Statement_of_Work.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW)

Aerial Phragmites australis treatments at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

I. BACKGROUND

The National Park Service is requesting contracted UAS aerial herbicide spraying for purposes of managing Phragmites australis infestations within Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Phragmites is an invasive plant that requires multiple year treatment efforts to control.

Ongoing efforts by park staff, the Southeast Coast Invasive Plant Management Team (SEC IPMT), and external partners have been successful in treating Phragmites in target areas, however there are hard to reach areas and treatments are necessary multiple times per year. To successfully decrease the infestations of Phragmites and increase the recovery of native plants and landscapes, multiple, targeted treatments are critical in controlling infestations to a level the parks and SEC IPMT can maintain over time.

Aerial treatments will allow effective and targeted treatments in otherwise hard to reach areas by ground crews. These areas are potential resting and foraging habitat for T&E species such as Rufa Red Knot, Piping Plover, and Black Rail. In addition, it is worthwhile to manage the small populations where control is possible, particularly in pristine areas where sensitive species are threatened or where the park has already invested time and funding to map, survey, and treat.

This operation will be completed using Contractor supplied DOI-approved UAS, and NPS approved herbicides. The treatments will be implemented a minimum of once within the contract year at 2-3 locations around Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The selected Contractor will have demonstrated experience working in sensitive environments such as national parks where minimal impacts to wildlife and visitor use and experience is required.

The information developed under this Contract is the property of the U.S. government and shall be kept in confidence. All discussions, meetings, miscellaneous requests, reports, transfers of information, etc., shall be coordinated between the Contractor's Project Manager and the Park's Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The Contractor’s Project Manager shall identify alternates or additional personnel as deemed necessary for the implementation of the project. The COR does not have the authority to issue changes to the contract, order additional work, increase or decrease the price of work, or alter the period of performance. All such changes must be accomplished through formal written orders or contract modifications issued by the Contracting Officer (CO).

II. SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED

The Contractor shall provide all the equipment necessary to carry out aerial treatment for Phragmites australis.

Task 1 – Aerial and mechanical Phragmites treatments. The expectations for work under this task include providing all tools, equipment and herbicide for the accurate identification and UAS aerial treatment of invasive Phragmites australis a minimum of once during the contract year. Chemical treatment will be accomplished using aerial application via UAS.

Pre-approved herbicide mixes will be used. Aerial treatment will be conducted during the time when shorebird nesting will be least impacted and plants will effectively uptake herbicides, generally August through early October. Following aerial treatments, a work crew will implement follow up mechanical treatments to decrease standing dead biomass in select areas to improve follow on treatment efficacy. Mechanical treatments will be scheduled during the winter or early spring following aerial treatment to allow time for complete and successful documentation of results of the chemical application.

For select Phragmites stands, two treatments (aerial spray and mechanical removal) will occur each year and for three follow on years (pending follow-on funding), bringing the infestations to maintenance levels that can be spot treated by follow on contracts.

The Contractor will be expected to utilize best management practices for herbicide application, and follow all labels and local, state, and federal regulations regarding use of herbicides. While non-target damage may occur, the Contractor should ensure conditions are favorable during treatment and any drift or non-target damage shall be minimized.

Deliverable: Schedule and facilitate a planning meeting with park staff within 2 weeks following contract award. Include information on the approach and methodology for conducting the work and the expected timeline for the work.

Deliverable: Provide proposal(s) for herbicide mixes to be used for aerial treatments such that requests can be routed through the NPS Pesticide Use Proposal System and a determination can be made prior to the anticipated start of work.

Deliverable: Provide at least two weeks’ notice when conditions are forecasted to be favorable for implementation of survey work.

Deliverable: Provide daily notification when flights are underway and completed and provide advanced notification of changes in schedule due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.

Deliverable: Provide post treatment survey results regarding the efficacy of each treatment applied. Conduct retreatments as necessary to ensure >90% treatment efficacy for target species and <2% non-target species impacts.

Deliverable: Provide before and after photo documentation of efficacy of treatments.

Deliverable: Schedule and facilitate implementation of the mechanical removals a minimum of 3 months following effective and thorough results of the chemical application.

Deliverable: Provide before and after photo documentation of mechanical removals.

Deliverable: Provide end of contract summary report including:

• Flight details – days, times, duration

• Acres covered and amounts of herbicide mixes used

• Indication of any problems, favorable or unusual developments

• Georeferenced data points and survey track files for upload by NPS

Safety Plan: The Contractor shall submit a site-specific safety plan with the Task Order proposal. The Safety plan shall at a minimum describe all necessary FAA clearances, and emergency procedures, routes to the nearest hospitals, list key personnel to contact in an emergency, and emergency phone numbers. In addition, the Contractor shall have familiarity with and will adhere to all Federal, state, territorial or local safety regulations pertaining to conducting aerial herbicide treatments.

Optional Task – Follow on Aerial and mechanical Phragmites treatments. This task is considered optional. The park may request additional treatments pending funding. The expectations for work under this task include providing all tools, equipment and herbicide for the accurate identification and UAS aerial treatment or follow on ground crew herbicide treatments within the same footprint of the initial treatment of invasive Phragmites australis in addition to the treatment described in Task 1. The Contractor shall provide cost information for one additional aerial treatment and one follow on ground crew herbicide treatment within the first treatment year, along with costs for aerial treatments and follow on ground crew treatments for up to 3 additional years.

III. TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSALS

Separate technical and cost proposals should be submitted electronically as pdf files.

Technical proposals should include statements responding to the technical capability described below and will include specifications of equipment and a description of how the Contractor will ensure minimal impacts to visitor use and experience at Cape Hatteras

National Seashore. Cost proposals should be itemized by personnel and equipment for all members of the Contractor team, including subcontractors, if applicable.

A. TECHNICAL CAPABILITY

The criteria below will be used to evaluate proposals. It may be in the interest of the Government to award to other than to the lowest price bidder or other than the highest technically rated bidder. Technical proposals should list equipment to be used, staffing capacity, and proposed schedule to confirm understanding of what is listed in the statement of work. The technical evaluation criteria, when combined, are more important than cost.

1. Qualifications of Personnel. Provide proof professional qualifications of key personnel proposed for use under this contract.

• Proof of herbicide applicator license for use in the state of North Carolina

• Proof of UAS Pilots license and associated training hours’ requirements

• Proof of education, training and experience in botanical identification

2. Past Performance. Provide proof of past performance on recent (w/in within the past three years) aerial vegetation treatment efforts in sensitive environments in terms of:

• Quality of work

• Meeting schedules and deadlines

• Customer satisfaction

3. Complete Relevant Prior Experience. Provide proof of recent aerial vegetation treatment experience (w/in the past three years). Provide the project title, brief description, location, dollar value, and other project information deemed relevant. Provide the name of the project owner or inspector along with their phone number and email contact as a reference.