2. Appendix A_Hume Basin IRSC_A002.pdf

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 1 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The objectives of this project are to improve or maintain forest health, heterogeneity, and resiliency; maintain and improve wildlife habitat; and reduce fuels and restore fire into the ecosystem by thinning from below and sanitizing trees in planted stands to release live trees in overstocked plantations (especially pine monocultures) at risk of beetle attack and stress from increased inter-tree competition (generally, stands in the upper Tenmile and Bearskin Creek drainages).

Sanitize stands by removing damaged, diseased, dying, and standing dead trees as salvage or biomass where feasible.

1. Cut and remove live conifer overstory up to 20 inches d.b.h, and dead trees of any size that meet the sanitation criteria (not needed for snag habitat) to release the understory hardwoods and increase stand heterogeneity.

2. Sanitize stands within 100 feet of two main access roads, Tenmile (13S09) and Huckleberry (13S02), to remove live and dead trees meeting the high and moderate hazard criteria under the Hazard Tree Identification and Mitigation (Angwin et al 2022), and those meeting the low hazard criteria that are likely to become moderate or high in the next 5 years (i.e. forked tree with fading crown, etc.).

3. Hand pile and/or mechanical pile dead and down fire or insect-killed trees to reduce extensive areas of high fuel loading.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

All Items: Protection of all paved surface road shall be required at all times.

• All tracked equipment shall utilize protective pads any time there is a risk of damaging the paved road surface.

• FS shall video record all sections of paved roads prior to start of operations.

• All damage to road surfaces shall be reported to the Forest Service within 24 hours.

• All damage on any county roads will be reported, by the Forest Service, to the county for separate assessment and not subject to the terms and conditions of this contract.

Mandatory Item 1 and 1.1: Thin from Below/Sanitize Plantations- Cut and Remove Included Timber Item 1 Units: 67, 81, 82, 83, 120, 121, 122, 144, 147, 155, 156, 404, 405, 406 (261 Acres) Item 1.1 Units: 143 (77 Acres)

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.

1. All Tops, limbs, chunks, and other woody debris, greater than 6 inches in large end d.o.b. and 10 feet in length not meeting merchantability specifications should be removed to a landing to be piled.

2. Fell and whole tree skid to a landing: All trees (live and dead) that are cut during operations shall be skidded to a landing.

3. All trees (live and dead) that meet the R5 Hazard Tree Guidelines (HT Rating 6-7) shall also be felled and removed.

4. Tops, limbs, chunks, and other woody debris skidded to landings shall be piled with dead trees, if not included as TSA. Landing piles shall be in accordance with the slash treatment specifications above.

5. On a per acre basis:

a. Leave 4 snags per acre except those posing a safety hazard or those in dense ‘mortality pockets’ of 8+ snags in the same immediate area. Where this results in less than 4 snags per acre, retain the largest snags available that do not pose a safety hazard in order to reach an average of at least 4 snags per acre.

Prioritize retention of snags that exhibit form and/or decay characteristics i.e. teakettle branches, broken tops, large cavities in the bole, etc.

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 2 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

b. Retain an average of 4 largest down logs per acre (10-20 Tons/acre) (>12 inches diameter if available) or by agreement with the COR.

6. Contractor shall follow all specifications for skidding and decking as outlined in Appendix B.

7. Protection of the leave trees shall be high priority. No more than four (4) damaged trees per acre will be permitted. If more than four (4) trees per acre are damaged by the contractor, a cost of $50.00 per additional tree will be charged. If in the opinion of the Contracting Officer damage is excessive, the Contractor shall be required to alter his operations to prevent such damage. Excessive or continued damaging of leave trees shall be cause for default, immediate suspension of work or termination of the contract.

8. Contractors are expected to directionally fell included timber in the SMZ or reach into the SMZ using permitted methods (any method that does not cause ground disturbance within SMZ) to achieve the specified end results.

Contractors will not be required to endline material within SMZs.

9. In Recreation residences (Unit 143), hand felling is required within 100ft of buildings and utilities. The locations of the septic, underground lines, etc. It is unknown. Use of heavy machinery should be minimized.

a. Landing locations will be established by the Forest Service with considerations to operational needs.

b. Pilling may be agreed upon if skidding is determined to be impossible by agreement between COR and

Contractor; due to slope, utilities, erosion, or other factors.

i. (See Item 4 for piling specifications if utilized)

c. All underground utilities will be marked on the ground by the FS prior to operation to the best extent practical. Contractor shall not disturb the ground or operate within 5 feet of either side of marked utility.

i. Any damage to utility caused by operations shall be reported to the FS immediately.

ii. Contractor will not be liable for any damage to utilities not marked on the ground by the FS prior to operations unless determined to be negligent.

Herbicide Application

1. Contractor shall treat cut stumps of all live and recently dead (still with needles or pitch present on stump) conifer trees equal to or greater than 8 inches stump diameter, (measured inside bark) unless otherwise agreed to in writing. Treatment shall be with a borate compound registered by EPA in the State of California for prevention of H. annosus root disease. Stumps shall be treated with borate within 24 hours of cutting. A colorant shall be applied to easily distinguish between treated and untreated stumps. A Pesticide Use Proposal (FS-2100-02) will be submitted for Forest Service approval prior to contract operations. The pesticide use application daily logs will be completed for every day of herbicide application and submitted to the Forest Service representative at the end of each week, as applicable.

*Note: Prior to any acres in Item 4 being exercised acres shall be completed and accepted from this item.

Contractor and COR will inspect units to determine if there is a need to pile any additional material not removed from units.

Mandatory Item 2: Roadside Hazard/Sanitation Trees-Cut and Remove Included Timber Units: 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 224 (144 Acres)

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.

1. Cut all live and dead trees within 100 feet of Tenmile Road (13S09), meeting the high and moderate hazard criteria under the R5 Hazard Tree Guidelines (HT Rating 4-7).

2. All live and dead hazard trees felled will be skidded to a landing.

3. All tops, limbs, chunks, and other woody debris, existing on the ground, greater than 6.0” DBH shall be skidded to landings shall be piled with dead trees greater 6.0” DBH, if not included as TSA. Landing piles shall be in accordance with the slash treatment specifications in Appendix B C6.7.

4. Protection of the leave trees shall be high priority. No more than four (4) damaged trees per acre will be permitted. If more than four (4) trees per acre are damaged by the contractor, a cost of $50.00 per tree will be charged. If in the opinion of the Contracting Officer damage is excessive, the Contractor shall be required to alter

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 3 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025 his operations to prevent such damage. Excessive or continued damaging of leave trees shall be cause for default, immediate suspension of work or termination of the contract.

5. Stumps will be cut to a height of 6 inches where feasible along Tenmile Road (FR13S09) for scenic integrity

6. In SMZs-Hand fall High Risk Hazard Trees. Trees (live and dead) that pose a hazard under the R5 Hazard Tree

Guidelines (HT Rating 6-7) shall be felled using chainsaws away from trail or any intersecting roads and left on site.

In PACs Cut-Skid-Deck High Risk Hazard Trees Only:

1. Live trees that meet the R5 Hazard Tree Guidelines (HT Rating 6-7) shall be felled and removed.

2. All dead trees (no green needles for conifers) greater than 10-inch d.b.h and within striking distance of a road shall be felled.

3. Contractor shall follow all specifications for skidding and decking as outline in Appendix B.

4. Live or dead trees that pose a hazard to operability in the treatment units or on landings and disposal sites may be felled and removed during implementation after concurrence from Forest Service representative.

*Note: Prior to any acres in Item 4 being exercised acres shall be completed and accepted from this item.

Contractor and COR will inspect units to determine if there is a need to pile any additional material not removed from units.

Mandatory Item 2.1: Roadside Hazard/Sanitation Trees-Cut and Remove Included Timber Units: 217, 218, 219, 226, 227, 228, 315, 316, 321 (118 Acres)

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.

1. Cut all live and dead trees within 100 feet of Huckleberry Road (13S02, 13S52, 13S49), meeting the high and moderate hazard criteria under the R5 Hazard Tree Guidelines (HT Rating 4-7).

2. All live and dead hazard trees felled will be skidded to a landing.

3. All tops, limbs, chunks, and other woody debris, existing on the ground, greater than 6.0” DBH and 10 feet in length shall be skidded to landings shall be piled with dead trees greater 6.0” DBH, if not included as TSA.

Landing piles shall be in accordance with the slash treatment specifications in Appendix B C6.7.

4. Protection of the leave trees shall be high priority. No more than four (4) damaged trees per acre will be permitted. If more than four (4) trees per acre are damaged by the contractor, a cost of $50.00 per tree will be charged. If in the opinion of the Contracting Officer damage is excessive, the Contractor shall be required to alter his operations to prevent such damage. Excessive or continued damaging of leave trees shall be cause for default, immediate suspension of work or termination of the contract.

5. Stumps will be cut to a height of 6 inches where feasible along Huckleberry Road (13S02, 13S52, 13S49) for scenic integrity.

6. In SMZs-Hand fall High Risk Hazard Trees. Trees (live and dead) that pose a hazard under the R5 Hazard Tree Guidelines (HT Rating 6-7) shall be felled using chainsaws away from trail or any intersecting roads and left on

In PACs Cut-Skid-Deck High Risk Hazard Trees Only:

1. Live trees that meet the R5 Hazard Tree Guidelines (HT Rating 6-7) shall be felled and removed.

2. All dead trees (no green needles for conifers) greater than 10-inch d.b.h and within striking distance of a road shall be felled.

3. Contractor shall follow all specifications for skidding and decking as outline in Appendix B.

4. Live or dead trees that pose a hazard to operability in the treatment units or on landings and disposal sites may be felled and removed during implementation after concurrence from Forest Service representative.

*Note: Prior to any acres in Item 4 being exercised acres shall be completed and accepted from this item.

Contractor and COR will inspect units to determine if there is a need to pile any additional material not removed from units.

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 4 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

Optional Item 3: Thin from Below/Sanitize Plantations- Cut and Remove Included Timber Units: 6, 9, 16, 17, 51, 53, 63, 68, 77, 78, 80, 84, 90, 91, 93, 96, 109, 128, 129, 130, 133, 134, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141, 154, 501, 503, 504, 505, 510, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 526, 529, 531, 532, 539 (1,402 Acres).

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.

1. All tops, limbs, chunks, and other woody debris greater than 6 inches in large end d.o.b. and 10 feet in length not meeting merchantability specifications should be removed to a landing to be piled.

2. Fell and whole tree skid to a landing: All trees (live and dead) that are cut during operations need to be skidded to a landing.

3. All trees (live and dead) that meet the R5 Hazard Tree Guidelines (HT Rating 6-7) shall also be felled and removed.

4. Tops, limbs, chunks, and other woody debris skidded to landings shall be piled with dead trees, if not included as TSA. Landing piles shall be in accordance with the slash treatment specifications above.

5. On a per acre basis:

a. Leave 4 snags per acre except those posing a safety hazard or those in dense ‘mortality pockets’ of 8+ snags in the same immediate area. Where this results in less than 4 snags per acre, retain the largest snags available that do not pose a safety hazard in order to reach an average of at least 4 snags per acre.

Prioritize retention of snags that exhibit form and/or decay characteristics i.e. teakettle branches, broken tops, large cavities in the bole, etc.

b. Retain average of 4 largest down logs (over 12 inches diameter if available) where not a fuels or public safety hazard (i.e. would roll onto road).

6. Contractor shall follow all specifications for skidding and decking as outline in Appendix B.

7. Protection of the leave trees shall be high priority. No more than four (4) damaged trees per acre will be permitted. If more than four (4) trees per acre are damaged by the contractor, a cost of $50.00 per tree will be charged. If in the opinion of the Contracting Officer damage is excessive, the Contractor shall be required to alter his operations to prevent such damage. Excessive or continued damaging of leave trees shall be cause for default, immediate suspension of work or termination of the contract.

8. In SMZs-Hand fall High Risk Hazard Trees. Trees (live and dead) that pose a hazard under the R5 Hazard Tree Guidelines (HT Rating 6-7) shall be felled using chainsaws away from trail or any intersecting roads and left on

*Note: Prior to any acres in Item 4 being exercised acres shall be completed and accepted from this item.

Contractor and COR will inspect units to determine if there is a need to pile any additional material within units and not at landings.

Optional Item 4: Piling of Material in Units Units: All Units (2002 Acres)

Prior to any acres in this Item (Item 4) being exercised acres from Items 1, 1.1, 2, 2.1, and 3 shall be completed and accepted. Contractor and COR will inspect units to determine if there is a need for piling any additional material not removed from units. Remaining material over 10” DBH and 10 feet long resulting in an average fuel loading of 10 tons per acre will be considered adequate to require exercise of this item.

Within Unit Piling – Machine or Hand All material over 10” DBH, in areas with an average of 10 tons per acre following completion of items 1, 1.1, 2, 2.1, and 3.

1. All piles will be constructed in a “teepee” or pile-shape that is a minimum of 6 feet tall unless there is insufficient material to be piled within 50 ft distance to make a pile 6 feet high. In order to get a compact pile, when necessary, logging slash and existing vegetative debris shall be bucked prior to piling. A 3-foot fire line shall be cleared around each Pile to mineral soil. In areas where there is a potential for burning material to roll, Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 5 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025 fire lines shall be trenched on the downhill side of each pile to adequately prevent material from crossing fire lines. Trenches shall be constructed by hand unless otherwise agreed. Pile size must be no larger than 10 ft in height x 15 ft in diameter.

2. All piles shall be reasonably free of soil or rocks to facilitate burning and shall be constructed of such size and at such distance from trees so that burning shall not result in unnecessary damage to residual timber. All piles will be compact with no piled material extending more than 3 feet outside of the general pile base. Material extending 3 feet or more outside the edge of a pile shall be trimmed and the trimmed material placed in burn pile.

3. Piles shall be located a distance of at least 100 ft from private property.

4. Limit piling or decking live-cut conifer during wet season (generally December through June 30) to prevent infestation by bark beetles.

5. Locate burn piles at least 5 feet from the nearest live tree over 3 inches d.b.h to prevent scalding the stem or roots; limit pile size to no larger than 6 feet in diameter and height where they can damage live trees.

6. Contractor shall include smaller fuels (tops, slash, fine fuels) within each pile to facilitate burning whenever possible. Contractor shall not construct piles composed solely of medium-large tree bole pieces unless absolutely necessary due to the near-impossibility of igniting such piles.

In SMZs- Hand Pile Only

1. Tops and limbs shall be piled for burning within the unit. Vegetative debris larger than1 inch in diameter outside bark and 3 feet long resulting from Contractor operations is logging slash. Piles shall not exceed 6’ in diameter and 6’ in height. Piles should be constructed in a “teepee” shape in a manner that will facilitate Forest Service burning. A 3-foot fire-line to mineral soil shall be scraped around each pile.

Optional Item 5: Biomass Removal -Haul of Timber Subject to Agreement products Units: All Units (7743 Tons)

1. All timber products that are surplus or excess to the local markets are available for subsidized removal by rail.

2. Title Transfer of products will occur prior to debarking (when weight scaled) and 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 greater than 3 cm in width with the total surface area of an individual piece of bark less than 50 square cm and 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.

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. All timing restrictions and Limited Operating Periods (LOPs) are shown in Appendix B C6.315#.

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

3. When seasonal operating restrictions for active raptor nests 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.

4. If new nests are discovered.

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 6 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

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

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

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

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

SECTION IV – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

For All Work Items:

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

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Government Inspection Procedures - The COR, or a designated 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, the 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 – 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.

2. Government verification plots will consist of a series of 1/20th acre fixed area plots (that will have 4 quadrants of pass or fail) for inspecting along transects to record whether density, basal area, best tree selection, and other requirements are being met and to what extent.

a. Fixed radius plot inspection units: Mandatory Item 1, 1.1, and Optional Item 3. Refer to Appendix B;

C6.36# for inspection procedures for the cutting/designation of merchantable timber trees ONLY.

b. If multiple treatments overlap on a unit each treatment will be verified and paid separately. Plots within

DxP cutting units using fixed radius plots will be kept separate from fuels plots using fixed radius plots, and acceptance of work will be approved for each treatment. Inspection and acceptance for DxP cutting units will follow specifications in Appendix B; C6.36# Acceptance of Work.

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 7 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

3. Each plot will stand alone and not be reflected on the pass or fail of future plots/units.

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

5. 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.

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

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

Unit Acreage Minimum No. of Plots 1 – 9 1 plot per 2 acres 10 – 29 10 plots 30 – 59 1 plot per 4 acres 60 – 99 20 plots 100 plot per 5 acres

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

9. At each plot, the Government will examine the plot area and record findings.

10. Work Quality will be calculated as follows:

Number of Pass quadrants -------------------------------------------------- X 100 = % Work Quality Total number of quadrants

11. Work quality for DxP timber cutting will be determined by Appendix B C6.36# and calculated as follows:

Fixed Plot % = Calculation of #10 above.

Variable Radius % = 100 X (# Variable plots Passed/ Total Plots)

(Fixed Plot %) + (Variable Radius %) -------------------------------------------------- X 100 = % Work Quality

Inspection Procedures for Mechanical Piling Units

Within Mechanical Fuels Units Record plot acceptable or not acceptable on form R5-2400-181.

1. Units shall be inspected once completed or what can be completed in a 30-day period by the contractor, whichever comes first.

2. The following factors shall be inspection criteria:

a. Within fixed plots, ensure all dead trees >12 inches on the stump (>10 inches DBH) have been cut. And woody debris > 1” diameter outside bark and >3’ in length (resulting from contractor operations) have been piled.

b. All live trees in fuels units are undesignated unless marked with blue paint. Discovery by Forest Service of any undesignated tree cut by contractor will result in a failed plot, unless otherwise agreed upon.

c. Plots may be completed as logging progresses in any unit. Along with walk-through inspections.

d. For boundary plots, a 180-degree sweep is made from a line parallel to the tract boundary. If a sampling plot falls in a corner or where the boundary forms a right angle, then a 90-degree sweep is made starting on a line parallel to one side of the boundary and ending on a line parallel to the boundary line. Evaluation of plot elements for inspected units are as follows:

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 8 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

3. 90% of the overall plots inspected for fuels, specified in each unit, shall meet acceptable inspection criteria.

4. An individual Unit will not be accepted if a visual or plot inspection indicates more than 1/10 of an acre are incompletely cut, unless agreed upon in advance for resource protection or safety. Uncut locations will be revisited and cutting completed unless otherwise agreed.

Unsatisfactory Performance

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 1-5

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

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

1 Cut and Remove Included Timber Thin from Below (Plantations) MANDATORY ACRE 90%

1.1 Cut and Remove Included Timber

Rec Residence Unit 143 MANDATORY ACRE 90%

Cut and Remove Included Timber

Roadside Hazard Trees (Tenmile Road - 13S09)

MANDATORY ACRE 100%

2.1

Cut and Remove Included Timber Roadside Hazard Trees

(Huckleberry Road -13S02, 13S52, 13S49)

MANDATORY ACRE 100%

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 9 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

3 Cut and Remove Included Timber Thin from Below (Plantations) OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

4 Piling of Material in Units OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

Biomass Removal

Haul of Timber Subject to Agreement products

OPTIONAL ACRE 100%

SECTION V – PAYMENT METHODS

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

a. The contract is modified or,

b. The Government makes a determination to remeasure or,

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

Remeasurement

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

All requests for remeasurement must be made prior to payment for each completed unit. Remeasurement will be performed by the Government.

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

Acceptance and Payment

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

2. No allowance for variation or portion of a variation will be added which will create a percentage greater than 100 percent.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 1, 1.1, 3, and 4

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

2. For work quality measured to be 90% or higher with formal plots, Contractor will be paid 100% of their bid rate.

3. Contractor shall rework any areas or entire units at no additional cost to the Government when work is deemed to be unacceptable by visual or formal inspection.

4. If after rework, the work quality is measured with formal inspection to be between 90% and 100%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 90%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 2, 2.1, and 5

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 10 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

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

2. 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.

3. Contractor shall rework any areas or entire units at no additional cost to the Government when work is deemed to be unacceptable by visual or formal inspection.

4. If after rework, the work quality is measured with formal inspection to be between 95% and 100%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 95%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL): Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all specifications corresponding to the appropriate task(s). A minimum AQL is required for all service work – hand or mechanical. The minimum AQL will receive a satisfactory performance rating.

BIOMASS TREES: Any conifer material 2 feet in height to 4.9 inches DBH.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CUTTING UNIT: See Treatment Unit definition

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

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

DECKING: Stockpiling of trees in a designated area.

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

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

DIB: Diameter inside bark.

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

Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC Sequoia National Forest Page 11 of 11 Hume Lake Ranger District

AMENDMENT 002

Revised 02.06.2025

HEALTHY REGENERATION: Young, healthy, dwarf mistletoe free conifers, less than 4.9 inches in diameter, free of defect or characteristics listed in Section II, 2.2.2.

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

NON-SAWTIMBER TREE: For all conifer species, minimum diameter of 5 inches DBH to minimum diameter by species identified in Appendix B, Division A.

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

PAYMENT UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS