A10_12970223R0060-Att2-PWS.pdf

Region 3 (R3) Hazard Tree Removal IDIQ Contract

Performance Work Statement

The purpose of this IDIQ contract is to secure services for the felling, delimbing, and bucking of hazard trees, pruning of hazardous tree branches, machine/hand piling of slash, stacking of tree boles, chipping of tree boles and slash, and/or hauling away of tree boles and slash material. All work will occur in developed recreation sites, administrative sites, trailheads, day use areas, and other areas located on National Forest lands in Arizona and New Mexico (Region 3 Southwestern Region). The technical specifications for proper tree removal and disposal are listed below to ensure workplace safety and to limit damage to resources and infrastructure. The services secured with this contract will focus on the need to provide appropriate hazard tree mitigation when environmental conditions and visitor site conditions are adequate to minimize resource damage and promote human health and safety. Work would begin in the fall of 2024 (FY25). It is anticipated that work would recur annually through FY29.

Location and Description

This hazard tree removal contract includes all administrative sites, developed recreation areas, trailheads, day use areas, campgrounds, and other areas, as designated by individual Task Orders, on National Forest lands in Arizona and New Mexico (Region 3). It should be noted that these are not the sole locations for work to occur under this contract, as other areas may be designated under administrative action, which will be detailed in the statement of work for each task order.

This solicitation and any resulting contract(s) cover two (2) USFS Region 3 Service Areas as follows:

Arizona Service Area: Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Coronado, Kaibab, Tonto, and Prescott National Forests

New Mexico Service Area: Carson, Cibola, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe National Forests

Interested offerors may submit a proposal for one or both of the service area(s).

Specifications

At the discretion of the Forest Service, hazard tree removal services may include one or more of the following activities. The specific activities would be specified in each individual task order.

1. Felling of hazard trees of various sizes and species - Hazard trees would be identified by Forest Service personnel and designated using either marking paint or flagging (plastic ribbon tied around trees/branches). Hazard trees would be directionally felled to avoid damage to other residual trees, recreation site improvements/structures, or other “unique features”. Directional felling may require rigging or other measures to ensure tree falls where needed.

2. Delimbing and bucking tree boles – Hazard tree boles would be delimbed and bucked into sections or lengths. Limbs would be removed where limb attaches to the bole. Bucking length will be specified in individual task orders.

3. Hauling away of tree boles, branches, and slash – Boles, branches, and slash resulting from hazard tree removal would be hauled away from the recreation site to a designated disposal site. Disposal sites will generally be a brush pit but may also be another designated area. Each disposal site would be specified in individual task orders.

4. Piling of tree boles, branches, and slash material – In select areas, tree boles and slash material would be piled using mechanized equipment or hand crews. The size of slash piles would be specified in individual task orders. All piles would be placed in areas designated by the COR where they could be safely burned in the future without damaging residual trees, recreation site improvements/structures, or other “unique features”.

5. Chipping of tree boles, branches, and slash material –Tree boles and slash would be chipped using mechanized equipment. Chips would be spread out so that depth does not exceed 2 inches. Chips would be pulled back at least 5 feet from the base of residual trees, recreation site improvements/structures, or other “unique features”. Chips would generally avoid campsites.

6. Pruning of hazardous tree branches – Branches would be pruned in accordance with the direction in the USDA Forest Service publication entitled “How to Prune Trees”. Trees to be pruned would be identified and designated by Forest Service personnel using either flagging or marking paint.

Hazardous branches may include dead or dying branches or branches that are infected with dwarf mistletoe.

7. Stacking of tree boles – Tree boles would be stacked adjacent to campsites or other areas designated by the COR. The maximum size of stacks would be specified in the task order. All tree boles would be stacked in a uniform and orderly fashion. All slash material would be removed from the recreation site.

Unique Features

Within developed recreation areas, all unique features are considered protected improvements which will not be damaged during contractor operations and are listed below. All damage to protected improvements by contractor will be handled on a case-by-case basis with CO to determine best course of action for repair or replacement of damaged improvements.

Protected Improvements

Description Location

Fences Upright and fair condition multi-strand smooth or barb wire with wood or steel posts. Wood constructed buck and rail.

As located throughout project areas

Gates Gates, Cattle Guards As located throughout project areas

Roads and Ditches

Road Prisms and Water Ditches, Pavement

As located throughout project areas

Powerlines, Water and Sewer Lines

Powerline and poles, buried utility lines, water lines and sewer lines, and related structures

As located throughout project areas

Facilities Picnic tables, outhouses and air vents, water faucets, shower stations, fire rings and grills, garbage containers, directional posts, site identification posts, kiosks, parking lots, parking barriers, tent pads, information boards, pay station facilities, boat ramp facilities, bridges, hand pumps, propane tanks, cabins, towers, flagpoles, weather stations, cisterns, social trails, flower boxes, hanging racks, planted and staked trees, general buildings and signs of all kinds, all improvements not owned by the forest service

As located throughout project areas

Structures Buildings and associated features As located throughout project areas

Other Other areas as designated by US Forest Service Personnel as protected areas.

As located throughout project areas

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, MATERIALS, SERVICES

The Government will deliver to the contractor the following listed materials, supplies, property or services (hereinafter referred to as "Government-furnished property") at the places and times specified in the contract. The contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of such delivered Government-furnished property.

The Forest Service shall provide maps and gate keys in accordance with the contract specifications.

The contractor shall order other specified Government-furnished property as needed. Delivery will be made to the point designated at the prework meeting. Government-furnished property shall be receipted for by the contractor when delivered on form AD-107.

Where the Government furnishes property, materials, and services, the contractor shall be responsible for returning all items to the COR who will credit the contractor with the number returned in an undamaged condition. The contractor shall be charged for each item which is not returned, or is returned but damaged, in accordance with the rates specified on form AD-107.

Item Description Where, When, How Project Maps Project area maps with access roads, access point(s), and disposal area(s).

Provided in task order and/or prework meeting

Lock Combination, Gate Key, Access Permits if needed

The Government will provide access to the access and disposal point(s). Access roads are generally accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles. Roads within the recreation sites are not plowed, and a 4x4 vehicle may be needed for access in winter. Any snow removal is the responsibility of contractor.

Provided at Prework meeting by the district.

Campsite, if requested.

Permit issued by District

Return Government Equipment

The Contractor shall return unused Government supplies, keys, maps, and other furnished Government materials at end of contract time.

Road Access, Rutting, and Landings

The Contractor may use system roads and service roads located within the project areas for access with motorized vehicles such as cars, trucks, or other mechanized equipment to perform work during the period of performance.

All cultural and historic sites will be protected. Most sites will be protected by avoidance by mechanized equipment. Work within protected sites will occur by hand. Designated site boundaries will be identified and flagged by the Forest Service prior to operations.

The COR will approve the use, and conditions of use, of any road not shown on the project map. Any new temporary road must be approved by the COR prior to construction.

Equipment operations for hazard tree removal is subject to “dry or frozen conditions”, as follows:

Contractor shall be mindful of ground conditions in accordance with rutting guidelines and shall only perform work when ground conditions are acceptable for work completed under contract. Any rutting over 2 inches in depth will be repaired by the contractor. If rutting ≥ 6 inches occurs, operations in the area will cease until ground conditions improve. If ground conditions are unacceptable, Contractor shall notify COR of cease in work activities for the day to avoid delay of contract penalty. When the COR determines conditions are unsuitable for work to continue, the Contractor will not be penalized for delay of work.

On-Site Representative

Contractor shall provide an on-site representative that is conversant and literate in the English language whenever work is in progress.

Tree Removal Time

The Contractor shall complete all work by the end of the period of performance. The period of performance would be specified in each individual task order. Work may occur during the winter when campgrounds and other recreation sites are either closed or experience low visitor use. When the COR determines conditions are unsuitable for work to continue due to weather or ground conditions, the Contractor will not be penalized for delay of work.

SITE CONDITION AND CARE

Contractor shall not alter residual trees that are not designated for removal. This includes no pruning, topping, limbing, cutting, carving, or removal of any non-designated tree.

Contractor shall fall trees in a manner that minimizes damage to the surrounding forest environment.

The contractor shall NOT do any of the following:

• aim trees to crush residual trees;

• aim trees to knock down other trees;

• cause negligent hang-ups of cut trees;

• sheering of residual trees; or

• other behaviors that could be deemed as intentional damage to residual forests.

If falling tree will cause damage to residual forest, tree should be taken down in sections with proper rigging equipment and certified personnel. Correction of any damage to residual trees will be corrected by the contractor using a method that minimizes further damage to residual trees. For example, hanging branches in adjacent trees will be removed by ascending the tree to remove rather than felling the residual tree.

Contractor shall flush cut stumps as possible. If not possible, up to a 6-inch stump height is permitted.

Contractor shall remove all rigging materials including rope, cables, chokers, hooks, pulley systems, snatch blocks, and other material used for rigging from all residual and cut trees.

The contractor shall treat all felled tree material (slash, boles, branches, bark, and tops of trees) at each project location as specified in the task order. Failure to treat all felled tree material will result in no acceptance for project location as determined by COR.

Work under each task order will progress in an orderly fashion. The contractor must fall all designated trees and treat subsequent material produced by felling designated trees within each project location before the next location can be moved to, with permission of the COR.

Contractor shall not obstruct fire access roads with felled material if contractor is not on-site and can move material in a timely manner. No road access may be blocked overnight. See the Tonto National Forest’s Industrial Fire Plan for more information.

SUBMITTALS

Quality Control Plan. The Contractor shall prepare a Quality Control Plan as described in Section E.

The Contractor shall inspect the work in accordance with the accepted Quality Control Plan.

Progress Schedule. The contractor shall prepare and submit a practical schedule showing the order in which the contractor will perform the work and the dates on which the contractor contemplates starting and completing each task.

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTENCE

If any of the services do not conform to contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by reperformance, the Government may --

(1) Require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and

(2) Reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.

If the Contractor fails to promptly perform the services again or to take the necessary action to ensure future performance in conformity with contract requirements, the Government may –

(1) By contract or otherwise, perform the services and charge to the Contractor any cost incurred by the Government that is directly related to the performance of such service; or

(2) Terminate the contract for default.

CONTRACTOR QUALITY CONTROL PLAN

Quality Control Plan. The Contractor shall maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP) to successfully perform the work contained herein. The Contractor shall submit the QCP within 5 calendar days of contracting officer request.

The general Quality Control plan must demonstrate how the Contractor will assure quality meets the requirements and specifications of the contract. It shall specify how quality will be monitored to assure the performance standards are met; the supervision of crew and work; and the personnel that will be performing the quality control. Quality control includes the monitoring of quality while work is in progress and an unbiased sample of thinning and other work to determine actual quality percentage.

GOVERNMENT INSPECTION / QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

The objective of this plan is to provide a quality surveillance plan for work performed on the Tonto National Forest. This plan provides a basis for the Contracting Officers Representative to evaluate the quality of the Contractor’s performance. The oversight provided for in the contract and in this plan will help ensure that quality levels reach the required levels of performance.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

On-Site Inspections

The government will make periodic inspections while work is in progress to assure that work is proceeding satisfactorily. These inspections will initially be done daily but may vary if work progresses in a satisfactory manner. Inspection for acceptance of work will be accomplished by a visual inspection and will be based on adherence to the specifications.

The Contractor shall maintain documentation of own on-site inspections performed during contract time. COR or designated inspector will complete random, visual, on-site inspections to ensure all designated trees for removal are felled, all stump heights are acceptable, all material from felled trees is located in acceptable disposal area, damage to residual trees is minimal/non-existent, there is no damage to protected improvements, and there is no damage to the surrounding forest environment.

Visual Inspection Indicating Less Than Quality Work

In the event visual inspection indicates that work quality is less than 100 percent and the operator will not re-work the unit voluntarily, then the Government shall, by formal inspection, determine if the specified methods of work have been used. Failure to use specified methods shall require prompt corrective action. Repeated failure to follow the specified methods of work may be cause for termination of the Contractor’s right to proceed and the contract considered in default.

The inspections will be made visually by determining whether or not trees were acceptably handled and if all designated trees and slash material were removed. Trees that are not satisfactory will be recorded on a map that will be shared with the contractor to allow for corrective action.

Unsatisfactory Work

The minimum acceptable standard for full payment is 100%. Reduced payment will be made for quality < 100%. If the percentage falls below 100%, the Government will inform the Contractor. The Contractor shall then rework all trees that fall below 100% and bring the work up to satisfactory levels.

Payment will be made for completed bid items at the unit contract price wherever the quality of work is 100%, based on inspections as outlined above. Where inspection determines work quality is < 100 percent and the contractor chooses not to rework, the CO may accept the work at a rate reduction of 3 percent for each 1 percent the quality of work is below 100 percent.

Performance Requirement Summary

TASK STANDARDS ACCEPTABLE

QUALITY

MEASUREMENT

METHOD

SANCTIONS

Fell/buck hazard trees

Fell Trees Meet stump height requirements; no damage to residual trees or “unique features”.

100% meet stump ht.

requirement. 100% felled while meeting no damage requirement.

100% visual inspection Rework

Cost of repair/replacement of unique feature

Delimb and buck trees Meet requirements for limb removal and bucking length.

100% of tree boles meet requirement.

100% visual inspection Rework

Haul tree boles/slash to disposal area

Haul tree boles and slash to disposal site

Meet requirements for removal of all material

100% of the required material is removed/hauled away to disposal site.

100% visual inspection Rework

On-site chipping of tree boles/slash material

Chipping Meet maximum chip depth and minimum pull back requirements

100% of the area meet the requirement

100% visual inspection Rework

Hand or machine piling of tree boles/slash

Hand or machine piling Meet requirements for maximum size of pile

100% of the piles meet the requirement

100% visual inspection Rework

Pruning

Pruning Meet requirement for proper pruning methods.

100% of hazardous tree branches are properly pruned

100% visual inspection Rework

Stacking of tree boles and removal of slash

Stacking of tree boles Meet requirement for proper stacking form and location.

100% of tree boles are stacked in proper form and location

100% visual inspection Rework

Re-inspection Upon Contractor’s Request

If the original inspection results are unacceptable to the Contractor on either a completed or partially completed unit, re-inspection will be completed upon written request. The same inspection procedures will be used. If the re-inspection confirms the original inspection is not meeting standards, the Contractor will complete rework of the item or accept reduced payment.

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

DELIVERIES

CONTRACT PERFORMANCE TIME AND REQUIRED RATE OF PROGRESS

The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the period of performance. The minimum acceptable rate of progress will be calculated by dividing the total unit of work for each Item by performance time specified. In the event the Contractor is delayed and falls more than 2 calendar days behind the progress rate required above, the Contractor will notify the COR in writing and will describe how progress will be altered to catch up and complete all work items within the period of performance.

The Government will issue a Notice to Proceed as soon as weather and ground conditions are favorable for tree removal on one or more of the areas. The Contractor shall start work promptly after receipt of a Notice to Proceed. The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the stated contract time. If more than one area is available for work, the Government may prescribe the treatment sequence.

SUSPENSION OF WORK BY THE GOVERNMENT

Work may be suspended by the Government for the following conditions:

TES Exclusion: A contractor holding an active contract during periods which could affect a TES (Threatened/Endangered/Sensitive) wildlife or plant species life cycle may receive a Suspend Work Order if it is determined that activities of the contractor are adversely impacting the species. This may apply to the Mexican Spotted Owl (MSO) from March 1 through August 31, March 1 to September 30 for the Northern Goshawk, and July 1 through September 30 for Chiricahua leopard frog. Anticipated conflicts will depend on the site-specific locations of each contract.

Exclusion for Fire Plan: Active tree thinning during periods of elevated fire risk may receive a Suspend Work Order if the COR determines that conditions merit suspension of work. The suspension order will be rescinded once the risk for fire danger has been reduced to an acceptable level as determined by the District Ranger in conjunction with the COR.