2.2.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for the safe handling, mixing, and application of herbicides and disposal of herbicide containers in a manner safe to the environment, as per the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and State laws. The Contractor shall also be responsible for complying with all Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations governing the handling and application of herbicides. This includes all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, eye protections, ansi class 2/3 rated apparel, etc. 2.2.2 The Contractor shall provide sufficient equipment, incidentals, and manpower. A. The Contractor shall supply a two-person herbicide application crew, which shall consist of the following personnel: Foreman – Foreman shall be responsible for the following: Applying herbicide solutions based upon all site conditions, spray materials, vegetation to be controlled, speed of equipment, wind speed and direction, direction of traffic and other factors. Foreman shall possess a copy of calibration sheets in spray truck at all times. Daily recording and forwarding of the “Team Activity Card” to the Administration’s shop. Team Activity Card will be supplied by the Administration. See sample in the Integrated Vegetation Management Manual for Maryland. Scheduling herbicide spraying within a county as instructed by the Contract Manager. Scheduling meetings with the Contract Manager, prior to beginning work in a county, to establish the sequence of routes to be sprayed and the traffic protection equipment and devices required. Equipment Operator/Helper – One physically qualified equipment operator, possessing a Maryland Pesticide Service I.D. Card at the time bids are submitted, shall assist the foreman with the work listed above. The foreman and operator shall be qualified to drive the equipment and shall demonstrate their ability to operate the specialized spray equipment required to apply herbicides. The foreman shall possess the knowledge and ability to distinguish between desirable and undesirable vegetation as specified by the Contract Manager. The bid item for “Herbicide Application Crew” shall include labor, equipment and all incidental materials such as tools for minor adjustments, parts (nozzles, pressure gauges, etc.), all fuel and lubricants as required for herbicide application and any other work in connection with this Contract. This bid item will be paid for at the contract unit price bid per 8-hour working day. This 8-hour working day consists of the following activities: a) One-half hour travel time from the Contractor’s base of operation to the daily starting point of herbicide operation; b) Travel time from application site to application site; c) One-half hour travel time from the daily final application site to the Contractor’s Base of operation; d) Time spent filling the spray unit with water and herbicides; e) Time spent applying herbicide solutions; f) Time spent making minor equipment adjustments. The following activities that are NOT INCLUDED in this 8-hour working day: a) Time spent making repairs requiring more than one (1) hour, nor time spent on routine equipment maintenance; b) Time when herbicide solutions cannot be applied due to the inclement weather, i.e. rain, high heat, high wind, etc.; c) Time spent on lunch or breaks. Partially worked days due to weather, equipment failures, etc. shall be pro-rated for payment purposes.
