RFQ_FY22_Statement_of_Work_for_Invasives_Species_Removal_FINAL.pdf

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Statement of Work for Savanna Restoration Support through Black Locust Herbicide Treatment

SCOPE: This statement of work defines the work required to perform an herbicide treatment of an extensive black locust infestation within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The first treatment priority is assigned to the area on the attached map labelled “FY22 Summer Foliar Contract First Priority,” which is a collection of 13 polygons that totals approximately 83 acres. The second treatment priority is assigned to the remainder of the refuge’s Prairie Oak Savanna Management Unit, a sandy upland zone bounded completely by wetland marsh, bottomland forest, and open water. Portions of this roughly 550 acre management unit were treated with foliar application in late spring of 2022, although black locust saplings/clones still persist within the unit. The second treatment strategy within this management unit is to find and treat the untreated stems. If time and funding permits, additional management units may be targeted for treatment at the discretion of the Refuge Manager. Treatments will include both individual black locust parent trees and wide swaths of clones, many of them that are directly adjacent to or connect to previously controlled locust clone patches (see attached maps). Priority for treatment should be given to black locust, however, a secondary objective for this scope of work will focus on opportunistically treating woody invasives (to include but not limited to; Eurasian elm, honeysuckle, wild plum, prickly ash, mulberry, wild grape, honey locust, and buckthorns) that are abutting or occur within black locust infestations. It should be noted that several oak trees have been planted in the treatment areas. Care should be taken to avoid herbicide treatments of oak trees, however, incidental take is allowed if an oak tree is surrounded by woody invasives and treatment is unavoidable.

The items listed below are in priority order. The first one will be awarded. The second and third will be awarded if funding is available.

1. Apply an herbicide application (consisting of TerraVue and an approved surfactant per application rates specified in Pesticide Use Proposal #R3-22-32578-002 (attached)) to black locust within the “First Priority” polygons identified in the attached map. A total of 83 acres of area is included in these first priority polygons, but only about 50% of the area is occupied by the target species. Application methods can include a combination of methods (i.e. foliar, basal bark, etc., as long as discussed and approved with refuge personnel prior to application) and should opportunistically target other woody invasives (as specified in the above scope narrative consisting of terravue and/or Vastlan and an approved surfactant per application rates specified in Pesticide Use Proposal #R3-22-32578-002 (attached))). To meet refuge habitat management objectives, this first priority treatment should start at the northernmost treatment polygon mapped in the attached map and progress south and east.

2. If funding remains, complete the second treatment priority as described in the above narrative; a follow-up treatment across the 550 acre Prairie Oak Savanna Management Unit to “clean up” black locust clone patches and individuals not previously treated in the spring 2022 treatment effort.

3. If funding remains, consult with Refuge Manager to continue treatment into previously mapped/known infestation areas in additional management units if time allows.

This scope of work covers complete treatment of the infestation areas or up to available funding amount, whichever, is met first. The refuge will provide herbicide and surfactant to the contractor.

LOCATION: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Rd, Trempealeau, WI 54661

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Foliar applications should occur during the active growing season while foliage on trees is 90-100% green. Ideally, foliar applications will be completed by September 30, 2022 or before the first frost. If vegetation conditions remain favorable for treatment beyond that date an extension may be granted with written Refuge Manager approval. If basal bark applications are needed as a method for treating areas that cannot be foliar sprayed, those treatments should occur during suitable conditions per the product label for that application method. The scope of work needs to be completed by July 31, 2023.

WORK SCHEDULE: Work will be performed Monday – Friday, except on Federal Holidays.

Site visit is not required, but highly recommended. Areas to be treated are densely vegetated and can be difficult to access. Multiple ATV spray rigs are the likely choice of equipment for this scope of work.

CONTACTS:

Casey Bryan, Refuge Manager, casey_bryan@fws.gov, office: 608-539-2311 Ext. 6: 608-780-7301

CONTRACTING POC: Renee Babineau, Contract Specialist, (404) 679-7349, Renee_Babineau@fws.gov