2.Appendix_A_Scenario Performance Work Statement.pdf

CORP Stewardship BPA Specifications Appendix A Deschutes, Ochoco and Fremont-Winema National Forests Page 1 of 19

Appendix A

Mandatory Work Items Scenario Performance Work Statement

The following work descriptions are to be used to provide pricing for Line Items 13-20 and 33-40 as described below. Pricing, based on these specifications, is to be completed for all work activities listed in the Schedule of Items, located on pages 3 and 4 of the solicitation. These are descriptions only of representative treatment types and are not actual treatment areas on the ground. Those specific, on-the-ground activities will be issued in future Call Orders with project specific descriptions and units on the ground available for viewing.

Line Items 13, 14, 33 and 34: Mechanical Commercial/Pre-Commercial Treatment Specifications

A. All fuel material shall be cut; forwarded or yarded; processed, bunched or bucked; decked, and removed on all treatment units as specified in the prescription. Fuel material is any standing dead or dead-and-down with a minimum of 12 feet in length with a diameter down to 3” at the small end.

B. No snags (dead trees > 12” DBH) shall be felled unless necessary to meet safety requirements. The COR or representative will designate snags prior to felling. This material may be removed if agreed to in advance. These trees may be marked with orange paint and shall be retained. A minimum of 3-5 trees per acre shall be retained. Hard snags of 12” or greater and at least 15’ tall or larger where available. Broken top snags 15 feet or greater will be retention priority.

C. Retention of large dead and down woody material (20 feet or more in length and at least 12 to 17 inches in diameter at the small end) at the rate of four logs per acre within designated Riparian Areas.

D. Operation trees (dead trees or orange marked trees) needing to be cut for landings or skid trails will be agreed to in advance.

E. Leave at least 120 lineal feet of down logs per acre. Down logs should be at least 12 inches in diameter at the small end, if available. If 120 feet per acre of 12-inch diameter logs are not available, leave 120 lineal feet of the largest down logs per acre (some soft cavity logs may be suitable). These may also be marked in orange paint for retention.

F. Fuel material shall be transported either by full suspension (forwarder) or one end suspension from treatment unit to approved landings (see Detailed Unit Information Sheets -- DUIS). The Government may specify different types of fuel material be sorted and/or transported to different landings.

G. Mechanical cutting, processing in forwarder trails and bunching of fuel material for removal on all unit ground less than 35% slope. Less than 10% of the leave trees may show mechanical damage from the felling and skidding/yarding operations.

H. Trees that yield a piece smaller than the minimum size useable piece are not required to be cut.

I. Stumps shall be < 12” in height on the uphill side, unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. Stumps shall be cut horizontally.

J. No shrubs or hardwood trees shall be cut. DO NOT CUT OR DAMAGE ANY ASPEN.

K. Forwarder trails located an average of 50 feet apart.

L. Useable material in any treatment unit may be sorted into a maximum of five types (i.e., saw logs by species group, non-saw logs, and specialty product logs) without any adjustment in contract price.

Minimum useable fuel material is defined as equal to or greater than 3 inches in diameter on the small end and equal to or greater than 12 feet in length (see appendix B for saw and non-saw specifications).

M. If ground based units are processed in the woods, resultant slash shall be scattered away from forwarder trails and residual trees. Incidental slash may be left in forwarder trails. All piles shall be free of dirt, soil, rocks and other non-flammable material. All piles shall be shaped in a half-section of a sphere and no less than 8’ in height.

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N. Logging will be completed over dry, frozen or snow covered soils.

O. Creek crossing locations will be agreed to in advance and located so as to minimize disturbance to stream banks. Crossings will be used only when soils are dry, snow covered or frozen. A slash mat or logs may be required to be placed to protect stream banks and then removed after skidding is complete.

P. Transportation (trucking) of useable fuel material shall be to one or several Government specified delivery sites. Useable fuel material is > 3 inches diameter on small end and > 12 feet in length.

Q. Trucks shall be loaded to capacity. This is defined as a standard, commercial log truck of any configuration loaded to capacity hauling a minimum of 28 tons and a maximum of 30 tons, meeting the height restriction of 14 feet or as otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer.

R. Product removal permit books will be processed as per issued book(s) inside cover instructions and the accountability section below.

S. All unit boundaries will be flagged in blue and white flagging with white “BOUNDARY of CONTRACT AREA” 4”x6” plastic tags posted on boundary trees.

T. Utilize all material defined as fuel wood (reference definitions).

Materials for Transport

Only material designated for transport (useable material) in accordance with this contract will be removed from National Forest lands (see definitions). All designated material for transport remains property of the government until delivery at acceptance site.

Transportation shall follow all applicable National Forest Road Use rules. The Government reserves the right to direct haul routes.

Accountability

The following requirements are applicable to product removal permits:

Forest Service will issue to Contractor or designated representative(s) serially numbered Product Removal Permit Books for use only on this project. Product Removal Permit Books, whether used or un- used, shall be returned to the issuing Forest Service Office in accordance with instructions contained on cover of each book.

All permits shall be completed and attached to load by an individual named in writing, other than the truck driver in accordance with the instructions on the inside cover of the Product Removal Permit Book. Product Removal Permit shall be attached prior to removal from the immediate vicinity where loading is done. The permit shall remain attached until the load arrives at the delivery point.

Contractor shall require truck drivers to stop when requested by Forest Service for purposes of monitoring accountability when products are in transit. Methods to be used to alert drivers of an impending stop will be listed in pre-work documents and reviewed in advance of hauling products.

Paint/Brand Requirements

Single end paint and brand a minimum of 10 logs per load for all loads being removed including saw logs and non-saw log loads.

Brands and paint shall be on the same end of the log. Paint spot shall be highway-yellow paint of lasting quality (oil-base or equivalent) and each spot shall be not less than three square inches in size.

If mule trains are used each bunked load stands on its own as a single unit, and these guidelines shall apply to each unit. If a flatbed stake trailer is used, each bundle shall be treated as a separate unit.

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Contractor shall paint the last 3 digits of the Product Load Permit and a 6 X 6 or larger facsimile of the brand, on the end of a bunk log near the permit and on the back of the load. This will be done in red paint or other agreed to color. If bunk logs are not large enough, the digits and brand facsimile may be painted on the side of the load.

It is understood and agreed that this waiver does not apply to logs that are delivered to any port facility along the Columbia River system or to any port facility along the coastal waterways of Oregon and Washington prior to Domestic Primary Manufacture (36 CFR 223.160).

Contractor shall stop trucks for accountability monitoring at agreed to locations, when notified by the Forest Service.

Contractor shall provide all highway yellow paint necessary to meet the above requirements.

Resource Protection

No ground based mechanized treatment shall occur within the buffers of any Category 1, 2, 3 or 4 stream course (See Definitions) unless otherwise described in the task order.

Ground-based equipment may be allowed to cross Class 3 and 4 streams under strictly controlled conditions. All equipment crossing locations shall be approved in advance by the CO. Other than at approved stream crossings, no equipment shall operate within the specified Class 3 or 4 stream, spring, seep or bog buffer area (see Definitions) unless otherwise described in the task order. See clause Stream course Protection for further information and requirements.

Ground-based treatment:

For biomass harvesting with forwarders, feller bunchers and processors the following design elements apply:

Low ground pressure equipment (6.5 psi) can be allowed off skid trails on dry, frozen or snow covered soil. “Dry” generally means June through October, or obviously dry to a depth of 4 inches. “Snow covered,” means sufficient snow depth and strength to prevent soil disturbance and compaction (typically 24” of uncompact snow). “Frozen” means frozen to a depth of 4 inches or more.

The forwarder shall not exceed 12.0 pounds/square inch ground pressure.

Forwarder trails shall be spaced at a minimum of 50 feet apart, center to center.

The forwarder shall be operated on slopes of 35% or less, except for short pitches to 45% of 50 feet or less.

Rutting of forwarder trails will be no deeper than 6 inches. All ruts greater than 6inches will be immediately repaired.

If it appears that a rut will capture runoff and erode, cross ditches will be required.

Main forwarder trail furrows shall be controlled by the use of cross drains (water bars) or comparable measures and seeding. Cross ditches shall be a minimum of 1’ deep and angled no more than 45 degrees to the skid trail. Each cross ditch shall have a continuous, firm berm of soil at least 12 inches above the normal road grade and open on the lower end. Cross ditches may be constructed by machine or hand.

Exposed soil at landings and on skid trails shall be seeded at an application rate of approximately 15 pounds per acre. Government will provide the seed for erosion control.

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For all other equipment (i.e., yarders) the following design elements apply:

Spacing of skid trails will average approximately 100 feet apart, using natural openings where possible and appropriate. Main corridors should average <14 feet wide.

For all units, a minimum of one-end suspension of the logs may be required.

Draw bottoms shall not be used for yarding.

Directional felling shall be used where necessary.

No heavy equipment shall be allowed in wet and moist meadows.

Cross ditches shall be a minimum of 1’ deep and angled no more than 45 degrees to the skid trail. Each cross ditch shall have a continuous, firm berm of soil at least 12 inches above the normal road grade and open on the lower end. Cross ditches may be constructed by machine or hand. Exposed soil at landings and on skid trails shall be seeded at an application rate of approximately 15 pounds per acre.

Government will provide the seed for erosion control.

If it appears that a rut will capture runoff and erode, water bars will be required.

Re-use existing landings where feasible and where they are away from “scab” soil and ephemeral draws.

Less than 10% of leave trees should exhibit mechanical damage from yarding.

Leave top attached to last log or yard tops separately.

All landing locations will be approved in advance by the COR.

Trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries and other physical improvements such as roads, culverts, power or telephone lines, established trails, spring developments, stock driveways, fence lines, gates, established land corners, etc. Any tree falling on such areas shall be immediately removed. If the Contractor causes any damage to any physical improvement, the C.O. shall be immediately notified and the Contractor shall pay the cost of restoration and repair.

If any cultural or archaeological sites are discovered within the work area or by the Contractor’s operation, the contractor shall immediately cease work in the immediate area and notify the Contracting Officer. The Government may unilaterally modify or cancel this contract to protect an area, object of antiquity, artifact or similar object which is or may be entitled to protection under 16 U.S.C. 431-433, 16 U.S.C. 470, PL 96-95 and 36 CFR 261 9(e). In accordance with 36 CFR 296. (c), Contractor shall bear costs of restoration, provided that such payment shall not relieve Contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law. See Section 22 for further information and requirements.

Slash shall be pulled back into the unit as follows:

All slash on or within 10 feet of any open, closed or barricaded road.

All slash on fire lines, ditches, and berms, fill slopes, and cut banks.

All slash on or within 10 feet of physical improvements.

All slash within 10 feet of private land.

All slash within 10 feet of fence lines.

All slash within 25 feet of Superior trees.

Work Schedule

The Government may specify the priority of work by Project Area(s) or Treatment Unit(s). In order to observe the work in progress, the Contractor shall notify the CO 24 hours in advance of changes in their established work schedule. Failure to notify the Government in changes to the established work schedule may result in the assessment of administrative costs.

Some project areas may have seasonal use restrictions. See the Detailed Unit Information Sheets for units with motorized access or other restrictions.

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Government Quality Assurance Plan

The Government will conduct visual inspections before, during and after operations to check compliance with the contract requirements for:

A. All transport, accountability, treatment and resource specifications are met.

B. All safety items as listed in clause entitled “SAFETY” are mitigated whenever present.

C. Operations follow approved work schedule.

Line Items 16, 17, 36 and 37: Mechanical Fuels Treatment Specifications

Grapple Piling

The contractor shall treat (pile) material from 2 to 9 inches in diameter and over 4’ in length. Treatment units shall be piled so that residual fuel loading (after piles are burnt) is a maximum of 3 tons per acre of material in the 2 to 9 inch diameter size classes. Some bucking of logs may be required.

Pile Requirements

Piles shall be constructed in such a manner as to combust completely, contain fire within the pile perimeter, and do minimal damage to residual trees.

Piles shall be located such that overstory canopy does not exist above the pile. Larger piles shall be constructed in areas with wider spacing or overstory trees are of a large diameter to prevent scorch from pile burning in the overstory canopy.

Pile height shall be 5 feet minimum and 15 feet maximum.

Pile diameter shall not exceed 20 feet and pile diameter shall not exceed twice the height of the pile.

No material shall protrude more than 5 feet outside of the perimeter of a pile.

Tree boles (trunks) and large diameter limbs should be aligned parallel to each other within at least 75% of the pile.

Piles shall not be placed on large or tall stumps, down logs greater than 12 inches (small end diameter), or large rocks.

Piles shall not be constructed in roads, ditches, meadows, grass “scablands” or channel bottoms.

Piles shall contain minimal amounts of soil or rocks.

Piles shall be compacted (smashed down) to minimize air space and assist with protection of the debris from penetration by precipitation prior to burning.

Equipment Requirements

Equipment shall meet specifications as listed in the contract.

Equipment shall have ground compaction rating of 6.5 psi/square inch or less.

Resource Protection

Contractor shall not damage crop or leave trees.

Contractor shall not damage any standing dead tree greater than 9" DBH.

Contractor shall not damage any structure or physical improvements, such as fences, gates, spring developments, roads, ditches, culverts, waterbars and posted monuments, corners or accessories.

Contractor shall not damage trees or other vegetation outside the treatment unit.

Contractor shall leave all dead and downed logs undisturbed (greater than 12” on the small end).

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If any cultural or archaeological sites are discovered within the treatment units, Contractor shall immediately cease operations and notify the Contracting Officer. The Government may unilaterally modify or cancel this contract to protect an area, object of antiquity, artifact or similar object which is or may be entitled to protection under 16 U.S.C 431-433, 16 U.S.C. 470, PL 96-95 and 36 CFR 261 9(e). In accordance with 36 CFR 296.14(c), Contractor shall bear costs of restoration, provided that such payment shall not relieve Contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law.

Heavy equipment shall not operate in meadows without prior written permission from the Contracting Officer.

Heavy equipment shall not cause detrimental soil conditions over more than 15% of the treatment area.

Detrimental soil conditions are defined as follows:

o Compaction is an increase in bulk density of more than 20% for ash derived soils, and more than 15% for other soils. Compaction can be expected on ash soils if the static ground pressure of heavy equipment is more than 5 1/2 lbs. per square inch, and the equipment is operating on less than 12 inches of slash/duff. Acceptable compaction can be measured as a change from crumbly or granular soil structure to massive or platy structure restricted to the top 4 inches of soil only.

o Detrimental puddling is defined as when vehicle tracks have molded the soil and such rutting is greater than 6 inches in depth. Acceptable tracking or rutting can be measured as less than 6 inches deep.

o Displacement is defined as when equipment has removed or mixed 50% of the topsoil from an area that is 100 square feet or more which is at least 5 feet wide (5’ X 20’). Acceptable displacement can be measured as when litter and duff layers are intact, and surface soil shows only minimal mixing with the subsoil.

o Heavy equipment shall use existing skid trails wherever possible. Heavy equipment shall minimize turning and shall not make repeated passes over the same treatment area.

All heavy equipment shall be refueled, maintained or repaired at landings unless approved in writing by the Contracting Office.

Pile Locations. No slash shall be piled as follows:

o Within 10 feet of any open, closed or barricaded road.

o On firelines, ditches, berms, fill slopes, and cut banks.

o On or within 10 feet of physical improvements.

o Within 25 feet of private land.

o Within 25 feet of fence lines.

o Within 25 feet of designated “Superior” trees.

Mastication

Slash depth shall be reduced to less than 12" from ground surface over 80% of the treatment area, as measured by a series of linear plots.

All non-crop trees, except for Pacific Yew, alive or dead, less than 6" DBH shall be treated and reduced to less than 12" from ground level or lowest live limb, whichever is lower.

For all treatment areas under this contract, crop trees shall be thinned to:

o Crop trees from 24" to 48" in height shall be thinned to approximately 300 trees per acre, 6' minimum to 16' maximum spacing.

o Crop trees over 48" in height shall be thinned to approximately 170 trees per acre, 12' minimum

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o Crop tree order of preference is on a unit by unit basis, and can be found in the Unit Data Sheet.

o Where specified on the Unit Data Sheet, an untreated buffer 50’ wide shall be left along open roads.

Resource Protection

Contractor shall not damage crop or leave trees.

Contractor shall not damage any standing dead tree greater than 9" DBH.

Contractor shall not damage any structure or physical improvements, such as fences, gates, spring developments, roads, ditches, culverts, waterbars and posted monuments, corners or accessories.

Slash pullback. All slash shall be pulled back into the unit as follows:

o All slash on or within 10 feet of any open, closed or barricaded road.

o All slash on firelines, ditches, berms, fill slopes, and cut banks.

o All slash on or within 10 feet of physical improvements.

o All slash within 10 feet of private land.

o All slash within 10 feet of fence lines.

o All slash within 25 feet of slash piles.

o All slash within 25 feet of designated “Superior” trees.

Contractor shall not damage trees or other vegetation outside the treatment unit.

Contractor shall leave all dead and downed logs undisturbed.

If any cultural or archaeological sites are discovered within the treatment units, Contractor shall immediately cease operations and notify the Contracting Officer. The Government may unilaterally modify or cancel this contract to protect an area, object of antiquity, artifact or similar object which is or may be entitled to protection under 16 U.S.C 431-433, 16 U.S.C. 470, PL 96-95 and 36 CFR 261 9(e). In accordance with 36 CFR 296.14(c), Contractor shall bear costs of restoration, provided that such payment shall not relieve Contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law.

Heavy equipment shall not operate in meadows without prior written permission from the Contracting Officer.

Heavy equipment shall not cause detrimental soil conditions over more than 15% of the treatment area.

Detrimental soil conditions are defined as follows:

o Compaction is an increase in bulk density of more than 20% for ash derived soils, and more than 15% for other soils. Compaction can be expected on ash soils if the static ground pressure of heavy equipment is more than 5 1/2 lbs. per square inch, and the equipment is operating on less than 12 inches of slash/duff. Acceptable compaction can be measured as a change from crumbly or granular soil structure to massive or plate structure restricted to the top 4 inches of soil only.

o Detrimental puddling is defined as when vehicle tracks have molded the soil and such rutting is greater than 6 inches in depth. Acceptable tracking or rutting can be measured as less than 6 inches deep.

o Displacement is defined as when equipment has removed or mixed 50% of the topsoil from an area that is 100 square feet or more which is at least 5 feet wide (5’ x 20’). Acceptable displacement can be measured as when litter and duff layers are intact, and surface soil shows only minimal mixing with the subsoil.

o Heavy equipment shall use existing skid trails wherever possible. Heavy equipment shall minimize turning and shall not make repeated passes over the same treatment area.

o All heavy equipment shall be refueled, maintained or repaired at landings unless approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.

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Line Items 19 and 39: Biomass Utilization Specifications This task item is for the removal of any contractor generated slash.

Line Items 20 and 40: Road Maintenance Specifications

Please see Appendix C for more detailed information. For the purpose of this scenario only a couple of roads have been chosen out of the project area.

Use of Roads by Contractor

Contractor’s use of existing roads identified on Contract Area Map by the following codes is prohibited or subject to restrictive limitations, unless agreed otherwise:

Code Use Limitations

X Hauling prohibited R Hauling restricted P Use prohibited A Public use restriction W Regulation waiver

Roads coded A will be signed by Forest Service to inform the public of use restrictions. Contractor’s use of roads coded R, A, or W shall be in accordance with the following restrictions:

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Restricted Road List

Road Number

Road Name Termi ni

Map Legend

Description of Restrictions

From To

1035080 1035060

ALL

A

Use of roads is restricted all year long to public use but may be opened for administrative use by permit. Hauling will be allowed on roads listed but may have seasonal limitations.

Hauling will be restricted on roads not shown on the operational maps but may be used for forwarding then closed after use. Roads may be closed to operations from May 1 thru June 30 for elk calving season.

Haul is prohibited on weekends and federal holidays, unless otherwise approved by the Forest Service. All use must cease when damage* begins to occur. All road maintenance equipment shall be required to certify compliance with weed clause

NOTE: In addition, roads or segments of roads listed Detailed Unit Information Sheet as “subject to weed management prescription” are known to be infested with noxious weeds. When road maintenance activities are required on these roads or segments of roads, Contractor shall wash maintenance equipment at an agreed to location prior to moving out of the weed infested area.

* Road “damage” as referred to above exist when conditions of the roadbed or traveled way, may be, or are, contributing to damage of streams or other adjacent resources, or are contributing to erosion which, if it continues, will result in loss of roadway features such as shoulders, surfacing, and slopes, or show evidence that use of aggregate surfaced traveled ways is currently resulting in contamination of the aggregate with sub grade soils (an example would be pumping), or conditions are such that traffic is leaving wheel rut depths of more than 3” in aggregate surface roads or 6” in native-surfaced roads.

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Contractor Road Maintenance Responsibility by Item

Road Number

CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY

(See Appendix C for detailed description of each specification)

1035060 T-803, T-811, T-831, T-834, T-835, T-836, T-839, T-851, T-854 1035080 T-803, T-811, T-831, T-834, T-835, T-836, T-839, T-851, T-854

Line Items 15 and 35: Pre-Commercial Thinning & Piling- Hand Treatment Specifications

The objective for this project is to promote forest health, create wildlife habitat, promote large tree development, and reduce wildfire intensity.

A. Small diameter trees will be thinned using chainsaws (trees to be cut will not be greater than 9 inches in diameter at breast height) to predetermined stocking levels within each stand. The created slash will be hand piled.

B. Boundaries. Unit name will be posted. Boundaries are marked by red/black striped flagging and “Boundary of Contract Area” cardboard/plastic tags.

C. Contractor Obligations. Contractor will provide non-working crew leaders who can read, write, and speak English. Crew leader must have experience and knowledge of non-commercial thinning, tree species identification, disease and insect damage identification specific to area stand conditions and intermittent stream identification. A qualified crew leader must accompany each crew at all times while working on the job site. Crew leaders are subject to Government approval.

1. Contractor will provide inspection personnel, who can read, write and speak English, perform and document quality control and any inspection procedures proposed. Inspection personnel must have experience and knowledge of non-commercial thinning, tree species identification, disease and insect damage identification specific to stand conditions. A qualified inspector must accompany each crew at all times while working on the job site.

2. Inspectors are subject to Government approval.

3. Contractor will provide crew workers who have sufficient experience and knowledge of non-commercial thinning, tree species identification, disease and insect damage identification specific to stand conditions to select the desired leave trees.

D. No material designated to be cut in accordance with this contract may be removed from National Forest land by the Contractor under the terms of this contract.

E. Identification and Selection of Leave Trees;

1. Identified Leave Trees

a) Leave all Superior trees, bearing trees, land survey monument, wildlife tree or any other tree designated with an orange or yellow paint band and/or a metal sign.

b) Leave all hardwood trees and brush unless otherwise stated in Detailed Unit Information Sheet.

c) Leave all dead trees over the specified cut limit.

d) Leave all conifer trees less than 18 inches in height or over the specified cut limit.

e) Leave all conifer trees within a 15’ radius of existing snags (snag buffers). A snag is a dead tree that is greater than 10” dbh and a minimum of 10’ in height. Leave buffers on a maximum of 5 snags per acre and select the tallest snags to buffer.

f) Leave all conifer trees showing evidence of nesting.

g) Leave all conifer trees that are providing shade along any perennial stream, by leaving a

50’ buffer.

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2. Contractor Selected Leave Trees

a) Select additional leave trees as necessary to achieve average spacing as specified in the

Detailed Unit Information Sheet. Leave trees shall generally be those of greatest vigor, tallest height, greatest diameter, largest crown, and straightest boles that are free of damage due to insects, disease, physical or mechanical causes. To select the most desirable leave tree, spacing may be varied up to plus or minus 50% from the specified spacing interval however, average spacing shall be maintained so that the number of leave trees per acre shall not be materially increased or decreased by the method of leave tree selection.

b) Additional leave trees shall be selected in the following priority:

1. The Preferred tree. The order of preference by species for leave trees is stated in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet.

2. The Biggest tree. Trees with the greatest vigor as identified by the greatest crown size and leader growth shall be selected over trees up to 50% taller, where other factors are equal.

3. The Tallest tree.

4. Trees of equal size.

5. Where a desirable leave tree is not present within the allowed spacing variation, a less desirable tree shall be left with preference given to trees with the least amount of damage or disease. Select less desirable leave trees in the following priority:

a) Forked trees. Trees with one or more live forks occurring in the first 12 feet.

b) Leaning trees. Trees that lean more than 15 degrees from vertical.

Crooked trees. Trees with sharp crook or sweep on the main bole offset more than six (6) inches from the longitudinal axis in a six-foot length within the first 12 feet.

c) Damaged trees. Trees with greater than 1/3 of the circumference bruised or cambial tissue exposed, EXCEPT true fir species.

d) Suppressed trees. Trees of all species other than true fir trees with a crown ratio of less than 30 percent, and true fir trees with a crown ratio of less than 40 percent.

e) Diseased trees. Trees with dwarf mistletoe infections in the lower ½ of the live crown.

f) Where a less desirable leave tree is not present within the allowed spacing variation, no tree shall be left.

F. Cutting Requirements

1. Cut all trees not identified or selected as leave trees shall be cut.

2. Cut all trees within 6 feet of any road or fence.

3. Cut trees shall be completely severed. Cutting shall be below the lowest live limb unless prevented by natural obstacles.

4. Stump height shall not exceed 8 inches in height unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. Stumps shall be cut horizontally. Diagonal cut stumps are not acceptable.

5. Where natural obstacles impede cutting operations, trees may be severed up to 4 inches above the obstacle. However, all limbs remaining on the stump shall be severed as close to the bole as possible.

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6. All trees under specified cut limit within 25 feet of the bole of any Superior trees shall be cut.

7. All trees less than 9 inches dbh within 25 feet of the bole of any ponderosa pine tree greater than

20 inches dbh shall be cut.

G. Slash Treatment

1. Slash pullback. All slash shall be pulled back into the unit as follows:

a) All slash on or within 10 feet of any open, closed or barricaded road.

b) All slash on or within 10 feet of any designated trail.

c) All slash on firelines, ditches, berms, fill slopes, and cut banks.

d) All slash on or within 10 feet of physical improvements.

e) All slash within 10 feet of private land.

f) All slash within 10 feet of fence lines.

g) All slash within 25 feet of pre-existing slash piles.

h) All slash within 25 feet of Superior trees.

2. Hand piling. The Government will identify the areas/units for hand piling on the Detailed Unit Information Sheets. Material to be treated is limited to non-commercial thinning debris from this thinning project.

a) It may be necessary to transport slash up to a 50 feet radius of pile(s) to meet minimum pile size requirements. No piles constructed in road ditches or on cutbanks. As much as possible, piles should be constructed in openings and outside the drip line of trees.

b) Material will be piled parallel to itself in compact manner with finer fuels located

c) Material should be piled perpendicular to the slope.

d) Piles will be trimmed off at both ends.

e) Maximum pile size is 8’ long x 8’ wide x 6’ tall

f) Minimum pile size is 4’ long x 4’ wide x 4’ tall

g) Do not pile slash within 25’ of existing snags (>10”dbh)

h) Do not pile slash within 15’ of existing downed wood (>12” diameter) wherever possible

i) Do not pile slash within 50’ of any stream channel, perennial or intermittent

j) Do not pile slash within 10’ of any designated trail

k) Any pile not meeting contract requirements shall be re-piled at the Contractor’s expense.

3. Lop and Scatter. The Government will identify the areas/units for lop and scatter on the Detailed Unit Information Sheets. Slash depth shall not exceed 18 inches vertical distance from the ground to the highest point of the cut tree. Bucking and lopping may be required to meet slash depth requirements.

4. Units with sensitive plant communities shall have trees felled away from identified areas. All slash shall be removed from identified plant communities at time of thinning. Areas will be identified on the ground and on contract maps at time of pre-work.

5. Slash treatment and/or hand piling must be performed concurrently with thinning. Contractor will not be allowed to start thinning a new unit or portion of a unit until the slash treatment is completed.

6. Slash treatment and/or hand piling shall not damage leave trees. Resource Protection

No storage of fuel or fueling of chainsaws will be allowed in any Riparian Habitat Conservation Area (RHCA).

For intermittent streams with a defined scour channel, or wetlands less than 1 acre, the buffer extends 100’ from the channel or edge of riparian vegetation. Perennial streams or wetlands greater than 1 acre, the buffers are 150’ from the channel or edge of riparian vegetation.

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Trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries and other physical improvements such as roads, culverts, power or telephone lines, established trails, spring developments, stock driveways, fence lines, gates, established land corners, etc. Any tree falling on such areas shall be immediately removed.

If the Contractor causes any damage to any physical improvement, the C.O. shall be immediately notified and the Contractor shall pay the cost of restoration and repair.

If any cultural or archaeological sites are discovered within the work area or by the Contractor’s operation, the contractor shall immediately cease work in the immediate area and notify the Contracting Officer. The Government may unilaterally modify or cancel this contract to protect an area, object of antiquity, artifact or similar object which is or may be entitled to protection under 16 U.S.C. 431-433, 16 U.S.C. 470, PL 96-95 and 36 CFR 261 9(e). In accordance with 36 CFR 296. (c), Contractor shall bear costs of restoration, provided that such payment shall not relieve Contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law.

Use of motorized equipment other than hand-held equipment such as power saws and brush cutters will not be permitted off designated roads in the project area without written approval of the Contracting Officer or as provided elsewhere herein.

Roadside Buffer Area Treatments

Roadside buffer areas identified on Project Unit Maps, Detailed Unit Information Sheets or with “lime glo” flagging will be treated as follows:

Spacing of leave trees will be on an average spacing of 12 X 12 foot with 50% variance to achieve a clumpy screening effect. Average spacing shall be maintained and the number of leave trees per acre shall not be materially increased or decreased by the method of leave tree selection. Approximately 300 leave trees per acre shall be left.

All other contract requirements (such as leave tree selection, cutting requirements, slash treatment, etc.)

will be the same as described elsewhere in this contract.

Wildlife Leave Islands

Wildlife leave islands will be left at the rate of ¼ acre (approximately 100’ X 100’) at the rate of 1 per 25 acres thinned. See the Detailed Unit Information Sheet for the number of wildlife leave islands to be left within each unit. Locations of wildlife leave islands will be mutually agreed upon.

Contract Time Required Rate of Progress

Estimated start work date and contract time is as follows: June 15, 2022

Minimum acceptable rate of progress for all items is one day per 4 acres ordered. Task Order(s) will reflect actual start work date, number of days per 4 acres ordered, and completion date.

Inspection

Contractors Quality Control Plan

The Contractor shall prepare a Quality Control Plan and submit it with the completed task order. Describe what actions you will take to ensure the highest quality job possible within the scope of the work plan. The contract

Deschutes, Ochoco and Fremont-Winema National Forests Page 14 of 19 states that “Completion of each unit and the quality of work done shall be certified in writing and provided to the Government with supporting documentation.

Government Quality Control Plan

The Government will conduct visual inspections of each unit to determine work quality and may make periodic inspections while work is in progress. Each unit will be verified separately and inspection results on one unit will not be averaged with those of the other units. If the work quality is determined to be better than 90 percent, payment will be made at 100 percent of unit price. In the event visual inspection indicates that work quality is less than 90 percent and the operator will not rework the unit voluntarily then an inspection of the unit will be done on a series of 1/20-acre plots randomly placed and covering at least a 1 percent sample of the unit. Each plot will be examined to determine if the intent of the contract has been met. Plots will be determined to be either, in, or not in, compliance with the conditions listed in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet. Units shall not be considered complete until both thinning and slash treatment are determined to be acceptable.

The quality of thinning shall be calculated as follows:

(No. of deficient trees + No. of excess trees) / (No. of trees to be left) x 100 = %

100% - % + 5% variation = Quality % x $ quoted rate/acre = pay rate/acre

Measurement and Payment:

Payment processing will begin upon completion of each unit and following inspection and acceptance by a qualified government Inspector or the COR.

Government Furnished Property

There is no Government furnished property associated with this Scenario.

Suspension for other than Government Convenience

The Contracting officer may issue orders to suspend work wholly or in part for such periods of time as deemed necessary because of 1) Weather or ground conditions when further prosecution of the work might cause environmental or resource damage to the project, access roads, or adjacent property. Such actions would include but are not limited to instances such as siltation of streams, damage to access roads, rutting of project roads which causes otherwise suitable soils to become muddy or unsuitable for further work; or 2) failure of the Contractor to comply with specifications such as but not limited to: height of material on the ground following treatment, damage to leave trees, operating equipment not meeting fire requirements, or when conditions exist which do not meet safety requirements. Whether or not a suspend work notice is issued, the Contractor shall be responsible for correcting any damage caused by his/her operation, whether inside or outside project limits, at no cost to the government.

Such suspensions shall not be considered as suspensions for the Convenience of the Government under FAR 52.242-14, Suspension of Work, and shall not qualify for equitable adjustment.

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Safety

Some of the hazards personnel need to be aware of on this project include:

Driving on forest roads: gravel and dirt surfaces, blind corners;

Walking on slopes covered with slash;

Injury from chainsaws;

Injury by falling trees and flying debris; your own and fellow workers

Contractor shall provide a written, job-specific safety plan for the inherently hazardous conditions that exist during operations. Contractor’s safety plan shall identify and describe hazardous conditions and specific actions to reduce these hazards. This plan shall be provided to the Contracting Officer (CO) at the post award conference. Work shall not commence on this project if the Contractor fails to provide the CO with an acceptable safety plan.

Prescriptions Related to all Treatments

Prescription A (21 inch cut limit)

Cut and remove live conifers 7.0” DBH – 20.9” DBH as well as dead and down material exceeding the 9-12 tons to the acre that meet minimum piece and utilization standards .

All live trees greater than or equal to 21 inches DBH shall be left.

When less than 21” dbh, leave trees shall be the largest dominant and co-dominant trees.

Leave tree order of preference is ponderosa pine, western larch, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, grand fir, and spruce.

There shall be, on average less than 75 live trees per acre left in the 9” to 21” category with species preferences as stated above with leave trees having little or no defect or disease. Trees that are in openings or are separated by distance from other trees will be left regardless of species, defect, or qualifies in the definition as a ladder fuel tree.

Leave tree spacing shall be between 15 ft. minimum and 30 ft. maximum.

Stumps shall be less than 12” in height, unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. Stumps shall be cut horizontally.

Required yarding method is “cut and carry” (processor/forwarder).

Prescription B (21 inch cut limit) Cut and remove live conifers 7.0” DBH – 20.9” DBH as well as dead and down material exceeding the

9-12 tons to the acre that meet minimum piece and utilization standards .

All live trees greater than or equal to 21 inches DBH shall be left.

When less than 21” dbh, leave trees shall be the largest dominant and co-dominant trees.

Leave tree order of preference is ponderosa pine, western larch, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, grand fir, and spruce.

There shall be, on average less than 75 live trees per acre left in the 9” to 21” category with species preferences as stated above with leave trees having little or no defect or disease. Trees that are in openings or are separated by distance from other trees will be left regardless of species, defect, or qualifies in the definition as a ladder fuel tree.

Leave tree spacing shall be between 15 ft. minimum and 30 ft. maximum.

Stumps shall be less than 12” in height, unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. Stumps shall be cut horizontally.

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Prescription C (9 inch cut limit)

Cut conifers between 0-9” dbh, that are over 18” in height to the specified spacing of 15’x 15’.

Leave tree order of preference is ponderosa pine, western larch, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, grand fir, and spruce.

Prescription D (9 inch cut limit)

Follow guidance in Mastication statement of work

Masticate standing conifers between 0”-9” DBH, that are all heights to a specified spacing of 15’ x 15’

Leave tree order of preference is ponderosa pine, western larch, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, grand fir, and spruce.

On average, slash depth will be lower than 12” across 80% of the project area.

If available, 2-3 pieces of downed wood >12” dbh and 6 ft. or longer.

Prescription E

The contractor shall treat (pile) material from 2 to 9 inches in diameter and over 6’ in length. Treatment units shall be piled so that residual fuel loading (after piles are burnt) is a maximum of 7 - 9 tons per acre of material in the 2 to 9 inch diameter size classes. Some bucking of logs may be required.

Pile requirement are as follows:

Piles shall be constructed in such a manner as to combust completely, contain fire within the pile perimeter, and do minimal damage to residual trees.

Piles shall be located such that overstory canopy does not exist above the pile. Larger piles shall be constructed in areas with wider spacing or overstory trees are of a large diameter to prevent scorch from pile burning in the overstory canopy.

Pile height shall be 5 feet minimum and 15 feet maximum.

Pile diameter shall not exceed 20 feet and pile diameter shall not exceed twice the height of the pile.

Nothing shall protrude more than 5 feet outside of the perimeter of a pile.

Tree boles (trunks) and large diameter limbs should be aligned parallel to each other within at least 75% of the pile.

Piles shall not be placed on large or tall stumps, down logs greater than 12 inches (small end diameter), or large rocks.

Piles shall not be constructed in roads, ditches, meadows, grass “scablands” or channel bottoms.

Piles shall contain minimal amounts of soil or rocks.

Piles shall be compacted (smashed down) to minimize air space and assist with protection of the debris from penetration by precipitation prior to burning.

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Definitions

Contracting Officer - The person executing this contract on behalf of the Government, including any duly appointed successor and authorized representative of the Contracting Officer acting within the limits of his/her authority.

Contracting Officer's Representative - the COR is the on-site Contract Administrator for the Contracting Officer.

The duties and responsibilities of a COR are defined in the letter of designation issued by the Contracting Officer.

Fuel Material – Useable and non - useable material, consisting of the following:

1. Standing dead (snags) or down logs and down woody material.

2. Standing live trees with limbs at or less than 5 feet from the ground and approved by the CO for cutting.

3. Diseased, damaged, suppressed trees and seedlings of any species approved by the CO for cutting.

4. Fuel Material does not include cull decks or landing piles existing prior to award.

Useable Material - Material removed from treatment unit(s) which is chippable / transportable material greater than 3 inches diameter on the small end and greater than 12 feet long.

Non-useable Material - Material removed from treatment unit(s) which does not meet Useable Material specification.

Wildlife logs - Any log greater than 12 inches in diameter on the small end and at least 8 feet in length.

Class 1, 2, and 3 Streams - Those perennial and intermittent streams which support anadromous fish and/or resident fish.

Class 4 Streams - Those ephemeral streams with a definite channel which serve as a cold water source for class 1, 2, and 3 streams.

Dominant Trees - Crowns extend above the general level of crown cover of other trees of the same stratum and are not physically restricted from above, although possibly somewhat crowded by other trees on the sides.

Co-dominant Trees - Crowns form a general level of crown stratum and are not physically restricted from above, but are more or less crowded by other trees from the sides.

Intermediate Trees - Trees are shorter, but their crowns extend into the general level of dominant and co-dominant trees, free from physical restrictions from above, but quite crowded on the sides.

Suppressed Trees - Crowns are entirely below the general level of dominant and co-dominant trees and are physically restricted from immediately above.

Saw Log material - For Ponderosa Pine species the minimum length is 16 feet, minimum top dib is 6 inches, 40% net of gross, in 8 foot and 9 foot multiples. For all other species the minimum length is 8 feet and minimum top dib is 5 inches. This is a base definition and may vary depending on delivery location.

Non-Saw Log Material – For all species the minimum length is 12 feet and the minimum top dib is 3 inches. This is a base definition and may vary depending on delivery location.

Specialty Products - Products such as post and poles, house logs or as specified by the CO in the task order.

Deschutes, Ochoco and Fremont-Winema National Forests Page 18 of 19

Superior Tree - A tree selected for genetic superiority for future seed collection. Identified by an orange band painted at DBH and metal signs.

Snag – Standing dead tree greater than 12 inches DBH. Not to be cut except as needed for safety. If cut for safety reasons, will generally be left in place as a wildlife log and not removed unless sufficient wildlife logs exist in the unit.

Ladder Fuels - Is any avenue that would allow fire to be a conduit from the ground into over story vegetation.

Average Tree Spacing - The distance in feet between leave trees as defined in specifications provided with the issued Task Order.

Bucking - The cutting of down trees…