Attachment 1: Statement of Work v2

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Project
Green Mountain Finger Lakes Invasive Species Map and Control General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

The Green Mountain Finger Lakes National Forest (also referred to as “forest”) is seeking contractor support in the control and mapping of nonnative invasive species (NNIP) of plants using a combination of manual, mechanical, physical, and chemical treatments. Invasive plant control activities will be conducted along disturbance corridors (e.g. roads, trails, utility corridors, fence lines, and riparian corridors), at developed sites (e.g. campgrounds, recreation sites, and administration sites), at disturbed sites (e.g. timber harvest units and maintained openings), and in relatively undisturbed places (e.g. forest interiors).
NNIP is also known as Regulated Introduced Plant Species (RIPS) in the state of Vermont. This contract is part of a forest-wide project to map, remove and control undesirable non-invasive species of herbaceous plants, grasses, vines/semi-woody vines, shrubs and trees on the Green Mountain Finger Lakes National Forest. The treatment for various infestations of NNIP will depend on factors such as species; species phenology; location and accessibility; patch size; new invader or established population; concentration of NNIP; distance to surface and ground water resources; distance to special features or natural resources; surrounding vegetation; potential for successful treatment; and exposure to public. NNIP plant treatments may include the use of hand methods and chemicals to eliminate NNIP when possible or at least appreciably reduce their presence in the treatment areas. While an initial inventory of NNIP plants throughout the Green Mountain Finger Lakes National Forest has been completed; inventory continues. The project adopts an adaptive management strategy, which will result in changes in treatment strategies if Forest Service monitoring of treatment areas indicates that treatment objectives are not being met.

2.0 Background

The project will occur on the Rochester, Middlebury, and Manchester Districts of the Green Mountain Finger Lakes National Forest. Future work may include the Hector District. The control of non-native invasive plants (NNIP) is important in many areas on the Forest; the work in this contract specifically focuses on NNIP infestations within or immediately adjacent to timber sales. NNIP survey or treatment work needs to occur prior to timber harvest per NEPA