Attachment 1_A001.pdf

ALLEGHENY NF DEER FENCE MAINTENANCE

ATTACHMENT #1 --DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

DIVISION 100 - GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

100 - Scope of Contract

This contract calls for the repair and maintenance of 8 foot woven wire fences (7 foot high with 1 foot overlap on the ground) in wooded areas on both the Marienville (Item #1) and Bradford (Item #2) Ranger Districts of the Allegheny National Forest. The contractor shall be responsible for furnishing all supervision, labor, equipment, tools, materials, and incidentals necessary to complete the work during all seasons of the year (except as noted in 170 - Government Furnished Property).

120 - Location

121 – All fences are located on the Allegheny National Forest.

Item 1 consists of fences on the Marienville Ranger District. The Marienville Ranger District is located South of Route 666. The district is bordered by borough of Tionesta on the West the Town of Wilcox on the East and the Clarion River to the south. The district currently contains roughly 50 deer exclosure fences. Quantities may vary over the option years as fences are constructed and tore down.

Item 2 consists of fences on the Bradford Ranger District. The Bradford Ranger District is located south of the New York State line, north of Route 666 and bordered by the Allegheny River to the west and US 219 to the east. The district currently contains 48 deer exclosure fences. Quantities may vary over the option years as fences are constructed and tore down.

See attached vicinity and unit maps for approximate locations of the fences to be maintained.

130 – Variation in Estimated Quantity

Miles of fence to maintain are estimated and are subject to change as a result of newly constructed fences and fences that are removed when no longer needed. The contract price will be adjusted at the unit price contained in the schedule of items for changes +/-15 % the estimated quantity. At the end of the year, if the cumulative fence mileage adjustment exceeds +/- 15%, based on the originally awarded fence mileage, a price adjustment will be negotiated.

140 - Description of Project

Fences are 8 foot woven wire (7 foot high with 1 foot overlap on the ground) in wooded areas.

When built, the fences generally had a 6 foot cleared area around the perimeter. Some areas are extremely rocky to the point where foot and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) travel may be limited.

Some fences have small streams that flow under the fence and create special maintenance problems following periods of high-water flow. Pipelines, private property lines, roads used by oil well operators and other improvements, timber harvest activities and physical features must be taken into account when considering the difficulty of maintaining the fences.

150 – Contractor Representative

Before work starts, the Contractor shall designate a person knowledgeable of contract requirements to act in their absence. The contractor or authorized representative shall be knowledgeable of all work being performed on the contract. In the absence of the Contractor, the authorized representative may receive instructions from the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) regarding matters of this contract.

160 - Protection of Existing Structures

The Contractor shall be required to protect existing improvements such as pipelines, oil and gas infrastructure, power lines, buildings, gates, etc., which are located in and adjacent to the project areas. The Contractor shall be required to repair or replace such improvements if damaged as a result of their operations.

170 - Government Furnished Property

171 - The Forest Service shall furnish segments of woven wire fence, 8' steel posts and 2x4’s to maintain the fences. Contractor shall be required to pick up material at either Ranger District Administrative Site. The contractor shall pick up materials during the following times Monday - Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. The Contractor shall notify the COR at least 1 business day prior to material pick up.

172 - Copies of the maintenance form, Exhibit D, will be given to the Contractor at the pre-work meeting.

173 - The contractor will be issued a key at the beginning of the contract to provide access behind locked FS gates. The contractor will be required to turn in the key at the end of the contract period before billing the final invoice. Payment will not be approved by the Contracting Officer until the key is returned.

174 - Marking ribbon will be supplied to the Contractor to be placed on fences during maintenance rounds.

175 - Location Maps, will be given to the contractor at the prework meeting and are available with this solicitation package.

180 - Contractor Furnished Property

Contractor will furnish all tools needed to complete the maintenance which includes: ATV, hog rings or ring fasteners, fence staples (1 1/4 " galvanized), wire (16 gauge or larger, galvanized or stainless steel), nails, wire twisting tool, crimping tools and sleeves, chain grab wire stretcher or other wire stretching tool, wire cutters, post driver, chain saw etc. No aluminum hog rings or wire are allowed to be used.

DIVISION 200 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

211 – Maintenance Schedule

Fences will receive 12 maintenance rounds in all base/option years of the contract. One round each month. There must be at least 20 days, but no more than 40 days between the maintenance of an individual fence. The entire perimeter of the fence will be traveled, and maintenance will be performed as damage is encountered.

212 – Maintenance Forms

Contractor shall complete a maintenance form for each fence and mail/hand deliver to the Allegheny National Forest Headquarters 4 Farm Colony Drive Warren, PA 16365 within one week of the date the fences were inspected and maintained. Forms must be signed and dated for the date the maintenance occurred.

213 - Deer

If any deer are observed inside the fence it must be noted on the maintenance form. The Forest Service is responsible for the removal of the deer.

214 - Vehicle Operation

ATV's (All-Terrain Vehicles) may be operated around the perimeter of most fences to accomplish maintenance only. The fence trails on these fences were built for ATV use and not the wider wheel base of some UTV‘s (Utility Terrain Vehicles (i.e. side by side machines)).

The Contractor will not drive around road gates,but open them for drive through access. No "joyriding" is permitted. The operator is subject to fines if found using ATV's in manners other than for the purpose of performance of this contract. A few places are too wet to operate an ATV, and will be pointed out by the Forest Service. If at any time the Forest Service inspections indicate that soil damage is occurring due to use of ATV's, such use will be suspended or the damage repaired by the contractor at his expense to the point that ATV use may be continued. The Government requires use of helmets when riding ATV’s or UTV’s. The non - use of helmets may result not only in contract non-compliance but in a violation of federal code and subject the Contractor to fines.

215 – Fence Maintenance

216. If damage is encountered, then the contractor shall perform maintenance. It is anticipated that some maintenance will be required for every fence.

217. Examples of damage to be repaired consist of two categories listed below:

Minor Damage:

• The top and bottom sections of the fence have separated from each other.

• The bottom edge of the fence has sprung loose from the ground.

• The fence has come loose from 2x4 boards or steel posts and require fastening.

• The fence is drooping and needs propped up to a minimum 7’ height.

• Removal of limbs, or brush which are resting against or on the fence.

Major Damage:

• Large holes that will require splicing in new fencing to repair.

• Sections of fencing that have been knocked to the ground due to falling trees/debris.

• Original fence supports failing which will require the setting of a new post.

• Closing up fencing following forestry related activities that require the fence to be cut.

• Repair of any vehicle, or man gate.

• Wires have been severed either by animal damage or vandalism.

o **If vandalism is encountered the COR must be notified immediately. The vandalism repair work shall be completed by the contractor unless deemed excessive by the COR.

Logging Damage:

• All fences shall be walked by the Forest Service prior to logging activity beginning on a unit. Existing damage will be documented by the Forest Service and relayed to the fence maintenance contractor.

• The Forest Service shall require timber purchasers to repair any damage caused by logging operations; however, in a case where the fault of damage is difficult to prove the repair shall be made by the fence maintenance contractor under this contract.

218 –Damage Thresholds (Individual Fence Areas) Note: Damage Thresholds as defined in this section correspond to individual fence areas listed on the contract for one maintenance cycle. The damage thresholds are not cumulative across multiple fence areas and shall not be compounded over multiple maintenance cycles.

Minor Damage:

For damage less than 200 continuous feet or 500 intermittent feet of fence, the Contractor shall repair the damage in that maintenance round.

Major Damage:

For damage less than 100 continuous feet or 200 intermittent feet of fence, the Contractor shall repair the damage in that maintenance round.

219 – Actions to be performed if Damage Thresholds are Exceeded.

Minor Damage:

For occurrences of minor damage greater than 200 continuous feet or 500 intermittent feet. The contractor must report the total damage on the maintenance form. The contractor must then make repairs to at least 200 continuous feet of damage, or 500 feet of intermittent damage in that maintenance round. The contractor shall continue to repair the fence every subsequent maintenance round until the fence is completely repaired and under normal maintenance standards.

Major Damage:

For occurrences of major damage greater than 100 continuous feet or 200 intermittent feet. The contractor must report the total damage on the maintenance form. The contractor must then make repairs to at least 100 continuous feet of damage, or 200 feet of intermittent damage in that maintenance round. The contractor shall continue to repair the fence every subsequent maintenance round until the fence is completely repaired and under normal maintenance standards.

Catastrophic Damage:

In occurrences of catastrophic damage, such as a wind event where damage exceeds those mentioned in Section 218, the contractor must notify the COR. The COR will make the determination of whether to remove the fence from the maintenance contract, or allow work to be performed under the specifications outlined in Section 219.

220 - Access

Fences have person and vehicle gates for access inside the fence. Contractor is responsible for maintaining these access structures. They must swing free and the posts must be tight in the ground. See Exhibit C for examples. Gates should always be in the closed position unless the contractor is notified by the Forest Service COR that they should remain open.

221 - Tree Removal /Tree Felling

The contractor shall cut and remove any tree that has fallen onto or against the fence. This includes branches and treetops that have fallen on or against the fence. In addition, the Forest Service may identify specific trees to be felled by the Contractor. All tops, branches etc. will be pulled to the far side of the maintenance trail and not be left lying on the fence or in the maintenance trail.

The FS designated trees are dead or dying trees, split trees, heavily leaning trees, or root sprung trees which are in a position to fall across the fence. The Forest Service inspector may flag trees which are to be felled. The contractor shall cut any tree that has fallen onto the fence without waiting to have the Forest Service flag it. In the case of merchantable trees, the Forest Service reserves the right to sell the trees. The trees are to be cut in a way to preserve the value of the sawlogs.

222 - Fence Stretching

Damaged areas of fence shall be pulled back to a tight condition that would resemble newly constructed fence. The Contractor shall use a wire-stretching tool to achieve this desired condition. Fencing cannot be pulled to a new tight condition by hand. Loose fence will tightened and stapled to a 2x4 or rewired to a steel post. All top line wires that are found severed will be stretched back tight with a wire stretching tool and spliced with a crimping sleeve.

223 – Stapling

Any stapling must be into a 2x4 board which is placed between the tree and the fence. There will be no staples driven into trees for any reason (unless the tree is dead). Where the fence has been damaged, it may be necessary to place a new 2x4 for tree protection, two nails, one at stump height and one near the top of the 2x4 will be used to secure the 2x4 to the tree.

224 – Poles and Posts

The contractor is expected to have steel posts available at the time of the maintenance. Where no trees or steel posts exist within 30' of the damage, a new steel post will be placed. Metal posts will be used to support sections of fence crushed by falling trees, or where original support trees have fallen over, or where the fence has come loose because no support exists for 30'. Poles, if needed for temporary support, may be cut from native material from the site and shall be used on the inside and outside of the fence at the point of support. The use of cut poles is intended for temporary propping up damaged sections of fence. Poles cut from native material may remain only for one month. With the next round they shall be removed and the fence tightened to an existing tree or newly placed steel post. Poles, posts or temporary prop poles shall achieve a fence height of at least 7 feet.

225 - Securing the Fence Bottom

The fence must be repaired so that deer will be unable to crawl under the fence. This requires leaving a one foot overlap on the ground to the outside of the fence which is anchored to the ground with stakes or pins, stapled to sound wood, or held in place by large rocks every 10'.

Gaps between the ground and fence over 3 inches high and 6 inches long will be filled in with pieces of sound wood stapled to the fence bottom, or attached pieces of fence wire, or rocks.

Many fences have rotten wood securing the bottom and will have to be replaced with sound wood if the bottom has sprung up. Where the fence crosses a stream channel, an additional piece of fence may be needed to extend the fence to the bottom of the channel for securing.

226 - Woven Wire Fencing

All holes greater than 1' x 1' will be patched with wire and/ or woven wire fencing. All holes greater than 2' x 2' will be patched with woven wire fencing. The top and bottom rolls of fence will be secured by hog rings, 16 gauge or larger galvanized or stainless-steel wire, or by twisting the top and bottom wires together every 10 feet.

227 - Fence Maintenance Trail

Contractor will use existing maintenance trails around the edge of the fence. Some of these maintenance trails have grown in with saplings and may not be navigable by ATV. The contractor has the option to open the trails to a width of 5 feet, or continue maintenance on foot. Newer fences will have a groomed maintenance trails around the outside. If trees, tree tops, or large branches fall and block these newer cleared trails, they will be removed and the trail reopened to a width of 5'. Contractor shall not create new trails, unless they receive approval from the Forest Service COR.

228 - Clean Up

The Contractor shall remove all trash and debris generated in performance of this contract. This includes old flagging, lunch wrappers, discarded soft drink containers, empty cigarette packages and other debris left by the contractor's employees.

230 – Payment

231 - Partial payment for maintenance rounds will be made monthly when all maintenance is complete and the Forest Service receives the maintenance forms. The form must be filled out for each fence and delivered to the Allegheny National Forest Headquarters (4 Farm Colony Dr.

Warren, PA 16365) within one week of the date the fence was maintained. Forms must be signed and dated for the date the maintenance occurred. Allow the Forest Service approximately 10 working days to confirm the work has been performed before submitting an invoice.

Payment, in arrears, will be made in accordance with Prompt Payment Act, upon receipt of properly completed invoice entered into the Department of Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). All invoices are to be submitted online via the electronic Invoice Processing Platform.

240 – Flagging

241 - The contractor shall tie strips of plastic ribbon to each fence at 4 approximately equally spaced points around the perimeter and on any repaired sections of fence. This flagging will be used by the Forest Service to verify that the maintenance was completed. The following colors of plastic flagging will be used:

MONTH FLAG COLOR

January, March, June, September, December

Blue

February, April, July, October Yellow May, August, November Orange

242 - The contractor is required to remove the old flagging when placing the next months flagging. All old flagging must be disposed of properly off site. Payments will not be made for maintenance round when the color of ribbon on the fence does not match the color of the month and as indicated on the maintenance form turned in by the contractor. The first maintenance round will start in January for all base/option years.

250 - Start - Completion Dates

All Bid Items may be started following option year award. The contractor is required to schedule and complete the first rotation or round of all fences for which he/she is responsible within 30 days of contract award.

260 – Responsibility for Safety

It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the work environment is safe for themselves as well as their employees. If the contractor feels that a requirement of this contract would place them or their employees in an unsafe environment, then work should stop on that area of work and the contractor should contact the COR. Work on other areas of the contract that the contractor does not view as unsafe shall continue.

It is also mandatory that the successful contractor utilize appropriate personal protective safety equipment/clothing. For all chain saw operations this includes but it not limited to, hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing and head protection (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.266(d) while working on the project. Helmets for ATV/UTV use are required as per 36 CFR 261.15(i).

270- Equipment cleaning

All equipment should be free of soil and/or loose debris such as seeds, grasses, etc. before bringing equipment onto Forest Service ground from other areas of ownership.

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Listed below are all of the documents attached to, and forming a part of, this contract:

Exhibit Title Pages

Exhibit A - Vicinity Maps.......................…………………

Exhibit B - Project Maps ................……………

Exhibit C - Access Gates...............................…………………

Exhibit D - Example Fence Maintenance Form..............……………….

Exhibit E - Fence Area Location and Length List.......………

Note: Maps are not reproduced to scale and are included for purpose of locating project area only.

Exhibit C Vehicle Gate

EXHIBIT D

EXAMPLE MAINTENANCE FORM

BID ITEM #1 BRD FENCES

MONTH April RIBBON COLOR Yellow

COMMENTS

Contractor’s Signature __________________________

Fence Number 214020 215008 215010 215014 216026 219014 229019 232019 235026

Date Fence Visited 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5

No Damage Encountered

Damage Repaired

Repaired Wire

Cut Trees Off

Repair Bottom

# of Posts Placed 1

2x4's Placed

Feet of Wire Replaced

Hog Rings

Gates OK? Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N

Deer in Fence? N N N N N N N N Y

Exhibit E

See Attached Fence Area Location and Unit Maps.

• Item 1 Maps = Marienville Ranger District Fences

• Item 2 Maps = Bradford Ranger District Fences

Areas on the maps are Current Base Year Fences to be maintained in 2024.