Attachment_1-_PWS_rev1_0001.pdf

Performance Work Statement Dixie Hardwood Plantation Thinning Cache River NWR

Project Title: Dixie Hardwood Plantation Thinning Cache River NWR

Period of Performance: June 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024

Purpose: This project is part of the Refuge Forest management program to improve forest habitat in older hardwood plantations. The trees are not desirable in current markets.

Completing the project with large forestry cutting machine(s), feller bunchers, or chainsaws is prescribed to release quality residual trees and allow a flush of lower vegetation to improve current and future habitat for waterfowl, forest breeding birds, bats, quail, and other native wildlife. This operation must be performed following prescription guidelines; monitor as required.

Parameters:

Contractor must fell (cut and drop to the ground) designated trees within the Project Area (Plantation); see Scope of Work. Contract must have Equipment capable of cutting 12 to 20-inch-diameter trees.

For the duration of this Project, the Contractor must carry Commercial General Liability Insurance, with a per occurrence limit of not less than $1,000,000; and Worker’s Compensation Insurance and Employer’s Liability Insurance with a limit of at least the amount required by applicable law, but not less than $500,000, fully covering all employees and supervisors participating in the Contractor’s operations. The Contractor shall save, hold harmless, defend, and indemnify the United States of America, its agents and employees for loss, damages, or judgments and expenses on account of bodily injury, death or property damage, or claims for bodily injury, death, or property damage of any nature whatsoever, and by whomever made, arising out of the Contractor’s, his employees, subcontractors or agents with respect to conducting activities connected with this Project within the lands administered by Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

The Contractor must give the Government Representative (GR) notice three days before any day in which work will be done. The Contractor must meet with the GR on-site before any work is begun.

Work will be allowed all days through the project time frame including Federal Holidays;

however, work must be accomplished during favorable weather conditions, i.e., dry ground conditions. Contractor will be responsible for maintaining all access roads and trails in equal or better condition. To avoid transport of invasive pests, all equipment must be pressure washed before coming on to the refuge.

Scope of Work:

On 165 acres, contractor will fell all “harvest” trees within the Plantation designated as follows:

Contractor will follow guidance from refuge forestry staff to fell all trees on 10 percent of the Project Area in Openings; and from the remaining Project Area, every fourth row and 50 percent of low-quality trees in adjacent residual outside rows, or 50 percent of the trees total.

Unharvested trees must not be damaged. Harvest trees need not be piled or delimbed, but must be laid on the ground so as not to present an overhead safety hazard or blockage to roads, drains, boundary lines, etc. At the Refuge Manager’s discretion, a Special Use Permit may be issued to allow the contractor to take harvested trees off site at the contractor’s own risk and expense.

Payment:

The GR will make regular inspections and conduct random sampling to survey completed work according to the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). Areas not meeting the Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL) will be retreated by the Contractor to meet the AQL. If damage to unharvested trees is beyond Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL), payment will be reduced as described in the QASP. The Contractor will be paid according to the contracted amount for the acres successfully treated. The Contractor may submit for an acreage-prorated-payment for those acres that have been successfully treated monthly or may wait to submit for payment when the entire treatment is complete, at their option.

Project Area Coordinates 91.3311261°W 35.0688106°N