B08_Attachment_1_PWS_0001.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

FORT ORD NATIONAL MONUMENT TARGETED GRAZING FOR FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE

RESILIENCE, AND IMPROVED ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF COASTAL GRASSLANDS AND OAK WOODLANDS

FORT ORD NATIONAL MONUMENT, CENTRAL COAST FIELD OFFICE, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA REGION

1. SUMMARY

1.1 Project Description

The purpose of this project is to use targeted livestock grazing (goats and potentially sheep) for fire hazard reduction, increased climate change resilience, and improved ecological health of

Coastal Grasslands and Coast Live Oak Woodland at Fort Ord National Monument (FONM).

The goal is to reduce the density and abundance of non-native European grasses (using goats or sheep) as well as dense brush (using goats) in some areas and noxious weed species (using goats or sheep) while increasing native perennial grasses and native forbs (wildflowers). The area targeted for grazing is approximately 3722 acres in size (see Map BBB)

Location:

Fort Ord National Monument

Central Coast Field Office

940 2nd Ave.

Marina, CA 93933

1.2 Access to Project

Access is via Highway 1 from State Route 68 west from Salinas in Monterey County. Turn east onto Lightfighter Dr. then south onto General Jim Moore Blvd. then east onto Gigling Rd. then south onto Parker Flats Cutoff Rd. then southeast onto Parker Flats Rd. and enter Fort Ord

National Monument. Then east onto Eucalyptus Rd. then southeast onto Jacks Rd. then south onto Skyline Rd. BLM will provide the combination for the gate to the contractor upon award of contract.

2. EXECUTION

2.1 Grazing Parameters: The BLM requires the following.

A. Parameters

1. The contract period extends between December 1st of each year to June 30th. The contractor will be paid for a maximum of 5 months out of the 7- month contract period, including grazing during three “wet” months and two “dry” months. The 3 wet months that are grazed are determined between December 1st and April 30th. The

2 dry months are May and June.

2. Operator may propose to bring goats/sheep on earlier (or stay later), however, grazing services outside the prescribed grazing period shall be at no charge to the government and would be governed by a different written authorization if approved.

3. Contractor shall provide a minimum of 500 adult goats/sheep (and herder for grazing services as needed for grazing services) per each month of paid grazing under this contract. Contractor could provide up to 2200 goats/sheep (of any age) if those animals, above the minimum required, were used at no charge to the government.

4. Map BBB shows one area of 2636 acres where goats and/or sheep may provide grazing services and another area of 1086 acres where sheep are preferred as an option in this contract bidding process.

5. BLM requires operator to make available and provide at least the minimum number of goats/ sheep for the three (3) wet months if needed.

• The BLM determines whether and when grazing occurs between December

1st – April 30th depending on forage conditions or other ecological factors. If

BLM directs the contractor to defer grazing until after December 1st the contractor will not be paid for grazing services until grazing services are authorized by BLM.

• If BLM doesn’t not allow the contractor to graze for at least 3 months between

December 1 – April 30 because of forage or other ecological factors, the contractor shall still be paid for 3 wet months of grazing services.

• Wet season grazing may also be deferred until January, February or March based on a variety of ecological factors.

• The BLM will notify the operator at least two weeks in advance regarding when wet months’ grazing shall commence, however, it will always start and end between December 1st to April 30th.

6. BLM requires operator to make available and provide at least the minimum number of goats/ sheep for the two (2) dry months.

• During the first week of April, the BLM will inform the operator on the anticipated number of goats that are requested to perform services from May

1st to June 30th.

• If BLM doesn’t not allow the contractor to graze for May and June because of forage or other ecological factors, the contractor shall still be paid for 2 dry months of grazing services.

7. Most grazing activities will require portable fencing to ensure that goats and sheep are confined to grazing areas. Electric fencing will be used around all areas within

150 yards of named roads, if practical as coordinated with BLM, within the 3400 acres of grassland in the southeastern portion of Fort Ord National Monument.

Electric fencing will also be used in areas further than 150 yards from named roads if practical, as coordinated with BLM. Named roads include, but are not limited to, Skyline Rd., Pilarcitos Cyn Rd., Barloy Cyn, Rd., Guidotti Rd., Oilwell Rd., Lookout

Ridge Rd, and Three Sisters Rd.

8. Although there is fencing along State Route 68, there are some openings in the fence that could provide passage to the highway for livestock if not tended properly. The

BLM is not responsible for repairing this highway fence and securing grazing areas is the responsibility of the operator.

9. An onsite herder must be provided for each herd of goats/sheep. Each herd shall not exceed 1,100 goats/sheep.

10. The operator shall provide specific goat/sheep grazing treatments at a minimum of once per year on the following targeted grazing areas during the below specified months as coordinated with the BLM:

Research plots (Fig. 1)

• Pilarcitos Canyon: six (6) brush plot pairs primarily during wet months

• Barloy Canyon: six (6) brush plot pairs primarily during wet months

• Nine (9) biomass plot pairs (“Duncan” plots) primarily during wet

• Five (5) biodiversity (“Sarcee”) plots primarily during wet months

Special Treatment Areas (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3)

• Toro Park Estates Treatment Area (13 acres) (May-June)

• Franciscan Treatment Area (1 acre) (May-June)

• Anza Drive Treatment area (9.5 acres) (May-June)

• Darcie Lane Treatment area (5.5 acres) (May-June)

• Station One Treatment area (4 acres) (May-June)

11. Prior to goats/sheep coming onto the Fort Ord National Monument, the operator must ensure that livestock are cleansed with weed-free forage and/or grazed in an invasive weed-free, off-site area inspected and approved by the BLM for 5 days immediately prior to trucking or moving the livestock to the Monument. Weeds such as Poison

Hemlock, Italian Thistle, Milk Thistle, Bull Thistle, Summer Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), Tocalote (Centauria melitense), and Iceplant (Carpobrotus spp.) are examples of weeds that wouldn’t require cleansing if eaten prior to livestock arrival on Fort Ord National Monument. Weeds such as Purple Star Thistle, Yellow Star

Thistle, Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Harding Grass, French Broom, Spanish

Broom, Scotch Broom, Stinkwort, Sahara Mustard (Brassica tournefortii), and

Klamath Weed are examples of invasive weeds that would require cleansing prior to arrival at Fort Ord National Monument.

12. Herd watering shall be the responsibility of the operator. A reliable water truck will be necessary to transport water from a water vendor to the location of the goats/sheep.

13. No spring or pond water from FONM shall be used. No municipal water from federal facilities shall be utilized. Troughs will be placed on previously disturbed areas and not on undisturbed vegetation.

14. Full-time herder(s) shall live on site to tend and control the goats/sheep, herding dogs and, as necessary, livestock guardian dogs (LGDs). Other duties would include setting up and removing temporary fencing, providing water to the goats/sheep and responding to issues as needs arise.

• The BLM must approve the location of herder camp(s) in consultation with the operator.

• Access for provisions to the herder camp(s) shall be in coordination with the

BLM because roads occasionally can be too wet for driving or may be otherwise closed during special recreation events.

• Utility hook ups are not available for the herder camp(s) and grey water/sewage is the responsibility of the operator to dispose of offsite at approved disposal locations.

15. Operator shall ensure that all personnel working on site can receive instruction given by the BLM initially in English to non-English speaking operators within a reasonable period such as within 48 hours for non-emergency information. For emergencies, a minimum time of 2 hours would be required for any Contractor personnel to communicate in English either directly or indirectly.

16. Loading and unloading will take place in the Skyline Rd. corrals or, if authorized by

BLM for special circumstances, off Toro Creek Rd.

17. Herding dogs and LGDs (livestock guard dogs) shall have up to date vaccinations and will be always under the control of the herder. Records of update vaccinations will be provided to BLM annually.

18. Unless otherwise authorized by BLM, LGDs would be leashed from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. LGDs are authorized to be off leash outside that timeframe if they pose no threat to people or domestic dogs. If one confirmed observation of LGDs off-leash occurs during prohibited hours, then a verbal warning will be given to the Contractor. If two confirmed observations or one confirmed attack on people or domestic dog occurs off leash during prohibited hours, the Contractor will remove the LGDs for the rest of the grazing season.

19. Proof of liability insurance will be submitted to the BLM. The contractor shall maintain bodily insurance and property damage liability insurance for the Property with a responsible insurance carrier in the amount of not less than $1,000,000.00 for injury to any one person, $3,000,000.00 for injury arising from any one accident or occurrence, and $100,000.00 for damage to property and fire damage. Such policy shall carry the BLM as additional insured and shall be endorsed to provide 30 days written notice to BLM prior to cancellation, non-renewal or reduction in coverage.

Such insurance may be carried under a blanket policy.

20. Contractor shall submit an actual use report at the end of goats/sheep grazing period that describes the goats/sheep stocking rate and duration of grazing.

21. Contractor shall not use Agri-chemicals, including fertilizers, herbicides and biocides, or supplemental feeds without prior permission for their use from the BLM.

22. The BLM shall not be responsible for the loss of livestock due to death by any reason.

23. All vehicle use (pickup trucks, sedans, and with special authorizations, Utility Terrain Vehicles (aka “quads”) will be confined to administrative roads (e.g., Barloy Canyon, Pilarcitos Canyon, Skyline, Oil Well, Jack’s, and Eucalyptus, Toro Creek Rd., Guidotti Rd.).

• All vehicles used by the operator and agents of the operator shall be properly registered and insured and operated by drivers licensed by the State of California to operate such machinery or equipment.

24. Whenever possible, BLM will notify livestock owner of temporary wet road conditions and ask livestock owner to use alternate access routes or postpone vehicle trips until roads are sufficiently dry to support vehicle use without causing damage to road surfaces. It will also be expected of livestock owner personnel to always use their own judgment to avoid using wet roads whenever a noticeable rut in road surfaces would occur if driven on.

25. Contractor would be responsible for reimbursing BLM for the cost of repairing roads damaged by Contractor personnel.

26. All water tanks placed near Barloy Canyon Rd. will be installed at least 10 feet from the edge of the asphalt (but no closer than 10 feet)

27. The following shall not be conducted on the public lands without written consent of the Authorized Officer:

• range improvements

• firearm possession or use of propane-powered “zonn” or “pop” guns

• predator control programs,

• vegetation removal except as directed by Authorized Officer for weed abatement,

• soil excavation for any project,

• use of chemicals for medicinal treatment such as for hoof rot without approval by Authorized Officer

27. Contractor shall remove all litter and herder camp materials prior to pull-off or moving off goat bedding areas or herder camps.

28. Contractor shall not consume alcohol or use campfires while conducting grazing services on the Monument

29. Field personnel are required to carry a cell phone so that BLM may contact field personnel to report lost goats/sheep or public complaints, discuss road conditions, etc.

BLM would appreciate notification by phone if livestock owner’s field personnel observed any illegal activity such as off-highway vehicle trespass, harassment of goats/sheep, possession of firearms, etc.

30. Abide by all public land laws and closures appropriate for the administration of the public lands at FONM.

31. Contractor and onsite operators shall have completed annually required munitions and explosives recognition training

2.2 Contractor Use of Premises:

A. Sanitation: Contractor may use vault toilets at trailhead parking lots or shall provide portable sanitation facilities.

B. Only contractor personnel engaged in livestock operations on FONM are allowed on site for authorized purposes. Driving motor vehicles on roads, and foot travel off road and trail systems is limited to authorized purposes necessary for the provision of grazing services.

2.3 Quality Assurance:

A. Prohibited Grazing: Non-treatment areas will be fenced or flagged by BLM or noted on the detailed map to be provided to the contractor upon award.

B. Primary forage material shall be Coyote Brush, European annual grasses, and other invasive species. Reduction in the density and abundance of non-native European grasses and other noxious weed species while increasing native perennial grasses and native forbs

(wildflowers) is the goal. The contractor and BLM will agree when an area is sufficiently grazed before moving herd to a new area.

C. BLM will monitor grazing effects on weeds by installing enclosures and comparing un-grazed vegetation density and composition with grazed. BLM will also have repeat photo point locations to measure changes to the vegetation over time.

3. PAYMENT

BID SCHEDULE (BASE YEAR with 4 OPTION YEARS)

FORT ORD NATIONAL MONUMENT TARGETED GRAZING FOR FIRE

HAZARD REDUCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE, AND

IMPROVED ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF COASTAL GRASSLANDS AND

COAST LIVE OAK WOODLANDS

ITEM NUMBER Min.

Number of

Goats/sheep

Unit Price Min.

Number of Months

Total Price

0010 - Grazing

Services

Base Year:

12/01/2023 –

7/01/2024

0020 - Sheep

Grazing Special

1086 Acre Area

Option Base Year:

12/01/2023 –

4/30/2024

0030- Grazing

Services

Option Year 1:

12/01/2024 –

7/01/2025

0040 - Sheep

1086 Acre Area

Option Year 1:

12/01/2024 –

4/30/2025

0050- Grazing

Option Year 2:

12/01/2025 –

7/01/2026

0060 - Sheep

1086 Acre Area

Option Year 2:

12/01/2025 –

4/30/2026

0070- Grazing

Services

Option Year 3:

12/01/2026 –

7/01/2027

0080 - Sheep

1086 Acre Area

Option Year 3:

12/01/2026 –

4/30/2027

0090- Grazing

Option Year 4:

12/01/2027 –

7/01/2028

0100 - Sheep

1086 Acre Area

Option Year 4:

12/01/2027 –

4/30/2028

TOTAL FOR BASE PLUS FOUR

OPTION YEARS OF GOAT/SHEEP

GRAZING

TOTAL FOR OPTION BASE YEAR

SHEEP GRAZING 1086 ACRE AREA

PLUS FOUR OPTION YEARS OF

SAME

Figure 1. Map of Fort Ord National Monument grazing area. Research plots outlined in blue are to be grazed at a minimum one time between December and April. WUI treatment areas outlines in red are to be grazed during May-

June. Sheep grazing is preferred in the purple area and goat grazing is preferred everywhere else.

FORT ORD NATIONAL MONUMENT TARGETED GRAZING FOR FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE, AND IMPROVED ECOLOGICAL

HEALTH OF COASTAL GRASSLANDS AND OAK WOODLANDS FORT ORD NATIONAL MONUMENT, CENTRAL COAST FIELD OFFICE, CENTRAL

CALIFORNIA REGION

Figure 1. Toro Estates Grazing Treatment Unit to be grazed at a minimum one time during the dry season (May-June) unless specified otherwise by the BLM.

FORT ORD NATIONAL MONUMENT TARGETED GRAZING FOR FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE, AND IMPROVED ECOLOGICAL

HEALTH OF COASTAL GRASSLANDS AND OAK WOODLANDS FORT ORD NATIONAL MONUMENT, CENTRAL COAST FIELD OFFICE, CENTRAL

CALIFORNIA REGION

Figure 2. Franciscan, Anza, Darcie Lane, and Station One Treatment Units to be grazed at a minimum one time during the dry season (May-June) unless specified otherwise by the BLM.