Rev20210816Amend0001Appendix A_RockFenceIRSC.pdf

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APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The East Fork Scott Project has primary objectives of improved forest health and resilience in early and mid- to late-seral habitat, enhanced meadow and oak woodland habitat for sensitive plants and large game species, reduced sediment input from roads and abandoned mines, protected and enhanced riparian habitat and stream shade, and improved firefighter and public safety within the 31,572 acre project boundar. These objectives can be met by accomplishing the following:

1. Thinning with forest product removal within both natural stands and older plantations (1,245 acres).

2. Whole-tree yarding in order to reduce fuel concentrations in stands when feasible.

3. Removal of included saw timber from the Contract Area.

4. Mechanical thinning and removal of small diameter trees or removal to landings to be disposed of by FS.

5. Addition of designated large woody debris to identified stream channel.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Mandatory Item 1: Cut and Remove Included Timber:

Units 26, 51, 52, 63, 67, 68, 69, 70, 78, 80, 82, 83, 84, 90, 92, 93, 101, 108, 109, 115, 116, 121, 122, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 137, 138, 140, 141, 156, R1, R2, R3, 56, 57, 60, 100, and 112 (1245 Acres)

Cut and remove from Contract Area sawtimber trees which meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in

Appendix B. Commercial treatments include seventy acres of skyline thinning, 784 acres of ground-based thinning, and 390 acres of roadside fuel break thinning.

Mandatory Item 2: Road Maintenance

See Appendix C for Road Maintenance requirements.

Mandatory Item 3: Stream Restoration Tree Placement Unit 51 (15 Trees)

Unit 51

Along 1,549 feet of mainstem Kangaroo Creek, 15 trees marked with white paint applied with solid rings are to be placed instream. Designated trees may either be dropped directly into stream or moved to stream via pre-identified approaches.

This may need to be implemented with consultation of participating biologist. Stumps 14 inches in diameter and greater shall be treated with California registered borax fungicide to prevent the development of infection centers of the root disease Heterobasidion annosum. This will not occur within 25 feet of any riparian reserve boundary.

Treatment of Stumps equal to or greater than 14 inches will be required, refer to specification in Appendix B, C6.41#.

Mandatory Item 4 : Mechanically Thin Small Diameter Material:

Units 26, 51, 52, 63, 67, 68, 69, 70, 78, 80, 82, 83, 84, 90, 92, 93, 101, 108, 109, 115, 116, 121, 122, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 137, 138, 140, 141, and 156 (784 Acres)

1. Mechanically Thin Conifers 3.0 inches to 9.9 inches DBH in Commercially Harvested Ground-based Units.

2. Whole Tree Yard

3. Post cutting inspections will estimate DBH using stump diameter of 2-4 inches greater than DBH (ie. 10” DBH

Rock Fence Stewardship IRSC Page 2 of 10 tree may have a 14” stump diameter and a 3” DBH tree may have a 5” stump diameter).

4. All boundaries are identified with orange paint as described in Appendix B.

63, 67, 68, 82, 84, 92, 101, 108, 109, 116, 128, 138, 140, 141, 156

Thin 3.0 - 9.9 inch DBH conifers to an average 20 x 20 foot spacing (109 trees per acre), but may vary ±25% to select the more desirable tree. Leave trees should be disease and damage free, have constant or increasing height growth, have live crown ratios greater than 40%, have good form and color as well as healthy needles and needle retention. Species preference for retention varies by stand.

51, 52, 70, 78, 83, 90, 93, 121, 122, 131,132

Thin 3.0 - 9.9 inch DBH conifers to an average 22 x 22 foot spacing (90 trees per acre), but may vary ±25% to select the more desirable tree. Leave trees should be disease and damage free, have constant or increasing height growth, have live crown ratios greater than 40%, have good form and color as well as healthy needles and needle retention. Species

26, 69, 80, 126, 127, 137

Thin 3.0 - 9.9 inch DBH conifers to an average 24 x 24 foot spacing (75 trees per acre), but may vary ±25% to select the more desirable tree. Leave trees should be disease and damage free, have constant or increasing height growth, have live crown ratios greater than 40%, have good form and color as well as healthy needles and needle retention. Species

Thin 3.0 - 9.9 inch DBH conifers to an average 30 x 30 foot spacing (48 trees per acre), but may vary ±25% to select the more desirable tree. Leave trees should be disease and damage free, have constant or increasing height growth, have live crown ratios greater than 30%, have good form and color as well as healthy needles and needle retention. Species

Species Preference Unit Number

PP/JP, IC, WO 51

PP/JP, IC, DF 52 , 156

IC, PP/JP, DF, WF 67, 68

SP, IC, PP/JP, DF, WF 26, 69, 70, 84, 90, 101, 108, 109, 116, 127, 128

DF, PP/JP, IC 83

SP, PP/JP, WWP, DF, WF 78

SP, PP/JP, IC, DF, WF 63, 80, 82, 92, 122

PP/JP, IC, SP, DF, WF 93, 132

No Species Preference 115

SP, PP/JP, DF, WF 121

SP, IC, DF, PP/JP 126, 138, 140

SP, IC, PP/JP, WO, DF 131

SP, IC, DF, WO, BO, PP/JP 137

SP, PP/JP, IC, WF 141

Anticipated areas in need of treatment also varies by stand:

Anticipated Percent of stand needing treatment

Unit Number

75-100% of stand 26, 51, 52, 63, 67, 68, 78, 80, 82, 83, 84, 93, 101, 108, 121, 128, 131, 141

40-75% of stand 70, 92, 109,115, 116, 126, 127,132, 137

25-40% of stand 69, 90, 122, 138, 140

Mechanical Harvester Specifications

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Use of a mechanical harvester is expected to be the cutting method in ground-based units. Contractor shall cut Included

Timber and move it to designated skid trails using equipment with a boom having an operating radius of at least _25_ feet for bunching trees, capable of severing, lowering and placing trees up to _14__ inches diameter at stump height on the ground prior to skidding. Such equipment must be capable of operating on slopes up to 45%. Tractor skidding is anticipated. Specifications regarding whole-tree yarding, mechanical harvesting, and skidding are the same as required in

Appendix B, C6.41#.

Notwithstanding above, hand felling using chainsaws may be required in or adjacent to sensitive areas to protect resources from unnecessary damage.

Damage

Hardwoods or other conifers damaged or requiring removal as a result of operations shall be cut and yarded to a landing and left for firewood or piled with slash treatment. Work shall be performed in a manner that will not damage the residual leave trees. Non- Treatment Areas may be delineated on the contract area map or on the ground by the Forest Service. These areas could be wildlife habitat, archeological sites, stream course protection and/or areas of excessive rock or steep ground. Generally, if these areas are one acre or greater in size, individually or combined, they are not included in the contract acres. Should unworkable areas be encountered that have not been delineated, the COR shall be notified.

Optional Item 5: Remove Small Diameter Material

Units 26, 51, 52, 63, 67, 68, 69, 70, 78, 80, 82, 83, 84, 90, 92, 93, 101, 108, 109, 115, 116, 121, 122, 126, This work consists of removal of all trees identified for thinning in Mandatory Item 4 (Mechanically Thin Small

Diameter Material). Proposals should include details on contractor’s process for handling small diameter material.

Optional Item 6: Deck Small Diameter Material:

Units 26, 51, 52, 63, 67, 68, 69, 70, 78, 80, 82, 83, 84, 90, 92, 93, 101, 108, 109, 115, 116, 121, 122, 126, Decking Specifications

This work consists of limbing tops and boles of all trees identified for thinning in Mandatory Item 4 (Mechanically Thin

Small Diameter Material). Limbing of tops will occur down to a top diameter of 2 inches. Tops and boles will be decked separately from limbs at designated landings. Limbs will be placed in one pile; the limbed tops and boles will be decked in a separate pile. Place tops parallel to each other with decks not exceeding 16 feet in height unless alternate arrangements are discussed and approved with COR or GTM. Work item will be accomplished at the designated landing(s) within or adjacent to the harvest units. Top piles should be located at a distance of twice the height of the nearest leave trees to the extent practicable.

SECTION III – CONTROL OF WORK

The Contractor agrees to conduct its operations under this contract and other related business activities in compliance with

Federal, State, and local statutes, standards, orders, permits and other regulations.

The Contractor shall meet all State and local environmental quality laws applicable to National Forest system lands.

Work may be done any time during the term of the contract, except under the following conditions:

(1) When conditions are such that operations shall be restricted or ceased due to increased fire risk as specified in Fire

Precautions and Control of clause #43

(2) When limited operating periods for Northern Spotted Owl are in effect.

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(3) When agreed to in writing Contractor may request a waiver of operating restrictions. If granting such a request requires on the ground surveys prior to approval or denial, the Forest Service will have 10 days to commence such surveys following the acceptance of Contractor’s request by the Contracting Officer. If the

Forest Service cannot proceed with these surveys, the Contractor may request that a qualified wildlife biologist selected by the Contractor, and approved by the Contracting Officer, be allowed to conduct the survey based on protocol provided by the Contracting Officer. The biologist may be an employee of the

Contractor. The survey of the biologist will be conducted at no cost to the Forest Service. All surveys shall document survey methodology, locations, time and dates, personnel and results. The Contracting Officer shall have 5 working days to determine whether a waiver is granted after the results are presented. If no decision is made by the Contracting Officer, the waiver is considered denied. The waiver is only granted for the operating season in which the surveys were performed.

(4) If new nests are discovered.

(5) When soil moisture conditions create excessive risk of damage to the soil.

(6) When snow depth creates a situation where requirements cannot be met and/or work cannot be inspected, as determined by the COR.

(7) The government reserves the right to prioritize the order in which Units are treated.

(8) If any cultural or archeological sites are discovered during operations of this contract, work will be suspended in the immediate vicinity of the site until a reconnaissance survey is completed by the Forest Archeologist. Areas excluded from treatment shall be deleted from the contract.

SECTION IV – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

For All Work Items:

At any point during the project, the Contractor and/or Project Manager may request (documented through email, text, or hand-written request) an in the field consultation with the Forest Service to inspect work progress, review contract specifications, or clarify issues. The Forest Service shall respond to Contractor’s request within 5 working days, excluding weekends and federal holidays.

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Government Inspection Procedures - The COR, or a designated government technical monitor (GTM), will make periodic inspections while work is in progress, usually daily at first, as needed to assure work is proceeding satisfactorily. The

Contractor shall notify the COR when units are started, when problems are encountered and when contract work needs government oversight.

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

2. When units are completed and ready for government inspection, Contractor’s designated Project manager shall request unit inspection in writing, prior to moving out of the general area.

3. The COR, or GTM, will determine compliance with contract specifications through informal 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.

Reinspection Upon Contractor Request

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1. If Government inspection results are unacceptable to the Contractor, a reinspection may be requested, in writing, within 5 business days after receipt of notice of said inspection results. The same inspection procedure will be used; however, the inspection pattern will be shifted so that new inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots.

2. If reinspection results – rounded up to the nearest whole percent – indicate a variance of more than 5 percent from the first inspection, the results of the second inspection will be used to calculate work quality and payment, and the Government will bear the cost of reinspection.

3. If reinspection results – rounded up to the nearest whole percent – are within 5 percent of the first inspection, plots from the initial inspection and the reinspection will be combined and used to calculate work quality and payment, and the Contractor shall bear the cost of reinspection.

Government Inspection Procedures – Item 2

Road maintenance inspections will be conducted periodically as pre-haul, during haul and post-haul maintenance occurs. Visual inspection will ensure 100% of road maintenance items are met as described in Appendix C.

Government Inspection Procedures – Item 3

A visual inspection to ensure designated trees have been placed into the stream course will be conducted. One hundred percent of the designated trees should be removed and placed into the stream. Damage to residual trees will be assessed during the inspection and if determined to be excessive, appropriate administrative actions will be taken.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 4

Government Inspection Procedures – Formal (Plots)

1. In the event visual inspection indicates work and / or rework to be in non-compliance with contract specifications, a series of verification plots shall be installed by the Government to determine compliance with specifications and percent of satisfactory work for treatment of each unit not meeting specification as observed with visual inspection.

2. Government verification plots will consist of a series of fixed area plots and variable radius plots along transects to record whether density, basal area, best tree selection, and other requirements are being met and to what extent.

3. Plots and grid will be distributed so that a representative sample is obtained.

4. The COR or designated inspector will mark the center of each plot on the ground using flagging, stakes, or pin flags. Additional flagging will be hung near the plot center so that it may be seen from a distance. The inspector will include the plot number, their initials and date on the flagging.

5. Plots will be numbered to correlate with the inspection form and transects on a unit map.

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

Unit Acreage Minimum No. of Plots

1 – 9 1 plot per 2 acres

10 – 29 10 plots

30 – 59 1 plot per 4 acres

60 – 99 20 plots

100 1 plot per 5 acres

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

8. At each plot, the Government will examine the plot area and record findings on the items listed below:

a. Plot number

b. Number of trees to be left on plot.

c. Number of trees left on plot.

d. Number of satisfactory trees.

e. Number of deficient trees.

f. Number of excess trees.

g. Percentage of Plot with slash not treated

- Stumps containing live limbs which are not in accordance with specifications herein will be counted as excess trees.

- Cut trees which are still attached at the stump will be counted as excess trees

- Trees meeting cut specifications will be counted as excess trees

- Trees in excess of trees to be left will be counted as excess

9. Work quality will be calculated on the form as follows:

No. Trees Deficient + No. Excess Trees

-------------------------------------------------- = % Unsatisfactory cutting work

No. Trees to be left

100% – [ (% Unsatisfactory cutting work *0.5) + (Average % of Slash not treated *0.5] = % Work Quality

Example:

2 Trees Deficient + 9 Trees Excess 11

------------------------------------------- = --------- = 11.96% = 12% Unsatisfactory cutting work

92 Trees to be left 92

1 – [(0.12*0.5) + (0.05*0.5)] = 91.5% Work Quality

Unsatisfactory Work Quality

1. If the work quality falls below 85 percent, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor, in writing, and order him to improve the quality of subsequent tree cutting. If the quality of subsequent tree cutting is not raised above the 85 percent minimum acceptable standard within 24 business hours after receipt of such written notice, the Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default.

2. When the work quality falls below 90 percent as a result of excess trees, the Government may elect to do one of the following:

(a) Order rework to be performed and withhold payment until excess trees are cut and the results of a post-rework Government inspection show work quality to be at least 85 percent or more. No rework shall be performed unless ordered or authorized by the COR.

(b) Order that no rework be performed and payment will either be made at a reduced rate, or not at all, as determined from the Thinning Inspection Report.

3. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the 85 percent minimum acceptable standard will be considered reason for contract termination and default action.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 5

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In addition to inspection procedures for Item 4, Item 5 will have visual inspections to ensure that removal of specified product has taken place.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 6

In addition to inspection procedures for Item 4, Item 6 will have visual inspections to ensure that decking specifications are met including the following parameters: tops have been limbed, tops and limbs have been piled separately, top piles are located away from leave trees and decks are built according to Appendix B specifications and within designated height.

Table 1 – Minimum Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL) of Work

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

1 Cut and Remove Included Timber MANDATORY ACRE NA

2 Road Maintenance MANDATORY MILE 100%

3 Stream Restoration Tree Placement MANDATORY TREE 100%

Mechanically Thin Small Diameter

Material

MANDATORY ACRE 90%

5 Remove Small Diameter Material OPTIONAL ACRE 100%

6 Deck Small Diameter Material OPTIONAL ACRE 100%

SECTION V – PAYMENT METHODS

Stewardship Credits will be earned first, whenever practical. Forest Service Funds will be used if the availability of

Stewardship Credits is exhausted or if appropriated dollars are obligated to a specific item.

Method of Measurement for Acreages

Acreages were determined by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The acreage for each work item will be rounded to the nearest acre and is final unless:

a. The contract is modified or,

b. The Government makes a determination to remeasure or,

c. The Contractor exercises his/her option under the following Remeasurement provisions:

Remeasurement

1. The Contractor may request, in writing, remeasurement of any units under this contract if he/she feels that acreage stated on the project maps is incorrect. The remeasurement must be within the existing perimeter of the respective unit. No variance of the unit perimeters as laid out on the ground for this contract will be allowed. All requests for remeasurement must be made prior to payment for each completed unit.

Remeasurement will be performed by the Government.

2. If remeasurement indicates that a variance of ten percent or less exists on units of 1 to 5 acres, five percent or less exists on units of more than five but less than 20 acres, or if three percent or less exists on units of

20 acres or larger, the Contractor shall pay for the actual costs of the remeasurement. Under this condition, payment will be made on the acreage stated on the project maps. If the remeasurement indicates the actual acreage varies by more than the above factors from that stated on the project maps, the payment will be made on the remeasured acreage and the Forest Service will pay for the cost of the remeasurement.

Acceptance and Payment

Percentages as calculated herein shall be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

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Acceptance and Payment Item 2 Road Maintenance

1. If informal visual inspection indicates acceptable work quality, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

2. Only one rework opportunity will be allowed for this item.

Acceptance and Payment Item 3 Stream Restoration Tree Placement

1. If informal visual inspection indicates acceptable work quality, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

Acceptance and Payment Item 4 Mechanically Thin Small Diameter Material

1. If informal visual inspection indicates acceptable work quality, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

2. In the event that formal inspections are used, the rate of payment to the Contractor will be calculated as follows:

(a) For work quality of 90 percent or higher, Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

(b) For work quality from 85 to 89 percent, Contractor will be paid that percentage of the bid rate.

(c) For work quality 84 percent and less, no payment made to the Contractor.

(d) If, after rework, the percentage of satisfactory work is between 85% and 89%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 85%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

Acceptance and Payment Item 5 Remove Small Diameter Material

1. If informal visual inspection indicates acceptable work quality, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their

Acceptance and Payment Item 6 Deck Small Diameter Material

1. If informal visual inspection indicates acceptable work quality, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL): Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all specifications corresponding to the appropriate task(s); refer to the Performance Requirements Summary in Section E.4 of the contract.

A minimum AQL is required for all service work – hand or mechanical. The minimum AQL will receive a satisfactory performance rating.

BIOMASS TREES: Any conifer material 3-9.9 inches DBH. (Rev, 20210816, amendment 0001)

BOLE SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet from the edge of one leave tree bole to another leave tree bole, measured from the outside bark of each tree.

CIRCULAR PLOT: A sample plot within a thinning unit that is used to determine the number of desirable trees and other contract specifications.

COARSE WOODY DEBRIS: Woody material left on the ground to meet wildlife habitat requirements.

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CROWN RATIO: The ratio of live crown length (tip of leader to base of the crown) to total tree length/height.

CROWN SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet between the dripline of a live crown to another live crown.

CLEARCUT: A cutting prescription in which all trees within a boundary are designated to be cut.

CROWN RATIO: duplication, see above. (Rev, 20210816, amendment 0001)

CROWN SPACING: duplication, see above. (Rev, 20210816, amendment 0001)

CUT TREES: Trees that do not possess the characteristics of desirable leave trees and are required to be cut. As described by the contract or otherwise marked to be cut.

CUTTING UNIT: See Treatment Unit definition

DAMAGED TREES: Trees damaged beyond recovery. A tree that is larger than 2 feet in height, and has the top knocked out, is leaning more than 10 degrees, has less than one half of its original limbs, or has approximately 50% of bark removed from the circumference of the bole.

DBH: Diameter at breast height, measured at a point of 4.5 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

DECKING: Stockpiling of trees in a designated area.

DEAD/DYING TREES: Trees with the crown foliage changing from green to red, yellow, or needleless. Any tree that has pitch tubes indicating Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

DESIGNATION BY SPECIES AND DIAMETER (DXSD): A cutting prescription in which species and diameter are used to determine which trees will be left and which will be cut.

DIB: Diameter inside bark.

HANG-UP TREE: Any cut tree suspended above ground level.

LANDING: An area, either newly constructed or existing, used to stage, process or load forest products just prior to removal from the unit.

LEAVE TREE: Trees that possess desirable characteristics and that serve to create the basis for designated spacing requirements or are otherwise designated to be left.

NON-SAWTIMBER TREE: For all conifer species, minimum diameter of 3.0 inches DBH to minimum diameter by species identified in Appendix B, Division A.

OVERSTORY REMOVAL: A cutting prescription where all trees greater than a specified size are cut. Trees less than the specified size are protected.

PAYMENT UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS): Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

PILING: Material moved to an agreed upon location shall be piled for future treatment by Forest Service.

PROGRESSION OF WORK: Work conducted in a progressive, workmanlike and orderly manner by the Contractor.

RESERVE CLUMPS: Groups of trees within a treatment area that are protected from cutting, may also include

Individual Reserve trees.

SAWTIMBER TREE: Included timber meeting sawlog size specifications as defined in Appendix B, Division A.2.

SLASH: Woody material existing or created that has accumulated on the forest floor. Woody material includes logs, pieces of logs, tops, and branches.

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UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

TEMPORARY ROADS: Non-permanent roads that are constructed by Contractor for the purpose of treatment unit access.

TREATMENT UNIT: An individual area on the ground in which activities will be performed and which may appear as a separate pay item in the Schedule of Items.

UNSATISFACTORY WORK: If work quality falls below the AQL, the COR will issue a work order or notice of noncompliance to the Contractor in writing. Untreated or unsatisfactory treated areas shall be reworked to obtain satisfactory work quality.

WHOLE TREE YARDING: Whole tree logging includes cutting tree and removing the entire tree, including tops and branches, to the landing.

WILDLIFE TREE: Standing tree marked to be reserved as a wildlife tree. Used by birds and small mammals for shelter, nesting, perching, etc.