Aerial Spraying of Defoliators in the Southern Interior of BC.

The South Area (Thompson Okanagan, Cariboo and Kootenay Boundary Regions) periodically conduct aerial spray operations for defoliators, including western spruce budworm. In order to deliver this program, the BC MOF requires contractors that can provide spray aircraft, licenced/experienced pilots, ground crew and necessary equipment. The contractor and ground support crew must have experience in aerial pesticide application, aircraft spray calibration, and co-ordination of spray aircraft. The ground crew must supervise the logistics of the spray operations, equipment, fuel, transportation of the pesticide and other facilities necessary to complete the work described in this contract.

In 2025 the Thompson Okanagan and Cariboo Regions plan on spraying ±90,000 hectares of Interior Douglas-fir. The pesticide to be used is Foray 48B, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki ( B.t . k. ).  Suitable staging areas, or airports, will be located within an operable distance of all proposed spray blocks or spray block groupings. Foray 48B is applied neat at approximately 2.4 litres per ha (30 BIU/ha).  All potential spray blocks will be treated in mid-June. Spray aircraft must be equipped with a spray system having a minimum of four (4) nozzles capable of delivering droplets in the range of 100-120 median micron diameter at a constant rate and pressure over an even, unbroken swath (e.g. AU 4000 micronaires).  The Contractor must have a contingency plan and necessary equipment for containment and mop-up of any spills that may occur over the duration of the project.

Further details as to the scope of this opportunity and the requirements can be found within this RFP.

Option to Renew

The Contract contains an 'option to renew' clause whereby the Ministry reserves the right to but is under no obligation to renew the Contract for a further term of up to 12 months, to a maximum of 3 years, subject to funding and satisfactory performance of the Contractor.  As renewal is not assured, Proponents are cautioned to prepare their price based on a single term contract only.  Should the option-to-renew be exercised, the bid rate or bid price is expected to remain unchanged in the subsequent term unless, in the ministry's sole opinion, a negotiated rate change is warranted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any renewal of the Contract shall be at the Province's sole discretion.

The contractor must provide records of past, successful programs of similar specifications and scope. The Contractor must provide a sufficient number and configuration of spray aircraft to complete the spray program in each region (Thompson Okanagan, Cariboo Regions) within a 7-day spray window (weather dependent). Foray 48B is applied neat at approximately 2.4 litres per ha (30 BIU/ha).  Spray aircraft must be equipped with a spray system having a minimum of four (4) nozzles capable of delivering droplets in the range of 100-120 median micron diameter at a constant rate and pressure over an even, unbroken swath (e.g. AU 4000 micronaires).  The Contractor must have a contingency plan and necessary equipment for containment and mop-up of any spills that may occur over the duration of the project.
The contractor must also have the crew, equipment and capacity to deliver 1,000 litre totes to designated air strips or field staging sites.