Carrizo Cane Topping Project

The PQZ of the CFTEP encompasses approximately 600 miles of the Rio Grande River along the US-Mexico border The areas to be cut under the FY21 contract will encompass approximately 64 miles located along the PQZ within the South Texas counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Webb as well as potential 130 miles of Carrizo Cane located in the Texas counties of Maverick and Vel Verde at the direction of the CFTEP. The contractor will top off the Carrizo Cane stands to a height of approximately 3 feet in areas pre-selected by the USDA, at the behest of CBP, to clear areas that are mutually beneficial to the job performance of both agencies. The Carrizo Cane should be cleanly cut at the 3 foot (1 meter ) height to stimulate and enhance the effect of the predatory insect species and encourage branching which will minimize the height for regrowth and give greater access to the control insects. The tops, which still contain insect larvae, are to be left in place to encourage newly developed insects to further attack and degrade the Carrizo Cane stands. 1.4 Place of Performance Place of performance is along the Rio Grande River border between the United States and Mexico that is the Permanent Quarantine Zone (PQZ) from Brownsville, TX southeast Texas., to Del Rio. TX in the northwest. Seven potential areas have been identified for topping in the Southeast and an additional 15 sites identified in the northwest. The final areas for topping will be designated by the CFTEP in consultation with CBP. The place of performance will encompass approximately 64 river miles of Carrizo Cane (southeast) and potentially 130 river miles (northwest) The PQZ of the CFTEP encompasses approximately 600 miles of the Rio Grande River along the US-Mexico border The areas to be cut under the FY21 contract will encompass approximately 64 miles located along the PQZ within the South Texas counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Webb as well as potential 130 miles of Carrizo Cane located in the Texas counties of Maverick and Vel Verde at the direction of the CFTEP. The contractor will top off the Carrizo Cane stands to a height of approximately 3 feet in areas pre-selected by the USDA, at the behest of CBP, to clear areas that are mutually beneficial to the job performance of both agencies. The Carrizo Cane should be cleanly cut at the 3 foot (1 meter ) height to stimulate and enhance the effect of the predatory insect species and encourage branching which will minimize the height for regrowth and give greater access to the control insects. The tops, which still contain insect larvae, are to be left in place to encourage newly developed insects to further attack and degrade the Carrizo Cane stands. 1.4 Place of Performance Place of performance is along the Rio Grande River border between the United States and Mexico that is the Permanent Quarantine Zone (PQZ) from Brownsville, TX southeast Texas., to Del Rio. TX in the northwest. Seven potential areas have been identified for topping in the Southeast and an additional 15 sites identified in the northwest. The final areas for topping will be designated by the CFTEP in consultation with CBP. The place of performance will encompass approximately 64 river miles of Carrizo Cane (southeast) and potentially 130 river miles (northwest). The contractor shall commence cane topping operations in Area 1 (Brownsville) and then proceed northwest working through the designated areas until they complete Area 7. Upon conclusion of cane topping operation in Area 7, the contractor will then proceed to the Del Rio sector (Area 8) to commence cane topping and proceed southward; completing each designated area until funding for the contract is expended.