2c. KFT Manual 2 Appendix A.pdf

FY26 KANIKSU FUELS TREATMENT SSC COLVILLE NATIONAL FOREST

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

APPENDIX A – MANUAL TREATMENTS #2 Ione, Limestone, Lost Creek, Misery Lake 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. Objectives of this contract are to secure a complete set of stand density management services to increase tree vigor, restore species composition and forest health, and reduce fuels on the Newport and Sullivan Lake Ranger District, Colville National Forest. This contract requires Pre-commercial Thinning, Post-harvest Pre-commercial Thinning and Slashing, Hand Piling and Slash Removal services for silvicultural and fuels reduction purposes.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Applicable to ALL Work Items:

A. Work Item Unit boundaries are a combination of virtual, flagged and painted on the ground. Detailed Unit Information Sheets provide unit specific boundary information. In Virtual Boundary Units vendors will need to use Avenza Maps Software, or similar products on a held device such as a cell phone or tablet to determine virtual boundary locations. Individual Unit Maps are included to be used for boundary determination.

B. Detailed Unit Information Sheets include specifications applicable to this solicitation including, but not limited to, cutting specifications, slash treatment and unit access information.

Applicable to Work Items #5a and 5b Pre-Commercial Thinning (PCT), #6 Post-Harvest Pre-Commercial Thinning, #7 Post-Harvest Slashing:

A. Cutting Methods

All trees other than leave trees shall be cut 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. Stumps shall be flush cut with a maximum height of 6 inches above ground and 4 inches above natural obstacles unless within 10 feet of any trail system where maximum stump heights shall be 2 inches above ground and 2 inches above natural obstacles.

B. Felling

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

2. All felled trees shall be directionally felled when possible to reduce damage to leave trees and facilitate slash treatment.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Work Items #5a and 5b Pre-Commercial Thinning:

(Approximately 724 and 89 acres)

Work Item #5a – Mandatory Pre-Commercial Thinning

Unit Acres Unit Acres Unit Acres

Misery Lake 32 19 Misery Lake 41 + 43 166 Misery Lake 570 17 Misery Lake 34 59 Misery Lake 42 56 Misery Lake 60 46 Misery Lake 39 95 Misery Lake 56 53 Misery Lake 61 42 Misery Lake40 34 Misery Lake 57 42 Misery Lake 68 95

TOTAL 724

Work Item #5b – Optional Pre-Commercial Thinning

Limestone 50 36 Lost Creek 16 40 Lost Creek 32 13

TOTAL 89

A. Selection of Leave Trees

The objectives of pre-commercial thinning are to promote growth and increase resilience of leave trees to insect, disease and wildfire while providing conditions favorable to wildlife. Pre-commercial thinning will require selecting the correct trees to cut or leave based on species, crown position, form, major defects, vigor, and variable spacing requirements. Pre-commercial sized conifers to be cut shall be between one foot in height up to 4.9 inches DBH unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet.

Unit cutting specifications, provided on Detailed Unit Information Sheet, may require contractor to ‘leave all’ or to ‘cut all’ of certain conifer species. Contractor shall not cut or otherwise damage commercial live trees

7.0 inches DBH or greater.

Spacing may be varied up to 25 percent to leave the most-preferred species of desirable trees. Species composition of desirable individuals will largely dictate leave tree selection. An exception is when a less preferred species is at least twice as tall as the preferred tree species considered for leave, the taller individual shall be selected for leave if free of defects and showing signs of vigorous growth. Similarly, individuals of ‘leave all’ species shall be ignored for spacing requirements if they are not at least ½ the height of another desirable tree considered for leave. Spacing control, using the original guides, shall be maintained whenever possible. Spacing between lodgepole pines shall be made at half of the unit spacing designation (e.g. 14’ x14’ unit spacing requires 7’x7’ spacing among lodgepole pine individuals).

These requirements may result in small openings or clumps which will contribute to visual aesthetics and wildlife habitat. The thinning prescriptions and objectives are summarized in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet, and in the following Performance Criteria.

Indicators of Desirable Trees are:

Trees in the dominant or codominant crown class Straight stem

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Healthy foliage color Crown ratio greater than 30% Free of insect and disease damage and/or symptoms Vigorous annual terminal growth

In addition to species composition, these indicators of overall tree vigor and health are important criteria for leave tree selection.

The most prominent indicator for vigor is annual terminal growth for the past 1 to 3 years.

Indicators of Undesirable Trees are:

Small (less than ½ height of less preferred species) Crown ratio less than 30% Insect and disease, especially signs of Dwarf Mistletoe (DMT) Crook or sweep in bole Dead or broken tops/multiple tops Poor foliage coloration Physical or mechanical damage Poor annual growth Canker in main stem/bole

These indicators shall determine trees to be cut, but minor defects will be acceptable for a particular leave tree if it is the best selection in a given area. Trees should be relatively free of insect and disease, animal damage, mechanical damage, except for minor problems that will not affect long term growth.

The Contractor shall utilize the characteristics of desirable leave trees and requirements in this section for selecting the leave trees. The work requirements are based on the overall composition and condition of the stand and are intended to be a guideline for achieving the desired final condition. The Contractor shall use their silvicultural knowledge to identify and adjust to any conditions within the stand and notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative of any conditions not addressed in the contract. The Contractor shall recognize any insect, disease or animal damage problems and report them to the COR if it is not recognized in the contract.

Leave trees shall not be damaged in the operation. Leave trees damaged by operations shall be removed if they meet cull tree specifications and the slash treated to specification.

The Contractor shall select leave trees using following priorities in addition to those noted in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet and elsewhere in the Performance Requirements Summary:

1. Leave all conifer trees 5.0 inch DBH or greater (or otherwise specified) and any species designated as ‘leave all’ in the Detailed Unit Information Sheet.

2. No conifer listed as a ‘cut all’ species shall be left as a leave tree.

3. Aspen clones and live healthy 7.0+ inch overstory western white pine and ponderosa pine trees shall have all conifers cut within 30 feet except for conifer species designated ‘leave all’.

4. Snags 14.0 inch DBH or greater and all live hardwood species shall not be cut nor shall any snags or hardwoods be considered for spacing requirements.

5. Variable spacing of pre-commercial sized conifers will be selected based on species preference to achieve 25% variable spacing of desirable conifers as specified in the Performance Requirement Summary and the Detailed Unit Information Sheet(s). Average spacing will be maintained wherever possible.

6. If no healthy undamaged tree exists at the required spacing interval, leave a tree with minor damage unless otherwise specified by the Performance Requirement Sheet (or detailed information sheet). An exception to this is dwarf mistletoe as discussed in paragraph “G” below.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

7. Where Douglas-fir, western larch, ponderosa pine, or lodge pole pine overstory trees are moderately to severely infected with mistletoe, no leave trees of that species shall be left within 30 feet from the infection source IF there are other desirable, disease-free tree species available.

8. Care must be exercised to prevent damage to leave trees. If a leave tree is cut or damaged, the Contractor may be charged with a damaged tree.

B. Lop and Scatter of Slash (Work Item #5 without Hand Piling)

All areas of Work Item #5 not included in Work Item #8 Hand Piling or Work Item #9 Slash Removal shall follow the below requirements for treating contractor created slash:

1. All created slash shall be bucked to lengths of 5 ft or less.

2. Slash depth shall not exceed 18 inches as measured from the forest floor.

3. Slash shall be pulled back 5 ft from all overstory (≥ 7.0” DBH) western white pine and ponderosa pine.

C. Contractor Inspection Plots - Contractor shall perform self-inspection plots during treatment as described in Section III – Contractor Self-Inspection Plots

Work Item #6 Post-Harvest Pre-Commercial Thinning

(Approximately 367 acres)

Work Item #6 – Mandatory Post Harvest Pre-Commercial Thinning

Ione 68 108 Ione 71 50 Ione 75 40 Ione 70 107 Ione 72 62

TOTAL 367

Specifications for Work Items #5 are applicable to this work item with the following exceptions:

a. All created thinning slash and existing logging slash shall be bucked to into 8-12 ft pieces, where possible, for all woody debris less than 14 inches diameter at the large end.

b. Thinning slash will be removed 3 ft from the bole of leave trees <7.0 inches DBH in order to facilitate machine piling and reduce damage to leave trees.

c. Some areas will lack desirable leave trees due to low vigor, sunscald, or other damage. Areas lacking desirable trees will be treated similar to a slashing treatment cutting all or most advanced regeneration.

d. A 15 ft untreated buffer shall be left adjacent to all open forest roads.

Work Item #7 Post-Harvest Slashing

(Approximately 839 acres)

Work Item #7 – Mandatory Post-Harvest Slashing

Limestone 41 44 Ione 39 17 Ione 76 40 Limestone 43 36 Ione 40 24 Ione 81 77

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Limestone 46 10 Ione 41 91 Ione 83 33 Limestone 49 11 Ione 42 12 Ione 84 168

Ione 164 2 Ione 64 3 Ione 85 64 Ione 188 29 Ione 68 36 Ione 86 48 Ione 38 14 Ione 69 9 Ione 88 71

TOTAL 839

Objectives of post-harvest slashing are to cut all undesirable trees and small dead standing trees less than 7.0 inches DBH in units recently logged to promote desirable western white pine, ponderosa pine, and western larch regeneration, to reduce ladder fuels and to facilitate machine piling. See Detailed Unit Information Sheets and Contract Maps for more information.

A. All created thinning slash and existing logging slash shall be bucked to into 8-12 ft pieces, where possible, for all woody debris less than 14 inches diameter at the large end.

B. Thinning slash will be removed 3 ft from the bole of leave trees <7.0 inches DBH in order to facilitate machine piling and reduce damage to leave trees.

C. A 15 ft untreated buffer shall be left adjacent to all open forest roads.

Work Item #8: Hand Piling:

(Approximately 268 acres)

Work Item #7 – Mandatory Post-Harvest Slashing

Misery Lake 32 19 Misery Lake 41 & 43 13 Misery Lake 570 9 Misery Lake 34 4 Misery Lake 42 15 Misery Lake 60 12 Misery Lake 39 22 Misery Lake 56 53 Misery Lake 61 7 Misery Lake 40 10 Misery Lake 57 10 Misery Lake 68 94

TOTAL 268

The objective of hand piling is to gather and stack contractor created slash from the unit into compact piles that result in minimal damage to residual trees when burned. Piles shall be covered with contractor furnished waxed pile paper at least 4 ft x 5 ft in size. Piles will be burned by Forest Service personnel in late fall when the threat of fire spreading out from piled areas is greatly reduced.

A. All cut stems greater than 1 inch maximum diameter shall be piled.

B. Stems shall be bucked and limbed if necessary to create compact piles with smaller material at the bottom/interior of the pile to facilitate burning.

C. Piles shall be constructed as far as possible from the base and crown of existing crop trees with emphasis on avoiding future fire damage to the most preferred, or ‘leave all’ species.

D. Piles should be located no closer than 15 feet from any desired leave tree, in naturally unstocked openings, in hardwood/shrub dominated openings, or in openings created by cutting of the least preferred species when necessary.

E. Contractor shall drag or carry slash up to 50 feet distances if necessary to adhere to hand piling requirements.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

F. No more than 30 piles per acre shall be constructed unless COR agrees to prior in writing.

G. Piles shall not be constructed on the intake/discharge areas of culverts.

H. Piles shall not be constructed in or on system or spur roads.

I. Piles shall be constructed such that all piled slash is perpendicular to slope contour.

J. Piles shall not be located within 25 feet from any live stream/wetland, improvements, private property, trails, existing fences or utility poles and lines or select trees.

K. Piles shall be located at least 25 feet from roadsides.

L. Piles shall be constructed as compactly as possible, with a core of fine material at the bottom of the pile to act as kindling, and with the heavier, larger diameter material placed in parallel on top of the pile.

M. Hand pile dimensions shall be between 5-10 ft vertically and not exceed 10 ft horizontally.

N. Material protruding out of the pile beyond the compact portion shall be bucked and added to the pile.

O. Contractor Inspection Plots – Contractor shall perform self-inspection plots during treatment as described in Section III – Contractor Self-Inspection Plots

Work Item #9: Slash Removal:

(Approximately 1.5 acres)

Work Item #9 – Slash Removal Misery Lake 60 0.8 Misery Lake 68 0.7

TOTAL 1.5

A. Contractor created thinning slash greater than 1 inch maximum diameter must be removed from identified area and relocated within the boundary of pre-commercial thinning unit.

B. Slash will then be treated per Work Item #5-Lop and Scatter of Slash, or Work Item #8 Hand Piling, requirements depending on where the slash is relocated.

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.

A. Contractor must designate at least one foreman/inspector fluent in English to inspect and control performance concurrent with services.

B. Contractor foreman/inspector must communicate with crew to identify and correct issues as early as possible and must calculate contractor quality percentage for each sub-item.

Contractor Self Inspection Plots

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Applicable to Work Items #5 Pre-Commercial Thinning, #6 Post-Harvest Pre-Commercial Thinning and #8 Hand Piling:

Contractor quality control for Work Items #5 Pre-Commercial Thinning, #6 Post-Harvest Pre-Commercial Thinning, and #8 Hand Piling shall consist of both continuous visual observation in addition to formal inspection plots to calculate quality percentage.

A. Contractor quality control for Work Items #7 Post-Harvest Slashing and #9 Slash Removal shall be based on visual inspection.

B. Contractor shall keep a daily record of total progress to the nearest acre per unit and, upon request, report estimated completion acres to Government as required.

C. Delivery of completed plot cards shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

D. Completed cards which are stolen or lost prior to delivery shall not constitute justification for a change in the contract time or amount. Illegible and/or incomplete plot cards will be returned to the Contractor for correction and resubmission before Government inspections are performed.

Contract Inspection Plot Instructions – Applicable to Work Items #5a, 5b Pre-commercial Thinning and Work Item #6 Post-Harvest Precommercial Thinning A. Mark plot centers on the ground with Contractor-furnished biodegradable ribbon; tie additional ribbon four (4) feet above ground plot center; write consecutive plot numbers on the above ground ribbon with permanent ink.

B. Inspect concurrently with thinning, using Government-furnished plot cards (R6-2470-117A).

C. Complete legible plot cards prior to moving from one thinned unit to another. (These cards will remain a part of the permanent contract file.) All plot cards shall be legible.

D. Certify the following by signing and dating by the Contractor or Contractor's Representative, and submitting the plot cards to the Government:

a. All aspects of tree thinning were completed in accordance with the Performance Based Work Statement, and

b. Plot cards results are a representative sample of actual work accomplished.

E. Install across the unit a series slope corrected, 1/50 acre circular plots with a 16.7 ft radius (no slope correction). Minimum number of plots varies by size of unit as follows:

a. 1-40 acres = 1 plot per acre (5 plots minimum)

b. 41 or more acres = 1 plot per 2 acres

F. Take plots on a systematic grid randomly located within each unit to provide a representative sample of the thinning work.

G. Each plot will be examined to record findings on the items listed below:

a. Number of leave trees that should have been left

b. Number of trees that were left

c. Number of satisfactory leave trees

d. Number of deficient trees

e. Number of excess trees

H. Thinning Quality Calculation

a. Compute the thinning quality for the sub-item using the following formula:

Quality % = 100 -100 x (Total No. of Deficient Trees + No. of Excess Trees)

(Total No. of trees that should have been left)

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

b. Thinning quality percentage as calculated above shall be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

Contract Inspection Plot Instructions -Applicable to Work Items # 8 Hand Piling

A. Inspect concurrently with hand piling and report percent hand piling quality calculations in writing on Government-furnished plot cards for thinning inspection.

B. Install a series of 1/4 acre plots with a 58.9 foot radius (no slope correction) or sample at least one pile nearest to each thinning inspection plot to sample at least 1 pile per unit acre (5 piles minimum).

C. Take plots on a systematic grid randomly located within each unit to provide a representative sample of the hand piling work.

D. Inspect and record for each unit: total number of piles, total number of piles unacceptable and total number of piles in compliance.

E. Calculate unit quality percentage.

Quality % = 100 × (Total Number of Piles in Compliance) (Total Number of Piles)

F. Complete and submit legible plot cards to the Contracting Officer prior to moving from one hand-piled unit to another. (These cards will remain a part of the permanent contract file.) All plot cards shall be legible.

G. Certify the following by signing and dating by the Contractor or Contractor's Representative, and submitting the plot cards to the Government:

a. All aspects of hand piling were completed in accordance with the Performance Based Work Statement, and Detailed Unit Information Sheet.

b. Plot cards results are a representative sample of actual work accomplished.

Hand piling unit acceptance and payment will be based on adherence to the requirements stated in the Performance Requirements Summary, Detailed Unit Information Sheet, and Contract Maps. Noncompliance with any of the requirements shall classify a hand pile as unsatisfactory. Payment or the need for rework will be determined based on Government and Contractor quality percentage as described in Section IV – Payment Methods.

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.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Government Inspection Procedures – Formal (Plots)

1. In the event visual inspection indicates rework to be in non-compliance with contract specifications or if the contractor disputes the need to rework, a series of verification plots shall be installed by the Government.

2. Government verification plots will consist of a series of fixed area plots completed in accordance to specifications identified in Contractor Self-Inspection Plot section above.

3. Plot data will be used to determine percent compliance with specifications for each unit not meeting specification and payment may be reduced according to Section IV Payment Methods.

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

Unsatisfactory Work

1. If government quality assurance inspections determine the work quality falls below the acceptable quality level, the COR will notify the Contractor of deficiencies in order to rework or to improve the quality of subsequent work.

2. If quality falls below 80 percent quality the Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default.

3. When the work quality falls below the acceptable quality level due to correctable deficiencies, the Government may elect to do one of the following:

(a) Order rework to be performed and withhold payment until deficiencies are corrected and the results of a post-rework Government inspection show work quality to be at least the minimum acceptable quality level. 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 government quality assurance inspection.

4. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above 80 percent quality will be considered reason for contract termination and default action.

Reinspection Upon Contractor Request - Work Items #5a, 5b, 6 or 8

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.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

Acceptable Quality Levels of Work

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT AQL

5a Pre-Commercial Thinning (PCT) MANDATORY ACRE 90%

5b Pre-Commercial Thinning (PCT) OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

6 Post-Harvest Pre-Commercial Thinning MANDATORY ACRE 90%

7 Post-Harvest Slashing MANDATORY ACRE 99%

8 Hand Piling MANDATORY ACRE 90%

9 Slash Removal MANDATORY ACRE 95%

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 larger than 1 acre 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 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 – Work Items #5a, 5b, 6 and 8

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

2. If contractor disputes need to rework or rework fails to achieve the acceptable quality level of 90% or greater then formal Government plot inspections will be used with Contractor plot inspections to provide the basis for computing the rate of unit payment as follows:

a) Payment will be made at 100% of the unit price if Contractor and Government inspection quality are both 90% or greater, or, when either quality is greater than 90% and Contractor quality differs by no more than 5% from Government quality.

b) If Contractor quality and Government quality are between 80% and 89%, and do not differ by more than 5%, unit payment will be made at whichever quality percentage is greater. Contractor will be paid the quality percentage multiplied by the bid rate.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

c) If the Government unit quality differs by more than 5% of Contractor quality, then Government quality percentage will be used to determine the following payment. Unit quality 90% or greater will result in full payment, 80-89% quality will be multiplied by bid rate, and less than 80% will result in no payment.

Acceptance and Payment – Work Items #7 and 9

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

If, after rework, the work is unacceptable, 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.

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.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

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 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.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

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.

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, SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS 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 to a designated spacing.

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.

SOLICITATION 12363N26Q4089 NEWPORT & SULLIVAN LAKE RANGER DISTRICTS

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.

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