Appendix J Stocking Surveys.docx

2020 CORP 2.0 Appendix J Stocking Surveys

SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, transportation, equipment, supplies, materials (unless specified elsewhere as Government-furnished), and incidentals required to perform reforestation stocking surveys in plantations and naturally regenerated stands with a variety of unknown vegetative conditions across the respective district(s) of the Deschutes, Ochoco and Fre-Win National Forests as specified on each contract item. Stocking surveys are performed to determine plantation survival and mortality causes and in natural regeneration stands to determine if natural regeneration adequately is stocking the unit. Stocking surveys are typically done in August and September of year after the spring/early summer growth has completed.

Stocking surveys may be done using the Region 6 Reforestation Stocking Survey Form (R6-2470-105) that comes in a field survey book with instruction in the front and back cover. Stocking surveys are typically done throughout a unit on a systematic grid of one plot per acre. Stocking surveys are a fixed plot survey. The fixed plot sized is determined by the Forest Service in each BPA Call and may vary by unit.

Stocking surveys are typically done in years 1, 3 and 5 following planting. Surveys of natural regeneration areas are typically done in any year between 2 and 5 years following the disturbance that resulted in the natural regeneration. Tree present on each fixed plot are tallied by species, and are typically between 6 and 30 inches in height. Other information that may be collected will be stated in each BPA Call, such as the number of crop trees, cull or excess trees, causes of mortality of planted seedlings, the type of animal damage present, listing of the plant species that are competing with seedling establishment, noxious weeds, and the presence of plant disease. In units that are planted, the number of planted trees may be tallied separately than the number of trees that naturally regenerated. Each unit will have the data summarized, with a minimum summary of the average trees per acre.

In addition, each unit surveyed would have a narrative description of the unit and a sketch map showing where the plots are located across the unit. The narrative should provide remarks about overall unit condition, average height of crop trees and any specific noteworthy comments like the presence of noxious weeds or livestock salting in the unit. Areas within units that need attention (animal damage control, competing vegetation control or planting) should also be included in the narrative. It is possible that a BPA Call may require to have the plot center GPSed.

PROJECT LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY

The project areas are located on the Deschutes, Ochoco and Fre-Win National Forests on Forest Service managed lands. The project areas can be reached by Forest Service roads that are accessible by standard pickup truck during normal operating season. Some stands will require foot travel from the nearest road to the stand itself. The Forest Service assumes no obligation to perform any special maintenance to keep roads open. Vehicle travel is not allowed behind locked gates, through private driveways, or on blocked roads.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES

The Government will furnish to the Contractor the following materials, supplies, property or services at the respective District office (at an agreed upon time between COR and Contractor. The Contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of all Government-furnished property until completion of all work per BPA Call and final acceptance of returned property.

Government-furnished property

1. Copies of unit/stand location maps and a copy of the pertinent National Forest Map. Unit maps and a vicinity map will be also provided as a .pdf map for use with a GPSed enabled electronic device.

2. One field survey book, Reforestation Stocking Survey Form, for each person collecting stocking survey data.

3. A key to access units behind locked gates, if needed.

Services the Government may provide: A field review of the Government inspection procedures.

CONTRACTOR'S FURNISHED ITEMS

The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, materials, labor, supervision, and transportation (except those items listed as Government-furnished) required to complete the project.

Supplies and Equipment The Contractor shall furnish all required items to complete the project, including but not limited to the following: typical field equipment to perform stocking surveys; bright flagging to mark plot centers; a GPSed enabled electronic device for field navigation with .pdf map files of units.

Services Summary

1. The Contractor shall submit a plan of operation for completing data collection on each bid item.

2. Contractor shall provide the following field collected data and report files:

a. When data is collected on paper forms, the Contractor shall provide a paper hardcopy upon completion of the unit, along with the narrative for each unit. Data shall be turned in weekly.

b. Contractor shall mark accurate plot locations, travel routes, and azimuths on the Sketch Map and Traverse Notes for each stand unless an acceptable electronic version of the plot locations is agreed upon at the prework meeting.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS – All personnel collecting plot data shall have skills in these areas:

1. Ability to accurately identify tree species, planted seedlings, animal damage and disease on seedlings.

2. Experience in the successful use of hand-held compass, pacing, map measurements or navigation with .pdf map files on a GPS enabled electronic device.

3. The Contractor shall designate crew leaders for each crew; the crew leader shall be the individual responsible for taking plot measurements in accordance with the accuracy standards

4. Each crew person shall have a minimum of 1 season of experience in performing stocking surveys or stand exams.