Attachment_1-_Performance_Work_Statement_rev_0001.pdf

Performance Work Statement Prescribed fire preparation and implementation, Bear Valley NWR

GENERAL:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Basin NWR Complex, 4064 Hill Rd., Tulelake, CA, 96134, has a need for hazardous fuels reduction in portions of the Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Keno, Oregon. Critical infrastructure, rural residences, and the Cedar Trails subdivision are located on lands adjacent to Bear Valley NWR. This area has many permanent residences and is surrounded by private, state, and federally owned forested lands. The Klamath County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (2016) and the Keno Community Wildfire Protection Plan (2006) identify lands in and adjacent to Cedar Trails and Bear Valley NWR as Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). These CWPPs identify this area as one of high risk for wildfire danger and recommend reducing current fuel loading.

Over the past 20 years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has implemented treatments to reduce hazardous fuel loading and restore the beneficial effects of fire to the ecosystem within Bear Valley NWR. Prescribed burning on refuge lands will create a strategic fuel breaks throughout the Refuge, reducing the potential for crown-driven wildfire, and reducing the overall likelihood of undesirable fire behavior.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK:

Prescribed fire preparation and implementation using a combination of two Five-Person Burn Modules and a Type 2 Dozer. The two Five-Person Burn Modules and Type 2 Dozer may be ordered together or separately.

Final prescribed fire boundaries are dependent upon site conditions (slope, rocks, vegetation structure, etc.). Prescribed fire boundaries will be determined after the contract has been awarded.

Prescribed fire boundaries are subject to change based on a variety of conditions including, but not limited to: slope considerations, fuel loadings, and ground conditions

Contractor will be expected to identify prescribed fire boundaries, avoidance areas, stream buffers, etc., using geo-referenced digital map products. Service personnel will provide geo referenced maps. Service personnel may place flag lines to physically identify boundaries and other avoidance areas. Contractor will adhere to Industrial Fire Precaution Levels. Contractor may work with Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex Fuels Specialist to initiate waivers if appropriate.

Two Five-Person Modules: The contractor will supply two Five-Person Burn Modules as requested.

Requests for modules must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to the anticipated reporting time at the designated work location.

Five-Person Burn Modules will be fireline qualified based on National Wildland fire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards.

The Government may order modules when assistance is required for preparation or implementation in one or more burn units.

Site specific maps, objectives and standards will be provided before work begins.

Preparation operations may include but are not limited to: constructing prescribed fire handline, trimming, and re-covering hand piles; building handlines; thinning; lopping and scattering slash debris; brushing handlines; pulling back fuels from handlines and leave trees; cutting trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) of less than 8 inches; and limbing trees with a dbh greater than 8 inches, as well as implementing prescribed fire operations.

Implementation of prescribed fire operations may include but are not limited to: igniting hand piles and machine piles; initiating broadcast burn units; monitoring for spot fires and slop-overs;

constructing firelines around spot fires and slop-overs or to contain fire spread within a unit;

extinguishing spot fires and slop-overs using water; conducting mop-up operations; and performing patrols. Definitions for the aforementioned activities will adhere to the NWCG definitions (https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms205/nwcg-glossary-of-wildland-fire-pms-205).

Modules may be ordered for any of the operations listed above.

Modules shall be prepared to hike up to one mile from the vehicle to the designated work location.

Site location or workload may require a 10-hour workday, where four 10-hour workdays would be equivalent to five 8-hour workdays.

If a slopover that occurs during ignition or mop-up cannot be contained with the personnel and equipment identified in the Contingency Plan (Element 17 of the Prescribed Fire Plan), the Burn Boss will follow the procedures outlined in the Wildfire Declaration (Element 18 of the Prescribed Fire Plan). Under these circumstances, the Contractor shall take immediate action to control, suppress, and mop up the escaped fire. The Contractor and crew(s) shall operate under the direct supervision of the Government and continue working until released by the Government.

Type 2 Dozer

The contractor will supply a Type 2 Dozer with operator as requested. The contractor is responsible for transporting the Type 2 Dozer to and from the project site(s). Requests for the Type 2 dozer must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to the anticipated reporting time at the designated work location. The Type 2 Dozer will meet the fireline qualifications based on NWCG Standards. The type 2 Dozer will have a six-way blade (8’-10’ wide) with rippers for creating and rehabbing prescribed fire line.

The Government may order the Type 2 Dozer when assistance is required for preparation or implementation in one or more burn units.

Site specific maps, objectives and standards will be provided before work begins.

Preparation operation may include, but are not limited to: constructing prescribed fireline, clearing large debris away from fireline and clearing debris away from pre-existing roadbeds.

https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms205/nwcg-glossary-of-wildland-fire-pms-205

Implementation operations include but are not limited to: monitoring for spot fires and slop-overs;

constructing fireline around spot fires and slop-overs; to contain the spread within a unit; or to mop

up. Implementation operations may occur on pile, broadcast or jackpot prescribed burns.

Definitions for the aforementioned activities will adhere to the NWCG definitions (https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms205/nwcg-glossary-of-wildland-fire-pms-205).

The Type 2 dozer may be ordered for any of the operations listed above. Site location or workload may require a 10-hour workday, where four 10-hour workdays would be the equivalent to five 8-hour workdays.

If a slopover that occurs during ignition or mop-up cannot be contained with the personnel and equipment identified in the Contingency Plan (Element 17 of the Prescribed Fire Plan), the Burn Boss will follow the procedures outlined in the Wildfire Declaration (Element 18 of the Prescribed Fire Plan). Under these circumstances, the Contractor shall take immediate action to control, suppress, and mop up the escaped fire. The Contractor and crew(s) shall operate under the direct supervision of the Government and continue working until released by the Government.

Figure 1.Table of Proposed Days

Resource Quantity Days Five-Person Modules 2 10

Type 2 Dozer 1 10

Quotes will need to be submitted with a cost per day ($/day) format. Days are considered to be 8-hour workdays. Site location or workload may require a 10-hour workday, where four 10-hour workdays would be equivalent to five 8-hour workdays.

The Government may require the Option for the delivery of 2 additional days for the 2 Five-Person Modules and Type 2 Dozer identified in the Quote Schedule as an option item, in the quantity and at the price stated in the Schedule.

PLACE/DELIVERY AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Bear Valley NWR is located west of US Highway 97 near the community of Keno, Oregon. The contractor may visit Bear Valley NWR (see Appendix A) and meet with the Refuge staff to refine project objectives and implementation scope and to identify any potential issues prior to project implementation. The contractor will not begin work until requested by the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge complex Fuels Specialist or their designated representative. Site specific maps, objectives and standards will be provided before work begins.

The anticipated period of performance shall be Contract award- 05/31/2027. The project area is usually accessible mid-March through November. Drier years may allow for access outside this time frame. Work may be permitted during favorable ground conditions regardless of https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms205/nwcg-glossary-of-wildland-fire-pms-205 friley Highlight the time of year unless wildlife Limited Operating Periods or Industrial Fire Precaution Levels prohibit acceptable working conditions.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE:

Evaluation and acceptance will be determined by the Fuels Specialist and/or designated representative. The contractor shall take special care to protect government property, cultural resources, and sensitive natural resources during the execution of the work.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT OR MATERIAL/INFORMATION:

All drip torch mix, hoses, fittings and pumping apparatus used during prescribed burn operations will be furnished by Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex Fire Program. The Fuels Specialist or their designated representative will provide guidance, maps of the project area and/or units, and access to the work site as required. All other equipment or material is to be provided by the contractor.

TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT:

The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex Fuels Specialist or their designated representative will be the Technical POC. The Technical POC will supply site specific maps, objectives and standards.

AVAILABILITY:

Normal duty hours for Refuge staff are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. In the event of an emergency, the contractor shall provide contact information for the Technical POC. There may be times that the Technical POC is not available during this timeframe. Non-duty hours include weeknights, weekends, and government holidays. Site visits prior to proposal submittal should be coordinated with the Technical POC on the final contract.

APPENDIX A: MAP

The following map is intended to display the boundaries of Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge along with roadways, topography and elevation. Bear Valley is approximately 4,200 acres of mostly forested habitat. The fuel types in Bear Valley change from predominantly grass/brush/juniper in the eastern area to ponderosa pine stands mixed conifer stands in the higher elevations along the west/northwestern area. Elevation ranges from approximately 4,200’ to 5,800’.