SF30_Amendment_0003_Norwood_Rim_Cut_and_Pile_SOW_Update_4_24_25_0003.docx

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office 2465 S. Townsend Ave.

Montrose, CO 81431

(970) 243-5300

STATEMENT OF WORK

PROJECT NAME

Norwood Rim Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project

LOCATION OF PROJECT

The project area is located approximately 2.5 miles northeast of Norwood, CO.

Lat. 38°09’27.12” N, Long. 108°15’35.09” W T45N, R13W, Sections 11, 12, 13 and 24. New Mexico Meridian.

SCHEDULE

The project consists of removing PJ trees on 150 acres of BLM land adjacent to private ownership. Project specifications are listed below:

Cutting Specifications

· All PJ (live and dead) ≤ 6” DBH will be cut.

· All dead standing PJ <12”DBH will be cut down.

· Live standing PJ between 6” and 12” DBH will be cut selectively to achieve a 30’ crown spacing.

· Groups of 2-7 mature trees may be left as thermal cover for wildlife. Tightly spaced, mature trees should be preferentially selected for these leave groupings.

· No tree (live or dead) >12” DBH will be cut (if a multi-stem juniper tree contains one stem over 12” dbh, all other smaller stems will be removed and the greater than 12” stem left).

· Stumps will be no more than 4” tall as measured on the uphill side and will not have live limbs remaining.

· Lower branches on remaining trees will be pruned to 6’ or 1/3 of the tree height. Remaining trees should be undamaged.

Piling Specifications

· Cut and non-activity (pre-existing surface fuels on-site prior to work) material may need to be dragged and piled up to 50’ from the cut site in order to protect BLM sensitive plant species. The location of sensitive plants will be communicated to the crew foreman and crew personnel via Avenza maps and a field orientation prior to work.

· Piles will not be placed within 10’ of the dripline of remaining trees or in an area that will impact remaining trees during burning (i.e. directly downslope of a live tree).

· All piles must be piled 25’ or more from boundary/flag lines and any fences within the units.

· All piles must be piled 10’ or more from all roads and 2-tracks within the units.

· All slash and boles ≤ 12” in diameter shall be piled to facilitate burning—this includes activity and existing material. Boles over 12” in diameter left on site will not be left within 5’ of piles to prevent “fire creep” impacts during burning.

· Pre-existing (non-activity) dead material on the ground will be limbed and bucked such that only material ≤ 12” remains and is not elevated from the surface.

· All piles shall be “teepee” shaped and generally taller than they are wide (minimum height of 6’). Larger piles are encouraged if this will avoid scorching remaining trees and aid in consumption during pile burning.

· No logs or limbs will extend from the pile more than 12”.

· Piles will be free of dirt and trash.

· Fine fuels—preferably live, freshly cut PJ limbs—must be placed in the center of all piles—needles, leaves, materials ¼” to ½” in diameter, etc.—with larger fuels situated on the outside of the pile, to ensure effective ignitions and consumption when burned.

· Piles shall be solid, compact and not hollow to facilitate winter burning.

· The Project Inspector (PI) will make tests to determine the uniformity of the piling operation.

Hand cutting shall include cutting with hand-carried gasoline/battery powered tools (for example chainsaws or brush cutter/clearing saws) or non-powered tools (for example: axes, brush hooks, brush axes, or loppers). Self-propelled cutters/chippers shall not be allowed; travel off existing roads and trails shall be allowed only on foot.

The project area is on ground with slopes up to 20%. Specific objectives identified in the description of work will also be communicated during the on-site pre-work meeting or during subsequent project inspections by the Government’s Project Inspector (PI) or Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

Once contract is awarded work on this project will be completed no later than 30 days after work has been started and accomplished between September 2—October 14, 2025. Consideration will be given to delays caused by bad weather or wet road conditions.

C.1.3. Project access: The project area is located approximately 2.5 miles northeast of Norwood, CO.

Access to the area: Access to the project site is via county, BLM and private road. County and private roads are either paved or gravel roads. BLM routes are typically dirt 2-track routes. Vehicles may park at the parking areas identified in the maps provided. Off-road vehicle travel is not allowed. Access to the cutting units will be by foot from roads and parking areas. The vehicle access routes can generally be traveled via a 2-wheel drive vehicle with high ground clearance. Snow conditions may make access difficult on the BLM routes.

From Norwood, CO To Unit 1: Go east on CO Highway 145 1.7 miles. Turn left onto County Rd 44 Z. Proceed 1.8 miles north and turn right onto BLM 2-track. See parking area on transportation map.

To Unit 2: Go east on CO Highway 145 2.2 miles. Turn left onto County Rd 44.5 Z. Turn right onto a private driveway after 0.2 miles. See parking area on transportation map.

Travel maps will be provided with this solicitation and electronically if requested.

C.1.4 Environmental Considerations: The majority of the targeted area is lightly sloped with moderately deep soils and scattered rock. The area is characterized by PJ woodlands with some scattered fields dominated by mountain shrubs and grasses.

1) Surface Conditions—Crew carriers (vehicles) shall not be operated when roads are muddy or the soil moisture is high enough for the vehicles to leave ruts over 3 inches in height. When/If such conditions are encountered, the Contractor shall stop work and immediately notify the COR/PI.

2) Contractor shall clean-up all generated liter and dispose of it at an approved sanitary landfill or other location and in a manner approved by the CO/COR.

C.1.5 Work Limits: Due to proximity to private residences, work operations that will create audible environmental disturbances—specifically, chain saw operations—will not occur before 08:00 AM Mountain Standard Time or after 17:30 PM Mountain Standard Time. Work cannot begin earlier than September 2 and must be completed no later than 30 days after starting the project with a hard completion date of October 14, 2025. The project map and shapefiles will also be provided to the contractor for use with GPS/Avenza mapping applications. The project boundaries may be flagged if requested by the contractor. A map of the unit will be provided as well as a general area map. Boundary markings for sensitive areas will be communicated to the contractor by the COR or PI who will also provide on-site direction to the contractor as needed. Total avoidance of these areas is required and is the Contractor’s responsibility.

C.3.1 The contractor will provide the following

1. Cutting equipment and all necessary parts or equipment to maintain the tools in a safe operating condition.

2. Transportation for equipment and operators to and from the site. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended.

3. Repair and maintenance of equipment.

4. Sanitary facilities on site for employees which will include, as a minimum, 1 “port-a-pottie” per every 15 employees or portion therein. Port-a-potties shall be serviced regularly and shall be on site and operational prior to any cutting.

5. A “Contractors authorized representative” proficient in the English language, on site at all times when working.

C.4.0 GOVERNMENTFURNISHED ITEMS:

C.4.1 Provide a pre-bid site inspection tour on May 6, 2025 for all bidders. The pre-bid site tour will meet at 16 Hazel St., Norwood, CO 81423 (BLM Work Center) at 9:00 a.m. MST.

C.4.2 The BLM will provide a pre-work conference with the contractor awarded the job.

C.4.3 Areas within the project perimeter which are to be excluded from treatment will be flagged with a pink color flagging. The BLM will provide maps and descriptions of the area and will go with the operator around the boundary.

C.4.4 The BLM will provide representatives from the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office to act as liaison between the contractor and the BLM Contracting Officer to implement the project and to ensure that the resource objectives of the project are met.

COR/PI:

C.4.5 The BLM will provide treatment measurement: The determination of the acreage of completed work will be made by using a Global Positioning System (GPS). Area measurements required under this Contract will be measured on a horizontal plane. Work performed according to the specifications and C.9.0 will be considered acceptable for payment purposes.

C.4.6 The BLM will provide re-measurement of the acreage under this Contract upon the written request of the Contractor. The request for re-measurement must be made in writing within 10 calendar days after completion of the work. If re-measurement indicates a difference of not more than 5 percent from the original measurement, the Contractor shall pay the actual cost of the re-measurement. Payments will be based on the second measurement where the difference between measurements is more than 5 percent. Where the difference is less than 5 percent the results of the first measurement will be used.

C.4.7 The BLM will provide weekly on-site inspections by the PI and/or COR. The Contractor is encouraged to observe inspections while they are being made and have a supervisor on site to confer with the PI and/or COR. If an onsite visit has not occurred during the period, the contractor is required to report status of work each week, or when any special situations or problems are encountered. These reports may be made by telephone to the PI or COR.

C4.8 Payment for work will be based upon the number of inspected and completed acres which are accepted by the COR. This is a single schedule contract payment will only be authorized after the entirety of 150 acres have been completed to the acceptable level. Contractor will not be paid unit by unit.

C.5.0 DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING:

C.5.1 The contractor will provide transportation for equipment, operators, and fuel to and from the site. The Contractor shall be responsible for the appropriate security when equipment is left on site.

C.7.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for all service of their equipment. The Contractor shall keep all equipment in proper functioning condition to ensure objectives of the project are met. Servicing must comply with Hazardous Materials stipulations below.

C8.2 Use of welding equipment may be limited by fire restrictions. It is the Contractors responsibility to keep current on any restrictions.

C.9.0 SPECIFIC TASKS:

C.9.1 Surface Conditions: Operations shall not be done when soil surface conditions are muddy. Rutting shall not exceed 3 inches. When such conditions are encountered, the Contractor shall stop work and notify the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer will determine the best course of action based on comments from the contractor and COR/PI.

C.9.2 Protection: The Contractor is required to protect section corners, benchmarks, bearing trees and other markers and stakes from damage or removal. In case of destruction or removal by the Contractor, they will be replaced by the Government and the actual cost for replacement will be deducted from payments due the Contractor. Any monuments that need to be preserved will be flagged and their location communicated in a pre-work on-site meeting.

C.9.3 Inadvertent Archeological or Cultural Discoveries:

The Contractor shall avoid disturbing all cultural sites. If in connection with operations under this contract the Contractor, his subcontractors, or the employees of any of them, discovers, encounters, or becomes aware of any objects or sites of cultural value on the contract area such as historical or prehistorical ruins, human remains, graves or grave markers, fossils, or artifacts; the Contractor shall immediately suspend all operations in the vicinity of the cultural value and shall notify the COR of the findings. Operations may resume at the discovery site upon receipt of written instructions and authorization by the COR.

C.9.4 Noxious Weeds: Vehicles and equipment are one of the primary agents for the spread of noxious weed seed to public lands. In efforts to mitigate the spread of weed seed to BLM lands the following actions are required for contractors prior to transport to a BLM project area. The Contractor will be responsible for power-washing or comparable cleaning, to ensure that noxious weed seeds are removed from any and all equipment and vehicles used on the project prior to entering the project area. BLM may require a pre-implementation inspection to ensure compliance which would be arranged to occur in Montrose when the contractor is planning transport to the project area. The Contractor is responsible for any additional transport or expenses associated with non-compliance.

Support vehicles (pickups, fuel/service vehicles, transports, dump trucks, etc.)

· Pressure wash radiator to flush seeds.

· Pressure wash undercarriage to remove accumulations of mud and soil that may contain seeds.

C.9.4 Hazardous Materials:

Use of Hazardous Materials and/or petroleum products requires that all appropriate State and Federal Regulations be complied with including, but not limited to, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on hand and use of necessary Personal Protective Clothing (PPE). On-site disposal of Hazardous Materials or Waste including hydrocarbons is not authorized. The Contractor will be responsible to prevent introduction of hazardous materials into the environment during the implementation of the proposed action. Any on-site disposal or release of two gallons or more in the form of spilled fuel or oil used by the machinery and the resulting contaminated soil will subject the contractor to at least the cost of reclamation and the appropriate disposal of contaminated soil. Fueling and maintenance activities should not take place in or adjacent to any drainage (perennial or ephemeral.)

a. All product containers, cans, and debris should be removed from the site and disposed of properly.

b. Incidental leaks from fittings, gaskets, or ruptured hoses will not subject the contractor to remedial requirements.

c. Fueling equipment and maintenance/repair locations, and equipment will be inspected and approved prior to contract startup by the owner/operator and the Government’s PI/COR. Inspections will include checking for evidence of oil/fuel leaks at all piping, oil/fuel lines, hydraulic lines and seals, fuel tanks and other potential sources of leaks. All evidence of leaks will be investigated and immediately repaired prior to equipment operation on the job and continual leaks will be noted on inspection reports and corrected through required maintenance.

d. All non-manual fueling equipment will have an automatic shut-off switch installed to avoid fuel releases.

e. Fuel tanks greater than 200 gallons may only be used within a spill containment pit. The spill containment pit shall be constructed at a site designated by the PI/COR, with an impermeable liner capable of containing a released volume of one and one-half times the tank volume.

C.9.5 Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Provisions: The government may require the contractor to curtail or cease operations should wildland fire danger approach critical levels. The contractor will be given 24 hours’ notice in the form of a suspend work order issued by the Contracting Officer.

Ignition of a wildland fire that threatens the project area may require the Contractor to proceed with an emergency evacuation of the project area.

A 10 lb. ABC fire extinguisher and shovel or equivalent tool will be available on the operating equipment for fire prevention and control.

C10.0 PAYMENT

10.1 Work Quality Acceptance

1. Work will be accepted or rejected on each treatment area.

2. Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) - A minimum AQL of 85 percent is required.

3. Unsatisfactory Work Quality

4. Reinspection – If the contracted work falls below the AQL of 90 percent, rework will be required. When instructed by the COR, the Contractor shall rework the treatment area for re-inspection by the COR/PI. If the treatment area again fails to meet the AQL of 90 percent, the CO has the option of ordering the Contractor to rework the treatment area again or seek other remedies.

The Contractor shall be charged for all the COR/PI re-inspection costs. The COR/PI re-inspection costs will include, but may not be limited to, personnel costs, transportation costs, and overhead administrative costs of 21%.

10.2 Payment will be based on the COR/PI inspection results by unit. The Contractor's inspection results are to be used as a guide for the Contractor's use in complying with contract specifications and not as a basis for payment. Payment will be made for the actual number of acres completed, inspected and accepted by the COR/PI.

C.11.0 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. It is prohibited to operate or use any internal or external combustion engine, on any timber, brush, or grass covered land, including trails traversing such land, without a spark arrester maintained in effective working order and meeting guidelines set forth in National Wildfire Coordinating Group Publication NFES 1363 and 2363.

2. The contractor or his employees, upon documented permission from the CO/COR, may establish temporary work camps on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Camps shall be kept tidy and free of refuse. These camps may consist of mobile trailers, pickup campers, tent trailers, or tents. The contractor will be required to rehabilitate the camping area to the satisfaction of the CO/COR. Camps are subject to all fire restrictions placed by state, county or federal authorities.

3. Only pinyon and juniper trees will be cut. A minimum of 90% of the targeted trees need to be cut.

4. All vehicle travel must occur on existing roads; no off-road travel is allowed.

image1.png image2.png