2. DRAFT Robie Creek G-Z Appendix A.pdf

Robie Creek G to Z IRSC Boise National Forest Page 1 of 20 Mountain Home Ranger District

Revised 01.06.2022

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The objectives of this project are to increase forest health and resiliency to insects, disease, and uncharacteristic wildfire.

Reducing hazardous fuels to decrease the threat of catastrophic wildfire within the Wildland Urban Interface is another objective that will be achieved by managing stand structure and species composition to better withstand threats from Douglas-fir beetle, Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe, western dwarf mistletoe, Ips pine engraver, and western pine beetle.

Other objectives of the project to reach these goals include:

1. Contractor completed end-results from the NEPA handoff to final completion of product removal.

2. Commercial harvest and removal of Included Timber

3. Non-commercial thinning

4. Fuels reduction using mastication.

5. Whole Tree Yarding

6. Existing road reconstruction and maintenance work

7. Individual Tree Selection with reserves and sanitation

SECTION II – GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will provide the following item(s) of Government property to the Contractor for use in the performance of this contract. This property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor in accordance with FAR clause 52.245-1 Government Property incorporated by reference in the contract.

1. Tree Marking Paint with registered tracer and material safety data sheet.

Accountability and Handling Attachment 1 – Boise Tracer Paint Accountability Plan

Disposal of Tracer Paint Containers –Empty tracer paint containers shall be returned to the Forest Service for disposal. Paint cans shall be returned to their proper box and have the lids left off to dry out upright before returning to the Forest Service. Lids will be disposed of separately in the conventional fashion.

SECTION III – WORK ITEMS

Mandatory Item 1: Survey Project Area – Design Implementation Plan, Road Analysis Plan, and Preliminary Project Area Map of 1,874 Acres:

Initial recon of the project area shall identify and distinguish treatment areas following the objectives and design features of the Sinker Creek – Boise Ridge (SCBR) Forest Health EA (Attachment 2) and the SCBR Supplemental Information Report (Attachment 3). Designation by Prescription (DxP) is the required designation method. Within the identified Treatment Areas, treatment types shall be classified as the following:

1. Timber Removal – Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir based on timber merchantability and specifications for areas that fit the provided Silvicultural Prescriptions (Attachment 4).

2. Non-commercial – within natural stands, plantations, and/or areas that fit non-commercial prescriptions provided in Attachment 4 and below in Optional Item 11 specifications.

3. Mastication – within 500 feet above or 500 feet below National Forest System Roads (NFSR) 275, 275G, and

275K in the project area. Areas will be assessed based on access, topography, and whether they overlap other treatment types. Areas can be treated by mastication only or can be in conjunction with other treatment types.

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Contractor and Forest Service shall establish and agree to check-in procedures at the post-award conference meeting. At minimum, bi-weekly progress updates, meetings, and/or providing draft treatment unit plans for Forest Service inspection shall be required. Forest Service acceptance of draft submittals may be incorporated into final plans without further inspection by the Forest Service if no alterations are made.

The Project Area Implementation Plan shall include the following:

1. Identification of Treatments and Delineation

a. Utilizing the knowledge and locations of different stand types provided in Attachment 4 -

Silvicultural Prescriptions, clearly identify commercial (timber removal), non-commercial, and mastication units based on treatment recommended, complexity, stand type present, slope, road access, and landing locations.

b. Features that will need to be recorded and identified if encountered include, but are not limited to, the following: powerlines, fences, survey monuments, invasive species, unidentified and occupied wildlife nests, unidentified streamcourses, and unidentified cultural sites.

c. If elk wallows are encountered during the course of the initial survey they shall be documented and a geo-referenced coordinate provided to the Forest Service. Please refer to the Definition on Page 19.

d. Temporary Roads that were proposed in NEPA, and provided spatially by the Forest Service, need to be verified for viability and access on the ground. Further details and requirements are listed under Mandatory Item 2.

2. Road Analysis Plan

Temporary roads will not be included in the Road Analysis Plan and should instead be included in the detailed logging plan under Mandatory Item 2. Reconstruction will not apply to temporary roads.

Two Plans shall be developed for the Road Analysis Plan:

1. Road maintenance plan commensurate with product removal.

a. Perform road survey and reconnaissance for roads listed as “TBD” in Appendix C that do not contain known data to identify road maintenance needs utilizing the T-specifications provided for pre, during, and post haul associated with product removal.

i. Locate all drainage structures and provide a geo-referenced coordinate and detailed information on the following:

• Any deposits (sand, mud, debris) and vegetation above and below the structure that are interfering with the flow pattern.

• Riprap, if installed on the outlet or inlet, should be functioning and in good shape.

• Drainage structures should not be damaged, and the head walls, aprons, inlet assemblies, overside drains, riprap, trash racks and other facilities related to the drainage structure should be functioning properly.

ii. Locate all cattleguards, gates and other similar structures and provide a geo-referenced coordinate and information on the condition.

iii. Locate existing waterbars and provide geo-referenced coordinates. Identify locations where waterbars are needed and provide geo-referenced coordinates.

iv. Locate existing barriers (earthen barriers) and provide geo-referenced coordinates.

v. Identify where grading, clearing or brushing needs exist and provide a geo-referenced point.

b. Cost center associated with completion of road maintenance shall be estimated using accepted plan and standard Forest Service procedures. Costs will be incorporated into the final Timber Appraisals.

Road maintenance work will be commensurate with use associated with Items 7 – 12.

2. Reconstruction plan commensurate with product removal.

a. Perform road survey and reconnaissance on National Forest System Roads (NFSR) 275 (only MP 9.6-12.9), 275G (only MP 0.0-1.1), and 275K (only MP 0.0 - 0.95), and identify improvements listed in the Schedule of Items to these roads that are needed for product removal. If improvements not listed in the Schedule of Items are discovered during the road survey, improvements may be added through contract modification if in the best interest of the government.

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b. Work includes but is not limited to culvert replacement or addition of new culverts, curve widening, road widening, and any fill additions to the current system.

c. Provide geo-referenced coordinates and detailed information on any recommended work. Identify locations on the ground with stakes.

d. Plan shall be designed with a “least-cost” objective for the least amount of reconstruction needed for product removal and project completion.

e. Roads needing reconstruction to allow for van access to facilitate non-saw product removal (per Items 10 & 11) should be indicated as such for approval by the Forest Service.

f. Calculations shall be complete, legible, and include enough sketches to be readily understood by a qualified engineer. All assumptions shall be clearly shown or stated.

3. Preliminary Project Maps

a. Create preliminary map of the Project Area. The Contractor shall generate these maps digitally and all shall be geo-referenced. All attribute information and data shown on maps shall be supplied to the Forest Service in the form of feature classes and/or a geodatabase for use in ArcPro.

b. Maps shall:

i. Delineate the multiple treatment and service areas by identifying boundaries. Provide attribute data on unit numbers, acres, and boundary type (flagged vs. painted vs. virtual).

ii. Identify Timber Removal Units by prescription and unit number.

iii. Treatment acres will be shown on the map and linear measurement of the perimeter layout will be listed.

iv. Using instructions from Attachment 5 – Marking Directions, all boundary symbols will be differentiated between painted, flagged, or both, and virtual or discernable.

• Attachment 5 has specific information on which boundaries require flagged/tagged/painted/GPS vs. virtual boundaries.

• The Contractor is to maximize the use of virtual boundaries relative to the direction of the Attachment.

v. Show roads identified in the Road Analysis Plan for road maintenance and/or reconstruction.

vi. Show temporary roads identified for use. Provide attribute data on new vs. existing template and length in miles.

vii. Identify protected improvements.

viii. Identify protected survey monuments.

ix. Identify all streamcourses either found during the initial survey or provided by the Forest

Service. Provide attribute data on perennial vs. intermittent vs. seep.

x. Identify areas with seasonal operation restrictions.

xi. Identify known infestations of invasive species. Provide attribute data on identification.

xii. Identify areas of exclusion either determined during the initial survey or provided by the

Forest Service and monumented according to Solicitation Section #30.

Timing and Deliverables to Contractor from Forest Service Contractor shall provide the Forest Service with deliverables derived for this Item. The Forest Service shall review for concurrance, and delivery back to contractor within 10 business days for use on subsequent items identified below.

1. Identification of Treatments and Delineation:

Once the Contractor and Forest Service agree upon treatments and unit delineations, estimated quantities will be modified with true quantities for Items 3 and 4.

2. Road Analysis Plan:

Once the Contractor and Forest Service agree upon road maintenance plans and re-construction plan, Appendix C and D will be finalized by the Forest Service and added through contract modifications. Once the Contractor and Forest Service agree upon Road Analysis Plan and Road Reconstruction improvements, estimated quantities will be modified with true quantities for Item 6.

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3. Preliminary Project Maps:

Prior to issuing the Notice to Proceed for Mandatory Items 3 & 4, Contractor and Forest Service shall mutually agree on the proposed treatment units needing retention areas/layout. Draft Treatment Unit Plans that have been submitted early, inspected, and accepted by the Forest Service may receive Notice to Proceed to start layout prior to full acceptance of Item 1. Forest Service will modify this contract to reflect actual required quantities of Items 3 & 4 once Item 1 is accepted and any un-used obligated funds shall be shifted and used to award unfunded optional work. See Acceptance and Payment section below for partial payments for Item 1 only.

Mandatory Item 2: Design Detailed Logging Plan & Finalize Temporary Roads

1. For each Timber Removal Unit, a detailed logging plan shall be completed on Attachment 6 - Robie Creek G- Z Harvest Card Template identifying all product removal treatments and methods.

2. Logging plans shall include but are not limited to general skidding patterns, average skid distances that are shown as either favorable or adverse, jammer pad locations, landing locations, new and existing temporary road locations, any streamcourses or other resource concerns that will need protecting, and haul routes to the appraisal point.

3. Temporary roads, proposed in the NEPA analysis, shall be provided spatially to the Contractor for reference.

Contractor shall survey these for access and viability.

a. Road lengths shall be recorded with a GPS to track and import into ArcPro with average grade identified.

b. No length of temporary road shall exceed more than 50 feet at a grade of +16% or more and shall not exceed +18% grade at any given time, unless agreed upon by the Forest Service.

c. Determination of new construction or existing prisms shall be provided for the full length of road being proposed for use.

d. Any new temporary roads (outside the NEPA analysis) or changes to the spatially provided temporary roads that are proposed by the Contractor will need to undergo analysis by the Forest Service.

e. Temporary road lengths that are no longer needed for product removal may be dropped without review from Forest Service specialists.

4. Logging plans shall be used as the basis for entries in the Timber Appraisal.

Contractor shall provide the Forest Service with deliverables derived for this Item. The Forest Service shall review for concurrance, and delivery back to contractor within 10 business days for use on all Optional Items.

Mandatory Item 3: Flag, Paint, and GPS Timber Removal Boundaries

1. Layout, Flag, and Paint Boundaries of Timber Removal Units

Boundaries determined in Item 1 are to be flagged with orange color flags and painted with pink tracer paint following specifications and guidelines in Attachment 5 – Marking Directions and all tracer paint requirements are described in Attachment 1 – Boise Tracer Paint Accountability Plan. Attachment 5 has specific information on which boundaries require flagging/paint/GPS vs. virtual boundaries. Contractor is to maximize use of virtual boundaries relative to the direction in this attachment. Boundaries that must be flagged, painted, and tracked with a GPS to include but are not limited to:

a. Known cultural sites as identified by the Forest Service. A map will be available to the selected Contractor for avoidance and inclusion in layout.

b. Boundaries adjacent to private property.

c. Shared boundaries between Timber Treatment Units.

d. Boundaries adjacent to protected streamcourses.

2. Map Boundaries Using a GPS Contractor will use GPS to map flagged and painted boundaries. Required data to be provided, methods, and devices for use, shall meet the requirements for accuracy outlined in Attachment 7 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 50 Area Determination Excerpt 1.

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Timing and Deliverables If Forest Service elects to award Optional Items; upon completion of Item 3 and 4, the Forest Service shall begin production of the final Contract Area Map. This map product shall be provided to the Contractor no later than 5 business days from the modification and award of Optional Items.

Mandatory Item 4: Flag and GPS Service Treatment Boundaries

1. Layout and Flag Boundaries of Service Only Treatment Units Delineate areas using flagging that will require service work to occur for Items 9 and 11. Mastication areas (Item

9) can intersect other treatment types however all Non-commercial Thinning Units (Item 11) shall be located outside of Timber Removal Units. Pink checkered colored flagging will be required to delineate Item 9 work areas and solid blue colored flagging will be required to distinguish Item 11 areas.

2. Map Boundaries Using a GPS Contractor will use GPS to map flagged boundaries. Required data to be provided, methods, and devices for use, shall meet the requirements for accuracy outlined in Attachment 7 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 50 Area Determination Excerpt 1.

Timing and Deliverables to Contractor from Forest Service If Forest Service elects to award Optional Items; upon completion of Item 3 and 4, the Forest Service shall begin production of the final Contract Area Map. This map product shall be provided to the Contractor no later than 5 business days from the modification and award of Optional Items.

Mandatory Item 5: Cruise with Final Volume Estimate Applicable Attachments:

• Attachment 1 – Boise Tracer Paint Accountability Plan

• Attachment 4 – Silvicultural Prescriptions

• Attachment 7 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 50 Area Determination Excerpt 1

• Attachment 8 – Sample Recon Cruise Instructions

• Attachment 9 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 40 Timber Cruising

• Attachment 10 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 10 Principles of Measuring Trees

• Attachment 11 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 10 Region 4 Supplement

• Attachment 12 – Basic Cruising Guide

• Attachment 13 – Cruise Sheets

• Exhibit 1 – FSH 2409.12 Ch 60 Section 62.1

As a minimum, the Cruise for Final Volume Estimates must follow/include the following requirements:

1. Cruise Training and Certification Standards Certified cruisers are required to take measurements for final volume estimates. The Forest Service shall permit one certified cruiser to oversee a group of uncertified cruisers with the acknowledgement that any incorrect measurements will come back to the individual who is certified. The Contractor shall be required to obtain Forest Service certification at the annual Qualified Cruiser Class hosted by the agency in June each year if no certified cruisers are employed.

Contractors that are Certified Cruisers in other Regions but are not qualified within the Intermountain Region, shall complete, and pass, the Region 4 official cruiser test plots located in McCall, ID.

Quality checks would begin when recon data collection starts. Quality checks for cruising will occur daily at first and then go to a weekly or bi-weekly schedule based on quality determined. If unsatisfactory measurements are found, immediate action shall take place to ensure correct measurements are captured. If unsatisfactory measurements continue to occur, the Contractor shall be required to take a training day held by Forest Service Qualified Cruisers. Certification could also be revoked and a new certified cruiser would be required until a passing score on the test plots is achieved.

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The knowledge and training requirements for cruisers are:

a. Proficiency in timber cruising fundamentals, including as a minimum:

i. Tree measurement (diameters and heights)

ii. Species identification

iii. Defect recognition and determination

iv. Quality determination

v. Use of timber cruising tools

vi. Map reading and compass use.

vii. Traverses

viii. Elementary use of aerial photography

b. A working knowledge of the cruise systems expected to be used.

c. Demonstrated ability to interpret and follow the timber Cruise Plan and cruise data recording instructions.

2. Cruising

a. Recon cruise plots shall be completed by the Contractor following all guidelines within the Recon Cruise Plan before a production cruise can be designed. Please refer to Attachment 8 for a sample of the Recon Cruise Instructions; final instructions to be provided to the Contractor upon completion of Item 3 allowing for final acres to be utilized.

b. Once all required recon data has been collected, production cruise design shall be completed by an Advanced Cruiser from the Forest Service within one week and all necessary cruise documents shall be provided for reference purposes.

3. Cruisers will follow procedures outlined in the official Cruise Plan, provided by the Forest Service upon completion of the recon cruise, and take measurements in accordance with the information outlined in Attachment 9 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 40 Timber Cruising, Attachment 10 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 10 Principles of Measuring Trees, Attachment 11 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 10 Region 4 Supplement, and Attachment 12 – Basic Cruising Guide. Plot and sample monumentation will follow specifications as outlined in the Cruise Plan.

4. Data recording Cruise data shall be recorded in the field as specified in the Cruise Plan, on Boise National Forest Cruise Sheets (Attachment 13 – Cruise Sheets). Final data shall be delivered to the Forest Service electronically in the form of a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet containing all data captured on Cruise Sheets.

5. Volume, Value, and Sampling Error Reporting

a. Upon receipt of cruise data from the Contractor, the Forest Service will input and process the cruise data using the National Cruise Program to calculate the results.

b. Following processing, the Forest Service will notify the Contractor if the cruise meets Maximum

Sampling Errors for the Sale-as-a-Whole (30%) and strata error (50%).

i. The Contractor may take corrective action if cruise exceeds Maximum Sampling Errors. When the original cruise exceeds the desired sampling error and a small number of additional samples are needed to reduce the error to an acceptable level, the Forest Service will calculate the total number of additional samples needed. The Contractor will locate and measure unbiased samples in the field and add this data to the original cruise. Corrective action and additional samples will be agreed to by Forest Service.

6. Checking and Certifying the Cruise The Forest Service will conduct a final Check Cruise in which a sample of measurements are taken across the entire contract area that must meet tolerance levels shown below in Exhibit 1 – Inspecting Individual Cruiser Performance. The Forest Service will indicate if results of the Check Cruise are unsatisfactory and recommend corrective action needed to make the cruise acceptable.

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Exhibit 1 – FSH 2409.12 Chapter 60 Cruising Quality Control Section 62.1: Inspecting Individual Cruiser Performance

When Final Cruise for each Timber Treatment Area has been completed and accepted, the FS will complete an independent Timber Sale Appraisal to determine the Advertised Timber Rate and Bid Premiums to be collected according to the “Timber Appraisal and Bid Premium” notes section on page 4 of the Solicitation. Maps, plans, and quantities accepted from Mandatory Items 1-5 will be used for appraisal data entries to calculate logging costs.

If Advertised Timber Rates are unacceptable to Contractor for any of Item 7, indicating this Option Item cannot be awarded bilaterally, the included timber and any Optional Items associated with timber removal (Items 6, 8, 10 and 12) shall not be awarded. These Items will be re-solicited for open competition.

Optional Item 6: Road Reconstruction See Appendix D for specifications.

Note: Appendix D shall be added through contract modification once Road Analysis from Item 1 is accepted and Forest Service has completed road plans. See Item 1 - Timing and Deliverables.

Optional Item 7: Cut and Remove Included Timber Cut and remove from Contract Area all trees and forest products which meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in Appendix B. All specifications of Appendix B apply to product removal. Appendix C Road Maintenance requirements are commensurate with use.

Optional Item 8: Cut, Yard, Skid, Limb and Deck Material 6” to 9.9” DBH Material 6” to 9.9” DBH felled under this Item is not part of the estimated Included Timber in Appendix B, Division A2.

Only acres identified as Timber Removal Units (Optional Item 7) will be considered for this service work. Acres outside of Timber Removal Units are not treated under this service item.

1. Cut all trees ranging from 6.0” to 9.9” DBH, except in areas where there are no trees in the 10” DBH size class or greater. In these areas retain clumps of 3 or more trees with healthy crowns. Crowns within the clump shall be at

Page 8 of 20 Mountain Home Ranger District least 30 feet from the crown of any other residual tree. Favor healthy ponderosa pine over Douglas-fir when available. Do not retain any Douglas-fir with a dwarf mistletoe rating of 3 or greater.

a. Diameters are measured outside bark at 54 inches above the ground on the uphill side of the tree.

Diameters shall be measured using a “diameter equivalents of circumference” tape measure, caliper, electronic laser method or equivalent method as agreed to by the Forest Service.

b. Stump heights shall be no taller than 12 inches (except near trails, see c.), as measured on the uphill side of the stump. All stumps should generally have flat and level cuts.

c. Tree stumps within 3’ (feet) either side of the outside edge of trails shown on the contract area map shall be flush cut.

d. Trees shall be directionally felled away from roads, trails, and streamcourses unless safety dictates otherwise. Where trees cannot be directionally felled away from these areas they shall be removed by the end of the operating day, or as agreed to by the Forest Service.

e. No mechanical equipment is to be used outside the road or trail prism within streamcourses, excluding the use of chainsaws or other hand tools (see Solicitation Section #34).

f. All debris resulting from operations will be removed from drainage ditches adjacent to roads or trails.

g. “Hang up” trees shall be dislodged as soon as equipment is within the area. All “hang up” trees and an area 1.5 times it’s striking distance shall be flagged heavily with “Danger Tree” flagging or equivalent.

All hang up trees next to roads or trails shall not be left for a more than a 24-hour period.

2. Yard and Skid Material 6” to 9.9” DBH

a. Whole tree yarding and skidding is required.

b. All felled material shall be yarded and skid pursuant to the same special objectives in Appendix B, C6.42# - Skidding and Yarding (Special Objectives).

c. All felled material shall be skid to landings agreed to in advance by the Forest Service.

3. Limb and Deck Material 6” to 9.9” DBH

a. Material skid to landings shall be limbed, and the top severed from the stem at 4” Diameter Inside Bark

(DIB). Stem/Bole material will be cut into lengths no shorter than 8 feet and no longer than 33 feet.

b. Slash shall be piled at locations agreed to in advance by the Forest Service. Slash piles shall be reasonably compact and free of soil. Piles shall not be less than 6 feet in height and a minimum distance of twice their diameter from any residual timber, facilities, or improvements or as agreed to by the Forest Service.

Pile length will not exceed 40 feet. All piles should have a good base to prevent the pile from toppling.

All pieces extending more than 4 feet from the pile shall be lopped off and returned to the pile. Piling of landing slash shall be performed with a grapple-type machine.

c. Deck material at locations agreed to in advance by the Forest Service. Decks shall be separate from commercially harvested Included Timber. Decks shall have a sturdy base so as not to topple.

Optional Item 9: Mastication

1. Project Description: Mechanical Mastication of brush, standing submerchantable live and dead seedlings, saplings and small trees, and down material/course woody debris.

2. End Results: Reduce potential fire behavior within the understory of forested areas by creating effective fuelbreaks, reduced ladder fuels and course woody debris, and increased canopy height of the residual overstory.

3. Treatment Requirements: Selection of material to be treated for fuels reduction:

a. In commercial harvest areas (Optional Item 7), and sub-merchantable thinning areas (Optional Item 8) mastication shall occur after the completion of these treatments. In sub-merchantable thinning (Optional Item 10) and non-commercial thinning areas (Optional Item 11) mastication shall occur after or in conjunction with these two optional items if awarded.

b. Retain clumps of Aspen in areas treated under Optional Items 7-8, and 10-11. Clumps are defined as at least 5 live aspen trees that are at least 5 feet tall. Clumps are defined as groups of trees with no more than 30 feet between each adjoining tree.

c. Masticate all standing understory brush species (live or dead) equal to or greater than 1 foot in height and having a brush stem diameter of 0.25” to 6.0” at the collar. Collar is measured at 12” above the ground.

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d. Masticate conifer tree species (live or dead) equal to or greater than 2 feet in height and less than or equal to 5.9” DBH, except for open grown clumps of 3 or more trees with healthy crowns. Crowns within the clump shall be at least 30 feet from the crown of any other residual tree.

e. Select Douglas-fir rather than ponderosa pine in the understory with a DBH of 5.9” or less.

f. Leave all tree species which exceed a maximum DBH cut limit of 5.9”, unless identified by the COR.

g. Masticate all slash associated with other treatments within the mastication clearing limits.

h. Masticate all dead and down material 1” to 6” in diameter. Masticate limbs greater than 1-foot in length from existing dead and downed trees greater than 6” in diameter.

i. Size of woody debris/chips, upon completion of the project, shall not exceed 3” in diameter and 3-feet in length. Average depth of the debris across the project area shall not exceed 6”. In isolated locations where dense vegetation exists, the maximum depth shall not exceed 12”.

j. Stems and stumps shall be less than 6” in height or as close to the ground as partible without causing ground disturbance.

4. Equipment Specifications

a. All equipment shall be in good mechanical condition and operated in a safe and proper manner. Both operator and equipment shall meet Occupational Safety & Health Administrations (OSHA) safety regulations and labor industry requirements for operating equipment in a forested environment.

b. The desired equipment for use is a skidsteer with specifications and capabilities similar to a Caterpillar 299 or Fecon 150 with a mulching attachment that performs closely to Fecon or Denis Cimaf horizontal drum design, a vertical shaft or rotary masticator head such as an AFE, or similar. However, all equipment meeting the following requirements will be considered for this work:

i. Maximum operating weight without attachments of 25,000 pounds

ii. Minimum of 100 net horsepower

iii. Ability to process fuels 6 inches DBH or less to “chip” size not exceeding 3 inches in diameter by 3 feet in length.

iv. Safely operate on slopes averaging 10-20% with isolated slopes up to 35%

v. Ability to achieve the desired stand condition without damaging leave trees.

Optional Item 10: Sub-merchantable Thinning Thinning Specifications for ALL Units

1. Remove all Douglas-fir 2’ (feet) in height and < 5.9” DBH unless there are no Ponderosa Pine to retain in that area.

2. Remove all conifer species 2’ in height and < 5.9” DBH within 30 feet of aspen clones with at least 10 live stems, greater than 15 feet tall.

3. Remove all conifer species 2’ in height and < 5.9” DBH with any visible evidence of dwarf mistletoe caused brooms or swelling in the bole on the upper 2/3 of tree crown. Ponderosa Pine trees with branch infestation in the lower 1/3 of crown are acceptable leave trees where they are the best tree to leave.

4. Remove all conifers 2’ in height and < 5.9” DBH within 40 feet of the bole of any Ponderosa Pine greater than 20 inches DBH.

5. Enhance natural openings, ¼ acre to 1 ½ acre in size, with little-or-no evidence of past trees, by cutting all conifer species < 9.9” DBH within and around the opening. Indicators of past trees include old stumps, logs and/or stump holes.

6. Cut all conifer species 2’ in height to 9.9” DBH except for a few open grown clumps of 3 or more trees with healthy crowns and at least 30 feet away from the crown of any residual trees.

7. Desirable leave trees shall be those showing the most vigor and of the tallest height, largest crown (in dominant & co-dominant positions), and straightest stems without forking, with no indication of insect, disease, damage, select leave trees in the following priorities: Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir.

Slash Specifications for ALL Units:

1. All thinning slash shall be less than 24” high, placing it on or near the ground surface. The 24” depth will be measured from the ground to the top of suspended limbs. The boles of felled trees shall lie on the ground surface.

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Cut material shall not lean against an uncut tree, stump, log or any obstacle. It shall be secure and not able to roll down the hill.

2. Slash treatment shall be concurrent and progressive with the thinning. The contractor shall not move onto a new unit without completion of slash treatment, unless otherwise approved by the COR.

3. The following improvement and developments shall be free from slash created by the tasks in this contract:

a. The area adjacent to cut slopes and ditches for a distance of 5 feet measured from the upper cut slope of the road.

b. The area adjacent to fill slopes for a distance of 2 feet measured from the lower shoulder of the road.

c. Culverts for a distance of 15 feet.

d. Improvements such as unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, stock driveways, fence lines, established survey corners. All slash felled outside of a unit shall be brought back into the unit.

e. Stream courses as required in Resource Protection (below)

4. Slash to be Handpiled

a. All created, green slash 1 inch and larger in diameter and up to 6 inches in diameter at the large end, where slash concentrations exist, shall be handpiled.

b. Slash concentrations are defined as areas where the amount of slash located in a 50ft radius area or smaller is sufficient to build a handpile.

c. Butt portions of stems larger than 6 inches may be left un-piled providing that the butt is on the ground and green limbs are removed and smaller portions/crown of the tree are piled.

5. Construction and Size of Piles

a. All piles shall be as compact as possible. Height of piles shall be not less than 3 feet, nor greater than 6 ft.

Diameter of piles shall be not less than 4 feet, nor greater than 6 feet. All piles shall have good base to keep the pile from toppling. Larger material shall be placed in the upper portion of the pile to aid in compacting the pile. All material in excess of 6 feet in length shall be cut before placing in the pile.

b. Material protruding out beyond the compact portion of the pile shall be bucked off and added to the pile to facilitate a clean burn.

c. All created green slash not piled, shall be lopped, bucked and scattered to lie within 24” of the ground. All trees shall be felled in a scattered pattern and into openings as much as possible to promote rapid drying of the slash, except in areas where handpiling is needed and occurs concurrent with felling.

6. Due to the presence of Ips Bark beetle in the contract area, all portions of felled green Ponderosa Pine trees larger than 3 inches in diameter should be moved at least 4 feet from the base of any residual Ponderosa Pine.

7. Location Piles

a. Piles shall be located at least 10 feet, or as far away from the crown and base of standing trees as conditions allow. Piles shall be located such that the heat, when pile is burned, will vent uphill into an opening in the canopy.

b. No piles are to be made on roads or trails, drainage ditches, or within channel bottoms above a culvert intake.

8. Constraints and Mitigations

a. If any whitebark pine is located during implementation notify the Forest Service. Do not cut any whitebark pine and avoid damaging during implementation.

b. Thinning of Ponderosa Pine shall not occur between December 1 and June 30 in stands where 20% or more of the thinned trees are Ponderosa Pine larger than 3 inches D.B.H.

c. Within the Contract Area:

i. Stumps should be 12 inches or less on the uphill side to reduce visibility.

ii. Slash shall be lopped and scattered below 24 inches (less if visually intrusive).

d. Remaining slash should appear to be mostly natural occurring downed material after project completion.

Optional Item 11: Non-commercial Thinning Thinning Specifications for ALL Units

1. Remove all Douglas-fir 2’ (feet) in height and < 12.0” DBH unless there are no Ponderosa Pine to retain in that area.

2. Remove all conifer species 2’ in height and < 12.0” DBH within 30 feet of aspen clones with at least 10 live stems, greater than 15 feet tall.

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3. Remove all conifer species 2’ in height and < 12.0” DBH with any visible evidence of dwarf mistletoe caused brooms or swelling in the bole on the upper 2/3 of tree crown. Ponderosa Pine trees with branch infestation in the lower 1/3 of crown are acceptable leave trees where they are the best tree to leave.

4. Remove all conifers 2’ in height and < 12.0” DBH within 40 feet of the bole of any Ponderosa Pine greater than 20 inches DBH.

5. Enhance natural openings, ¼ acre to 1 ½ acre in size, with little-or-no evidence of past trees, by cutting all conifer species < 12.0” DBH within and around the opening. Indicators of past trees include old stumps, logs and/or stump holes.

6. Cut all conifer species 2’ in height to 8.0” DBH except for a few open grown clumps of 3 or more trees with healthy crowns and at least 30 feet away from the crown of any residual trees.

7. Thin remaining patches of 8.0”-16.0” DBH trees to promote clumps and openings. Clumps will have 4 to 8 trees with 12- to 20-foot bole spacing. Openings should provide 40- to 60-feet between groups, bole to bole.

8. Desirable leave trees shall be those showing the most vigor and of the tallest height, largest crown (in dominant & co-dominant positions), and straightest stems without forking, with no indication of insect, disease, damage, select leave trees in the following priorities: Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir.

Slash Specifications for ALL Units:

1. All thinning slash shall be less than 24” high, placing it on or near the ground surface. The 24” depth will be measured from the round to the top of suspended limbs. The boles of felled trees shall lie on the ground surface.

Cut material shall not lean against an uncut tree, stump, log or any obstacle. It shall be secure and not able to roll down the hill.

2. Slash treatment shall be concurrent and progressive with the thinning. The contractor shall not move onto a new unit without completion of slash treatment, unless otherwise approved by the COR.

3. The following improvement and developments shall be free from slash created by the tasks in this contract:

a. The area adjacent to cut slopes and ditches for a distance of 5 feet measured from the upper cut slope of the road.

b. The area adjacent to fill slopes for a distance of 2 feet measured from the lower shoulder of the road.

c. Culverts for a distance of 15 feet.

d. Improvements such as unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, stock driveways, fence lines, established survey corners. All slash felled outside of a unit shall be brought back into the unit.

e. Stream courses as required in Resource Protection (below)

5. Slash to be Handpiled

a. All created, green slash 1 inch and larger in diameter and up to 6 inches in diameter at the large end, where slash concentrations exist, shall be handpiled.

b. Slash concentrations are defined as areas where the amount of slash located in a 50ft radius area or smaller is sufficient to build a handpile.

c. Butt portions of stems larger than 6 inches may be left un-piled providing that the butt is on the ground and green limbs are removed and smaller portions/crown of the tree are piled.

6. Construction and size of Piles

a. All piles shall be as compact as possible. Height of piles shall be not less than 3 feet, nor greater than 6 ft.

Diameter of piles shall be not less than 4 feet, nor greater than 6 feet. All piles shall have good base to keep the pile from toppling. Larger material shall be placed in the upper portion of the pile to aid in compacting the pile. All material in excess of 6 feet in length shall be cut before placing in the pile.

b. Material protruding out beyond the compact portion of the pile shall be bucked off and added to the pile to facilitate a clean burn.

c. All created green slash not piled, shall be lopped, bucked and scattered to lie within 24” of the ground. All trees shall be felled in a scattered pattern and into openings as much as possible to promote rapid drying of the slash, except in areas where handpiling is needed and occurs concurrent with felling.

8. Due to the presence of Ips Bark beetle in the contract area, all portions of felled green Ponderosa Pine trees larger than 3 inches in diameter should be moved at least 4 feet from the base of any residual Ponderosa Pine.

9. Location Piles

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a. Piles shall be located at least 10 feet, or as far away from the crown and base of standing trees as conditions allow. Piles shall be located such that the heat, when pile is burned, will vent uphill into an opening in the canopy.

b. No piles are to be made on roads or trails, drainage ditches, or within channel bottoms above a culvert intake.

10. Constraints and Mitigations

a. If any whitebark pine is located during implementation notify the Forest Service. Do not cut any whitebark pine and avoid damaging during implementation.

b. Thinning of Ponderosa Pine shall not occur between December 1 and June 30 in stands where 20% or more of the thinned trees are Ponderosa Pine larger than 3 inches D.B.H.

c. Within the Contract Area:

i. Stumps should be 12 inches or less on the uphill side to reduce visibility.

ii. Slash shall be lopped and scattered below 24 inches (less if visually intrusive).

d. Remaining slash should appear to be mostly natural occurring downed material after project completion.

Optional Item 12: Remove Timber Subject to Agreement 6.0” to 9.9” DBH Material

1. Remove from Contract Area all decked material associated with Optional Item 8 - Cut, Yard, Skid, Limb and Deck

Material 6” to 9.9” DBH.

2. Appendix C Road Maintenance requirements are commensurate with use.

3. Remaining slash that does not meet the minimum specifications for removal, shall be piled for disposal by the Forest

Service following piling specifications for Item 8.

4. Product accounting will be accomplished through 100% Weight Scale. Refer to Appendix B.

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) No harvest operations throughout the Contract Area (including hauling and snow plowing) shall occur November 30 through April 15.

a. Forest Service may authorize harvest operations within the above dates depending on yearly snow conditions and/or location within the contract area.

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

(3) When seasonal operating restrictions for active raptor nests are in effect. All active nest sites and areas of restriction are shown on CAM and listed in the solicitation under Protection Measures Needed for Plants Animals, Cultural Resources, and Cave Resources. Restrictions would apply if new nests are discovered after award.

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

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

(6) Unless permitted in writing by the Forest Service, there shall be no felling or bucking of Ponderosa Pine within ALL Units on Contract Area Map during the period December 1 through June 30. If written permission is granted, it may be conditioned upon a requirement that the Contractor provide a continuous food chain of green Ponderosa

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Pine material, logs, and slash during the period July 1 to September 15, following the cutting. Forest Service may allow periodic removal of logs from this chain of green material. Such green material shall be provided from periodic cutting or tree felling operations from Included Timber within the cutting units, or where such material is inadequate or not available, green material may be provided by the thinning of non-included trees within contract area upon approval by the Forest Service. If the Forest Service determines it necessary, it may direct the order and location of cutting to provide the necessary green material.

(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.

(9) Notify the Forest Service if new Threatened, Endangered, Proposed and Candidate and Region 4 Sensitive (TEPC/S) denning, nesting or roosting sites are discovered during implementation. Known TEPC/S species in the project area include northern goshawk, and flammulated owl.

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) and 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 – Items 1-12

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. Units 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 formal and/or 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.

Formal Government Inspection Procedures – Deliverables Deliverables are documents, maps, files, and data produced in work Items 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. All deliverables will either be accepted or returned to the Contractor for corrections.

1. In the event informal inspections indicate work and/or rework to be in non-compliance with contract specifications, the Government will perform a formal review to determine compliance with specifications.

2. Government inspection of deliverables will be evaluated based on quality and timelines. Timeliness is determined by adherence to performance period deadlines provided in the Solicitation under Period of Performance.

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

4. For each verification of a deliverable, the Government will examine if the document, map, file, or data adheres to the specification listed in the sub items of the work description and follows direction in the provided NEPA documents and attachments.

Task Metric Type

Performance Standard Performance Indicator

Surveillance Method

All reports and other deliverables

Quality Reports and other deliverables are correct and provide information as outlined in work item descriptions when submitted.

Documents are complete and accurate 100% of the time.

COR or inspector reviews reports for completion and accuracy.

All reports and other deliverables

Timely Reports submitted no later than the due dates.

Documents are submitted timely 100% of the time.

COR or inspector accepts reports and documents date and time.

Unsatisfactory Deliverables If work quality and timelines don’t meet performance standards, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor, in writing, and order him to improve the quality of the documents, maps, files, or data. If the quality of the subsequent deliverables does not meet performance standards within the amount of time agreed to by the Forest Service, the Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered default.

Government Inspection Procedures – Formal (Plots) for Items 7-11

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 density, basal area, best tree selection, and other 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 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…