B08_140L6325Q0043_-_Attachment_01_-_SOW_0001.pdf

BLM Alaska – Solicitation 140L6325Q0043

STATEMENT OF WORK

Campbell Tract Hazardous Fuel Reduction

1. OBJECTIVE

Project goals are to reduce hazardous fuels through mechanical mastication and hand-cutting, including piling, chipping, or masticating vegetation such as small diameter trees, brush, and slash (both live and dead). This will also involve the mechanical removal of dead or wind-thrown spruce trees (standing and down), with logs transported to designated deck locations along a linear Fuel Modification Zone. Dead spruce removal is highly variable with most standing dead spruce removed in a previous project and down material found sporadically and nearly absent in portions of the project area. This variability is based on how the bark beetle outbreak impacted the area as well as the spruce versus hardwood composition.

The project includes two units:

Unit A: This unit will maintain an existing fuel break, (treated approximately 20 years ago), using a mechanical masticator (mulcher). Maintenance will take place from September 29, 2025, to May 30, 2026.

Unit B: This unit will establish a new fuel break using hand-cutting with chainsaws, along with equipment such as chippers to move and haul logs to decks. This work will be implemented from September 1, 2026, to May 30, 2027.

Table 1. Timing and Unit Information.

Year Unit Acres/ Trees

Description

One (2025 – 2026)

A 21 Acres

Retreatment (mastication) of an existing fuel break.

Two (2026 - 2027)

B 36 Acres

Creation of a new fuel break along roads, select trails and around facilities. Hand cut & chip live and dead vegetation, pruning leave trees.

Two (2026 - 2027)

B (BLM

Road)

Acres

Tree Removal (Standing dead spruce) – Cut & chip limbs and tops, logs decked along road.

Two (2026 - 2027)

B (BLM

Road)

Acres

Tree Removal (Down dead or blow-down spruce) – Cut & chip limbs and tops, logs decked along road.

2. SPECIFICATIONS:

ITEM 1. Unit A Fuel Break Retreatment (MASTICATION)

Mastication of vegetation using small/medium sized tracked or rubber tired heavy equipment (such as a skid steer or excavator (weighing less than 15,000 lbs) with a roller drum or disc type masticator (aka mulcher) head attachment.

The level of difficulty for general (mastication) is based on the total percent cover of material to be treated, as follows:

1.1 Item Density 100 Percent: Item 1A - Level I - Percent cover of material to be treated is estimated to be between 0 and 45 percent total cover (Portion of the project area vegetation to be masticated, which does not include reserve vegetation).

Note: Regrowth density in the existing fuel break is variable and average height is approximately 6-8’ tall trees and brush and incudes portions where regrowth is sparse to non-existant.

1.2 Accomplish mastication throughout the entire unit masticating regrowth (spruce, hardwood, and brush) between leave trees. Leave trees (Trees greater than 6 inches in diameter at breast height [DBH]).

1.3 Mechanically grind all slash, trees less than 6 inches DBH, and brush to a height as low as possible (no greater than 5” above the ground). Since a retreatment, emphasis is on vegetative regrowth excluding leave trees to retain a shaded fuel break. Where no overstory is present utilize a variable spacing of 20’ x 20’ retaining hardwoods and targeting spruce for mastication.

1.4 All surplus vegetation and slash shall be ground or cut, such that no woody piece is greater than 3 feet in length.

1.5 Chip depth above the normal plane of the ground shall not exceed 5 inches.

1.6 Contractor shall furnish two warning signs to be placed on the roadside prior to entrance to the work area. Signs shall be a minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet in dimension and shall warn of possibility of flying debris (see trail and road closures 2.4.19 & 2.4.20).

1.7 Contractor shall ensure placing fuel containment barrier if storing fuel on project site.

ITEM 2 (UNIT B) FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE CONSTRUCTION

2.4.1 Fuel modification zones (FMZs) shall be created to reduce adverse wildfire effects, limit rate of spread, and/or to establish defensible areas for use during fire suppression activities.

Flammable material shall be treated and removed from the surface, understory, and canopy.

Treatments required in this sub-item include cutting of trees, slashing of shrubs and small vegetation, and pruning of residual trees. FMZs shall be created along roads, trails, or around facilities.

2.4.2 LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

The level of difficulty for FMZs is based on percent cover of material to be treated is greater than 60 percent.

2.4.4 SPACING

Spacing width shall be designated for each unit in written instructions with each Task Order.

Width designated within the range of 15 feet x 15 feet which is 194 trees per acre.

The average spacing may vary + or – 20 percent of the designated spacing in order to select the best leave trees without numerically changing the average number of leave trees per acre.

2.4.5 CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF LEAVE TREES

a. LEAVE TREES 6” DBH AND GREATER All conifers and hardwoods 6 inches DBH and larger are reserved from cutting. These trees shall be included in spacing requirements.

b. LEAVE TREES LESS THAN 6" DBH The largest, healthiest, best-formed trees shall be selected as leave trees. Characteristics used in the selection of leave trees include the following:

1) Has no apparent damage to the main bole;

2) Is not chlorotic;

3) Demonstrates good vigor and is disease/bug free;

4) Has at least 40 percent crown ratio, or largest crown ratio if none greater than 40 percent are present.

c. Tree Species preferred for retention is any hardwoods over conifers (spruce).

d. The Government may identify additional individual leave trees or exlusions within each unit.

2.4.6 TREATMENT OF SURPLUS TREES AND SHRUBS

a. All live and dead conifers, hardwood trees and shrubs not selected as leave trees or reserved over one foot tall and up to 6 inches DBH within the specified spacing (15 x 15) of acceptable leave tree shall be severed 5 inches or less above the ground. No live limbs shall be left on the stump of any cut stem.

b. The Government may issue instructions with the Task Order requiring mastication of individual species or all, hardwoods, conifers, or both from 7 inches to 12 inches DBH, instead of cutting. Unless otherwise instructed, cut surplus trees and shrubs up to 6 inches DBH.

c. Hardwoods and conifers greater than 6 inches DBH shall not be cut.

d. Leave trees shall not be damaged while cutting vegetation or buried with slash.

2.4.7 Damages to trail or roadways beyond the scope of the project and/or not approved from the COR will be the responsibility of the contractor to remedy.

2.4.8 FALLING, BUCKING AND ROADSIDE DECKING OF DEAD or SPRUCE LOGS GREATER THAN 6” DBH (BLM Road Only and number of trees specified in Table 1.).

Both Standing and down dead or green windthrown spruce that is sound (does not break apart easily and show signs of rot) along with cut and felled material shall be bucked into the standard length of 12 feet or less unless otherwise designated. Limbs and tops will be chipped and Logs 6” and above in diameter will be decked roadside as approved by the COR. Logs less than 6” in diameter will be chipped along with limbs and tops. Material greater than 6” that shows signs of rot with unsound wood will be left in the units. Decking of logs along roads (in wider areas approximately 8’ from the road edge to not obstruct snow removal, parking, or trailheads, along BLM Road).

2.4.9 No slash cut shall be left on the ground outside the project area.

2.4.10 PRUNING

Leave trees shall be pruned to a height of 6 feet. Live and dead limbs and branches shall be cut cleanly and as close to the bole of the tree as possible. Tree limbs and branches that attach to the bole above the designated pruning height but have limbs or branches extending into the pruning height area, shall be pruned so they do not extend below the designated height.

2.4.11 CHIPPING

2.4.12 Level of Difficulty: The level of difficulty for chipping is based on the total percent cover of material to be chipped. The percent cover of material to be treated is estimated to be greater than 60 percent total over the project area (Portion of the project area vegetation to be cut, which does not include reserve vegetation). Chipped material will be dispursed within the project area (other than trail or road surfaces) and spread within the project area to a maximum depth of 4 inches.

The chipper utilized needs to be a high-capacity commercial grade model with specifications that meet or exceed those of a MORBARK Eager Beever 1415 or Vermeer BC1000XL model brush chippers.

2.4.13 Accomplish chipping in the unit (typically adjacent to a road on on a treal wide enough for the chipper to operate).

2.4.14 Slash includes any cut vegetation or existing natural (dead and down) woody debris other than dead spruce logs over 6” in diameter and leave trees (over 6” DBH).

2.4.15 All surplus vegetation and slash shall be chipped, such that no woody piece is greater than 3 feet in length.

2.4.16 Chips shall be spread so that depth shall not be more than 5 inches above the normal plane of the ground.

2.4.17 Contractor shall furnish two warning signs to be placed on the roadside prior to entrance to the work area. Signs shall be a minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet in dimension and shall warn of possibility of flying debris.

2.4.18 Contractor shall ensure placing fuel containment barrier if storing fuel on project site.

2.4.19 Trail closures (both units)- Trails will be blocked off from the public using signage and barriers (provided by the contractor) meeting COR approval for the duration of use during that phase. Outside of contractor use hours, the trails are to be cleared of all hazards and equipment so as not to impede use of employees or emergency responders as needed. Once all work has been completed and approved by COR, the signage and barriers will be removed immediately.

2.4.20 Road closures (both units)- Roads will be blocked using temporary barriers, signs and flaggers where appropriate during hours of contractor use. Authorized vehicles (employees and others) will be allowed to utilize the road by flaggers when it is safe to do so. Complete road shut down is not expected for longer than an hour unless hazardous conditions warrant it and it is approved by the COR. Outside of contractor use hours, the roads are to be cleared of all hazards and equipment so as not to impede use of employees or emergency responders. Temporary barriers and signage may remain with COR approval.

2.4.21 From May 1st to May 30th, the contractor will mark (with Pink flagging), notifiy the COR, and buffer (by 30’ or distance to be determined by the COR) any bird nests found in the treatment area. These buffers will be treated later outside of this date range.

2.1 Key Personnel and Required Qualifications or Certifications

For falling of standing dead spruce trees over 6” DBH, a certified arborist or experienced professional faller (3+ years).

2.2 Government Property FAR 52.245-1 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY (SEP 2021)

Government–Furnished Property o Map with treatment unit boundaries clearly identified.

o 2 Gate Access Cards (gates are only closed after working hours 0600 – 1800 and on weekends).

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

3. PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The BLM Anchorage Field Office oversees Campbell Tract (CT), a 730-acre heavily forested Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) in Anchorage, Alaska, surrounded by extensive parklands and residential areas in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). CT features multiple administrative buildings, roads, aviation facilities, and popular recreational trails, attracting 500,000 visitors annually.

Recently, a spruce bark beetle outbreak has led to significant tree mortality and increased hazardous fuel loading from dead spruce and dense vegetation. Although a treatment to remove beetle-killed trees was conducted in 2024 and 2025, further work is needed to mitigate the remaining fuel load and protect the adjacent Anchorage community from high-intensity wildfires.

This contracted work will focus on removing ladder fuels and remaining dead spruce trees, both standing and fallen. The primary goal is to reduce hazardous fuel loading along roads, around facilities, and select trails to create and maintain linear fuel breaks, enhancing fire suppression efforts against potential wildfire spread to and from Campbell Tract and neighboring subdivisions.

4. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE:

4.2 CONTRACTOR INSPECTION PROCEDURES

(A) General Instructions

1) The Contractor shall conduct inspections of i.e., treatment units and record the results using procedures described herein. Inspections shall be maintained concurrent with contract work.

Completed inspection forms shall be made available to the Government within 24 hours of completion of each i.e., treatment unit and will remain part of the permanent contract file.

2) By submission of inspection forms to the Government, the Contractor is considered to be certifying that the unit is satisfactorily completed and that the inspection forms reflect the work accomplished.

3) The Contractor shall submit legible inspection forms. Illegible and incomplete forms shall be returned to the Contractor for correction and re-submission.

4) In the event the Contractor falsifies inspection results, as determined by the Contracting Officer, the Government may declare the Contractor to be in default of the contract. Additionally, the Government may refer such falsifications to the US Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1001 (Falsification of Government Documents) or 18 U.S.C. 287 (Fraud).

4.3 GOVERNMENT INSPECTION PROCEDURES – COMPLIANCE INSPECTION:

(A) The COR, or a designated inspector, will conduct compliance inspections while work is in progress, usually daily at first, to assure that work is proceeding satisfactorily. Compliance inspections will be accomplished by 100 percent visual inspection of each treatment unit and will be based on adherence to the required specifications / cutting prescriptions.

(B) The Contractor shall notify the COR when units are completed prior to his moving out of the general area. Compliance inspections will be conducted within three (3) business days of completion of treatment units and the Contractor notified of any part of the unit(s) requiring additional work or rework.

Work will be accepted on the basis of visual inspection for compliance with specifications on areas reported as completed by the Contractor.

5. COMMENCEMENT PROSECUTION, AND COMPLETION OF WORK

The Contractor shall be required to (a) commence work under this contract within 10 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the notice to proceed, (b) prosecute the work diligently, and (c) complete the entire work ready for use not later than May 31, 2027.

6. POST AWARD CONFERENCE

A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled within 10 days after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at Campbell Tract Facility, 4700 BLM Road, Anchorage, AK 99507.