2. DRAFT_2501_APP_A_LeverichHelio.pdf

Leverich Helio Stewardship IRSC Custer Gallatin National Forest Page 1 of 9 Bozeman_Ranger District

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

Project Description: The Leverich Helio Stewardship IRSC project is located in the northern Gallatin Mountain Range, just south of Bozeman, MT. Helicopter units are located on the west side of FS Road #979, along Bozeman Creek and adjacent to City of Bozeman land. One large landing has been identified for proposed use. See draft Logging Plan Map for details. This contract would allow:

• Cut and remove 151 acres of sawtimber via whole tree helicopter yarding/logging

• Road Decommissioning 0.59 miles of TRUP (Temporary Road Use Permit) Roads

Directions to the project area: public access to the project is from Bozeman, Montana, take S. 19th Ave.

southbound to Nash Rd. eastbound to S. 3rd Ave. southbound to the Leverich Canyon Trailhead.

Goal: Maintain high-quality, predictable water supply for Bozeman through cooperative efforts with the City of Bozeman in implementing sustainable land management practices. 100% of the City of Bozeman’s municipal water comes from the CGNF - 80% from Hyalite and Bozeman Creeks (project area) and 20% from Lyman Creek.

Overall Objectives:

• Implement vegetation management projects to reduce the severity and extent of wildland fires in the Municipal Watersheds. Reduce fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface.

• Focus on treatments that will begin to reduce the risk of excess sediment and ash reaching the municipal water treatment plant in the event of a severe wildland fire.

• Provide for firefighter and public safety by beginning to modify potential fire behavior.

Background:

The Bozeman Municipal Watershed Project is a cooperative fuels reduction project between the Custer Gallatin National Forest and the City of Bozeman to maintain a high-quality, predictable water supply for Bozeman residents. The project will reduce the risk of severe and extensive wildfire in the lower portions of Hyalite and Bozeman Creeks to limit the amount of sediment and ash entering the water treatment facilities. Up to 4,700 total acres were approved through NEPA and are available for treatment on NFS land. The Alternative selected authorizes 2,045 acres of ground based (37%), Skyline (24%) and Helicopter (39%) treatments, including 200 acres of partial cutting/helicopter removal in the Gallatin Fringe Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). The USFS and City of Bozeman are currently implementing various parts of the project, which includes prescribed fire treatment, and thinning of smaller and larger diameter trees.

The planned helicopter treatment locations were determined important for the project in key areas due to modeling efforts that showed the highest risk of fire spread to be located on top of ridges and treating the ridge between the watersheds would have maximum effectiveness in reducing potential fire spread to adjacent drainages and serve as an important fire suppression control point. Thinning within the fuel breaks will improve the likelihood of controlling fires on the ridgeline and limiting the spread of fire into adjacent drainages.

Planned Period of Performance: 04/01/2027 – 04/01/2029

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Mandatory Item 1: Cut and Remove Included Timber by Whole Tree Helicopter Yarding/Logging:

Cutting Units 1, 2, 5, 6 (151 Acres)

DRAFT

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Cut and remove from Contract Area sawtimber trees which meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in Appendix B. Accomplish Contractor requirements as specified in Appendix B.

Cutting Unit Number Acres 1 54 2 43 5 24 6 30

Mandatory Item 2: Road Decommissioning TRUP (Temporary Road Use Permit) Roads:

Accomplish all items listed for NFSR P705-F Liebmann Ranch F-Spur for roadway obliteration. All work shall be in accordance with "Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads & Bridges of Federal Highway Projects" (FP- 24, U.S. Customary Units) are included in this solicitation by reference only. The requirements contained in these Specifications are hereby made a part of this solicitation and any resultant contract.

Copies are available electronically on the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highways Administration website at https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/fp-24_0.pdf

Road Decommissioning Work

Road Number BMP Description EMP Description Segment Length

P705-F 0.00 Junction P-705 0.59 Landing 0.59 Miles 0.59

Figure 1. Project Roads https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/fp-24_0.pdf

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Figure 2. Road Obliteration Method 1 Detail.

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SECTION III – 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) When conditions are such that operations shall be restricted or ceased due to increased fire risk.

(2) 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.

(3) If new nests are discovered,

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

(5) Conditions described in Appendix B, under provision C5.12#.

SECTION IV – 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.

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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.

Unsatisfactory Performance

1. If the work quality falls below the minimum Acceptable Quality Level (AQL), the COR will immediately notify the contractor, in writing, and order them to improve the quality of subsequent work. If the quality of subsequent work is not raised above the minimum AQL within the specified timeframe of the written notice, a Cure Notice will be issued.

2. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the AQL percent will be considered reason for no payment and/or contract Termination for Cause, and default action.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 1-2

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

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

Cut and Remove Included Timber by Whole Tree Helicopter Yarding/Logging.

MANDATORY ACRE 100%

2 Road Decommissioning TRUP (Temporary Road Use Permit) Roads MANDATORY MILE 100%

SECTION V – 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 the mileage will be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of a mile 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:

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.

Acceptance and Payment – Item 2 - Road Decommissioning TRUP (Temporary Road Use Permit) Roads

Full payment will be made when visual and/or measurement inspection meets 100% AQL.

* 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.

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SECTION VI – 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.

BROWNS TRANSECT: A line intercept method for measuring the amount of fuel on the ground.

BRUSH: Vegetation consisting of shrub species with single or multi-stems originating at or near ground level not normally reaching more than 15 feet in height.

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 or characteristics.

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.

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LOPPING AND/OR SCATTERING: Cutting limbs from trunks of cut trees, bucking, and moving and rearranging of slash concentrations to reduce the fuel bed height as specified.

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.

PILING: Gathering and stacking of downed wood and activity slash by hand or mechanical methods into piles constructed and located as indicated by technical specification and project maps.

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.

VIRTUAL BOUNDARY: A unit boundary that is shown on the map but is not demarcated on the ground. The contractor must use mapping applications in order to locate these boundaries in the unit.

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, nesting, perching, etc.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 1-2

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS