Z2DA--Bat Exclusion (666-19-103)

Statement of Work

Bat Exclusion, Sheridan VA Healthcare System Main Campus

666-19-103

1.0 Objective:

Professional abatement services are required to remove bat colonies, conduct bat proofing/exclusion, remove bat guano, effect parasite sterilization as needed, and sanitize affected areas in the attics of residential housing quarters and Hospital and Industrial buildings at the Sheridan VA Healthcare System Main Campus, 1898 Fort Road, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801. The building schedule is specified in the list below.

2.0 Scope

Work will generally consist of full site inspections, identification of entry points, bat removal, installation of exclusion devices, sealing the structures from re-infestation, and cleanup of guano through industry-accepted standards to include moistening the droppings before removal, bagging for disposal, and wearing HEPA-equipped respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus. Service is also required to install bat houses in surrounding fields to provide alternative roosting shelters and encourage permanent exclusion from VA facilities. The contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, materials, tools, transportation and supervision necessary to complete this project. Work will include a minimum five-year warranty against re-infestation. The COR is responsible for providing the Contractor with the name and contact information of the VA Bat Permit holder. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring they properly communicate with the VA Bat Permit holder and COR to effect proper communication with the state.

3.0 Requirements:

To address public safety concerns and provide for bat population conservation, the following tasks will be conducted: conducting exit surveys to determine colony sizes and building points of entry/exit; conducting bat exclusions in each building as needed; guano cleanup; constructing and installing bat houses. Bats are roosting in multiple buildings throughout industrial and residential areas of this VA. A stepwise, targeted approach will be used to determine exclusion needs and priorities for each building.

1. Identify all buildings being used as roosts by conducting exit surveys. Multiple observers will be required to survey all buildings. See building list below.

2. Identify the number of bats and the type of roosts used for each building. Bats may use various parts of a building to roost in, not only attics. Determine which buildings bats are using attics or other structures where they are able to gain access to interior living spaces. This can be accomplished using a combination of exit surveys and interior inspection of building attics.

3. Prioritize for exclusion those buildings where there are larger colonies and where bats are able to access interior living spaces. Prioritize the hospital building currently identified as housing large numbers of bats, one of which tested positive for rabies.

4. Not all buildings may require exclusion if the colonies are small, bats cannot enter interior living spaces, and there is no public health risk; these buildings will be a lower priority for exclusion or may not require exclusion. Sealing any potential interior entry points, if present, may be all that is required to ensure bats will not enter interior living spaces.

5. Multiple bat houses will be needed to provide sufficient alternate roosting space for potentially large numbers of bats. Installation of 35 bat houses on the North side and 35 bat houses on the East side of VA for a total of 70 bat houses. This will be determined by the contractor on spacing and location.

6. Replace insulation saturated with urine and guano. The insulation will be replaced with the same grade/specifications.

4.0 Mandatory Tasks:

The contractor shall complete all mandatory tasks listed below.

Task 1: Estimating Bat Colony Size and Determining Points of Entry Exit Surveys:

Nocturnal external exit roost surveys (exit surveys) will be used to estimate the number of roosting bats in the building and determine the points of entry into the building. An estimate of colony size will be useful in planning the number and design of alternate bat house roosts to be installed and to locate the entry/exit points where exclusion devices will be used.

Surveys will be conducted during the summer season from June through September on evenings with no rain and without excessive winds. Visual observations will be conducted by multiple observers stationed outside each building at likely bat entry/exit points or on each side of the building. Observers should use hand tally counters to keep track of the numbers of bats. Note that bats may swarm outside the building after exiting and re-enter the roost for a brief period before exiting again therefore, if possible, count separately the bats exiting and the bats going in. Night vision binoculars should be used to aid counting. Keep noise to a minimum as excessive or unaccustomed noise may alter emergence behavior. Arrive at the building approximately 45 minutes prior to sunset and end surveys 1 hour after sunset or when bats are no longer exiting the building.

Depending on bat colony size, the number of entry/exit points, and weather, more than one survey (e.g., up to 3) may be needed for an accurate count. Data should be recorded on a standardized form. Record the date and duration of survey, building identification number, number of bats observed exiting the building, location of the entry/exit points, time of the first observed exit, and duration of exit.

Once entry/exit points are located, inspection of the inside of the roost area (e.g., attic) is recommended, if feasible, to determine if young are being reared (nursery colony use) or if the roost is being used by non-reproductive females and bachelor males. The roost inspection should be conducted during the summer (June and July) when young would be present. The inspection should be brief to reduce disturbance. There is no need to handle any bats, unless species identification is desired.

Task 2: Bat Exclusion:

Bats will be permanently excluded from roosting in the VA hospital building using non-lethal exclusion methods following Bat Conservation International (BCI) and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) recommendations. The technique includes using one-way exit devices (exclusion tubes and/or netting), sealing points of entry, and preventing access to the building interior. Exclusion activities will be conducted when bats are not present if feasible. If the exclusion is conducted during the winter months when bats are not present, and bats have been confirmed to not be roosting in the hospital building, one-way exit devices (described below) will not be necessary. If exclusion must take place during the summer months when bats are present, one-way exit devices will be required.

One-Way Exit Devices (Exclusion Tubes or Netting)

One-way exit devices through which bats can leave but cannot return are made from tube-type excluders or lightweight polypropylene netting (