A04_-_Henry_Creek_aspen_2022_SOW_UPDATE_0001.docx

Solicitation Document No.

Document Title

HAND CREW TREATMENT

IDAHO FALLS DISTRICT BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT SALMON FIELD OFFICE

STATEMENT OF WORK

HENRY CREEK ASPEN RESTORATION

1. Introduction: The Salmon Field Office (SFO) of the Idaho Falls District, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is acquiring forestry management services to treat vegetation to improve aspen (Populus tremuloides) stand health in the Henry Creek watershed.

2. Background: The project area consists of aspen stands with conifer encroachment from Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum). The main goal of the Henry Creek Aspen Restoration Project is to rejuvenate and restore quaking aspen stands. Chainsaws, other hand tools, and pile burning in areas of heavy fuel loads will be used to achieve project goals.

3. Purpose: The purpose of the Henry Creek Aspen Restoration Project is to improve aspen health and wildlife habitat. The Contractor will furnish all tools, labor, supervision, equipment, materials, supplies, transportation, training and incidentals necessary to accomplish the removal of trees and treatment of slash in accordance with the specifications provided.

4. Scope of Work: The objective of this project is to reduce conifer encroachment within aspen stands. The thinning is intended to reduce Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and Rocky Mountain juniper from within aspen stands to increase resources available for aspen.

5. Location of Project Areas: The Henry Creek Aspen Restoration Project area is located in T 20N, R 21E, sections 14, 15, 22, 23, 26. The project is located approximately nine miles southwest of the town of Salmon.

6. Project Boundary Marking: The location and access to the areas are shown on the work location and project location maps. The project areas will be identified by flagging, if requested by the contractor. Project areas may also be marked by changes in vegetation, roads, topography changes, or streams. If theses types of project area boundaries are used, the contractor will be notified. The boundaries can be adjacent timber stands, recent harvest units, or other natural or manmade features that clearly define the boundary as noted on the project area maps.

7. Access: Legal public access to the project area will be identified on a map prior to the contractor starting the implementation phase. Seasonal road closures may exist (contractor will be notified of closures upon award). Contractor will assume responsibility for any additional access if desired. If roads or any type of access become subject to damage, because of adverse weather conditions or other natural and or political reasons, the COR will relay information to the contractor, and a Stop Work Order may be implemented by the CO until other access can be decided.

8. Notification of Cessation or Restart of work: The Contractor will notify the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) whenever he/she intends to cease operations for three or more days and will notify the COR before starting operations after a shutdown of three or more days.

9. Personnel Requirements: The crew is responsible for maintaining a safe working environment following OSHA standards. The Contractor must attend the pre-work meeting and provide a written performance plan including crew size prior to beginning work.

10. Crew Foreman: A crew foreman must be on-site directing work at all times. This person will also serve as an on the ground contact person for the COR/PI. Failure to maintain a crew foreman will result in suspension of work until a crew foreman is provided. A maximum of five (5) days will be allowed to produce a qualified foreman. Failure to produce a qualified on-the-ground foreman within five days may result in the Contracting Officer (CO) issuing a Suspend Work Order. CO and COR must be informed of any changes in Crew Foreman.

11. Detailed Unit Information: The Henry Creek Aspen Restoration Project area consists of aspen, Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain juniper, a variety of riparian trees and shrubs. The total acreage for all units is 111 acres. Because of the scattered nature of the vegetation, not all acres within the established boundaries of the unit will require the same amount of labor to achieve the specifications outlined below. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor (i.e. knowledge and experience of the crew leader) to determine the quantity of work needed to meet specifications identified in this SOW.

12. The project area is accessible by four-wheel drive trucks and by walking up to 1.5 miles. An ATV or UTV is highly recommended for access to this project area. Vehicles shall only be permitted on authorized routes.

13. Work Camps: Camping on agency-administered lands will not be allowed.

14. Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and Rocky Mountain juniper cutting:

There are three different treatment types for the project: cut and pile, hingeing, and lop and scatter. The location for each treatment type has been identified on the project map.

Specifications applicable to all treatment types:

Within 50 feet of Henry Creek:

(a) All live Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain juniper, and ponderosa pine less than or equal to eight inches diameter at breast height (DBH) shall be completely severed with the stump height not to exceed 4 inches on the uphill side.

(b) No live limbs shall be left on the stumps of cut trees. All cut trees with a DBH greater than four inches shall be limbed and bucked into four-foot lengths.

(c) All branches shall be completely severed from the bole before scattering.

(d) If the tree is within one tree length of Henry Creek, the tree shall be felled into the stream and not limbed or bucked.

(e) If the tree is not within one tree length of Henry Creek, it shall be lopped and scattered. Lopped material shall not exceed 18 inches in depth.

More than 50 feet from Henry Creek:

(f) All live Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain juniper, and ponderosa pine less than or equal to 12 inches DBH shall be completely severed with the stump height not to exceed 4 inches on the uphill side.

(g) No live limbs shall be left on the stumps of cut trees. All cut trees with a DBH greater than four inches shall be limbed and bucked into four-foot lengths.

(h) All branches shall be completely severed from the bole before scattering.

(i) Lopped material shall not exceed 18 inches in depth.

In the areas identified as “Lop and Scatter 6-inch DBH”:

(j) No matter the proximity to Henry Creek, all live Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain juniper, and ponderosa pine less than or equal to 6 inches DBH shall be completely severed with the stump height not to exceed 4 inches on the uphill side.

(k) If the tree is within one tree length of Henry Creek, the tree shall be felled into the stream and not limbed or bucked.

(l) No live limbs shall be left on the stumps of cut trees. All cut trees with a DBH greater than four inches shall be limbed and bucked into four-foot lengths.

(m) All branches shall be completely severed from the bole before scattering.

(n) Lopped material shall not exceed 18 inches in depth.

(o) Approximately 13 acres have been identified for this treatment. See map.

Specifications Applicable to Hingeing Treatment (5 acres):

(a) In areas specified by the BLM, Douglas-fir trees will be hinged.

(b) Douglas-fir trees shall be cut 3-4 feet above the ground and felled, while maintaining some connection between the trunk and stump.

(c) Trees would be hinged in a way that creates a natural fence around the perimeter of an aspen stand.

(d) All trees that can’t be hinged shall be lopped and scattered

Specifications Applicable to Lop and Scatter Treatment (93 acres):

(e) In areas specified by the BLM, conifer trees shall be lopped and scattered following the specifications listed in “Specifications applicable to all treatment types.”

15. Protection of Improvements: The COR may order a cessation of work if vehicles are operated on roads within the work area when ground or weather conditions cause or lead to loss of traction. Such conditions usually develop where frozen ground is thawing, when snow is melting, and during or immediately following rainstorms. Any soil and ground disturbance caused by equipment during and after operations will be rehabilitated.

16. Work hours under this contract shall be limited to the time between one-half hours before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset each day. No work will be done on legal National Holidays unless authorized by the COR.

17. Salvage Rights: No salvage will be allowed.

18. Weed prevention: To prevent the spread of invasive weeds, all vehicles and equipment will be cleaned before being used on the project.

19. Fire Prevention:

Primarily for purposes of fire prevention and control, the Contractor shall comply with the following provisions:

A. The Contractor shall comply with all the applicable Idaho State Fire Prevention Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Standards.

B. Prior to starting operations during a closed fire season or periods of high fire danger, the Contractor shall prepare a fire prevention and fire control plan to the satisfaction of the COR.

C. Provide and maintain in good repair on the contract area the following equipment for use during a closed fire season or periods of high fire danger:

i. Firefighting tools shall be kept at vehicle staging areas or at such other place(s) as the COR shall designate whenever employees of the Contractor are working on the contract area. All firefighting tools shall be identified, organized, and easily accessible to all Contractor employees. The fire tools shall be in good condition, be tight on strong handles, and have sharp cutting edges. There shall be at least one (1) tool for each Contractor employee working on the contract area. Three-fourths (3/4) of all fire tools shall be shovels, hoes, or other scraping tools. The fire tools shall be used only for fighting fire.

ii. A shovel in good condition with not less than a three (3) foot handle and a blade not less than seven and three-quarters (7 3/4) inches wide shall be within fifty (50) feet of any power saw when in operation.

iii. Two (2) back-pack pumps at each vehicle staging area to be kept full of water and in good operating condition.

iv. A serviceable chemical fire extinguisher of at least eight (8) ounces minimum capacity shall be carried during a closed fire season or period of high fire danger by each saw operator using a power saw on the contract area. Such fire extinguisher shall be filled and in operating condition, and shall at all times be immediately available to the operator when the saw is being fueled or the motor of the saw is running. Any fueling of a power saw shall be done in an area which has first been cleared of all flammable material. Power saws shall be moved at least twenty (20) feet from the place of fueling before the engine is started. A shovel shall be available with each gas can when refueling. Each power saw shall be equipped with an exhaust system and a spark arresting device.

The CO may require additional fire tools and fire equipment as the fire danger may warrant.

20. Designation of Contracting Officer’s Representative: The CO shall designate the COR and project inspectors. The COR is responsible for administering the performance of work under this contract. In no event, however, will any understanding, agreement, modification, change order, or other matter deviating from the terms of this contract be effective or binding upon the Government unless formalized by proper contractual documentation executed by the CO prior to completion of the contract.

21. Interested parties should take reasonable steps to ascertain the nature and location of the contract area and the work to be completed, as well as the general and local site conditions which can affect the work and cost of performance. Failure to take the actions described in this paragraph will not relieve the Contractor from the responsibility of properly estimating the difficulty and cost to successfully perform the work, or from successful completion of the work without additional expense to the Government. For further information, please contact Hannah Alverson at halverson@blm.gov or 208-756

22. Prework Conference: Prior to the commencement of work, a pre-work conference will be arranged with the Contractor to discuss the contract terms and work performance requirements.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE SECTION:

1. Inspection:

(a) The Government COR and/or PI will make periodic inspections as a basis for acceptance and payment and recommendations for adjustments in work quality while work is in progress. The Contractor is encouraged to participate in inspections while they are being conducted.

(b) As the basis for payment, inspections for compliance with specifications will be made for work units reported as completed by the contractor. All plots will be averaged together to determine payment.

(c) A combination of Ocular or Physical Inspections will be made on a series of plots located at different intervals across each work unit. A sufficient number of plots will be taken to obtain at least one percent sample of the work unit.

(d) The following information will be recorded for each plot inspected if more than 10 percent of the treated area has these items found in them. The treated areas will get a failing grade if:

1. Stumps taller than 4 inches are present

2. Severed trees are not bucked into four-foot lengths

3. Live limbs are left on the stump

4. Piles are not tightly, tightly woven together and do not meet the maximum and minimum size requirements

5. Slash is not reduced to within 18 inches of the ground

2. Determination of Work Quality Percentage:

Work quality percentages are derived from data developed from inspection plots. The final work quality percentage times the bid price determines the pay. A work quality percentage of 90 percent or higher will result in full payment. If any of the reasons stated above in the Inspection section part (d) are the primary reason for unsatisfactory work, the Contractor shall rework areas designated by the Government until satisfactory work quality is obtained.

3. Acceptance:

(a) Satisfactory Work Quality: A minimum work quality standard of 90 percent is required.

(b) Unsatisfactory Work Quality: Based on inspection results, if the work quality percentage falls below 90 percent, the Contracting Officer will immediately notify the Contractor in writing and instruct the Contractor to improve the quality of the work. The contractor may ask for a meeting between themselves, CO and COR and PI to discuss a resolution. If the quality of the work is not raised to an acceptable level within two consecutive workdays after written notification or within time decided at the meeting, the Contracting Officer may issue a stop work order and/or Termination of Contract.

(c) Final payment shall not be granted until project is complete to the satisfactory quality standard.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will provide the following items to the Contractor:

(a) Provide various USGS 7.5 minute quadrangles (1:24,000 scales) or GIS equivalent with clear cut unit boundaries clearly identified.

(b) A BLM Representative (COR and/or PI) will be available for technical guidance and when inspection is requested by the contractor. Regular communications between the BLM representatives and the contractor will alleviate any problems or delays.

PERFORMANCE PERIOD

THE ESTIMATED DATES FOR THIS PROJECT ARE:

Start Date: July 1, 2022 End Date: August 1, 2022