RECOVERY-AWARD-Removal of Invasive Vegetation (Swale)FFS Proj # R4MD & R4METAS::14 1610::TASHabitat Restoration Resources 799801142Nokomis, FL 34275

Contract # 40181RY028Award amount: $700,000.00Date of Award: March 17, 2010 The goal of this project is to restore wetland swales on approximately1084 acres within Florida Scrub Jay Habitat Reserves at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This project will remove the woody vegetation, allowing the emergent grasses to return. The project includes cutting and stump herbicide treating hardwood trees and shrubs within wetlands. All trees will be felled using hand tools, i.e. chainsaws. All stumps will be treated with herbicide using the current control practices for optimal woody control. A Time & Material contract was awarded due to the work area being large and difficult to access, which was difficult to accurately map treatment sites. Contractors would have a difficult time visually assessing the amount of vegetation which would need to be treated. If this contract were fixed price, many contractors would be discouraged from bidding due to inability to fully assess what work is actually required, or alternatively, they may have significantly increased their prices to take into consideration potential risk (of underbidding). A Time & Materials contract will provide the flexibility to maximize the use of available funds and allow treatment of the most problematic areas.