Attachment_01_Statement_of_Work.docx

SECTION C--DESCRIPTION/ SPECIFICATIONS/ STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 Scope of Work Description of Work: The intent of this contract is to secure timber stand improvement (pre-commercial thinning, commercial thinning) and fuels reduction (snag abatement, thinning or piling/covering piles or brush cutting or a combination there of), services on the Inyo National Forest, CA.

Contractor Responsibility: The Contractor shall provide everything--including, but not limited to, all equipment, supplies, transportation, labor, and supervision--necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government.

C.2 Project Location & Description Location: Projects will be located within the boundaries of the Inyo National Forest, CA, on Mono Lake, Mammoth, and White Mountain Ranger Districts.

Description: The project areas are generally identifiable by changes in vegetation, roads, flagging, or through geographical information systems (GIS) data. The boundaries can be adjacent timber stands, recent harvest units, or other natural or manmade features that clearly define the boundary as noted on the project area maps. In most cases the interior and exterior boundaries of the project areas will be flagged with blue flagging or otherwise described below or by Contracting Officer’s Representative (from now on COR). If there is any discrepancy on the boundaries of individual work areas within units the COR must be contacted as soon as possible and no more work must take place until the discrepancy is resolved.

Exclusions (Non-Work Areas): Control areas, if present; and limitations on work performed will be noted in C.5 Restrictions on Work and delineated on the ground by orange and white candy cane flagging on the boundaries and/or pink tags stapled on vegetation at breast height facing away from the site.

Accessibility: Access routes are shown on the project area maps. The project areas can and will be accessed from established highways and Forest system roads. Work vehicles and equipment will be parked on Forest Service land unless prior arrangements have been made by the Contracting Officer. In most cases project areas will be accessible by 2WD; however, some terrain may necessitate the use of a four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle.

Any prospective contractor desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing from the Contracting Officer soon enough to allow a reply to reach all prospective contractors before the solicitation closing date. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding.

C.3 Maps Any maps included in Section J are general in nature and are not to be considered as definitively identifying locations.

C.4 Estimated Start Date & Contract Time Estimated Start Date: June 2018 Number of Calendar Days Required:

See also Section F C.5 Restrictions on Work Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as outlined here. Nothing in this part shall be construed to take away any of the Government's rights under the Suspension of Work Clause (52.242-14). Restrictions are as follows:

1. In accordance with the fire plan, if included in Section J.

2. When the Contracting Officer (or designated representative) determines that adverse weather has made access too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

1. In accordance with the fire plan, if included in Section J.

2. When the Contracting Officer (or designated representative) determines that adverse weather has made access too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

3. No mechanical equipment will be allowed to operate within Controlled Areas unless authorized by USDA Forest Service or USDI Bureau of Land Management personnel.

4. Mechanical harvesting equipment, including front loaders and skidders; would not be used on the Contract Area when wet weather operations or wet soil conditions would adversely affect soil porosity, hydrologic function, or runoff potential.

5. Use of mechanical equipment shall be limited to slopes less than 30 percent and to when soil is dry to 6 inches, or suitable conditions determined by a Forest Service Watershed Specialist.

6. No mechanical operations would occur during the primary nesting period for resident and Neotropical migratory birds from May 15th thru July 30th in units 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.19, and 8.1; from May 1st to June 30th in unit 4.18; and May 15th thru July 15th in units 6.1, 6.2, 6.3. This LOP may be adjusted during any year if a Forest Service Wildlife Biologist determines the breeding chronology does not coincide with these dates.

7. A secondary limited operating period (LOP) will apply to unit 8.1 to minimize disruption to migrating or staging mule deer from April 1st through June 15th and again from October 1st through November 15th each year.

8. Hours of Operations restrictions take effect for ALL units adjacent to homes or campgrounds including units adjacent to the towns of Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, McGee Creek, Crowley Lake, and Aspen Springs and the McGee Creek, Crowley Lake, Bitterbrush, Big Trees, Forks, Four Jeffrey, Intake 2, and Bishop Park campgrounds as follows: Monday through Saturday fuels reduction activities would occur between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and may occur on Sundays and holidays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. when approved on a case-by-case basis by the Forest Service Contracting Officer or Representative. Work in the campground units will be scheduled with approval of the COR to avoid the reservation season when sites are filled. This will generally begin in the late September and October.

C.6 Licenses and Insurance The contractor shall obtain the insurance and licenses listed here.

MSPA Card (Form WH510): This contract [X] does [ ] does not require the contractor to be registered with the US Department of Labor as a Farm Labor Contractor. The Contractor shall provide a current Form WH510 or legible copy.

Other: None C.7 Technical Requirements C.7-1 Definitions

Conifer – Typically an evergreen tree, which usually has a single well-defined trunk and/or attains a height greater than 20 feet (i.e. pine, spruce, and fir species) Control Area (Cultural and/or Threatened and Endangered (T&E) Sites) - Areas delineated by orange and white candy cane flagging for the purpose of protecting resources of concern. Locations where special protection is required to preserve and protect cultural values and species of plants or animals listed on the T&E list.

Crown Ratio – The portion of the total vertical tree height that is occupied by the vertical length of the tree crown.

Damaged/Diseased Tree – Any tree with one or more of the following:

1. Broken or dead top, regardless of cause.

2. Vertical orientation of bole is lost.

3. Visible disruption of roots.

4. Dead or dying limbs/foliage within the upper three-fourths of the live crown DBH – Diameter of trees measured at breast height (4.5 feet above ground, upslope side of tree).

Diameter - Other vegetation (not trees) is measured 1 foot above ground Dominant/Co-dominant Tree – Trees generally of good vigor due to being the larger trees in the stand and their crowns receiving full sunlight from above and on much of the sides.

Excess Tree(s) – A tree or group of trees that is left, but should have been cut to meet spacing or trees-per-acre requirements.

Existing Down Woody Material – All logs, stems, limbs and tops of trees and brush, which are dead and lying on the ground prior to Contractor beginning operations.

Hardwood - A broad-leaved tree, which usually has a single well-defined trunk and/or attains a height greater than 20 feet. (i.e. aspen and oak species). Sprouting hardwood species may be in the form of multi-stemmed clumps.

Jackpot - Concentration of slash or natural fuels, heavier than the surrounding areas.

Ladder Fuels - Fuels that provide vertical continuity between the ground and the tree crowns thus are creating a pathway for surface fire to move into the overstory tree crowns.

Leave Tree – A Dominant or Co-dominant tree, which is free from Damage/Disease, or a tree less than the desired DBH specified, and is left uncut (or should have been left uncut) by the Contractor to meet desired spacing or trees per acre requirements. Any live tree greater than 24 inches dbh are automatically considered to be Leave Trees.

Leave Tree Clump – A group of 3 to 12 Dominant and Co-dominant trees in close proximity to one another, which is left (or should have been left) by the contractor to increase stand diversity.

Mobilization - The act of delivering all ordered personnel and equipment to the project area. The price for mobilization shall be included in the proposed unit prices.

Percent Cover – Portion of the project area beneath the drip line of vegetation to be cut or left untreated. Percent cover and treatment will be specified in C.8-2 Specifications.

Reserved Trees or Reserved Areas - Individual species of trees or certain areas within a treatment unit that the contract or COR designates are reserved from treatment.

Shrub (or brush) - Vegetation consisting of woody perennial plant smaller than a tree, usually having permanent single or multiple stems originating at or near the ground level not normally reaching 20 feet in height (i.e. bitter brush, manzanita, ceanothus, mountain mahogany, rhododendron, serviceberry, sagebrush, etc.).

Slash – Any cut vegetation and/or existing naturally (dead and down) woody debris. This includes stems, limbs, down logs, and brush that existed from previous activities or was generated by the contractor during current activities. Diameter to be piled, chipped, or removed will be specified. Limbs less than 1 inch in diameter and 2 feet in length are not defined as slash and may be left scattered on the forest floor.

Snag – A dead or living tree that has 10 percent or less live crown.

Superior Vigor Trees – Trees which exhibit healthy, dark green needle color. Needle length is longer, and reaches further back on branches. Needle length on inferior vigor trees is shorter and often tufted nearer branch tips. Recent height growth is also greater on Superior Vigor Trees. May not always be the largest/tallest tree.

Supervisor (foreman) - A working (English speaking) supervisor, who is knowledgeable and experienced in the required work and supervision, shall be provided for each crew and is required to stay with the crew while work is in progress. If crew is non-English speaking, the supervisor must be bilingual in English and the language of the crew members.

Suppressed/Intermediate Tree – Trees generally of poor vigor due to being overtopped or crowded by larger trees. The crowns of these trees usually receive little or no direct sunlight.

Undesirable Vegetation – Conifer trees less than 24.0 inches dbh with one or more of the following attributes:

1. Damaged/Diseased Trees.

2. Trees with Suppressed and/or Intermediate crown position classification.

3. Excess trees not selected as Leave Trees.

Water Body Buffer Zone (WBZ) - A 25 to 300 foot area extending upslope on each side of a stream channel or as described in C.8.2 Specifications.

Wildlife Clumps – An area usually between 1/100 acre and 1/4 acre in size, where no trees have been cut or no trees should have been cut. Wildlife clumps are ideally somewhat denser than the surrounding forest area, and are usually dominated by smaller trees, with fuller crowns. These clumps of trees tend to break up horizontal visibility through the stand, and offer various wildlife species a greater degree of cover and nesting possibilities.

C.7-2 Specifications C.8-2 Specific Tasks

C.8-2.1– Commercial Thinning (20” DBH Limit) – Line Items 1.1 Treatments under this item are completed by hand operated tools. Item consists of one unit.

C-7.2.1.1 – Commercial Thin – All live conifer trees less than or equal to 20” DBH are evaluated for cut or leave status. The result of thinning effort is all conifer trees less than 20” DBH, which were not selected as Leave Trees, are cut down. Limbs may be left as long as the felled tree meets specifications listed in C.7-2.1.2. Trees are cut below the lowest live limb and completely severed from the stump. The resulting stumps are less than 8 inches high, when measured from the uphill side. Leave Trees are un-damaged by Contractor’s operations, except for minor bark scraping, which does not expose the cambium.

C.7-2.1.2 Felled Trees – Boles of trees which are felled by the contractor should not exceed a height of 4 feet from the ground, and more than two trees should not lie on top of each other. If either of these conditions are exceeded then trees should be limbed or bucked to achieve contract specification. Felled trees should not be left in roadways and will be completely removed from the road bed.

C.7-2.1.3 Snags - Snags posing hazards to Forest Service System roads and contained within the unit boundaries as shown on the contract area map shall be cut regardless of size. Any Snag posing a hazard to the Contractor’s operations or personnel may be cut. Snag stump height is less than 8.0 inches, when measured from the uphill side.

C.7-2.1.4 Leave Tree Spacing – Spacing may vary by up to 20 percent with a range of 25 to 35 feet. Spacing should result in approximately 70 healthy, vigorous Dominant/Co-dominant trees per acre (approximate 25 foot spacing) plus 10 to 15 trees per acre in smaller size classes should be retained in openings if available. All trees exceeding 20 inches DBH are retained, plus additional Leave Trees less than 20 inches DBH, which are necessary to meet the 70 trees per acre requirement. These trees should generally cover the entire acre, but are not arranged in a grid-like fashion. Trees occur individually or in small clumps (3 to 12 trees), depending on the existing, pre-treatment forest condition.

C.7-2.1.5 Leave Tree/Snag Selection – Unless otherwise stated by COR Leave Tree species preference is Pine over Fir and to a greater extent Jeffrey Pine over Lodgepole Pine. Generally, the Contractor will select Leave Trees, which are of superior size (height over dbh) and vigor. Leave tree selection shall result in all size classes being represented in the stand. From the remaining trees, choose superior vigor trees as Leave Trees, regardless of spacing. The crowns of Leave Trees do not touch one another, but the crowns of Leave Trees in a Leave Tree Clump may touch one another.

C.7-2.1.6 Wildlife Clumps – Wildlife clumps will be designated using yellow flagging, and no thinning will occur within these areas. Approximately 10 percent of the applicable area is left as Wildlife Clumps. Wildlife Clumps are usually between 1/100 acre and 1/4 acre in size and are well-scattered throughout the applicable area. The surrounding 75 feet of each individual Wildlife Clump is thinned more heavily, to achieve the desired average of 70 trees per acre.

C.7-2.1.7 Stump Treatment - All Jeffrey pine stumps greater than 14.0 inches in diameter shall be treated with Sporax to prevent the spread of root disease. A uniform coating must be applied within four hours of the tree being severed from the stump. All other tree species do not require Sporax treatment.

C.7-2.2– Hazard Tree Thinning (no diameter limit) – Line Items 2.1 – 2.3 Treatments under this item are completed by hand operated tools. In 2016 the Owens River Fire burned in high severity in the Alpers Canyon area resulting in 100% mortality in some areas. In order to abate the hazard as a result of this fire, dead trees within 100 feet of these roads which pose a hazard the roads will be felled and left for fuelwood cutters. Item consists of 3 units.

C.7-2.2.1 – Hazard Tree Abatement – All dead conifers and live conifers with less than 10% live canopy will be evaluated for removal. All trees which pose a hazard to the road (i.e. have the potential to hit the road) will be felled. Trees are cut below the lowest live limb and completely severed from the stump. The resulting stumps are less than 8 inches high when measured from the uphill side. Leave Trees are un-damaged by Contractor’s operations, except for minor bark scraping, which does not expose the cambium. Limbs may be left as long as contract specifications in C-7.2.2.2 are met.

C.7-2.2.2 – Felled Trees - Boles of trees which are felled by the contractor should not exceed a height of 4 feet from the ground, and more than two trees should not lie on top of each other. If either of these conditions are exceeded then trees should be limbed or bucked to achieve contract specification. Felled trees should not be left in roadways and will be completely removed from the road bed.

C.7-2.2.3 – Safety – Because there are significant safety concerns associated with working in burn areas, work should only be completed when windspeed is low and does not pose an undue risk to workers. Spotters will be posted along the road when trees are felled near or into the road to warn and guide traffic safely through the work area.

C.7-2.3– Snag cutting and hand piling – Line Items 3.1 – 3.3 Treatments under this item are completed by hand operated tools. Item consists of three units which had previous fuel reduction treatments and piling completed. Tree mortality which has occurred since piling operations has resulted in conditions which do not allow for burning of these piles. In order to allow for pile burning operations standing dead trees will be felled and piled.

C.7-2.3.1 – Hazard Tree Abatement - All dead conifers and live conifers with less than 10% live canopy will be felled. The result should be that all standing conifers will be live and have 10% or greater live canopy. Trees are cut below the lowest live limb and completely severed from the stump. The resulting stumps are less than 8 inches high, when measured from the uphill side. Leave Trees are un-damaged by Contractor’s operations, except for minor bark scraping, which does not expose the cambium.

C.7-2.3.2 – Limbing/Topping – All trees cut by the contractor exceeding 6.0 inches dbh shall be fully limbed. Limbs shall be cut to within one inch of the bole. Limbs exceeding six feet in length shall be cut in half. Bucking to a top diameter of 12 inches is required. Cut trees less than 6.0 inches DBH and the topped portion of larger trees need only be limbed and/or bucked to facilitate proper slash treatment. No other bucking of cut trees is required. Cut limbs and bole may be added to existing piles, or used to create new piles.

C.7-2.3.3 – Residual Boles – The boles of trees greater than 12 inches in diameter will be left in place. Boles of trees will be bucked or limbed so that the bole lies flush with the ground. When possible bole should lie perpendicular or at an angle to the slope to reduce the likelihood of boles rolling downhill. Boles shall not block any road or path within or adjacent to the unit.

C.7-2.3.4 – Pile Location – Piles shall not be closer than 15 feet to boles of Leave Trees, and 5 feet from and any down logs exceeding 12 inches in diameter at the small end unless approved by the COR. Slash shall not be piled or placed on logs, rocks, or stumps, in roadways, trails, swales or drainage ditches, or within 10 feet of unclassified channel bottoms or within 25 feet of designated classified streams as shown on the contract area map and/or designated on the ground. Piles shall be set back 50 feet from trails, roads, and powerlines.

C.7-2.3.5 – Pile Size – Unless approved otherwise by the COR in writing, maximum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height, and minimum pile size shall be 7 feet in diameter by 5 feet in height at the time of final inspection.

C.7-2.3.6 – Pile Construction – all piles shall be constructed by laying limbs, stems, cut boles, and all other slash, in the pile so as to be triangular in shape. Slash shall be bucked to 4 foot lengths to facilitate tight piles.

C.7-2.3.7 – Pile Covering – All constructed piles shall receive one, 4 foot wide by 4 foot long sheet of Kraft paper in the top third of the pile. Contractor shall pile additional material (top third) on top of the Kraft paper to prevent paper from moving off the pile be environmental conditions.

C-7-2.4 – Shrubland Fuel Break Creation (mowing or mastication) – Line Items 4.1, 4.2, 9.1-9.3, and 9.5-9.8 and Maintenance – Line Items 4.3 , 4.4, 4.6 – 4.19 Treatments under this item are completed by low ground pressure equipment and/ or hand operated tools. Fuels to be removed are primarily upland shrubs and or grasses. This treatment is sometimes combined with C-7-2.10 Removal of dead and down from riparian with piling or chipping when there is a mosaic of vegetation types (Line Items 4.4, 4.8, 4.11, 4.12, 4.18, and 9.6-9.8).

C.7-2.4.1 – General - Upper slope limit for mechanical operations is dependent on soil conditions, may be site specific. Upper limit for operability may range between 20 to 30 percent. Slash created during mastication shall not exceed 3 inches diameter and 18 inches in length and shall be spread not to exceed 4 inches in depth. Treated brush will be less than 8 inches in height.

C.7-2.4.2 - Associated Treatments -Up to 100 percent live and dead shrubs, small trees (<4 inch dbh), and grasses will be masticated/mowed resulting in unit being clear of any brush, small trees, or grasses. Areas that may be too steep or rocky must be cut by hand with chainsaws and brought to operable ground for the masticating/mowing unit to shred or hand fed into chipper.

C.7-2.4.3 - Percent Cover Untreated -Approximately 25% of any one unit will be left untreated. Untreated areas will be created in a mosaic fashion or may be left in a uniform amount throughout the unit or be left in graduations from the center line. Untreated areas will be at the discretion of the COR and reviewed before work commences in project area.

C.7-2.4.4 - Site Restoration - Operations will be designed to minimize the need for site restoration. Site restoration shall include all reasonable and practicable efforts to repair and restore the project area following the completion of operations. Raking out equipment tracks, applying vegetative cover to exposed soil, tilling or scarifying areas of compacted soils, and discouraging future use of trails by unauthorized vehicles should be anticipated.

C.7-2.5 – Hand Piling w/ Optional Mechanical Assistance – Line Item 5.1 – 5.2 Treatments under this item are completed by hand, but assistance from low ground pressure equipment such as a rubber tracked or tired skid steer or front loader with brush rake attachments is acceptable to reach acceptable pile height. Within the unit all slash (boles, limbs, and tops) and woody material is included for piling. The use of chainsaws to buck activity slash and existing woody material prior to constructing piles is possible.

C.7-2.5.1 Pile Location - Piles shall not be closer than 15 feet to boles of Leave Trees, snags, and five feet from down logs exceeding 20 inches diameter at the large end, unless approved by the COR. Slash shall not be piled or placed on logs, rocks, or stumps, in roadways, swales, or drainage ditches, or within 10 feet of unclassified channel bottoms or within 25 feet of designated classified streams as shown on the contract area map and/or designated on the ground. Piles will not be constructed within 50 feet of powerlines or structures. No mechanical piling equipment will be allowed to operate within Controlled Areas. These areas will be identified on the ground before work starts.

C.7-2.5.2 Pile Size – Unless approved otherwise by the COR in writing, maximum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height, and minimum pile size shall be 7 feet in diameter by 5 feet in height at the time of final inspection.

C.7-2.5.3 Pile Construction - All piles shall be constructed by laying limbs, stems, cut boles, and all other slash, including existing down woody material up to 16” diameter in the pile so as to be triangular in shape. Slash shall be bucked to 4 foot lengths to facilitate tight piles.

C.7-2.5.4 Site Restoration – Operations will be designed to minimize the need for site restoration. Site restoration shall include all reasonable and practicable efforts to repair and restore the project area following the completion of operations. Raking out equipment tracks, applying vegetative cover to exposed soil, tilling or scarifying areas of compacted soils, and discouraging future use of trails by unauthorized vehicles should be anticipated.

C.7-2.5.5 – Pile Covering – All constructed piles shall receive one, 4 foot wide by 4 foot long sheet of Kraft paper in the top third of the pile. Contractor shall pile additional material (top third) on top of the Kraft paper to prevent paper from moving off the pile be environmental conditions.

C.7-2.5.6 – Fuel Lengths – Slash and boles of trees which have already been cut will be bucked to 4 foot or smaller lengths to facilitate pile construction. Trees or tops which are 4 inches in diameter or less may be added to piles without further cutting.

Any designated improvement (i.e. System Road or Hiking Trail, as shown on contract area maps) which have been disturbed by the Contractor’s operations will be returned to as near original condition as practicable.

C.7-2.6 – Ground-Based Snag Removal, Slash Disposal, and Decking of Logs – Line Item 6.1 – 6.3 Treatments under this item are completed by hand operated tools and low ground pressure equipment such as a rubber tracked or tired skidder. Item consist of three units within the June Mountain Ski Area permit boundary and include cutting of standing dead conifers and decking of logs at a nearby site for public fuelwood cutters. Units are less than 30% slope according to 10m DEM raster layer. However if areas above 30% slope are encountered machinery will not operate in these areas without written permission by the COR.

C.7-2.6.1 – Hazard Tree Abatement - All dead conifers and live conifers under 30 inches DBH with less than 10% live canopy will be felled. The result should be that all standing conifers will be live and have 10% or greater live canopy. Trees are cut below the lowest live limb and completely severed from the stump. The resulting stumps are less than 8 inches high, when measured from the uphill side. Leave Trees are un-damaged by Contractor’s operations, except for minor bark scraping, which does not expose the cambium.

C.7-2.6.2 – Limbing/ Topping - All trees cut by the contractor exceeding 10 inches dbh shall be fully limbed. Limbs shall be cut to within one inch of the bole. Trees shall be topped at no less than a 4 inch diameter at the bole.

C.7-2.6.3 – Skidding and/or Yarding – Contractor will use conventional logging practices to skid and/or yard log which are greater than 20 feet in length and 10 inches DBH to the designated decking site.

C.7-2.6.4 – Decking – Decked area is designated on contract area maps (map 2). If area is insufficient then an additional decking areas will be designated and agreed upon in writing by the COR and contractor and designated on the ground. Logs will be arranged parallel to each other and no higher than five feet in height.

C.7-2.6.5 – Chipping of Activity Slash and Existing Dead and Down – All limb material and boles less than 20 feet long and 10 inches diameter will be chipped, masticated, or ground. Resulting chips should be blown back into the “tree islands” or across ski runs to a depth no greater than 2 inches in height on average with a max of 4 inches over less than 10 percent of any one acre. Chips shall not be spread into drainages or pre-constructed erosion control features, nor placed near water ways where potential to enter streams or lakes are likely. If a use for chips are found locally by the Forest Service or Contractor then chips may be blown into the back of a chip van for disposal.

Any designated improvement (i.e. System Road or Hiking Trail, as shown on contract area maps) which have been disturbed by the Contractor’s operations will be returned to as near original condition as practicable.

C.7-2.8 – Fuels Reduction (10” DBH Limit) and piling with Commercial Thinning (20” DBH Limit) – Line Item 8.1 – Treatments under this item are completed by hand or using hand operated tool, but assistance from low ground pressure equipment such as a rubber tracked or tired skid steer or front loader with brush rake attachments is acceptable for piling. Within the unit all slash (boles, limbs, tops) and woody material is included for piling. In addition, within 150 feet of road 4S08 trees up to 20 inches in diameter will be assessed and felled for fuel wood cutting.

C-7.2.8.1 – Fuels Reduction Thin – All conifer trees less than or equal to 10” DBH are evaluated for cut or leave status. The result of thinning effort is all conifers trees less than 10” DBH, which were not selected as Leave Trees, are cut down. Trees are cut below the lowest live limb and completely severed from the stump. The resulting stumps are less than 8 inches high, when measured from the uphill side. Leave Trees are un-damaged by Contractor’s operations, except for minor bark scraping, which does not expose the cambium.

C.7-2.8.2 Snags - Any Snag posing a hazard to the Contractor’s operations or personnel may be cut. Snag stump height is less than 8.0 inches, when measured from the uphill side. Cut snags are to be fully de-limbed. Snags posing hazards to FS system roads adjacent to treatment units shall be felled prior to contractor’s use, if too large for contractor to fell; FS should be advised immediately to arrange removal.

C.7-2.8.3 Leave Tree Spacing – Spacing may vary by up to 25 percent and will range from 25 to 35 ft. Spacing should result in leaving a healthy, vigorous understory of seedling, sapling, and pole sized trees, generally trees shorter than 25 feet in ht. All trees exceeding 10 inches DBH would be retained, plus additional Leave Trees less than 10 inches DBH, which are necessary to meet the additional 15 trees per acre (this number may vary by 50 percent). These trees should generally cover the entire acre, but are not arranged in a grid-like fashion. Trees occur individually or in small clumps (3 to 5 trees), depending on the existing, post-sale forest condition.

C.7-2.8.4 Leave Tree/Snag Selection –Leave Tree species preference is Pine over Fir. Generally, the Contractor will select Leave Trees, which are of superior size (height over dbh) and vigor from the remaining intermediate and suppressed trees, choose superior vigor trees as Leave Trees, regardless of spacing. The crowns of Leave Trees do not touch one another, but the crowns of Leave Trees in a Leave Tree Clump may touch one another. Leave trees shall not act as fuel ladders to the residual dominant/co-dominant trees.

C.7-2.8.5 Wildlife Clumps – Wildlife clumps will be designated using yellow flagging, and no thinning will occur within these areas. Approximately 10 percent of the applicable area is left as Wildlife Clumps. Wildlife Clumps are usually between 1/100 acre and 1/4 acre in size and are well-scattered throughout the applicable area. The surrounding 75 feet of each individual Wildlife Clump is thinned more heavily, to achieve the desired average of 70 trees per acre.

C.7-2.8.6 Piles General – Piles will consist of activity slash (boles, limbs, tops) plus existing down woody material. It is anticipated that the use of chainsaws to buck and limb activity fuel will be needed.

C.7-2.8.7 Pile Location - Piles shall not be closer than 15 feet to boles of Leave Trees, snags, and not closer than 5 feet from any down log exceeding 20 inches diameter at the large end, unless approved by the COR. Slash shall not be piled or placed on logs, rocks, or stumps, in roadways, swales, or drainage ditches, or within 10 feet of unclassified channel bottoms or within 25 feet of designated classified streams as shown on the contract area map and/or designated on the ground. Piles will be constructed at least 50 feet away from any structures, powerlines, or roads. No mechanical piling equipment will be allowed to operate within Controlled Areas. These areas will be identified on the ground before work starts.

C.7-2.8.8 Pile Size – Unless approved otherwise by the COR in writing, maximum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height, and minimum pile size shall be 7 feet in diameter by 5 feet in height at the time of final inspection.

C.7-2.8.9 Pile Construction - All piles shall be constructed by laying limbs, stems, cut boles, and all other slash, including existing down woody material up to 16” diameter in the pile so as to be triangular in shape. Slash shall be bucked to 4 foot lengths to facilitate tight piles.

C.7-2.8.10 Site Restoration – Operations will be designed to minimize the need for site restoration. Site restoration shall include all reasonable and practicable efforts to repair and restore the project area following the completion of operations. Raking out equipment tracks, applying vegetative cover to exposed soil, tilling or scarifying areas of compacted soils, and discouraging future use of trails by unauthorized vehicles should be anticipated.

C.7-2.8.11 Commercial Thinning – All live conifer trees less than or equal to 20” DBH are evaluated for cut or leave status within 150 feet of the road 04S08 (area will be flagged in orange). The result of thinning effort is all conifer trees less than 20” DBH, which were not selected as Leave Trees, are cut down. Limbs may be left as long as the felled tree meets specifications listed in 8-2.8.12. Trees are cut below the lowest live limb and completely severed from the stump. The resulting stumps are less than 8 inches high, when measured from the uphill side. Leave Trees are un-damaged by Contractor’s operations, except for minor bark scraping, which does not expose the cambium.

C.7-2.8.12 Felled Trees – Boles of trees which are felled by the contractor should not exceed a height of 4 feet from the ground, and more than two trees should not lie on top of each other. If either of these conditions are exceeded then trees should be limbed or bucked to achieve contract specification. Felled trees should not be left in roadways and will be completely removed from the road bed.

C.7-2.8.13 Leave Tree Spacing – Spacing may vary by up to 20 percent with a range of 25 to 35 feet. Spacing should result in approximately 70 healthy, vigorous Dominant/Co-dominant trees per acre (approximate 25 foot spacing) plus 10 to 15 trees per acre in smaller size classes should be retained in openings if available. All trees exceeding 20 inches DBH are retained, plus additional Leave Trees less than 20 inches DBH, which are necessary to meet the 70 trees per acre requirement. These trees should generally cover the entire acre, but are not arranged in a grid-like fashion. Trees occur individually or in small clumps (3 to 12 trees), depending on the existing, pre-treatment forest condition.

C.7-2.8.14 Stump Treatment - All Jeffrey pine stumps greater than 14.0 inches in diameter shall be treated with Sporax to prevent the spread of root disease. A uniform coating must be applied within four hours of the tree being severed from the stump. All other tree species do not require Sporax treatment.

Any designated improvement (i.e. System Road or Hiking Trail, as shown on contract area maps) which have been disturbed by the Contractor’s operations will be returned to as near original condition as practicable.)

C.7-2.9 – Pinyon Juniper Fuels Reduction and piling and chipping – Line Item 9.4 – Treatments under this item are completed by hand or using hand operated tools. Within the unit all slash (boles, limbs, tops, and brush) and woody material is included for piling or may be chipped within 50 ft of an existing road.

C-7.2.9.1 – Fuels Reduction Thin – All conifer trees (pinyon and juniper) will be evaluated for cut or leave status. Trees will be cut to thin the woodland and leave a variable 20-30 foot spacing. Trees will be cut below the lowest live limb and completely severed from the stump. The resulting stumps are to be less than 4 inches high, when measured from the uphill side. Leave Trees are to be un-damaged by Contractor’s operations, except for minor bark scraping, which does not expose the cambium. Pinyon and juniper Leave Trees will not be pruned or limbed up.

C.7-2.9.2 Standing dead trees/Snags – All standing dead pinyon-juniper will be cut unless marked or approved by the COR. Snag stump height is less than 4.0 inches, when measured from the uphill side. Cut snags are to be fully de-limbed and all material up to 16” included in the piles.

C.7-2.9.3 Leave Tree Spacing – Spacing should vary by up to 25 percent and will range from 20 to 30 ft. Spacing should result in leaving a healthy, vigorous stand with a variety of tree sizes. These trees should generally cover the entire acre, but will not be arranged in a grid-like fashion. Trees occur individually or in small clumps (3 to 5 trees), depending on the existing woodland condition.

C.7-2.9.4 Leave Tree Selection –Leave Tree species preference is Jeffrey pine where they occur (occasional), then pinyon and juniper. Generally, the Contractor will select Leave Trees, which are of superior size and vigor while leaving some size and age class diversity within the remaining trees. The crowns of Leave Trees do not touch one another, but the crowns of Leave Trees in a Leave Tree Clump may touch one another. Leave trees shall not act as fuel ladders to the residual dominant/co-dominant trees.

C.7-2.9.5 Wildlife Clumps – Wildlife clumps will be chosen by the contractor, and no thinning will occur within these areas. Approximately 10 percent of the applicable area is left as Wildlife Clumps. Wildlife Clumps are usually between 1/100 acre and 1/4 acre in size and are well-scattered throughout the applicable area with a preference for using the rockiest sites as Wildlife Clumps.

C.7-2.9.6 Shrub cutting – Shrubs will be cut within the 10 ft from the drip line of any leave trees and any infrastructure (power poles etc). Shrub cutting will be with hand tools as the ground is generally too rocky and sometimes too steep for equipment to be used. Use of low ground pressure equipment can be approved by the COR if any area that is operable is identified.

C.7-2.9.7 Piles General – Piles will consist of activity slash (boles, limbs, tops) plus existing down woody material and cut shrubs. It is anticipated that the use of chainsaws to buck and limb activity fuel will be needed. All piling will be done by hand. No mechanical piling equipment is allowed.

C.7-2.9.8 Pile Location - Piles shall not be closer than 15 feet to foliage of Leave Trees, snags, and not closer than 5 feet from any down log exceeding 20 inches diameter at the large end, unless approved by the COR. Piles should be constructed on top of cut stumps wherever possible. Slash shall not be piled or placed on logs, rocks, or stumps, in roadways, swales, or drainage ditches, or within 10 feet of unclassified channel bottoms or within 25 feet of designated classified streams as shown on the contract area map and/or designated on the ground. Piles will be constructed at least 50 feet away from any structures, powerlines, or roads. These areas will be identified on the ground before work starts.

C.7-2.9.9 Pile Size – Unless approved otherwise by the COR in writing, maximum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height, and minimum pile size shall be 7 feet in diameter by 6 feet in height at the time of final inspection.

C.7-2.9.10 Pile Construction - All piles shall be constructed by laying limbs, stems, cut boles, and all other slash, including existing down woody material up to 16” diameter in the pile so as to be triangular in shape. Slash shall be bucked to 4 foot lengths to facilitate tight piles.

C.7-2.9.11 Chipping – The contractor may chip activity slash within 50 of existing roads rather than yarding it by hand to a distance of more than 50 ft from the road. The chipper and any other equipment may not travel off existing roads. Chips may be blown back into the unit to a depth no greater than 4 inches or hauled off site to a site approved by the COR.

C.7-2.9.12 Site Restoration – Operations will be designed to minimize the need for site restoration. Site restoration shall include all reasonable and practicable efforts to repair and restore the project area following the completion of operations. Raking out trails, applying vegetative cover to exposed soil, and discouraging future use of trails by unauthorized vehicles should be anticipated.

Any designated improvement (i.e. System Road or Hiking Trail, as shown on contract area maps) which have been disturbed by the Contractor’s operations will be returned to as near original condition as practicable.

C.7-2.10 – Removal of dead and down from riparian vegetation with piling or chipping – Line Items 4.4, 4.5, 4.8, 4.11, 4.12, 4.18, and 9.6-9.8. Treatments under this item involve cutting out dead material from brushy riparian vegetation such as bushy willows, water birch, cottonwood, and aspen. Dead stems will be cut out of live bushes, completely dead bushes and trees will be cut, and down stems will be removed. Any dead conifer trees less than 16” DBH will also be cut. All material will be removed from the riparian vegetation by hand and either piled and burned in adjacent areas or chipped. This treatment is sometimes combined with C-7-2.4 shrubland fuelbreak creation (mowing and mastication) where there is a mosaic of vegetation types (Line Items 4.4, 4.8, 4.11, 4.12, 4.18, and 9.6-9.8).

C.7-2.10.1 Removal of dead and down – Dead stems and completely dead shrubs and trees will be cut using hand tools and yarded by hand out of the riparian vegetation. Standing dead stems should be cut if they are accessible to hand tools at the base of the shrub. As much aerial dead material as possible should be removed. Any down dead stems larger than 1 inch in diameter will be yarded by hand outside the riparian area.

C.7-2.10.2 Piles General – All activity slash removed from the riparian vegetation will be either piled in adjacent upland areas as approved by the COR or chipped.

C.7-2.10.3 Pile Location - Piles shall not be closer than 15 feet to foliage of Leave Trees, snags, and not closer than 5 feet from any down log exceeding 20 inches diameter at the large end, unless approved by the COR. Slash shall not be piled or placed on logs, rocks, or stumps, in roadways, swales, or drainage ditches, or within 10 feet of unclassified channel bottoms or within 25 feet of designated classified streams as shown on the contract area map and/or designated on the ground. Piles will be constructed at least 50 feet away from any structures, or powerlines. These areas will be identified on the ground before work starts.

C.7-2.10.4 Pile Size – Unless approved otherwise by the COR in writing, maximum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height, and minimum pile size shall be 7 feet in diameter by 6 feet in height at the time of final inspection.

C.7-2.10.5 Pile Construction - All piles shall be constructed by laying limbs, stems, cut boles, and all other slash, including existing down woody material up to 16” diameter in the pile so as to be triangular in shape. Slash shall be bucked to 4 foot lengths to facilitate tight piles.

C.7-2.10.6 Chipping – Where suitable piling locations are not available and approved by the COR, the contractor will chip activity slash. The chipper and any other equipment may not travel off existing roads. Chips may be blown back into the unit to a depth no greater than 4 inches or hauled off site to a site approved by the COR.

C.7-3 Contractor-Furnished Equipment Unless otherwise specified herein, the Contractor shall provide all labor, transportation, materials, and equipment necessary to perform the work as described herein.

The use of chainsaws and assistance from low-ground pressure tracked skid steers or excavators attachments such as brush rakes, rubber tired or tracked skidders, sky-line systems and or helicopters with are anticipated for completing these items.

C.7-4 Government-Furnished Equipment See Section G.

When items warrant the need; the Government shall furnish Sporax to the Contractor at the beginning of each week to be used for that week. Contractor is responsible for making arrangements prior to the issuance of the Notice to Proceed to pick up Sporax from the Mammoth Ranger Station and to contact COR when more will be needed on a week to week basis.

Contractor will report Sporax usage to COR on each applicable thinning unit at completion of the Item/Sub-item.

SECTION E--INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): www.acquisition.gov/far/

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR CHAPTER 1) CLAUSES

0. Inspection of Services--Fixed-Price (AUG 1996)

E.1 QUALITY CONTROL PLAN – The Contractor shall conduct inspections on all units in accordance with his/her Quality Control Plan (QCP). The Contractor’s Quality Control Plan shall be submitted and accepted by the Government prior to any work starting.

E.2 GOVERNMENT INSPECTIONS

Government inspections are for the purpose of satisfying the Government that the services are acceptable and do not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for maintaining quality control.

The Contracting Officer's Representative or designated inspector will conduct all inspections. The Contractor (or designated representative) is encouraged to be present to observe inspections. Summary results will be made available on request.

Compliance Inspections. Visual compliance inspections will be made on a periodic basis. Such inspections are not final and do not constitute acceptance by the Government.

Final Inspections. Final (formal) inspections for payment will be made on completed sub-items only. Contractor shall request final inspections in writing and give the Forest Service at least two working days advanced notice. Inspections will be completed within four working days after the notice is received If the work is not ready for inspection at the time specified by the Contractor, the cost associated with the inspection attempt may be charged to the Contractor.

Disputed Inspection.

The Contractor may request reinspection without rework if the results are unacceptable. Reinspection must be requested in writing within 48 hours after receiving written notice of the inspection results. Reinspection will be accomplished within five working days after receipt of the contractor's written request.

The same sampling and inspection procedures will be used, but new samples will be taken. The inspection pattern will be shifted so that new samples will not overlap previously inspected samples. Results will be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

If reinspection results are within five percentage points of the first inspection, the original inspection result will be used in determining acceptability and payment. If reinspection results are greater than five percentage points above or below the first inspection, the reinspection results will be used.

If the reinspection results are within five percentage points of the first inspection, the Contractor shall pay the actual costs of the reinspection.

Reinspection after Rework. Where rework after a failed inspection may improve the inspection results, the Contractor may rework the area and request (in writing) a second inspection. The Government will charge to the Contractor the cost of this additional inspection. Reinspection will be accomplished within five working days after the notice is received. The results of the second inspection will be final, and no further rework will be permitted. Areas not ready for reinspection at the time specified by the Contractor will not be reinspected, and the results of the first inspection will be final.

E.2-1 Sampling (Government’s inspection system)

[ ]Plots. At least one percent of each treatment area will be sampled by a random series of plots distributed over the entire area. Plot size will be:

[ ]Transects.

[ ]Other (specify) E.2-2 Specific Inspection Procedures

The sample plots will be located throughout each unit, so as to obtain a representative sample of the work. Each item will be inspected separately. Determinations of the acceptability of the work performed will be based on these inspections, which will be considered conclusive, except as otherwise provided in the contract.

Plot centers will be marked at each plot with brightly colored flagging and examined. The following criteria are inclusive of all items up for award; only applicable criteria for each item will be measured, but all is shown to inform contractor. As numbering varies Item to Item, General headings found under C.7-2 Specific Tasks are listed below and can be referenced back to each Item.

Commercial Thinning; Hazard Tree Abatement; Thinning for Hazardous Fuel;

· Number of trees cut up to diameter limit

· Number of trees that should have been cut up to diameter limit

· Number of stumps meeting height requirement

· Number of stumps exceeding height requirement

· Number of boles completely severed from stump

· Number of Leave trees damaged by Contractors operations

· Number of branches cut within 1 inch of the bole of the tree

· Number of downed tree higher than 4 feet from the ground

Fuelbreak Maintenance: mowing and…