Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) Treatment

SECTION C – SPECIFICATIONS FOR HWA TREATMENT DIVISION 100 - GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS 110 - Scope of Contract The purpose of this contract is to perform insecticide treatments on hemlock trees in order to ensure their ability to survive infestation by the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). The contract areas are located in developed recreation, administrative, and conservation areas on the Allegheny National Forest. The Contractor will be required to treat: A. Hemlock trees with one or more of the following application methods: Soil Injection or Drench (imidacloprid), Soil Tablets (imidacloprid) i.e. CoreTect® or equivalent, Basal Spray (dinotefuran) i.e. Safari 20 SG® or equivalent, Basal Spray (imidacloprid and dinotefuran) or Stem Injection (imidacloprid) Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, supervision, supplies, insecticide, and related supplies required to treat hemlock trees. (Section 140). The Government will furnish no materials, labor, or equipment unless specifically identified in the Government-Furnished Property (GFP) clause (Section 130). 120 - Description and Location The contract areas are located on the Allegheny National Forest in Elk, Forest, McKean, and Warren Counties, PA (see attached map). Specific site locations, tree diameters, number of trees, and treatment methods will be provided in each delivery order. The terrain is gentle to moderate with occasionally very steep ravine slopes. Hazards include (but are not limited to) bee stings, snake bites, overhead hazards, and limited exposure to insecticide or insecticidal solution. 130 - Government-Furnished Property (GFP) The Government shall deliver to the Contractor the following listed material, supplies, and property (hereinafter referred to as "Government-Furnished Property" or simply “GFP”) at the place and time specified below. The Contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of such delivered GFP until completion and final acceptance of work required under this contract. If the Government fails to make timely delivery of such GFP suitable for its intended use, and upon written request from the Contractor, the Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment of contract delivery or performance dates or contract price, or both, pursuant to the "Changes" clause of the General Provisions of this contract. The Forest Service will provide cardboard signs for public posting at the treatment sites indicating the treatment dates. 140 - Contractor-Furnished Items (CFI) All insecticide and application equipment will be furnished by the Contractor. During transport, insecticide and application equipment must be secured to prevent tipping or excess jarring and must be carried in a part of the vehicle totally isolated from people, food, or clothing. Contractor must have a vehicle spill kit, consisting of the items listed on the attached EMERGENCY SPILL PLAN, in their vehicle at all times while insecticide is being loaded, transported, or used. -- 1 of 10 -- Contractor must have and properly use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as detailed by the insecticide labels. 150 - License Requirements Contractor will comply with Pennsylvania state regulations for licensing of commercial pesticide applicators. At all times while the Contractor is applying pesticides, at least one applicator certified by the appropriate state(s) in the appropriate category will be on-site. Proof of Pennsylvania Category 5 Forest Pest Control Certification will be provided to the COR at the pre-work conference. Contractor will be responsible for full compliance with all applicable provisions of the EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS), 40 CFR Part 170. 160 - Access Access guidelines will be provided by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). During times when recreation sites are open and being used, the Contractor will coordinate treatment times with the COR. DIVISION 200 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR HEMLOCK TREATMENTS 210 - Work to be Performed For all Areas, the Contractor shall properly treat the designated trees with insecticide as directed by the COR in accordance with these specifications. 211 – Application Timing Weather, soil condition and insect activity influence optimum treatment timing for prescribed systemic insecticides identified within. Stem injections and soil injection treatments shall be conducted during periods when the soils are not frozen nor excessively wet or dry, after trees have leafed out, or as specified on insecticide labels. Basal bark sprays shall be conducted when trees are actively translocating. Basal bark sprays shall not be applied to wet bark, if rain is expected within 12 hours, or within 12 hours after rain. Spring (Mar-Jun) and Fall (Oct-Dec) are ideal application periods, provided temperatures are above freezing during application. The government reserves the right to suspend treatments should tree or weather conditions become such that deferring treatments is in the best interest of the Government. 212 – Application Methodology Trees to be treated will be designated by a site map, by verbal instructions from the COR, by flagging, paint, metal tags, or by a written tree-by-tree site description. If the trees to be treated are at a campground or other frequently used recreation area, the Contractor may treat infested trees only after coordination with the COR as to appropriate treatment times. After treatment, each tree will be flagged with a short length of flagging on a branch above Contractor’s head. The Contractor shall keep a written list of each tree treated and its corresponding tag number and diameter and provide this list to the COR. -- 2 of 10 -- Soil Drench and Soil Injection This method is for treating all trees so designated in this contract. Imidacloprid (i.e. Merit 75 WSP®, Bandit 2F or equivalent) insecticide will be used. Contractor will be responsible for mixing the insecticidal solution on the job site…