SOW_BFO_Noxious_Weed_Control.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Colorado Gulch (Helena)/Whiskey Gulch (Pipestone)/Marysville-Fuels Reduction/Noxious Weed Control

Description: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a requirement for noxious weed treatment on approximately 747 acres of BLM land within specific areas in Lewis and Clark County in Southwestern Montana and near pipestone. The priority spray areas are listed below. The contractor shall begin with priority area one and continue through the priority areas until the requirement is met. It is mandatory to follow the priority list. Some priority areas have already been treated in past years, so there may be less weed infestations in these areas.

Priority Area 1 Unit 1 (Colorado Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Some very steep slopes which may require backpacking

Priority Area 2 Unit 2 (Colorado Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Some very steep slopes which may require backpacking

Priority Area 3 Unit 3 (Colorado Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Some very steep slopes which may require backpacking

Priority Area 4 Unit 4 (Colorado Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Some very steep slopes which may require backpacking

Priority Area 5 Unit 5 (Colorado Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Some very steep slopes which may require backpacking

Priority Area 6 1 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 7 2 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 8 3 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 9 4 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 10 5 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 11 6 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 12 7 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 13 8 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 14 9 (Whiskey Gulch)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 15 Marysville (Behind Dagnel’s)

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

Priority Area 16 Marysville

Spray where infestations occur Spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and thistle Most spraying can be done with UTV/ATV and backpack

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Work will be performed from approximately September 6, 2021-November 30, 2021 SITE TOUR: There will be no site tour, interested parties are encouraged to visit the site prior to submitting a quote. Maps and directions are attached and are available at the Butte Field Office, 106 North Parkmont, Butte MT 59701.

Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be in place during period of performance. Contractor can find updated fire restriction information at https://www.mtfireinfo.org/. Contractor will work closely with BLM representatives in case of closures.

The Contractor Will:

· Upon Award, provide the COR with a General Work Plan that contains the following:

· Schedule for completing work

· General description of operating procedures

· Methods to ensure thorough coverage of the contract area

· Methods of application, i.e. type of equipment to be used in various situations

· Methods to ensure effective application of herbicide to large, old plants

· Comply with Federal and Montana state pesticide laws.

· Be a licensed applicator for both general and restricted use pesticides and apply according to label specifications (Label Specifications are on the back of herbicide containers) and BLM guidelines within the H-9011-1 Handbook (http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/weeds/9011.print.html). Applicants must submit a copy of their license with quote.

· Provide copies of pesticide application records for each application site, recording the date of application, start time, finish time, amount of herbicide, surfactant, and dye applied, application rate, type of equipment used, weather, location, pest treated, and acres treated on public land and these will be submitted to BLM COR (project inspector) (Lacy D Decker) every 2 weeks.

· Herbicides will only be applied by ATV/UTV mounted sprayer, truck mounted sprayer or by backpack sprayers calibrated not to exceed label rates.

· Adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures identified in Appendix 1 of this Statement of Work. Ensure that all personnel handling pesticides have read the appropriate MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS).

· Locate and GPS areas of noxious weeds infestations within the specific sections listed (see maps). All areas must be mapped using GPS units and that information (metadata included) will be submitted every two weeks along with the Pesticide Application Records to the BLM COR (Lacy Decker).

· Provide a report describing your work with photos of treated sites. Inventory for new patches of noxious weeds on a continuous basis when in the project area. A minimum control of 90% is required on weed treatments. Performance standards are dead noxious weeds, standing noxious weeds with no developing (or developed fertile) flower/seed heads, and dead rosettes (rosettes present pre-treatment). The BLM will conduct compliance inspections of contractor treated sites.

· Provide the equipment and trained personnel to treat noxious weed infestations on public land as identified.

· Provide supervision to ensure the project is completed safely and herbicides are applied according to label specifications and BLM guidelines.

· The contractor shall be responsible for contacting the grazing permittees to schedule the herbicide application. The contractor shall return the confidential list of permittees to the contracting officer upon completion of the contract.

· Only used herbicides/adjuvants approved by the BLM (See Attachments 1 and 2).

· Any weed infestations found outside the polygon area must be pre-approved for treatment by the BLM agent. Any please contact the COR (Lacy Decker) for approval to treat. Any additional weed treatment outside the acres defined in this requirement must be pre-approved by the Contracting Officer.

· A pre-work conference will be scheduled upon award of contract. Contractor will be notified of conference date.

BLM will provide:

· A list of BLM approved herbicides/adjuvants that can be applied on BLM lands.

· Maps of specific project areas and/or shapefiles.

· List of noxious weeds to be treated on public lands.

· Contact information will be provided for private landowners. Contact information must be returned to contracting officer at completion of contract.

Data and Map Standards Contractor shall provide Global Position Satellite (GPS) shapefiles (lines, points, and polygons) of all herbicide applications made by Contractor showing location of said application and herbicide(s) used.

GPS feature types to be collected:

Point values – 0.10 acres. Each GPS point collected represents 1/10th acre Line values – 50 ft buffer. Each line value represents line length (ft) x 50 ft wide.

Polygon values – represents actual sprayed area contiguous but allows for aggregation of non sprayed areas within the polygon.

Butte Field Office GIS/GPS contacts:

Jessie Fischer jfischer@blm.gov (406) 533-7642

APPENDIX 1

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND HERBICIDE APPLICATION

SAFETY, EQUIPMENT & APPLICATION

· The safety of the general public will be a primary consideration when conducting treatments.

· Contractor will provide sufficient clean water to assure the opportunity for workers to wash off any chemicals splashed inadvertently onto skin or in the eyes.

· All personnel involved in pesticide application must be trained and licensed. Protective clothing and equipment, as specified on EPAapproved labels and the BLM H90111 Handbook (i.e., coveralls, unlined rubber gloves and boots, safety glasses, hard hat, respirator, as appropriate) will be worn by workers directly involved in herbicide applications and by employees using hazardous tools/equipment. The applicator must have and maintain a Montana Pesticide license or be trained in the use of herbicide application and working under the direction of a licensed applicator. All personnel handling pesticides will read the Material Safety Data Sheet and the label for each product prior to handling or applying the pesticide.

· While mixing and loading, the individuals will wear appropriate protective gear as specified on the chemical label (examples full length apron, face shield, unlined rubber gloves, liquid repellant footwear).

· Spray pressures for hand held spray gun and/or boom will meet label and nozzle tip requirements. All equipment shall be properly calibrated before applications are made and to prevent gross errors in the field while mixing. Regular testing on field calibration and calculation will take place (once a month during use or more often if used frequently.)

· Spray nozzles on ground vehicles must be set to produce spray droplets with a median diameter of 200 microns or larger. Ground vehicle equipment will normally operate with a boom pressure of 20 to 35 pounds per square inch, unless the product label specifies a different pressure. Backpack and/or hand sprayer application of liquid herbicide will occur with low nozzle pressure (25 lbs psi) and within 2.5 feet of the target plant.

· Herbicides will be mixed and loaded in an area where an accidental spill cannot flow into a stream or water body, or contaminate groundwater. Mixing sites would be near the Dewey cemetery up Nez Perce Gulch, near the dump at Triangle Gulch. No mixing is allowed in riparian areas. Applicators are required to have an emergency spill kit to mitigate small spills. Spills of any size will be reported to the BLM Butte Field Office.

· Low volatile formulations of phenoxy herbicides will be used to reduce the potential for offsite contamination.

· Where vehicle and hand applications of herbicides are used, the wind velocity must be 8 mph or less, except in riparian areas where the wind speed must be 5 mph or less unless the label states differently. Do not spray when wind is less than 1 mph and no spraying when heat index in greater than 90 degrees Farenheit.

· Equipment shall be cleaned only in specifically designated areas away from waterways and reservoirs, wells and stock tanks. All containers shall be triple rinsed and rinsate used in the spray tank. Containers will be disposed of at a state collection site for recycling, an approved landfill or other specifically designated areas according to State, Federal, and County laws.

· The licensed applicator will provide copies of pesticide application records for each application site, recording the date of application, start time, finish time, amount of herbicide, surfactant, and dye applied, application rate, type of equipment used, weather, location, pest treated, and acres treated. Records will be completed within 24 hours of application and submitted biweekly or upon request of the BLM. This record will be maintained in the BLM project file.

TREATMENT

Treatments will be conducted in accordance with applicable Federal, State and local government regulations, including the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670 eL seq.), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (http://www.blm.gov/flpma/), the Federal Noxious Weed Control Act (http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/fedweed.html) as amended in Section 15 of Public Law 93629. These laws and policy provide direction for BLM to coordinate with appropriate State and County entities and those related weed control agencies and to operate in harmony with State (http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/mt9605.html) and County weed control laws (http://mtwow.org/weed-laws.htm).

· Hand pulling and using hand tools to remove noxious weeds may be used when no other means are available to control or eradicate the targeted noxious weed. This method may be effective on new infestations. Gloves and protective clothing will be worn.

· Ordinarily, several considerations govern the choice of treatment method. The choice first depends upon the species of noxious weed. Treatment objective, topography of the treatment area, expected costs, and equipment limitations are implied considerations. Another consideration is the selectivity of the herbicides.

· Commercial products for noxious weed treatment will only be used if the noxious weeds are susceptible to the herbicide, i.e., that is with one treatment the herbicide will retard 90 percent of current year’s growth of the target noxious weed. In large dense stands, 90 percent control may not be realistic the first year.

· Effort should be made to reduce adverse effects of spraying on several non-target woody plant species (chokecherry, snowberry, and aspen). These species are important for wildlife habitat, soil stability and visual resources.