A04_FY26_SOW_Soda_Fuel_Breaks_Mowing.pdf

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT-BOISE

STATEMENT OF WORK

Soda Fuel Breaks - Mowing

1. Introduction: The Owyhee Field Office of the Boise District, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is acquiring vegetation management services to create fuel breaks along existing road systems.

2. Background: The Soda Fuel Breaks Project is located in Owyhee County south of Marsing and Murphy, ID along the

Owyhee front and several roads in and around Reynolds, Idaho. The majority of the project is BLM administered lands with small sections of State of Idaho and Bureau of Reclamation.

Terrain: Flat to rolling sagebrush and grass hills with steep yet shallow drainages traversing the project area.

Slope: Typical mowing areas generally will consist of slopes less than 15%.

Rock: Some rock may be present.

Vegetation: The project area vegetation is typical of the Great Basin and consists of sagebrush and perennial grass.

3. Purpose: More than fifty percent of the treatment area was burned in the 2015 Soda fire. The purpose or goal of the action is to protect the WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) area, the surrounding intact sage-grouse habitat, and the ESR (Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation) investments from the threat of wildfire, and thereby stem the subsequent threat of invasive plant expansion within and adjacent to the Soda Fire boundary, while providing optimal safe areas and anchor points for firefighters to more rapidly and effectively suppress fires.

4. Scope of Work:

The anticipated performance period will be September 12, 2026 – November 14, 2026.

Brush mowing shall be accomplished by a wheeled tractor with a powered mowing device. Brush fields as specified on each task order shall be mowed and or slashed to within six inches from the ground.

Surface rock and uneven terrain may reduce tractor speeds and cause mechanical problems. Routine periodic maintenance of equipment may reduce the daily hours of operation. Tractors and mowers working on the project should produce roughly

43.6 acres per each day.

Government furnished Property and Service: The BLM will supply one map depicting the project area and provide a GIS shape file of the roads so that the Contractor will have the boundaries (outside perimeter, avoidance areas. etc.) necessary for the work executed under the contract.

5. Location: Work under contract is located in Owyhee County, State of Idaho, as shown on the vicinity map. The treatment area will consist of Cow Creek Road, Reynolds Creek Road, Rabbit Creek Road, Kane Springs, Black Mountain Road, and Whiskey Mountain Road. See Attached maps for reference..

6. Project Boundary Marker: The edge of the 200 foot boundary off the road will not be flagged but the beginning and ending points of the mow areas will be flagged.

The Contractor, their employees and equipment operators are required to protect evidence of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) and related Federal property boundaries in accordance with federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1858). Boundary evidence includes, but is not limited to, General Land Office and Bureau of Land Management Cadastral survey corners, artificial and natural boundary monuments, witness corners, reference monuments, benchmarks, bearing trees and witness stones. Prior to commencing any ground disturbing activities, evidence of the PLSS and other survey corner monuments will be marked for protection. In the event of disturbance or destruction of Federal boundary evidence, the responsible party shall immediately report the incident, in writing, to the authorized official, and actual cost for rehabilitation or reestablishment will be deducted from payment due the Contractor or responsible party.

7. Vehicle Access and Use: Project site is accessible in dry conditions with two wheel drive, high clearance vehicle. In wet conditions four wheel drive high clearance vehicle may be needed. Public or private access roads damaged by the contractor shall be restored, at the contractors’ expense, to the same condition they were at the commencement of work.

If roads or any type of access become impassable or subject to damage, because of adverse weather conditions or other natural and/ or social 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 obtained.

Undercarriages of all vehicles will be cleaned before entering the treatment areas to avoid spreading noxious weeds.

8. Notification of Cessation or Restart of Work: The Contractor will notify the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) at least 3 days before they plan to start operations. Contractor will also notify the COR whenever he intends to cease operations for one or more days and will tell the COR at that time when they plan to resume operations.

9. Personnel/Equipment Requirements: The Contractor must always maintain an adequate work force to ensure timely completion of the work and is responsible for the crew knowing the requirements of the contract. The crew is also responsible for maintaining a safe working environment following OSHA standards.

The Contractor will furnish all tools, labor, supervision, equipment, materials, supplies, transportation, training, and incidentals necessary to accomplish the task in accordance with the specifications provided within the designated performance time. The Contractor shall service and maintain such equipment as necessary to maintain satisfactory progress on the work.

Tractors: The Contractor shall furnish the necessary tractors with adequate drawbar horsepower, traction, and weight to accomplish the mowing requirement within the time limits and plowing requirements specified by the government. The tractors shall be of the following type: Four wheel drive, RUBBER TIRE tractor with a MINIMUM HORSEPOWER OF

90 rated at power take-off unit. Rollover protection structures are required on equipment regardless of age, as defined in CFR1920-1000-1002. Operators skilled in the operation of the furnished tractor(s) shall also be supplied by the Contractor.

Tractor(s) shall be furnished and maintained in good mechanical conditions throughout the term of the contract. The Contractor shall furnish all required fuel, oil, and lubricants for operation of all contractor furnished equipment (tractors, mowers, transports).

Mowers: The mowers shall be the following type:) Pull behind rotary style cutter CAPABLE OF CUTTING A MINIMUM

SWATH OF FIFTEEN (15) FEET. Mowers must be capable of traversing terrain and cutting vegetation to a height of approximately 6 inches for brush.

Motor Vehicles, Trailers, Low-boys: The Contractor shall furnish motor vehicles for hauling equipment and personnel to the worksite. The Contractor shall not load tractor(s) or mower(s) on public highways unless authorized by the Contracting Officer.

Mobilization: Includes all preparatory work and operations, including those necessary to the movement of personnel, equipment, supplies and incidentals to the project site; and for other work and operations which must be performed or cost incurred prior to beginning work on the various items on the project site. All costs associated with mobilization will be incorporated into the cost per acre to be mowed.

10. Contractors Representative: One Contractor Representatives (foremen) must be designated by the Contractor. A Contractor

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

11. Detailed Unit Information: Work under contract is located in Owyhee County, State of Idaho, as shown on travel and project map. This project starts at the Oregon border near Marsing, Idaho and will follow BLM roads south and east toward Highway

95. It will then stay south and east on the Sommer Camp Road, connect to the BLM Hardtrigger Road, and end near Reynolds, Idaho. Rabbit creek road, between Reynolds and Murphy, along with kane springs, black mountain, and whiskey hill OHV roads are also included (see map). The southernmost units will be on the Cow Creek Road and will be accessed through Oregon. Cow Creek Road and Whiskey Hill Road mowing will be prioritized as they are higher elevation and will not be accessible once it snows.

12. Camping: The location of any work camps established by the contractor must be approved in advance by the Contracting

Officer. Contractor shall maintain the camp in a sanitary, orderly manner, and upon vacating the camp, remove refuse and any other signs of occupancy of the site before final payment is made. In the equipment maintenance area, special precaution shall be taken to contain spilled fuel, lubricants, and wash water. All fire regulations and restrictions shall be followed.

13. Specifications for Treatment

Mowing – Unit density of material to be treated is estimated to be from 0-30% total cover. 1,132 acres

(a) Mowing shall be performed in a linear fashion along roadways creating a 400 foot buffer, 200 feet on both sides from the edge of the road. Mowing may include some mosaic areas of non-mowed areas due to avoidance sites, rock out crops or ravines.

(b) Mowing shall be performed on both sides of the roadway. Mowing only one side of a road may occur where only one side meets the mowing criteria or if there is a restriction, or steep slopes.

(c) Timing: Mowing will be conducted late in the fall in an effort to reduce the risk of starting a wildfire. Those dates are as follows; September 12, 2026 – November 14, 2026

(d) Surface Conditions: Equipment shall not be operated when the soil is wet and the equipment causes a three inch or greater rut. If such conditions are encountered, the Contractor shall stop work and notify the Contracting Officer Representative.

(e) Height of Mowing: The height of mowing shall be six inches, measured from the original ground surface.

(f) Work Hours: Mowing operations shall be permitted during daylight hours unless additional working hours are authorized by the Contracting Officer.

14. Special Provisions:

Fire Prevention/Suppression: Contractor shall ensure all equipment diesel and/or gas engines are equipped with an approved spark arrester. Spark arresters shall meet the requirements of the U.S. Forest Service Spark Arrester Guide, dated May 1985.

Have one shovel and a minimum of one 10 pound ABC fire extinguisher for each tractor. Shovel and fire extinguisher must be accessible to operator.

The contractor shall:

(a) Comply with all applicable State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to water quality in connection with any operations under this contract.

(b) Take every reasonable precaution not to pollute or obstruct any stream (including dry streams), lake or reservoir on or near the project area in connection with any operations under this contract. If contractor’s operations cause pollution or obstruction of any stream, lake or reservoir on or near the designated mowing area, contractor shall notify the authorized officer immediately, and will correct the condition to the satisfaction of the BLM.

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 or rutting. Such conditions usually develop where frozen ground is thawing, when snow is melting, and during or immediately following rainstorms. Ground disturbance will be reduced by tracking over an area one time, and then avoiding sharp tight turns that cause the soil and vegetation to be turned

up. Any soil and ground disturbance caused by equipment during and after operations will be rehabilitated.

INSPECTION, ACCEPTANCE, AND MEETINGS

Pre-work Conference:

1. A pre-work conference will be held prior to the issuance of the Notice to Proceed. The Contractor will be notified in advance of meeting time, date and place. The purpose will be to review required work, specifications, payment, and administrative provisions of the Contract.

2. The Contractor and the persons responsible for coordination for the work (Crew Representative/Foreman) shall be present at the meeting.

3. The Contractor shall be prepared to summarize and explain procedures planned for the project and provide a schedule to meet the time frames of the project.

Progress Inspections/Meetings:

1. The Government COR and/or PI will make periodic visual inspections. Inspection will consist of documentation of the treated areas. Documentation will be based upon compliance with the specifications listed above (item #13).

2. The Contractor shall require his or her Crew Representative to be present during the inspections. COR and/or PI will discuss all deviations from specifications with Crew Representative as soon as possible when deviations from specifications are found.

3. The Contractor shall correct any deficiencies noted and the project will be re-inspected by the COR.

Final Inspection/Acceptance:

Acceptance: Acceptance will be based upon 95% compliance with the specifications listed above. Inspection will consist of a minimum of one (1) spot check per mile with a tape measure from the side of the road.

Measurement and Payment: Measurement for payment for mowing will be the number of acres satisfactorily completed in accordance with these specifications. Payment will be made at the unit price per acre specified in the Bid Schedule, and shall include cost of all work described in these specifications. All measurements will be based on horizontal distances.

PERFORMANCE PERIOD

THE ESTIMATED DATES FOR THIS PROJECT ARE:

Start Date: September 12, 2026 End Date: November 14, 2026

The PoP may shift subject to approval by the COR.

SITE VISIT

Perspective bidders are urged to inspect the site where services are to be performed and to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the cost of contract performance, to the extent that the information is reasonably obtainable. In no event shall failure to inspect the site prior to start of contract constitute grounds for a claim after contract award.

(Attachment): Soda Fuel Breaks Vicinity Map

2026 Soda Fuel Breaks - Mowing

BID SCHEDULE

ITEM

NO.

DESCRIPTION ESTIMATED

QUANTITY

UNIT UNIT COST TOTAL COST

1 Item 0056AA – Level I - Mowing 1,132 acre

TOTAL PROJECT COST: ___________