DRAFT_Phase3_Appendix A_103024.docx

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The objectives of this project are to reduce the risks of hazardous fuels that have fallen across or remain standing along important access routes of the 2020 fire-affected road system so that access to and through the burned area can be restored. Fire severity varied across the treatment areas; burn severity maps and tables are included for planning purposes.

Activities include performing mitigation of risk along road from fire killed/damaged trees, reduction of roadside fuel accumulation and essential maintenance and reconstruction of roads. This will be done by accomplishing the following:

· Cut and remove fire killed timber within 100 feet of roads from the Contract Area. Hazard trees to be cut are Designated by Prescription.

· Fall and leave non-commercial hazard trees within Special Measure Areas (SMAs). SMAs may include Riparian Reserves, cultural resource areas, wildlife habitat protection areas or other areas that requires special protections. This work is located within 100 feet of the road. SMAs do not overlap acres that require the cutting and removal of fire killed trees.

· Within unit polygons, fall and leave hazard trees that can strike the road outside of the 100-foot fuels removal area.

· Perform small fuels treatment within 30 feet of roads.

· Perform road reconstruction within the Contract Area during the dry season (May 15-October 15).

· Perform pre-haul, during-haul and post-haul road maintenance within the Contract Area.

· Yard and deliver non-commercial fish logs to specified deck locations.

· Fall and leave individual hazard trees that are outside of units but within striking distance of the road.

Ground based hazard tree work shall be permitted year-round and must comply with required protections for wet season operations and Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL). Mechanized equipment may be used for harvesting in units with slopes less than 30% during the dry season.

Requirements, restrictions, and specifications applicable to entire contract:

· See contract specifications in Appendices B, C, and D.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

The following requirements are pursuant to work items 1-3, 8-10 and 15:

Indicators of Hazardous Fuel Trees and removal standards

1. Trees with greater than 25% lean away from the road shall NOT be cut.

2. Trees with no green needles shall be cut.

3. Live trees with greater than 50% of the bole cross-sectional area burned and consumed or at least one quadrant of burned and consumed structural roots shall be cut.

4. Trees with greater than 50% of the structural roots undermined or severed on a road cut bank shall be cut.

5. Trees with insect boring dust present on greater than or equal to 50% of the bole circumference shall be cut.

Prescription Criteria:

1. Trees with greater than 25% lean away from the road shall not to be cut and removed. If felled for operator safety these trees shall remain on site.

2. Where slopes are less than 40%, Hazardous Fuel trees on the uphill and downhill side of the will be felled if they are within one tree height distance of the road edge.

3. Where slopes are greater than 40%, Hazardous Fuel Trees on the uphill side of the road will be felled if they are within one and a half tree height distance of the road edge and Hazardous Fuel Trees on the downhill side of the road will be felled if they are within one tree height distance of the road edge.

4. All ground-based equipment will stay on existing road prisms (bottom of ditch to base of outside fill slope) unless the existing slope is less than 30% during the normal operating season (May 15th to October 15th). All mechanized trails will be pre-located, pre-approved and prepared (i.e. slash mat) to minimize compaction and disturbance.

Mandatory Item 1: Cut and Remove Fire Killed Timber within 100ft of the road prism on 190.6 acres

UNITS: BC-2, BC-3, BC-4, BC-5

Cut and remove fire killed timber that are likely to fall and strike the road.

· Fall fire killed trees that are tall enough to fall and strike the road.

· Cut Fire killed timber that meets C2.355# Designation By Prescription cutting specifications, and remove material meeting utilization specifications in Division A, of Appendix B within 100 feet of the road edge.

· All material will be removed to meet fuels standards, with the exception of 7-10 of the largest trees per acre.

· Trees cut within 100 feet of the road edge may be bucked at 100 feet from the road edge and yarded. Trees beyond 100 feet of the road edge will be retained on site.

· * Operational rock must be placed and approved by a COR during the dry season for wet weather operations to occur.

Phase 3

Pay Item 1. Mandatory Cut and Remove Fire Killed Timber within 100ft of the road prism

Mandatory Item 2: Non-Commercial Hazard Tree Felling within 100 feet From Road Edge on 453.7 acres

UNITS: BC-2, BC-3, BC-4, BC-5

Fall and leave non-commercial hazard trees within Special Measure Areas (SMAs) inside the units specified. SMAs may include Riparian Reserves, cultural resource areas, wildlife habitat protection areas or other areas that requires special protections. SMAs do not overlap with the acreage for units listed in Mandatory Item 1.

· Fall and leave all hazard trees that meet cutting specifications within SMAs. Removal of material meeting utilization specifications in Division A, of Appendix B may be allowed within cultural areas if full suspension can be achieved in consultation with a Forest Service Archaeologist.

Phase 3

Pay Item 2. Mandatory Non-Commercial Hazard Tree Felling within 100 feet From Road Edge

Mandatory Item 3: Fall and Leave Hazard Trees >100 feet From Road Edge on 30.9 acres Units: BC-2, BC-3, BC-4, BC-5

· Within unit polygons, fall and leave hazard trees that can strike the road outside of the 100-foot fuels removal area.

· Trees felled towards the 100-foot removal area must be left on site and will count towards the downed wood requirement.

· Equipment required for tree cutting will operate from within the road prism if slopes exceed 30%. Equipment can be utilized off the road prism on slopes <30% during the normal operating season (May15th to October 15th) using slash mats. Equipment may also be allowed to operate on frozen soils/packed snow with approval from the Forest Service (Appendix B- C6.42#)

· Where slopes are less than 40%, Hazardous Fuel trees on the uphill and downhill side of the road will be felled if they are within one tree height distance of the road edge.

· Where slopes are greater than 40%, Hazardous Fuel Trees on the uphill side of the road will be felled if they are within one and a half tree height distance of the road edge. On the downhill side of the road trees will be felled if they are within one tree height distance of the road edge. See Exhibit 1 for Slope Correction table.

· Hazardous Fuel Trees felled outside the 100’ distance from the roadway will be left in place. These trees can be felled toward the 100’ distance of the roadway to count towards downed wood requirements.

Phase 3

Pay Item 3. Fall and Leave Hazard Trees >100 feet From Road Edge

Mandatory Item 4: Small fuels treatment <16” DBH 0-30 Feet From Road Edge on 271.9 acres

UNITS: BC-2, BC-3, BC-4, BC-5

· Small fuels treatment includes existing downed or cut trees less than 16-inch DBH that do not meet fuel loading standards.

· Small fuels treatment is within 30 feet on each side of the road edge within and outside SMAs (C6.74# Small Fuels Treatment Requirement).

· Slash can be removed using a variety of methods. Fuel treatment methods will be determined according to site specific conditions. Offeror shall include all proposed methods or combination of methods to accomplish this work and the best method will be agreed to during implementation. Piling of fuels for burning is not allowed.

· If the offeror chooses to lop and scatter, while still meeting the maximum acceptable fuel loadings for fine fuels, material less than 3 inches in diameter shall be dispersed to a height of 16 inches or less measured from the forest floor.

· If the offeror chooses to chip, material may be chipped and left on site or hauled off National Forest Land. Material chipped and left on site shall be dispersed to a depth not to exceed 2 inches measured from the forest floor.

· Additional methods of disposal and/or beneficial reuse, such as air curtain burners, carbonizers, or biochar production may occur if approved by the Forest Service.

· Unless agreed to by the contracting officer, dispose of slash piles and decks within one year of treatments.

Maximum acceptable fuel loads for Fine Fuels

· SMA-1 & SMA-2: Treatment of fuels less than 16 inches diameter should be treated with lop & scatter, or where material can be fully suspended for removal to fuel standards within 30 feet of the roadway. No dragging of felled trees is permitted in these SMAs (C6.24# - Site Specific Protection Measures).

· SMA-1: All Hazardous Fuels Treatments of fuels greater than 16” diameter shall only be removed if full suspension can be achieved. No dragging of felled trees within site boundary.

· SMA-1: A 14-day notice to the Forest Service is required for operations within SMA-1 to allow for consultation with Archaeologist. Falling in these areas requires falling away from sites, lop & scatter and bucking unless able to fully suspend for removal. No dragging of felled trees within site boundary.

Phase 3

Pay Item 4. Mandatory Small fuels treatment <16” DBH 0-30 Feet From Road Edge on 200.2 acres Units:

Mandatory Item 5: Road Maintenance - Prehaul, During Haul and Post Haul (49.91 miles) Forest Service roads: 2207000, 2209000, 2209201, 2223000, 2225000

· See Appendix C for Road Maintenance requirements.

Mandatory Item 6: Road Reconstruction of Haul Routes Forest Service roads: 2207000, 2209000, 2209201, 2223000, 2225000

See Appendix D for Road Reconstruction requirements.

· This work would occur during the dry season (May 15 – Oct 15).

· Wet weather operational rock planned for use on 2225000.

Mandatory Item 7: Yard and Deliver Non-commercial Fish Logs to Deck Locations 1-3 from units BC-2, BC-3, BC-4, BC-5

· Slash Disposal of woody debris can include up to 525 logs (greater than 8-inch DBH) and up to 350 cubic yards of slash (woody debris less than 8-inch DBH) for Fish habitat restoration that will be staged at the following locations and quantities.

· Fish Logs may include logs that are either merchantable or non-merchantable (i.e. does not meet merchantable standards in Division A, Appendix B).

· Fish Logs must be Decay Classes 1 and 2. Decay Classes 3, 4, and 5 are not acceptable. Fire damaged, dead and dying trees that still meet Class 1 and 2 with or without significant amounts of char are acceptable.

· Fish Logs must be delimbed and processed to the dimensions described in the tables below.

· The staging areas will be staked or flagged by the Forest Service and this material will not be scaled.

· At staging Locations, sort logs and debris into separate log decks and woody debris piles according to the size classes listed in the tables below.

· Forest Service Contracting Officer Representative may decide to stop delivery of woody debris to these locations once they decide they have enough material.

· Location 1 for Fish Logs staging:

· At the landing along Forest Service Road 4685 at Milepost 0.15 (immediately after the bridge over the North Fork Breitenbush River, Latitude 44.781, Longitude -121.953)

· Ensure vehicle access remains open to Forest Service Road 4685301

· Quantities at Location 1 listed below:

· Location 2 for Fish Logs staging:

· On the south side of Highway 46 (Latitude 44.783, Longitude -121.961) approximately 400 feet east of the intersection of Highway 46 and Forest Service Road 4600-050.

· Ensure logs are placed far enough away from Highway 46 as to not impact the road prism or vehicular traffic.

· Quantities at Location 2 listed below:

· Location 3 for Fish Logs staging:

· Within the Breitenbush Summer Homes area along Forest Service Road 2231890 (Latitude 44.779, Longitude -121.966)

· Ensure vehicle access remains open on Forest Service Roads.

· Quantities at Location 3 listed below:

Optional Item 8: Cut and Remove Included Fire Killed Timber within 100’of the road prism on 227 acres UNITS: BC-1D, BC-2A, BC-2B, BC-2BB, BC-6, BC-7, LH-10, LH-7, LH-7A, LH-7AA, LH-7AB, LH-7B, LH-7C

· See Mandatory Item 1 Technical Specifications.

Phase 3

Pay Item 8. Optional Cut and Remove Fire Killed Timber Subject to Agreement within 100’ of the road prism

Optional Item 9: Fall and Leave Non-Commercial Hazard Trees within 100 feet From Road Edge on 154.4 acres

· See Mandatory Item 2 Technical Specifications

Phase 3

Pay Item 9. Optional Fall and Leave Non-Commercial Hazard Trees within 100 feet From Road Edge

Optional Item 10: Fall & Leave Hazard Trees >100' from Road Edge on 10.87 acres

· See Mandatory Item 3 Technical Specifications.

Phase 3

Pay Item 10. Optional Fall and Leave Hazard Trees >100 feet From Road Edge

Optional Item 11: Small fuels treatment <16” DBH 0-30 Feet From Road Edge on 149.5 acres

· See Mandatory Item 4 Technical Specifications.

Phase 3

Pay Item 11. Optional Small fuels treatment <16” DBH 0-30 Feet From Road Edge

Optional Item 12: Road Maintenance – Prehaul, During Haul and Post Haul NFSR (31.16 miles) Forest Service roads: 2223520, 2225450, 2225458, 2225461, 4695000, 4695110, 4695120, 4695130, 4695132, 4695133, 4696701

· See Appendix C for Road Maintenance requirements.

Optional Item 13: Road Reconstruction of Haul Routes NFSR Forest Service roads: 2207214, 2223520, 2225450, 2225458, 2225461, 4695000, 4695110, 4695120, 4695130, 4695132, 4695133, 4696701 See Appendix D for Road Reconstruction requirements.

· This work would occur during the dry season (May 15 – Oct 15).

Optional Item 14: Operational Rock for Wet Weather Operations Forest Service Roads: 2223520, 2225450, 2225458, 2225461, 4696701, 4695000, 4695130, 4695134, 4695132, 4695120, 4695110 14a) Subbase, Grading A, Compaction Method (b), Government-Source – 30109

· Roads may have limited strength and are likely to be damaged if used during the wet season (approximately October 16-May14, see C5.12#). This item allows operational rock to be applied to specific segments of road as approved by a qualified engineering COR who will assess the road for additional work required to accommodate all season use dependent on planned operations.

14b) Aggregate Surface Course, Grading F, Compaction Method (b), Government-Source – 30115A

· Roads may have limited strength and are likely to be damaged if used during the wet season (approximately October 16-May14- see C5.12#). Operational rock applied from optional item 14 a) (#30109) is required to be capped with surface aggregate after operations are complete.

Optional Item 15: Fall and Leave Individual Hazard Trees (up to 1500 individual trees)

· Adjacent to the listed units there may be fire killed trees that fall outside the unit polygon but are still tall enough to fall and strike the road. These trees need to be felled to prevent this.

· Trees felled into the 100-foot removal area must be left on site and will count towards the downed wood requirement.

· Trees to be felled must be pre-approved by a COR prior to cutting.

· Contractors will track individual trees that are felled with a log of GPS points and date of COR approval.

SECTION III – CONTROL OF WORK

The Contractor agrees to conduct its operations under this contract and other related business activities in compliance with Federal, State, and local statutes, standards, orders, permits and other regulations.

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

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

1. When conditions are such that operations shall be restricted or ceased due to increased fire risk.

2. When conditions are such that haul shall suspend during periods of heavy rainfall to prevent sedimentation from entering stream courses or if road use is causing road distress, road damage or environmental damage as defined in the 2016 Willamette National Forest Road Rules.

3. When seasonal operating restrictions for nesting habitat, nest patches, or Harlequin Ducks. All Special Measure Area-2 (SMA-2) areas of restriction are shown on CAM and listed in the solicitation under C6.24# - Site Specific Protection Measures. Restrictions would apply 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 IV – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

For All Work Items:

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

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Government Inspection Procedures -The COR, or a designated 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 units are started, when problems are encountered and when contract work needs government oversight.

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

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

3. The COR, or 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.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 1, 2, & 3

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 or variable radius plots along transects to record whether the guidelines in Appendix B, C2.355# have not been met, along with other requirements within contract.

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

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 of non-compliance for failing quadrants.

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

Unsatisfactory Cutting and Fuels Removal

1. If the work quality falls below the minimum AQL, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor, in writing the need for a rework.

2. If after rework has been performed and reinspected, and work quality still falls below minimum AQL percent, payment will either be made at a reduced rate, or not at all, as determined in SECTION V below.

3. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the minimum acceptable standard will be considered reason for contract termination for cause.

Reinspection Upon Contractor Request

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

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

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

SECTION V – PAYMENT METHODS

Method of Measurement for Acreages Acreages were determined by using ArcGIS and Imagery. The acreage for each work item will be rounded to the nearest acre and is final unless:

a. The contract is modified or,

b. The Government makes a determination to remeasure or,

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

Remeasurement

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

2. If remeasurement indicates that a variance of ten percent or less exists on units of 1 to 5 acres, five percent or less exists on units of more than five but less than 20 acres, or if three percent or less exists on units of 20 acres or larger, the Contractor shall pay for the actual costs of the remeasurement. Under this condition, payment will be made on the acreage stated on the project maps. If the remeasurement indicates the actual acreage varies by more than the above factors from that stated on the project maps, the payment will be made on the remeasured acreage and the Forest Service will pay for the cost of the remeasurement.

Acceptance and Payment – Item 1, 8 Cut and Remove Fire Killed Timber within 100ft of the road prism in all areas.

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

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

a) For work quality of 95 percent or higher, 5 percent (adjustment for statistical variation) will be added and the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

b) For work quality from 85 to 94 percent, the 5 percent will be added to the work quality percent and the Contractor will be paid the total multiplied by the bid rate.

c) For work quality 84 percent and less, the 5 percent will not be added and there will be no payment made to the Contractor.

d) If, after rework, the percentage of satisfactory work is between 85% and 94%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 85%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

e) Reductions of 1% per tree still standing that according to C2.355# should have been cut.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 2, 3, 9 and 10

1. Full payment will be made when visual and/or measurement inspection meets 95% AQL.

Acceptance and Payment- Item 5, 12 Road Maintenance of Haul Routes

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

Acceptance and Payment- Item 6, 13 Road Reconstruction of Haul Routes

1. Measurement and payment will be in accordance with the applicable section in FP-14 for each line item.

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

Acceptance and Payment – Item 7 Yard and Deliver Non-commercial Fish Logs to Deck Locations 1-3

1. Full payment will be made when visual and/or measurement inspection meets 95% AQL.

2. Payment may be made by percentage of the total lump sum and for the logs and woody debris delivered.

Acceptance and Payment – Item 4, 11

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

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

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

b) Work quality less than 90%, the work is unacceptable and will either require rework or no payment will be made.

* Stewardship Credits will be earned first, whenever practical. Forest Service Funds will be used if the availability of Stewardship Credits is exhausted or if appropriated dollars are obligated to a specific item.

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS

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

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

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

CUTTING UNIT: See Treatment Unit definition.

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

DECKING: Stockpiling of trees in a designated area.

DESIGNATION BY PRESCRIPTION (DXP): A prescription for cutting and retention of coarse woody debris based on criteria which have a range of acceptable outcomes. Located in C2.355#.

DIB: Diameter inside bark.

FISH HABITAT LOG: A logs >12 in small end diameter which may be moved to a disposal site with no disposal fee. See mandatory work item #6 for specification on size and quality of log requirements.

GREEN BIO CV: All non-merchantable material within 100 feet of the road. Includes slash and trees which do not meet the sawtimber tree criteria.

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

NON-SAWTIMBER TREE: All trees (conifer and deciduous) not within the sawtimber tree specifications, identified in Appendix A & Division B.

PAYMENT UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

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

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

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

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

UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

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

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

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

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