Summary:The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is seeking a contractor to conduct aerial treatments of Bacillus thurigiensis var. kurstakii on forest land in State Forests and State Parks in the Shenandoah Valley to protect forests against damage from spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) caterpillars. The intent and purpose of this Scope of Work is to establish a fixed unit price contract on a per acre basis with a qualified firm to provide aerial applications of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) on approximately 1,959 acres ±10% of forestland, located in Shenandoah and Warren counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Treatment sites and estimated acres are listed in Table 1. The attached maps show spray blocks for each site. GIS files of spray blocks will be provided to the contractor prior to treatment date. Treatment must be conducted with rotary-wing helicopters and all sites must be treated with Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki using Foray 76B. The aerial spraying will be for treatment of the spongy moth on behalf of and in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) on lands owned by the VDOF and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (VDCR). The Contractor shall provide the insecticide and its cost must be included in the price per acre bid. Timing of allowable application window depends on oak leaf expansion and emergence of spongy moth caterpillars. VDOF will be available to provide technical information with regard to the biology of the target pest, development of host species, and will issue the final determination of treatment timing for individual blocks. Treatment window is generally late April to late May.
