A04_-_140L4218Q0003_SOW_Dove_Creek_GUSG.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Dove Creek GUSG Mastication Dolores County, CO Township 41 N, Range 18 W Section 9, 15 and 16

FY 2018

This statement of work is for:

The objective of the project is to supports a population of Gunnison Sage-grouse, but where habitat conditions are not optimal for this species. The Rangewide Gunnison Sage-grouse Conservation Plan lays out a process to improve the habitat and reverse declining grouse populations at the landscape level. One part of this plan calls for the removal of piñon and juniper trees and oak brush surrounding leks and other habitats required to fulfill grouse life processes.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The entire project area is 639 acres, but 334 acres are to be targeted within this treatment portion. Contractors are to provide all labor, supplies, and equipment to mechanically mow and shred designated vegetation with a rubber tired or tracked machine mounted, horizontal or vertical shaft shredder or mulcher capable of working on slopes up to 20 percent and mulching trees or logs up to 16-20” diameter at root collar.

Directions to the unit: The project is located northeast of Dove Creek, CO (See attached Map). The project can be accessed from Dove Creek, CO (Southwest of project) on HW 491or Egnar, CO (North of the project) on HW 141. Traveling on Hwy 491 from Cortez, before hitting Dove Creek, turn North on County Rd. 9. Stay on road 9 until it takes a right - follow the road, until you reach the BLM which is bisected by the road. Park on the side of CR9. Traveling on Hwy 141 South from Egnar, take CR C, and then right on CR 9 until intersecting the unit (see attached). During the project, the contractor will have access through private land into the center of the treatment unit. These additional instructions will be provided upon award.

Acreage: Approximately 334 acres Location: Dove Creek, Colorado. USGS Quadrangle Secret Canyon.

Legal Location: T41N, R18W, Sec. 9, 15 and 16.

Previous Work: Secret Canyon Fuels Treatment in 1999.

Work to be Completed: Hydro-axing/mastication of Oak, Pinyon, Juniper, and mountain shrub species.

Period of Performance: July 15 – November 15, 2018.

Approximately 334 acres have been identified for treatment in Dove Creek, CO. The treatment involves cutting and mulching and scattering of pinyon pine, juniper, oak, mountain mahogany and serviceberry within the project area. Sagebrush is to be avoided as much as possible.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Oak/Mtn shrub and scattered small diameter Pinyon Juniper on under 30% slope should mow and shred 100 percent of Oak/Mtn Shrub and juniper with hydro-axe. IDIQ Line Item 0001AB, General (Mastication) Level II.

General

· All cut vegetation shall be shredded such that 60 percent of the mulch material is less than 4 inches in diameter and 12 inches long. 80 percent of the mulch and slash resulting from the mowing and shredding must be distributed on the ground surface at a depth less than 4 inches. A small portion of the slash resulting from the mowing and shredding (not more than 20%) may be higher than 6 inches but no more than 8 inches above the ground.

· Stumps and stubble heights must be less than 8 inches above the ground surface or any obstacle.

· In order to avoid impacts to surface sites, any machinery would not operate in wet conditions that would produce ruts over 3” deep or 10 feet long.

· Avoid impact to sagebrush wherever possible.

Wet Period Restrictions

· County “all-weather” roads with a gravel or paved surface can be operated on during most weather conditions except extremely wet periods. All other roads are native surface on BLM lands. Travel on native surface roads and off-road with equipment is restricted when the soil is saturated. Soils are too wet when the moisture content exceeds the plastic limit. If soils within 6 inches of the surface can be rolled into threads 3 millimeters in diameter without breaking or crumbling the soils are too wet for operations. If the soils are saturated such that ruts 4 inches or deeper and 10 feet long are created by heavy vehicles, the Contractor shall cease operations in that area. If conditions persists, the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) may suspend the contract until the soils dry out or freeze. If the contract is suspended due to wet conditions, the Government is not responsible for additional mobilization costs.

Other Specifications:

All of the activities associated with this project shall be conducted in such a manner that there shall not be any adverse impact to the following resources listed.

Protection of Improvements and Survey Monuments

· The Contractor(s) shall avoid any damage to improvements such as, but not limited to, fences, gates, utility poles, survey markers or monuments, survey witness trees and cultural sites. The Contractor will be required to repair or pay fair market value to replace any damaged improvements.

Cultural

· The Project Area will be surveyed for all cultural sites prior to mechanical operations in each treatment unit, however should any heritage or cultural sites be discovered during operations, the Contractor should immediately stop treatment in that area and contact the COR who will notify the District Archeologist. Protected cultural areas will be flagged with white flagging. If another color of flagging is used to mark Archaeological sites the contractor will be notified of the change.

Wildlife

· If an active raptor nest is located during operations, mowing will cease within 1/4 mile of the nest and a wildlife biologist will be consulted.

· Project implementation will not occur during the migratory nesting season May 1 through July 15.

Safety

· Contractor shall take precautions when operating directly adjacent to private land to avoid creating hazardous conditions that compromise the safety of residents or that may damage buildings and property.

· Warning signs must be posted at least 300 feet away from the machinery on roads and trails adjacent to the Treatment Units while the shredding/mowing machinery is in operation.

Noxious Weeds

· The Contractor shall insure all equipment moved onto Public Land is free of soil, seeds and vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. The Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to insure compliance, and shall notify the COR prior to moving each piece of equipment onto Public land. Notification will include identifying the location of the equipment’s most recent operations. Arrangements will be made for the Public Land Representative to inspect each piece of equipment prior to it being moved onto Public land. (Note: “Equipment” includes all machinery except for log trucks, chip vans, pickup trucks, cars, or other vehicles primarily for transport of personnel.)

Fire Extinguisher and Tools on Equipment

· While in use, each internal combustion engine including tractors, trucks, dozers, hydro-axes, welders, generators, stationary engines, or comparable powered equipment shall be provided with at least the following:

1. One fire extinguisher, at least 5# ABC with an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) rating of 3A - 40BC, or greater. Extinguisher shall be mounted so as to be readily available for use (not locked in a tool box or chained to a seat, for example)

2. One shovel, sharp, size “O” or larger, round-pointed with an overall length of at least 48 inches.

3. One axe, sharp, double bit 3½#, or one sharp pulaski.

· 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.

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. On-site disposal will subject the contractor to at least the cost of reclamation and the appropriate disposal of contaminated soil.

· Incidental (de minimus) leaks from fittings, gaskets or ruptured hoses will not subject the contractor to remedial requirements. They will be considered to be normal and unavoidable losses. Continual leaks will be noted on inspection reports and correction through maintenance required.

· Maintenance and repair operations that require the draining of engines or hydraulic systems may be conducted on site only if the fluids are captured, containerized, and removed from public lands for proper disposal.

CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE and INSPECTOR

Ian Barrett , COR Tel. (970) 882-6873 29211 Highway 184 Dolores, CO 81323 ipbarrett@blm.gov

Charles Lanoue, Project Inspector (PI) Tel. (970) 882-8644 29211 Highway 184 Dolores, CO 81323 clanoue@blm.gov PRE-BID INSPECTION TOUR: A pre-bid inspection tour will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2018 for all bidders. Please contact the project inspector if you plan to attend the pre-bid inspection tour. Attendees will meet at the BLM Tres Rios Field Office, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, Colorado at 10 am.

SUBCONTRACTING

No subcontractors will be allowed to complete any work under this statement of work.

DELIVERABLES

Payment for work will be based upon the number of inspected and completed acres which are accepted by the COR.

NOTICE to PROCEED

After award of contract the contracting officer (CO) shall issue a written notice to proceed to the contractor.

Definitions DRC- Diameter at Root Collar- diameter of the tree or shrub measured outside the bark just above the root collar swell.

DBH – Diameter at Breast Height (4.5 feet above the ground)

Damaged Tree – any reserve or “leave” tree that has been damaged by the Contractor.

Obstacle – For the purposes of this contract an obstacle is defined as any object, which can impede, or damage the shredding/mulching or tree cutting equipment. This could include rocks, logs, old stumps, road banks or culverts.

Treatment Unit – Area where contract work will be completed that is delineated on the Project Area Map.

Attachments: Three maps of project area.