A003_Appendix A_GoBig G-Z.pdf

Go Big G-Z Stewardship IRSC Fremont-Winema National Forest

Solicitation 12363N22Q4111 Chiloquin Ranger District

Amendment 003

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The intent of the project is to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration treatment by reducing conifer encroachment, competition, stand density, fuel loading, and ladder-fuels to increase forest stand health and to mitigate risk of catastrophic wildfire. The objective of this project is:

1. For the contractor to complete the end-results from NEPA handoff through final completion of the project area.

2. Contractors shall identify what work activities are needed across all project acres to meet the desired end-result objectives that shall be presented in maps and a detailed Implementation Plan prior to commencing layout.

3. After the initial Implementation Plan (Design Detailed Logging Plan, Road Analysis Plan, Service

Treatment Plan, and Implementation Maps) has been accepted and approved, contractors will then:

a) layout Timber Removal and Service Only treatment units.

b) designate retention areas and clump marking or other clump retention designation.

c) complete timber cruises for each identified timber removal treatment area.

d) complete all on the ground timber removal and service work activities.

e) complete all required road maintenance and road re-construction for product removal.

SECTION II – GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will provide the following item(s) of Government property to the Contractor for use in the performance of this contract. This property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor in accordance with FAR clause 52.245-1 Government Property incorporated by reference in the contract.

1. Tree Marking Paint with registered tracer and material safety data sheet (refer to accountability standards listed below).

2. Sale Area Boundary Tags.

Tree Marking Paint – Accountability and Handling

(Attachment 1 – Forest Product Accountability Action Plan and Attachment 6 – FSM & FSH)

Disposal of Tracer Paint Containers –Empty tracer paint containers shall be returned to the Forest

Service for disposal. Paint cans shall be returned to their proper box, upside down, and have the lids left off to dry out before returning to the Forest Service. Lids will be disposed of separately in the conventional fashion.

SECTION III – WORK ITEMS

Mandatory Item 1: Project Area Implementation Plan of 66,362 Gross Acres: Design Detailed Logging

Plan, Road Analysis Plan, Service Treatment Plan, and Contract Area Maps.

Initial recon of the project area shall identify and distinguish Treatment Areas following the objectives of the

Blue Mile Decision Memo, East Hills EIS, and Attachment 11 – Additional PDCs, a supplemental instruction document detailing the project specific design criteria (PDCs) that will be provided at time of contract

Amendment 003 solicitation. Designation by Prescription (DxP) is the preferred designation method, as described in Attachment

5 – Prescriptions. Appendix 2 – GoBig_harvestcard_template shall be filled out for each timber treatment or service treatment unit.

Contractor and Forest Service shall establish and agree to check-in procedures at the post-award conference meeting. At minimum, bi-weekly progress updates, meetings, and/or providing draft treatment units plans/maps for FS inspection shall be required. FS acceptance of draft submittals may be incorporated into final plans without further inspection by FS if no alterations are made.

The Project Area Implementation Plan shall include the following:

1. Timber Treatment Areas:

a) Divide the project area’s 66,362 gross acres into multiple Timber Treatment Areas. The desire is 3 or 4 Timber Treatment Areas that are approximately equal in timber volume to be removed and/or total acres treated.

b) Clearly identify Timber Removal and Service Only treatments per Timber Treatment Area and where timber removal and services overlap (i.e., mastication or non-saw cut/skid/deck).

c) Within the Treatment Areas, differentiate treatment units based on treatment, complexity, stand type, and associated Item number.

d) Within the identified Timber Treatment Areas, Timber Removal treatment types shall be classified.

Treatments are described further in Attachment 5 – Prescriptions.

i. Dry mixed conifer,

ii. Dry ponderosa pine/xeric pine

iii. Dry and moist lodgepole pine

iv. Dry Meadow Restoration/Meadow Expansion

v. Plantations

vi. Control feature

vii. Areas that do not fit any of the provided prescriptions.

2. Service Treatment Plan:

In order of treatment needs and preference, identify areas for service work.

a) Service Only treatment plan and maps shall identify type of treatment, unit boundaries, and areas of resource concern.

b) Service Treatments shall define complexity level based on trees per acre to be cut. Contractor shall supply cruise data to support complexity determination.

c) Clearly identify where Timber Removal and Service Only treatments overlap.

d) Service Treatments shall be classified as one of the following. Treatments are described further in

Optional Work Item specifications below.

i. Service Only Unit Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber (Low or High Complexity)

ii. Timber Removal Unit Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber (Low or High

Complexity)

iii. Mechanical Cut and Pile of Non-Saw Timber (Low or High Complexity)

iv. Plantation Units – Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber (Low or High Complexity)

v. Hand Thin/Hand Pile (Low or High Complexity)

vi. Mastication (Low or High Complexity)

vii. Meadow Units - Fell, Lop, And Scatter

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viii. Areas that do not fit any of the provided treatments. Contractor may propose a treatment for consideration by FS or will be no treatment areas.

3. Detailed Logging Plan:

For each Timber Removal treatment unit design a detailed logging plan.

a) Logging plans shall be completed on the GoBig_harvestcard_template for treatment units requiring product removal.

b) Logging plans shall identify all product removal work to be performed including, but not limited to:

i. Maps showing haul routes to nearest appraisal point, temporary road locations with distances, new and existing temporary road locations, general skid trail patterns, any forest resources of concern to be protected.

ii. Document providing: Temporary Road length and average grade for temporary roads. For each Timber Removal treatment unit identify average slope to landings, estimated number of landings, average skid distance including adverse, and favorable skidding, and identify any forest resources of concern to be protected.

c) Logging plans shall be used as the basis for entries into the Timber Appraisal.

4. Road Analysis Plan:

a) Two plans will be developed for the Road Analysis Plan.

i. Road maintenance commensurate with product removal.

• Identify road maintenance requirement needs following requirement specifications provided in Appendix C, for pre, during, and post haul for Forest Service system roads that are associated with product removal.

• Create a detailed map of road maintenance requirements.

• Complete road maintenance requirement tables provided in Appendix C.

• Cost centers associated with completion of road maintenance shall be estimated using the accepted plan and standard FS procedures. Costs will be incorporated into the final

Timber Appraisals. Road maintenance work will be commensurate with use associated with Items 8a, 13a, 18a, and 23a.

• Identify roads that will only be used where Timber Subject to Agreement products are being proposed to be removed. These roads will only require minimum maintenance per

T-838 or T-839 for pre, during, and post haul per Item 33.

ii. Reconstruction plan commensurate with product removal.

• Perform road survey and reconnaissance to identify road re-construction needs for all

Forest Service system roads associated with haul routes.

• Use the road list provided in Appendix C for roads needing re-construction recon.

• Complete the reconstruction plans using the example provided in Appendix D. State

Licensed engineer is required to produce such plans, using suitable applications that will produce a final package including all requirements as the example in Appendix D.

Assemble plans and specifications in accordance with the “Standard Specifications of

Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects, FP-14”, issued by the

Federal Highway Administration.

• Create a detailed map of road reconstruction requirements.

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• Road package design may include any work listed under Item 31.

• Plan shall be designed with a “least-cost” objective for the least amount of reconstruction needed for product removal and project completion.

• Roads needing re-construction to allow chip-van access to increase non-saw product removal (per Items 8b, 13b, 18b, and 23b) should be indicated as such for approval by FS.

• Roads needing re-construction that will only be used where Timber Subject to Agreement products are being proposed to be removed should be indicated as such in the plan.

• Calculations shall be complete, legible, and include enough sketches, to be readily understood by a qualified engineer. All assumptions shall be clearly shown or stated.

b) Provide the Forest Service with detailed maps, road maintenance requirement tables, and re-construction needs for review and concurrence. Once the contractor and Forest Service agree upon road maintenance plans, and re-construction plan, Appendix C and D will be finalized and added through contract modifications. Quantities in the accepted Appendix D will modify estimated quantities to true quantities for Item 31.

c) Temporary roads will not be included in the Road Analysis Pan and should instead be included in the detailed logging plan. Re-construction plan will not apply to temporary roads.

5. Implementation Maps:

Create preliminary Implementation Maps of the Project Area. The contractor shall generate

Implementation Maps digitally. All maps generated shall be georeferenced. All information and data shown on maps shall be supplied to the Forest Service in the form of shapefiles for use in ArcGIS.

Contract Area Maps shall:

a) Identify each Timber Treatment Area’s boundary.

b) Show treatment unit acres and linear measurement of perimeter layout. Differentiate between painted and tagged, Virtual, or discernable boundaries using instructions from Attachment 1 -

Forest Product Accountability Action Plan.

• This attachment has specific information on which boundaries require flagged/tagged/painted/GPS vs. virtual boundaries.

• Contractor is to maximize use of virtual boundaries relative to the direction in this attachment.

c) Show roads identified in Road Analysis Plan for Road maintenance and Re-construction.

d) Identify protected improvements.

e) Identify seasonal operation restrictions.

f) Identify sensitive and invasive species.

g) Identify no treat areas provided by the Forest Service and identified by the contractor.

h) Identify Service Treatment areas and differentiate areas by treatment type.

i) Identify Timber Removal treatment units and differentiate units by prescription.

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Prior to issuing the Notice to Proceed for Mandatory Items 3 - 5, contractor and Forest Service shall mutually agree on the proposed treatment units needing retention areas/layout. Draft Treatment Unit Plans that have been submitted early, inspected, and accepted by FS may receive Notice to Proceed to start layout prior to full acceptance of Item 1. FS will modify this contract to reflect actual required quantities of Items 3-5 once Item 1 is accepted and any un-used obligated funds shall be shifted and used to award unfunded optional work. See

Acceptance and Payment section below for partial payments for Item 1 only.

Mandatory Item 2: Locate, Flag, and GPS Known Cultural Sites

Delineate boundaries of Known Cultural Sites within Timber Removal and Service Only treatment units.

1. Locate and Flag Known Cultural Sites:

a) A map will be available to contractors during the solicitation period and provided to the selected contractor of Know Cultural Sites within project area.

b) Locate Known Cultural sites and delineate boundaries around the site following the standards in

Attachment 1 - Forest Product Accountability Plan.

2. GPS Known Cultural Sites

a) Contractor will GPS location of Known Cultural Sites as well as GPS location of flagged boundaries around Known Cultural Sites.

b) A UTM coordinate shall be taken from the cultural site datum and isolate location using Global

Positioning System (GPS) equipment capable of being downloaded and post-processed or real time correction. A minimum of 30 points shall be collected at the datum using a maximum PDOP of 8 or an insurance of sub-5-foot accuracy.

• Provide both the raw and post-processed GPS data files as well as shapefiles.

c) Contractor will provide a map for use in Mandatory Item 3 using shapefiles of flagged boundaries around Known Cultural Sites.

Mandatory Item 3: Flag, Tag, Paint, and GPS Boundaries

1. Layout of Timber Removal Treatment Units:

Delineate and layout boundaries to be tagged and painted. Delineate and layout units based on treatment types, prescription requirements and work activities following specific NEPA design criteria as outlined in Project Area Implementation Plan. There are no restrictions on size of treatment units. Use instructions from Attachment 1 - Forest Product Accountability Action Plan for layout. This attachment has specific information on which boundaries require flagged/tagged/painted/GPS vs. virtual boundaries.

Contractor is to maximize use of virtual boundaries relative to the direction in this attachment.

Boundaries that must be flagged, tagged, painted, and GPS’d include but are not limited to:

a) Known cultural sites as identified in Mandatory Item 2. A map will be available to the selected contractor for avoidance and inclusion in layout.

b) Boundaries adjacent to private property.

c) Shared boundaries between Timber Treatment Areas.

2. GPS Flagged, Tagged, and Painted boundaries:

a) Contractor will GPS Flagged, Tagged, and Painted boundaries.

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b) Devices for use GPS’ing shall meet requirements for accuracy outlined in “Chapter 50 – Area

Determination” in Attachment 6 - FSM & FSH_CruiseDesign-Plan and Cruise for Final Volume

Estimates

c) Contractor shall provide both the raw and post-processed GPS data files as well as shapefiles.

Mandatory Item 4: Flag and GPS Boundaries

1. Flag Layout of Timber Removal and Service Only Treatment Units:

Delineate and layout treatment virtual and geofence boundaries. Delineate and layout treatment units based on treatment types, prescription requirements and work activities following specific NEPA design criteria as outlined in Project Area Implementation Plan. There are no restrictions on size of treatment units. Using instructions from Attachment 1 - Forest Product Accountability Action Plan. This attachment has specific information on which boundaries require flagged/tagged/painted/GPS vs. virtual boundaries. Contractor is to maximize use of virtual boundaries relative to the direction in this attachment.

a) Retention Areas: Layout in Timber Removal units shall include delineating boundaries of wildlife retention areas. Layout shall follow the standards in Attachment 1 - Forest Product Accountability

Plan, boundaries will be Flagged. Retention area requirements are described in Attachment 4 –

WildlifeRetention. Criteria for wildlife retention areas are described in Attachment 3 – NEPA

Documents /BluemileFinalDM.

2. GPS Flagged Boundaries

a) Contractor will GPS flagged boundaries.

b) Devices for use GPS’ing shall meet requirements for accuracy outlined in “Chapter 50 – Area

Determination” in Attachment 6 - FSM & FSH_CruiseDesign-Plan and Cruise for Final Volume

Estimates

c) Provide both the raw and post-processed GPS data files as well as shapefiles.

Mandatory Item 5: Medium and Large Clump Tree Marking in Timber Removal Units

This project will occur in areas where the contractor is removing included timber under A.2, as identified in

Project Area Implementation Plan.

End Result: Spatial heterogeneity will be increased by leaving clumps of trees across the units. There will be different levels of clumping in different treatment types.

Project Description: Mandatory Item 5 shall be completed prior to Optional Work Items: 6, 7, 11, 12, 16, 17, and 23, unless otherwise agreed to by Forest Service or as outlined in technical proposal. Upon request, the

Forest Service can provide or give directions to an existing example medium and large clump tree mark.

According to treatment type mark the following.

a) Dry Ponderosa Pine/Xeric Pine and Plantation stands: Mark 1 medium clump per acre and 1 large clump per 3 acres.

b) Dry Mixed Conifer and Control Feature stands: Mark 1 medium clump per acre 1 large clump per 10 acres.

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Definitions:

- See definitions in Attachment 5 – Prescriptions

Species Preference: Ponderosa pine is the preferred species for creating a clump. If adequate Ponderosa pine is not present, Douglas-fir, incense-cedar and healthy white fir may be substituted.

Tree Selection Criteria: Select and protect trees that can be expected to remain alive for the next 10 years at a minimum. Trees selected for retention should be healthy, not suppressed, deformed, or show signs of insect or disease such as mountain pine beetle. Selected trees should be at least 9” DBH for ponderosa pine, and 7” DBH for all other species.

Clump Placement:

- Clumps should not be placed within 35 feet from the face of healthy, vigorous mature ponderosa pine unless all trees within the clump are mature in Dry Ponderosa stands or within 50 feet in Mixed Conifer stands.

Clump Marking Guidelines:

- All trees in a clump shall be marked as leave trees. Orange band at breast height, and stump marks on uphill and downhill sides.

- Location of clumps and clump size will be recorded using a GPS device and the data provided to the

Forest Service upon completion of marking the unit.

Figure 1. An example of a medium clump of ponderosa pine trees.

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Figure 2. An example of a large clump of ponderosa pine trees.

Timber Treatment Areas

Once Mandatory Items 1 and 2-5 (associated with each Treatment Area) have been completed and work has been accepted by the Forest Service, the following Sub-Items will be ordered by contract modification and/or issuing Notice to Proceed if already awarded.

Optional Item 6, 11, 16, and 21: Cruise Design/Plan

Unless otherwise stated or agreed to by the Forest Service, Cruise Design/Plan and Cruise for Final Volume

Estimates shall follow direction provided in Forest Service Manual and Handbook.

Applicable Attachments:

• Attachment 1– Fremont-Winema Timber Product Accountability Action Plan.

• Attachment 5 – Prescriptions

• Attachment 6 – FSM & FSH

• Attachment 7 – R6 Tatum Aid

• Attachment 8 – Hessburg

• Attachment 9– Timber Cruising in the PNW

Cruise Design/Plan: Contractor shall complete a cruise design and plan for each Treatment Area for Timber

Removal treatment units. Maximum sampling error for the sale-as-a-whole shall be less than 20% and strata error shall be less than 40%. All Cruise Plans will be reviewed and approved by the Forest Service prior to implementation of the cruise. Prior to the cruise for final volume, the Contractor may wish to complete a recon cruise for use in final cruise design.

As a minimum, the cruise plan for a Treatment Area must cover:

• A definition of the sample population(s).

• The sampling method(s) and intensity for each population.

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• Product merchantability specifications for each population (see Appendix B, Division A - Volume

Estimate and Utilization Standards)

• Treatment Area maps

• Attachment 5 - Prescriptions

Option Item 7, 12, 17, and 22: Cruise with Final Volume Estimates

Unless otherwise stated or agreed to by the Forest Service, Cruise Design/Plan and Cruise for Final Volume

Estimates shall follow direction provided in Forest Service Manual and Handbook.

Applicable Attachments:

• Attachment 1 - Fremont-Winema Timber Product Accountability Action Plan.

• Attachment 5 - Prescriptions

• Attachment 6 - FSM & FSH

• Attachment 7 - R6 Tatum Aid

• Attachment 8 – Hessburg

• Attachment 9 - Timber Cruising in the PNW

Cruise for Final Volume Estimates: Complete a cruise for each Treatment Area for Timber Removal treatment units.

As a minimum, the Cruise for Final Volume Estimates must follow/ include the following requirements:

1. Cruiser Training and Certification Standards

• The knowledge and training requirements for cruisers are:

I. Proficiency in timber cruising fundamentals, including as a minimum:

a. Tree measurement (diameters and heights).

b. Species identification.

c. Defect recognition and determination.

d. Quality determination.

e. Use of timber cruising tools.

f. Map reading and compass use.

g. Traverses.

h. Elementary use of aerial photography.

II. A working knowledge of the cruise systems

III. Demonstrated ability to interpret and follow the timber cruise plan and cruise data recording instructions.

IV. Upon request from Contractor, cruisers may complete a one-day Forest Service training.

The FS will give at a minimum one week notice before this takes place.

• Training topics may include cruising DxP prescriptions, species, measurements, defects, and grading information representative of what the cruiser normally encounters.

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2. Cruising

• Cruiser will follow procedures outlined in cruise plan and take measurements in accordance with the information outlined in Attachment 6 - FSM & FSH_Cruise Design-Plan and Cruise for Final

Volume Estimates and Attachment 9 - Timber Cruising in the PNW.

• Plot and sample monumentation will follow specifications as outlined in Attachment # - Fremont-

Winema Timber Product Accountability Action Plan.

3. Data Recording:

• Cruise data shall be recorded on R6 cruise cards, supplied by the Forest Service.

4. Volume, Value, and Sampling Error Reporting:

• Upon receipt of cruise data from the Contractor, the Forest Service will input and process cruise data using either the National Cruise Program (NATCRS) or the regional computer programs established by the Regional Forester for calculating and reporting the results of timber cruises.

• Following processing, the Forest Service will notify the Contractor if the cruise meets Maximum

Sampling Errors for the Sale-as-a-Whole (less than 20%) and strata error (less than 40% error).

I. The contractor may take corrective action if cruise exceeds Maximum Sampling Errors.

When the original cruise exceeds the desired sampling error and a small number of additional samples are needed to reduce the error to an acceptable level, the Contractor will calculate the total number of additional samples needed, locate, and measure unbiased samples in the field, and add these data to the original cruise. Corrective action and additional samples will be agreed to by Forest Service.

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5. Checking and Certifying Cruise

• Forest Service will conduct cruise inspections as outlined in Attachment 6 - FSM & FSH_Cruise

Design-Plan and Cruise for Final Volume Estimates

• Inspections will evaluate cruising procedures and monitor cruiser performance. The Forest Service will indicate when results of a sale inspection are unsatisfactory and recommend corrective action needed to make the cruise acceptable.

When Final Cruise for each Timber Treatment Area has been completed and accepted, the FS will complete an independent Timber Sale Appraisal to determine the Advertised Timber Rate and Bid Premiums to be collected according to the “Timber Appraisal and Bid Premium” notes section on page 7 of the solicitation. Maps, plans, and quantities accepted from Item 1 WILL be used for appraisal data entries to calculate logging costs.

If Advertised Timber Rates are unacceptable to Contractor for any of Items 8, 13, 18, and/or 23, indicating these Option Items cannot be awarded bilaterally, the included timber of that treatment area and any overlapping Optional service treatment units shall not be awarded. These units will be re-solicited for open competition.

Optional Item 8a, 13a, 18a, and 23a: Cut and Remove Included Timber

Cut and remove from Contract Area all trees and forest products which meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in Appendix B. All specifications of Appendix B apply to product removal. Appendix C Road

Maintenance requirements are commensurate with use.

Optional Item 8b, 13b, 18b, and 23b: Remove Non-Saw Timber Products

Remove from Contract Area all awarded forest products associated with timber removal (tops and limbs), cull logs, chunks, and small diameter trees associated with cut, skid, and deck activities.

Optional Items 9a/b, 14a/b, 19a/b, and 24a/b: Service Only Unit - Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber

DESCRIPTION OF COMPLEXITY

Low Complexity - Service Only Unit - Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber

< 100 cut trees per acre

High Complexity - Service Only Unit - Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber

> 100 cut trees per acre

Desired End Results: Reduce conifer encroachment, competition, stand density, and ladder-fuels to increase forest stand health and resistance to catastrophic high-severity fire.

Project Description:

- Service only Units: Thin conifers greater than or equal to 2” DBH, up to A.2. specifications, to a variable spacing ranging from 10 X 10 to 30 X 30 feet. A clump of 10-20 trees should be left every 3 acres to increase variability in spatial arrangement of residual trees. Trees should be spaced 25 feet from mature overstory trees. Leave trees should be the largest, healthiest trees in the area.

a) Species preference for retention in descending order: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, incense cedar. Cut all white fir, lodgepole pine and western juniper.

b) If all leave trees are the same species, preference shall be given to the healthiest tree.

c) Leave all hardwood trees.

- Service Only Units overlapping Control Feature Prescription: In areas with residual merchantable trees, cut all trees less than A.2 log removal specifications. In areas with no residual merchantable trees within the control feature, thin sub merchantable trees to a variable spacing ranging from 10 by 10 to 30 by 30 feet. Leave trees should be the largest, healthiest trees in the area.

a) Control Features are measured 150 feet or 500 feet off the road, as measured from road edge or

1,000 feet from the edge of private property, as measured from surveyed property line. Varying control feature distances as described above are shown in Attachment 12 – Additional PDCs Map.

b) Species preference for retention in descending order: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, incense cedar. Cut all white fir, lodgepole pine and western juniper.

c) If all leave trees are the same species, preference shall be given to the healthiest tree.

d) Leave all hardwood trees.

Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump after felling. Stump height shall not exceed six (6) inches above ground level, or four (4) inches above natural obstacles, such as large rocks.

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Slash treatment specifications: Whole-tree yard cut trees to approved landing locations. Contractor will remove all material over three inches diameter, and three feet in length. Machine pile all cut trees and slash at least three

(3) inches diameter, and three (3) feet in length. Refer to provision C6.74# - Slash Treatment Requirements, on pile size and arrangement. Contractor shall remove piles.

Optional Items 10a/b, 15a/b, 20a/b, and 25a/b: Timber Removal Units - Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw

Timber

Low Complexity - Timber Removal Units Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber

< 100 cut trees per acre

High Complexity - Timber Removal Unit - Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber

> 100 cut trees per acre

Desired End Results: Reduce conifer encroachment, competition, stand density, and ladder-fuels to increase forest stand health and resistance to catastrophic high-severity fire.

Slash treatment specifications: Whole-tree yard cut trees to approved landing locations. Machine pile all cut trees and slash at least three inches diameter, and three feet in length. Refer to provision C6.74# - Slash

Treatment Requirements, on pile size and arrangement.

Optional Items 26a and 26b: Plantation Units – Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber

Low Complexity - Plantation Units – Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber

<100 cut trees per acre

High Complexity - Plantation Units – Cut, Skid and Deck Non-Saw Timber

>100 cut trees per acre

Project Description: The contractor shall supply plot data for units and calculate trees per acre, for use in defining complexity.

- Service only Units: Thin conifers greater than or equal to 2” DBH, up to A.2. specifications, to a variable spacing ranging from 10 X 10 to 30 X 30 feet. A clump of 10-20 trees should be left every 3 acres to increase variability in spatial arrangement of residual trees. Trees should be spaced 15 feet from mature overstory trees. Leave trees should be the largest, healthiest trees in the area.

a) Species preference for retention in descending order: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, incense cedar. Cut all white fir, lodgepole pine and western juniper.

b) If all leave trees are the same species, preference shall be given to the healthiest tree.

c) Leave all hardwood trees.

- Service Only Units overlapping Control Feature Prescription: In areas with residual merchantable trees, cut all trees less than A.2 log removal specifications. In areas with no residual merchantable trees within the control feature, thin sub merchantable trees to a variable spacing ranging from 10 by 10 to 30 by 30 feet. Leave trees should be the largest, healthiest trees in the area.

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a) Control Features are measured 150 or 500 feet off the road, as measured from road edge or 1,000 feet from the edge of private property as measured from surveyed property line. Varying control feature distances as described above are shown in Attachment 12 – Additional PDCs Map.

b) Species preference for retention in descending order: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, incense cedar. Cut all white fir, lodgepole pine and western juniper.

c) If all leave trees are the same species, preference shall be given to the healthiest tree.

d) Leave all hardwood trees.

Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump after felling. Stump height shall not exceed six (6) inches

Slash treatment specifications: Whole-tree yard cut trees to approved landing locations. Machine pile all cut trees and slash at least three inches diameter, and three feet in length. Refer to provision C6.74#

Optional Items 27a, 27b, and 27c: Service Only Unit - Mechanical Cut and Pile of Non-Saw Timber

Low Complexity - Service Only Unit - Mechanical Cut and Pile of Non-Saw Timber

<100 cut trees per acre

High Complexity - Service Only Unit - Mechanical Cut and Pile of Non-Saw Timber

>100 cut trees per acre

Lodgepole units - Service Only Unit - Mechanical Cut and Pile of Non-Saw Timber

Piling of dead and downed

Slash treatment specifications: Whole-tree yard cut trees to approved pile locations within cutting unit. Machine pile all cut trees and slash at least three inches diameter, and three feet in length. To the extent possible, slash shall be piled in natural openings.

a. Unless otherwise agreed, slash piles shall be located at least 25 feet from the crown, or drip line of any dead or live tree or equal- distance between standing dead or live trees, whichever is greater. Piles will be a minimum of 8 feet in height and 12 feet in diameter, where practicable and as compact as possible.

Piles shall be reasonably free of dirt and rocks.

b. All material extending beyond the general contour of the piled slash shall be trimmed off and added to the pile.

c. Equipment for Piling Landings

• The equipment used by the contractor to pile landing slash is included in the technical proposal.

d. Specific to Item 27c lodgepole units, downed logs >4 feet in length and >4 inches diameter on small end shall be piled with cut trees and slash.

e. A fireline to mineral soil shall be constructed around piles. 8 feet wide, down to bare mineral soil.

Optional Items 28a, 28b, and 28c: Hand Thin/Hand Pile

Low Complexity - Hand Thin/Hand Pile

<100 cut trees per acre and <35% slope

Medium Complexity - Hand Thin/Hand Pile

<100 cut trees per acre and >35% slope OR >100 trees per acre and <35% slope

High Complexity Hand Thin/Hand Pile –

> 100 cut trees per acre and >35% slope

End Results: Following treatment, encroaching conifers will be hand felled and removed and mature fire-resistant conifers will be retained. The dry meadow and scabland will more closely resemble historic condition, restoring and enhancing natural vegetation and hydrology. Slopes over 35% will have reduced fuel loading and competition.

Project Description: The contractor shall supply plot data for units and calculate trees per acre, for use in defining complexity. Remove encroaching conifer from Dry Meadows and Scabland. Thin trees less than A.2

Specification on slopes over 35%. Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump after felling. Stump height shall not exceed six (6) inches above ground level, or four (4) inches above natural obstacles, such as large rocks.

Residual stocking objectives: Perform these in order; subsequent items do not override any item preceding it:

a. Retain all mature trees, sugar pine, orange-marked trees, and tree marked during medium and large clump tree marking.

b. Hand cut all conifers within Dry Meadows and Scablands as shown on contract area map.

c. On Slopes over 35%, thin conifers greater than or equal to 2” DBH, up to A.2. specifications, to a variable spacing ranging from 10 X 10 to 30 X 30 feet. A clump of 10-20 trees should be left every 3 acres to increase variability in spatial arrangement of residual trees. Trees should be spaced 15 feet from mature overstory trees.

• Leave trees should be the largest, healthiest trees in the area.

• Species preference for retention in descending order: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, incense cedar. Cut all white fir, lodgepole pine and western juniper.

• If all leave trees are the same species, preference shall be given to the healthiest tree.

• Leave all hardwood trees.

Slash treatment specifications:

i. Hand pile all slash (except for slash that is too small to be effectively piled), this would be defined as at least three inches diameter, and three feet in length, resulting from Hand thinning in Dry Meadow and

Scabland.

ii. Unless otherwise agreed, slash piles shall be located at least (25) feet from the crown, or drip line of any dead or live tree or equal- distance between standing dead or live trees, whichever is greater. Piles will be a minimum of (5) feet in height and (5) feet in diameter, where practicable and as compact as possible. Piles shall be reasonably free of dirt and rocks.

iii. All material extending beyond the general contour of the piled slash shall be trimmed off and added to the pile.

Optional Item 29: Meadow Units - Fell, Lop, And Scatter

DESCRIPTION OF WORK ACTIVITIES

Meadow Units - Fell, Lop, And Scatter

End Results: Following treatment, encroaching conifers will be felled and scattered. Mature fire- resistant conifers will be retained. Meadows will more closely resemble historic condition, restoring and enhancing natural vegetation and hydrology.

Project Description: Removing encroaching conifer meadows as identified in Project Implementation Plan. Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump after felling. Stump height shall not exceed six (6) inches

Residual stocking objectives: Perform these in order; subsequent items do not override any item preceding it:

a. Retain all mature trees, sugar pine, orange-marked trees, and tree marked during medium and large clump tree marking.

b. Hand cut all conifers within Dry Meadows as shown on contract area map.

Slash treatment specifications:

i. Scatter all slash (except for slash that is too small to be effectively picked up and scatter), this would be defined as at least three inches diameter, and 1 foot in length, resulting from Hand thinning in Meadows.

ii. Unless otherwise agreed, scattered slash shall not exceed 1 foot in depth. Scattered materials shall be located at least (10) feet from the crown, or drip line of any dead or live tree or equal- distance between standing dead or live trees, whichever is greater.

Optional Items 30a and 30b: Mastication

Low Complexity Mastication - <50% vegetation cover

High Complexity Mastication - >50% vegetation cover

Project Description: Mechanical Mastication of all brush and lodgepole pine, white fir, and western juniper trees, less than A.2 specifications.

End Results: Reduce fuel height and connectivity to lessen fire hazard.

a. Masticate brush and small conifers as close to ground as possible without ground disturbance, but no taller than 6 inches.

b. Dead brush is not required to be masticated.

c. Leave all hardwood trees and brush such as, but not limited to aspen, service berry, willow, mountain mahogany, etc.

d. Leave all trees greater than 4 inches DBH.

e. Leave all existing downed logs.

f. Leave all special and rare-to-site species such as Douglas fir, western white pine, incense cedar, sugar pine, Shasta red fir, western white pine, and larch.

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Slash treatment specifications: Any slash that is on an open road caused by contractor operations that impedes travel, safety and creates the potential for damage to vehicles shall be removed each day to ensure access and protection of road surface.

Optional Item 31: Road Reconstruction

See Appendix D for specifications.

Optional Item 32: Transport of Surplus/Excess Products

1. All timber products are available for subsidized removal by truck or rail.

2. Title Transfer of products will occur prior to debarking and being loaded on rail cars.

3. Pine logs may be transported within ecological bug/pest zones with no required mitigation measures to prevent the transport and spread of forest pests. See Figure 1 in attachment titled “Insect and Disease

Risk Potential”.

4. All logs being transferred outside of ecological bug/pest zones shall be debarked. Any number of visually separate and clearly distinct small pieces of bark may remain if they are:

a. less than 3 cm in width (regardless of the length) or

b. greater than 3 cm in width with the total surface area of an individual piece of bark less than 50 square cm, and

c. no more than 2 percent of the surface of all logs per railcar load may retain bark, with no single log retaining bark on more than 5 percent of its surface.

Optional Item 33: Road Maintenance for TSA – T-838 and T-839

See Appendix C for specifications. Pre, during, and post haul maintenance required when removal of Timber

Subject to Agreement is being proposed, and no mandatory product removal requiring maintenance commensurate with use.

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SECTION IV – 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.

It is incumbent upon the contractor to ensure areas for protection are identified in the project implementation plan and are protected throughout implementation. The contractor shall identify protections during initial recon of the project area. The project implementation plan shall identify protection needs for plants, animals, cultural resources, or caves based on information provided in the Blue Mile Decision Memo, East Hills EIS, Heritage

Site Map produced during Work Item 3 of Known Cultural Sites, Attachment 11 – Additional PDCs and

Attachment 12 – Additional PDCs Map. Implementation Work shall follow all protection measures needed for plants, animals, cultural resources, and cave resources as outlined in the solicitation, Section 24.

Implementation 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.

(2) When seasonal operating restrictions for active raptor nests, winter range, or High Use Migration are in effect. All active nest sites and areas of restriction are shown on CAM and listed in the solicitation under

Protection Measures Needed for Plants Animals, Cultural Resources, and Cave Resources. Restrictions would apply:

(3) If new nests are discovered,

(4) When soil moisture conditions create excessive risk of damage to the soil,

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

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

(7) 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 V – 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) 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 7 calendar days, excluding weekends and federal holidays.

For Work Items Requiring Forest Service Approval to award subsequent items (Items 2-31):

As a Result of completing above work items, the Forest Service shall provide the Contractor with approval and all additional information needed to complete Work Items 2-31. The below list identifies how specific item(s), deliverables, and inspection timelines for approval of work items by FS.

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- Item 1: FS inspection shall be completed as soon as practicable or no later than 30 calendar days of submittal of final plans. Plans will be accepted or rejected by FS for corrections by contractor. FS inspection shall be completed within 15 calendar days of submittal of corrected plans.

- Item 6, 11, 16, 21: FS inspection shall be completed as soon as practicable or no later than 7 calendar days of submittal of final plans. Plans will be accepted or rejected by FS for corrections by contractor.

FS inspection shall be completed within 7 calendar days of submittal of corrected plans.

- Items 7, 12,17, 22: FS check cruising inspection shall be completed as soon as practicable or no later than 21 calendar days of submittal of final cruise and volume determination. Each cruise will be accepted or rejected by FS for corrections by contractor. FS inspection shall be completed within 14 calendar days of submittal of corrected cruise and volume determination.

- After final cruise and volume determination have been accepted by FS, FS shall complete each timber treatment area appraisal within 7 calendar days and provide contractor with the results in writing.

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Quality assurance will be performed by the Government during the contract at regular intervals. Methods may include visual survey and review of contractor quality control documents. Unacceptable work shall require rework at no cost to the Government. All work shall meet all the standards listed in above sections.

Quality assurance will ensure proposed activity (or treatment) units in the Project Implementation Plan adhere to the purpose and need, project objectives and site-specific silviculture, fuels reduction, harvest plan and resource protection requirements as stated within the Bluemile DM, East Hills EIS, and other attached project design criteria.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 1 - 33

The COR, or a designated inspector (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 deliverables and units are started, when problems are encountered and when contract work needs government oversight.

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

2. When work items and 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 designated inspector, 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.

Formal Government Inspection Procedures – Deliverables

Deliverables are documents, maps, files, or data produced in work items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 16, and 21. All deliverables will either be accepted or returned to contractor for corrections.

1. In the event informal inspections indicate work and / or rework to be in non-compliance with contract specifications, the Government will perform a formal review to determine compliance with specifications.

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2. Government inspection of deliverables will be evaluated based on quality and timeliness. Timeliness is determined by adherence to performance period deadlines provided in the Solicitation under Period of

Performance.

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

4. For each verification of a deliverable, the Government will examine if the document, map, file, or data adheres to the specification listed in the sub items of the work description and follows direction in the provided NEPA documents and attachments.

Task Metric

Type Performance Standard

Performance

Indicator Surveillance Method

All reports and other deliverables

Quality

Reports and other deliverables are correct and provide information as outlined in work item descriptions when submitted.

Documents are complete and accurate

100% of the time.

COR or inspector reviews reports for completion and accuracy.

All reports and other deliverables

Timely Reports submitted no later than the due dates

Documents are submitted timely 100% of the time.

COR or inspector accepts reports and documents date and time.

Unsatisfactory Deliverables

If work quality and timeliness don’t meet performance standards, the COR will immediately notify the

Contractor, in writing, and order him to improve the quality of the documents, maps, files, or data. If the quality of subsequent deliverables doesn’t meet performance standards within the amount of time agreed to by the

Government, the Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default.

Formal 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 – 100 1 plot per 10 acres

>100 1 plot per 15 acres

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.

- 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 work

No. Trees to be left

100% – % Unsatisfactory work = % Work Quality

Unsatisfactory Performance

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.

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.

Repeated…