2.Appendix A_Work Item Specifications.pdf

Green Grouse Stewardship IRSC Solicitation 1204H120R4001 Page 1 of 8

APPENDIX A

A. DESCRIPTION OF WORK RESULT OR OUTCOMES

The end result is to manage forest stands promote forest stand structure that would serve as habitat for old-growth associated species and maintain and enhance Riparian Reserve conditions.

The goal is to increase growth of trees to improve the availability of large snags and down wood, reduce stand density to make stands more resilient to stresses, and to create complex, multi-storied stand structure to speed progress toward late-successional stand conditions.

An objective of the project is to enter the stands efficiently and effectively to accomplish the following:

(1) Have multiple work activities and operations occurring at the same time in each stand to reduce entries by equipment, impacts to soils, and damage to reserve trees.

(2) Thin from below to variable spacing to create patches or clumps, groups of trees, and single trees.

(3) Remove sawlogs (See Appendix B, Division A).

(4) Reconstruct roads needed to accomplish stand treatments,

(5) Remove Contractor created slash from landings and along roads that will be open to the public following contract completion.

(6) Treat invasive plants along haul roads used by contractor.

(7) Recondition Forest Service Road 41 to improve drainage and minimize road shoulder failures while also improving access.

Requirements, restrictions, and specifications applicable to all units

(1) Ground-disturbing activities within channels, and along the banks of fish-bearing streams or streams located within ¼ mile of fish-bearing streams shall be performed during approved instream work window of August 1st-August 15th, or as approved by the Forest Service.

(2) Road reconstruction and temporary road construction activities are only allowed between June 1 and October 15.

(3) Yarding, skidding, and haul activities are permitted only between June 1 and October 15.

(unless approved by the Forest Service

(4) Fuels stored on NFS lands shall be at least 100 feet from aquatic resources. Refueling of vehicles and equipment will occur at least 100 feet from aquatic resources and will use appropriate spill control measures.

Item 1: Contractor will cut and remove to landing all sawlog timber. This item is Mandatory for all units.

Requirements, restrictions, and specifications applicable to Item 1 are found in Appendix B.

The contractor should review Attachment #1, Unit Volume Summary for unit volume specifics.

Designation by description thinning requirements are described in Appendix B, Provision K- C.3.5.7#.

Item 2: Road Reconstruction

Contractor will perform all road reconstruction as identified in Appendix D. This item is Mandatory for all units.

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Item 3: Invasive Plant Treatment

Contractor will perform invasive plant treatments to kill existing invasive species infestations and/or eliminate the current year seed crop and help prevent its spread.

along Forest Service Roads.

This item is Optional for Forest Service Roads 4110, 4110-014 and 4110-024 as described below.

Treatment shall be applied once per year in late spring/early summer, prior to harvest or road reconstruction activities, for a total of three years, or until harvest and construction activities are complete. Herbicide shall be given sufficient time to kill plants before operations begin (generally 2-4 weeks, not to exceed 4 weeks).

Measure of accomplishment: Acres treated with herbicide.

Quantity: Estimated 18.75 acres (approximately 9.8 miles of roads) Treatment will be made each year for three years for a total of 56.25 acres of treatment during the term of the contract.

Location: Within 7 feet of each side of the roadside edge and extent of all turnouts of the three Forest Service Roads designated for hauling timber and transportation of equipment within the Contract Area Boundary (see Contract Area Map). This includes the segments of roads 4110, 4110-014, 4110-024 that are within the Contract Area Boundary

Requirements, restrictions, and specifications applicable to all roads

Herbicide Application

The following requirements shall be met:

(1) Contractor and Subcontractors:

Must be experienced and knowledgeable in storage, transport, handling, mixing, application and disposal of herbicides, including legal requirements, safety and protection of the environment.

The Contractor or Subcontractor shall treat via herbicide the roadside weeds on three roads within this work item. The contractor or subcontractor must be able to identify the 16 target species below and treat such species and effectively spray all occurrences annually for three years prior harvest activities.

The Contractor and any Subcontractors shall comply with all state and federal laws pertaining to herbicide application (Attachment 2: EIS Compliance).

(2) Contractor and Subcontractors:

Shall be familiar with ground broadcast and spot application of herbicides. At least one lead applicator/work supervisor shall be on the work site during herbicide applications and they must have a valid commercial applicator’s license from the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

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(3) Equipment and Material Requirements

Safety Equipment: Protective clothing shall be worn by all workers involved in herbicide mixing, loading, and backpack application. The Contractor shall furnish a portable eyewash unit with a supply of uncontaminated water and soap sufficient to wash hands as required and the entire body in the event of accidental contact with the herbicide. An emergency spill kit will be required to be available at the work site.

Application equipment: Prior to construction/re-building of RDs 4110-014 and 4110-024, a pre-implementation herbicide application must occur via the spot spray method using a backpack sprayer or hand-held sprayer. RD 4110 may be treated with a mobile ground spray unit or backpack sprayer. After construction/re-building of RD 4110-014 and 4110- 024, a mobile ground sprayer or a backpack sprayer may be used for roadside treatments. Vehicle mounted or trailer drawn sprayers with adjustable boom nozzles are acceptable. No aerial spraying will be permitted. Use coarse spray settings. Avoid pressure/tip combinations that result in splatter or fine (mist) particles that are likely to drift.

(4) Herbicide:

Herbicide, Surfactant and Dyes: All chemicals furnished by the Contractor shall be of recent manufacture and in the original containers with labels intact.

The Contractor must use the “First Choice” herbicide for each particular species being controlled (See Species Target List below).

The following conditions shall be met in order to ensure safe and effective application with minimized risk to soil, water, desirable vegetation, and other resources within and adjacent to the project area:

WIND

0 to 5 mph or wind speed at which drift occurs, whichever is lower. No temperature inversion present.

PRECIPITATION.

Less than 70% chance of wetting rain anticipated for at least 24 hours.

HERBICIDE USE BUFFERS

Applications of aminopyralid may occur up to the waterline of perennial streams, lakes, and wetlands, and intermittent streams and roadside ditches with flowing or standing water present. Application of herbicide into these waterways are not permitted.

Applications of aminopyralid may occur up to 0 feet of dry intermittent streams and wetlands.

EQUIPMENT REFUELING

Equipment refueling sites must be at least 150 feet from lakes, wetlands, or stream channels.

CHEMICAL MIXING/FILLING

Chemical mixing and filling of tanks must be at least 300 feet from live water, domestic wells, or domestic spring boxes.

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(5) Reporting:

The contractor shall document any herbicide application using the provided herbicide application record (Attachment 3: FS 2510 Herbicide Application Form and Instructions) and provide the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Invasive Species Coordinator with a copy no more than 2 weeks after herbicide applications are complete.

Maximum Herbicide Rates

Rates may be reduced but not increased from;

Glyphosate: 3% v/v diluted in water Imazapyr: 1.5% v/v diluted in water Aminopyralid: .22% v/v diluted in water Triclopyr: 3% v/v diluted in water Metsulfuron methyl: 4 ounces per acre, per year

Each tank mix shall also include an approved non-ionic surfactant at a rate of 1% v/v, and blue dye at a rate of 0.5% v/v so that there is good coverage of the roadside treatment area.

Species Target List within the Treatment Area, plus First Choice Herbicide;

1. *Bohemian knotweed (Polygonum x bohemicum): Glyphosate or Imazapyr

2. Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare): Aminopyralid

3. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense): Aminopyralid

4. Common hawkweed (Hieracium lachenalia): Aminopyralid

5. Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare): Metsulfuron methyl

6. Cut-leaf blackberry (Rubus laciniatus): Triclopyr

7. *English holly (Hedera helix): Glyphosate

8. *English Ivy (Ilex aquafolium): Triclopyr

9. Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum): Glyphosate

10. Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus): Triclopyr

11. *Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum): Glyphosate or Imazapyr

12. Meadow hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum): Aminopyralid

13. Morning Glory (Convolvulus arvense): Glyphosate

14. Orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum): Aminopyralid

15. Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius): Aminopyralid

16. Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea): Aminopyralid

* indicates species are not known to exist in the project area but should be treated if they are found

Item 4: FSR 41 Road and Drainage Reconditioning, MP 3.0 to MP 6.5

Contractor will perform all road and drainage reconditioning on Forest Service Road (FSR) 41 to improve drainage and minimize road shoulder failures as identified in Appendix D, Item 4. This item is Optional for all units.

Item 5: FSR 41 Road and Drainage Reconditioning, MP 6.5 to MP 8.4 Contractor will perform all road and drainage reconditioning on Forest Service Road (FSR) 41 to improve drainage and minimize road shoulder failures as identified in Appendix D, Item 5. This item is Optional for all units.

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B. DEFINITIONS

DBH: Diameter of the stem of a tree at breast height, measured 4.5 feet from the ground on the uphill side of the tree.

C. PREVENTION OF DAMAGE TO RESIDUAL TREES

Contractor shall be required to exercise care during operations to protect leave trees.

A damaged leave tree is one that:

Has been pushed over or uprooted by the equipment or slash material being treated, causing the tree to lean more than ten degrees from vertical.

Has been girdled so that the bark is removed, and wood is exposed on one-quarter or more of the circumference of the bole.

Has its top broken due to Contractor's operations.

Has lateral root damage either cut or exposed.

A live tree that has one or more of the above damage criteria may be cut and treated the same as all other material upon COR's approval. Genetically superior trees, wildlife trees, and trees banded with orange paint will not be cut if damaged.

A live tree that has one or more of the above damage criteria may be retained and treated the same as all wildlife leave trees upon COR's approval.

D. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Government Unit Inspection Procedures – Informal (Visual) The COR, or a designated inspector, will make periodic inspections while work is in progress, usually daily at first, to assure work is proceeding satisfactorily. The Contractor shall notify the COR when units are completed and ready for inspection prior to moving out of the general area. An inspection will be made within five (5) workdays and the Contractor notified of any parts of the unit(s) requiring additional work or rework.

Each unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Units will not be averaged with other units for acceptance or payment.

The COR, or designated inspector, will determine compliance of contract specifications through informal, 100 percent visual inspections. In the event visual inspection indicates work to be in non-compliance with specifications, prompt corrective action and/ or rework shall be required.

Government Unit Inspection Procedures – Formal (Plots)

In the event visual inspection indicates work and/or rework to be in non-compliance with specifications, a series of verification plots may be installed by the Government to determine compliance with specifications and percent of satisfactory work. The Contractor or a designated representative is encouraged to observe inspections while they are underway.

Each unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Units will not be averaged with other units for acceptance or payment.

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Government verification plots will consist of a series of variable and fixed area plots, evenly distributed throughout treatment units so that the best representative sample is obtained.

The minimum number of verification plots, per treatment unit, shall be as follows:

Unit Acreage Min. No. of Plots 1 - 9 1 per acre 10 - 49 1 per 2 acres 50 + 1 per 3 acres

Verification plots shall be marked on the ground using flagging to indicate plot centers. Plots shall be consecutively numbered and dated to correlate with the inspection form.

Fixed Area Plot (1/10 acre per 1 acre):

1) Stump diameters to assure that the correct trees were cut.

2) Retention of trees marked with orange or white paint

3) Cutting of trees marked with blue paint

4) Spacing of leave trees.

5) Species of cut trees as specified in Appendix B.

6) Damage of leave trees by Contractor’s operations.

Determination of acceptability of the work performed will be based on Government verification inspections and will be considered conclusive.

Government Unit Re-Inspection Procedures

If the Contractor disputes the Government's verification inspections, the Government will re-inspect as outlined elsewhere herein.

If the re-inspection results are within +5 percentage points of the original inspections, pay will be based on the Government’s inspection percentage.

If the re-inspection results are not within +5 percentage points of the original inspections, Contractor shall rework the area.

Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

The minimum acceptable qualities of work levels, by work item, are displayed in the table below.

ITEM

NO.

DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT

Minimum

Acceptable Level

Cut and remove Sawlog Timber to the landing.

MANDATORY ACRE 90%

2 Road Reconstruction MANDATORY MILE 100% 3 Invasive Plant Treatment OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

FSR 41 Road and Drainage

Reconditioning, MP 3.0 to MP 6.5

OPTIONAL MILE 100%

FSR 41 Road and Drainage

Reconditioning, MP 6.5 to MP 8.4

OPTIONAL MILE 100%

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E. PAYMENT METHODS

Method of Measurement for Acreages

Acreages were determined by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or Computer Measurement.

The acreage for each work item is final unless:

The contract is modified or;

The Government makes a determination to re-measure or;

The Contractor exercises his/her option under the Re-measurement Provisions;

The Contractor may, at any time after a Notice to Proceed is issued, request re-measurement of any unit. The request shall be made in writing;

If the re-measurement indicates a variance of 5 percent or less, adjusted to the nearest whole acre, the Contractor shall pay for the actual cost of re-measurement;

Payment will be made on the basis of the re-measured acres.

Payment for All Work Activities

The pay rate will be calculated by multiplying the verified inspection percentage for each unit times the contract unit price. When the percentage of satisfactory work is 90 percent or greater, 100 percent payment will be paid.

Example 1: 90% quality = 100% payment.

Example 2: 89% quality = 89% payment.

No more than 100% payment will be made for any one unit.

If quality of work between 90% and 99% is due to deficient trees, the rate of payment will be actual quality only.

If after one (1) rework, the percentage of satisfactory work is between 70% and 89%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 70%, the work is unacceptable and no payment will be made.

Bucking will be considered incidental to thinning and no separate payment will be made.

Payments will be made for each contract item by the methods shown in the table below.

SOURCE CODE OF FUNDING: CMRDCI20

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*Payment Method (1) will be used as the primary method whenever practical.

**Payment Method (2) will be used if the availability of funds in Payment Method (1) is exhausted or if appropriated dollars are recruited to a specific Optional item.

ITEM

NO.

DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE

UNIT for Payment

Payment Method (1)*

Payment Method (2)**

Cut and remove Sawlog timber to the landing.

MANDATORY

All Units

N/A N/A N/A

Road reconstruction, see Appendix D

MANDATORY

All Roads

MILE

Forest

Service (FS) funds

Stewardship Credits

3 Invasive Plant Treatments

OPTIONAL

All Roads

ACRE

Stewardship

Credits N/A

Road and Drainage Reconditioning

OPTIONAL

FSR 41 MP 3.0

– MP 6.5

MILE

Stewardship Credits

N/A

Road and Drainage Reconditioning

OPTIONAL

FSR 41 MP 6.5

– MP 8.4

MILE

Stewardship Credits

N/A