Sol_140P5425Q0025_Attach__0001-SOW.pdf

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW):

Cyclic Vegetation Clearing and Landscape Maintenance – Buttonwood Canal and Flamingo Boatyard Channel

PMIS: 349417A/PEPC: 113347

DATED:

March 19, 2025

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Interior Region 2: South Atlantic/Gulf Major Acquisition Buying Office

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) FORMAT

1 Background 2 Objectives 3 Place of Performance 4 Period of Performance 5 General Scope 6 Tasks 7 Specifications / Maintenance Description 8 Special Material Requirements 9 Deliverables 10 Government Furnished Equipment 11 Safety 12 Travel and Housing 13 Quality Assurance Requirement 14 Project Personnel

Appendix 1: Work Locations, Quantities, and Trail Descriptions Appendix 2: Maps

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

1.0 BACKGROUND

The Buttonwood Canal is the only water-based access route between the developed area of the Flamingo District and Whitewater Bay and associated wilderness areas. The canal is used by a variety of watercraft ranging from canoes and kayaks to houseboats. The Flamingo Boatyard Channel is used to transport NPS watercraft, including houseboats, Law Enforcement patrol vessels, and concessionaire tour boats, between the Maintenance Yard/Boat Shop, and the Buttonwood Canal. Presently vegetation on both sides of the canals is encroaching upon these narrow waterways, impeding safe houseboat passage through the Buttonwood Canal, and prohibiting tour boat access through the Maintenance Boatyard Channel. .

Vegetation on trails in the Everglades environment grows thick and vigorously, quickly obscuring the park’s trails and landscapes. Vines, scrub/shrubs, and fast-growing trees are the primary troubles. Overgrown vegetation combined with missing, damaged, or faded trail markings along the trail leads to routes that are difficult to navigate and often become impassable. Downed limbs and entire trees present hazards. Vegetation also invades the trails landscape itself altering the appearance which compromises the visitor’s experience and understanding.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The NPS seeks to hire a contractor to provide supervision, labor, materials, and equipment for trail clearing, landscape maintenance, tree trimming, as described herein.

3.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Everglades National Park is located west of urban and developed Miami-Dade County, with Park Headquarters located at 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034. The work will take place in the Flamingo District, located at 1 Flamingo Lodge Highway, Flamingo, Florida 33034.

A pre-award site visit is strongly recommended.

4.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

All tasks and deliverables are 60 days from date of award and must begin no later than 30 days from contract award. Days listed herein refer to calendar days.

The primary and approved work schedule is Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST). Any days or hours outside the primary work schedule must be scheduled in advance and approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) in advance. If there are any schedule delays due to lead time of materials, the COR should be notified immediately.

Nesting season for the American crocodile runs from March through September. Paddling trail and trail maintenance activities for trails occurring inside American crocodile critical habitat should be conducted during the non-breeding season (October through February) whenever feasible.

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

To the extent practical, trail maintenance activities should be timed to be completed in preparation of and prior to the peak visitation season, typically December through April.

5.0 GENERAL SCOPE

The contractor shall deliver the following service and provide a cost breakdown to include materials/equipment, labor, administrative, mobilization, and other fees. The contractor shall ensure that an on-site superintendent or foreman is present at all times while work is being performed. Additionally, a person in a position of authority who can communicate effectively in English will always be available on the job site. In accordance with the terms and conditions herein, the prime contractor or his sub-contractors shall perform the work of this contract for the NPS.

The contractor shall:

5.1 Furnish all labor, materials, equipment, and supplies needed to perform vegetation clearing, tree trimming, and hazardous tree removal as specified in this contract. The contractor may store materials at the NPS Maintenance Yard at Flamingo.

5.2 Furnish all labor, materials, equipment, and supplies needed to perform trail Clearing .

5.3 Verify the quantity of materials needed to complete the task identified.

5.4 Employ an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist for project planning, design, and implementation. The contractor, including onsite personnel, shall have proven experience and expertise working in with vegetation management, professional landscaping, and horticulture. The contractor will utilize standard arboriculture, horticulture, and landscaping practices.

5.5 Employ a State Authorized Professional Mangrove Trimmer (PMT) or other environmental professional with a certification to which the State grants PMT status.

5.6 Ensure all equipment and vehicles/vessels are free from visible debris (dirt, mud, plant materials, etc.) before entering to the worksite to reduce the potential for spread of non-native species.

5.7 Identify poisonous plants and trees; donning personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to Poisonwood.

5.8 Prior to the start of work, the government will conduct environmental training to educate contracted personnel with the intent of reducing impacts on water quality, wetland resources, wildlife, marine resources, and essential fish habitat. All the Contractor’s proposed workers shall take this training. The training will not exceed two hours.

5.9 Provide a worksite and environment that is safe for employees, park visitors, and NPS staff. If necessary, the work area will be cordoned off and secured.

5.10 Provide a portable (camping style) toilet on site for employee use.

5.11 Carry out all trash; do not bury or burn trash.

5.12 Minimize engine emissions by restricting idling time.

5.13 Review National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Tides and

Currents Predictions daily; know the tide schedule (https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/).

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

Use the forecast to plan work around tides in order to ensure boat/barge clearance under the Buttonwood Bridge.

5.14 Be prepared to encounter high levels of mosquitos, flies, and on-see-ums. Use of personal bug repellant is allowed; spraying or fogging of insecticides is not permitted.

5.15 Perform all work Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). No work will be performed on the weekends or federal holidays without prior approval from the COR.

5.16 Not install or display company signs on government property.

5.17 Eating and smoking will be performed in areas designated by the COR.

5.18 Contractor employees shall wear appropriate clothing at all times and refrain from using profanity in earshot of Park visitors and the public.

5.19 Notify the COR of scheduled site visits to ensure access to secured areas.

5.20 Coordinate all site work with the park point of contact.

5.21 Notify the COR of any schedule changes or delays.

5.22 Be knowledgeable of the site and required tasks and hazards prior to submitting a quote for the project.

6.0 TASKS

Under this contract the contractor shall complete the following tasks and requirements:

6.1 Confine the staging of materials, equipment, and vehicles, and all other operations in connection with this contract to areas designated by the COR. The contractor shall return all equipment, staging, and supplies to this agreed upon area on a daily basis throughout the workday and at the close of business.

6.2 To the extent practical, branches, limbs and shrubs should be trimmed as close to the trunk or plant base as possible, using remaining vegetation to conceal major cuts to leave a more natural edge facing the trail. Trimming shall be done in a method to leave the existing vegetation as natural looking as possible.

6.3 Downed limbs and debris should be moved completely out of sight in a manner that is unnoticeable by the casual observer and does not lead to the development of debris piles, away from the trail to decay naturally, or be removed for legal disposal offsite at the contractor’s expense.

6.4 Trim vegetation as directed in Section 7: Specifications, and Section 8: Special Materials Requirements herein..

6.5 After replacement activities are complete, a comprehensive list of all installed markers shall be provided to the COR. This list will include marker type, coordinates, and, if applicable, signage information (language, dimensions, etc.).

6.6 Legally dispose of offsite all equipment, material, and waste generated by the work of this contract unless otherwise directed by the COR.

6.7 Clean up worksite on a daily basis and rectify any damage caused by the application or the workmanship.

6.8 Staff carrying out vegetation management projects will be informed of the potential presence of protected plant and invertebrate species and instructed to avoid impacting

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts individuals to the extent possible. Maps and identification materials will be provided to trail clearing crew leaders prior to work.

6.9 If cultural resources (physical objects or places of past human activity, such as a historic site, object, landscape, structure, or even a natural feature of significance to a group of people traditionally associated with it) are discovered during project implementation all work in that area must stop and the COR must be notified immediately.

7.0 SPECIFICATIONS / MAINTENANCE DESCRIPTIONS

7.1 Vegetation Clearing

7.1.1 Buttonwood Canal vegetation shall be cut back on both sides throughout the channel to maintain a width of 60 feet which allows safe passing of large tour operated boats, houseboats, and other large vessels. Maintenance consists of removal of overhanging limbs, fallen trees and other vegetation that creates a hazard to operation of motor vessels. Vegetation maintenance is carried out with pruners, loppers and pruning saws as well as chainsaws and pole saws. Cut material is cast into surrounding vegetation or removed from the site and transported to a suitable offsite disposal area. Additionally, contracted staff will consider the aesthetic of the canal while carrying out pruning to achieve the objectives of the project.

7.1.2 Flamingo Boatyard Channel will occur in the channel between the Flamingo Boat Yard and the Buttonwood Canal. Vegetation will be cleared from bank to bank (not to exceed approximately 50 feet wide) to restore the channel to its original design, and to allow houseboat and Law Enforcement patrol vessel passage and will adhere to the same mitigations as described above. Pruning may be conducted from boat platforms. Additionally, contracted staff will consider the aesthetic of the canal while carrying out pruning to achieve the objectives of the project.

7.1.3 Vegetation encroaching on trail markers and signage is maintained by removing vegetation a 5-foot radius around navigational and directional signage.

7.1.4 No land-based cutting, walking on banks/berms or cutting of trees to the base is permitted and disturbance to canal berms will not occur and as a result of this project.

7.1.5 The cleared area should be centered on the deepest portions of the channel, and no vegetation clearing should occur where water depth is three (3) feet or less.

8.0 SPECIAL MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

8.1 Permitted Tools and Equipment:

8.1.1 Tools standard for trail maintenance and vegetation trimming, service tools, and equipment will be used on non-wilderness trails, including portable power and hand tools, gas powered pole saws, chain saws and hand saws, and other portable and gas-powered equipment.

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

8.2 Permitted Watercraft:

8.2.1 Work will be performed utilizing canoes, powerboats, and/or barges.

Boats/barges will be used to transport personnel along the canal, as cutting platforms, and to haul cut vegetation material out of the canal.

9.0 DELIVERABLES

After Award and Before Performance Begins

9.1 Provide a written narrative summary of how the contractor will execute the project within a timeline. The document will be referred to as the Cyclic Vegetation Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Buttonwood Canal and Flamingo Boatyard Channel Schedule.

9.2 After award of the contract, the contractor will participate in a planning meeting with NPS staff and the COR at Everglades National Park Headquarters (HQ), or via conference call at the COR’s discretion. The planning meeting will include site visits to view project locations. Project objectives, logistics, methods, equipment, staffing, scheduling, and regulations/guidance for working within the park will be discussed.

The planning meeting should be attended by essential personnel from the contracting team.

9.3 Provide a safety plan as identified in Section 11.

9.4 Provide proof of insurance and ISA Arborist Certification.

9.5 The contractor shall supply a complete invoice to the COR in a timely manner for payment. Payment shall be made through the government electronic payment system and may take up to 30 days.

Adjustments for Inadequate Performance

9.6 Routine inspection shall be performed to minimize work improperly performed. Such inspections are designed only to assure that the NPS pays only for those services, which have been specified, and adequately competed by the contractor.

9.7 Payment will not be approved for work not completed according to specifications

9.8 The contractor shall be responsible for any damage to the structures or contents as a result of the work.

10.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

Not applicable (N/A)

11.0 SAFETY

11.1 Before onsite work begins the contractor must submit a site/project specific written safety and accident prevention program containing the following:

11.1.1 Name of responsible supervisor to carry out the program.

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

11.1.2 Site-specific information including emergency response contact information and emergency response protocols.

11.1.3 Provide and submit a safety plan outlining your safety program specific to this site.

11.1.4 Outline each phase of work, the hazards associated with each major phase, and the methods proposed to ensure property protection and safety of the public, NPS personnel, and contractor’s employees.

11.1.5 Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) to be used (if applicable):

11.1.5.1 Copies of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be provided to the COR.

11.1.1.2 Proper storage of hazmat.

11.1.2.3 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

11.2 The contractor shall provide a safe workspace for all employees while on the NPS site.

11.2.1 The contractor shall follow all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal, State, and local safety and health requirements.

11.2.2 The contractor shall report all accidents to the Contracting Officer or Contract Specialist assigned to the contract immediately and assist the Contracting personnel and other officials as requested in the investigation of the accident. Accidents that occur outside of the allowed maintenance area, and cause damage to natural resources or museum collections shall be reported.

11.2.3 The contractor shall provide a level of public safety commensurate with exposure at a NPS worksite.

11.2.4 The contractor shall comply in rectifying all unsafe or unhealthful conditions called to their attention by the Contracting Officer.

11.2.5 The contractor shall allow for informal and formal, announced, and unannounced safety inspections by the COR, NPS Construction Inspector, and/or appropriate Safety Officer at the worksite.

12.0 TRAVEL & HOUSING

The contractor shall be responsible for all travel related expenses for this project, including mobilization of equipment, tools, materials, manpower, lodging, meals, and per diem.

Camping at the project sites is not allowed. The Flamingo Campground is open to the public and can be used by the Contractor under the same conditions that apply to the public. This includes paying the nightly camping fee and abiding by the maximum stay limitations.

13.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE REQUIREMENT

13.1 The government will periodically evaluate the contractor’s performance in accordance with this statement of work.

13.2 The contractor shall develop and maintain a quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with commonly accepted commercial practices. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. At a minimum, the contractor shall develop

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts quality control procedures addressing the critical areas identified in this statement of work.

13.3 Any damages, including natural and cultural resources impacts, by the contractor will be corrected and repaired where reasonable at no additional cost to the government.

13.4 The contractor shall be responsible for any damage to the structures or contents as a result of the work.

14.0 PROJECT PERSONNEL

14.1 Contract Officer or Contract Specialist:

14.1.1 To be determined at the time of award.

14.2 Park Point of Contact and COR:

14.2.1 To be released at the time of award.

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

Appendix 1: Work Locations, Quantities, and Trail Descriptions

Flamingo District - 1 Flamingo Lodge Hwy Homestead, Florida 33034

Buttonwood Canal Start: 25.142498°, -80.922269° End: 25.183517°, -80.912716°

TRAIL DESCRIPTION

Buttonwood Canal is a constructed waterway that connects Flamingo Marina to Coot Bay. The trail is used by both paddlers and motorized vessels and is one of the most heavily used routes in Everglades National Park. The canal passes through disturbed uplands, mangrove forest, and coastal hardwood hammock. Buttonwood Canal is approximately 3 miles long and ranges in width from about 30 feet wide to nearly 100 feet in some locations. There is a canoe dock located along the west side of the canal that provides paddlers with access to Bear Lake Canoe Trail. Paddlers also use Buttonwood Canal to access Mud Lake Canoe Trail via Coot Bay.

Maintenance Boatyard Channel Start Latitude/Longitude: 25.144511°, -80.920890° End Latitude/Longitude: 25.143974°, -80.922006°

TRAIL DESCRIPTION

The Maintenance Boatyard Channel is a service channel that connects Buttonwood Canal with the Maintenance Boatyard. Use of the channel is limited to NPS Maintenance and Law Enforcement staff traveling between the Boatyard and Buttonwood Canal. The channel is approximately .10 mile long and approximately 40 feet wide.

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

Appendix 2: Work Location Maps

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

This Project

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts

Bear Lake Dock

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Cyclic Terrestrial Trail Clearing and Landscape Maintenance at Flamingo and Pine Island Districts