5-Attachment B Scope of Work - ADA Compliant.pdf

Attachment B: Scope of Work Bid #: JH27-115

Project: Little Creek Watershed Restoration Cut, Hand Pile/Designated Whole Tree Drop

Location: Iron County, northeast of Paragonah, Utah. Township 33 South, Range 7 West, Sections 30, 31, and 32. Latitude: 37.898788, Longitude: -112.686512.

Agency Selection Criteria

• Prequalification Required: Yes – Participation is limited to pre-qualified contractors only pursuant to the Utah Procurement Code. Bids or quotes submitted by non-prequalified contractors will not be considered.

• Solicitation Type: Pre-qualified contractors only (Not open competition).

Introduction & Project Summary Dixie National Forest is requesting services to provide up to 64 acres of hand thinning followed by hand pile construction of cut material to be piled in a manner to be burned later.

Specific Tasks Overview

• Thinning: Hand cut ALL live or dead Pinyon and Juniper trees across 64 acres.

• Handpiling: Pile all thinning slash material generated from the project across 64 acres.

• Whole Tree Drop Only: Approximately 30 to 40 trees marked with orange flagging are to be dropped in dry drainage channels leading down to Little Creek (the main drainage that actively flows water).

Section I – Project Requirements

Site Specifics

• Location & Description:

o The project area lies between the mouth of Little Creek Canyon (along Foothill

Dr.) northeast into Upper Bear Valley.

o Positioned approximately 4 to 7 air miles East/Northeast of Paragonah, Utah.

Refer to the project map.

o Comprises 64 acres within Dixie National Forest (Township 33 South, Range 7

West, Sections 30, 31, 32; Latitude: 37.898788, Longitude: -112.686512).

o Slopes range from flat to 35%.

• Access to Site:

o Access is provided via paved highways, county dirt surface roads, and jeep trails.

o Four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles are recommended in and around the project area.

o Contractor is responsible for getting all equipment to the work site.

o Vehicles must be thoroughly washed off-Forest prior to arrival to remove plant material and prevent the transport of noxious weeds.

Specific Tasks & Silvicultural Prescription

• Work Limits & Navigation:

o Only areas shown on the Project Map will be treated. Project boundaries are identified via GPS.

o Contractor must provide a GPS unit capable of loading project areas from a computer.

o Government staff will identify unit boundaries.

o Contractor shall immediately upon entering the site begin work, locate control points and section corners, and take action to prevent their destruction.

o Forest improvements (fences, cattle guards, pipelines) must be located by the contractor and avoided.

• Silvicultural Prescription:

o Pre-commercial thin focusing on removing all pinyon-juniper trees from grass, sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and riparian communities.

o Target post-treatment plant community: Dominated by grass, sagebrush, mountain brush, and riparian species.

• Thinning, Slash Hand Piling, and Tree Drop (64 Acres):

o Trees to Fell: ALL live or dead Pinyon and Juniper species must be felled and slashed.

o Trees to Preserve (Do NOT Fell):

ALL other conifers (e.g., Ponderosa Pine, Fir species).

ALL Mahogany tree species.

ALL trees marked with Blue flagging (any species) must be left intact as wildlife trees.

o Cutting & Stumping Specifications:

Felled trees must be completely severed from the stump.

Maximum stump height: 6 inches measured on the uphill side.

ALL branches below the stump cut must be severed.

Cut boles must be cut into lengths not to exceed 4 feet.

o Piling Specifications:

Branch wood must be lopped from cut tree boles for optimal pile construction; no project-generated thinning slash may be left outside of piles.

All piles must be constructed by hand.

Piles must be dome-shaped, free of dirt or trash, tightly compacted (not hollow), and a minimum of 6 feet tall by 6 feet wide.

Do NOT construct piles under the drip line of any remaining (leave) trees.

Do NOT construct piles within 50 feet of Little Creek (where water is actively flowing).

o Whole Tree Drop Specifications:

Approximately 30 to 40 trees marked with Orange flagging must be felled as whole trees directly into the dry drainage channel.

Equipment & Property Standards

• Contractor-Furnished Equipment:

o Competent crew of sufficient size to meet project objectives within the allotted timeframe.

o Chainsaws, hand saws, or shears capable of cutting trees on steep slopes as low to the ground as possible.

o All equipment must be fully operational, free of fluid leaks, and in good operating condition.

o All equipment/vehicles must be washed before entering and exiting National

Forest System lands to remove soil/plant parts and prevent noxious weed spread.

• Government-Furnished Property:

o No Government property will be furnished for this project.

• Workmanship:

o All materials/equipment must be of the most suitable grade for the intended purpose.

o All work must be performed in a skillful and workmanlike manner.

o The State may require in writing the immediate removal of any contractor employee deemed incompetent, careless, or objectionable.

Section II – Bid Requirements & Information

Site Visit

• A formal site visit will NOT be held prior to bidding.

• Bidders are strongly recommended to inspect the site and understand all local/general conditions affecting performance and cost.

• Failure to inspect the site shall not constitute grounds for a post-award claim.

Maps, Files, & Interpretation

• Refer to attached project maps for treatment unit layout.

• Shape/KML files provided are for informational purposes only and are not part of the contractual document.

• Provided PDF files and the actual physical site location govern all contractual interpretations or legal disputes.

Questions & Bidding Procedures

• All questions regarding the solicitation, specifications, or bidding procedures MUST be submitted in writing on the Q&A board within the solicitation system.

• Bidding Structure:

o Bid on a per-acre price basis.

o Extended total price = Per-acre price × 64 acres.

o Total price must include all labor, equipment, materials, mobilization, and operational costs.

o Fuel surcharges or adjustments will not be negotiated.

Contract Award & Subcontractors

• Contract Award: Awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting experience/equipment requirements.

• Use of Subcontractors:

o Must be approved in writing by the Project Manager prior to performing any work.

o Any entity that submitted a bid, was offered low-bid award and declined, or defaulted on the project is ineligible to act as a subcontractor or employee on this contract.

Section III – Additional Requirements

Environmental Considerations & Hazardous Materials

• Refuse & Roads: Project sites must be cleaned, refused/disposed of per local/State/Federal laws at contractor expense, and damaged roads restored to pre-work condition.

• Vehicles & Off-Road Driving: 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive vehicles allowed. Off-road driving is prohibited when soils are wet and rutting may occur.

• Hazardous Materials:

o Must comply with State/Federal regulations, keep Safety Data Sheets

(SDS/MSDS) on hand, and use required PPE.

o No on-site disposal of hazardous materials/hydrocarbons (violators pay reclamation/disposal costs).

o De minimis (incidental) leaks are considered normal/unavoidable; continual leaks must be repaired and logged in inspection reports.

o Maintenance requiring fluid drainage (engine/hydraulic) must capture, containerize, and remove fluids off public lands.

Public Access & Equipment Security

• Public Access: Roadways must remain open, clear of contractor vehicles, tools, and debris at all times.

• Equipment Security: Contractor is solely responsible for protecting equipment left on site against loss, theft, or damage.

Crew Supervision & Work Camps

• Supervisor Requirements:

o One English-literate supervisor must be on-site during all operational hours.

o Supervisor identified at pre-work conference; changes require 24-hour advance written notice to the Project Manager.

o Supervisor must direct the crew by inspecting work, correcting improper methods, and providing instruction.

• Emergency Transport: Contractor must always provide emergency transportation on-site.

• Work Camps:

o Permitted only with advance written authorization from the Project Manager/Government.

o Must be kept sanitary/orderly; all refuse/signs of occupancy removed before final payment.

Work Hours, Schedule, & Delays

• Work Hours: Limited to 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

o Night work permitted only if equipment has suitable exterior lighting AND approved by Project Manager.

o Weekend/holiday work requires mutual agreement.

• Work Schedule: Must be submitted during the pre-work conference.

• Delays:

o Excusable delays must be beyond contractor control/fault (e.g., acts of God, State actions, fires, floods, epidemics, strikes, freight embargoes, unusually severe weather).

o "Unusually severe weather" means weather outside normal seasonal patterns (standard seasonal rain, snow, or wind are not excusable).

Project Meetings

• Pre-Work Conference: Held prior to work start (site or designated location) to review specifications, schedules, payments, and admin provisions. Attendance required for Contractor, subcontractors, and key coordinators.

• Progress Meetings: Called as needed by Project Manager or Contractor.

Fire Danger & Cultural Resources

• Fire Season: Comply with state fire laws and special directions issued by the Project Manager during declared fire danger periods.

• Historical & Cultural Resources:

o Protected under Antiquities Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and

Archaeological Resources Protection Act.

o Immediately report any discovered scientific, historical, or archaeological artifacts to the Project Manager and halt operations immediately in that area.

o Contractor bears evaluation and restoration costs if they damage known/identified sites. Must insert discovery clauses into all subcontracts.

Project Performance Time & Notice to Proceed

• Completion Date: Work for project JH27-115 must be completed by or before November 1, 2026.

• Notice to Proceed (NTP): Contract/purchase order receipt via email serves as NTP unless a delayed NTP is issued due to weather/soil conditions.

• Performance Schedule:

o Work must begin within 7 calendar days from NTP effective date.

o Once started, work must proceed continuously and diligently. (Extended performance windows exist for contractors managing multiple State contracts, but must be pre-approved in writing).

Inspection, Acceptance, & Payment

• Inspection:

o Surveillance: Government will inspect in-progress work and offer recommendations. Contractor is responsible for overall Quality Control.

o Final Inspection: Contractor must give 3 working days' written notice before completion so final inspection can be scheduled. Deficiencies must be reworked and re-inspected.

• Acceptance:

o Unacceptable quality results in written notification; failure to correct may lead to a Stop Work Order.

o Unsatisfactory/untreated acres must be reworked at contractor expense.

• Payment:

o One lump-sum final payment following successful final inspection.

o Partial payments are generally not considered; require written approval prior to invoice submission.

• Winter Stoppage: State/Federal partner may halt work due to frozen soil/winter conditions. State may pay for completed work and cancel remainder, or issue a resumption order in spring.

Change Orders

• Minor Change Order:

o Adjustments to 10% of acreage/parcel configuration.

o Contractor must perform work at original per-acre bid price.

• Major Change Order:

o Adjustments >10% acreage change or non-comparable site characteristics.

o Allows negotiated unit price increases or equipment mobilization costs (subject to

Division of Purchasing approval).

• Change Order Liability Cap:

Maximum Cap = Per-Acre Bid Price × (10% of Untreated Acres Remaining)

(Examples: $50/acre × 50 acres = $2,500max; $250/acre × 125 acres = $31,250max).