SOW_Specifications.docx

RFQ Solicitation 12034319Q0027 Vegetative Material Collection 2019 – Commercial Item Page 7 of 7

STATEMENT OF WORK

Scope of Contract: Work consists of monitoring pollen, collecting various vegetative material, and assisting with specialized tree improvement tasks at Tree Improvement Areas on the Nez Perce-Clearwater and Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The work will take place in trees and areas that have been previously identified. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, transportation, supplies (other than Government Furnished), supervision, and incidentals necessary to perform all work safely and within the specifications.

Trees may be removed from the list of trees to collect from by the Forest Service contact person, before any effort is expended, with no price paid.

The WP pollen work shall begin about late May 2019 and proceed till completion.

The WBP pollen work shall begin about early July 2019 and proceed till completion.

The WBP cone caging work shall begin about early to mid-July 2019 and proceed till completion.

The WP and operational cone collection work shall begin about early to mid-August and proceed till completion.

The WBP cone collection work shall begin about late-August to early October and proceed till completion.

The WBP scion collection work shall begin mid-September and proceed till completion.

Location and Description: The work sites may be located on any district of the Nez Perce-Clearwater or Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The majority of the areas are accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicle.

(a) Access for the Nez Perce-Clearwater NF: An estimated one third of the trees for climbing and collecting are within 200 feet of the road and an estimated one third of the trees may be up to 1000 feet from the road. Vehicle access to some trees may be limited or prohibited and access by some combination of ATV/UTV and walking may be required. Payment will not be made for walk-ins of ¼ mile or less one way.

(b) Access for the Idaho Panhandle NF: An estimated one third of the trees for climbing and collecting are within 300 feet of the road. The remaining two thirds of the trees may be up to 3 miles from the road.

The Lenore TIA on the Nez Perce-Clearwater NF is located close to Orofino ID and the Grouse Creek TIA on the Idaho Panhandle NF is located close to Sandpoint ID.

Government-Furnished Materials:

The property that will be provided by the Government is as follows:

Maps

Bagging Materials

Cone Tags

Colored Flagging

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

(a) Pollen Collection: Pollen shall be collected during late spring and early to mid-summer. Pollen from different elevations and locations ripens at different times throughout the spring/summer. Successful collection shall require good communication and rapid response from the Contractor. The Contractor shall be responsible to monitor trees for signs of ripening. Collect pollen from identified trees; a minimum of two bags and a maximum of four bags per tree. A separate document that contains a list of potential whitebark pine trees for pollen collection is provided with this solicitation. A final list of trees to collect from will be provided at the time of award. These trees have been previously identified by the government, each tree has GPS coordinates in latitude and longitude. These coordinates can be entered into a GPS receiver to navigate to the tree. The contractor shall provide their own transportation, climbing and collecting equipment. The Forest Service may assist the contractor in locating the trees, then make a determination if the tree will be climbed and collected from or not. If the tree is difficult to locate the Forest Service may spend up to 4 hours to locate the tree. If no inspector is on site during the climb a piece of flagging will be hung in the crown where the collection has been made. The color of flagging will be determined by the COR at the pre-work.

(1) Record as much pollen identification information on the outside of the bags ahead of time, to speed up actual field collections.

(2) Monitor catkins for signs of ripening; be aware that you have ~ 36 hours to collect mature pollen before pollen flight. Things to keep in mind:

· Catkins turn from green to yellow in white pine.

· Trees ripen from the bottom up.

· Generally pollen is produced in the bottom of the live crown.

· Need to perform squeeze test (squeeze a catkin between thumb and finger, if liquid is yellow and/or cloudy, the pollen is not ripe. If the liquid is clear, pick the catkins).

· If the target elite tree is already shedding pollen, it is too late to collect uncontaminated samples that field season. If near neighbors are shedding pollen, you may still proceed with pollen collection of your target tree as long as it is not shedding pollen at the same time.

(i) Place catkins in paper lunch bags or pollen bags. Seal seams with tape to avoid contamination with other pollen collections. Collect a minimum of 2 bags to a maximum of 4 bags of catkins per tree and do the following;

(A) Fill bags 1/2 to 2/3 full with catkins only--NO NEEDLES, but tuft at end of catkins is fine.

(B) Double fold the top of the bag shut and staple closed. Do not fold bags so far down that the catkins are packed together with no "breathing room." Seal the stapled fold with tape.

(ii) Record collection and identification information with a waterproof marker.

Record the following information on the bag:

Collection Date _____/_____/_____ Species Code TWN______ RNG______ SEC______ ELEV________ [From list of Trees] Tree Number________________ [From list of Trees] Collected by_____________________________________ Bag ____ of ___

(A) Sterilize all collection tools (clippers) and hands with rubbing alcohol between each tree collection to minimize pollen contamination.

(B) The COR or Inspector will accept delivery of the collected material at the end of the day and at the location mutually agreed upon in writing by the COR and the Contractor.

(C) Any designated tree the Contractor declares unsafe to climb shall be reported to the COR, specifying the reason the tree is not safe to climb, including the nature and location of the hazard. The COR will designate, verbally or in writing, an acceptable substitute tree or delete the tree from the contract.

(b) Pollen Delivery: The COR or Inspector will accept delivery of the collected material at the location mutually agreed upon in writing by the COR and the Contractor.

(c) Cone Caging: This description and work will be associated with the WBP cone collection item. The Contractor shall climb and cage conelets from previously identified trees. A separate document containing a list of potential whitebark pine trees for caging and cone collection is provided as part of this solicitation. These trees have been previously identified by the government, each tree has GPS coordinates in latitude and longitude. The Government will monitor cone development and flag trees to be caged. A final list of trees to be caged will be provided prior to the start of this work.

(1) The Contractor shall climb the identified trees and cage all cones that can be safely caged.

(2) Spurring is not allowed when climbing WBP trees; the Contractor shall be required to climb using other equipment and methods at their disposal to prevent potential damage. The Contractor shall provide a ladder, a tagline, and a collapsible pole or branch hook for pulling the branches toward them to reach the cones. The Contractor shall take all precautions necessary to prevent excessive damage to trees. Living branches shall not be deliberately broken, barked, or cut nor shall tree trunks be skinned or peeled to cause excessive damage to the cambium. If the COR determines that excessive damage is occurring, the Contractor’s right to proceed will be suspended until the proper corrections have been made.

(3) The wire cages shall be installed on branches bearing second-year conelets. Wire cages should be placed to protect the conelets from bird predation. Adjust wire cage dimensions to fit branch size. Be sure to allow enough room for cones to grow and ripen and be out of reach by birds. If necessary, secure the wire cage to the branch with fasteners to ensure that it doesn’t slip off or blow off in the wind.

(4) Any designated tree the Contractor declares unsafe to climb shall be reported to the COR, specifying the reason the tree is not safe to climb, including the nature and location of the hazard. The COR will designate, verbally or in writing, an acceptable substitute tree or delete the tree from the contract.

(d) Cone Collection: All cones collected under this contract are and shall remain the property of the Government. Climb and harvest mature cones from previously identified trees as prescribed by the terms of the contract.

(1) WBP and WP Tree Improvement Trees: A separate document containing a list of potential whitebark pine trees for caging and cone collection is provided as part of this solicitation. A final list of trees to be collected from will be provided prior to the start of this work.

(2) Operational Cone Collection: A spreadsheet with collection information will be provided prior to the start of this work.

(e) Seed Cone Source: Cones shall be harvested only from Government-designated trees. The Contractor is expected to climb all trees designated for picking under the contract. If directed by the COR or the Inspector, the Contractor may be required to climb trees and collect cones for sampling seed count. If no further cone collections are made from that tree, the Contractor will be paid the bid rate for climbing that tree.

(1) Cones may be damaged by disease, frost, or insect attack, or may be harvested by squirrels. If the COR or Inspector determines that there are not enough cones or seed count is too low to warrant picking, the Contractor will be notified verbally and with documentation in writing not to pick that tree, and the tree will be deleted from the contract.

(2) Cones cut by squirrels shall not be collected.

(3) A Forest Service inspector may assist the contractor in locating the trees to be climbed and help in handling the collected cones. If no inspector is on site during the climb a piece of flagging will be hung in the crown where the collection has been made. The color of flagging will be determined by the COR at the pre-work meeting.

(f) Seed Cone Standards: All cones harvested shall be from the current calendar year seed cone crop. It is the Government’s responsibility to determine the quality of the cones prior to collection. The COR may require the Contractor to pick sample cones from designated trees.

(1) The COR or Inspector may determine cone quality on the basis of the cut cone test. The number of sound seed is determined by counting exposed seed on one open cone face. Cones must meet average cut count per cut face as determined by COR or Inspector. Seed will be considered sound when the endosperm and embryo are developing normally and there is no evidence of insect, disease, climatic, or other types of damage.

(2) If cone quality is so low that minimum cone quality standards are not met, cone collection efforts may be stopped. The COR may terminate all or any portions of the collections or may direct the Contractor to collect in other collection areas.

(3) The seed condition in general is considered mature when the embryo fills 90% or more of the embryo cavity and is a cream or pale yellow color. The surrounding storage tissue (endosperm) will have a firm consistency and not a viscous, milky condition. The seed coat and seed wing will have darkened in color and be easily lifted from the cone scale.

(g) Operational Cone Collection Standards: The contractor shall harvest cones only from the top 2/3 of trees identified by the Government for collection. Cones shall not be collected from the lower 1/3 of the live crown unless authorized by the Government. Cones shall be from the current calendar year and meet the Seed Cone Standards stated above. The Contractor shall collect mature, sound cones. Cones must be dry, free of mold and not showing damage by animals, insects or disease or physical damage. The Contractor shall notify the COR when cones are not sufficiently mature or if they do not meet the quality standards for collection.

(1) Branches shall be pulled to the picker by the use of limb hook with a handle allowing a minimum reach of eight feet, unless another type of equipment has been authorized by the Contracting Officer or his/her representative.

(2) All cones shall be picked and placed into bags in the tree and lowered to the ground to avoid mechanical damage to seed and to avoid contamination of cones by soil bearing fungi. Bagged cones shall not be thrown or dropped out of trees. Cones shall be protected from moisture and heat. Cones shall not be damaged during any phase of picking or transporting. No payment will be made for climbing and collection of cones that have been damaged. The COR may suspend work until proper procedures are being followed.

(3) Cones from each area shall be bagged separately. Bags will be furnished by the Government. Bags shall be free of debris (such as twigs, needles, cone stems, cones of other tree source). The bag shall be tied securely shut approximately 3 inches from the top of the bag.

(4) For each bag, the Government shall provide two cone tags (R1-FS-2470-15), using the information from the actual collection site and information provided in the Collection Information spreadsheet. One tag shall be placed inside the bag at the top, and the other securely fastened on the outside of the closed bag. In addition, the bags from each area shall have the same colored flagging attached to the bag.

(h) WBP and WPP Tree Cone Collection Standards: For the white pine and whitebark pine Tree Improvement trees the Contractor shall collect all the cones from the trees identified by the Government for collection. Cones shall be from the current calendar year and meet the Seed Cone Standards stated above. The Contractor shall collect mature, sound cones. Cones must be dry, free of mold and not showing damage by animals, insects or disease or physical damage. The Contractor shall notify the COR when cones are not sufficiently mature or if they do not meet the quality standards for collection.

(1) Branches shall be pulled to the picker by the use of limb hook with a handle allowing a minimum reach of eight feet, unless another type of equipment has been authorized by the Contracting Officer or his/her representative. For WBP the Contractor shall remove the cages from the each cone cluster and harvest those cones. Branch tips shall not be cut off in order to remove cages and collect cones. Ripe cones typically fall off into the cages when they are pulled off the branch so care should be taken not to lose any of the seeds.

(2) All cones shall be picked and placed into bags in the tree and lowered to the ground to avoid mechanical damage to seed and to avoid contamination of cones by soil bearing fungi. Bagged cones shall not be thrown or dropped out of trees. Cones shall be protected from moisture and heat. Cones shall not be damaged during any phase of picking or transporting. No payment will be made for climbing and collection of cones that have been damaged. The COR may suspend work until proper procedures are being followed.

(3) Cones from each tree shall be bagged separately. Bags will be furnished by the Government. Bags shall be free of debris (such as twigs, needles, cone stems, cones of other tree source). The bag shall be tied securely shut approximately 3 inches from the top of the bag.

(4) For each bag, the Government shall provide two cone tags (R1-FS-2470-11), using the information from the actual collection site and information provided in the Tree Location and Collection Information spreadsheet. One tag shall be place inside the bag at the top, and the other securely fastened on the outside of the closed bag. In addition, the tree number shall be clearly marked on flagging attached to the bag, and shall be consistent with the number on the cone tag, the sign on the tree, and on the spreadsheet.

(i) Cone Delivery: All cones shall be loosely packed in clean Government-furnished 2 bushel bags, with no more than one (1) U.S. bushel of cones per bag. Collected cones shall be submitted to the COR or Inspector each day for inspection and acceptance. The COR or Inspector will accept delivery of contract seed cones at the base of the tree from which they were harvested, or at the location mutually agreed upon in writing by the COR and the Contractor.

Any designated tree the Contractor declares unsafe to climb shall be reported to the COR, specifying the reason the tree is not safe to climb, including the nature and location of the hazard. The COR will designate, verbally or in writing, an acceptable substitute tree or delete the tree from the contract.

(j) Specialized Hourly Services: A flat rate per hour will be paid for each worker ordered by the Government. Work will often call for 2-5 workers, but may require up to 8 workers. No foremen will be required, but the crew must include at least one English speaking representative. Unless another location is mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the Government, points of hire will be at one of the Tree Improvement Areas (TIA). Transportation, meals, and lodging shall be provided by the Contractor. The Contractor will be paid for all actual hours worked, recorded to the nearest quarter hour. This excludes workers’ down time and lunch breaks.

Tasks which will be clocked at an hourly rate may include:

(1) Cone collection within the TIA. Trees are regularly spaced, usually at 20’ spacing, on flat or gently sloping ground that is easily accessible. Cone maybe collected from any species, depending on the cone crops and funding levels. Cones will be picked from orchard ladders (provided by the Government), a Contractor rented bucket truck or manlift depending on location, or from the ground, depending on the height of the trees.

(2) Pollen collection within the TIA. Trees are regularly spaced, usually at 20’ spacing, on flat or gently sloping ground that is easily accessible. Pollen maybe collected from any species, depending on the pollen produced and funding levels. Pollen will be picked from orchard ladders (provided by the Gov.) or from the ground, depending on the height of the trees. Pollen tends to be produced toward the lower ½ of the crown. Pollen collections will be separated by individual trees or clones which shall be designated by a Government Representative.

(3) Scion collection within the TIA. Trees are regularly spaced, usually at 20’ spacing, on flat or gently sloping ground that is easily accessible. Scion maybe collected from any species, depending on the pollen produced and funding levels. Scion will be picked from orchard ladders (provided by the Gov.) or from the ground, depending on the height of the trees.

Inspection and Acceptance:

(a) Inspections will consist of field observations of tree climbing and visual inspections of materials collected to verify compliance with contract terms. The COR or a designated Inspector shall inspect each delivery of vegetative material for compliance with the specifications.

(1) Contractor Quality Control Inspection: The Contractor is responsible for management and quality control actions to meet the terms of this contract. The role of the Government is quality assurance to ensure contract standards are met.

(2) Quality Assurance Inspections:

(i) The Government will perform periodic review of the Contractor's Quality Control Procedures, Inspection Reports, and customer comments.

(ii) Quality Assurance Inspections will be made by random sampling or entire inspection of the work, and follow up of customer comments. When validating customer comments, the possible cause of unacceptable performance will be determined. If any Government action or lack of action was the cause, the complaint is not valid and deficiencies shall not be counted against the Contractor.

(iii) Periodic means one (1) review each month, but may be done more frequently if necessary.

(iv) Work that does not meet the contract requirements will be brought to the Contractor's attention. Repetitive or continuous failure to meet contract requirements may result in a quality adjustment to payment or the Contractor's right to proceed may be terminated.

(b) Acceptance will be based on 100 percent visual inspection for adherence to the specifications. If inspection shows unacceptable work, the Contractor will be required to correct deficiencies in order to comply with specifications. If COR determines work is correctable, the Contractor will be required to rework.