Attachment_1_-_Statement_of_Work.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

WETLAND RESTORATION SERVICES

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

I. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this contract is to obtain services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA) for implementation of the Wetland Restoration project on the WRE Contract Number 542D371701MN9 property to enhance degraded wetlands on formerly cropped agricultural fields and improve habitat for wetland dependent wildlife.

Landowner details are listed below:

WRE Contract Number 542D371701MN9 SITE Location:13113 McCarthy Road Conneaut Lake, PA 16316 Crawford County, PA

Please see Attachment 4 - Location Map.

II. BACKGROUND

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NRCS has authority to administer voluntary conservation easement programs. Depending on the program, NRCS is authorized to acquire easement rights from participating landowners to achieve program purposes such as restoring and protecting wetlands, grasslands, and forest land resources, restoring and enhancing floodplains, and maintaining and improving habitat for at-risk plants and animals. NRCS is the lead agency within the United States Department of Agriculture charged with administering these programs.

III. SCOPE OF WORK

The purpose of implementing the (659) Wetland Enhancement, (342) Critical Area Seeding, (612) Tree and Shrub Establishment conservation practices are to:

• Improve the degraded wetland functions,

• Enhance plant communities, animal habitats, especially for waterfowl, wading and shore birds, neotropical migrants, reptiles and amphibians and other wetland dependent wildlife,

• Seed disturbed areas associated with the wetland enhancement.

Please see Attachment 4 for Conservation Plan Map.

Within the WRE easement are (1) one earthen embankment, (1) one pothole, and (2) two tree planting sites proposed. These structures will increase wetland gains and improve the quantity and quality of emergent habitat for turtles, amphibians, waterfowl and wading birds.

Solicitation 12FPC119Q0035 Attachment 1

IV. DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall follow the statement of work and applicable regulations to provide Wetland Restoration services for the associated property. The primary task for this Statement of Work is completion of the (659) Wetland Enhancement, (342) Critical Area Seeding, and (612) Tree and Shrub Establishment conservation practices. In order to accomplish this objective, the Contractor will follow the NRCS approved design to construct the (1) one earthen embankment, (1) one pothole, and (2) two tree planting sites. Temporary erosion and sedimentation controls will be installed prior to construction and permanent seeding will be completed after construction on disturbed areas.

Please see - Attachment 2 - Construction Specifications, Attachment 3 - Construction Drawings, Attachment 5 – Tree and Shrub Planting Details, and Attachment 6 – Certificate of Conformance

Details and additional conditions for (659) Wetland Enhancement, (342) Critical Area Seeding, and (612) Tree and Shrub Establishment are included in the NRCS approved design package. Earthen embankments and potholes shall be constructed to meet all federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Upon completion of the practice, the site will meet the current NRCS hydrology, soils and vegetative criteria for a wetland.

The Contractor is responsible for having current knowledge of requirements of Pennsylvania State law associated with the services being solicited.

The Contractor will attend the pre-construction meeting with NRCS representative(s). The discussions and decisions shall be documented by the NRCS and the Contractor.

NRCS will complete construction stakeout of the proposed practice locations prior to construction.

NRCS will inspect the installation of the practices during construction. It is understood that the inspections will take place regularly and at critical times during construction, as specified in the Quality Assurance Plan.

The Contractor will effectively communicate to the appropriate NRCS Field Office the status of the project, beginning when first on site and through completion. The Contractor will conduct a final “check-out and walk-through” of the installed practices with an NRCS representative(s) before equipment is demobilized. The contractor shall sign a certification of conformance stating that the work was installed as per the approved design, please see attachment 6.

V. PERMITS

All federal, state and local requirements will be addressed prior to installation of the conservation practices.

VI. PERFORMANCE TIMELINE:

(659) Wetland Enhancement, (342) Critical Area Seeding, and (612) Tree and Shrub Establishment: Within the easement, complete construction of (1) one earthen embankment, (1) one pothole, and (2) two tree and shrub planting sites, temporary erosion and sedimentation controls, and permanent seeding of all disturbed areas associated with the wetland enhancement within 86 days of the Notice to Proceed being issued.

VII.CIVIL RIGHTS, PRIVACY OF INFORMATION AND PROGRAM DELIVERY

By signing this contract the Contractor assures the USDA that the program or activities provided for under this agreement will be conducted in compliance with all applicable Federal civil rights laws, rules, regulations, and policies. Any and all information gained through this Statement of Work or in the process of carrying out the Wetland Restoration project are to be held confidential between the Contractor, NRCS, other designated partners and the landowner unless released by the landowner. Information gained may not be shared with others and are considered private to the landowner. The Contractor will protect the privacy of information collected during the technical assistance process according to the provisions of Section 1619 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

VIII. CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO)

The designated Contracting Agency for this Statement of Work is NRCS. All administrative matters regarding this Statement of Work shall be directed to the Contracting Officer:

Gay Mullen-Brown, Contract Specialist USDA- FPAC, Business Center, Acquisitions Division Phone: 517-324-5236 Email: gay.mullen@usda.gov

Only the CO may authorize changes to this Statement of Work.

IX. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

The designated COR for this Statement of Work is Zach Aukamp. All deliverables and technical matters regarding the work involved in this Statement of Work shall be directed to the COR at the following address:

Zach Aukamp, Agricultural Engineer USDA NRCS, Clarion Technical Office Phone: 814-297-5258 Email: zachary.aukamp@usda.gov Address: 22631 Route 68, Suite 233 Clarion, PA 16214 mailto:gay.mullen@usda.gov mailto:zachary.aukamp@usda.gov