2.Wing East_IRSC_Appendix A.pdf

Wing East Stewardship IRSC Coconino National Forest Page 1 of 10 Flagstaff Ranger District

Revised 01.06.2022

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The Wing East Stewardship IRSC comprises twenty-three (23) cutting units totaling 2,604 acres of ponderosa pine forest. The goal of this project is to mechanically cut and remove all included timber to achieve the desired condition of restoring the forest to more historic conditions. Maintaining 29 miles of roads will also be required. Timber designation in this project include leave tree mark, designation by prescription, and designation by description. There are several mandatory and optional service items to be completed at the discretion of the agency.

The objectives of this project are to increase forest health and vigor, reduce hazardous fuels in order to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire within the Wildland Urban Interface by accomplishing the following:

1. Improve forest health by increasing residual tree growth, vigor, crown development.

2. Reduce fuel loading and re-introduce low-intensity fire by implementing mechanical fuel treatments and preparatory work to manage the effects of the re-introduction of fire as a disturbance mechanism. Removing activity slash from FS land when feasible.

3. Thin from below in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stands.

4. Remove included products from the Contract Area.

5. Mechanically remove small diameter trees to landings to be burned by FS or chipped/removed from contract area.

6. Provide wood products to local industry by utilizing timber and other forest products.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Work items associated with units 3, 4, 20, 21, and 23: Traffic Control Measures and ADOT coordination.

• Units 3, 4, 20, 21, and 23 have acreage located within the ADOT(Arizona Department of Transportation) ROW (Right of Way) and fenced Recovery Zone along Interstate 180 that will require traffic control and coordination with ADOT.

• Correspondence with ADOT is required 30 days prior to any planned operations within these units.

Traffic Control will be provided by ADOT under agreed upon conditions and operational activities/timlines.

o Coordination with ADOT may be facilitated by the Forest Service, but the contractor is responsible for ensuring full cooperation and coordination of any ADOT required traffic control requirements are met.

Mandatory Item 1: Cut and Remove Included Timber:

Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 (2,604 Acres)

Cut and remove from Contract Area all included products as identified in Appendix B. Road maintenance will also be required commensurate with use. See Appendix C for Road Maintenance requirements.

1. Cut and remove all designated sawtimber, non-sawtimber, and round biomass within each cut unit.

2. All landings and skid trails shall be treated in accordance with the provisions in Appendix B.

3. Construction and obliteration of created temporary roads shall be done in accordance with the provisions listed in Appendix B.

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Mandatory Item 2: Remove All Activity Slash from Forest Service Lands

Units 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 (679 Acres)

1. Remove all material generated from processing logs at staging areas. Slash is considered all tops, limbs, and needles that are produced from processing logs at staging areas, in addition to the material generated from the TSI activities as well as biproducts of unutilized materials. These products will be removed from the National Forest System lands.

2. Contractor shall remove material within 30 days unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

Mandatory Item 3: Install Padding on High-Pressure Gas Pipeline Crossings:

Refer to Appendix C – Roads Package and Attachment 2 High Pressure Gas Line Padding Specifications for instructions on padding the high-pressure pipeline.

• This project includes haul routes which cross natural gas pipelines and water pipelines. Where indicated, these pipeline crossings must be adequately protected by placing fill material to pad the pipeline. Appendix C – Roads Package and Attachment 2 High Pressure Gas Line Padding Specifications contains an estimate of the quantity and cost of the fill required at these crossings. The sale purchaser shall coordinate with the corresponding pipeline company to confirm the actual physical location of the pipeline at the crossing where protective fill should be placed, and a representative from the pipeline company should provide final determination that the pipeline has been adequately protected for hauling.

Optional Item 4: Remove All Activity Slash from Forest Service Lands

Units 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 (1,925 Acres)

3. Remove all material generated from processing logs at staging areas. Slash is considered all tops, limbs, and needles that are produced from processing logs at staging areas, in addition to the material generated from the TSI activities as well as biproducts of unutilized materials. These products will be removed from the National Forest System lands.

4. Contractor shall remove material within 30 days unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

5. Table 1 displays the order of priority of units for disposing of activity slash. Units are ranked by priority of treatment and are subject to availability of project funding.

Priority Units Acres Medium 3, 5, 12, 13 698

Low 4, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 1,227

Optional Item 5: Timber Stand Improvement (Mechanical Preferred)

The following table describes the requirements for cutting conifers greater than 6 feet tall and less than 6 inches DBH (sub-merchantable), in addition to non-merchantable trees greater than 6 inches DBH. The definitions below describe the difference between desirable and undesirable trees. All cut trees shall be treated as logging slash and treated according to the specifications outlines in C6.7#. Treatment shall be completed concurrently or within 60 days after the mandatory product is removed. Units are ranked by priority of treatment and are subject to availability of project funding.

Unit Priority TSI Treatment Cutting Guide

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1 H Cut all undesirable conifers and all trees located under the crowns of larger retained trees.

In remainder of unit, thin desirable trees to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

2 H Cut all undesirable conifers and all trees located under the crowns of larger retained trees.

In remainder of unit, thin desirable trees to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

3 M Cut all undesirable conifers and all trees located under the crowns of larger retained trees.

In remainder of unit, thin desirable trees to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

4 H Cut all conifers.

5 L Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable trees to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

6 M Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable trees to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

7 H Cut all conifers.

8 L Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable trees to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

9 H Cut all conifers.

10 H Cut all conifers.

11 L Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

12 M Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

13 L Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

14 H Cut all conifers.

15 H Cut all conifers.

16 L Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

17 H Cut all conifers.

18 L Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

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20 H Cut all conifers.

21 M Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

22 M Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

23 H Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

24 L Cut all undesirable conifers and all conifers located under the crowns of larger retained trees. In remainder of unit, thin desirable conifers to 12 x 12 foot spacing (bole to bole) ± 4 feet to select the most desirable tree.

Desirable Leave Tree Characteristics: Sub-merchantable/non-merchantable trees considered desirable have all the following characteristics:

(a) Straight, vertical stem (leaning <15 degrees from vertical axis)

(b) Well-formed crown (wide, full, symmetrical)

(c) Live, single top with vigorous annual terminal growth

(d) Free of animal, insect or disease damage and/or symptoms, including dwarf mistletoe

(e) Absence of physical or mechanical damage

Undesirable Leave Tree Characteristics: Sub-merchantable/non-merchantable considered undesirable have one or more of the following characteristics:

(a) Leaning or bent (>15 degrees from vertical axis; often related to prolonged suppression)

(b) Any crook, sweep, or fork in stem

(c) Poor crown form (one-sided, narrow, or sparse)

(d) Multiple, dead, or broken tops

(e) Presence of insects, diseases, or animal damage, including any visible evidence of dwarf mistletoe (i.e, fruiting bodies)

(f) Any physical or mechanical damage

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.

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:

(2) If new nests are discovered, Page 5 of 10 Flagstaff Ranger District

(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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

a. Plot number

b. Number of trees to be left on plot.

c. Number of trees left on plot.

d. Number of satisfactory trees.

e. Number of deficient trees.

f. Number of excess trees.

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

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

- Trees meeting cut specifications will be counted as excess trees

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

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

No. Trees Deficient + No. Excess Trees -------------------------------------------------- = % Unsatisfactory work No. Trees to be left

100% – % Unsatisfactory work = % Work Quality

Unsatisfactory Performance

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

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

(a) Order rework to be performed and withhold payment until excess trees are cut and the results of a post-rework Government inspection show work quality to be at least 85 percent or more. No rework shall be performed unless ordered or authorized by the COR.

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

3. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the 85 percent minimum acceptable standard will be

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Reinspection Upon Contractor Request

1. If Government inspection results are unacceptable to the Contractor, a reinspection may be requested, in writing, within 5 business days after receipt of notice of said inspection results. The same inspection procedure will be used; however, the inspection pattern will be shifted so that new inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots.

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

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

Government Inspection Procedures – All Items

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

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

Cut and Remove Included Timber Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

MANDATORY ACRE 100%

Remove All Activity Slash from Forest Service Lands—Units 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

MANDATORY ACRE 90%

3 Install Padding on High-Pressure Gas Pipeline Crossings OPTIONAL CUBIC

YARD 100%

Remove All Activity Slash from Forest Service Lands—Units 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

Timber Stand Improvement Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

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 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.

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 1

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

1. In the event that formal inspections are used, the rate of payment to the Contractor will be calculated as follows:

(a) For work quality of 95 percent or higher, 5 percent (adjustment for statistical variation) will be added and the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

(b) For work quality from 85 to 94 percent, the 5 percent will be added to the work quality percent and the Contractor will be paid the total multiplied by the bid rate.

(c) For work quality 84 percent and less, the 5 percent will not be added and there will be no payment made to the Contractor.

(d) If, after rework, the percentage of satisfactory work is between 85% and 94%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 85%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

Acceptance and Payment – Item 3

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

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

3. If after rework, the work quality is measured with informal inspection to be 100%, the Contractor will be paid

100 % of their bid rate. If the percentage is less than 100%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 2, 4 and 5

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

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

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

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

* 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.

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 listed in Section II, 2.2.2.

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

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

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

PAYMENT UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS