127EAU26Q0076 Attch 1 Performance Work Statement.pdf

Performance Work Statement

Tree Cutting and Removal Services

1. Purpose:

The purpose of this requirement is to obtain professional tree cutting, trimming, removal, and storm-response services across the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville Agriculture Research Center (BARC) campus to maintain safe clearance around the electrical distribution systems and ensure safe access to roads and walkways. This includes the removal of trees, limbs, and vegetation that are in contact with, overhanging, encroaching upon, or within minimum approach distance of energized high-voltage power lines, as well as clearing fallen trees and debris from roads, walkways, and access routes following inclement weather events.

2. Background:

The BARC, operated by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), is the largest ARS research campus, spanning roughly 6,400 acres and supporting about 700 federal employees.

The site contains 439 buildings totaling over 2 million gross square feet, with 207 buildings actively in use for offices, laboratories, agricultural operations, greenhouses, and essential infrastructure.

3. Tasks:

The contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, materials, supervision, and incidentals necessary to perform vegetation-management and storm-response services, including:

a) Cutting, trimming, and removal of trees and woody vegetation that threaten or interfere with high-voltage electrical distribution lines (13.2 kV and above).

b) Removal of branches, limbs, and trees that are touching, entangled with, or growing into energized high-voltage conductors, requiring specialized line-clearance operations.

c) Directional pruning to maintain long-term electrical clearance.

d) Removal of dead, dying, diseased, structurally compromised, or storm-damaged trees within designated work zones.

e) Emergency and non-emergency removal of fallen trees, limbs, and debris from roads, walkways, parking areas, and facility access routes following storms, high winds, snow/ice events, or other inclement weather.

f) Stump grinding or stump removal where specified.

g) Chipping, hauling, and disposal of all debris, as needed, in accordance with

h) Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) – Solid Waste & Wood-Waste

Regulations (COMAR 26.04.09). Branches and limbs less than 6 inch diameter need to be chipped and removed, branches larger than 6 inch diameter will remain onsite.

i) Work performed within minimum approach distances (MAD) for energized lines (as defined in the table below), requiring line-clearance qualified arborists.

Voltage Range (kV) Restricted Approach Boundary

0.751 kV – 15 kV 2 ft 2 in

15.1 kV – 36 kV 2 ft 7 in

36.1 kV – 46 kV 2 ft 9 in

46.1 kV – 72.5 kV 3 ft 3 in

Exact work locations will be identified during the pre-work site walk-through or during storm-response notifications

4. Contractor Qualifications:

The contractor must meet the following minimum requirements:

a) At least one ISA Certified Arborist on staff; ISA Utility Specialist preferred.

b) Line-Clearance Arborists trained and qualified to perform vegetation removal on, over, or adjacent to energized high-voltage conductors, in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269.

c) Demonstrated experience performing vegetation management around energized electrical infrastructure.

d) Demonstrated capability to perform storm-response tree removal safely and efficiently.

e) Compliance with ANSI A300 and ANSI Z133.

f) Ability to provide proof of insurance meeting USDA requirements.

5. Period of Performance:

Base Year Twelve (12) Months from Date of Award

Option Year 1 Twelve (12) Months from Date of Award

Option Year 2 Twelve (12) Months from Date of Award

Option Year 3 Twelve (12) Months from Date of Award

Option Year 4 Twelve (12) Months from Date of Award

6. Deliverables:

a) The contractor shall provide a response plan for Preventive Utility Line Clearing service requests when BARC issues a request for this routine vegetation-management work.

This plan shall outline the proposed schedule, staffing, and equipment for the specific requested tasks, identify the anticipated response window, and note any constraints that may affect completion. The contractor shall submit this plan within two business days of receiving each request. The Contracting Officers Representative (COR) will communicate required revisions and/or feedback to the Contractor within two business day after receipt of plan. The Contractor shall address all feedback and/or revisions and resend plan for Government review within one business day.

b) The contractor shall also provide an emergency response plan for inclement weather, submitted once at the start of the contract and updated as needed. This plan shall describe how the contractor will mobilize crews when BARC activates storm-response services, including response timelines, communication procedures, and the personnel and equipment available for rapid deployment to clear roads, walkways, and access routes following storms or other severe weather events.

c) The contractor shall submit a monthly vegetation removal report summarizing all work performed in response to BARC-initiated service requests during the previous month.

This report shall identify the number of trees removed, the number of trees pruned, the locations serviced, and any storm-response activities conducted. The report shall also include brief notes on hazards encountered, delays, or deviations from requested work.

The contractor shall submit this report within five business days after the end of each month.

7. Miscellaneous information:

a) COORDINATION: The contractor shall coordinate its activities with other contractors working in the affected areas as well as any Government personnel who will be inconvenienced by the work.

b) INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE: The Government will inspect all completed work to ensure compliance with contract requirements, applicable standards, and approved service plans. Acceptance of the work will be based on satisfactory completion of all tasks, resolution of any deficiencies, and submission of required reports and documentation.

c) GOVERNMENT/FEDERAL HOLIDAYS: The following federal holidays listed below shall be observed by the contractor unless otherwise stated by the COR and/or the Contracting Officer.

New Year’s Day Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Washington’s Birthday Memorial Day Juneteenth National Independence Day

Independence Day

Labor Day Columbus Day Veteran’s Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas

**Any other day(s) declared by the U.S. President as a federal holiday.

8. Invoicing:

The Contractor may submit invoices through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) for services rendered and accepted by the Government. The Contracting Officer or authorized Government representative will verify the services rendered prior to approval of payment.