Expression of Interest
Murray Irrigation 2014-15 Chemical Weed
Control Program
Tender Reference Number 1096
Murray Irrigation
ABN 23 067 197 933
443 Charlotte Street
Deniliquin NSW 2710
1.0 Introduction
You are invited to lodge an Expression of Interest for contract plant and labour to assist Murray Irrigation with its Chemical Weed Control Program for the 2014-15 financial year. This includes weed control associated with over 2,900km of earthen supply channels and over 1,400km of earthen drainage channels.
2.0 Task
The primary task is to supply contract plant and labour on an hourly hire rate basis to apply chemicals to control noxious, emergent and/or submergent weeds within Murray Irrigation’s Area of Operations. Examples of Noxious Weeds include:
Bathurst Burr Horehound Galvanised Burr Patternson’s Curse Box Thorns
Examples of Emergent Weeds (i.e. above the water) include: Sagittaria
Cumbungi Phragmites Sedge Rushes
Examples of Submergent Weeds (i.e. below the water) include: Ribbon Weed
Elodia Pond Weed
Examples of chemicals typically used by Murray Irrigation include: Roundup Biactive
Roundup CT Arolien
In addition, Contractors are being asked to consider submitting an hourly hire rate for the provision of a spray operator to operate Murray Irrigation owned Landcruiser spray units and/or spray tractors (optional).
Contractors are also being asked to consider their willingness to complete minor pest control works such as spraying regulators to control spiders and/or placing baits to control mice.
3.0 Background
Murray Irrigation is planning a significant Chemical Weed Control Program (Works Program) to assist with the delivery and drainage of water during the 2014-15 irrigation season.
The implementation of the Works Program requires both internal and external contract plant and labour.
The Works Program is subject to change at any time in accordance with Murray Irrigation business requirements and/or budget constraints. This includes putting contract plant “on” and “off” as required throughout 2014-15 financial year.
More details regarding Murray Irrigation and its Area of Operations can be viewed at www.murrayirrigation.com.au
This Expression of Interest applies to the period up to 30 June 2015 inclusive. Murray irrigation reserves the right to extend the contract for a further 12 months if it so chooses.
4.0 Lodgement of Expressions of Interest
Expressions of Interest close at 3.00pm on Monday 2 June 2014.
Tenders can be mailed to:
Contracts, Murray Irrigation Limited, PO Box 528, Deniliquin, NSW, 2710, or emailed to
[email protected]
. Alternatively, tenders can be delivered, in a sealed envelope
clearly marked
Tender 1096, to Murray Irrigation Limited’s Head Office at 443 Charlotte Street,
Deniliquin.
Requests for information or advice regarding this document may be referred to one of the following:
Ian Maher Merv Membrey
Works Supervisor (East of Deniliquin) Works Supervisor (West of Deniliquin)
T 03 5888 3040 T 03 5887 0510
M 0428 839 140 M 0429 870 405
Information Meeting
An information meeting, which is a pre-requisite to the tender, will be held at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 27 May 2014, at Murray Irrigation Limited's Deniliquin office, 443 Charlotte Street, Deniliquin, NSW. Please confirm your attendance at least two days prior to this meeting by contacting the Receptionist on 1300 138 265.
5.0 Mandatory Information
Expressions of Interest shall include all of the following mandatory details: Contractor’s Name and ABN Number
Contactor’s Details (Postal Address, telephone, mobile, fax, e-mail)
Confirmation that each Spray Unit is NSW Road Traffic Authority registered (or equivalent). Photographs (no more than three months old) of each item of plant from the front, back and
side angles.
Full manufacturer specification for each Spray Unit.
Advice regarding if the Spray Unit is capable of spot spraying.
Advice regarding if the Spray Unit has a boom spray that is suitable for minimising chemical drift on small scale works such as access track spraying (Note: Large scale broad acre Spray Units are generally not suitable for Murray Irrigation purposes due to the higher risk of chemical spray drift).
Advice regarding if the boom spray has adjustable height spray droppers than can be configured to the shape of a supply or drainage channel to minimise the risk of drift.
Advice regarding if the contractor is willing to complete minor pest control works such as spraying regulators to control spiders and/or placing baits to control mice.
Span (width) of the boom spray (if applicable). Chemical storage tank capacity (litres). Plant hire rate (including labour costs) ($/hr)
Operator(s) name, qualifications and experience including References and/or Referees
o This refers to the staff that will be completing the actual work.
o Contractors are instructed to ensure that all operators have chemical use qualifications that are applicable for use within NSW.
Restrictions (if any) to Contractor availability
Restrictions (if any) to Contractor’s work region availability (i.e. Finley, Deniliquin and/or Wakool)
Please note that Murray Irrigation's assessment of all Expressions of Interest will include significant consideration to proven past performance, experience, productivity, safety record and workmanship. The lowest or any quotation may not necessarily be accepted.
Non-conforming quotations will not be accepted.
6.0 Terms, Conditions and Contractor Responsibilities
6.1 The Contractor will be responsible for the payment of all wages, overtime, travelling expenses, workers compensation and insurances (including public liability) incurred in the execution of the works.
6.2 The Contractor is required to provide the supply of all labour, consumables (including fuel but excluding chemicals and chemical dye marker solutions), plant, supplementary plant and equipment hire associated with the supply of a chemical Spray Unit with operator(s) on an hourly hire rate basis to complete chemical weed control works within Murray Irrigation. Area of Operations in accordance with Murray Irrigation instructions.
6.3 Contractors are advised to consider possible changes to fuel prices during the period of the works when tendering their hire rates (i.e. fixed hourly hire rates).
6.4 Murray Irrigation will supply the contractor with all weed control chemicals required for application to the targeted weeds.
6.5 Murray Irrigation will supply the contractor with all chemical dye marker solutions.
6.6 Transportation both to the first worksite and from the last worksite will be at the Contractor’s expense.
6.7 Murray Irrigation will consider the first worksite to be one of Murray Irrigation’s works depots located at Finley, Deniliquin and Wakool.
6.8 Murray Irrigation will nominate which works depot will be the first worksite as part of the notification process for successful Contractors.
6.9 The hourly hire rate for the Spray Unit and Operator will only apply to works on site and travel between work sites. This means that travel to and from the worksite at the start and end of each working day (e.g. travel to and from home) and secondary activities such as showering and plant repairs are not included in the hourly hire rate payable by Murray Irrigation.
6.10 The following provisions apply where chemical spraying is not able to occur due to wet weather and/or unfavourable wind conditions that would result in high risks of chemical drift.
o On days where the Contractor has already commenced work, the Contractor will be entitled to claim payment for a minimum of 4hrs work.
o On days where the contractor is notified by telephone before 7:00am that works cannot commence due to wet weather and/or unfavourable wind conditions, the Contractor will be entitled to claim payment for 2hrs work for each day up to a maximum of two consecutive Murray Irrigation working days. Murray Irrigation working days exclude weekends, public holidays and Murray Irrigation rostered days off.
o Examples
A Contractor commences work at 7:00am on Monday 11 October on site and is required to stop work at 9:30am (2.5hrs) due to wet weather.
The contractor can claim 4hrs work for Monday 11 October.
A Contractor is advised prior to 7:00am on Wednesday 18 October that work will not be possible on this day due to wet weather.
The contractor can claim 2hrs work for Wednesday 18 October.
The Contractor is advised prior to 7:00am on Thursday 19 October that work will not be possible on this day due to wet weather.
The contractor can claim 2hrs work for Thursday 19 October (i.e. second consecutive Murray Irrigation working day)
The Contractor is advised prior to 7:00am on Friday 20 October that work will not be possible on this day due to wet weather.
The contractor cannot claim any work for Friday 20 October (i.e. third consecutive Murray Irrigation working day).
6.11 The Contractor is required to report immediately to Murray Irrigation, any damage to Murray Irrigation and/or landholder property caused by the Contractor or any persons under their employment. This includes damage to infrastructure owned by service providers such as council roads, bridges, telephone cables, electricity lines, gas lines etc.
6.12 The Contactor will be required to make good any damage to Murray Irrigation and/or landholder property and/or equipment at the Contractor’s own expense caused in the execution of the works. This includes:
o Damage to Landholder crops from chemical spray drift.
o Damage to infrastructure owned by service providers such as council roads, bridges, telephone cables, electricity lines, gas lines etc.
6.13 The Contractor will be required to work within Murray Irrigation Work Health and Safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to:
o Complying at all times with all occupational health and safety measures as stated in AS 4801 and the NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2000 and the NSW Occupation Health and Safety Regulation 2001.
o Completing a Murray Irrigation Induction
o Completing Work Site Inductions
6.14 If a circumstance arises where the required work is not covered by one of Murray Irrigation’s supplied Safe Work Method Statements, the Contractor must complete a written risk assessment for the work and submit this to Murray Irrigation for approval before commencing the works.
6.15 Contractors will be required to complete Plant Maintenance Work Order sheets and Chemical Weed Control Daily Report sheets (Note: These are the same sheets completed by Murray Irrigation staff – see attached copies).
6.16 Contractors will be required to apply chemicals at concentration rates specified by Murray Irrigation.
6.17 Contractors will be required to apply a chemical dye maker solution at concentration rates specified by Murray Irrigation.
6.18 Under no circumstances are contractors permitted to mix chemicals within 50m of the toe of Murray Irrigation channels. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the Contractor being reported to the Environmental Protection Agency.
6.19 Contractors are permitted to extract water from Murray Irrigation channels that can then be transported at least 50m away from the toe of a Murray Irrigation channel where chemicals can be added and mixed with this water safely (i.e. in a location where there is no risk of a chemical spill occurring in a Murray Irrigation supply or drainage channel).
6.20 Contractors are authorised to fill their chemical storage tanks with water from Murray Irrigation channels at locations specified by Murray Irrigation only.
6.21 Where required, Murray Irrigation will notify Landholders that chemical spraying is scheduled to occur on their property.
6.22 Unless otherwise approved in writing by Murray Irrigation, Contractors will be required to operate on site within the hours of 7:00am to 5:00pm between the days Monday to Friday (excludes Public Holidays and Murray Irrigation Rostered Days Off).
6.23 Unless otherwise instructed by Murray Irrigation, Contactors are to operate within Murray Irrigation Works Policy at all times.
6.24 Murray Irrigation will provide the Contractor with Work Instructions at each work site location. 6.25 Contractors will be required to comply with all Work Instructions issued by Murray Irrigation
Limited.
6.26 Successful Contractors must produce all insurance papers (a “Certificate of Currency”) before work can commence. This includes:
o Workers Compensation Insurance
o $10M Public Liability Insurance - Murray Irrigation should be noted as an “Interested Party.”
6.27 Murray Irrigation reserves the right to terminate the Contractor’s employment at any time for reasons including, but not limited to:
o Murray Irrigation business requirements
o Poor workmanship
o Poor safety
6.28 Generally, Contractors who have not previously worked for Murray Irrigation will initially be engaged on a trial basis.
6.29 Murray Irrigation will accept no responsibility for damage or loss to privately owned equipment, plant or tools.
6.30 Murray Irrigation will accept no responsibility for injury incurred by the Contractor’s staff while employed by Murray Irrigation.
6.31 All workplace injuries to Contractor employees which result in medical assistance being required that occur while engaged in Murray Irrigation works will be reported to the Works Supervisor as soon as possible but no later than the end of the day the incident occurred. 6.32 A starting date will be negotiated with successful applicants as soon as possible after
notification that an Expression of Interest has been accepted. 7.0 Payment
The Contractor will be required to lodge a monthly claim for work undertaken. Murray Irrigation will verify this claim and if satisfactory, payment will be made. All claims shall be presented with a statutory declaration stating that any sub-contractors and employees have been paid for the completed works as stated in clause 23 of AS4905 – 2002.
8.0 Closing Comments
Thank you for taking the time to consider this business opportunity. Please feel free to contact one of the Works Supervisors nominated on page 4 of this document should you have any questions.
