2b. KFT Manual 1 Appendix A.pdf

FY26 KANIKSU FUEL TREATMENTS SSC COLVILLE NATIONAL FOREST

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

APPENDIX A – MANUAL TREATMENTS #1 Kalispel, Kings Lake, Little Tacoma, Rankin, Swamp Creek Contract Areas

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The mission of the Forest Service and Colville National Forest is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Forests. The objectives of this project are to increase forest health and vigor, and reduce hazardous fuels to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire within the Forest and Wildland Urban Interface by accomplishing the following:

1. Mechanically rake and pile residual activity slash and preexisting ground fuels within identified units.

2. Mechanically masticate brush and small trees to change the fuel profile from vertical to horizontal.

3. Decommission temporary roads constructed for harvest operations.

4. Whip fell ladder fuels to aid in piling and prescribed burning treatments.

5. Thin young trees to increase tree vigor, restore species composition and improve forest health resilience.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Applicable to ALL Work Items

1. Work Item Unit boundaries are a combination of virtual, flagged and painted on the ground. Detailed Unit Information Sheets provide unit specific information. In Virtual Boundary Units vendors will need to use Avenza Maps Software, or similar products, hand-held devices such as a cell phone or tablet with Avenza Maps software is required to determine virtual boundary locations.

2. Detailed information Sheets included specification applicable to this solicitation including, but not limited to, cutting specifications, slash treatment and unit access information.

Work Item #4: Whipfelling

Unit Acres Unit Acres Unit Acres

Little Tacoma 44 91 Swamp Creek 88 20 Kings Lake 263 12 Little Tacoma 45 41 Swamp Creek 89 130 Kings Lake 283 13 Little Tacoma 49 60 Swamp Creek 91 61 Kings Lake 289 19 Little Tacoma 50 84 Swamp Creek 92 128 Kings Lake 292 10 Little Tacoma 65 101 Swamp Creek 93 17 Kings Lake 293 8 Little Tacoma 66 99 Swamp Creek 109 98 Kings Lake 638 12

Rankin 37 78 Swamp Creek 170 41 Rankin 38 25 Kalispel Moon 73 73 Rankin 40 96 Kalispel Moon 75 20

Rankin 138 61 Kalispel Moon 82 83 Swamp Creek 69 123 Kalispel Moon 83 37 Swamp Creek 70 267 Kings Lake 85 42 Swamp Creek 80 105 Kings Lake 91 86

Total - 2141 acres

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

1. Tree Selection

a. Cut all coniferous species greater than one foot in height and equal to or less than 6.9 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) that are within 25 feet of the bole at breast height of any live, overstory coniferous species equal to or greater than seven inches DBH.

b. Cut all coniferous species except healthy Western white pine, Pacific yew, ponderosa pine, and western larch greater than one foot in height and equal to or less than 6.9 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) that are outside 25 feet of the bole at breast height of any live, overstory coniferous species equal to or greater than seven inches DBH.

c. When there is an abundance of the desirable tree species, ponderosa pine and western larch, that are healthy and of good vigor, these will be spaced to an average distance of 16’ ft. x 16’ ft. between the boles.

d. Healthy is defined as a tree having a straight-formed stem with top leader growth free of terminal damage or forking, a crown ratio of at least 30%, and no obvious signs of insect, disease, or mechanical damage.

e. All snags are designated to leave. Snags shall not be counted as leave trees for payment purposes.

2. Stump Treatment:

a. All cut trees shall be severed below the lowest live limb, except when prevented by natural obstacles; in which case, any live limbs below the cutting point shall be removed. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump. Stump height shall be a maximum of six inches above ground when measured from the uphill side and four inches above natural obstacles.

b. Low stump to 12 inches high when measured from the uphill side all commercially harvested or mechanically damaged stumps that are greater than 12 inches high. Specific units needing low stumps will be noted on the Detailed Information Sheet.

3. Felling:

a. Trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, established trails, stock driveways and trails, fence lines, established land corners, superior trees, all camp sites, and live or intermittent streams. Any trees falling on such areas shall be removed as specified elsewhere herein.

b. Any trees felled on the road, cut bank or ditch areas, will be moved back into the cutting unit until there is no impact to those areas.

c. Cut trees shall be placed on or near the ground surface so that trees will not lean against or be suspended by an uncut tree.

d. No pruning of leave trees will be required unless designated.

e. No trees shall be cut within 15 feet of a stream course on any item unless designated. All trees that fall into a stream require removal to five feet from the stream.

f. Trees shall be directionally felled to reduce slash depth.

g. All felled trees that land outside of unit boundaries shall be pulled back inside the unit boundary.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

4. Slash Treatment:

a. Cut all down woody debris and slash material that was created by harvest activity or stand density management into lengths no greater than 16 feet.

b. Buck all windthrown trees to lengths of 16 feet and sever the root wads.

c. Whip felled trees need to be bucked into 10’-12’ lengths.

d. In Little Tacoma 65, Rankin 138, & Kings Lake 85, lop and scattered whipfelled trees. Limbs should be removed so the boles lie flat on the ground, and no limbs stick up. The boles should also be cut into approximately six-foot lengths. In these units, bucking will not be required on any pre-existing down logs or blowdown trees. These units will be treated in this manner to facilitate prescribed fire treatments and will be identified on the Detailed Unit Information Sheets.

e. All slash created by the Contractor's operations shall be pulled back a distance of five feet from road prisms, road cuts, established trails, stock driveways, land corners, streams, campsites, fence lines, and other improvements. Pull back requirements shall be completed on each unit before the Contractor may proceed to another unit. Pullback shall be considered incidental to slashing and no separate payment will be made.

SECTION III – 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 ensure 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.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

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 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 Cutting

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

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

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 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.

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.

Minimum Acceptable Quality Levels of Work

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

4 Whipfelling MANDATORY ACRE 90%

SECTION IV – 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.

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

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

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 – Items 4

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

2. 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 90 percent or higher Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

(b) For work quality from 80 to 90 percent the Contractor will be paid the total multiplied by the bid rate.

(c) For work quality 79 percent and less there will be no payment made to the Contractor.

If, after rework, the percentage of satisfactory work is between 19% and 90%, 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.

SECTION V – DEFINITIONS

ADMINISTRATIVE TERMS

Acceptable Service. A job performed to the standard and within the acceptable quality level. The Contractor must do the specific job, and meet the standard, and meet the acceptable quality level before one can say that performance is acceptable for payment.

Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). The maximum allowable deviation from perfect performance that may occur before the Government will invoke payment deduction. An AQL does not allow a Contractor knowingly to offer defective service, but limits reduced payment to circumstances in which defective performance results in a measurable reduction in the value of services rendered.

Best Value. One criterion used for selecting a service contractor for award, based on comparison of the service price offered, with the quality of service offered.

Biobased. Products determined by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to be commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products, including renewable domestic agricultural material (including plant, animal and marine materials, or forestry materials.

Biodegradable. Products that are non-toxic, non-petroleum, and have low VOC levels. Typically originating from plant or animal sources, which may be broken down by other living organisms.

BioPreferred. Biobased items the USDA has designated as “preferred” for purchase. It meets or exceeds USDA – established minimum biobased content requirements.

Calendar Days. Every day shown on the calendar, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays included.

Change Order. An order issued to the Contractor by the Contracting Officer, pursuant to the “Changes” clause included in Section I of this contract, requiring work to be performed within the general scope of the contract.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Contract Item. A pay item designated on the bid schedule and described by a specification.

Contracting Officer (CO). A Government employee with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings. The term includes certain authorized representatives of the Contracting Officer acting within the limits of their authority as delegated by the Contracting Officer.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). A Government person appointed by the Contracting Officer (CO) to help the CO with the contract administration and surveillance. The duties and responsibilities of a COR are defined in the letter of designation by the CO. The Government may also designate another COR to help the main COR. In some cases, the Government may also designated a COR with “limited authority” to help in the contract administration and surveillance.

Crew Foreman. The individual responsible for ensuring the contract specifications are met on the ground and that the proper inspection plots have been taken.

Defective Service. A block of service that contains one or more defects, or nonconformance with specified requirements.

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). The Federal Regulations that govern Forest Service acquisitions of property and services, also supplemented by the FSAR (Forest Service Acquisition Regulations).

Forest Supervisor. The person responsible for administration of a National Forest, including his or her authorized representative.

General Provisions. Those provisions of an administrative nature applicable to the contract.

Government. Title used to represent the United States Federal Government and its designated employees acting within their delegated contract authority. Throughout this contract the titles United States, USDA- Forest Service, Forest Service, and USFS may be used interchangeably as synonymous with Government.

Government Technical Monitor (GTM). A Government person appointed by the CO to help the COR with the contract administration and surveillance. The duties and responsibilities of a GTM are defined in the letter of designation. The GTM’s authorities are very limited.

“Green” purchasing. Green Purchasing is the method wherein environmental and social considerations are taken with equal weight to the price, availability and performance criteria that are used to make purchasing decisions. Green Purchasing is also known as “environmentally preferred purchasing (EPP), green procurement, affirmative procurement, eco-procurement, and environmentally responsible purchasing” particularly within the US Federal government agencies. Green Purchasing minimizes negative environmental and social effects through the use of environmentally friendly products. Green purchasing attempts to identify and reduce environmental impact and to maximize resource efficiency. Examples include: Recycled content products, also known as Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) Items; Energy Star. And energy-efficient products; standby power devices; Alternative fuel vehicles/alternative fuels; Biobased products; Non-ozone depleting substances, as well as environmentally preferable products (EPP), etc.

Labor Standards Provisions. Those statutory and regulatory requirements pertaining to the Contractor’s employees and employment practices.

Performance Based Service Contract (PBSC). A service contract that (1) Describes requirements in terms of results required rather than the methods of performance of the work; (2) Use measurable performance standards (i.e., terms of quality, timeliness, quantity, etc.) and quality assurance surveillance plans; (3) Specifies procedures

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

for reductions of fee or for reductions to the price of a fixed-price contract when services are not performed or do not meet contract requirements; (4) May include performance incentives where appropriate.

Performance Work Statement (PWS). Is a statement of work for performance-based acquisitions that describes the required results in clear, specific and objective terms with measurable outcomes.

Period of Performance (also Performance Period or Contract Time). The number of calendar days allowed in this contract for completion of the contract work. Once begun on the official start date, the period of performance will be counted in consecutive calendar days, including Sundays and holidays. This time may be suspended by Government issuance of one or more written Suspend Work Order/s.

Quality Assurance. Those actions taken by the Government to assure services meet the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Government inspection for quality assurance does not substitute for the Contractor’s quality control.

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document used for quality assurance surveillance. The document contains specific methods the Government will use to perform surveillance of the contractor.

Quality Control. Those actions taken by a Contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the requirements of the PWS. The methods for inspecting for quality control are described in the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan (QCP).

Random Sampling. A sampling method in which each service output in a unit has an equal chance of being selected. A method of inspecting a few individual items in a lot to determine the quality of that lot against the standard.

Specifications. That portion of the contract comprising a description of the general and technical requirements for materials, products or services to be furnished under the contract.

Standard. An acknowledged measure of comparison.

Statement of Objectives (SOO). is a Government-prepared document incorporated into the solicitation that states the overall performance objectives. It is used in solicitations when the Government intends to provide the maximum flexibility to each offeror to propose an innovative approach. That portion of a contract that establishes a broad description of the government’s required performance objectives.

Statement of Work (SOW). Is portion of a contract which establishes and defines all non-specification requirements for contractor's efforts either directly or with the use of specific cited documents.

Task Order. An order for services issued under a Task Order contract.

Work Order. An order written by the COR, which directs the Contractor to correct deficient performance. It may also be used to document satisfactory completion of units and give permission for the Contractor to begin work on additional work units.

TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS

Activity Slash – Leftover debris from logging operations, including treetops, limbs, and other woody material.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Brush – broad-leaved bushes, shrubs of low trees growing in dense thickets. Brush does not include hardwood tree species.

Bucking – cutting the boles of down trees/slash into lengths as indicated by technical specifications.

Coarse Woody Debris - logs that are 10 inches in diameter on large end and over 16 feet long.

Cultural site – any area exhibiting signs of past human behavior such as Indian artifacts, old mining sites, cabins, etc.

Damage - Includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, and equipment, and evidenced by such things as dead or broken tops or trunks, crooks, deep scars, abnormal swelling of the bole, or conks.

Damage to soil – removal of top soil, mixing of soil horizons, and/or multiple passes over the same piece of ground.

DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) – Diameter of the trunk measured at a point 4-1/2 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

Healthy Tree – A tree of good form and vigor which shows no physical damage or suppression, extends vertical from the ground and has a minimum of 30 percent live crown.

Horizontal Plane - Acreage measured as though the terrain were level, with no adjustment for changes in slope.

Large woody material – existing large, down logs that may be starting to decompose and recycle nutrients into the ground; large logs are 16 inches in diameter on large end and over 33 feet long.

Leave Tree – desirable species with the best form, growth and vigor that is disease and damage-free that is selected or required to be left standing as provided in the specifications.

Live Stream Channel - Stream channel with water in it, or a channel which shows evidence of washing.

Low Vigor Tree – A tree of poor form, which has less than 30 percent live crown ratio, a height –to-diameter ratio over 80 (tall, skinny trees), is chlorotic, fading or otherwise unhealthy crown, and/ or Dwarf mistletoe infection centers.

Machine piling – raking/gathering and stacking slash from thinning or whipfelling using a “lift and pile” method into piles constructed with mechanical equipment.

Mastication - Use of mechanized equipment to grind/rearrange the size and height of residual and/or created slash to facilitate in decomposition.

Open Road – System roads that are shown as “open” on attached maps.

Overstory Tree – trees greater than 10.1 inch DBH

Plantable Spot – An area from which vegetation, ash, duff, brush, slash, and debris has been removed.

Pre-commercial Thinning – the cutting of live trees that are greater than 1 foot high and less than 6 inches DBH for lodgepole pine and less than 7 inches DBH for all other tree species, to a designated spacing.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Progression of work - work conducted in a progressive, workmanlike and orderly manner by the Contractor.

Road Prism – The area between the outside edges of the fill slope and the cut slope.

Seed tree wall – live crop trees on the perimeter of the unit that provide seed for natural regeneration.

Seral conifer species – ponderosa pine and western larch.

Slash - Any dead or dying vegetation that that is on or near the forest floor between 0.25 to 10 inch diameters.

Snag – any standing dead tree/bole greater than 10 inch DBH and 12 feet in height, in any condition.

Spacing - The horizontal distance from the trunk of one leave tree to the trunk of the next nearest leave tree [measured from the middle (not the outside) of the base of each tree].

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

Tree Improvement select tree – protected trees for the tree improvement breeding program identified with an orange paint band at roughly 4 ½ feet height around the tree, a brown metal squirrel band and an identification tag.

Understory Tree – live and dead trees between over foot tall and less than 10.0 inch DBH.

Untreated Area – Areas that are excluded from treatments due to sensitive soils, mule deer hiding cover, wetland/ riparian areas, threatened and endangered plants, desirable snags or species, or other reasons.

Virtual Boundary – A unit boundary that is shown on the map, but is not demarcated on the ground. The contractor must use mapping applications in order to locate these boundaries in the unit.

WHIP - Excess tree greater than 12 inches in height and less than the diameter specified in the data sheets.

Whip felling- The cutting of live or dead harvest-damaged trees or non-desirable trees of poor form that are greater than one foot tall and less than seven inches DBH.

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

SECTION V – DEFINITIONS