Amendment_001_Attchmt_5_Replacement_Scope_of_Work.pdf

Solicitation no. 140P8318Q0098, Amendment 001 – Attachment 4, Replacement Scope of Work (9/7/18)

Tree Planting Service, Lewis & Clark NHP

Goal: To accelerate the forest’s conversion from tree farms to a forest more natural and unmanaged in structure, function, and appearance.

The work to be performed under this contract is planting 8,500 Western redcedar and 14,450

Sitka spruce seedlings (22,950 trees total) across 425 acres of recently thinned forest stands.

These stands are historically overstocked Douglas fir, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce stands that Lewis and Clark National Historical Park has been working to restore to diverse, native, natural forest. Project work will consist of planting tree seedlings into areas that were thinned from 2012 – 2017. Thinning consisted of leaving felled trees in place to decompose, and lopping and scattering branches. Additionally, numerous ¼-1/2 acre “gaps” per acre were cut, wherein all trees within a flagged circle were dropped and left in place. Tree planting will occur across a spectrum of these lightly to heavily thinned areas.

The objective of this tree planting is to increase the abundance of Sitka spruce and Western redcedar back into these heavily managed stands. There will be only 34 spruce and 20 cedar planted per acre. In lieu of caging the cedars, other measures of protecting them from herbivory shall be applied – namely, late winter planting (March 2019), co-planting with Sitka spruce in the same hole, and selection of advantageous micro-sites. Specifics on these methods are outlined below.

The Contractor shall furnish all needed labor, equipment, supplies, materials, permits, insurance, workers compensation, fees, payment protection, lodging, and transportation to conduct planting operations. Quotes must be all inclusive of these costs. The NPS will provide all plant materials.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this project is to restore and rehabilitate recently purchased industrial second and third-growth forest lands within the Fort Clatsop Unit at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park to forests that more closely approximate the structure, ecology, and appearance of forests in 1805-

1806.

The park and contracted silviculturalists have developed a strategy to accelerate the forest’s conversion from tree farms to a forest more natural and unmanaged in structure, function, and appearance through the use of variable density thinning, snag creation, and planting of native species. The target is to prepare stands to eventually become the kind of old-growth, late succession forests that are now very rare in the area. The NPS has done the thinning work with hand crews, using “drop and leave” and “lop and scatter” type methodologies, leaving all biomass on-site to provide wildlife habitat and build soils.

The stands to be planted under this contract contain a substantial amount downed wood resulting from the aforementioned thinning treatments. Planting specifications will be based on finding appropriate micro-site characteristics to plant into.

LOCATION

This project is located in the Fort Clatsop unit of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, which is SW of Astoria between Hwy 101 and the Lewis and Clark River, at 92343 Fort Clatsop

Road, Astoria, OR 97103. Elevation ranges from 20 ft. to 320 ft., often on slopes greater than 35 degrees.

Map 1: General Location Map

Map 2: Project Overview Map

SPECIFIC CONTRACTOR TASKS

1) CONTRACTOR TO PLANT TREES: Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the

Contractor will plant 8,500 Western redcedar and 10,450 of the 14,450 Sitka spruce bare-root seedlings (supplied by NPS), across 425 acres of recently thinned forest stands as shown in the maps above. These seedlings will be larger than standard “plug 1” seedlings. They will be more equivalent to a “plug 2” (being 2 years+ old), averaging between 15” – 24” tall. The remaining 4,000 spruce seedlings will be co-planted with some of the cedars in the same hole, to minimize animal damage to the cedars, as detailed below. If stock becomes available, NPS may provide additional spruce to be co-planted with the remaining cedar (refer to

Attachment 4, Replacement Combined Synopsis-Solicitation, Sections 5 and 7 which address additional quantity).

2) SPECIFICATIONS FOR SEEDLING CARE: Seedlings will be healed in near the project area at the NPS nursery. They will be available to be pulled by the contractor as bare root stock. After taking possession of seedling trees, the Contractor shall plant such trees as quickly as possible. Storage time for such trees shall be as short as possible, especially at planting sites.

i. All necessary storage, prior to planting, shall be in a cool, shady location where trees will be protected from vandalism, theft, animal damage, and exposure to excessive sun, rain or drying wind. Contractor shall have adequate seedling blankets or tarps in order to cover seedlings.

ii. The Contractor shall in other respects care for the trees in its possession in accordance with the following specifications.

iii. The Contractor shall not root prune, top prune, or cull seedlings. If it should appear that any of these treatments are necessary it shall be brought to the NPS project manager’s attention prior to completing treatment.

iv. Contractor will provide their own seedling bags, boxes, or other means of seedling transport. Contractor will not throw or drop seedling bags/boxes.

Bags/boxes that have been opened and partially used must be securely closed to minimize moisture loss. Torn or damaged bags/boxes must be outplanted first and not returned to cold storage.

v. If mold, dryness of roots, frozen roots, or other evidence of injury or decay to the seedlings is noticed at any time by the Contractor, it must be reported to the NPS project manager and such trees shall not be planted without prior approval of the NPS project manager.

vi. Roots of trees (bare root seedlings) must be kept moist and covered at all times by wet peat moss or in polyethylene lined shipping sacks, or other approved materials. Trees stored in sacks must be kept spaced apart to prevent heat build-up and never be stacked in piles or left exposed to the sun. Only one seedling may be removed from planting bags at a time to prevent drying of roots.

1. SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLANTING: The Contractor shall carefully plant the trees in an acceptable microsite to secure high survival. Such locations are generally characterized as high and dry and utilize natural organic materials. Microsite is of such importance that trees planted on unacceptable microsites will be classified as unsatisfactory. Clippers, small hand saws or other cutting devices may be used to remove Western hemlock or shrubs to make planting space available for spruce and/or cedar.

a. Trees will be planted at a minimum of 20’ spacing.

b. Cedar will be planted at an average density of 20 trees/acre, and spruce at an average density of 34/acre.

c. Spacing of trees should be variable, based on ideal microsite characteristics, and not in straight lines.

d. Trees shall be planted within and/or on the edges of “gaps” as much as possible.

Gaps are areas where all trees have been cut and biomass left in place. These areas are high priority for cedar and spruce planting.

e. Trees shall not be planted in the following locations:

i. In rodent colonies or mounds of loose soil subject to unusual dryness or erosion.

ii. In abnormal depressions subject to filling with soil, water, or debris.

iii. In rotten wood.

iv. Closer to an established natural spruce or cedar tree than the normal planting intervals specified above.

v. In areas within approximately ten feet from the shoulder of a permanent road.

vi. In areas where a shovel cannot be fully inserted to open a hole large enough for seedling to be fully inserted without obstruction.

f. All planted tree seedlings shall be erect, perpendicular to a horizontal plane and not perpendicular to the slope of the ground. They shall be set firmly enough in the ground that if they are given a firm tug on the stem, the tree will not be loosened. The root collar on each planted tree shall be at ground level. There shall be no stem damage resulting from planting.

g. Further special planting specifications for seedlings:

i. All seedlings are to be planted by shovel.

ii. Planting holes shall be dug so that when the roots of the trees are placed in the ground, they will assume a natural position and will not be twisted, compacted together either horizontally or vertically, or turned up at the ends.

iii. Care will be taken to plant only in mineral soil.

iv. Planting hole must be closed using only the hand. Use of the heel or toe to close the planting hole is unacceptable.

v. Soil shall be filled in and firmed enough around each tree so that there is no depression or mound at or near the stem.

vi. Scalping will be done as specified by the NPS project manager.

h. Special Requirements for Cedar planting (Animal Damage Protection):

i. Depending upon the amount of spruce the NPS may be able to provide, at least half and possibly more of the cedar will be co-planted with a Sitka spruce seedling in the same hole. This has been shown to be effective in minimizing browse damage from elk and deer.

ii. When identifying an ideal microsite for cedar planting, look for areas that are near downed wood, slash, stumps, or other material that will help keep the seedling out of reach of elk browsing

i. To better use natural microsites, the Contractor will be required in some areas to carry and plant more than one tree species and/or stock.

j. Weather Conditions for Planting: Contractor shall not plant in more than one inch of snow or where soil is frozen to a depth of more than one quarter inch. The

NPS Project Manager shall have the final say as to what conditions are allowable.

k. Special Requirements

i. Seedlings shall be transported in a vehicle fully enclosed from the elements with a removable canopy or box-type structure that is an integral part of the vehicle body. Vehicle must have necessary licenses and permits to operate on public roads.

ii. The Contractor will be responsible for unloading and distribution of seedlings and gathering up of the planting bags. The Contractor will return unplanted seedlings to the park nursery and heel them back in.

iii. The Contractor will be required to provide a seedling protection thermal blanket when natural shading will not protect the seedling bags from heat buildup.

iv. This Contract obligates Contractor to strictly comply with all environmental laws, rules and regulations, along with all approvals, notifications, permits and authorizations issued pursuant to the applicable

Forest Practices Act and other laws intended to protect the environment.

v. Contractor agrees that NPS will conduct a post operations/service inspection within a reasonable time after completion of work to determine compliance by the Contractor. Final payment may be withheld by NPS pending satisfactory inspection.

vi. Contractor agrees to clean up and haul away all trash brought into the planting area to include lunch bags and wrappers and planting bags/boxes.

2. LABOR, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS: The Contractor shall provide all of the labor, supervision, transportation, equipment, and tools of design approved by NPS necessary to plant the tree seedlings to specifications. NPS will have seedlings heeled in at the Lewis and

Clark National Historical Park nursery, which is centrally located within the project area.

Contractor will be responsible for loading, hauling, distribution, and care of seedlings and return of unused seedlings to the park nursery at the end of each workday.

3. INSPECTION, ACCEPTANCE, COMPENSATION, AND PENALTIES: The NPS will make periodic inspections of the Contractor’s operations to verify compliance with the specifications of this agreement.

PROTECTION OF NPS RESOURCES

A. AVOIDANCE OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

To prevent the introduction of the seeds from noxious weeds into NPS land, the Contractor shall wash all equipment, including vehicles and footwear, thoroughly before transport to the park. This includes the removal of all soil, seeds, vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. In the Fort Clatsop forest, non-native blackberries, holly, ivy, and Scotch broom are the primary invasive weeds of concern. Care will be taken while at the project site to minimize spread of weeds encountered within the project area.

B. SAFETY

1. A Safety Plan or Accident Prevention Program is necessary because this work is hazardous. It needs to identify safety concerns and/or potential hazards along with corresponding safety measures such as personal protective equipment and special procedures. The Contracting Officer will not issue the Notice to Proceed until the

Contractor’s written plan has been submitted to and approved by the COR.

2. The Contractor and Government will report all accidents in accordance with OSHA and Worker’s Compensation Act.

3. All work will be regulated by the Industrial Fire Precaution Levels. The Contractor is responsible for adhering to this standard and for providing adequate fire protection and prevention measures.

4. If sustained winds are above 25 mph, work in the forest will be suspended in compliance with the park safety policy. These conditions are generally met during winter storms. The contractor will not be reimbursed for work days suspended due to high winds.

5. The COR or designated Inspector will have a portable radio at all times for contact with NPS offices and personnel. The Contractor or their project supervisor must also have a radio on site at all times for emergencies involving employee injuries and the need for evacuation and medical services. They will be given permission to use the NPS radio frequencies for this purpose only.

6. The contractor will be given a key for accessing gates to gravel roads to facilitate access to the areas. These roads are intermittently used by hikers and bikers. Drive no more than 15 mph behind the gates.

C. SPECIAL RESOURCES

If any cultural or archaeological sites or any threatened or endangered plant species are discovered during operation of this contract, work shall be suspended in the immediate vicinity of the site. This work suspension shall remain in effect until the Government completes a reconnaissance survey. The NPS may unilaterally modify or cancel this contract to protect an area regardless of when discovered or identified.

REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO START OF ANY FIELD WORK:

These items must be received and approved prior to start of any field work:

1. Certification that the equipment has been cleaned and inspected for noxious weed protection, required to be approved by the COR.

2. Certificate of Liability Insurance

3. Safety Plan

SCHEDULE:

1. A pre-work meeting will be held with NPS staff, conducted by the Contracting Officer and the

COR, at the park on a date/time mutually agreed upon after award prior to scheduled field work.

In-person attendance by the contractor, including any subcontractors and/or key personnel, and

COR and other park staff is preferable vs. a teleconference, however, the Contracting Officer will be calling into the meeting from Olympic National Park.

2. Field work is to be started between February 1st and March 15th, and completed within 60 days after commencing.

3. A meeting with crew will be held on the first day of field work, to discuss safety protocols and the thinning guidelines.

4. Contractor is to update NPS staff regarding their progress, and to continue close communication and collaboration with NPS staff throughout the duration of the project.