R4_Specifications_2025_Final.pdf

Ver. 1/24

REGION 4 – INTERMOUNTAIN REGION

BOUNDARY MANAGEMENT

CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

This Region 4 Boundary Management Contract Specifications document contains the specifications and exhibits that will apply to all Forest Service Region 4 Boundary Management and Cadastral Survey Projects.

Please retain this booklet in a permanent file.

All Region 4 Boundary Management, Cadastral and Land Survey solicitations will include the enclosed material, as supplemented for project-specific specifications and exhibits which will be furnished with each particular project.

Contractor: TBD Contract Number: TBD Project: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity A&E Services for

Boundary, Cadastral, and Land Surveying Services Location: Region 4

Awarding Office: USDA Forest Service, Business Operations, Procurement and Property Services, Intermountain Zone

Intermountain Region 4

Table of Contents Ver. 1/24 Table of Exhibits

REGION 4 BOUNDARY MANAGEMENT CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

C-1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT

C-2 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

C-3 LOCATION

DEFINITIONS

C-4 MATERIALS

A. Government Furnished Property B. Contractor Furnished Materials C. Materials Specifications

C-5 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – CADASTRAL SURVEYS

.100 RESEARCH

.110 Record Research

.120 Adjoiner Notification

.130 Conflicts, Boundary and Title Disputes

.140 Technical Advice

.200 CORNER SEARCH, EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION

.210 Field Search

.220 Corner Documentation

.230 Corner Reporting

.300 CONTROL SURVEY, FIELD DATA COLLECTION AND COMPUTATIONS

.310 Survey Methods and Procedures

.320 Survey Standard

.330 Field Notes

.340 Survey Control Diagram and Computations

.400 CORNER MONUMENTATION, PERPETUATION, AND ACCESSORIES

.410 Monumentation

.420 Bearing Trees and Other Accessories

.430 Corner Recordation

.500 BOUNDARY LINE LOCATION, MARKING AND POSTING

.510 Locating Boundary Lines

.520 Marking the Property Line

.530 Posting the Property Line

.540 Obliteration of Previously Posted Lines

.600 PLATS

.610 Content

.620 Review

.630 Geodetic Position

.640 Filing or Recording of Plats

.650 Digital Copy of Plat

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – MAINTENANCE

.700 CORNER MAINTENANCE

.710 Monument Maintenance

.720 Bearing Trees and Accessories Maintenance

.730 Selection, Measurements, Blazing, Painting, Scribing and Signing

.740 Corner Recordation

.750 Corner Coordinates

.800 BOUNDARY LINE MAINTENANCE

.810 Scope of Boundary Maintenance

.820 Boundary Posts and Signs

.830 Erroneously Located Sign Posts

.840 Encroachments

.850 Gaps in Sign Posting

.860 Boundary Line Resurvey

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – MISCELLANEOUS

.900 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICE

.910 Surveyor’s Report

.920 Encroachment Diagram

.930 Photos

.940 Project Documentation

.950 Quality Control, Inspection & Acceptance

.960 Other Surveys

.970 Special Designated Area Boundary Surveys

SECTION J - EXHIBITS

J-2 TABLE OF EXHIBITS FOR CADASTRAL SURVEYS

EXHIBIT .120 - EXAMPLE LETTER TO ADJOINERS & REPLY CARD

EXHIBIT .130 - EXAMPLE CONFLICT REPORT/TRESPASS DIAGRAM

EXHIBIT .220 - EXAMPLE FS CORNER CARD (Form 7100-52)

EXHIBIT .411 - PLACEMENT OF CORNER MONUMENTS

EXHIBIT .412 - TYPICAL PLACEMENT OF REFERENCE MONUMENTS

EXHIBIT .423 - BEARING TREES

EXHIBIT .424 - SIGNS

EXHIBIT .430 - EXAMPLE IDAHO CORNER FORM

EXHIBIT .521 - SIGN PLACEMENT

EXHIBIT .522 - MARKING AND POSTING THE BOUNDARY LINE

EXHIBIT .600 - EXAMPLE PLAT

EXHIBIT .620 - CADASTRAL PLAT CHECKLIST

EXHIBIT .910 - EXAMPLE SURVEYOR’S REPORT

EXHIBIT .962 - RIGHT-OF-WAY SURVEY CHECKLIST

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

C-1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The intent of this contract is to obtain the land surveying services listed in the schedule of items in accordance with the specifications and exhibits. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, transportation, equipment, supplies and materials, except the Government furnished property specified, necessary to complete the work as specified.

All contracted work shall be performed by, or under the direct supervision of, a person licensed to practice surveying in the State(s) where the project is located and be in good standing with the respective State(s) license governing board. The survey shall comply with all applicable State and Local laws and regulations, as well as all applicable portions of the appropriate GLO/BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions and Specifications in this document providing they are not less than these requirements set forth herein.

C-2 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

Projects consist of performing all work necessary to properly subdivide and delineate Government Lands as specified in a task order. Such items as corner search and evaluation, control survey and monumentation, property line posting, creation of a Plat, and reports are integral to this project.

The work to be performed under this contract may include, but is not limited to, boundary surveys, retracement and/or dependent resurveys of PLSS rectangular surveys, Homestead Entry surveys, Mineral Surveys, marking and posting of National Forest and Grassland Property Boundaries, Land Claim Surveys, Road/Trail Rights-of-Way surveys, Small Tracts Act and Townsite Act surveys, Special Designated Area surveys, topographic surveys, remote sensing (aerial photogrammetry, bathymetry, etc.), computer aided drafting, miscellaneous services, as well as any other work incidental to the survey profession. Work may also include the maintenance of previously surveyed, marked & posted property lines and corners.

Individual projects will be described in a Scope of Work (or Scope of Contract) for each task order including any supplemental specifications to these specifications and contract Time. Each task order will contain:

Exhibit 1 - Vicinity Map Exhibit 2 - Corner and Ownership Status Exhibit 3 - Work to be Accomplished, as well as any other clarifying exhibits as necessary.

A single exhibit may encompass all the information detailed in Exhibits 1-3.

C-3 LOCATION

The contract area includes all portions of National Forest and Grasslands in Region 4: Southern Idaho, Western Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and a portion of East-Central California. Task orders will be issued when the Government determines its specific surveying needs. Supplemental specifications and exhibits for individual project work sites will be provided with the task orders issued by the Government.

DEFINITIONS

Administrative Survey: The line separating areas of differing management objectives, such as Wilderness, Research Areas, Administrative Sites, etc., from areas of general multiple use management.

BLM: Bureau of Land Management.

BLM Manuals: A reference to BLM publications, mainly the appropriate year of the “2009 Manual of Surveying Instruction”. Also included are BLM reference pamphlets but not limited to, “Restoration of Lost or Obliterated Corners and Subdivision of Sections”, “Corner Identification and Markings”, “Durability of Bearing Trees”, etc.

BT: Bearing Tree.

Boundary Line: The line separating lands of the Government from its adjoiners.

CDA: Congressionally Designated Area.

CO: The Contracting Officer has authority to enter into, administer, or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings.

COR: The Contracting Officer’s Representative is a government official appointed in writing by the contracting officer who provides technical direction, clarification, and guidance with respect to the contract specifications and statement of work.

Contractor: The firm selected by the proponent with the approval of the Forest Service shall hereinafter in these specifications be referred to as the “Contractor.”

Control Survey: A survey which provides the horizontal or vertical position data for the support and control of subordinate boundary surveys.

Coordinate file: A comma-separated-values file consisting of a data table with the minimum of Point Name, Northing, Easting, Elevation, and Description information for each.

DBH: Diameter at breast height, typically measured 4.5 feet above ground on the side of tree facing monument.

Encroachments: Improvements occupied or used on National Forest System land under claim of title or color of title. (36 CFR 254.31)

GLO: General Land Office, precursor to the BLM.

GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System, including Global Positioning System (GPS - USA) and; GLONASS (Russia), BeiDou (China), Galileo (Europe), QZSS (Japan), IRNSS (India), and any new constellations developed.

Inspector: A person designated by the CO or COR to inspect work performed by the Contractor.

Intervisible Point: A point from which an observer standing on the ground at a post or sign can see the next post or sign on the projected line ahead AND the previous post or sign on the line behind.

PLSS: Public Land Survey System as defined by the BLM.

https://www.blm.gov/programs/lands-and-realty/cadastral-survey/cadastral-tools https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/Manual_Of_Surveying_Instructions_2009.pdf https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/Manual_Of_Surveying_Instructions_2009.pdf https://www.ntc.blm.gov/krc/system/files?file=legacy/uploads/14406/Corner_Identification_Markings.pdf https://www.ntc.blm.gov/krc/system/files?file=legacy/uploads/14407/Durability_of_Bearing_Tree.pdf

Plat: The term “plat” as used in these specifications and exhibits is defined as a Certificate of Survey, Record of Survey, Parcel Map or Subdivision Map in accordance with applicable State law and local ordinances.

ROW: Right of Way.

Record Data: Prior survey data, including but not limited too; deeds, record of surveys, corner cards, parcel maps, lot line adjustments, subdivisions maps, easements, judgements, field verified evidence, unrecorded maps, parol evidence, exhibits, BLM/GLO furnished data, FS furnished data, etc.

Tie Line: A survey connection from a point or corner on a boundary line to a point whose position is required, or a connection to close a survey on a previously determined point.

Trespass: To go on another's land or property unlawfully; an illegal act causing injury to the person or to the relative rights of another's property; also, legal action for damages resulting from trespass (FSH 5509.11, Zero Code).

Trespass includes constructing, placing, or maintaining any kind of road, trail, structure, fence, enclosure, communication equipment, significant surface disturbance, or other improvement on National Forest System lands or facilities without a special-use authorization, contract, or approved operating plan when such authorization is required (36 CFR 261.10).

C-4 MATERIALS

A. Government Furnished Property

All Government-furnished property will be provided as needed at a location specified by the CO or applicable

COR.

The Government shall furnish the following listed items:

1. All signs required by the Specifications (see Exhibit .424).

a. 54-2 Property Boundary Signs or Decal Stickers

b. 54-3 Bearing Tree Signs

c. 54-6 Location Tags

d. 54-9 Land Survey Monument Signs or Decal Stickers

2. Monuments.

a. Iron, Steel, or aluminum pipes with brass, steel, or aluminum caps.

b. Brass or aluminum tablets suitable for placement in concrete or stone.

c. Aluminum caps for use with 5/8” ‘rebar’ or other drive type monuments.

3. Metal delineator posts or red steel angle iron posts, or fiberglass marker posts, as provided.

4. Underground magnetic markers.

5. Tree marking paint.

6. Forest Service supplied data including but not limited to corner cards, and field notes and plats from prior surveys. This data may not be accurate or complete and shall be considered only as informational. The Contractor shall be responsible for its acceptability.

All Government-furnished property will be provided as needed at a location specified by the CO or the COR.

The Contractor shall give a minimum of 48 hours prior notice to the materials delivery. Deliveries will be made only during the Government’s normal business hours.

B. Contractor Furnished Materials

The Contractor shall furnish all materials required to accomplish the work, except for the Government-furnished materials (Refer to Section C-4 A.).

At the termination of the contract, all items branded Forest Service (signs, monuments, etc.) and posts shall be returned to the COR.

C. Materials Specifications

1. 16D, 3 inches or longer aluminum nails shall be used for fastening signs to trees and shall be of such length/size as necessary to penetrate firmly into the tree’s sapwood/heartwood layer leaving a 1/2" of nail length exposed to allow for tree growth (Exhibit .423). Aluminum nails must be used as a safety factor in case the tree is ever taken to a sawmill or cut with a chainsaw.

2. Control traverse points – 6 inch 60D nail or larger steel spike.

3. Guard stake lath – 4 feet x 3/8 inch x 1-1/2 inches or larger if needed.

4. Flagging – Pink or as specified.

C-5 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – CADASTRAL SURVEYS

All surveys necessary to define National Forest boundaries shall comply with applicable State laws and regulations.

Where State laws and regulations are less restrictive than the specifications contained herein, these specifications shall apply. In Public Land Survey System (PLSS) States, the principles and practices as set forth in the BLM Manuals, as well as applicable State laws, shall be followed. Where these specifications differ from the Manuals, these specifications shall apply.

.100 RESEARCH

.110 Record Research

It is the Contractor's responsibility to research the real property records of public agencies to obtain the title and survey history of the subject property and relevant adjoining properties. The Forest Service shall provide the Contractor access to National Forest System landownership status, corner search and survey files at the time of award.

Errors & significant inaccuracies pertaining to title and boundary found in Government-supplied records shall promptly be reported to the COR. However, any information given to the Contractor by the Government shall be construed as being for informational purpose only, and the sole responsibility for its accuracy, completeness, and/or verification rests with the Contractor.

.120 Adjoiner Notification

Prior to the start of field work, the Contractor shall contact affected adjoiners of Government land by mail to secure permission to access/enter their lands to survey, mark accessories, and mark and post boundary lines.

Some State Laws may require certain statements to be included in these contact letters. The Contractor shall furnish the Government documentation of such contacts listed in the following categories: Adjoiners who have granted permission; those who have granted conditional permission, specifying conditions or restrictions; those who have denied permission; and those who are non- responsive within 14 calendar days of attempted contact.

The format of a written request and reply card shall be similar to that shown in Exhibit .120.

Should permission for access be denied, the Contractor shall notify the COR immediately and relay such information giving names, dates, and text of conversations which have taken place between the landowner(s) and the Contractor. For those areas of the boundary line where permission has been denied, the Government will then notify the Contractor as to what portions of the work will not be performed along those lines.

.130 Conflicts, Boundary and Title Disputes

The Government will inform the Contractor of any known or suspected conflicts of survey, possession, occupation, or title along the boundary lines to be surveyed. Any conflicts discovered by the Contractor during the course of the project shall be reported to the COR as soon as practical, followed within five (5) days after verification with written documentation in a format like that in Exhibit .130, see .920 Encroachment Diagram.

The Contractor is not required to resolve title or possession conflicts but is required to report facts and any professional opinions that may be relative to the conflict. For all surveys, the Contractor shall be prepared to testify in court, if called upon by the U.S. Attorney. In consideration of the performance of such services, payment will be made by the Department of Justice in accordance with its prescribed regulations and procedures.

An equitable adjustment of contract performance time or contract price may be made for any addition or deletion of survey work authorized by the Contracting Officer resulting from a conflict. If the conflict is resolved within the contract time limits, the Contractor shall mark the disputed boundary line and corners as specified.

.140 Technical Advice

All requests submitted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for technical advice on survey matters shall be in written form. The request shall be sent directly to the BLM with copies sent to the COR. The letter shall include the following:

1. Contractor name.

2. Name of COR.

3. cc's indicating copies have been sent to the CO and COR.

The request shall be routed through the COR if the request involves a dispute or conflict between private surveyors. A request for technical advice shall be sent by the COR in cases of un-resolvable differences of opinion between the COR and Contractor regarding survey matters incident to the project. The BLM’s formal response shall be adhered to by the Contractor.

.200 CORNER SEARCH, EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION

The Contractor shall make an investigation of all corners as indicated on Exhibit 3. Every corner used as a part of the survey must be independently verified by or under the direct supervision of the licensed land surveyor in responsible charge as to authenticity of corner evidence and integrity of the monumented position.

.210 Field Search

The Contractor shall investigate and search for monuments and other physical evidence as indicated on Exhibit 3 and included in Section B – SERVICES AND PRICES. An extensive on-the-ground search of the project area shall be conducted to obtain evidence left by previous surveys, including original monuments and accessories, such as bearing trees, line trees, and reference objects. When searching and evaluating the physical evidence of the original corner monument and accessories, the utmost professional care shall be taken to protect and preserve the evidence.

One of three difficulty levels is identified for each corner, or the whole project:

Level l - Difficult Applies to recovery of corners originally set with stone or wood post monuments, or later surveys with extensive obliteration as determined by the COR.

Level 2 - Normal Applies to brass-cap era surveys.

Level 3 - Easy As determined by the COR, corner search may not be applicable if the survey is a recent (10 years or less) aluminum/brass cap survey or if corners have been recovered by the USDA Forest Service. Corner documentation is still required.

.220 Corner Documentation

When a corner has been found, monumented, or determined to be lost or obliterated, the Contractor shall state this in the field book, the prescribed State/county corner record form (see Exhibit .430), and/or a Record of Survey, as directed by the COR. The State/county corner record form shall be used following applicable State rules and regulations, or form FS-7100-52 (Exhibit .220) for Utah or other States without a prescribed form. In the recorded document the Contractor shall address each corner monument or accessory of prior record and explain the rationale used to harmonize conflicting evidence, if any, in sufficient detail to allow another competent surveyor to examine and accept the solution without consulting additional records.

All PLSS corners noted in the field notes and documents shall be referred to and numbered or named by BLM’s Geographic Coordinate Data Base (GCDB) System numbering scheme.

.230 Corner Reporting

All corner records shall be furnished to the COR and be submitted in the manner as required by the State in which the survey is performed. In addition, a CSV file containing corner State Plane coordinates shall be provided to the COR.

.300 CONTROL SURVEY, FIELD DATA COLLECTION AND COMPUTATIONS

.310 Survey Methods and Procedures

The Contractor shall select the methods and instruments to be used for field data collection and boundary location. Methods such as photogrammetry, traverse, triangulation, GPS/GNSS systems may be used. The system selected shall meet the positional tolerance requirements described in the specifications.

.311 The Position of Each Corner

The position of each corner established or tied shall be determined by a closed traverse loop, redundant radial survey ties and/or point positioning procedure designed to meet the standards in .320 Survey Standard.

.312 Determination of Bearing

All bearings shall be referenced to a published coordinate system and datum, with the method of determination noted in the field notes and plat. A Record Basis of Bearing is acceptable when referenced to an official Government or Private survey of Public Record. A GPS Basis of Bearing shall be established as described in .321 Global Navigation Satellite System. If compass bearings are used for corner accessories, the Contractor shall include the declination used and method of determination. Use of assumed bearings is not acceptable.

.313 Determination of Distance

All distance measuring equipment used in conjunction with this contract shall be calibrated annually or per manufacturers recommendation (whichever is more frequent) and results given to the COR upon request.

.314 Marking the Survey Point

Survey control points shall be marked with the minimum of a 60D nail or larger firmly anchored and identified with appropriate point number written on attached flagging, as a minimum. When conditions warrant, a guard stake or lath shall be placed alongside the point with identification.

.315 Clearing of Survey Lines

No trees larger than 6 inches DBH shall be cleared along survey control ties (not along boundary) without the permission from the CO/COR. Clearing shall not be performed on private property without prior permission of the landowner. Under no circumstance shall fruit, shade or ornamental trees, shrubs, or hedges in residential or developed areas be blazed, marked, or severed. No cut trees shall be left leaning against or hanging in standing trees.

.316 Boundary Line Survey Ties

The Contractor shall locate and tie the following items to the control survey system:

1. All corner monuments including accessories, cutting boundary monuments and other evidence indicating a previous survey, whether recorded or not, along the boundary.

2. Visible signs of possession or encroachment such as structural improvements, limits of timber cutting, mining operations, fences, plowed fields, etc.

3. Major topographic or cultural features such as highways, roads, railroads, trails, and rivers crossing the boundary line.

All items located will be shown on either; the survey map exhibit, plat, or trespass/encroachment diagram.

The document showing these items will be approved by the COR and may be in any combination of the deliverable documents.

.320 Survey Standard

The positional accuracy as published by the National Geodetic Society (NGS) is the radius of a circle or an ellipse of uncertainty, such that the true or theoretical location of the point falls within that circle or ellipse 95% of the time (1.96σ).

• Project control and/or control for new monumentation shall be no less than Third-Order, Class I (1:10,000) with a linear error of closure not exceeding 2.0 feet before angular adjustment.

• Surveys for marking and posting shall be no less than Third-Order, Class II (1:5,000).

A closure or processing report may be requested by the COR at any time and shall be supplied by the Contractor.

.321 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Geodetic/survey grade GNSS equipment and methods may be utilized for measurements when it saves cost and/or time compared to conventional methods and the forest tree canopy is such to allow its use. Using multiple satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or BeiDou) capable equipment may significantly increase satellite density, accuracy, and production in heavy vegetation. At least one control corner for projects less than 1.5 miles in width and two minimum for larger projects shall be directly geo-referenced for entry into the corporate GIS database.

If GNSS is used, the surveyor must follow the “Standards for Positional Accuracy for Cadastral Surveys Conducted Using GNSS” AND “Guidelines for the Use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in Cadastral Surveys” prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service and the United States Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management.

Local Accuracy Standards per Guidelines shall be used:

Application Semi-major axis 95 percent error ellipse Cadastral Project Control Less than 0.025 (m) Cadastral Corner Measurements Less than 0.050 (m)

Caution: The use of GPS does not relieve the Contractor from the responsibility to search and evaluate all evidence of original corners and/or subsequent surveys along a surveyed line; to tie evidence of encroachment and occupation onto Government or adjacent land; and to set sign posts as outlined in Exhibit .521.

.330 Field Notes

Field notes shall be recorded in writing, in a standard waterproof field book, and/or by electronic data collectors.

The method used shall provide a complete and accurate record of all field work.

.331 Field Books

Errors shall be lined out and not erased. Legible photocopies (may be in digital format) of the original field books shall be furnished to the Government upon completion of the project.

Field books shall contain, at a minimum, the following data:

1. The contract and work order number and name shall be printed in ink on the cover of each book and each book shall be sequentially numbered.

2. Each book shall contain a small sketch and index page in the front of the book which will include a brief description of work and the corresponding page number.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/policies/PIM2020-004_att2_0.pdf https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/policies/PIM2020-004_att2_0.pdf https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/policies/PIM2020-004_att1_1.pdf https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/policies/PIM2020-004_att1_1.pdf

3. Names and duties of each party member, weather conditions, instruments used, PPM or other correction for EDM, the location of the work performed, and the date shall be recorded each day work is performed.

4. Field data collection and boundary layout notes shall be recorded in such a fashion as to allow another technically qualified person to retrace the survey without consultation with the Contractor.

5. Basis of bearing data shall be recorded in sufficient detail to permit an independent check.

6. Statements by adjoiners or interested parties relative to boundary line and/or corner locations.

7. Field record of all corners found or monumented with a description of the monument and all accessories and remains of accessories. Descriptions shall include bearing, distance, and DBH measurements.

8. Surveyor's Certificate: The following certification is to be made immediately following the last page used in the notebook:

I hereby certify that the foregoing notes represent work done under my direct supervision.

Date Signature State Registration No. Title and Seal

.332 Electronic Field Book

An electronic copy of the field notes will be provided in an agreed upon format (PDF, DOC, TXT, etc.) at the end of the task order. The COR may request the document in its current form at any time during the course of the survey.

Field Notes shall contain, at a minimum, the following data:

1. The contract and work order number and name shall be listed in the title and header, sheet number with document overall number of pages to be added to the footer.

2. Names and duties of each party member, weather conditions, instruments used, PPM or other correction for EDM, the location of the work performed, and the date shall be recorded each day work is performed.

3. Field data collection and boundary layout notes shall be recorded in such a fashion as to allow another technically qualified person to retrace the survey without consultation with the Contractor.

4. Basis of bearing data shall be recorded in sufficient detail to permit an independent check.

5. Statements by adjoiners or interested parties relative to boundary line and/or corner locations.

6. Field record of all corners found or monumented with a description of the monument and all accessories and remains of accessories. Descriptions shall include bearing, distance, and DBH measurements.

7. Surveyor's Certificate: The certification is to be made immediately following the last page used in the notebook and the affixed seal and signature can be digital in nature.

I hereby certify that the foregoing notes represent work done under my direct supervision.

.333 Electronic Data Collectors

If the Contractor uses an electronic data collector, the following shall be furnished to the Government:

1. An electronic copy containing the original field data prior to any manipulation or adjustments.

2. A separate written report showing:

a) The data format used, describing the data on the hard copy by line and column.

b) All descriptive codes and their meaning.

c) A small sketch of the project with an index showing the data contained on each type of media.

.334 Legible Copies

Legible copies of all field books used in conjunction with the collector which describe work done, including but not limited to a complete description of all monumentation found, used, or set during the survey shall be provided by the Contractor.

.340 Survey Control Diagram and Computations

A survey control diagram and a copy of all computations shall be delivered as requested by the COR.

.341 Survey Control Diagram

The Contractor shall provide a survey map exhibit to the COR upon request as soon as practical. The Contractor shall furnish the Government with a digital copy (or paper upon request) of the survey in its most current form. The size and file format of each exhibit shall be agreed upon with the CO/COR and should contain the following information.

1. Project name, contract number and date of exhibit.

2. Contractor’s name or business name.

3. Project location including Township, Range and Base Meridian.

4. Dates of each revision.

5. Linear scale (showing sufficient detail).

6. Basis of Bearing, coordinate system, and datum.

7. Survey control stations and monuments tied or set, accurately plotted with names or numbers.

8. Raw and final coordinate values and all boundary/control lines measurements between all corner monuments used, established, or re-established.

9. BLM Geographic Coordinate Data Base (GCDB) identifiers and reliability codes for all corner monuments.

10. References to survey field notes and all compiled record data (Definitions).

11. Tie and boundary lines shall be shown on the control diagram.

.342 Computations

A legible copy of all computations shall be provided if requested by the Government in AutoCAD .DWG format by method agreed upon by CO/COR. Computations shall list survey control point names or numbers, survey field data and an applicable adjustment report. The adjustment report shall state the type of adjustment used (compass rule, least squares, etc.) including any applicable data and both raw and adjusted coordinate values for survey points and corner ties.

.400 CORNER MONUMENTATION, PERPETUATION, AND ACCESSORIES

.410 Monumentation

Monumentation shall comply with the BLM Manuals and specific State laws, and be in accordance with Exhibit .411, unless otherwise directed by the COR. The COR shall provide direction to the Contractor on a case-by-case basis.

The Government will supply monuments for all Government boundary and Public Land Survey corners to be monumented or re-monumented by the Contractor as part of the survey (See C-4 A. Government Furnished Property). Magnetic memorials or suitable ferrous material such as a rebar iron spike shall be placed at the base of new pipe monuments, unless otherwise directed by the COR. Any corner position which cannot be monumented in its true location shall be referenced by witness corners or reference monuments only after a thorough review of Exhibit .412.

1. Difficult - Dig in, Using a standard USDA Forest Service 2 ½" x 30" Steel or aluminum pipes with brass or aluminum caps., or rock tablet.

2. Easy - Drive in, Using a drive rod or rebar and cap monument.

.411 New Monumentation Placement

Monuments shall be placed as illustrated in Exhibit .411. Physical evidence of earlier surveys should be preserved when possible. Two clear color photographs (preferably digital) shall be taken of each original monument in place before disturbance. The Contractor shall bury original stones upside down in the hole alongside the new monument and place original wood posts near the new monument for inspection by COR.

Brush and logging debris within a radius of 6 feet of the corner shall be cleared away when the monument is set. Line of sight to each bearing object existing or established shall also be cleared.

Monuments set by this survey shall be located to the tolerance requirements specified in Section .310 Survey Methods and Procedures. Placement shall be in accordance with the BLM Manuals.

New monuments shall be solidly placed in earth (Exhibit .411) when possible. A magnetic memorial shall be placed at the base of new pipe monuments, unless otherwise directed by the COR. If applicable, the Contractor should bury original monuments alongside the new monument. This information shall be recorded in the field book and documented in the pertinent Corner Record or Plat.

.412 Reference and Witness Monuments

Where it is impossible or impractical to place a monument at the true corner position, reference monuments and witness corner monuments shall be established as prescribed by the current version of the BLM Manuals.

See Exhibit .412 for examples.

.413 Monument Cap and Tablet Markings

Monument caps and tablets shall be stamped as prescribed in the current version of the BLM Manuals. The caps or tablets shall also be stamped to include the year of survey and the surveyor’s license number. If applicable, the stamping shall include any unique Forest Service tract or corner identification. If under subsequent review by the COR the marking is determined to be incorrect, the monument shall be re-stamped at the Contractor’s expense.

.414 Corner Trees

When the corner position is coincident with a live, healthy tree, the tree shall be marked as prescribed in the current version of the BLM Manuals, or as directed by the COR.

Corner trees shall be perpetuated with a reference monument which shall count as one of the required accessories. The monument shall be set a minimum of 15 feet from the base of the corner tree.

.415 Original GLO Line Trees

Positively identified original Government Public Land Survey line trees typically set by the GLO are monuments of the true property line (not to be confused with modern line trees set per other surveys such as those outlined in these specifications). When recovered in good condition the marks shall be painted and sign “Land Survey Monument”, or equivalent Government sign substituted by the COR, shall be attached in accordance with Exhibit .424. When recovered in down and/or decayed condition the true position shall be re-monumented.

See BLM manual 6-28, perpetuating line tree 4-113 (4); When an accessory is necessary to evidence the position of a line tree, no requirements are set up other than to mark a bearing tree or a bearing object, if available, or to establish a suitable bearing object. A bearing tree is marked in the same manner as a bearing tree associated with an angle point.

.420 Bearing Trees and Other Accessories

Refer to the BLM Manuals for selection, measurement and marking of bearing trees and other objects. Limbs on bearing trees shall be removed to a height of 7 feet.

.421 Selection

All PLSS corners shall be selected according to the BLM Manuals and referenced by at least two accessories, or more as specified by applicable State laws.

The Contractor shall use "Durability of Bearing Trees" as a guide when selecting bearing trees and shall take extra care to select trees that are healthy, free of defective tops, lack missing bark, and middle-age or younger whenever possible.

.422 Measurements

All bearing trees shall be described by bearing and distance according to the BLM Manuals.

.423 Blazing, Scribing and Painting

Blazing, scribing, and painting shall be in accordance with the BLM Manuals and Exhibit .423.

.424 Signing

Available signs with identifying numbers are illustrated by Exhibit .424.

1. Bearing Tree signing shall be in accordance with Exhibit .423. Sign 54-3, "Bearing Tree," shall be placed on all newly created bearing trees and on all existing bearing tree remnants.

2. Sign 54-9 "Land Survey Monument" shall be placed on the back of all standing bearing trees - dead or alive.

3. A guard post with sign 54-9 or P71-10 decal attached shall be placed at all corner monuments in accordance with Exhibit .521.

4. If bearing trees not available and monument falls within close proximity of a fence, the appropriate signs shall be placed on fence posts. (Sign 54-5 for rectangular PLSS corners, Sign 54-6 for section subdivisions and 54-8 signs for Homestead Entry and Mineral Surveys).

.430 Corner Recordation

If required by State statute, the Contractor shall complete, in printed and/or electronic form, as specified by the Forest Service in accordance with State and local statutes, a Corner Recordation Form (or local equivalent) for https://glorecords.blm.gov/reference/manuals/Durability_of_Bearing_Tree.pdf each corner required by Exhibit 3 or by State and local statutes. After review by the COR, the Contractor shall file the original in the appropriate jurisdiction. A copy of the recorded form with completed filing information shall be furnished to the Forest Service. Refer to Exhibit .430 for completion guidelines and sample of a completed form.

An original completed form FS-7100-52 may be required for the task order as requested by Exhibit 3. All information on the card shall be completed in accordance with Exhibit .220.

.500 BOUNDARY LINE LOCATION, MARKING AND POSTING

The boundary lines to be marked, shown on Exhibit 3, shall be located by survey, unless work is to be performed as “Boundary Line Maintenance” in accordance with .700 CORNER MAINTENANCE. The methods used shall ensure that posts, blazes on trees, and/or line monuments defining the boundary line have a positional tolerance meeting the standards of .310 Survey Methods and Procedures.

The COR may direct the Contractor not to perform certain work required under this section when marking lines in developed areas and areas near homes. This may include not painting blazes, increasing the blazing spacing, installing different kinds of signs or posts, increasing the post/sign spacing, or other measures.

.510 Locating Boundary Lines

Boundary lines shall be marked by installing steel, aluminum, or fiberglass posts within ± 1 foot of the true line.

This specification shall not be interpreted as allowing posts or line monuments to be placed off the true line unless otherwise directed by the COR.

.520 Marking the Property Line

Property lines are marked by placing line posts, line monuments, painted blazes on trees, and clearing. The Task order will specify one of the following levels of intensity per mile or per the whole task order. Markings on original Government Survey trees (corner, witness, line, etc.) shall not be destroyed.

1. Intensity Level 1: 100 percent of the boundary will be marked per this section. Any deviations from this requirement must be approved by the COR or shall be addressed in Task Order Scope of Work if changes are requested by the Government regarding blazing and painting of trees.

2. Intensity Level 2: Only the property line within 50 feet either side of a boundary sign and on Forest lands within 3 feet of the property line shall be marked with painted blazes on trees and within 2 feet of the property line be cleared per this section. Any deviations from this requirement must be approved by the COR or shall be addressed in Task Order Scope of Work if changes are requested by the Government regarding blazing and painting of trees.

3. Intensity Level 3: Open areas and Grasslands, posting and/or line monuments only, no blazing or clearing required.

.521 Placing objects to mark the property line

Posts, line monuments and line blazes shall be placed only on the true property line located to the standard specified above. Posts shall be set as per Exhibit .521, without deforming or degrading the usefulness of the post.

.522 Blazes

Blaze shall be made in accordance with Exhibit .522. All trees 6 inches DBH or larger and within 3 feet of boundary lines shall be marked with the appropriate blaze. Existing blazes found in the correct location and healed over shall not be reblazed, but shall be painted. Blazes shall be cut through the cambium layer. Blazing on the adjoiner’s side of the line shall not be performed if the adjoiner denies permission to mark their side of the line.

.523 Clearing

Within 2 feet of each side of the boundary line, the Contractor shall clear line sufficient to maintain intervisibility of posts and remove trees less than 6 inches DBH as allowed by permission from the adjoining landowners. The resulting debris from the clearing shall be lopped to settle to within 1 foot of the ground.

All limbs shall be cut off the stumps of felled trees to prevent regrowth. Stump height shall not exceed 6 inches. Lopping stems in a criss-cross pattern, resulting in hazardous pointed spikes shall be avoided. Cut trees shall not be left leaning against or hanging in standing trees unless otherwise directed by the COR.

Vegetative debris shall be scattered to reduce concentrations, deposited offline, and left on the Government side whenever possible. Debris shall not be deposited within 5 feet of roads, trails, stream courses or fire breaks.

Exceptions to this clearing standard in certain areas of heavy chaparral or close proximity to occupied dwellings may be approved at the discretion of the CO/COR. Any equitable adjustments in unit price for reduced clearing will be negotiated with the Contracting Officer.

.524 Painting

All blazes applied under .522 Blazes shall be painted red in accordance with Exhibit .522. Paint shall be supplied by the Government. Paint placed by the Contractor in an improper location shall be corrected, at the Contractor's expense, by painting over with black paint supplied by the Government.

.530 Posting the Property Line

Posting is the act of placing signs and posts along the property line, so it is recognizable. Placement of signs along the boundary line shall be in accordance with Exhibit .521. Posts will be placed at intervals not to exceed 200 feet, or shorter to remain inter-visible if brush and trees were removed, (signs on line trees do not satisfy the interval spacing, only sign posts). Some task orders may adjust this distance depending on vegetation and the priority of the project. Some of the signs that are available are shown in Exhibit .424.

Other signs may be specified for special projects.

.531 Post and Sign Placement

Placement of posts along the boundary line shall be in accordance with Exhibit .521 and Exhibit .522.

When choosing post locations, consideration shall be given to the visibility of the post and sign from off line, e.g., a post shall not be set immediately next to and facing a tree that will block its visibility and shall be moved along the true line until it is in a position from which it can be seen when standing off line. Posts shall also be placed at ridge, stream, road, and trail crossings. Pink flagging shall be attached to the top of all sign posts. "Property Boundary" signs or stickers shall face out/away from Government lands, and shall be aligned parallel with the boundary line.

The first sign post along the property boundary (referred to as a guard post) shall be explicitly on the boundary line and placed ±5 feet from the corner and have a “Land Survey Monument” sign or sticker, or equivalent Government sign substituted by the COR, attached. The second post on line out of the corner shall be placed 50 to 75 feet from and be visible from the corner, then normal sign pacing should continue per .530 Posting the Property Line and Exhibit .521.

Posts shall be driven in the ground a minimum of 18” and be securely planted (with no side-to-side play and difficult to remove). If this cannot be achieved a rock mound shall be built around the post to 24”, or higher, until secure. Rock (and not wood or other organic material) is the only material that may be used to provide supplementary support to posts that are not securely planted after being driven to refusal. The width of rock mounds shall be twice their height.

All signs and posts placed in improper location shall be removed or relocated at the Contractor's expense.

.532 Property Boundary Sign, 54-2 or 54-7; Decal P54-1 or P54-2

Property Boundary Decals or signs shall be placed on line posts or trees on the boundary line. Posts shall be placed at a maximum of 200 ft. from each other. Posts or signs on trees shall be placed at ridge, stream, road, and trail crossings intervisible from each other. Where trails and roads are intersected, posts shall be placed on both sides of the road/trail, no less than 10 feet from each side of the traveled way and no more than 25 feet on one side and 50 feet on the opposite side.

See Special Project Specification for spacing and visibility requirements between signs. These signs shall not be placed on private trees.

.533 Location Poster Sign 54-5, 54-6, or 54-8

*Location posters are not required per this contract, but it may be requested for specific task orders. If so, the following shall apply:

The location posters shall be placed where all marked boundary lines cross roads and trails. Sign 54-5 is for section and township lines. Sign 54-6 is for section subdivisional lines. Sign 54-8 is for metes and bounds survey lines. These signs may be placed on either posts or trees. The Contractor shall stamp or etch the required information on the sign. Some additional special posts at road crossings may be required. When required, they shall be shown on Exhibit 3 and included in the Special Project Specifications.

.534 Sign Attachment

The Contractor shall firmly attach signs and/or stickers to posts and appropriate line trees in accordance with Exhibit .521, Exhibit .522, and Special Project Specifications. If a fence consisting of wire and steel fence posts is within 1 ft. of line - with the landowner’s permission - signs shall be attached to the top wires with hog rings at the four corners of the sign and placed next to the steel fence post. If a fence consists of wood fence posts and wire, the sign shall be wrapped around the fence post and nailed to the post at all four corners of the sign with galvanized nails. See Special Project Specification for spacing and visibility requirements between signs. The Contractor shall firmly attach signs to sign posts with corrosion resistant bolts and nuts, aluminum rivets, or corrosion resistant wire as directed by the COR.

.540 Obliteration of Previously Posted Lines

After some land acquisitions or disposals, the Government may order the obliteration of previously posted lines.

Government signs and posts previously placed which are no longer within one foot of a boundary line shall be removed from the site by the Contractor and shall be delivered to the Government. Old paint on the Government side of previous boundary lines shall be painted over with black paint provided by the Government.

The Contractor shall notify the CO/COR upon the discovery of Government signs and posts previously placed which are not on the boundary line. Separate task orders will be issued for the removal of posts and signs as required. When deemed by the CO/COR, the Contractor shall remove these signs and/or sign posts. They shall remain the property of the Forest Service.

.600 PLATS

The Contractor shall prepare a plat(s) in accordance with Section B - SERVICES AND PRICES - of this contract which meets the State law and county requirements similar to that illustrated by Exhibit .600. Prior to filing of the plat, the computations may be requested for review.

The Government’s acceptance of the plat does not release the Contractor of any liabilities through errors or omissions.

.610 Content

All appropriate information contained in the Cadastral Plat Check List (see Exhibit .600) shall be included on the plat.

.620 Review

Prior to filing, all items on the plat checklist contained in Exhibit .620 shall be reviewed and initialed by the Contractor and submitted with one paper copy of the plat to the COR for review.

.630 Geodetic Position

Plats for cadastral projects shall show a geodetic position on a minimum of two corners. A statement shall be placed on the plat as to the method used to determine the position, the datum and the date established. See .321 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for accuracy standards. Geodetic positions shall be provided on the Control Diagram if a plat is not prepared.

.640 Filing or Recording of Plats

The final plat(s) shall be submitted to the COR for review prior to filing or submitting to the local review authorities. After the required reviews, the Contractor shall be instructed to file the plat(s) and furnish the required copies to the Forest Service as follows:

1. Recorded copies: The Contractor shall file or record the survey plat(s) in the appropriate jurisdiction in accordance with the State and Local Statutes. Filing fees and any other costs involved shall be borne by the Contractor. After acceptance and recordation, a digital copy of the recorded document shall be furnished by the Contractor to the Government in the format provided by the county.

2. Forest Service copies: If requested in the task order, a reproducible copy of the final plat, consisting of a permanent image on a stable base polyester (mylar), with proof of filing, shall be furnished to the Forest Service.

.650 Digital Copy of…