140L4321Q0027 Young Stand Management close 4_16_21.pdf

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in

FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

Solicitation no. 140L4321Q0027 has been issued as a Request For Quotation for a firm fixed price commercial items services contract for Young Stand Management located within the vicinity of the

Northwest Oregon district area of responsibility. Please see the attached Schedule of Items and Statement of Work. The performance period is from date of award through December 31, 2021. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition

Circular 2021-05 published March 10, 2021. The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -

Commercial, applies to this acquisition. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Price. Offerors are advised to submit a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and

Certifications - Commercial Items, with its offer. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions

- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The clause at 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and to include 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards, 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting and Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment, 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside, 52.222-3, Convict Labor, 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities, 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities, 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons, 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving, 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases, 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-System for Award Management, 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards, 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal, 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658, 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706. This requirement is set-aside for SMALL BUSINESS. The NAICS code is 115310 and the small business size standard is $8.0M. The basis of award is the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Award will be made to the responsible respondent pursuant to FAR subpart 9.1. Responses shall be received via email at blm_or_so_952_mail@blm.gov by the response due date and time. Please put in the Subject line “140L4321Q0027 – Young Stand Management.”

Solicitation NO. 140L4321Q0027

SECTION B – SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

This requirement is for Firm Fixed Price Commercial Items Services contract for Young Stand

Management on the Northwest Oregon District of the BLM in Oregon. Work is centered in

Salem, Springfield, and Tillamook Oregon. Due to wildfires and Covid-19, contract period of performance may be extended through the next field season, as determined by the CO/COR.

Item no. Item Description Quantity Unit of

Measure

Unit

Price

Total

Amount

0001AA Thin trees to 16’ x 16’ Variable

Spacing 209 Acre $ $

0001AB Manual Maintenance 4-foot clearing – all vegetation 596 Acre $ $

0001AC Slashing and Bucking w/ 2.5-mile walk in (1 unit in Tillamook FO) 26 Acre $

TOTAL – ALL OR NONE 831 $

PERFORMANCE TIME:

For all items: 1 Calendar day per 12 acres

ESTIMATED START WORK: April 19, 2021

THIS SOLICITATION IS SET ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

EVALUATION FOR AWARD

Award will be made to the responsible firm whose quote is most advantageous to the

Government, price and other factors considered. Other factors for this solicitation include past performance of the quoter. Past performance information may be based on the Government’s knowledge of and previous experience with the quoter, or other reasonable basis. The

Government will evaluate option quantities at the same unit price as the successful quote(s).

Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS OR ATTACHMENTS

Attachment No. Title

1 Statement of Work

2 Illustration – Manual Maintenance Clearing

3 Fire Requirements

4 Wage Determination 77-0079 Rev. 64

5 Northwest Oregon BLM District Vicinity Map and Field Office Project

Area Maps

Attachment No. 1

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

PRE-COMMERCIAL TREE THINNING, MANUAL MAINTENANCE

AND SITE PREPARATION SPECIFICATIONS

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 Scope of Work - Perform pre-commercial thinning, manual maintenance (cutting brush, vegetation, and hardwoods), site preparation, slash pullback, and forest labor using chainsaws and hand tools in project areas in compliance with the terms and specifications contained herein.

1.2 Location of Work - All project areas are located within the BLM-managed lands in

Cascades, Marys Peak, Upper Willamette, and Tillamook Field Offices of the

Northwest Oregon District. The Vicinity Map shows the general locations of the project areas and Project Area Maps show specific project locations.

1.3 Boundaries of Project Areas - Project area boundaries are indicated on Project Area

Maps. Where boundaries are not obvious, they have been marked with flagging. In many cases adjacent timber stands, recent timber sale boundaries and roads, or other natural or man-made features clearly define the boundaries as shown on Project Area

Maps. (Upon request, the COR will also provide electronic files of Project Area Maps to the Contractor).

1.4 Access

Access to most project areas is by all-weather and seasonal roads. Exceptions are shown on individual Project Area Maps. Some roads may require four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Foot travel of up to one half mile to the project area boundary may be required on some project areas (see Project Area maps).

Foot travel over 0.5 miles to individual project areas will be compensated as follows:

0.51 – 1.0 miles 10% Compensation*

1.10 - 1.5 miles 15% Compensation*

1.51 - 2.0 miles 20% Compensation*

2.10 + miles 25% Compensation*

*Compensation percentage will be applied to the cost per acre for the unit(s) requiring foot travel.

The project areas may be behind locked gates which will require BLM keys, private keys, or both. Access will be discussed at the pre-work conference. If gates are locked with BLM locks, keys may be issued to the Contractor by the COR/PI at the appropriate BLM office located in either Springfield, Salem or Tillamook. If gates are privately owned and have no BLM lock, the Contractor shall be responsible for securing access, including acquiring keys to unlock the gates to access project areas.

All gates with locks shall be locked immediately after entry or exit by the Contractor.

Gate keys checked out from the BLM shall be returned to the COR/PI within five calendar days of completing work on the specific project area(s). Final payment shall be withheld until all gate keys checked out have been returned. A charge of $500 dollars will be assessed and deducted from the final payment amount for each BLM key not returned.

1.5 Seasonal Restrictions – Work in some project units may be limited to spring and summer months. Typical seasonal restrictions are: from March 1 to July 15 or from

March 1 to July 1. Seasonal restrictions shall be identified on the project area maps.

No work shall be done outside of the specified season of operation.

1.6 Security of Materials - The Contractor may, at its own discretion, leave its equipment and/or Government-furnished material at the work site. However, the Contractor shall be responsible for its equipment and/or the Government-furnished material if it should be lost, stolen, or damaged. The Contractor shall reimburse the Government for all lost, wasted, or damaged Government-furnished material.

2.0 DEFINITIONS

Bamboo stake - Round bamboo stake 48 inches or 36 inches in length used to support tree seedling protection tubes.

Branch collar - Basal enlargement of the branch at its point of attachment to the tree bole (see Illustration No. 5).

Branch stub - The portion of a pruned branch extending beyond the branch collar (see

Illustration No. 5).

Brush - Woody stems of shrub species normally under twenty (20) feet in height at maturity. Examples include blackberry, California hazel, cascara, ceanothus, devil’s club, elderberry, huckleberry, Manzanita, oceanspray, rhododendron, salal, salmonberry, Scotch broom, thimbleberry, and vine maple. Brush does not include ferns or grass.

Buffer - An untreated area measuring a specified distance from the edge of any flowing stream, standing water, or seasonal wetland.

Competitive brush, trees, or vegetation – Trees, brush, or vegetation required to be cut.

Conifer tree - An evergreen cone-bearing tree with needle-type foliage such as

Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, Sitka spruce, true firs, western hemlock, western redcedar, or western white pine.

Cut leave tree - A tree noted during inspection as a tree that should not have been cut.

Cut slope - The excavated portion of the road prism that is adjacent to and uphill from the roadbed.

Damaged tree - A leave tree or reserve tree that has been injured as a result of the

Contractor’s activities. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

completely severed tree boles, broken tops or stems, trees buried by slash created by the Contractor’s operations, trees with torn or scraped bark, partial or complete cutting of the branch collar, or having more than the specified amount of the live crown (branch-bearing portion of the tree) removed.

DBH – Diameter of the tree at breast height, measured at a point 4 ½ feet above ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

Epicormic growth - Small branches that originate from dormant buds along the tree bole (see Illustration No. 5).

Fall, felled, or cut - Sawing or chopping completely through stems so that stumps are no more than six (6) inches tall, with no live limbs remaining on the stumps of cut trees.

Fill slope - The fill portion of the road prism adjacent to and downhill from the roadbed.

Girdling - Making two (2) parallel unbroken cuts around the tree. The distance between the top and the bottom of the cut shall not exceed eight (8) inches. Cuts must penetrate at least 1/4 inch, but not more than one (1) inch into the wood of the tree. Trees shall be girdled below the lowest uncut live limb on the tree.

Hardwood tree - A deciduous tree which sometimes has a single well-defined trunk and normally attains a height of greater than twenty (20) feet at maturity. Includes, but is not limited to, species such as red alder, bigleaf maple, cherry, madrone, white oak, and red alder. Sprouting hardwood species may be in the form of multi-stemmed clumps. Does not include cascara.

Laminated root rot - A root disease caused by the fungus Phellinus weirii that is widespread in the Pacific Northwest and readily kills Douglas-fir and true fir species.

Leave stem - The largest, most vigorous stem of a multi-stemmed hardwood clump.

Leave trees - Conifer trees and hardwood trees that are not to be cut, girdled, or damaged.

Lodged - Cut vegetation, brush or surplus trees that are supported by or are covering a leave tree or reserve tree that causes it to bend or lean.

Non-native Plants - Plant species that are not native to the Pacific Northwest.

Includes, but is not limited to, species such as Himalaya blackberry, evergreen blackberry, Scotch broom, holly, and reed canary grass.

Pruning - Removing the branches (live and dead) and epicormic growth from the bole of a tree from ground level up to a specified height above ground level, or removing a percentage of the tree crown. Also includes removal of needles along the pruned portion of the tree (when pruning for disease control).

Reserve trees - Trees designated by species or marking that in addition to leave trees, shall not be cut, girdled or damaged. This also includes trees marked with paint, trees posted with signs, and other trees identified as reserve trees identified by a

Project Inspector.

Roadbed - Includes the running surface, shoulder, and ditch line of the road.

Road prism - Includes the roadbed and the cut and fill slopes.

Running surface - That portion of the road for movement of vehicles which may be asphalt, natural, or gravel surfaced. Running surface includes turnouts and curve widening.

Shoulder - A variable distance between the outside edge of the running surface and start of the fill slope or ditch line.

Sight distance - The area cleared and/or pruned on the inside of a road curve to maintain clear visibility for vehicles through the corner.

Slash – Any material which has been cut by the Contractor and any other slash as specified herein.

Surplus trees - Live conifer or hardwood trees which are not leave trees or reserve trees, and are competing for growing space with selected leave trees.

Swiss needle cast - A needle disease of Douglas-fir trees caused by the fungus

Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, common in the coastal forests of Oregon and

Washington that causes foliage (needles) to yellow and drop off prematurely.

Terminal leader - The uppermost portion of the bole of the tree (from the uppermost whorl to the top of the tree).

Tree Bole - The main central stem (trunk) of the tree.

Tube - Tubular plastic mesh that is eighteen (18) inches to thirty (30) inches in length and four (4) inches in diameter used to protect seedlings from animal damage.

Uncut surplus trees - Trees that have not been cut to provide the required spacing for leave trees, and/or stumps with live limbs.

Unit - Refers to an individual plantation or individual project area.

Vegetation - All brush, ferns, grasses, and other herbaceous (non-woody) plants.

Does not include trees.

Whorl – A cluster of branches arranged horizontally around the tree bole.

3.0 CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED ITEMS

3.1 Property and Services - The Contractor shall furnish all labor and materials necessary to perform pre-commercial thinning, manual maintenance, pruning, and site preparation services, including but not limited to chainsaws or other cutting tools, pruners, loppers, pole saws and ladders. Pruners and loppers shall be equivalent to those illustrated at www.terratech.net. Flagging shall be provided for marking the pruning line (see 5.8.3 and 5.9.3). The contractor shall provide Plastic Sheeting for covering hand piles.

3.2 Operating Permits - Oregon State law requires a permit (Notification of Operation) to operate power-driven machinery. This requirement applies to chainsaws and weed eaters. The Contractor must obtain these permits and must have them filled out prior to the start work date. Permits are available at the Oregon Department of Forestry

Office in Salem, Oregon, or at local Oregon Department of Forestry Offices.

3.3 Crew Requirements

3.3.1 The Contractor shall maintain an adequate work force at all times to ensure timely completion of the work.

3.3.2 The Contractor shall provide documentation summarizing crew supervisor and crew member tree planting experience to demonstrate qualifications to complete work.

3.3.3 Crews must be kept together at all times working as a crew under control of a supervisor rather than as individuals in separate areas. The Contractor shall keep the http://www.terratech.net/

COR informed of crew location and any time a project area is completed or a new project area is started. Prior notice must be given to the COR if there is to be a significant change in crew personnel or working schedule.

3.3.4 Oregon state safety regulations require that crew members shall not work alone and accessibility to emergency transportation shall be provided by the Contractor at all times.

3.4 Supervisor Requirements - The contractor shall designate one English-literate, experienced, non-laboring, supervisor who is knowledgeable in the pre-commercial thinning, manual maintenance, and site preparation contract specifications and in supervision. Persons who are designated by the contractor as supervisor must actually perform in that capacity by (1) making periodic inspections of the crew's work; (2) advising them of deficient work; and (3) providing instructions for correcting deficiencies. One supervisor shall supervise no more than twelve (12) crew members at any one time. Should the supervisor fail to adequately perform these duties, the Government has the right to request replacement of that crew supervisor. Any changes in supervisory designations must be submitted in writing to the COR at least 24 hours prior to the change taking effect.

3.5 Work Camps - The Contractor shall obtain written authorization from the Cascades, Marys Peak, Upper Willamette, or Tillamook Field Manager prior to camping on

BLM-administered lands. All fire regulations and permits shall be followed. All garbage and refuse shall be removed from the camp site(s) by the Contractor and disposed of at a site approved by the COR before final payment is made. See Migrant

Seasonal Agriculture Workers Protection Act Registration for further information regarding requirements work camps.

3.6 Project Area Clean-up – All boxes, bags or any other refuse, debris, or garbage left by the Contractor shall be cleaned up as each unit is completed. All such debris, garbage, or refuse shall be properly disposed by the Contractor before final payment is made.

4.0 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

4.1 The amounts of materials delivered by the Government will be determined by the

Contractor's daily production rate.

4.2 Upon receipt of any of these materials, the Contractor shall be responsible for their protection from damage, loss, or destruction.

4.3 Upon daily completion or termination of work, all unused Government-furnished materials shall be returned to the point where they were delivered. Materials shall then be rebundled, boxed, or stacked neatly.

5.0 SPECIFIC TASKS

5.1 Item 0001AA – Tree Thinning to 16’ x 16’ Variable Spacing

5.1.1 Selection of Leave Trees - Select approximately 170 vigorous, well-formed leave trees per acre averaging 16’ x 16’spacing. Spacing may vary up to 50% (8’ to 24’) in order to select the best leave tree, as long as the unit-level average tree count falls within 10% of 170 trees per acre. No trees larger than 10” DBH shall be cut. Tree species selection priority will be directed by Field Office CORs and is listed below for Cascades and Upper Willamette Field Offices. Species selection priority for stands infected with laminated root rot (Phellinus weirii) is specified below and will apply to all field offices unless otherwise specified on the Task Order.

5.1.2 Cascades Field Office - If the conifer trees are of equal size, health and form, leave trees shall be selected in the following species priority:

a. Western redcedar

b. Noble fir

c. Western white pine or sugar pine

d. Douglas-fir

e. All other conifers

f. Select red alder as a leave trees when there are no conifers available.

g. When bigleaf maple or big leaf maple clumps are the only leave trees available, select the largest, healthiest maple sprout as a leave tree. Cut all other sprouts.

5.1.3 Upper Willamette Field Office - If the conifer trees are of equal size, health and form, leave trees shall be selected in the following species priority:

a. Douglas-fir

b. Western redcedar

c. Western hemlock

d. Western white pine or sugar pine

e. All other conifers

f. Select red alder as a leave trees when there are no conifers available.

g. When bigleaf maple or bigleaf maple clumps are the only leave trees available, select the largest, healthiest maple sprout as a leave tree. Cut all other sprouts.

5.1.4 Timber Stands Infected with Phellinus weirii (will be identified by COR), All Field

Offices unless otherwise specified, leave trees shall be selected in the following species priority:

a. Red Alder

b. Western redcedar

c. Western white pine or sugar pine

d. Bigleaf maple. When bigleaf maple clumps are the only leave trees available, select the largest, healthiest maple sprout as a leave tree. Cut all other sprouts.

e. Hemlock

f. All other conifers

5.1.5 Tillamook Field Office

Units that will be thinned to 16 x 16 spacing shall have selected individual trees treated differently as specified below:

Select two (2) conifer leave trees per acre, and clear all conifer and red alder trees within a 30 to 40-foot radius around them. These two trees shall be the most open-grown trees available (relatively large diameter with crowns extending to near ground-level), and within fifty (50) feet of streams where possible. Unit average tree count of 170 trees per acre applies to the area outside the 30-40 foot cleared radius.

5.1.6 Tillamook and Marys Peak Field Office

Some units to be thinned to 16 x 16 spacing may have areas of minor species that will be treated differently as specified below:

Where western hemlock is the dominant species select an average of 220 conifer leave trees per acre (approximately fourteen [14]-foot average spacing). Spacing may be varied by as much as 25 percent (10 ½ to 17 ½-foot-spacing) in any direction to find a suitable conifer tree, as long as the units average tree count falls within 10% of

220 trees per acre.

Where Sitka spruce is the dominant species select as many as 1,210 trees per acre

(approximately six [6]-foot average spacing). Average tree count must fall within

10% of 1,210 trees per acre.

Where red alder and/or bigleaf maple are present, select one fifteen (15)-foot-radius clump of unthinned red alder for every two (2) acres where they occur, and select one

(1) bigleaf maple tree (1 - 3 stems) for every two (2) acres where they occur and cut all conifer and red alder trees within a 30-foot radius of this bigleaf maple tree.

5.3 Item 0001AB - Manual Maintenance With 4 foot Clearing

5.3.1 No conifers will be cut. Hardwoods with a DBH of 12 inches or greater and 20 feet and further from a conifer will be left as leave trees.

5.3.2 Selection of Leave Trees - Select all conifer and specified hardwood trees as leave trees. Leave tree species will be specified on task order.

5.3.3 Treatment of Brush and Hardwood Trees

5.3.4 Cut at the base all vegetation within a four (4) foot radius of all leave trees that range between 6 (6) inches and seven (7) feet in height. This includes portions of plants that overhang an imaginary cylinder within the four (4) foot radius around the above-specified leave trees.

Cut all hardwood trees within 15 feet radius (horizontal distance) of leave trees over two (2) feet tall. Hardwood trees that are outside the fifteen (15) foot radius of conifer trees but have limbs that overhang the imaginary cylinder within the four (4) foot radius around the above-specified leave trees shall be cut, girdled, or limbed so that the limb is no longer impinging on the leave tree.

5.3.5 Radius distance will be measured from the leave tree stem to the nearest edge of the crowns of surplus trees and brush.

5.3.6 Girdle hardwood trees ten (10) inches DBH or larger, except fell them within falling distance of roads. Cut hardwood trees in a manner to minimize damage to leave trees. In some units the COR may require the contractor to cut all bigleaf maple stumps down to a six (6) inch stump height.

5.3.7 Treatment of Scotch Broom and Ceanothus

All ceanothus, Scotch broom greater than one (1) foot in height or one quarter (1/4) inch in diameter within the project area boundaries shall be cut.

5.4 Item 0001AC – Slashing and Bucking for Site Preparation

5.4.1 Treatment of brush and slash - Cut all brush and buck slash into four (4) foot lengths.

Completely sever all brush from the stumps. The resulting depth of slash shall not exceed one (1) foot. To achieve a slash depth of one (1) foot or less, scattering or bucking the slash into lengths shorter than four (4) feet may be required. Bucking may include pre-existing slash if needed to achieve slash depth of one (1) foot or less.

5.5 Special Treatment Requirements – All Items

5.5.1 All surplus trees and brush shall be completely severed from the stumps. Stump height shall not exceed six (6) inches measured on the uphill side. No live limbs shall remain on the stumps of cut surplus trees. Each stump not having all green limbs removed will count in inspection as an "uncut surplus tree".

5.5.2 Do not cut or damage reserve trees.

5.5.3 All slash leaning against leave trees or reserve trees shall be cut and removed from the leave trees or reserve trees. Adjacent to reserve trees three (3) feet of height or less, slash shall be removed a distance of two feet from around the tree. On leave trees greater than three (3) feet tall, all slash will be left in such a manner that the growth of the leave trees is unrestricted.

5.5.4 All trees marking or forming the boundary of the project area(s) shall be protected from injury. In addition, all bearing trees and stumps, brass caps, corner posts, or other corner monuments within or adjacent to the project area(s) shall be protected from injury or damage under penalty of the law. The visibility of brass caps, corner posts, or other corner monuments, posted bearing trees and stumps, or other signs indicating the location of corners shall be maintained, which may require extra cutting, lopping, and/or clearing of slash.

5.5.5 Provide adequate warning signs on all open roads to alert traffic whenever felling operations immediately adjacent to road may pose a hazard to traffic.

5.5.6 Do not refuel equipment within 150 feet of water bodies, or as far away as possible where local site conditions do not allow 150 feet.

5.5.7 In general, streams are excluded from treatment boundaries. Any flowing water found in the unit will have a buffer area where hardwoods, brush, or conifers will not be cut for a distance of ten (10) feet on either side.

5.5.8 In general, select for leave trees the largest, healthiest, best-formed conifer trees with largest crowns. In cases where Douglas-fir trees have yellowish or sparse foliage, other conifer species as small as two (2)-feet in height shall be selected in place of larger Douglas-fir trees. If there are no other conifer species available to select as leave trees, a smaller Douglas-fir tree with deep green foliage color and fuller foliage shall be selected over a larger, yellowish Douglas-fir with sparse foliage. In addition, red alder or big leaf maple shall be selected as leave trees in place of Douglas-fir trees with extremely yellowish or sparse foliage.

5.5.9 Where standing dead and dying Douglas-fir trees occur, select alternative conifer species as leave trees when available. In cases where there are no available alternative conifer species near the dead or dying Douglas-fir tree(s) hardwood trees shall be selected as leave trees.

5.5.10 Special Treatment Requirements for Pacific yew trees and white oak trees

Pacific yew and white oak trees shall not be cut or damaged, and shall not be considered leave trees.

5.5.11 Remove slash concurrently with unit treatment as follows:

5.5.12 Remove slash at least ten (ten) feet slope distance back from the edge of all-weather roads and to the top of cut banks within the project areas. Scatter concentrations of removed slash that are over three feet high so that the depth of slash overall is less than three feet deep. Keep all ditches, roads, culverts, motorcycle and hiking trails within the project areas free of slash.

5.5.13 Remove slash at least twenty (20) feet slope distance from the edge of roads and to the top of the cut banks where specifically designated on the Project Area Maps

(usually at landings and pull-outs). Scatter concentrations of removed slash that are over three feet high so that the depth of slash overall is less than three feet deep.

5.5.14 Slash shall be pulled completely into the project area when fallen across property lines between BLM and adjacent land owners, where specifically designated on the

Project Area Maps.

6.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN/INSPECTION

6.1 The Government will perform inspection surveys as a basis for acceptance, payment, and recommendations for adjustments in work quality while work is in progress.

6.1.2 Administrative surveys: The Government will conduct a walk through and perform periodic measurements to monitor the quality of work. If the work quality is found deficient on the administrative survey, a formal survey will be performed.

6.1.3 Formal surveys (Applies to both Contractor Quality Control and Government

Quality Assurance): Inspections will be made on a series of plots as described below.

6.1.4 Inspection data will be gathered from a series of well-distributed, randomly-selected plots of a uniform size. The plot size will be determined by the Inspector.

The total sample size will be at least one (1) percent of each item in each project area. The Contractor is encouraged to observe inspections while they are being made.

6.1.5 As the basis for payment, inspections for compliance with specifications will be made for work units reported as completed by the Contractor. In general, work units are the same mapped units submitted with task orders. If applicable, large units may be divided into work units. Work units will be inspected separately and will not be averaged with any other area for acceptance or payment.

6.1.6 Reserve trees found in an inspection plot will not be counted as leave trees that should be on the plot. However, reserve trees found cut or damaged in an inspection plot shall be counted as cut or damaged leave trees.

6.2 Items 0001AA Thinning Trees – Project Inspectors will record the following information for each Thinning plot:

Number of leave trees and reserve trees on the plot.

Number of leave trees and reserve trees that should be on the plot.

Number of surplus trees, brush, and non-native plants that have not been treated in accordance with contract specifications (unsevered from stump, low live limbs, etc.).

Number of leave trees that have not been selected in accordance with contract specifications (too few, too many, improper tree choice, etc.).

Number of leave trees and reserve trees that have not been protected in accordance with contract specifications.

6.3 Items 0001AB Manual Maintenance - Project Inspectors will record the following information for each Manual Maintenance plot:

Number of leave trees and reserve trees on the plot.

Number of leave trees and reserve trees that should be on the plot.

Number of leave trees or reserve trees where brush, vegetation, or hardwood trees have not been cut or girdled in accordance with the contract specifications

(damaged leave trees or reserve trees; high stumps; leave trees or reserve trees lodged with slash; brush, vegetation, and trees not cut to height and radius specifications, improper girdles, etc.).

6.4 Item 0001AC – Slashing and Bucking for Site Preparation - Project Inspectors will record the following information for each Site Preparation plot:

Number of plots treated.

Number of plots not treated or treated improperly (e.g., uncut brush, high stump, lodged tree, improper buck length, slash height or damaged leave tree)

7.0 ACCEPTANCE

7.1 Work quality percentages are derived for each project area from data developed from inspection plots. An Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) of 90 percent is required for all items. Calculated tree counts must be within 10% of the desired tree count for Bid Items 0001AA, 0001AB, and 0001AC. The number of errors divided by the number of trees or plots is the error rate. This rate expressed as a percentage, subtracted from 100 percent, and rounded to the nearest percent provides the basic work quality percentage. Listed below are examples of how work quality percentages are determined for each Item.

7.2 Example for Item(s) 0001AA Thinning Trees:

Number of leave and reserve trees on the plots. = 90

Number of surplus trees, and trees that have not been treated in accordance with contract specifications

(e.g., two with low live limbs, plus one with a high stump). = 3

Number of leave trees that have not been selected in accordance with contract specifications, (e.g., one too few selected, plus one improper choice). = 2

Number of leave trees and reserve trees that have not been treated in accordance with contract specifications, (e.g., one damaged reserve tree). = 1

Total number of errors = 6

Work quality percentage:

100% - (6 90 x 100) = 6.6

100 - 6.6 = 93.4% = 93%

7.3 Example for Items 0001AB – Manual Maintenance:

Number of leave trees and reserve trees on the plots = 87

Number of leave trees where vegetation has not been treated in accordance with the contract specifications (two with uncut brush, one with a high stump, and one lodged with slash) = 4

Number of leave trees that have not been selected in accordance with contract specifications, (e.g., one too few selected, plus one improper choice). = 2

Number of leave trees and reserve trees that have not been treated in accordance with contract specifications, (e.g., one damaged reserve tree). = 1

Total number of errors = 7

Work quality percentage:

100% - (7 87 x 100) = 8.0

100 - 8.0 = 92% = 92%

7.4 Example for Item 0001AC– Slashing and Bucking for Site Preparation:

Number of plots treated properly. = 80

Number of plots not treated or treated improperly (e.g., two with un-bucked trees, one with a high stump, one with a lodged tree, and one with a damaged leave tree) = 5

Total number of plots = 85

Work quality percentage

(80 85 x 100) = 94.1 = 94%

Number of plots not treated or treated improperly (e.g., uncut brush, high stump, lodged tree, improper buck length, slash height or damaged leave tree)

UNACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL

7.5.1 Based on inspection results, if the work quality percentage falls below 90% the

Contracting Officer will immediately notify the Contractor in writing and instruct the Contractor to improve the quality of the work. If the quality of the work is not raised to an acceptable level within two (2) consecutive workdays after written notification, the Contracting Officer may issue a Suspend Work Order, or an official cure notice may be issued by the Contracting Officer. This does not apply to Item 0001AL.

7.5.2 If lodged trees, high stumps, uncut surplus trees, brush, non-native plants, improper girdles, unpruned, improperly pruned, uncut vegetation, improperly installed tubes and stakes, or improper treatment of slash are the primary reason for unsatisfactory work, the Contractor shall rework areas designated by the

Government until satisfactory work quality is achieved.

8.0 REINSPECTION - ALL ITEMS

8.1 Reinspection will be made after each rework. Once the AQL is reached, payment will be made in accordance with 9.0.

8.2 The Contractor shall be liable for extra costs incurred by the Government as a result of its performance, or lack of performance, to conduct the second reinspection and subsequent reinspections of any one unit. The Contractor shall also be liable for extra costs incurred by the Government as a result of its performance, or lack of performance, to conduct the third and subsequent reinspections within any one item where the reason for unsatisfactory work quality is substantially the same as previous inspections. Costs include, but are not limited to, inspection time, administrative costs, and vehicle operating costs.

If the COR determines that the AQL cannot be achieved, the Contractor shall be paid for the percentage of satisfactory work completed as determined by inspection.

9.0 PAYMENT

9.1 Payment will be made for each item on an individual project area basis as project areas are inspected and accepted. Payment for accepted work is based on the work quality percentage determined through the inspection analysis.

9.2 Work quality percentages are derived from data collected on inspection plots.

The final work quality percentage times the unit price determines the unit pay rate. A WORK QUALITY PERCENTAGE OF 90 PERCENT OR HIGHER

WILL RESULT IN FULL PAYMENT.

10.0 REMEASUREMENT OF UNITS - ALL ITEMS

The Contractor may, at any time during the course of the contract, request re-measurement of any unit if he feels that the acreage stated in the contract is incorrect. If re-measurement indicates that a variance of five (5) percent or less exists, the Contractor will pay for the actual cost of the re-measurement. Under this condition, payment for the unit will be made on the acreage stated in the contract. If re-measurement indicates the actual variance is greater than five (5) percent, payment for the unit will be based on the re-measured acreage. Acreage is measured on the horizontal plane.

Existing improved road areas shown on the project maps are not included in the unit acres, these road areas include cut slopes, ditch lines, running surface, turn-outs, and landings. One thousand linear feet along roads equals one acre. These acres have been deducted from the unit acres.

11.0 CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE DEFINITION

The “Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)” is the on-the-ground administrator for the Contracting Officer.

12.0 PROJECT INSPECTOR DEFINITION

“Project Inspector” means the person designated by the COR to perform, as needed, on-the-job Government inspection of work accomplished by the

Contractor.

13.0 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER'S

REPRESENTATIVE AND PROJECT INSPECTOR

13.1 The COR’s authorities and responsibilities are defined in the COR’s Designation

Letter. The COR is authorized to clarify technical requirements, and to review and approve work which is clearly within the scope of work. The COR is NOT authorized to issue changes pursuant to the changes clause or to in any other way modify the scope of work.

13.2 The Project Inspector is responsible for checking the Contractor's compliance with the technical specifications, drawings, work schedule, and labor provisions at the site of the work.

14.0 NOTICE TO PROCEED

After award of contract, the COR will issue to the Contractor a written notice to proceed. Issuance of the notice may be delayed for a reasonable time, at the discretion of the Government, if adverse soil, vegetative, or climatological conditions exist.

The Contractor shall perform no preliminary work prior to receipt of the written notice to proceed. Contract time starts on the effective date of the notice to proceed.

15.0 CONTRACT TIME

The Contractor shall begin work within five (5) calendar days from the effective date of the Notice to Proceed. The Contractor shall continue performance of the work under the contract without delay or interruption except by causes beyond his control as defined by contract clauses, or by the receipt of a "Suspend Work Order" issued by the Government. Failure to do so may be cause for action under the "Default" clause.

The Contractor shall complete all work required within the time specified in the

Schedule of Items.

16.0 PROGRESS PLAN

At the pre-work conference, the Contractor shall provide to the COR a written "work progress plan" that details his proposed work force and schedule to provide for orderly completion of the work within the contract performance time. This work schedule must be acceptable to the Government. At a minimum, the schedule should reflect a work progress rate equal to the available amount of contract performance time. The unit sequence work schedule will be determined by the COR at the pre-work conference and may be subject to change because of normal variations in weather conditions or discovery of a variation in a protected species activity, at no change in contract time or price. Note seasonal restrictions listed in the Access

Section (D.1-1(d))

Work shall progress in accordance with the established schedule. If the Contractor's progress falls 20 percent behind the established work schedule, the Contractor's right to proceed may terminate for default if satisfactory progress is not attained within three (3) working days after receipt by the Contractor of a written notice of deficient performance.

17.0 PROSECUTION OF THE WORK

The capacity of the Contractor's plant, method of operation, and forces employed shall, at all times during the continuance of the contract, be subject to the approval of the Contracting Officer and shall be such as to assure the completion of the work within the specified period of time.

If work is seriously or chronically deficient, the Contractor's right to proceed may be suspended until the performance problems can be resolved and work may resume.

The contract time will continue to run during any such period of suspension.

The Contracting Officer may, in writing, require the Contractor to remove from the work any employee found to be working in an unsafe manner.

18.0 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERRUPTION OF WORK

Environmental - The Contracting Officer, by issuance of a suspend work order, may direct the Contractor to shut down any work that may be subject to damage due to weather conditions or fire danger. The Contractor will be given a resume work order which will document the date the work suspension ends. An allowance has been included in the contract time for short term environmental delays up to one day at a time. The count of contract time will therefore continue during work interruptions of one day or less, but the count of contract time will stop during work interruptions in excess of one day at a time. All periods of interruptions directed by the Government will be documented. The Contractor will not be entitled to additional monetary compensation for such suspensions regardless of duration.

Endangered Species - The Government may direct the Contractor to discontinue all operations in the event that listed or proposed threatened or endangered plants or animals protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, or Federal candidate (Category 1 and 2), sensitive or state listed species, identified under BLM

Manual 6840, are discovered to be present in or adjacent to the project area. Actions taken under this paragraph shall be subject to the Suspension of Work clause in

Section I, FAR 52.242-14.

19.0 PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES

If, in connection with operations under this contract, the Contractor, subcontractors, or the employees of any of them, discovers, encounters or becomes aware of any objects or sites of cultural value on the project area, such as historical or prehistorical ruins, 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 in writing of the findings. No objects of cultural resource value may be removed.

Operations may resume at the discovery site upon receipt of written instructions.

Actions taken under this paragraph shall be subject to the Suspension of Work clause in Section I, FAR 52.242-14.

20.0 SUBCONTRACTS

If the contractor desires to subcontract any work under the contract, it shall obtain the

Contracting Officer's written consent. The request to subcontract shall contain the following information:

a. Name of subcontractor

b. Description and amount of supplies or services to be subcontracted. The

Contractor shall insert in any subcontracts all applicable clauses contained in the contract.

21.0 RESTORATION OF RESOURCES

Cleanup - The Contractor is responsible for cleaning up all camp and worksites before leaving the area. Final payment may be withheld until the Contractor has complied with this requirement.

Access Roads - Public or private access roads damaged by the Contractor shall be restored, at his expense, to the same condition they were in at the commencement of work.

22.0 FIRE DANGER SEASON

If the COR allows the Contractor to continue work during periods of Closed Fire

Season, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable State laws relating to fire prevention and with all special conditions of work as directed by the COR.

23.0 UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

This contract involves the employment of unskilled labor working under arduous field conditions. Such employment may be attractive to persons coming from foreign countries, sometimes illegally. Bidders are reminded that it is a crime to bring into the United States, transport within the United States, and to harbor aliens who do not have a proper visa for entry and working in this country (8 U.S.C. ' 1323-1325). If violations are suspected by the COR during the performance of work on this (these) project(s) they will be reported to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for investigation and appropriate action. Conviction of the Contractor for commission of a criminal offense referred to herein will be deemed sufficient cause for default and the initiation of debarment or suspension proceedings to prevent the Contractor from receiving future Government contracts.

24.0 MIGRANT SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS PROTECTION ACT

REGISTRATION

As set forth in Title 29, Part 500 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Migrant and

Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection, the Contractor shall maintain all necessary

U.S. Department of Labor registrations during the performance period of this contract. Failure to maintain a valid registration is grounds for termination of this contract.

In compliance with the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the

Contractor shall provide the following to meet minimum safety and health standards for housing employees when camping on Federal lands:

a. A shelter to provide protection from the elements. Where heat adequate for weather conditions is not provided, other arrangements should be made to protect the workers from the cold.

b. Sanitary facilities for storing food. Ice chests or coolers, with ice supply made from potable water replenished as necessary, to meet the requirement for storage of perishable food items.

c. An adequate and convenient potable water supply, approved by the appropriate health authority, in each camp for drinking and cooking purposes. As an alternative, commercial bottled water may be used.

d. Toilet and hand washing facilities adequate for the capacity of the camp, at not less than a 1:15 ratio, supplied with adequate toilet paper. Such facilities shall be maintained in a sanitary condition.

e. Fly-tight, rodent-tight, impervious, cleanable or single service containers to be used for the storage of garbage. Such containers shall be kept clean and emptied when full.

f. Basic first aid supplies under the charge of a person trained to administer first aid.

g. A laundry tray or tub for every 30 workers, or transportation, at least weekly, to a commercial laundromat for all workers.

25.0 OREGON FARM/FOREST LABOR CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE

If the State of Oregon requires an Oregon Farm/Forest Labor Contractor's License, then the contractor awarded this contract and all first-tier subcontractors shall be required to obtain and maintain, during the term of this contract, such a license.

Contractors not having a current license will be required to furnish evidence of having obtained such license within ten (10) days after receipt of written notification of contract award. Failure to obtain, keep and maintain a current license during the term of this contract or the extension thereof shall be a basis for termination for default.

Information on obtaining this license may be obtained from:

Bureau of Labor and Industries Contact: Licensing Unit

Wage and Hour Division Telephone: (503) 731-4074

800 NE Oregon, #32, Suite 1160

Portland, Oregon 97232

26.0 IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED MATERIAL

Improper disposal includes, but is not limited to, the wrongful ditching, hiding or burying of Government-furnished material (GFM). The Government may, by issuance of a written order, suspend the Contractor's right to proceed for improper disposal of GFM. The Contractor may be required to remove from the contract site any individuals involved in the improper disposal of GFM.

The Contractor will be charged for the actual costs of the improperly disposed GFM.

The costs will be based on the current market value and any associated costs.

Conviction of the Contractor for commission of a criminal offense referred to herein will be deemed sufficient cause for default and the initiation of debarment or suspension proceedings to prevent the Contractor from receiving future Government contracts.

Attachment No. 2

ILLUSTRATIONS

Illustration No. 1 - Manual Maintenance Clearing

ILLUSTRATION NO. 1 Manual Maintenance Clearing

Attachment No. 3

FIRE REQUIREMENTS

This outline covers the fire protection requirements of a contractor or private party who performs service or construction contracts on BLM land. In western Oregon, the BLM allows Oregon Forest

Law (ORS) and Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) to apply to these operations on BLM lands rather than develop similar rules applicable only to BLM lands.

1. CLOSED FIRE SEASON

The closed fire season means that fire season has been declared. ORS 477.505 gives the State

Forester the authority to establish the fire season. The authority has been delegated to the District

Foresters around the state who issue public notices through the newspapers and radio when fire season will be closed for their individual districts. Closed fire season depends upon the drying of forest fuels, rainfall, and time of year. During the closed fire season, the following requirements must be met:

Fire tools must be on site.

Fire extinguisher and shovel must be with each chainsaw.

Fire extinguisher must be in all vehicles.

Chainsaws must have a .023"-inch mesh screen installed in the exhaust.

Only unmodified saws are to be used in the forest. Approved spark arresters must be on all internal combustion engines. Watchman service must be provided for 3 hours after shutdown of power equipment for the day. No smoking is permitted while working or traveling through any operations area in the forest. No use of explosives is permitted unless approved by the State

Forester's representative. Permits to burn are required unless waived by the representative of the State Forester.

Changes or modifications to the above…