Att1-StatementOfWork.doc

2020 MIO SNAG TOPPING CONTRACT

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

SCOPE OF CONTRACT

1. The purpose of this contract is to top up to 1,418 live pine trees using equipment as indicated by marked reference trees and additional cut trees. Most trees are red pine with the occasional jack pine or white pine. This project is being carried out to provide snags for wildlife habitat.

2. The work will require cutting and removing all limbs and tops of marked trees at a minimum height of 25 feet above ground level. The work may involve sawyers climbing trees with ladders or climbing equipment and/or using mechanical equipment (examples: an aerial lift platform or vehicle; boom-mounted saw; aerial trimmer, etc.) to accomplish the work. Tops are to be left at the site, lying flat on the ground, and scattered. They may not be suspended from, or supported by, any tree in any way. DUE TO LACK OF EQUIPMENT ACCESS, THE PERRY CREEK UNITS MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED BY CLIMBING OR LADDERS. The Noontime and Chickadee units may be accomplished by either climbing and/or mechanical equipment.

3. The Contract Implementation period is the time period for the completion of all bid items.

Item #1: Topping 561 pine trees by climbing only will start January 13, 2020 to April 14, 2020 and will resume August 3, 2020 to October 30,2020 (128 business days).

Item #2: Topping 442 pine trees by climbing or using equipment will start January 13, 2020 to April 14, 2020 and will resume August 3, 2020 to October 30,2020 (128 business days).

Item #3 (OPTIONAL): Topping 415 pine trees by climbing or using equipment will start January 13, 2020 to April 14, 2020 and will resume August 3, 2020 to October 30,2020 (128 business days).

LOCATION AND INFORMATION (see attached maps)

Township 26 North, Range 3 East, Section 19 (“Perry Creek”) Township 26 North, Range 1 West, Section 16 (“Noontime”) Township 25 North, Range 2 East, Section 29 (“Chickadee”) Reference tree numbers: see attached maps and spreadsheets Layout:

· Reference trees are located at the provided coordinates and are marked with a pink paint band, (approximately 6-7 feet high), a numbered “Animal Inn” sign (approximately head high), and a numbered aluminum tag (adjacent to the “Animal Inn” sign).

· Within the project area, top the reference tree and all additional trees marked with a pink slash. These additional trees are found within an approximate 100-foot radius of the reference tree. The pink slash on the additional trees to cut FACES the reference tree, regardless of the additional tree’s cardinal direction in relation to the reference tree. This has been done so the operator can view all additional trees to be cut from the reference tree. See attachments for a list of reference tree numbers and the number of trees to be topped at each reference tree. Top all trees at a minimum height of 25 feet above ground level.

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

The contractor will furnish all necessary labor, equipment and supplies as well as all transportation to, from and between the work sites.

SAFETY

Contractor will provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE is to be used at all times while performing cutting operations.

Personal Protective Equipment List for Felling Trees

To help eliminate accidents and injuries during cutting operations, various safety equipment items MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE AND UTILIZED BY THE OPERATOR. In accordance with the Forest Service Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) for tree felling, all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times while operating equipment, which will help to safely accomplish the operations required. Under no condition should the operator attempt to operate any equipment until the proper safety equipment is available and utilized. Below is a list of the required PPE:

-Approved chainsaw chaps (must cover legs and extend down past top of boots)

-Hardhat

-Hearing protection

-Safety glasses

-Leather gloves

-Leather work boots (at least 8-in. high)

-Long-sleeve shirt

-Single bit axe (falling axe)

-Wedges

-Personal First-Aid kit (must include large compression bandages)

For workers on aerial lift platforms or ladders, a fall harness is recommended as well.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Topping Instructions

Open forest roads, county roads, landings and skid trails from these timber sales may be utilized by the contractor to maneuver through the work sites.

In the project area, reference trees are marked with pink paint, a numbered aluminum tag, and a numbered "Animal Inn" sign. They will be used to designate areas in which trees are to be topped (See Exhibit 1 and 2). The reference tree represents the approximate center of an area in which trees are to be topped. The contractor is responsible for topping the reference tree and additional live trees that have been marked with a pink slash occurring within approximately a 100-foot radius of the reference tree (See Exhibit 3). All trees are to be topped at a minimum of 25 feet above the ground.

The following items are required for an acceptable level of work:

a. All trees will be topped at a minimum of 25 feet above ground level. The tops will be left at the site where they were cut. Do not leave tops on any county or forest road, two-track, trail (horse, foot, or ATV) or in any place where they may impede public access to the site.

b. Do not top any trees with visible wildlife nests or cavities present (birds, squirrels, etc.).

c. Trees for topping have been selected by Forest Service personnel and are marked with a pink paint band and/or slash. If the contractor determines any tree is unsafe to top, another similar tree within the plot area may be selected to top. The contractor shall notify the COR of this change as soon as possible.

d. To show progress, the contractor will collect the small, numbered aluminum tag from each reference tree upon completion of topping at that site. The numbered tags are to be given to the COR for inspection of completed work. The tags will be turned in on a regular basis as agreed to by the COR and the contractor prior to work initiation.

e. It is the responsibility of the contractor to locate the work areas and reference trees based on the information provided. However, if the contractor is unable to find any location, no work shall begin until assistance has been rendered and the site identified. The locations are listed in Section C.2 and on the attached location maps (Section M).

f. No roads may be constructed to reach the work areas. However, existing skid trails and roads may be utilized to access the work areas. Permission must be given by the COR. before a blocked road is opened. If a blocked road is opened for use, the contractor is responsible for reclosing the road as it was previously when work at that area is completed.

g. No salvage privileges are associated with this contract in any way.

h. The contractor and their employees are responsible for removing all refuse produced during the course of their work.

i. The contractor must place appropriate warning signs (example: “Logging Ahead”) along roadsides or on recreational trails when work is being done in plots adjacent to any road, trail, or driveway open to public traffic to warn users of logging operations ahead.

j. If contractors wish to utilize equipment to accomplish topping:

a. Machinery may include but is not limited to: boom lifts, bucket lifts, scissor lifts, cherry-pickers, boom-mounted tree saws or shears, aerial trimmers or other wheeled or tracked vehicles, skid steers, or excavators equipped with such platforms. It is recommended the vehicle or machinery have rough terrain and platform leveling abilities. Due to existing tree spacing, it is required that any vehicles or machinery used off-road to accomplish topping be no wider than 12 feet; there is no restriction on length as long as it is maneuverable enough to not damage any trees. Work under this contract will not be performed when ground or access road conditions would result in damage to access roads or to the natural resources. If precipitation makes the ground wet enough to cause rutting, work will be temporarily suspended, or the contractor can bring in machinery with a lighter ground pounds per square inch. For example, a PSI of less than 4.0 that won’t cause ruts. Soil ruts deeper than 2 inches or covering more than 10% of the designated work area, must be avoided or mitigated by the contractor. Wet weather conditions may preclude the use of vehicles or ATVs on portions of the tract, or possibly the entire tract, at certain times. The Contract Officer’s Representative (COR), technical contact, and/or Forest Service (FS) staff will determine if conditions warrant cessation of vehicular traffic.

b. In order to stop the spread of non-native invasive species (NNIS), the contractor’s equipment will be inspected prior to starting work with the FS. All equipment must be steam-cleaned or run through a car wash prior to arrival on the treatment area to remove any invasive plant species seeds. Compressed air cleaning may be an adequate cleaning method, but must be approved by the COR. The COR or designated Inspectors will inspect equipment upon being brought onto the HNF for the first time, or subsequent times if the equipment is taken off site and returned. All equipment that is taken off-road will need to be cleaned, including trucks, trailers, and ATV’s.

c. Sensitive areas, cultural resource sites, wetland, species habitat and native vegetation may exist within the project area. These areas will be marked by HNF staff as needed and avoided by the contractor or performed only with an appropriate HNF staff member on site. Operating areas, equipment ingress and egress lanes for equipment will be approved by the COR in advance of work in each area.

Exhibit 1. Example of a marked reference tree and four other trees in the plot, “Animal Inn” sign, and numbered aluminum tree tag (above paint stripe in this photo). Note the pink paint used to mark all trees to be topped.

Exhibit 2. Various types of “Animal Inn” signs were used for signing reference trees. Numbers aluminum tags (bottom) are to be removed and returned to COR.

Exhibit 3. Example of reference tree and five additional marked trees. Top all additional trees that have a pink slash from within an approximate 100-foot radius of the reference tree.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

OTHER TERMS OF INSPECTION

To show progress, the contractor will collect numbered, aluminum tags from each reference tree after completion of topping at that site. The numbered tags are to be given to the Contract Officer’s Representative (C.O.R.) for inspection of completed work. The tags will be turned in on a regular basis as agreed to by the C.O.R. and the contractor prior to work initiation.

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

CONTRACT TIME

Contract Implementation period for Bid Items #1-3, the topping of 1418 red pine trees: Topping red pine trees by climbing or aerial lift or machinery will start January 13, 2020 to April 14, 2020 and will resume August 3, 2020 to October 30,2020 (128 business days. The contractor may begin work only after receipt of a Notice to Proceed. Work may begin immediately upon receipt of a Notice to Proceed.

CONTACTS FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Technical information can be obtained by contacting the following people for each area:

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