Amd0001.b.final_solicitation.doc

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED

PAGE

OF

Offeror to complete blocks 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

LOCAL TIME 4:30 PM

INFORMATION CALL

Annie Pollock, Administrative Trevor Lewis, Technical (541)969-3554 (541)403-0759 04/14/2022

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS

FORMCHECKBOX

UNRESTRICTED

SET-ASIDE. _100_% FOR

FORMCHECKBOX

SEE SCHEDULE

SMALL BUSINESS,

FORMCHECKBOX

HUBZONE SMALL BUSINESS

FORMCHECKBOX

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER

1550 DEWEY AVENUE, SUITE A

BAKER CITY, OR 97814

FORMCHECKBOX

8(A)

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

SOLE SOURCE

13b. RATING

RFQ

FORMCHECKBOX

IFB

FORMCHECKBOX

RFP

Same as Block 9

FACILITY CODE

Finance Center. https://www.ipp.gov/vendors/enrollmentvendors.

htm

FORMCHECKBOX

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER

IS CHECKED: SEE ADDENDA

19.

ITEM NO,

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

UMA/WAW Mechanical and Hand Thinning Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) – see attached Schedule of Items

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

FORMCHECKBOX

27a. solicitation incorporates by reference FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 and 52.212-5 and Addenda FORMCHECKBOX are FORMCHECKBOX are not attached.

FORMCHECKBOX

27b. contract/purchase order incorporates by reference FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 AND Addenda FORMCHECKBOX are FORMCHECKBOX are not attached.

28.

FORMCHECKBOX

FORMCHECKBOX

AWARD OF CONTRACT: YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5), DATED (BLOCK 30c) INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

Andrea Pollock

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

STANDARD FORM 1449 (Rev. 4/2002)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA ( FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

Detailed project information for each line item is included in the attachments. Please fill out the call order forms as well as the line items total amounts above.

NOTE: Contractors are encouraged to quote on just mechanical, just hand thinning, or both. Contractors will be chosen based on criteria as stated on Pages 41 through 42 of this solicitation package.

NOTE: The Periods of Performance for these call order awards are stated on the attached call order forms. The Period of Performance of the parent BPA is from date of award through May 30, 2027.

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 4/2002)

DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES IDENTIFIED IN BLOCK 20

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

The purpose of this solicitation is to secure a complete set of mechanical and hand thinning treatment services to accomplish fuels reduction or forest health improvement work to be performed within the boundaries of the Wallowa Whitman and Umatilla National Forests.

The work under this BPA will include services to mechanically alter ground and ladder fuels such as understory tree densities, harvest slash and down woody debris through the use of mechanical thinning, mastication (slash busting) and grapple piling of those materials.

The work under this BPA will also include plantation thinning, pullback, pre- and non-commercial thinning, roadside brushing, pruning, hand piling, grapple piling, burning of slash piles, mechanical thinning with mastication/slashbusting, and other activities that coincide with this type of work.

Deviations and additional specifications will be identified in individual Call Orders. All future call orders placed under a resultant contract will include Detailed Unit Information Sheets (DUIS) and any other documentation necessary to understand the desired outcome. The DUIS can be more restrictive than the terms of this contract and when this is the case, the DUIS will take precedence.

The intent of this contract is to secure services for those items mentioned above for a time period of up to 5 years at locations throughout the Wallowa Whitman and Umatilla National Forests. Call Orders for specific work items may be placed against this contract using the prices in the Schedule of Items through award of the initial call order(s). Future call orders will be competed unless an exemption applies.

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision , equipment, materials, transportation, supplies (unless specified elsewhere as Government-furnished), and incidentals required to accomplish specified work, including contractor quality control, in compliance with the terms, specifications, and provisions of the contract.

Project Location – Projects will occur on lands administered by the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Umatilla National Forest and any other National Forest within 250 miles of either forests’ boundaries. All future call orders placed under a resultant contract will include maps, DUIS, and any other documentation specific to that call order.

Units will range from sagebrush/grassland with juniper stands to mostly pure ponderosa pine stands to mixed conifer stands. Material to be treated is generally composed of timber litter, harvest and thinning slash and small trees in the understory. Fuel loading amounts vary but are estimated at 0 to 4 feet in depth and have an estimated total of 10-50 tons/acre with occasional units having higher fuel depths and heavier loadings (units normally average 15-30 tons/acre). Treatment units may be located on any aspect and range in elevation between 1500 and 7500 feet. Mechanical treatment unit slopes vary from 0 to 35%. Handwork treatment unit slopes may be greater than 35%.

Maps, with detailed access information to treatment units and Detailed Unit Information Sheets (DUIS) will be provided with the call orders. All treatment units will be marked with boundary tags with unit name and number and ribbon (color and/or identification markings will be designated in the Call Order).

Accessibility – Most work areas may be reached by standard two-wheel drive pickup during normal operating seasons. Some units however may require a four-wheel drive vehicle for access or may be behind closed or blocked roads. Occasionally, some units however may require alternate off-road capable vehicles such as ATVs, UTVs or foot travel. In each call order solicitation the units method for access will be noted in the DUIS or other supporting document.

Inaccessibility due to snow, fallen trees, road conditions, slides or washouts on roads may or may not be corrected at the option of the Government. If road is not accessible, the Government may, under the Changes Clause (1) provide an alternate access route; (2) delete the inaccessible unit(s) or (3) substitute similar unit(s) or (4) negotiate a cost adjustment for change in access.

Unit map road symbols are only to indicate access to units and not to suggest the roads are open within units or for any further travel.

Where roads are recently thawed, very wet or saturated due to runoff or unseasonable weather conditions, road conditions may dictate the need to delay use of some road segments in order to ensure no damage to the road, drainage structures or the adjacent environment.

The Contractor(s) may request entry on cooperative road closures or other road closures through the appropriate district office. Approval for use of closed roads in the project(s) area will be determined on a case by case basis by the District Ranger/Manager.

Boundaries – Boundaries will be marked with plastic flagging and boundary signs/tags. Detail Unit Information Sheet(s) will have specifics (flagging and boundary sign/tag color) for the unit boundaries, and sensitive areas. Sensitive areas shall be avoided by the Contractor unless directed otherwise by an authorized representative.

Definitions

(A) Average Tree Spacing – The distance in feet between leave trees as defined in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet and/or specifications provided with the issued call order.

(B) Bole Spacing – Spacing is measured between the boles of the trees. Detailed Unit Information sheet list the acceptable bole spacing.

(C) Bucking – The cutting of down trees or logs to a designated length.

(D) Burning Permit – A document that sets forth the conditions under which the Contractor may be allowed to burn.

(E) Burning Plan – A document that identifies the procedures and details that must be followed in order to accomplish pile burning. The burn plan consists of objectives, responsibilities, prescriptions, descriptions, maps, and sub-plans for firing, holding, mop-up, organization, communication, safety, public information, smoke management, contingency, and methods to minimize damage to residual trees.

(F) Calendar Days – Every day shown on the calendar, Sundays and holidays excluded.

(G) Category1, 2, and 3 Streams - Those perennial and intermittent streams which support anadromous fish and/or resident fish.

(H) Category 4 Streams - Those ephemeral streams with a definite channel which serve as a cold water source for Category 1, 2, and 3 streams.

(I) Co-dominant Trees – Trees with crowns forming the general level of the crown canopy and receiving full light from above, but comparatively little from the sides, usually with medium-sized crown more or less crowded on the sides.

(J) Compact – Fines evenly distributed in a dense or tightly-packed manner; fuels that are close together.

(K) Contracting Officer – The person executing this contract on behalf of the Government, including any duly appointed successor and authorized representative of the Contracting Officer acting within the limits of his authority.

(L) Contracting Officer’s Representative - The COR is the on-site Contract Administrator for the Contracting Officer. The duties and responsibilities of a COR are defined in the letter of designation issued by the Contracting Officer.

(M) Contract Item – A pay item designated on the schedule.

(N) Government Technical Monitor- Individual identified to inspect contractors work in the absence of the COR.

(O) Cut Trees – Trees within the minimum-maximum cut range as defined in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet that are not selected as a leave tree.

(P) DBH (Diameter Breast Height) – Outside diameter of the tree stem at a point 4-1/2 feet above uphill side of the tree.

(Q) Leave Tree – Those trees left uncut to meet the average spacing requirements and trees over the maximum cut size specified in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet.

(R) Stem Spacing – Average spacing is measured between the stems of the leave tree.

(S) Damage – Includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, rot, suppression, or machinery. Damage is recognized by such things as dead or broken tops or trunks; crooks, sweep, forks, lean, and scars; short or poorly foliated crowns, low crown ratio; galls, swellings, or parasitic plants.

(T) Dominant Trees – Trees with crowns extending above the general level of the crown canopy and receiving full light from above and partially from the side. They are larger than the average trees in the stand and have dense crowns, which are comparatively wide and long.

(U) Co-dominant Trees – Trees with crowns forming the general level of the crown canopy and receiving full light from above, but comparatively little from the sides, usually with medium-sized crown more or less crowded on the sides.

(V) Deficient Trees – Those trees cut, which should have been left to maintain average spacing requirements as, determined by inspection.

(W) Crown Spacing – Spacing is measured between the outer edges of the tree crowns. Detailed Unit Information Sheet lists the MINIMUM acceptable crown spacing.

(X) Excess Trees – Any remaining tree that should have been cut as determined by inspection.

(Y) Healthy Tree – A healthy tree is one that is undamaged due to defects or deformity resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, diseases, or equipment.

(Z) Genetic Tree – Phenotypically selected trees, which shall be protected from damage or destruction.

(AA) Limbing – The cutting of branches from the bole of a log or cut tree.

(AB) Lopping - Removing limbs from the boles of thinning slash, to decrease slash height.

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

(AD) Cull Trees -

(a) Any conifer up to 12" DBH having visible conks

(b) Western Juniper up to 20.9" dbh except those that are growing in scabby habitat or large trees that exhibit old growth characteristics such as broad, non-symmetric tops/spike tops, deeply furrowed bark, covered by a light green lichen, hollow, large, or twisted trunks, large, and/or twisted or dead lower branches.

(c) Grand fir up to 12"DBH unless needed in spacing requirements.

(c) Diseased trees: Western Gall Rust-branch cankers. Trees up to 12 DBH with one or more visible bole infections.

(d) Mistletoe infected trees up to 12" DBH with a mistletoe rating greater than 3 for Ponderosa and 2 for Douglas-fir and 1 for Lodgepole (figure attached separately- from Hawksworth 1977).

(e) Forked or defective top: Any tree that forks within 9ft from the ground up to 12" DBH shall be cut.

(f) Trees up to 12"dbh with crook, sweep or snowbend in the main bole which is less then 16ft from the ground and offsets the bole more than 6" from the longitudinal axis.

(g) Trees that are less than 12" dbh that have pitch tubes from bark beetles on more than 1/3 of the bole to a height of 12 feet from the ground.

(h) Fir trees that are less than 12" dbh that are severely defoliated by spruce bud worm or have dead tops from fir engraver beetles.

NOTE: If there are a significant number of trees in the stand that are affected by the above characteristics then choose the tree with the least amount of these characteristics as the leave tree. Since we are looking for a patchy, clumpy, variable density stand it may be okay to create small openings to remove groups of trees that show cull characteristics up to a maximum opening of 1/4 acre. Refer to Detailed Unit Information Sheets (DUIS), or Statement of Work (SOW) for more specifics regarding thinning and spacing.

(AE) Hang-up Trees – Any cut tree suspended more than 3 feet off the ground.

(AF) Healthy Tree – A healthy tree is one that is undamaged due to defects or deformity resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, diseases, or equipment.

(AG) Fuels Treatment – The act of manipulating Contractor created slash for the purpose of reducing or consolidating either the mass or volume of said slash.

(AH) Elk Calving Season – Period of time from May 1 to June 30.

(AI) Variable Density Thinning –Variable-density thinning consists of thinning a forest stand at different intensities in patches, mimicking the scale of patchiness found in old growth and creating a mosaic of overstory tree densities

(AJ) Variable Spacing – Using average spacing as a guideline only, in the process of leaving the most dominant and healthiest leave trees of the preferred species to reach a target tress per acre for a particular unit.

(AK) Walk-ins - Units which cannot be accessed within a ¼ mile from open forest roads in regards to foot travel for handwork. Walk-ins are listed in the Detailed Unit Information Sheets.

(AL) Over story Tree - Any trees that are greater than 5 inches DBH and are generally older and generally 20 feet taller than those smaller trees which make up the understory tree canopy.

(AM) Surface Fuels - All down woody debris and activity-generated slash lying on the ground suface. This does not include stumps or live vegetation.

(AN) Slash – The term “slash” means all vegetative material, including cull logs, tops, damaged or destroyed reproduction, saplings, or poles which were created or disturbed by any type of vegetative cutting, clearing construction, or cultural treatment. Any portions of trees or snags that were previously felled are considered to be part of the slash; also, woody material on the ground killed by insects, disease, or natural causes.

NOTE: Cull logs approximately 12 inches or greater in diameter at the small end and approximately 8 feet or longer in length shall not be treated as slash. It is intended that this size material be left untreated to meet wildlife objectives.

(AO) Thinning Slash – The term “thinning slash” means all vegetative material including stems, limbs, branches, damaged brush, damaged or destroyed reproduction, saplings, or poles, which were created or disturbed by the Contractors thinning.

(AP) Residual Slash – All remaining slash after Contractor-created slash has been removed or treated.

(AQ) Treatment Prescription – The written objectives, whereby vegetation within a Contract Unit is manipulated, resulting in the production of an ecologically healthy, diverse forested stand.

(AR) Fuels Treatment – The act of manipulating Contractor created slash for the purpose of reducing or consolidating either the mass or volume of said slash.

(AS) Genetic Tree – Phenotypically selected trees, which shall be protected from damage or destruction

(AT) Fines – Material less than ¼” diameter including needles.

(AU) Mastication - The thinning, chipping, shredding, and/or mulching of designated woody material to a desired piece size.

(AV) Noxious Weeds – Any exotic plant species established or that may be introduced in the State which may render the land unfit for agriculture, forestry, livestock, wildlife, or other beneficial uses and which is designated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture or the appropriate County Weed Board or by other appropriate agencies having jurisdiction.

(AW) Pile Perimeter—compact portion of a pile.

(AX) Stream Courses (Live and Intermittent) - A live stream course is defined as carrying water all year long.

Intermittent stream course is defined as having channel or channels showing recent scouring or washing, but may not flow water during the dry season.

(AY) Section – To buck down trees into section lengths specified in the DUIS (AZ) Spacing - The horizontal distance from the center of the trunk of one leave tree to the center of the trunk of the next nearest leave tree.

(BA) Pullback – Removal of surface fuels from the base of standing trees and snags for a designated distance and removal of ladder fuels by pruning for a designated height.

(BB) Pruning - severing the live limbs from the bole of a tree (unless clearing limit is allowed).

(BC) Road Prisms - Any road surface including, but not limited to: drainages, pullouts, fill slopes, and cut banks.

(BD) Mechanical Damage - Any damage in which the proximate cause is determined, by the CO, to originate by the use of chainsaws, hand tools, motorized equipment, or by the falling of one tree upon or against another.

(BE) Stocking Level Control – The cutting of trees in excess of those to be left for future management.

(BF) Riparian Zone – The zone that extends from the normal stream bank to the toe or break of the slope. The zone can be further identified by the presence of vegetation that requires free or unbound water to conditions that are more moist than normal in many stream valleys.

(BG) RHCA - Riparian Habitat Conservation Area (BH) Girdling – The removal of bark and cambium around the entire circumference of the tree and at least 3 inches wide and no deeper than ½ inch into the sapwood for the purpose of killing the tree, with no green limbs left below the peeled section of said tree.

(BI) Stream – Shall include yearlong and intermittent streams that ordinarily go dry at one or more times during the year.

(BJ) Wildlife Clumps – Areas designated in DUIS to be left untreated. These areas shall not be within 200 feet of open roads unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer or designated representative.

(BK) Wildlife Trees – Wildlife trees are marked with an orange band or orange ‘W’ and/or may be tagged with a wildlife tree tag.

(BL) Wildlife Log – A log with minimum measurements of 12 inches diameter and 8 feet long.

(BM) Wildfire – Any unplanned fire usually requiring suppression action, or a free burning fire unaffected by control measures.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Mechanical Thinning Performance Standards

The expected result of this project is to reduce, mechanically alter, or mechanically pile fuel loadings from; 1) slash created by commercial harvest and pre-commercially thinned units, 2) natural build up of woody debris on the forest floor, and 3) hazardous live fuels (ladder fuels). The end result of activities performed under this contract would produce areas where a wildfire (should it occur) may be contained quickly, provide greater safety for firefighters, and produce less damage to natural resources.

Material may be grapple piled to allow for future burning of that material. Slash busting/mastication may occur to lower depth of the fuel bed and alter fuel particle size to modify wildfire behavior and allow for a higher rate of natural decomposition. Mechanical thinning will reduce stand density and the likelihood of fire reaching the overstory canopy resulting in a crown fire.

Desired outcome will vary by unit. Specific information on requirements will be given in the DUIS or SOW attached to each call order submitted. The following information will be considered base level treatment that may change with each call order or by unit. For example, future call orders may change materials to be piled, residual fuel loadings after piling, desired piece size for mastification, and/or give more specific direction on work to accomplish. If different specifications are not given for a unit in the detailed information sheet attached to a call order, the specifications given below shall govern.

Grapple Piling

The contractor shall treat (pile) material from 1 to 9 inches in diameter and over 4’ in length. Treatment units shall be piled so that residual fuel loading (after piles are burnt) is a maximum of 7 - 9 tons per acre of material in the 1-to-9-inch diameter size classes. Some bucking of logs may be required.

Pile Requirements

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

Piles shall contain minimal amounts of soil or rocks.

10.

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

Mechanical Thinning with Slash Busting/Mastication

The contractor shall mechanically masticate and scatter both natural fuels and activity generated fuels so that the resulting fuel bed is no greater than 1 foot in depth. Down woody material (logs) greater than 12” in diameter at the small end shall be left untreated. The technical specifications are based on the overall composition and condition of the stand, and are intended to be guidelines for achieving a high quality final product in a professional manner. Contractor is expected to use silvicultural knowledge to identify and adjust to variations within the stand. The contractor shall avoid operations that would result in penetration of the duff layer and contributing to exposure of mineral soil.

The contractor shall treat 90% of all material within the unit that is within treatment size specifications. End result of treatment should result in the following piece sizes.

Required treated piece size of masticated material

Diameter of untreated material < 1” 2-4” 4-7” 7-12”

Maximum treated piece length 12” 18” 24” 30"

Specifications for end product desired may change dependent upon future call order specifications.

A.

Contractor shall always leave the following trees and disregard them for spacing purposes:

a.

Leave all trees exhibiting visible wildlife denning or nesting use. Should an active hawk, eagle or pilleated woodpecker nest be located, work shall be discontinued within 500 feet of the nest-tree until the CO has been notified and has authorized resumption of work.

b.

Leave all dead trees, except as indicated on the DUIS or SOW, unless these trees pose a safety hazard to workers in the area.

c.

Leave all trees with fencing attached.

d.

Leave all trees that are signed/marked as Wildlife Trees or Habitat.

B.

Contractor shall leave all Conifers that are larger than the maximum cut DBH of 9” or as specified on the DUIS or SOW and shall include these trees for spacing purposes.

C.

Contractor shall select additional leave-trees, from those live conifers at least 18” tall and up to maximum cut DBH, to achieve average spacing of 16’ x 16’ or as specified in the DUIS or SOW.

a.

Leave-trees shall be the healthiest, most vigourous, and best-formed trees of the preferred species in the stand, as evidenced by the tallest height, largest crowns and crown ratios, straightest stems, and the least amount of damage or disease.

b.

The leave-tree spacing is an average and shall be varied up to 25% (wider or tighter) to leave the most desirable trees. It is more important to leave the best trees, than to have uniform spacing. Averaged over the stand, leave tree spacing shall not be materially increased or decreased from what is specified in the DUIS or SOW.

c.

Leave trees shall be selected within the order of species preference as listed below in Section D. This order of preference only applies if the trees are free of damage or defect. In most cases tree vigor will help you determine which trees will best inhabit the site.

d.

Where undamaged trees are not available, select leave-trees with the least amount of damage.

e.

Species preference compensates somewhat for minor differences in size or quality. For example, a smaller but otherwise equal quality ponderosa pine which is 2/3 the height of Douglas-fir should be left rather than the Douglas-fir. A western larch with minor bole damage would be prefered over an undamaged grand fir.

D.

Selection of leave trees will be made in following priority order or as specified in the Detailed Unit Information Sheets:

Western White Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Western Larch, Douglas-fir, Engelmann Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, and White Fir/Grand fir/Subalpine Fir

E.

All Juniper trees under the maximum dbh shall be cut regardless of spacing, unless otherwise specified in the DUIS or SOW.

F.

Trees shall be completely severed from the stump. Trees shall be cut below the lowest live limb, except when prevented by obstacles. Stump height shall not exceed 8” above ground level except when prevented by natural obstacles; in which case stump height shall not exceed 4 inches above the natural obstacle.

Slash Busting/Mastication (as defined above) shall be performed concurrently with the mechanical thinning. The silvicultural prescription shall be applied by the operator while performing the work. Specifications for desired end product may change from the above dependent upon future call order specifications.

Thinning and Grapple Piling

The contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, inspections, and incidentals in order to accomplish stand density management through the process of cutting down trees by hand to meet the requirements on the Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla National Forests. The requirements for each unit are described in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet(s) that is included with every call order. Slash shall be treated so that any remaining slash meets the requirements as described in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet(s).

Thinning Performance Standards

The desired outcome is to attain the leave tree standards for each unit specified in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet at a 90 percent or higher quality. The level will be based on sampling of cut and leave tree selection. Spacing of leave trees may be varied up to 50 percent, unless otherwise specified in a DUIS, to leave the most desirable tree as long as the average post-thinning trees per acre given on the Detailed Unit Information Sheet is maintained. Leave trees shall be spaced as stated in the Detailed Unit Information sheet and generally be those of greatest vigor, tallest height, greatest diameter, largest crown, and straightest boles that are free of damage due to insects, disease, physical or mechanical causes. The highest priority species shall be chosen unless it has major damage or disease infection. In this case, a lower priority species without major damage or disease infection shall be selected.

Trees with mistletoe shall generally be discriminated against. If it is not possible to select trees without mistletoe infection, then the most mistletoe-free dominant and co-dominant trees shall be selected for leave trees. Trees with infections in the lower third of the crown are considered to be healthier than those with equal infestations in the upper third. Dwarf mistletoe-infected Douglas Fir shall not be selected for leave trees unless no other tree species is available. Douglas Fir without visible dwarf mistletoe infection will be assumed infected if they are within 30 feet of an infected taller Douglas Fir.

Contractor shall leave all shrubs, broadleaf trees, Pacific Yew, and mountain mahogany. Contractor shall leave all trees to which a fence is attached. Western Juniper shall be cut in accordance to applicable DUIS. Generally, the Contractor shall leave all single snags greater than 12” diameter or small clumps of smaller snags. If there is a ½ acre or greater patch of smaller diameter dead trees less than 12” DBH, they shall not be cut, unless otherwise stated in the DUIS.

All trees other than leave trees shall be cut below the lowest live limb, except when prevented by natural obstacles. All live limbs below the cutting point shall be removed. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump. Stump height of a tree shall not exceed height defined in the Detailed Unit Information sheet, or as directed by the COR, unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. All thinning slash shall be placed on or near the ground surface so that it will not lean against or be suspended by an uncut tree.

In units that are to be mechanically treated, Contractors shall identify wildlife clumps prior to thinning, giving priority to steep or rocky areas where machines are unable to operate.

Leave Tree Standards

(A) Leave trees will generally be those of tallest height, largest crown, straightest stems and largest boles that are free of damage due to insects, disease, physical, or mechanical causes.

Species – Unless otherwise specified in the DUIS or other supporting document, give leave tree preference in the following order:

i.

Western White Pine ii.

Western Larch iii.

Ponderosa Pine iv.

Douglas-fir v.

Engelmann Spruce vi.

Lodgepole Pine vii.

White Fir/Grand Fir/Subalpine Fir

(B) Species preference compensates somewhat for minor differences in size or quality. For example, a smaller, but otherwise equal quality Ponderosa Pine which is 2/3 the height of a Douglas-fir should be left rather than the Douglas-fir. A Western Larch with minor bole damage would be preferred over an undamaged Grand Fir.

(C) Leave Trees shall be selected by the Contractor as per Detailed Unit Information Sheet(s), and supplemental information provided from the District; however, the Government may mark individual leave trees or groups of leave trees prior to thinning.

(D) All trees regardless of diameter shall be considered in spacing, unless otherwise stated in the DUIS

(E) Contractor shall leave all shrubs, broad-leafed trees, wildlife trees and genetic trees.

(F) Contractor shall leave all trees within a specified distance of springs, bogs, seeps, or elk wallows as outlined in the Detail Unit Information Sheet(s).

(G) Leave all trees exhibiting visible wildlife dens or nesting use. Should an active hawk, eagle or pileated woodpecker nest be located, work shall be discontinued within 500 feet of the nest-tree until the CO has been notified and has authorized resumption of work.

(H) Contractor shall leave all bearing trees, land survey monument, wildlife tree or any other tree designated with an orange or yellow paint band and/or a metal sign

Felling Standards

(A) Felling shall be done primarily by manual methods (chainsaw) unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer.

(B) All dead and live trees up to the maximum DBH prescribed for that unit, regardless of species, shall be cut and removed from the road prism.

(C) Cut trees shall be felled away from boundaries, roads, road cut banks, telephone lines, established trails, stock driveways, fence lines, fire lines, mining ditch lines, abandoned historic railroad beds, established land corners, troughs, and other improvements. The Contractor shall pull any trees falling on such areas back.

(D) Trees shall be completely severed from the stump.

(E) Stump height of a tree shall not exceed height defined in the Detailed Unit Information sheet, or as directed by the COR, unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. All stumps shall be cut below the lowest live limb. All stumps shall be cut horizontally. Where natural obstacles impede cutting operations, trees may be severed up to 4 inches above the obstacle. However, all limbs remaining on the stump shall be severed as close to the bole as possible.

(F) No thinning slash shall be left outside the contract boundary, unless otherwise approved by the CO.

(G) Contractor shall remove and pull back all thinning slash from the following areas/items, but not limited to within five feet of leave tree boles, stream courses, historic mining ditch lines, roads and fences, stock ponds, stock troughs, stock driveways and trails to keep them usable and passable at all times. All required slash pull back shall be kept current with operations.

(H) All thinning slash shall be placed on or near the ground surface so that it will not lean against or be suspended by an uncut tree.

(I) Bucking or bucking with limbing shall be concurrent with the felling operation. Trees 16 feet and longer shall be bucked in half or as many times as needed so that pieces are not longer than 16 feet unless otherwise stated on the DUIS or other supporting document.

(J) The Ips Beetle timing restriction may be waived on selected units, providing that the Contractor ensures that created slash shall be treated to required fuel standards within a 30-day window of initial thinning activity.

Pile Requirements

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

Piles shall contain minimal amounts of soil or rocks.

10.

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

Equipment Specifications

All mechanical equipment proposed for use on this contract shall meet the following specifications:

1) Steel tracked machine. No machine shall have steel tracks over rubber tires.

2) Ground pressure not exceeding 7.5 pounds per square inch

3) Climbing/working ability up to 35 % slope

4) Capable of moving within stands without damaging leave trees

5) Effective arm reach of 20 feet minimum

6) Ability to masticate fuels to desired specifications

7) Ability to grapple pile fuels to desired specifications

8) Ability to perform work from existing skid trails or slash mats.

9) Operator cab, engine and arm shall be able to rotate 360 degrees

10) Non leaking fluid systems

Traffic Control

All equipment shall be contained within the project boundary. It is deemed unnecessary to provide traffic control in the project area. Signs warning of flying material shall be placed on adjacent roads while mastication machines are in operation.

Pile Burning Performance Standards

The objective is that burning is accomplished in such a manner that piles are completely consumed while not damaging leave trees. Low intensity, cool, smoldering ground fire is acceptable within the unit boundary unless otherwise specified in the DUIS or another supporting document.

Restrictions:

a) Burning operations shall be restricted to conditions acceptable to the Government. The Government will provide a prescribed burn plan for pile burning operations when conditions are suitable.

b) The Contractor shall notify the Government of burning operations 72 hours prior to commencement of the burning operations.

c) Machine piles shall be burnt between October 15th and December 31st.

If any burning activities escape outside of the unit, the Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer and start suppression efforts at no additional cost to the Government. The Contractor shall be responsible for this project area from ignition through December 31st of the year that ignition occurred or until the CO or designated representative determines in writing that weather precludes spread and no immediate future drying period is predicted, whichever is later.

Non-Specific Requirements for all Mechanical Services

1) Contractor shall exercise extreme care to prevent damage to leave-trees. Protect residual trees from damage and scarring as a result of contract operations

2) Equipment shall not operate on slopes greater than 35%.

3) Machine operations shall be conducted in such a manner as to minimize additional soil disturbance or compaction. Generally no more than 10% of the soil within the project area may not be disturbed. DUIS or SOW may alter this percentage depending upon unit requirements.

4) Equipment shall operate on existing skid trails or slash mats generated by harvesters to the extent practicable.

5) Refueling, maintenance, and repair shall be done at landings or forest roads where practicable.

6) Equipment shall not cross or operate in meadows, stream channels, Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCA’s), or other non-work areas without approval of the COR.

7) Mechanical equipment shall not operate within 100 feet of Class 4 Streams and no operations shall occur within 300 feet ft of Class 1, 2, or 3 Streams unless otherwise specified in the DUIS or SOW.

8) Contractor shall suspend work if soil moisture levels subsequently exceed standards and guides due to adverse or unusual weather conditions.

9) Retain (do not pile or masticate), if available on site, eight wildlife logs per acre (whole tree boles per acre), generally distributed throughout the area. Wildlife logs are defined as any down log greater than 12 inches in diameter on the small end and at least 8 feet in length.

10) Contractor shall exercise extreme care to prevent damage to all physical improvements (fences, telephone lines, established land corners, buildings, ditches, etc.) on the contract area. Contractor shall be liable for damage to physical improvements and shall make immediate repairs to damaged physical improvements.

11) Open roads shall be kept free of mastification or piling debris. This includes road surface, cut banks, roadside ditches, and culverts.

12) No piles shall be left within 10 feet of any physical improvement.

13) Contractor shall notify the COR when a unit is complete before moving out of the general area.

Hand Thinning Performance Standards

The desired outcome is to attain the leave tree standards for each unit specified in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet at a 90 percent or higher quality. The level will be based on sampling of cut and leave tree selection. Spacing of leave trees may be varied up to 50 percent, unless otherwise specified in a DUIS, to leave the most desirable tree as long as the average post-thinning trees per acre given on the Detailed Unit Information Sheet is maintained. Leave trees shall be spaced as stated in the Detailed Unit Information sheet and generally be those of greatest vigor, tallest height, greatest diameter, largest crown, and straightest boles that are free of damage due to insects, disease, physical or mechanical causes. The highest priority species shall be chosen unless it has major damage or disease infection. In this case, a lower priority species without major damage or disease infection shall be selected.

Trees with mistletoe shall generally be discriminated against. If it is not possible to select trees without mistletoe infection, then the most mistletoe-free dominant and co-dominant trees shall be selected for leave trees. Trees with infections in the lower third of the crown are considered to be healthier than those with equal infestations in the upper third. Dwarf mistletoe-infected Douglas Fir shall not be selected for leave trees unless no other tree species is available. Douglas Fir without visible dwarf mistletoe infection will be assumed infected if they are within 30 feet of an infected taller Douglas Fir.

Contractor shall leave all shrubs, broadleaf trees, Pacific Yew, and mountain mahogany. Contractor shall leave all trees to which a fence is attached. Western Juniper shall be cut in accordance to applicable DUIS. Generally the Contractor shall leave all single snags greater than 12” diameter or small clumps of smaller snags. If there is a ½ acre or greater patch of smaller diameter dead trees less than 12” DBH, they shall not be cut, unless otherwise stated in the DUIS.

All trees other than leave trees shall be cut below the lowest live limb, except when prevented by natural obstacles. All live limbs below the cutting point shall be removed. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump. Stump height of a tree shall not exceed height defined in the Detailed Unit Information sheet, or as directed by the COR, unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. All thinning slash shall be placed on or near the ground surface so that it will not lean against or be suspended by an uncut tree.

In units that are to be mechanically treated, Contractors shall identify wildlife clumps prior to thinning, giving priority to steep or rocky areas where machines are unable to operate.

Leave Tree Standards

(A) Leave trees will generally be those of tallest height, largest crown, straightest stems and largest boles that are free of damage due to insects, disease, physical, or mechanical causes.

Species – Unless otherwise specified in the DUIS or other supporting document, give leave tree preference in the following order:

i.

Western White Pine ii.

Western Larch iii.

Ponderosa Pine iv.

Douglas-fir v.

Engleman Spruce vi.

Lodgepole Pine vii.

White Fir/Grand Fir/Subalpine Fir

(B) Species preference compensates somewhat for minor differences in size or quality. For example, a smaller, but otherwise equal quality Ponderosa Pine which is 2/3 the height of a Douglas-fir should be left rather than the Douglas-fir. A Western Larch with minor bole damage would be preferred over an undamaged Grand Fir.

(C) Leave Trees shall be selected by the Contractor as per Detailed Unit Information Sheet(s), and supplemental information provided from the District; however, the Government may mark individual leave trees or groups of leave trees prior to thinning.

(D) All trees regardless of diameter shall be considered in spacing, unless otherwise stated in the DUIS

(E) Contractor shall leave all shrubs, broad-leafed trees, wildlife trees and genetic trees.

(F) Contractor shall leave all dead trees of any size or species, unless otherwise specified in the DUIS

(G) Contractor shall leave all trees within a specified distance of springs, bogs, seeps, or elk wallows as outlined in the Detail Unit Information Sheet(s).

(H) Leave all trees exhibiting visible wildlife dens or nesting use. Should an active hawk, eagle or pileated woodpecker nest be located, work shall be discontinued within 500 feet of the nest-tree until the CO has been notified and has authorized resumption of work.

(I) Contractor shall leave all bearing trees, land survey monument, wildlife tree or any other tree designated with an orange or yellow paint band and/or a metal sign

Felling Standards

(A) Felling shall be done primarily by manual methods (chainsaw) unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer.

(B) All dead and live trees up to the maximum DBH prescribed for that unit, regardless of species, shall be cut and removed from the road prism.

(C) Cut trees shall be felled away from boundaries, roads, road cut banks, telephone lines, established trails, stock driveways, fence lines, fire lines, mining ditch lines, abandoned historic railroad beds, established land corners, troughs, and other improvements. The Contractor shall pull any trees falling on such areas back.

(D) Trees shall be completely severed from the stump.

(E) Stump height of a tree shall not exceed height defined in the Detailed Unit Information sheet, or as directed by the COR, unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. All stumps shall be cut below the lowest live limb. All stumps shall be cut horizontally. Where natural obstacles impede cutting operations, trees may be severed up to 4 inches above the obstacle. However, all limbs remaining on the stump shall be severed as close to the bole as possible.

(F) No thinning slash shall be left outside the contract boundary, unless otherwise approved by the CO.

(G) Contractor shall remove and pull back all thinning slash from the following areas/items, but not limited to: within five feet of leave tree boles, stream courses, historic mining ditch lines, roads and fences, stock ponds, stock troughs, stock driveways and trails to keep them usable and passable at all times. All required slash pull back shall be kept current with operations.

(H) All thinning slash shall be placed on or near the ground surface so that it will not lean against or be suspended by an uncut tree.

(I) Bucking or bucking with limbing shall be concurrent with the felling operation. Trees 16 feet and longer shall be bucked in half or as many times as needed so that pieces are not longer than 16 feet unless otherwise stated on the DUIS or other supporting document.

(J) Tree’s within a specified distance from a known selected superior tree (TI tree) as stated in the DUIS, shall be removed up to the maximum cut DBH, unless otherwise stated in the DUIS.

(K) The Ips Beetle timing restriction may be waived on selected units, providing that the Contractor ensures that created slash shall be treated to required fuel standards within a 30-day window of initial thinning activity.

Hand Piling and Slash Treatment Performance Standards

All cut trees shall be moved so no part is within five (5) feet of any part of a live leave tree and lopped to a depth of 18 inches or less, unless otherwise stated in the DUIS. If piling is needed, piles shall be no closer than 10 feet, from any part of a live tree, unless otherwise stated in the DUIS or approved by COR. Whenever possible piles shall be constructed in created or natural openings. This may entail physically moving slash up to 50 feet. When no opening exists a leave tree may have to be felled to create an opening, felling of leave trees shall be approved in advance by the Government.

All surface fuels that are one to nine inches (1-9”) in diameter shall be evenly distributed across the units to a maximum…