2. Intermountain STWD BPA-Appendix A.pdf

INTERMOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP BPA PAGE 1 OF 8

REGION 4 ID, NV, UT & WY - MULTIPLE NATIONAL FORESTS

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The objectives of these treatments are to increase forest health and vigor, reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire and provide wood resources to forest product industry and local communities by executing projects (Call Orders) in priority areas on National Forest System lands within the boundary of the Boise, Payette, Salmon-Challis, Sawtooth, Caribou- Targhee, Humboldt-Toiyabe, Ashely, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-Lasal, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Bridger-Teton National Forests. Call orders will be issued for distinct projects and may include any combination of the following activities:

1. Hand cutting, piling and/or lopping non-included material

2. Mechanical cutting, piling, lopping, masticating, chipping, skidding, decking and/or removing non-included or non-sawtimber material

3. Road construction, maintenance, closure, and decommissioning

4. Cutting, skidding, and removal of commercial wood products

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS (Scenario Performance Work Statement)

The following work descriptions are to be used to provide pricing for Items 2-175 as described below. Pricing, based on these specifications, is to be completed for all work activities listed in the Schedule of Items, located on pages 3-7 of the solicitation for all National Forests of interest. These are descriptions only of representative treatment types and are not actual treatment areas on the ground. Those specific, on-the-ground activities will be issued in future call orders with project specific descriptions and units on the ground available for viewing.

Description of Hypothetical Treatment Unit Conditions (for pricing purposes) -

Assumptions:

• Dead and Down Fuel: Average treatment will reduce fuel loading by 10 – 35 tons per acre.

• Less than 8-inch DBH standing trees: Average treatment will reduce standing trees by 20 – 200 trees per acre.

• Greater than 8-inch DBH standing trees: Average treatment will reduce standing trees by 20 – 150 trees per acre.

• Commercial harvest of Included Timber; live (non-salvage), mixed-conifer softwood, from stands with approximately 45 tons/acre and an average of 15 inches DBH using a partial cut treatment prescription. (Item 1)

• For purposes of fixed cost considerations, the total hypothetical volume should be assumed to be 4,000 ccf (approximately 12,000 tons) of mixed product of combined softwood. (Item 1)

• All harvest operations are ground based on slopes of less than 30% with all skidding on flat or downhill trails.

• Removal of Piled material will occur on landings along open roadways. Assume 1 landing per 10 acres and dimensions of 15’(H) X 30’(L) X 20’(W).

• All roads needed for harvest are in place and no temporary roads are needed.

• Pre, during and post haul road maintenance shall be conducted according to the specifications listed in

Appendix C for road maintenance requirements.

• Operations are permitted from May 31 to November 15.

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Item 1: Commercial Harvest and Removal of Included Timber: (300 Acres)

Cut and remove from Contract Area trees which meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in Appendix B.

Specifications for Mechanical Treatment of Included Timber:

Items 2, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165: Cut, Skid, and Remove of material > 8 inches DBH (300 Acres) Items 3, 16, 31, 46, 61, 76, 91, 106, 121, 136, 151, 166: Cut, Skid, and Deck of material > 8 inches DBH (300 Acres)

1. Activities must comply with all applicable Appendix B caluses.

2. Mechanically cut and skid all designated live/dead trees > 8 inches DBH diameter.

3. Maximum stump height shall not exceed 12 inches on the uphill side.

4. Slash shall be treated as specified in Appendix B, Clause C6.7#

5. Decking Specification for Items 3, 16, 31, 46, 61, 76, 91, 106, 121, 136, 151, 161: All desiganted material shall be skidded to a landing, delimbed and stacked in orderly log decks.

6. Product Removal Specifications for Items 2, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165: All desiganted material shall be loaded on transport vehicles and removed from the Contract Area. Transport and disposal of this material is a contractor responsibility and the US Forest Service will not incur any liability for removal.

Specifications for Mechanical Treatment of Biomass material:

Items 4, 17, 32, 47, 62, 77, 92, 107, 122, 137, 152, 167: Cut, Skid, and Remove Biomass (200 Acres)

1. Activities must comply with all applicable Appendix B clauses.

2. Mechanically cut and skid all designated live/dead biomass material (woody material of any size, not designated as included timber, as defined in Appendix B).

3. Maximum stump height shall not exceed 6 inches on the uphill side.

4. All designated biomass shall be loaded on transport vehicles and removed from the Contract Area. Transport and disposal of this material is a contractor responsibility and the US Forest Service will not incur any liability for removal.

Specifications for Mechanical Treatment of Non-included material:

Items 5, 18, 33, 48, 63, 78, 93, 108, 123, 138, 153, 168: Masticate/Chip Non-included Material (200 Acres) Items 6, 19, 34, 49, 64, 79, 94, 109, 124, 139, 154, 169: Mechanical Cutting and Piling Non-included Material (200 Acres) Items 7, 20, 35, 50, 65, 80, 95, 110, 125, 140, 155, 170: Mechanical Cutting and Lopping Non-included Material (200 Acres)

1. Mechanically process (chip, masticate or cut) all designated live/dead mixed conifer trees from 2 feet in height to 8 inches DBH, unless otherwise designated to be left standing.

2. Maximum stump height shall not exceed 6 inches on the uphill side.

3. Specifications for Items 5, 18, 33, 48, 63, 78, 93, 108, 123, 138, 153, 168: chipped/masticated material must be distributed evenly within the treatment unit to a depth not to exceed 3 inches over 40% of the unit.

4. Specifications for Items 6, 19, 34, 49, 64, 79, 94, 109, 124, 139, 154, 169:

• Piles shall be reasonably compact, free of soil, enough fines to consume heavies and facilitate burning.

• Piles shall be a minimum of 25 feet from the crown or drip line of any tree or in the least impactful location among standing live trees.

• Piling shall be constructed by grapple or brush rake only, unless otherwise approved by the Forest Service.

• Piles will be constructed in a dome-like structure in order to maximize consumption when burned.

• Minimum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height but no greater than 30 feet in diameter by

15 feet in height, unless otherwise approved by the Forest Service. Pile width shall not be more than two times the overall pile height.

• Piles shall be located at least 100 feet (horizontal distance) from utility lines or poles, and at least 50 feet from other structures, protected improvements, or fences.

5. Specifications for Items 7, 20, 35, 50, 65, 80, 95, 110, 125, 140, 155, 170: Cut material shall be lopped and scattered within the treatment unit to a depth not to exceed 24 inches.

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Specifications for Hand Treatment of Non-included material (lopping and/or piling):

Items 8, 21, 36, 51, 66, 81, 96, 111, 126, 141, 156, 171: Hand Cutting and Piling Non-included Material (200 Acres) Items 9, 22, 37, 52, 67, 82, 97, 112, 127, 142, 157, 172: Hand Cutting and Lopping Non-included Material (200 Acres)

1. Mannually cut all live and dead conifer trees from 2 feet in height to < 8 inches DBH diameter, unless otherwise designated to be left standing.

2. Maximum stump height shall not to exceed 6 inches on the uphill side.

3. Specifications for Item 8 (lopping): Cut material shall be lopped and scattered within the treatment unit to a depth not to exceed 24 inches, and not left in accumulations around the base of residual trees.

4. Specifications for Item 7 (piling): Cut material shall be piled as follows:

Hand Piling:

Location of Piles:

• Piles shall be a minimum of 10 feet from the crown or drip line of any tree or in the least impactful location among standing live trees.

• Piles shall be placed so they are not on top of logs, stumps, fire lines, or channels.

Construction and Size of Piles

• Piles shall be constructed in a manner which provides for rapid ignition and complete consumption of all piled material.

• Each pile shall be constructed by stacking limbs, stems, cut boles and other slash on the pile in such a manner that they are stable and will not fall over. Piles shall be as compact as possible and all bole wood shall be stacked parallel on piles, unless otherwise directed by Forest Service. Avoid ‘teepee’ style piling.

• Minimum pile size shall be 5 feet in diameter by 5 feet in height but no greater than 9 feet in diameter by 9 feet in height, unless otherwise approved by the Forest Service. Pile width shall not be more than two times the overall pile height.

• Piles shall not have any material sticking out more than 4’ from profile of the pile.

Items 10, 23, 38, 53, 68, 83, 98, 113, 128, 143, 158, 173: Removal of Piled Material:

Load and transport woody material from designated locations along accessible haul roads.

1. Material must be removed completely from National Forest System lands.

2. Designated location must be clear of all material except for occasional incidental amounts of residual woody material that is impractical to handle.

Items 11, 24, 39, 54, 69, 84, 99, 114, 129, 144, 159, 174: Road Maintenance (Pre, During and Post haul):

(10 miles) Perform all pre, during and post haul road maintenance. See Appendix C for road maintenance requirements.

Item 12, 25, 40, 55, 70, 85, 100, 115, 130, 145, 160, 175: Road Reconstruction and Construction Road reconstruction and construction specifications will be included in future Call Orders, if utilized.

SECTION III – CONTROL OF WORK

The Contractor agrees to conduct its operations under future awarded contracts or orders to this BPA 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.

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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) All operating restrictions as shown on the Contract Area Map (CAM) and listed in the solicitation under Protection Measures needed for Plants, Animals, Cultural Resources, and Cave Resources would apply as indicated.

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

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

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

(6) 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.

Control of Work specifications will be specific for each contract order to this BPA.

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

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 (Items 2-12). 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

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 (where applicable) 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.

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

4. Each contract order to this BPA will have specific formal plot inspections. The following is an example of possible formal plot procedures:

a. 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.

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

c. 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

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

e. Work Quality Percentages - Each inspection plot will be subdivided into four (4) quadrants based on cardinal directions. Each quadrant will be evaluated for compliance with all applicable BPA order specifications. The total number of satisfactory quadrants divided by the total number of quadrants (number of plots multiplied by four) inspected determines the quality rate. This rate is multiplied by 100 to provide the work quality percentage.

| No. of satisfactory quadrants | X 100 = % Quality | No. of inspected plots X 4 |

Unsatisfactory Performance

1. If the work quality falls below 90 percent, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor, in writing, and order to improve the quality.

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

(a) Order rework to be performed and withhold payment until the results of a post-rework Government inspection show work quality to be at least 90 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.

3. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the 90 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.

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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.

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

ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT Min AQL

1 Commercial Harvest and Removal of Included Timber ACRE NA

2, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165 Cut, Skid, and Remove Non-sawtimber ACRE 90%

3, 16, 31, 46, 61, 76, 91, 106. 121, 136, 151, 166 Cut, Skid and Deck Non-sawtimber ACRE 90%

4, 17, 32, 47, 62, 77, 92, 107, 122, 137, 152, 167 Cut, Skid and Remove Biomass ACRE 90%

5, 18, 33, 48, 63, 78, 93, 108, 123, 138, 153, 168 Masticate/Chip Non-included Material ACRE 90%

6, 19, 34, 49, 64, 79, 94, 109, 124, 139, 154, 169

Mechanical Cutting and Piling Non-included Material ACRE 90%

7, 20, 35, 50, 65, 80, 95, 110, 125, 140, 155, 170

Mechanical Cutting and Lopping Non-included Material ACRE 90%

8, 21, 36, 51, 66, 81, 96, 111, 126, 141, 156, 171

Hand Cutting and Piling Non-included Material ACRE 90%

9, 22, 37, 52, 67, 82, 97, 112, 127, 142, 157, 172

Hand Cutting and Lopping Non-included Material ACRE 90%

10, 23, 38, 53, 68, 83, 98, 113, 128, 143, 158, 173 Removal of Piled Material EACH 100%

11, 24, 39, 54, 69, 84, 99, 114, 129, 144, 159, 174 Road Maintenance (Pre, During, Post) MILE 100%

12, 25, 40, 55, 70, 85, 100, 115, 130, 145, 160, 175

Road Reconstruction and Construction per Call Order Specifications MILE 100%

SECTION V – PAYMENT METHODS

Method of Measurement for Acreages

Acreages will be 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.

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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.

Payment – Items 2-9, 15-22, 30-37, 45-52, 60-67, 75-82, 90-97, 105-112, 120-126, 135-142, 150-157, 165-172

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

2. If formal inspections are used, the rate of payment to the Contractor will be calculated as follows:

(a) For work quality of 90 percent or greater, Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

(b) For work quality from 85 to 89 percent after rework has been performed and remeaured, Contractor will be paid the total quality multiplied by the bid rate.

(c) For work quality 84 percent and less after rework has been performed and remeaured, no payment will be made to the Contractor.

Payment – Items 10, 23, 38, 53, 68, 83, 98, 113, 128, 143, 158, 173

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

Payment – Items 11, 24, 39, 54, 69, 84, 99, 114, 129, 144, 159, 174

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

2. Only one rework opportunity will be allowed for this item.

Payment – Items 12, 25, 40, 55, 70, 85, 100, 115, 130, 145, 160, 175 Full payment will be made when visual and/or measurement inspection indicates specifications have been met.

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.

AIR CURTAIN BURNER: An air curtain burner is a piece of equipment designed to minimize air pollution associated with the burning of wood and vegetative waste – the burner uses a series of air blowers to generate a “curtain” of air that drives volatile gases back into the burner to be consumed as fuel in the fire.

BIOMASS: Biomass is any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis, including trees, plants and associated residues; plant fiber; poultry litter and other animal wastes; industrial waste; and the paper component of municipal waste.

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.

BRUSH: A collective term that refers to stands of vegetation dominated by shrubby, woody plants or low growing trees, usually of a type undesirable for livestock or timber management.

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CCF: A unit of volume measuring 100 cubic feet (2.83 cubic meters).

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: Pieces of dead woody material (typically boles of trees or large branches) of a defined size class (typically larger than 4” small end diameter but size class can vary) that are left on site. Material should be distributed across the site as much as practical to enhance microsite conditions, for small mammal and microbial habitat and soil nutrient cycling.

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.

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.

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

DRIPLINE: the line extending vertically from the exterior edge of a tree live crown to the ground.

HANG-UP TREE: Any cut tree suspended more than 3 feet above ground level.

LEAVE TREE: Any tree that is selected or required to be left standing according to requirements in statement of work or the silvicultural prescription. Trees that are of preferred species, free of insect or disease infection, or if it is present does not threaten the tree survival or growth, exhibits leader dominance and growth, exhibits little or no damage that affects tree survival or growth, and has crown ratio of greater than 40% (ratio of crown to overall length).

NON-INCLUDED MATERIAL: Woody material (of any size) that is not included as merchantable products under the Schedule of Items in the contract and Appendix B, Division A (scaled) or Division AT (tree measurement).

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.

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

RESERVED TREES OR RESERVED AREAS: Individual species of trees or certain areas within a treatment unit that the contract or COR designates are reserved from treatment.

SLASH: Debris left after logging, pruning, thinning, or brush cutting; can include logs, chips, bark, branches, stumps and broken understory trees or brush.

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.

Payment – Items 11, 24, 39, 54, 69, 84, 99, 114, 129, 144, 159, 174