the handling, application, and disposal of herbicides.

2.0. OPERATION

Refer to TABLE 1 for a complete list of MDT maintained right of ways to be treated, which includes corridor priority and estimated spray acres. Zone 1 (Road Edge to 15 Feet) will be treated first on all listed corridors followed by Zone 2 (15 Feet to R/W Line) as time or funding allows unless specified by the MDT Project Manager. In areas where herbicide applications are not permissible because of potential ground or surface water contamination, the Contractor is expected to report such instances to MDT at the next progress update reporting.

2.1. TREATMENT STRATEGY

The Contractor is responsible for treatment of the MDT maintained right of ways. It is anticipated that the Contractor will use their expertise to develop an effective weed management plan for each corridor. The applicator must factor in the non-target effects from an application before applying herbicide

2.1.1. Access

Contractor must notify the MDT at least 24 hours prior to the initial date the Contractor expects to conduct herbicide applications to each corridor.

2.1.2. Timing

Prioritize the sequence of corridor visitation and treatment to match the predominant weed species present on each corridor. For example, sites with sizable infestations of whitetop (Cardaria draba) should be treated first in the spring. Should sites with species such as salt cedar and purple loosestrife exist on a site, they should be treated in mid to late summer. Any additional treatments or additional cost must be agreed to in writing by MDT Project Manager prior to work being done. Submit a tentative schedule for visiting and treating each site within 2 weeks after the Pre-Work coordination meeting. Herbicide applications must be made during periods when weather conditions are conducive to getting maximum performance from the applications. Applications made when wind velocities are above 10 mph for broadcast applications above 15 mph for spot applications or when precipitation occurs within an hour of an application will be considered in non-compliance and may require re-treatment at the Contractor’s expense.

2.1.3. Record Keeping

The Contractor must provide MDT a copy of application records that comply with MT Pesticide Act record keeping requirements within 14 days upon completion of corridor treatment, for MDT records. Records must include the purchase order number, date, corridor with mile markers treated, acres sprayed, chemical used, and application rate.

2.1.4. Project Coordination

Directly contact the MDT Project Manager once every two weeks to discuss the status of treatment. Should the Contractor need to modify the schedule provided to MDT, notification must be provided to MDT within 24 hours via email or in writing.

3.0. WORK ACCEPTANCE

Provide spray records to MDT within 2 weeks of completion of work on each corridor. MDT will conduct periodic and random site inspections to monitor treatment effectiveness and compliance with the contract. In the event MDT finds discrepancies in meeting contract requirements or unsatisfactory results from the Contractor’s work, a joint field review will be immediately scheduled and conducted to remedy the problems. Notable circumstances that will prompt a stoppage in work include but not be limited to:

· Widespread plant misidentification

· Failure to locate and treat existing weeds within the boundaries of the corridor right of ways

· Inadequate treatment (i.e., low to no visible impact on weeds, no visible marker dye)

· Unnecessary non-target impacts

· Violation of the MT Pesticide Act

PRE-WORK MEETING TOPICS

A mandatory pre-work meeting will be held between the successful Contractor and MDT personnel. The meeting will be held at the MDT office in Lewistown a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the start of work. MDT will designate a Project Manager at this meeting who will be the authorized agent for MDT on this project.

Topics presented and discussed include but not be limited to:

· Chain of command

· Work shifts and schedules

· Weed type and locations

· Corridor Priority – Zone 1 & Zone 2

· Traffic Control

· Budget

· Quality or performance measures

· Invoicing

· MDT mowing & grazing permits

· Neighboring crops and wind drift

· Detailed information and requirements for each corridor to be treated

· Weather conditions (rainy, windy, hot, etc.)

· Waterways

· Subcontractors (must be approved)

· All employees having proper certifications

· PPE

· Safety meetings

· Proper disposal of herbicide containers

· Restrooms

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REVISED: 823/04