SCOPE_OF_WORK_-_SELA-Bayou_Sauvage_Urban_NWR_Aerial_Herbicide_Control_of_Aquatic_Plants.doc

SELA-BAYOU SAUVAGE URBAN NWR AERIAL HERBICIDE CONTROL OF AQUATIC PLANTS

Scope of Work for Aerial Herbicide Control of Aqautic Invasive and Nuisance Vegetation

BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS: Detailed bids must be submitted for the area shown on the attached map with the price shown as a separate line item. The US Fish and Wildlife Service reserves the right to remove acres from the bid package due to insufficient funding and may select any or all of the acres to be treated under contract with the bidder.

3. SCOPE: 3.1 The contractor will apply herbicide and appropriate adjuvant to approximately 200 acres on Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge (BSUNWR). Application can be applied either by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft and the equipment choice will be left up to the contractor to maximize effectiveness of the treatment. Herbicide will be applied to areas that have been pre-defined and mapped within the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) geographic information system (GIS) database. The contractor will apply enough herbicide to control 95% of Chinese tallow tree (Triadica serbifera), located in the midstory and understory that will not damage or kill greater than 5% of any southern pine species.

3.2 The contractor shall supply all material, equipment, and labor to perform the herbicide treatments. The contractor shall purchase and supply all chemicals, including herbicide and adjuvant. All herbicides must be submitted and pre-approved by USFWS 30 days prior to application. Contractor will also supply equipment to meter chemicals and water mixtures and will provide mixing and loading equipment and water. Water hauling services may be required depending upon airport arrangements secured by contractor (see Clauses 3.5 and 7.1 below). Equipment and personnel must be able to work at a semi-remote and semi-primitive site (i.e., no electrical or water hookups, no hanger or aircraft tie-down facilities, nearest services are 6.5 miles away, etc.).

3.3 The contractor must be capable of calibrating equipment to the final application rate specifications. All spraying equipment and/or aircraft must be equipped with global positioning system (GPS) tracking equipment that can map application areas and flight paths that will be provided to USFWS.

3.4 The Wildlife Biologist or Refuge Manager must be notified at least 48 hours prior to any application. The contractor shall provide adequate personnel for the purpose of loading and dispersing of the chemicals. All personnel and equipment to be used shall be appropriately licensed and certificated as appropriate for the work to be done. The contractor shall be responsible for providing sufficient equipment, equipment fuel, safety items, spill response kit, personnel and their subsistence needs during the project period, as well as checking all work sites for hazards of any type which could impact their ability to accomplish the spraying project.

3.5 The contractor will be required to make all necessary arrangements for use of airport runways, loading zones, and equipment and fuel storage areas. The contractor will be responsible for all loading operations. Movement of chemicals, water, and equipment in and around an operation location will be the sole responsibility of the applicators. This may require special handling equipment including, but not limited to, a forklift, water truck, or pallet jack.

3.6 The contractor must be licensed and bonded. Proof of bonding will be required upon notification of bid award. The contractor is required to obtain a performance bond of 25% of the total bid price and a payment bond of 20% of the total bid price. Submission of bonding will be required prior to any work commencing.

3.8 The contractor shall be responsible for conducting all flight-following of aerial applications. Communications must be maintained between ground personnel and the aircraft at all times. Additionally, aircraft and ground personnel must have appropriate communication capability to communicate with Hanford dispatch and/or USFWS personnel.

3.9 The contractor shall provide USFWS with contact information for all ground personnel, and vehicle and equipment identification information (including make, model, and license and/or identification numbers) at least 48 hours before implementation of the project.

3.10 No chemical applications may be made during inversions, when winds exceed 8 mph sustained, when temperatures exceed 95 F, or when precipitation is forecast within 6 hours. Minimum buffers must be maintained to prevent spray drift onto undesired areas.

4. PLACE/DELIVERY AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

4.1 GIS-designated areas on BSUNWR, located in Orleans Parish, LA.

4.2 The project shall be conducted during the months of May, June, July, August, or September to ensure optimal effectiveness of the herbicide and to provide sufficient time for government representatives to inspect the application prior to the dormant season.

5. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE:

5.1 The contractor will supply GPS files of all application paths and of all application locations. The contractor will also supply shapefiles in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) format of all application paths and of all application locations at the conclusion of the application.

5.2 Evaluation and acceptance will be determined by the Technical Coordinator(s) and/or Refuge Manager(s). Chemical applications will be evaluated for thoroughness and evenness of application using GPS files and shapefiles provided by the contractor, and by field-checking application areas for chemical effects (e.g., looking for skips or overlaps within the treatment areas).

6. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS/INFORMATION:

6.1 Maps are included, and GIS shapefiles of the treatment areas will be provided upon request.

6.2 Verification of spray application by spot check and review of equipment will be done. GPS mapping of chemical application areas may also be done by USFWS personnel following treatments.

7. AVAILABILITY:

7.1 Application area located on BSUNWR in Orleans Parish LA approximately 10 miles southwest of Slidell LA and is approximately 200 acres. Approximate center of application area is located at 30.098440 N, -89.890179 W.

7.1 Elevation within the treatment areas range between1-5 feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL).

8. TECHNICAL COORDINATORS: Barret Fortier (Wildlife Biologist) US Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Louisiana Refuge Complex, 61389 Hwy 434 Lacombe LA, 70445. Phone: (985) 882-2000 Fax (985) 882-9133.

Figure 1. BSUNWR—200 acres. Aerial Spray Application areas depicted in green (yellow is refuge boundary). See attached map.

30.098440°N -89.890179°W