Specifications include, but are not limited to: a. Provide and utilize necessary personnel and equipment to remove water chestnut infestations manually in designated areas. Final approval of handpulling, and disposal methods and locations will be determined by the State. b. Employ a crew of at least five to seven (5-7) handpullers working full time for at least a five-week period. The handpullers will work together or in crews using kayaks in designated areas. Handpulling activities and surveys will be coordinated between the State and the Contractor. c. Provide watercraft (kayaks and canoes), collection devices, and appropriate gear for all crew members. d. Provide appropriate safety equipment and harvesting equipment to transport harvested plants to approved disposal sites. e. Provide water safety training to all crew leaders and members by an accredited organization. f. Provide a project operations manager who will be on-site all day each workday for overall project supervision. The project operations manager will coordinate control activities and will continually update the State on the progress of the fieldwork. g. Dispose of removed water chestnut plants at a State approved upland, non-wetland disposal sites. Some sites may be a distance from the lake. h. Provide daily harvesting data, access information, and locations to the State electronically. i. Before the commencement of the project, provide written documentation to the State describing the spread prevention measures that will be undertaken to assure that no non-native species are transported to project waterbodies with the required project equipment (e.g. boat, trailer, gear). At a minimum, prior to any work occurring with equipment that has been in or on any other waterbody, the contractor shall comply with 10 V.S.A. §1454 and the Voluntary Guidelines to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species through Recreational Activities, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, November 2012. j. Be experienced in business management practices including but not limited to: past experience hiring and overseeing a crew of workers in the field; maintaining work logs and time sheets; processing payrolls; and agreeing and adhering to both insurance and workman’s compensation compliance as specified in Attachment C, as well as, income tax issues.
