1240BK25Q0079 Attachment 2 Statement of Work.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Project: Detroit RD Third Year Reforestation Surveys

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

1.1 This is a stocking survey contract on the Willamette National Forest designed to obtain current and accurate information on the conifer stocking levels of stands that were planted following the 2020 wildfires on the Detroit Ranger District. The surveys will be completed to determine regeneration levels, available seed sources and additional treatment needs for meeting minimum stocking standards. Slopes may be in excess of 60%. Stands may have considerable amounts of dead slash, standing fire killed/weakened trees with overhead hazards, and live brush. Operations shall be confined to lands within the Willamette National Forest.

1.2 The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, equipment, transportation, and incidentals required to complete the project.

2.0 Background

After the 2020 fires, the Forest Service sought to maintain all forest lands within the National Forest systems in appropriate forest cover as directed by NFMA. As a minimum, reforestation examinations must take place after the first and third growing seasons following reforestation treatment. The intent of the examinations is to determine density, species composition, distribution of seedlings, mortality of planted seedlings, and causes of mortality.

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

3.1 Have GPS devices with a minimum 10-meter accuracy and ability to record data on excel spreadsheets and submit to the Government electronically or on a USB drive.

3.2 Conduct inspection of treatment units and record the results using procedures described herein. Inspections shall be maintained concurrent with contract work.

Completed inspection forms shall be made available to the Government within 24 hours of completion of each treatment unit and will remain part of the permanent contract file.

3.3 By submission of inspection forms to the Government, the Contractor is certifying that the unit is satisfactorily completed and that the inspection forms reflect the work accomplished.

3.4 Submit legible inspection forms. Illegible and incomplete forms shall be returned to the Contractor for correction and re-submission.

3.5 In the event the Contractor falsifies inspection results, as determined by the Contracting Officer, the Government may declare the Contractor to be in default of the contract. Additionally, the Government may refer such falsifications to the US Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution pursuant to 18 U.S.C.1001 (Falsification of Government Documents) or 18 U.S.C. 287 (Fraud).

Plot Information

3.6 Plot locations are predetermined by the Government and provided in a spreadsheet format or .gpx file. The Contractor shall navigate to the assigned latitude and longitude to establish plot center.

Tolerance from plot center will be +/- 10 meters.

3.7 No plot center shall be closer than 50 feet to the stand boundary or a discernable road. If the predetermined plot center falls closer than the required minimum feet to the stand boundary or discernable road, then the contractor should move the plot to create the required distance and the coordinates corrected for the actual location of the plot and recorded. The actual latitude and longitude of plot locations will be documented using a contractor supplied GPS unit capable of at least a 10-meter accuracy. The GPS must be set to NAD 1983 and use the decimal degree format (ddd.ddddd).

3.8 Plot centers shall be clearly and securely identified with a wire flag with the flag at least 6 inches above the ground or a nail with a 12” flagging attached. Flags used shall be pink or orange wire flags (15-inch minimum length) that are 3x3 inch or 4 x 5 inch. Three strips of flagging shall be no less than two feet above the ground in a triangular pattern around plot center for ease of plot center location. One of these flags shall notate north and therefore indicate the starting point for spinning that plot. The plot and stand number shall be marked on the wire flag with a permanent, black ink marking pen. Plot center is defined as that point where the wire enters the ground. This point, or plumb line extensions of this point, shall be used for determining distance of the plot radius.

3.9 All survey data shall be delivered to the Government as an electronic file in the provided

Excel spreadsheet format.

Survey Techniques

3.10 Fixed plot radius is 16.65 feet (1/50th of an acre), horizontal distance. Trees shall be tallied starting with a north azimuth (+/- 2 degrees) and turning in a clockwise direction.

3.11 The number of acceptable live conifer trees ≥0.5 feet in height shall be recorded for each the following species groups by the height/diameter classes:

Table 1 Species Groups

Species Group Species within Group Douglas-fir Douglas-fir Hemlocks Western hemlock, mountain hemlock Cedars Western red cedar, incense cedar, Alaska yellow cedar True Firs Noble fir, Pacific silver fir, grand fir, white fir, California red fir Pines Western white pine, sugar pine, ponderosa pine, white bark pine Other Conifers Pacific Yew, Englemann spruce

Table 2 Height/Diameter

Height/Diameter Class Definition A Live trees ≥0.5 feet and <1.0 feet tall B Live trees ≥1.0 feet and <2.0 feet tall C Live trees ≥2.0 feet and <4.5 feet tall D Live trees ≥4.5 feet tall and <5.0” DBH E Live trees ≥4.5 feet tall and >5.0” DBH

3.12 Acceptable live conifer is defined as a tree that is vigorous enough to retain the potential to grow and accumulate volume. These trees may have slow growth and/or poor crown condition, but are expected to survive. Trees expected to die with the next 10 years or are deteriorating more rapidly than growing will not be counted.

3.13 An estimate of the amount of the rock occupying the plot will be noted as a percentage.

3.14 The estimate of the amount of vegetation ≥4” tall (live plants not conifers) occupying the plot will be noted as a percentage.

3.15 An estimate of the average height of vegetation will be noted in feet and includes all vegetation (live plants not conifers) ≥4” tall.

3.16 The stand summary should include observations regarding overall health of acceptable live conifers, predominant competing vegetation names, and animal damage present.

4.0 Government Furnished

4.1 The Government shall furnish georeferenced PDF maps showing stand and plot locations, GIS files, a table of stand Information, plot latitudes and longitudes, and an Excel workbook with spreadsheet summary and data forms. A camping permit is required from the Detroit District Ranger before any camping during this contract facilitation. Vicinity and stand maps showing project location and other information regarding access will be provided.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

5.1 At each plot location, the Contractor shall examine the plot area and record their findings on the items listed below. The following measurements or data entries shall be recorded. Tolerances for all measurements and data entries and the error value for each entry outside of allowable tolerances are shown below.

Key Deliverables Table 3. Required survey forms and performance standards

Field Comments Tolerance Penalty Summary Form Standard Number Provided; four digits, lead with zeros if less than 4. Ex: 0035 +/-0 Not

Acceptable Acres Provided +/-0 Not

Acceptable Fire/Year Provided +/-0 Not

Acceptable Fixed Plot Size Provided +/-0 Not

Acceptable Survey Year Provided +/-0 Not

Acceptable Location Provided +/-0 Not

Acceptable Stand Summary General statement of natural regeneration stocking and competing vegetation +/-0 Not

Acceptable Surveyor +/-0 Not

Acceptable Date of Survey +/-0 Not

Acceptable Data Form Stand Number Provided; four digits, lead with zeros if less than 4. Ex: 0035 Not

Acceptable Plot number Provided Not

Acceptable Latitude Provided Error = 1 tree Longitude Provided Error = 1 tree

Species Group +/-0 Error = 1/2 tree

Tree Count Live trees within each height/DBH class of each species group

1-4 trees: +/-0 5-15 trees: +/- 16-25 trees:

+/-5 26-50 trees:

+/-10 50+ trees: +/-

Error = 1/2 tree

TPA Overall trees per acre per plot: Excel spreadsheet form calculates it automatically

+/-0 Error = 1/2 tree

Percent Rock Percent cover +/-10% Error = 1/4 tree Percent Vegetation Percent cover +/-10% Error = 1/4 tree

Average Vegetation Height

Height in Feet +/- 1 foot Error = 1/4 tree

5.2 Fatal Errors

The following errors are considered “fatal” errors and will result in the affected stand(s) being returned to the Contractor for rework.

a. Any plot where the plot center location cannot be located because of improper labeling of the plot center or missing GPS coordinates, or for other reasons attributable to noncompliance with the contract specifications.

b. Any form where the field’s penalty is labeled “not acceptable” in

Table 3 or information provided by the Government is not correctly transferred.

5.3 Calculation of Quality Percent

The total number of incorrect “tree penalties” divided by the total of number of trees tallied on the inspection x 100 will determine the percentage of unsatisfactory work. 100% minus percentage unsatisfactory work = % satisfactory work. Number Incorrect tree penalties/# tallied trees x 100 = % unsatisfactory work 100% - % unsatisfactory work = % satisfactory work

6.0 Fire Protection and Inspection

6.1 Fire Period and Closed Season

Specific fire prevention measures are listed below and shall be effective for the period April 1 to October 31 of each year. The Forest Service may change the dates of said period by advance written notice if justified by unusual weather or other conditions. Required tools and equipment shall be kept currently in serviceable condition and immediately available for initial attack on fires.

6.2 Fire Plan

Before starting any operations the project, the Contractor shall prepare a fire plan in cooperation with the Contracting Officer providing for the prevention and control of fires in the project area. The Contractor shall certify compliance with fire protection and suppression requirements before beginning operations during the fire period and closed season and shall update such certification when operations change.

6.3 Substitute Measures

The Contracting Officer may by written notice authorize substitute measures or equipment or may waive specific requirements during periods of low fire danger.

6.4 Emergency Measures

The Forest Service may require emergency measures, including the necessary shutting down of Operations in the project area during periods of fire emergency created by hazardous climatic conditions.

6.6 Fire Control

The Contractor shall, independently and in cooperation with the Forest Service, take all reasonable action to prevent and suppress fires in the project area. Independent initial action shall be prompt and shall include the use of all personnel and equipment available in the project area.

6.7 Compliance with State Forest Laws

Listing of specific fire precautionary measures herein is not intended to relieve the Contractor in any way from compliance with the State Fire Laws covering fire prevention and suppression equipment, applicable to operations under this contract, permit, or license.

6.8 Fire Precautions

Specific fire precautionary measures are as follows:

A. Smoking and Open Fires Smoking and fires shall be permitted only at the option of the Contractor.

The Contractor shall not allow open fires on the project area without advance permission in writing from Forest Service. Unless restricted by State Law or Federal Regulation, smoking shall be permitted only in such portions of the project area that are free of flammable material. Smokers shall sit down to smoke in such a position that any burning material will fall within a cleared area and shall extinguish and press out in mineral soil all burning material before leaving the cleared area.

B. Fire Extinguishers and Equipment on Trucks, Tractors, etc.

All power-driven equipment operated by the Contractor on National Forest land, except portable fire pumps, shall be equipped with one fire extinguisher having a UL rating of at least 5 BC, and one "D" handled or long handled round point shovel, size "0" or larger. In addition, each motor patrol, truck and passenger carrying vehicle shall be equipped with a double-bit axe or Pulaski, 3-1/2 pounds or larger. Equipment shall be kept in a serviceable condition and shall be readily available.

C. Extinguishers One refill for each type or one extra extinguisher sufficient to replace each size extinguisher required on equipment shall be safely stored in the fire toolbox or other agreed upon place on the project area that is protected and readily available.

D. Spark Arresters and Mufflers Each internal combustion engine shall be equipped with a spark arrester mee ng either (1) USDA Forest Service Standard 5100-1a, or (2) appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a) as now or hereafter amended unless it is:

(1) Equipped with a turbine-driven exhaust supercharger such as the turbocharger.

There shall be no exhaust bypass.

(2) A passenger-carrying vehicle or light truck, or medium truck up to 40,000 GVW, used on roads and equipped with a factory-designed muffler complete with baffles and an exhaust system in good working condition.

(3) A heavy-duty truck, such as a dump or log truck, or other vehicle used for commercial hauling, used only on roads and equipped with a factory designed muffler and with a vertical stack exhaust system extending above the cab. Exhaust equipment described in this subsection, including spark arresters and mufflers, shall be properly installed and constantly maintained in serviceable condition.

E. Emergency Fire Precautions The Contractor shall restrict operations in accordance with the Industrial Fire Precaution Level found at htp://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Documents/IFPLs.pdf. The Forest Service may change the Industrial Fire Precaution Levels to other values upon revision of the National Fire Danger Range System and may change the specific Industrial Fire Precaution Levels when such changes are necessary for the protection of the National Forest. When sent to the Contractor, the revised Industrial Fire Precaution Levels will supersede the levels found at the website stated above.

7.0 Travel

From Salem, Oregon to Detroit is a 52 miles one way commute. From Detroit to the survey units, driving miles varies depending on unit but could be as far as 15 miles.

http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Documents/IFPLs.pdf

8.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

N/A

9.0 Security Requirements

N/A

10.0 Data Rights

N/A

11.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards N/A