Seeley Lake Ranger District Aerial Herbicide Spraying

This document is a federal Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determination (No. 2015-5393, Revision No. 28, dated May 13, 2026) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor for Missoula County, Montana. It establishes the minimum hourly wages and fringe benefits required for various occupational classifications on covered federal service contracts. Key details and requirements include: - **Occupational Wages:** Specifies hourly pay rates across multiple labor categories, including administrative support, automotive service, health, information technology, mechanics, and protective services. - **Fringe Benefits:** Mandates health and welfare benefits of $5.55 per hour (or $5.09 per hour for contracts covered by Executive Order 13706). It requires a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year and paid vacation scale based on length of service (2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 years, and 4 weeks after 15 years). - **Executive Orders:** Outlines compliance rules for EO 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and EO 13658 (Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors). - **Pay Differentials & Allowances:** Defines pay rules for computer employees, night and Sunday differentials for air traffic controllers/weather observers, hazardous duty pay differentials (4% to 8%), and uniform maintenance allowances ($3.35 per week). - **Conformance Process:** Details the procedures via Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444) for establishing wage rates and classifications for any job duties required under the contract that are not explicitly listed in this determination.

This Statement of Work outlines a federal contract for aerial herbicide application across 720 acres on the Lolo National Forest in Powell County, Montana, near Seeley Lake. The project's primary objectives are to support post-fire rehabilitation, reduce fine fuels by targeting cheatgrass and invasive weeds, improve big game habitat, and restore native plant communities. The designated period of performance is from September 15 to November 15, 2026, with active spraying expected to conclude by November 1, 2026. The contractor is responsible for providing all necessary equipment (including helicopters, support vehicles, and communication systems), licensed personnel, and chemical materials, specifically a tank mix of Imazapic and Aminopyralid applied at a minimum water-carrier rate of 2 gallons per acre. Strict environmental protections are mandated, such as operating only in winds of 5 mph or less, maintaining 300-foot protective buffers around streams and private property, and ensuring all machinery is clean of noxious weed seeds. Furthermore, the contractor must coordinate staging areas, implement robust safety and spill response plans, and submit daily progress reports. Final deliverables—including GPS flight logs, official Montana herbicide application records, and photographic documentation—must be submitted and approved by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) within two weeks of field completion before payment is released. Non-compliance with environmental, safety, or quality standards will result in performance curtailment, payment withholding, or contract termination.

This document consists of aerial maps and legend data detailing the planned "Seeley Lake Aerial Spraying" project. The maps outline specific treatment zones categorized by color-coded polygons across two primary geographic areas: the Horseshoe Hills and Monture regions. Key details identified in the maps include: - **Horseshoe Hills Area:** Designated by red polygons spanning a three-mile and one-mile scale. - **Monture Area:** Designated by blue polygons, highlighting specific operational locations including the Monture Creek Campground, the Monture Guard Station Cabin, and the Monture Hillside. - **Staging Location:** A designated staging area is marked near the Monture sites to support the aerial spraying operations. The maps utilize Airbus imagery and serve as a geographic reference for contractors to identify treatment boundaries, staging areas, and sensitive landmarks for the aerial spraying solicitation.

This federal Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call Order (No. 1284LM26Q0112) is a single-award, small business set-aside issued by the USDA for the Seeley Lake Aerial Spray project. The objective is to perform up to 720 acres of aerial herbicide application to control invasive cheatgrass and spotted knapweed in Seeley Lake and Monture Creek, Montana, within the Lolo National Forest. The period of performance is scheduled from September 15, 2026, through November 15, 2026, with spraying expected to conclude by November 1, 2026. Because of steep mountainous terrain and adjacent private land parcels, the contract requires a light or very light Type III helicopter equipped with GPS and specialized cockpit application software. Proposals will be evaluated using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection process. Technical evaluation criteria include price, key personnel qualifications (specifically requiring pilots with a minimum of three years of helicopter herbicide application experience), past performance on at least three similar projects, and a comprehensive Quality Control Plan. Additionally, the solicitation incorporates recent March 2025 class deviations, removing outdated FAR and AGAR clauses (including certain minimum wage and equal opportunity provisions) to align with Executive Orders 14148, 14173, 14168, and 14208. It also outlines the independent USDA Ombudsman Program process for filing agency-level contract protests.