2. Alamitos SSC_Appendix A_12363N26Q4203.pdf

Alamitos Stewardship Service Contract (SSC)

Carson National Forest Camino Real Ranger District

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS.

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The Carson NF pursued an Emergency Authority Determination (EAD) for the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon & Luna Post-Fire Recovery Project under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act section 40807.

The objective of the Alamitos Stewardship Service Contract (SSC) is to remove standing and downed fire killed trees within the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon (HPCC) Fire footprint of 2022 on the Carson National Forest. This project is comprised of three (3) cutting units aimed towards reducing overall fuel loading, totaling approximately 662 acres on the Camino Real Ranger District, all within the spruce-fir forest type.

All items are covered under the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Post-Fire Recovery Project EA. These treatments are a vital step in continued post-fire restoration activities to ensure safe access, working conditions, and to provide forest products, primarily fuelwood, to those who were directly and indirectly affected by the HPCC fire by accomplishing the following:

1. Cut all burned standing trees 5 inches diameter and larger at breast height (DBH), and downed trees 5 inches diameter and above on the large end, regardless of species or diameter.

2. Cut all fading/dying Spruce, Corkbark fir, and Douglas-fir trees 5 inches DBH and larger as agreed upon by the COR.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Mandatory Item 1: Cut, Skid, Deck (Conventional) Alamitos Unit 1 (315 acres) Optional Item 4: Cut, Skid, Deck (Conventional) Alamitos Unit 3 (168 acres)

1. Cut, skid, and deck all standing trees 5 inches DBH and larger and remove all downed trees 5 inches in diameter and larger at the large end. Trees primarily in snag/log decay classes 1 - 3 (See Attachment 2 - Snag/Log Decay Class) will be whole tree skidded to designated staging areas within the project area. All trees shall be processed down to 2 inches Diameter Inside Bark (DIB) top regardless of size, or smallest feasible DIB.

2. Trees shall be delimbed and bucked to lengths averaging 20 feet long, no smaller than 16 feet, and no larger than 24 feet, unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR. No sorting is required.

3. Decks shall be no taller than 10 feet tall unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR. Where practicable, decks should be parallel to roads to facilitate loading and hauling.

Mandatory Item 1 and Optional Item 4 Unit Total Acres

Mandatory Item 1 1 315ac

Optional Item 4 3 168ac

Mandatory Item 2: Cut, Skid, Deck (Full Suspension) IRA Unit (179 acres)

1. No new temporary roads may be constructed, and any existing road prisms used during implementation of project work shall not be altered in any way within the unit. All cut trees and logs must be forwarded/transported (suspended off the ground) out with limited ground disturbance within the treatment unit and stacked at designated landings/decks in Unit 2, or along National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 161D.

2. Cut and process all standing trees 5 inches DBH and larger and all downed trees 5 inches in diameter and larger at the large end in Unit 13. Trees primarily in snag/log decay classes 1 - 3 (See Attachment 2 - Snag/Log Decay Class) will be cut and processed at the stump or where they lay to be transported to designated staging areas within Unit 11.

3. Trees shall be delimbed and bucked to lengths averaging 20 feet long, no smaller than 16 feet, and no larger than 24 feet, unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR. No sorting is required.

4. Decks shall be no taller than 10 feet tall unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR. Where practicable, decks should be parallel to roads to facilitate loading and hauling

Mandatory Item 2 Unit Total Acres

2 179ac

Mandatory Item 3: Fuelwood Loading, Hauling, & Unloading (~2,470 loads total) Alamitos Units 1-2 (~2,470 loads), Optional Item 5: Fuelwood Loading, Hauling, & Unloading Alamitos Unit 3 (~700 loads) and any additional loads remaining from Optional Item 4.

1. Load logs (fuelwood) from existing decks in corresponding units.

2. Haul logs to locations on NFSR 161 (if necessary) and/or directly to community wood bank sites within the general area.

a. Locations of these unloading areas will be agreed to but will be within the general area of the locations identified above.

b. Total miles (one-way) for hauling will average 35 miles for delivery to community wood banks. Deck locations on NFSR 161 would be within two to three miles distance from designated landings within the project area.

c. Road maintenance is commensurate with hauling of loads (during and post-haul).

3. Loads will be unloaded at community wood bank sites.

4. This material shall be decked no taller than 10 feet tall unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR. Where practicable, decks should be parallel to roads to facilitate loading and hauling.

Mandatory Item 3 Unit Acres Cords Loads

Alamitos Unit 1 315 ~9,450 ~1,575 Alamitos Unit 2 179 ~5,370 ~895

Optional Item 5 Unit Acres Cords Loads

Alamitos Unit 3 168 ~4200 ~700

Optional Item 5: Fuelwood Processing Alamitos Units (~2200 cords) , wood processed from material cut on site.

1. Process trees and logs from Alamitos Units.

2. Trees and logs may be skidded/forwarded to smaller decks as designated by the COR for processing or may be processed where the trees or logs lay. Run logs through machinery to further knock off dirty bark on fire-killed trees to encourage firewood utilization. Process logs into lengths averaging 14 inches, no smaller than 12, and no larger than 16 inches, unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR or CO.

SECTION III – MECHANICAL THINNING SPECIFICATIONS

For Mandatory Item 1, 2, and Optional Item 4, the following specifications apply in addition to specifications stated in work item descriptions to follow in Section III.

1. Conduct of Logging Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, Contractor shall fell trees designated for cutting and shall remove the portions which meet specifications listed in work item descriptions, except for occasional trees inadvertently not cut or trees or pieces not removed for good reason, including possible damage to forest resources or gross economic impracticability at the time of removal of other timber. Logging shall be conducted in accordance with the following, unless other clauses set forth requirements to meet special or unusual logging conditions.

Cutting Units Conduct of Activity

ALL

1. The skid trail and forwarding patterns shall be designated by the contractor and approved by Forest Service in advance of felling and major trails, including go-back trails, shall be flagged on the ground in advance of felling.

ALL 2. Contractor and Forest Service will agree on felling lead at the time of approval of skid trails/skyline corridors.

ALL 3. Trees shall be felled, insofar as safety permits, to angle in the direction of skidding.

ALL 4. Skid roads and forwarding trails will be located, approved, and constructed in advance of falling.

ALL 5. Logs shall be skidded with the leading end free of the ground.

ALL 6. Trees designated for cutting and/or logs will be left as rub trees along skid trails as needed to protect young growth and leave trees.

ALL 7. Log landings and transfer points shall be limited to existing roads and turnouts unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

ALL

8. Botanical Protection Measures include: Piling of slash needs to be 10-20 feet away from known populations of sensitive plants, no operation of track vehicles, road building or construction of landings in areas identified as protection for sensitive plant species in accordance with section 8 of the Call. Area will be designated on the ground by flagging prior to operation in affected units. In general, minimize skid trails, temp roads and overall disturbance in the areas identified as sensitive on the CAM.

9. Known Cultural Resources are marked on the ground by white bands and/or white/pink flagging around trees on the perimeter of the site and shall be protected in accordance with section 8 of the Call.

2. Felling, Bucking, Limbing Felling shall be done to minimize breakage of Included Timber and damage to residual timber. Unless agreed otherwise, felling shall be done by saws or shears. Bucking shall be done to permit removal of as much material as possible. Contractor may buck out cull material when necessary. Such bucked out material shall contain a minimum amount of sound wood. If necessary to assess the extent of defect, Contractor shall make sample saw cuts or wedges.

a. Trees shall be bucked in various lengths to obtain the greatest utilization of material.

b. When Forest Service determines it is necessary to minimize damage to the residual stand during skidding, Contractor shall cut exposed limbs from products prior to skidding.

Contractor may leave uncut those limbs that cannot be cut with reasonable safety.

c. Stump Heights: Stumps shall not exceed 6 inches, on the side adjacent to the highest ground, except that occasional stumps of greater heights are acceptable when Contractor determines that they are necessary for safe and efficient conduct of logging. Unless otherwise agreed, Contractor shall re-cut high stumps so they will not exceed 6 inches and shall dispose of severed portions in the same manner as other logging debris.

3. Skidding and Yarding Methods of skidding or yarding specified for particular areas, if any, are indicated on Contract Area Map.

Outside Clearcutting Units and construction clearings, insofar as ground conditions permit, products shall not be skidded against reserve trees or groups of reproduction and tractors shall be equipped with a winch to facilitate skidding.

a. Products may be skidded on permanent roads authorized for hauling only by prior written agreement.

4. Landings and Skid Trails Location of all landings, tractor roads, and skid trails shall be agreed upon prior to their construction. The cleared or excavated size of landings shall not exceed that needed for efficient skidding and loading operations.

5. Protection of Public in Recreation Areas For protection of National Forest interests and safety of general public, Contractor’s Operations shall be subject to the following restrictions:

a. When Contractor’s Operations are in progress within safety zones, shown on Contract Area Map, and designated on the ground, Contractor may be required to post warning signs in the area or maintain a watchman whose sole duty shall be to warn and advise public of any hazards present in area as a result of this contract.

b. During periods of general recreation activity within Contract Area or vicinity, Forest Service may restrict hauling to days other than Saturdays, Sundays, and National holidays.

6. Erosion Control Unless waived in writing, erosion prevention and control work shall be completed within 15 calendar days after skidding operations related to each landing are completed or after Forest Service designation on the ground of work where such designation is required hereunder. Said time limit shall be exclusive of full days lost in Contractor’s Operations due to causes beyond Contractor’s control. Damage resulting from Contractor’s operations, due to failure to perform required work, shall be repaired by Contractor.

When not adequately protected from erosion by treatments such as out sloping and cross draining or grass seeding, place lopped slash and logging debris in temporary roads, landings, and skid trails.

a. Landings: After landings have served Contractor’s purpose, Contractor shall ditch and slope them to permit water to drain or spread. Unless agreed otherwise, cut and fill banks around landings shall be sloped to remove overhangs and otherwise minimize erosion.

b. Skid Trails: Contractor shall construct cross ditches and water-spreading ditches on tractor and skid trails, where staked or otherwise marked on the ground by the Forest Service. By agreement, Contractor may use other comparable erosion control measures, such as backblading skid trails, in lieu of cross ditching.

c. Temporary Roads: As necessary to attain stabilization of roadbed and fill slopes of Temporary Roads, Contractor shall employ such measures as out-sloping, drainage dips, and water-spreading ditches. After a Temporary Road has served Contractor’s purpose, Contractor shall give notice to Forest Service and shall remove bridges and culverts, eliminate ditches, outslope roadbed, remove ruts and berms, effectively block the road to normal vehicular traffic where feasible under existing terrain conditions, and build cross ditches and water bars, as staked or otherwise marked on the ground by Forest Service. When bridges and culverts are removed, associated fills shall also be removed to the extent necessary to permit normal maximum flow of water.

d. Temporary Road and Landing Scarification: Unless waived in writing by Forest Service on specific roads or landings, all landings and Temporary Roads constructed or used by Contractor shall be scarified by Contractor following use. Scarification shall be done to a depth of not less than four inches and must effectively prepare the ground for seeding.

e. Erosion Control Seeding: Following completion of skidding and yarding operations in an area, Contractor shall seed areas of exposed soil on skid trails, landings, firebreaks, and Temporary Roads where other erosion control measures described above will not result in satisfactory control of soil movement. Seed bed preparation shall consist of surface scarification on roads and landings sufficient for retention of seed. Seed shall be broadcast evenly at the rate of 5 pounds of seed per acre. Application shall be during the period April 15th to November 30th unless otherwise approved. No application work shall be done during extremely windy or rainy weather, or when the ground is frozen or otherwise unsuitable. The kinds and amounts of seed to be sown in terms of live pure seed shall be:

Species of Seed Lbs. per Acre

Arizona Fescue (Festuca arizonica) 2.0 Western Wheat Grass (Elymus smithii) 2.0

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 1.0 Total 5.0

7. Slash Treatment Vegetative debris larger than 1 inch in diameter and 3 feet long resulting from Contractor’s Operations is considered Slash. In Required Disposal Strip along permanent roads, in areas of Temporary Road construction and outside of Clearcutting Units, both hardwood trees and coniferous trees smaller than the minimum DBH of 5 inches, over 3 feet in height and damaged beyond recovery by Contractor's Operations shall be cut and treated as Slash. Measures to be taken by Contractor for treatment of Slash are set forth below and in following Subsections unless otherwise agreed in writing. Forest Service and Contractor shall jointly develop a schedule for completion of slash treatment on the various portions of Project Area prior to Contractor's Operations. Slash treatment plan may be made a part of the annual operating plan. Specified slash treatment methods for each cutting unit may be shown on Contract Area Map and listed in the attached tables by the following symbols:

a. Method: FELLING DAMAGED TREES Map Symbol: "Fell" Definition and Specifications: Damaged or destroyed trees are trees substandard because of size, which are over 3 feet in height, knocked down or damaged to the extent that mortality or serious deterioration will occur, and such trees partially pushed over so as to result in permanent lean and visible damage to the root system, all as a result of the Contractor's operation. Such damaged or destroyed trees shall be felled and further treated by the slash treatment method specified for the area.

b. Method: MACHINE PILING & LOPPING Map Symbol: "Mpile/lop" Definition and Specifications: Concentrations of slash identified on the ground by the Forest Service shall be machine piled by a tractor equipped with a brush rake as per Machine Piling Specifications.

The remaining slash, not in concentrations, shall be lopped and scattered as per specification for "Lopping."

c. Machine Piling Specifications:

i. Acceptable Equipment: Types of equipment included but not limited to, tractors equipped with a brush blade, skidder, log loader, and/or any rubber tire/tracked machine with a thumb or grapple.

ii. Location of Piles: Piles shall be so located that burning will not damage standing live trees or physical improvements such as fences, poles, buildings, signs, tables, grills, and cattleguards. The minimum spacing between piles shall be equivalent to one and one-half the diameter of the adjacent pile. If conditions make it impractical to locate piles where damage to live trees and physical improvements can be avoided, a space shall be cleared in a location designated by Forest Service. Slash shall not be moved more than 120 feet to achieve the location requirement. Piles shall not be made on permanent roads, in drainage ditches, below high-water marks of live streams, and in protected streamcourses. Piles shall not be constructed within a 50-foot strip along the top edge of the cutting unit or within a 50-foot strip along the remaining edges of the unit.

iii. Construction of Piles: Machine piles shall be compacted by pushing slash from all sides towards the center of the pile. A machine pile will not exceed a maximum size of 20 feet wide by 20 feet long by 20 feet high. All slash which protrudes 4-feet or more from outer edge of the pile shall be bucked off and placed on pile. Unmerchantable material may be left between piles to protect regeneration seedlings and for site protection purposes as specified in writing by Forest Service. Piling shall be accomplished in a manner that will prevent the accumulation of dirt in the piles. Logs and tops from felled trees within leave groups of trees inside or outside the cutting unit shall be yarded out of such leave groups to approved locations and piled. Where there is danger of damaging leave trees, long material shall be endlined out of leave groups.

LANDING, DISPOSAL SITES AND OTHER SLASH

Site Cutting Unit No. Specified Method

Landings ALL Machine Piling and Lopping (Mpile/lop)

CONTRACTOR UNIT SLASH RESPONSIBILITY

Description of Cutting Unit Type of Treatment Acres Remarks

ALL Fell 662 Fell Damaged Stems

Mpile/Lop

Lop and scatter to 2’ mat where Mpile is not feasible by written agreement between contractor and C.O.

SECTION IV – CONTROL OF WORK

The Contractor agrees to conduct its operations under this contract and other related business activities in compliance with Federal, State, and local statutes, standards, orders, permits and other regulations.

The Contractor shall meet all State and local environmental quality laws applicable to National Forest system lands.

Work may be done any time during the term of the contract, except under the following conditions:

(1) Logging activities will begin within 30 days of the Notice to Proceed,

(2) Once work commences, work will continue until all work items are complete unless agreed upon or because of uncontrollable conditions.

(3) When conditions are such that operations shall be restricted or ceased due to increased fire risk.

(4) If new nests or TES are discovered,

(5) When soil moisture conditions create excessive risk of damage to the soil,

(6) When snow depth creates a situation where requirements cannot be met and/or work cannot be inspected, as determined by the COR.

(7) The government reserves the right to prioritize the order in which Units are treated.

(8) If any cultural or archeological sites are discovered during operations of this contract, work will be suspended in the immediate vicinity of the site until a reconnaissance survey is completed by the Forest Archeologist. Areas excluded from treatment shall be deleted from the contract.

SECTION V – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

For All Work Items:

At any point during the project, the Contractor and/or Project Manager may request (documented through email, text, or hand-written request) an in the field consultation with the Forest Service to inspect work progress, review contract specifications, or clarify issues. The Forest Service shall respond to Contractor’s request within 5 working days, excluding weekends and federal holidays.

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Government Inspection Procedures The COR, or a designated inspector (GTM), will make periodic inspections while work is in progress, usually daily at first, as needed to assure work is proceeding satisfactorily. The Contractor shall notify the COR when units are started, when problems are encountered and when contract work needs government oversight.

1. Each unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Unit will not be averaged with other units for acceptance or payment.

2. When units are completed and ready for government inspection, Contractor’s designated Project manager shall request unit inspection in writing, prior to moving out of the general area.

3. The COR, or designated inspector, will determine compliance with contract specifications through informal visual inspections. In the event visual inspection indicates work to be in non-compliance with specifications, prompt corrective action and/or rework shall be required.

Government Inspection Procedures – Formal (Plots)

1. In the event visual inspection indicates work and / or rework to be in non-compliance with contract specifications, a series of verification plots shall be installed by the Government to determine compliance with specifications and percent of satisfactory work for treatment of each unit not meeting specification as observed with visual inspection.

2. Government verification plots will consist of a series of fixed area plots and along transects to record and verify the removal of standing and downed logs within the specified decay classes and size specifications.

3. Plots and grid will be distributed so that a representative sample is obtained.

4. The COR or designated inspector will mark the center of each plot on the ground using flagging, stakes, or pin flags. Additional flagging will be hung near the plot center so that it may be seen from a distance. The inspector will include the plot number, their initials and date on the flagging.

5. Plots will be numbered to correlate with the inspection form and transects on a unit map.

6. The minimum number of verification plots, per treatment unit, shall be as follows:

Unit Acreage Minimum No. of Plots 1 – 9 1 plot per 2 acres 10 – 29 10 plots 30 – 59 1 plot per 4 acres 60 – 99 20 plots 100 1 plot per 5 acres

7. Determination of acceptability of the work performed will be based on Government verification inspections and will be considered conclusive.

8. At each plot, the Government will examine the plot area and record findings on the items listed below:

a. Plot number

b. Number of trees to be left on plot.

c. Number of trees left on plot.

d. Number of satisfactory trees.

e. Number of deficient trees.

f. Number of excess trees.

- Stumps containing live limbs which are not in accordance with specifications herein will be counted as excess trees.

- Cut trees which are still attached at the stump will be counted as excess trees

- Trees meeting cut specifications will be counted as excess trees

- Trees in excess of trees to be left will be counted as excess

9. Work quality will be calculated on the form as follows:

No. Trees Deficient + No. Excess Trees

No. Trees to be left

= % Unsatisfactory work

100% – % Unsatisfactory work = % Work Quality

Unsatisfactory Performance

1. If the work quality falls below 85 percent, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor, in writing, and order him to improve the quality of subsequent tree cutting. If the quality of subsequent tree cutting is not raised above the 85 percent minimum acceptable standard within 24 business hours after receipt of such written notice, the Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default.

2. When the work quality falls below 90 percent as a result of excess trees, the Government may elect to do one of the following:

(a) Order rework to be performed and withhold payment until excess trees are cut and the results of a post-rework Government inspection show work quality to be at least 85 percent or more.

No rework shall be performed unless ordered or authorized by the COR.

(b) Order that no rework be performed and payment will either be made at a reduced rate, or not at all, as determined from the Thinning Inspection Report.

3. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the 85 percent minimum acceptable standard will be considered reason for contract termination and default action.

Reinspection Upon Contractor Request

1. If Government inspection results are unacceptable to the Contractor, a reinspection may be requested, in writing, within 5 business days after receipt of notice of said inspection results.

The same inspection procedure will be used; however, the inspection pattern will be shifted so that new inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots.

2. If reinspection results – rounded up to the nearest whole percent – indicate a variance of more than 5 percent from the first inspection, the results of the second inspection will be used to calculate work quality and payment, and the Government will bear the cost of reinspection.

3. If reinspection results – rounded up to the nearest whole percent – are within 5 percent of the first inspection, plots from the initial inspection and the reinspection will be combined and used to calculate work quality and payment, and the Contractor shall bear the cost of reinspection.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 1 - 5

Table 1 – Minimum Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL) of Work

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

1 Cut, Skid, Deck (Conventional) – Alamitos Unit 1 MANDATORY ACRE 90%

Cut, Skid, Deck (Full Suspension) – Alamitos Unit 2 MANDATORY ACRE 90%

3 Fuelwood Loading, Hauling, & Unloading – Alamitos Units 1 & 2 MANDATORY LOAD 90%

4 Cut, Skid, Deck (Conventional) – Alamitos Unit 3 OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

5 Fuelwood Loading, Hauling, & Unloading – Alamitos Unit 3 OPTIONAL LOAD 90%

6 Fuelwood Processing OPTIONAL Cord 90%

SECTION VI – PAYMENT METHODS

Method of Measurement for Acreages Acreages were determined by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The acreage for each work item will be rounded to the nearest acre and is final unless:

a. The contract is modified or,

b. The Government makes a determination to remeasure or,

c. The Contractor exercises his/her option under the following Remeasurement provisions:

Remeasurement

1. The Contractor may request, in writing, remeasurement of any units under this contract if he/she feels that acreage stated on the project maps is incorrect. The remeasurement must be within the existing perimeter of the respective unit. No variance of the unit perimeters as laid out on the ground for this contract will be allowed. All requests for remeasurement must be made prior to payment for each completed unit. Remeasurement will be performed by the Government.

2. If remeasurement indicates that a variance of ten percent or less exists on units of 1 to 5 acres, five percent or less exists on units of more than five but less than 20 acres, or if three percent or less exists on units of 20 acres or larger, the Contractor shall pay for the actual costs of the remeasurement. Under this condition, payment will be made on the acreage stated on the project maps. If the remeasurement indicates the actual acreage varies by more than the above factors from that stated on the project maps, the payment will be made on the remeasured acreage, and the Forest Service will pay for the cost of the remeasurement.

Acceptance and Payment – All Items

1. If informal visual inspection indicates acceptable work quality, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

2. For work quality measured to be 90% or higher with formal plots, Contractor will be paid 100% of their bid rate.

3. Contractor shall rework any areas or entire units at no additional cost to the Government, when work is deemed to be unacceptable by visual or formal inspection.

4. If after rework, the work quality is measured with formal inspection to be between 90% and 100%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 90%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

Acceptance and Payment

1. Percentages as calculated herein shall be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

2. No allowance for variation or portion of a variation will be added, which will create a percentage greater than 100 percent.

3. Payment rate for work quality at or above 85% will be calculated as follows:

% Work Quality + 5 % Statistical Variation (SV) = % Payment rate

4. Examples:

(a) 2 Trees Deficient + 4 Trees Excess 6 = = 5.22% = 5% Unsatisfactory work

115 Trees to be left 115

100% – 5% = 95% Work Quality 95% + 5% (SV) = 100% Payment rate

(b) 2 Trees Deficient + 9 Trees Excess 11 ------------------------------------------- = --------- = 11.96% = 12% Unsatisfactory work

92 Trees to be left 92

100% – 12% = 88% Work Quality 88% + 5% (SV) = 93% Payment rate

2 Trees Deficient + 14 Trees Excess 16 = = 16.84% = 17% Unsatisfactory work

95 Trees to be left 95

100% – 17% = 83% Work Quality - - No payment made

SECTION VII – DEFINITIONS

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL): Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all specifications corresponding to the appropriate task(s). A minimum AQL is required for all service work – hand or mechanical. The minimum AQL will receive a satisfactory performance rating.

BIOMASS TREES: Any conifer material 2 feet in height to 4.9 inches DBH.

BOLE SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet from the edge of one leave tree bole to another leave tree bole, measured from the outside bark of each tree.

CIRCULAR PLOT: A sample plot within a thinning unit that is used to determine the number of desirable trees and other contract specifications.

COARSE WOODY DEBRIS: Woody material left on the ground to meet wildlife habitat requirements.

CLEARCUT: A cutting prescription in which all trees within a boundary are designated to be cut.

CROWN RATIO: The ratio of live crown length (tip of leader to base of the crown) to total tree length/height.

CROWN SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet between the dripline of a live crown to another live crown.

CUT TREES: Trees that do not possess the characteristics of desirable leave trees and are required to be cut. As described by the contract or otherwise marked to be cut.

CUTTING UNIT: See Treatment Unit definition.

DAMAGED TREES: Trees damaged beyond recovery. A tree that is larger than 2 feet in height, and has the top knocked out, is leaning more than 10 degrees, has less than one half of its original limbs, or has approximately 50% of bark removed from the circumference of the bowl.

DBH: Diameter at breast height, measured at a point of 4.5 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

DECKING: Stockpiling of trees in a designated area.

DEAD/DYING TREES: Trees with the crown foliage changing from green to red, yellow, or needleless. Any tree that has pitch tubes indicating Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

DESIGNATION BY SPECIES AND DIAMETER (DXSD): A cutting prescription in which species and diameter are used to determine which trees will be left and which will be cut.

DIB: Diameter inside bark.

HANG-UP TREE: Any cut tree suspended above ground level.

HEALTHY REGENERATION: Young, healthy, dwarf mistletoe free conifers, less than 4.9 inches in diameter, free of defect or characteristics listed in Section II, 2.2.2.

LEAVE TREE: Trees that possess desirable characteristics and that serve to create the basis for designated spacing requirements or are otherwise designated to be left.

NON-SAWTIMBER TREE: For all conifer species, minimum diameter of 5 inches DBH to minimum diameter by species identified in Appendix B, Division A.

OVERSTORY REMOVAL: A cutting prescription where all trees greater than a specified size are cut. Trees less than the specified size are protected.

PAYMENT UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS): Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

PILING: Material moved to an agreed upon location shall be piled for future treatment by Forest Service.

PROGRESSION OF WORK: Work conducted in a progressive, workmanlike and orderly manner by the Contractor.

RESERVE CLUMPS: Groups of trees within a treatment area that are protected from cutting, may also include Individual Reserve trees.

SAWTIMBER TREE: Included timber meeting sawlog size specifications as defined in Appendix B, Division A.2.

SLASH: Woody material existing or created that has accumulated on the forest floor. Woody material includes logs, pieces of logs, tops, and branches.

UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

TEMPORARY ROADS: Non-permanent roads that are constructed by Contractor for the purpose of treatment unit access.

TREATMENT UNIT: An individual area on the ground in which activities will be performed and which may appear as a separate pay item in the Schedule of Items.

UNSATISFACTORY WORK: If work quality falls below the AQL, the COR will issue a work order or notice of noncompliance to the Contractor in writing. Untreated or unsatisfactory treated areas shall be reworked to obtain satisfactory work quality.

WHOLE TREE YARDING: Whole tree logging includes cutting tree and removing the entire tree, including tops and branches, to the landing.

WILDLIFE TREE: Standing tree marked to be reserved as a wildlife tree. Used by birds and small mammals for shelter

SECTION VII – DEFINITIONS