Revised_Statement_of_Work_0002.pdf

Statement of Work

Palm Removal at Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge

I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has identified the need to remove invasive California palms to continue to meet restoration goals, reduce fire risk, protect visitor facilities, and ensure visitor safety around potentially hazardous trees at Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge (MVNWR). MVNWR is managed by the Federal Government and is located near the town of Moapa in Clark County, Nevada, approximately 60 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. The project area is primarily located on the portion of the refuge that is designated for visitors. MVNWR is located at approximately 4001 and 4225 W.

Warm Springs Road, Moapa, NV 89025; coordinates are: 36.710738, -114.711449 and 36.71104, -114.716706.

Purpose/End Application:

• Removal of approximately 68 mature palm trees from the Plummer Unit of Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge to protect existing warm springs, streams, native riparian habitat, and refuge structures.

• Minimal disturbance to native vegetation surrounding the palm trees to be removed.

The work to be performed under this contract consists of furnishing all labor, management, permits, fees, equipment, materials, and supplies necessary to meet the following needs, unless otherwise stated.

A. The work shall include the following items:

1. As soon as possible after award of the Contract, the Contractor shall schedule an onsite meeting or conference call with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to discuss specific logistics regarding the work.

2. The trees to be removed will be clearly designated or marked by the FWS. The Contractor shall remove the designated trees and associated debris (stumps, limbs, fronds, etc.). The FWS has determined that felling these trees would be detrimental to the surrounding sensitive habitat. The trees therefore must be removed in sections beginning with the top of the tree, carefully and slowly lowering the pieces to the ground.

A. Cut assisted by bucket lift

i. Approximately 25 trees are estimated to be able to be reached by a lift. These trees are indicated by purple pentagons in the map in Figure 1. If site conditions at and around the tree are such that it is better to remove the tree by climbing, the tree shall be removed as noted in A.2.b. as determined onsite by the Contractor in conference with the FWS, if needed.

ii. In addition, for the approximately 25 trees removed by bucket lift assist, the Contractor shall implement root grinding of the cut stump to lower the stump 6-12 inches below the surrounding soil height. This is intended to allow the stump to be covered by dirt and not be visible to visitors.

iii. The Contractor shall cover the cut stumps with soil provided onsite by FWS.

iv. The Contractor shall maintain a daily record of trees removed by this method.

B. Climbing Method

i. Approximately 43 trees are estimated to be removed by climbing method (Figure

1, red triangles). Each of these 43 trees shall be treated as a hazard tree due to proximity to sensitive habitat or visitor structures. This removal method is intended to remove the tree without damaging the surrounding vegetation caused by felling large portions of the trees or using heavy equipment in the area adjacent to the trees. Each tree must be climbed and cut down and lowered in pieces in controlled falls. The pieces must then be carried or transported via wheelbarrow, or similar conveyance, to designated areas where they can be loaded onto equipment or trailers and hauled to the designated disposal area. Each of these trees shall be cut to the surrounding soil height.

ii. The Contractor shall maintain a daily record of trees removed by the climbing method.

3. The Contractor shall transfer the tree trunks, pieces of trunk, fronds, and associated palm tree debris to an area designated by FWS. The designated area will be on the Apcar unit of Moapa Valley NWR, approximately ¼ mile from tree removal location. The materials shall be transferred by equipment and vehicles provided by the Contractor primarily using West Warm Springs Road (versus internal, gravel roads on Moapa Valley NWR). The Contractor shall arrange the materials in the designated area as directed by FWS.

Alternatively, the Contractor may choose to chip palm debris, deposit the chips at the designated area, or haul the chips off site. Option Item 1: Contractor will be responsible for collecting and hauling debris off site (see bid schedule).

4. The Contractor shall remove trunks, fronds, and associated palm tree debris continuously as the tree removal efforts proceed to avoid fire hazards from accumulation of vegetation debris near and under equipment, tools, and vehicles, avoid damaging surrounding vegetation, and maintain the visitor area in acceptable condition. Option Item 2:

Contractor will grind rooted stumps below ground level.

5. The Contractor shall perform appropriate post-removal clean up and grooming of the site where the trees were removed. For example, repair any damages that occurred such as divots left from vehicles or equipment, rake out equipment tracks or footprints, and any other necessary repairs to make the treatment less obtrusive.

II. PROJECT LOCATION

All work to be performed is located within Moapa Valley NWR, Moapa, Clark County, NV.

Located at approximately 4001 and 4225 W. Warm Springs Road, Moapa, NV 89025.

Coordinates: 36.710738, -114.711449 and 36.71104, -114.716706. The site is about 60 miles northeast of Las Vegas, NV

III. CONTRACTOR SERVICES

A. The Contractor shall provide all equipment, materials, supplies, labor, and services required to complete the project, including all appurtenances for the project included in this Statement of Work.

B. The Contractor shall perform the work on any days, Monday through Thursday. Work shall not be performed on Friday through Sunday since Moapa Valley NWR is open to visitors during those days. Before the Contractor leaves the site on a Thursday, the Contractor shall removal all equipment, tools, vehicles and major debris from the Plummer unit (visitor area) if work is to re-commence the following Monday. Non-duty hours include weeknights, weekends, and Government holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, President's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, Christmas).

C. The Contractor shall use good judgment in performing the work when weather conditions are favorable. If weather conditions cause unsafe working conditions (e.g., high winds) or deteriorated site conditions (e.g., saturated soil), the Contractor should adjust the work schedule as appropriate.

D. The Contractor is responsible for safety on the project site at all times, as required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926 and 1910, State of Nevada, Clark County, and all relevant authorities and regulations. In the event where any safety standard referenced herein conflicts with another, the more stringent shall govern. The Contractor is responsible for safety from issuance of the Notice to Proceed until final completion and acceptance of the project by the Contracting Officer’s Representative or designee.

E. The Contractor shall use appropriate and safe equipment, tools, and vehicles as well as best management practices (e.g., debris-free work areas) when performing all aspects of the Statement of Work to avoid:

A. damage to sensitive resources and areas;

B. damage to existing visitor facilities;

C. vehicles and equipment stuck due to wet conditions;

D. ignition of accidental fire since the trees, fronds, and debris subject for removal are highly flammable; and E. injury to workers.

F. As needed, the Contractor shall use appropriate dust suppression methods and best management practices in accordance with County and State regulations.

G. The Contractor shall possess and maintain, for the duration of this project, any licenses or permits required by the state to complete the project scope.

H. Contractor shall ensure any subcontractors possess any licenses or permits required by the state to complete the project scope. The Government may reasonably object to Contractor’s selection of any Subcontractor.

I. The Contractor is responsible for quality control of their own work and work performed by its Subcontractors and their Sub-subcontractors.

J. The Contractor assumes responsibility to Government for the proper performance of the work of Subcontractors and all acts and omissions in connection with such performance.

Nothing in the Contract Documents is intended or deemed to create any legal or contractual relationship between Government and any Subcontractor or Sub-subcontractor.

IV. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SERVICE

a. The Service shall:

i. Clearly designate the palms to be removed.

ii. Provide access to the refuge based on predetermined schedule.

iii. Provide staging areas needed to conduct project work and temporary storage of materials.

iv. Provide locations to deposit palm tree debris.

V. ONSITE CONTACTS

A. Primary Contact: Becky Lausch, Wildlife Refuge Specialist Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(775) 725-3417 x103 office, (702) 540-5278 cell Rabecca_Lausch@fws.gov Mailing address: P.O. Box 510, Alamo, NV 89001

B. Contracting Officer's Representative and Alternate Contact:

Rob Vinson, Wildlife Refuge Manager

(775) 725-3417 x102 office, (702) 232-8978 cell James_Vinson@fws.gov

VI. ESTIMATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for the contract will be indicated as October 15, 2023 – November 15, 2025. The FWS requires the work to be completed August 15 – November 1 to minimize the number of palm seeds distributed. Due to limitations of size of dump site and amount of biomass to be deposited, the work schedule may need to be altered or determined by the availability of space in the onsite burn pile. Work may need to be performed over a period of 3 years to achieve the desired results and managing debris from the project. Invoicing can be processed monthly, as determined by the number of trees removed during the month. Work shall not be completed between April 1 – August 15 to protect nesting birds.

EVALUATION AND ACCEPTANCE

A. The contractor will be evaluated based on experience and past performance:

Subject Experience/Past Performance Required or Preferred

Requested Demonstration

Removal of large palm trees without damaging nearby structures or habitat with bucket lift

Experience removing large hazard palm trees using lifted bucket/cherry picker and lowering pieces to the ground

Required Narrative example of this experience and provide references

Removal of large palm trees without damaging nearby structures or habitat by climbing

Experience removing large hazard palm trees by climbing the trunk and lowering pieces to the ground

Required Narrative example of this experience and provide references

BID SCHEDULE

For

Palm Removal at Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Height of Tree

Time since last tree trim

Bucket lift assist Yes/no

Base Bid:

Approximate number of trees to be removed

Base Bid:

Price per tree with debris deposited

ON SITE

Option 1:

Price per tree with debris deposited OFF

SITE

Option 2:

Cost per tree for stump grinding

30-40 feet

1 year Yes 5

30-40 feet

1 year No 8

30-40 feet

3-10 years

Yes 2

30-40 feet

3-10 years

No 1

41-59 feet

1 year Yes 8

41-59 feet

1 year No 6

41-59 feet

3-10 years

Yes 1

41-59 feet

3-10 years

No 2

61+ feet 1 year Yes 10 61+ feet 1 year No 9 61 + feet

3-10 years

Yes 5

61+ feet 3-10 years

No 12

Experience and Past Performance Questionnaire Questions

1. Please provide specific examples of when, where, and how your company has removed California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) trees 40-60 feet tall without damaging surrounding habitat using equipment to assist.

2. Provide specific examples of when, where, and how your company has removed California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) trees 40-60 feet tall without damaging surrounding habitat, without using equipment to assist (i.e. tree is climbed by certified arborist).

3. Provide references from past jobs where California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) were removed. ___________________________________________________________

Incomplete Bids will not be considered. If hauling debris off site is not possible, please write “not applicable” in the Cost Per Tree column of Option Item 1a. Based on the requirements outlined in the Statement of Work, the Contractor will provide time and materials cost estimates on a per tree basis. After award of the Contract and the number of trees to be trimmed is known, the trees will be clearly designated or marked by the USFWS.

Name of Bidder and Company:

Address (Include Zip Code):

Figure 1: Palm trees requiring special removal methods to protect surrounding habitat and/or refuge structures. Each point is labeled according to how many palms exist at that point. Red triangles indicate palm(s) that require climbing and purple pentagons indicate palms that can most likely be reached by a bucket lift. All trees will need to be dropped in pieces from the top down to prevent damage to structures and surrounding vegetation. Bucket lift/truck access is limited to existing roads and disturbed areas designated by FWS.

Figure 2: Example of palms to be removed.

Figure 3: Example of palms to be removed.

Figure 4: Example of palms to be removed.

Figure 5: Example of palms to be removed.