2. Diamond View_AppendixA.pdf

Diamond View Stewardship IRSC Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests Solicitation 12363N22Q4029 Canyon Lakes Ranger District

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The objectives of this project are to improve forest health and reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to private land by accomplishing the following:

1. Cut and whole tree log non-sawtimber size trees and pile at the landing within Leave Tree Mark units for future burning by the Forest Service

2. Thinning of biomass size trees within Leave Tree Mark units and piling at the landing for future burning by the Forest Service.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Item 1: Cut and Remove Sawtimber Units 18, 19a, 19b (247 acres)

Cut, skid, and remove from the Contract Area sawtimber trees that meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in Division A of Appendix B.

Item 2: Cutting of Non-Sawtimber within LTM (Leave Tree Mark) Units Units 18, 19a, 19b (247 Acres)

The following Appendix B clauses apply: B1.1, B2.12, B2.3, B2.32, B2.35, B2.37, B3.41, B3.45, B6.33, B6.412, B6.42, B6.422, B6.63, B6.64, B6.65, B6.66, B8.5, C2.3#, C2.301#, C5.34#, C6.312#, C6.6#, C6.7#, C6.72#

1. Excluding ES and trees marked to be left (Orange paint):

a. Cut all live and dead PP and DF from 5.6-inch stump diameter to 9.6-inch stump diameter.

b. Cut all live and dead LP and other conifers from 5.6-inch stump diameter to 7.6-inch stump diameter.

2. Maximum stump height shall not exceed 12 inches.

3. Coarse Woody Debris Requirements: Leave 3-5 logs/acre in full contact with the ground and not jackstrawed >10 inches large end diameter, and > 50 linear feet/acre. 3-5 dead trees/acre, meeting these requirements, may be felled and left in place to ensure requirements are met.

4. All cut trees are to be whole tree skidded to landings with the exception of trees meeting the criteria for Coarse Woody Debris.

5. Pile trees at landing for disposal by the Forest Service.

Item 3: Thinning of Biomass material within LTM (Leave Tree Mark) Units Units: 18, 19a, 19b (247 acres)

The following Appendix B clauses apply: B1.1, B2.12, B2.3, B2.37, B3.45, B6.33, B6.42, B6.63, B8.5, C2.3#, C2.301#, C6.312#, C6.7#

1. Thin live conifer trees 2.0 feet tall to 4.9 inches DBH. Retain a 20 x 20-foot bole spacing (+/- 4.0 feet) from residual trees (wildlife trees, painted with an orange “W” shall be ignored in the spacing), using tree characteristics listed below:

Desirable Leave Trees:

The largest trees will be retained, favoring the healthiest and best formed trees in the following order:

1. Engelmann Spruce

2. Ponderosa Pine

3. Douglas-Fir

4. Limber Pine

5. Lodgepole Pine

6. Subalpine Fir

7. Rocky Mountain Juniper

Leave Tree Characteristics:

Trees with the following characteristics are examples of trees that may be retained as leave trees:

1. Has no apparent damage to the main bole

2. Is not chlorotic (foliage is green, not yellow)

3. Demonstrates good vigor and is disease/bug free (no evidence of Mountain Pine Beetle)

4. Has at least 40% crown ratio

5. When Rocky Mountain Juniper will be left as leave tree, leave all stems that are attached to the same root collar. Root collar shall be defined as 3 inches above ground level.

2. Cut material will be skidded to the landing and piled.

3. Maximum stump height shall not exceed 6 inches.

Item 4: Road Decommissioning (1W184.0, 4W184.0, 5W184.0 and 9W184.0)

Decompact and close the roads by obliterating the first 100 ft of road or sight distance (whichever is greater) and sections of road with over 6% slope, as identified by the COR/SA, using methods that completely remove the existing road prism, decompact by ripping to a minimum depth of 10 inches with at least two passes (out and back), and cover with heavy slash as available. Sections not within the 100ft or sight distance mentioned above or on slopes less than 6% shall be decompacted by ripping a minimum depth of 10 inches with at least two passes (out and back) and covering with available slash. Road decommissioning shall be completed immediately following use (if applicable) or prior to contract closure.

SECTION III – CONTROL OF WORK

GOVERNMENT PROPERTY INSTALLATION OPERATION SERVICES

(a) This Government Property listed in paragraph (e) of this clause is furnished to the Contractor in an “as-is, where is” condition. The Government makes no warranty regarding the suitability for use of the Government property specified in this contract. The Contractor shall be afforded the opportunity to inspect the Government property as specified in the contract.

(b) The Government bears no responsibility for repair or replacement of any lost Government property. If any or all of the Government property is lost or becomes no longer usable, the Contractor shall be responsible for replacement of the property at Contractor expense. The Contractor shall have title to all replacement property and shall continue to be responsible for contract performance.

(c) Unless the Contracting Officer determines otherwise, the Government abandons all rights and title to unserviceable and scrap property resulting from contract performance. Upon notification to the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall remove such property from the Government premises and dispose of it at Contractor expense.

(d) Except as provided in this clause, Government property furnished under this contract shall be governed by the Government Property clause of this contract.

(e) Government property provided under this clause:

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

DESCRIPTION VALUE QUANTITY RETURN/CONSUMABLE

Log Load Receipt Books --- Number to be determined by rate of haul Returned to FS according to instructions inside book

PROTECTION OF IMPROVEMENTS NOT OWNED BY THE FOREST SERVICE

Contractor shall be responsible for coordination with all utility companies, or other parties affected, and make arrangements for all necessary adjustments of the public utility fixtures, pipelines, and other appurtenances likely to be affected by the Contractor’s operations. The Government will facilitate the initial introduction of the two parties.

When the Contractor’s operations are adjacent to properties of railway, telephone, or power companies, or other property, work shall not begin until the Contractor has identified actions necessary to prevent damage. The Contractor is responsible to verify the location and depth of any underground or overhead utility lines, and/or other improvements prior to operations.

Contractor shall cooperate with the owners of any underground or overhead utility lines in their removal and/or rearrangement operations in order that these operations may progress in a reasonable manner, utility duplication or rearrangement work may be reduced to a minimum, and services shall not be unnecessarily interrupted.

In the event of interruption to utility services because of accidental breakage or as a result of lines being exposed or unsupported, the Contractor shall promptly notify the proper authority and shall cooperate with that authority in the restoration of service until the service is restored.

County Road 59 and all associated features including ditches, culverts etc. will be protected from damage by the Contractor.

SECTION IV – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

For All Work Items:

At any point during the project, the Contractor and/or designated Representative may request in writing (documented through email or letter) 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, or will notify Contractor when the field consultation can occur.

Once the Contractor notifies the Government in writing of Unit completion, the Government will have 14 days to inspect for payment. If Government cannot complete inspection within 14 days, Government will notify Contractor in writing of when the inspection will be completed.

Government Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

The purpose of this plan is to provide a QASP for contract items and tasks performed. This QASP provides a basis for the COR to evaluate the quality of the Contractor’s performance. The oversight provided for the contract and this QASP will help to ensure that quality levels of the Contractor’s service(s) reach the required levels of performance.

By monitoring the Contractor’s service work, the COR will determine whether the performance levels set forth in the contract have been attained. Quality standards for all work descriptions are specified in the Performance Requirements Summary Table.

The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract to the extent practicable at all times and places during the term of the contract. The Government will perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the Contractor’s work.

If any of the services do not conform to contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by reworking, the Government may:

(a) Require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and

(b) Reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.

Government Inspection Of Services

The Government will inspect service work completed by the Contractor and/or subcontractor as a basis for acceptance and payments, and to provide recommendations to improve work quality while work is in progress. The Contractor is responsible for providing quality control to assure that work complies with the requirements of contract specifications.

All work included in the contract specifications is subject to inspections by the Government at periodic intervals throughout the performance of this contract. Treatment inspections are for the sole benefit of the Government and shall not release the Contractor of the responsibility of providing quality control measures to assure that the work strictly complies with the contract requirements.

Government Inspection Procedures – Visual Inspection - 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 on a stand-alone basis, unit by 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 Representative 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 variable radius plots along transects to record whether contract requirements are being met and to what extent.

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

4. The COR or designated inspector will identify on a map where each plot location occurs.

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. Each inspection plot will be divided into four quadrants, the Government will examine each quadrant and document the findings. Work quality percentages are derived from data developed from inspection plots. The total number of satisfactory quadrants divided by the number of quadrants inspected determines the quality rate. The rate multiplied by 100 provides the work quality percentage.

For each completed work activity, Contractor’s quality control inspection result for services completed will be compared to the Government’s assessment results. If the results differ by <5%, and the inspection has been conducted to the standards specified, the Contractor’s inspection will be considered acceptable and the quality percentage will be used as the basis for payment. When the results differ by more than 5%, the Government’s percentage will be used as the basis for payment.

EXAMPLE: Number of quadrants inspected: 25 Number of satisfactory quadrants: 23 23 divided by 25: 92 Work Quality Percentage: 92%

Reinspection Upon Contractor Request

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.

Work Quality Percentage (Acceptable Quality Level)

Government will pay 100% of Line-Item price if work quality of all plots meets the AQL % or greater. If below the AQL the Government will issue a letter of non-compliance. The Contractor will be permitted to bring work quality to an acceptable standard. If the Contractor is unable to bring the work to an acceptable standard, then Line-Item pricing will be reduced according to the Payment Reductions section.

In the event that work is performed that is contrary to the requirements in the contract, the Government is not liable for costs incurred by the Contractor during negligent performance that is without the fault or negligence of the Government.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY TABLE

Work Item Performance

Standard Acceptable Quality

Level (AQL) Monitoring Method

Felling/Skidding Cut and skid all trees identified in Appendix A, Section II – Items 1, 2 and 3

98%, unless otherwise permitted by contract specifications

Review Contractors written record of inspections Visual inspection – walk through of units Random verification of compliance (formal plot inspection)

Thin Biomass Trees Thin biomass trees as identified in Appendix A, Section II, Item 3

98%, unless otherwise permitted by contract specifications

Regular onsite review of specification compliance

Written documentation of visual inspection

Slash Treatment/Landing

Cleanup

Treatment of all slash according to contract specifications in Appendix B, C6.7#

98%, unless otherwise permitted by contract specifications

Review Contractors written record of inspections Visual inspection – walk through of units Random verification of compliance (formal plot inspection)

Road Decommissioning

Completion of Road Decommissioning in accordance with Appendix A, Section II, Item 4 specifications

100%, unless otherwise permitted by contract specifications

Regular onsite review of compliance with contract specifications

Written documentation of visual inspection

SECTION V – PAYMENTS

If final inspection indicates Contractor’s work meets or exceeds the minimum Acceptable Quality Level (AQL), the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

Payment Reductions

The Government expects to receive quality services. The minimum AQL is required to achieve a satisfactory performance rating. Full payment will be made for final work meeting at least identified AQL, as identified in the Performance Requirements Summary Table.

If the work deliverable cannot be reworked to achieve the minimum required AQL, a reduction in payment of the Unit price will be applied as shown below.

PAYMENT REDUCTIONS

QUALITY LEVEL

PERFORMANCE LEVEL

ACHIEVED

PERCENT PAYMENT APPLIED TO UNIT PRICE

Minimum AQL 98% - 100% Performance 100% Payment 1% - 10% below AQL 88% - 97% Performance 80% Payment 11%-20% below AQL 78% - 87% Performance 70% Payment

More than 21% below AQL 77% or less Performance 25% of unit cost multiplied by actual level achieved.

Method of Measurement for Acreages

Acreages were determined by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The acreage for each line 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 clauses:

Remeasurement of Acreage

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.

Rounding Methods

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.

* Stewardship Credits will be earned first, whenever practical. Forest Service Funds will be used if the availability of Stewardship Credits is exhausted or if appropriated dollars are obligated to a specific item.

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL): Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all specifications corresponding to the appropriate task(s); refer to the Performance Requirements Summary of the contract. 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.

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.

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 bole.

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.

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, trees >5.6 inches stump diameter that do not meet minimum sawtimber specifications

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.

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: Work that does not meet contract specifications or does not meet the minimum Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). 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 LOGGING: Whole tree logging requires cutting the 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, nesting, perching, etc.