8. NaturalResourcesRestorationScope.pdf

Land Management Integrated Resources National BPA

12363N23Q4023

ATTACHMENT 8: NATURAL RESOURCES RESTORATION SCOPE

All requirements and specifications may vary based on location and agency utilizing the BPA.

Includes, but not limited to:

1. Tree planting

a. The sub-items in this category include, tubing, gopher baiting/trapping, vegetation barrier mat placement, grubbing, big game repellant and riparian/upland planting.

2. Stocking surveys

3. Invasive Plant Control

4. Treating invasive plants using herbicides or manual control methods.

5. Restoration Services

a. Ecological restoration in both terrestrial and aquatic settings in varied and diverse environments, and not limited to: native habitat restoration/enhancement (wildlife, fisheries, etc.); road construction (cut and fill slopes, source pits, spoils areas, landscaping, ERFO, etc.);

mine reclamation (tailings, waste rock, overburden, etc.); fire rehabilitation (BAER, habitat improvement, etc.).

b. Hydro - Seeding/Mulching/Fertilizing.

c. Aerial Seeding/Mulching Application/Project Material(s) transport

d. Mechanical/Hydraulic Planting/Plant Protection.

e. Hand Planting/Plant Salvage/Plant Protection

f. Mechanical/Hand Seeding

g. Bioengineering/Storm Water Treatment

h. Slash Shredding/Hauling

i. Road Decommissioning/Obliteration/Soil De-compaction.

6. Stream/Riparian/Wetland Restoration/Channel Realignment

7. Sediment/Erosion Control.

8. Project Mobilization In/Out.

9. Plant Material Collection/Inventory/Mapping

10. Native Grass and Forb Seed and Straw Production

11. Plant Propagation

12. Tree Climbing and Cone/Seed Collection

13. Tree Cooler Maintenance and Servicing

Item 1: Restoration Services

Restoration overview

Calls may include ecological restoration in both terrestrial and aquatic settings in varied and diverse environments and may include for example but are not limited to: native habitat restoration/enhancement (wildlife, fisheries, etc.); road construction (cut and fill slopes, source pits, spoils areas, landscaping, ERFO, etc.); mine reclamation (tailings, waste rock, overburden, etc.); fire rehabilitation (BAER, habitat improvement, etc.).

Hydro - Seeding/Mulching/Fertilizing. Provide a variety of products (tackifers, mulches, fertilizers, mycorrhizae, etc.) and capabilities (equipment, application methods, personnel, etc.) best suited to project objectives. Minimum equipment requirements may be imposed if terrain is limiting.

Aerial Seeding/Mulching Application/Project Material(s) transport. Services may include but are not limited to, helicopters and/or fixed wing aircraft for the application of dry seed, dry fertilizer, hydro-seed/mulch/fertilizer, grass straw and wood product mulches, compost, etc. Applying approved herbicides for help in controlling an assortment of introduced and/or invasive plant species.

Anticipated projects might involve Ferry (helicopter) restoration materials, equipment, and supplies into remote or inaccessible project sites or aiding post fire restoration work, such as

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) efforts to provide soil stabilization. All appropriate Forest Service aircraft requirements will apply and would be addressed in the specific Call.

Pneumatic/Mechanical/Hand - Seed/Mulch/Compost Installation. Provide a variety of products (tackifier, compost, straw, wood chips, shredded woody material, fertilizer, amendments, etc.) and capabilities (equipment, application methods, personnel, etc.) best suited to project objectives.

Additional services may include placing compost berms, filling and creating wattles, socks, etc. using mulch or compost with a selection of casing materials.

Mechanical/Hydraulic Planting/Plant Protection. Provide a variety of mechanical and hydraulic equipment (mounted augers, handheld augers, water jet, excavator mounted hydraulically actuated expanding "stingers," tree spades, etc.) and capabilities (various hole diameters, depth, portability, reach, substrate penetration, plant configuration capacity, etc.) to maximize planting efficiency and plant survival. Plant a variety of conifer, shrub, fern, grass, grass-likes, and forb species and stock-types. Plant varied container types and configurations including bare root and balled-and-burlapped into a wide range of ecological settings and substrates.

Protection of new plantings/seedlings using a variety of caging and fencing options may be necessary to help insure plant survival and establishment. Options may include single plant protection to multi-acre big game enclosures.

Hand Planting/Plant Salvage/Plant Protection. Prepare and plant sites with hand tools. Plant a variety of conifer, shrub, fern, grass, grass-likes, and forb species and stock-types. Plant varied container types and sizes including bare root and balled-and-burlapped into a wide range of ecological settings and substrates. Access may be difficult for some projects and may involve off road vehicles, pack animals, or other means to transport plant materials and/or labor. Work may require the use of pesticides to control competing vegetation, rodents, or insects, in addition to the application of fertilizer, mycorrhizae, game repellants, etc. Retrieval and disposal of the tubbing and tree shelters. Protection of new plantings/seedlings using a variety of caging and fencing options may be necessary to help insure plant survival and establishment. Options may include single plant protection to multi-acre big game enclosures.

Work may also entail salvaging plant material by hand or mechanically (excavator, tree-spade, etc.) to be transplanted directly or at a later time. This may include temporary on-site care/storage of plant material, or transport and care/storage off-site for later use.

Mechanical/Hand Seeding. Provide equipment (tractors, quads, etc.) and capabilities appropriate for the ecological setting (seed drills, mounted broadcast seeders and sprayers, hand seeders, backpack sprayers, etc.) including site and seedbed preparation and maintenance equipment (discs, harrows, rippers, rakes, sprayers, etc.)

Bioengineering/Storm Water Treatment. Projects may involve slope/soil stabilization utilizing (live stakes and fascines, live crib-walls, vegetated geo-textiles, vegetated gabion walls, vegetated riprap, vegetated rock walls, retaining walls, "stinger" plantings, etc.), stream bank restoration/stabilization/enhancement, storm water treatments including: mechanical filtration systems, bio retention, bio-filtration swales, vegetated buffer strips, sodding, settling basins, wet detention ponds, storm water wetlands, and ecology embankments for example.

Slash Shredding/Hauling. Provide mobile equipment that can efficiently reduce slash into shred form of varying sizes for use in creating compost or used as mulch on constructed cut and fill slopes, decommissioned roads, etc., as well as for erosion control, bio-engineering, etc. Provide equipment which can size, sort, or screen out and separate product as needed. For example, produce material for mulch blowing applications to a specific maximum size. Source material may be from existing slash pilesgenerally tops, limbs, stumps, and root wads generated from timber management activities or highway right-of-way clearing debris. Provide equipment sufficient to forward piled slash. Slash may vary from green to aged and dry with variable lengths and diameters and may include stumps and whole trees. Slash may be entirely from conifers, hardwoods, shrubs, or a mix. Provide trucking, loading, and unloading of product to designated sites, in general within a 10 mile radius of the project site.

Road Decommissioning/Obliteration/Soil De-compaction. Provide services to de-compact soils, decommission, obliterate, enhance, re-contour and/or shape roads, source and waste areas, landings, skid-trails, temporary roads, etc., pull culverts, improve drainage, restore hydrologic function, create barriers to discourage further use, etc. Work may involve transporting (on and off-highway), placing materials such as soil, rock, logs, slash, etc. to and/or from the site and disposal. Additional services may include whole tree removal (tree-tipping), transport, and placement.

Vegetation/Invasive Plant Treatment/Inventory/Mapping/Monitoring. Provide vegetation and invasive plant treatment plans and control for varied ecological settings within both terrestrial and aquatic habitats and may include inventory, mapping, and monitoring. Provide appropriate state applicator licensing, herbicide use plans, and personnel to control undesirable vegetation, and state listed noxious weeds. Projects for example may include rangeland, forested or wetland habitats, existing or newly constructed roads, trails, landings and may involve inventory, treatment, and/or monitoring. Adjacent lands, right-of-ways, gravel pits, waste areas, and parking lots may also be treated. Treatments may involve the use of herbicides applied by fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, or ground based. For example, vehicle mounted boom or sprayer, mechanized means such as mowers, brush cutters, weeds whackers etc. Backpack sprayers, hand pulling, burning, scalding, covering, etc. may also be employed.

Weed treatment for a given project may continue for 3-5 years and require multiple yearly treatments. Treatment in rights-of-ways such as those ofDOTs may be included, some of which might require additional applicator endorsements.

Approved biological control agents may be used including collection and release. The use of goats and/or prescription grazing to help control invasive species may also be used. Monitor and inventory existing populations and areas susceptible to invasion.

Vegetation Monitoring/Mapping/Survey. Perform vegetation monitoring for a variety of ecological settings and data requirements, including for example rangeland, forested and riparian/wetland habitats, as well as restoration/revegetation work including road construction, fire, wetland enhancement, wildlife/fisheries habitat improvement, and ecological studies. Locate and/or establish and monument temporary and/or permanent monitoring plots within designated areas. Analyze existing and/or collected data and provide reports. Perform plant/vegetation surveys and mapping including but not limited to:

vascular/non-vascular plant surveys, timber stand exams, vegetation typing and mapping, etc.

Monitoring protocols and methodologies will be expounded upon within each individual Call.

Stream/Riparian/Wetland Restoration/Channel Realignment. Provide all services necessary to perform riparian and wetland restoration and enhancement. Design, plan, mitigate, and implement complex riparian/wetland restoration projects including but not limited to: wetland delineation;

wetland relocation/creation; stream classification; federal and state regulations, licenses, and permitting requirements; heavy equipment sufficient to relocate/enhance stream channels/wetlands; place in-stream structures; plant large size container trees and shrubs;

transport large volumes of rock, sand, sediment, woody debris, etc. Electrofishing or electroshocking may be requested if diversion or disruption of fish bearing streams is expected.

Treat and control or remove invasive species. Additional services may involve plant salvage, direct transplanting, maintaining plant materials on site or transporting and storage and/or increase off site for future use and whole tree removal (tree-tipping), transport and placement.

As-built plans or land mapping of constructed or enhanced wetlands may be requested following implementation.

Landscaping. Work will be primarily associated with previously completed road construction involving restoration work within transportation corridors and may include, weigh stations, rest stops, overlooks, trailheads, parking facilities, administrative facilities, road medians and shoulders, safety zones, over and underpasses, wildlife crossings, ramps, noise abatement screens, and interchanges. Primary to this work is soil stabilization, beautification, maintenance, and functionality. Additional work may consist of designing and implementing appropriate temporary or permanent irrigation systems, providing topsoil, gravels, rock, logs, mulch, compost, erecting barriers, such as placing a large boulder to restrict/redirect pedestrians and traffic. Design and implement project specific storm-water treatments as needed.

Sediment/Erosion Control. Design and implement sediment and erosion control plans for highway, trail, or energy corridor construction projects. Implement an already existing control plan or provide advice on design, implementation, or improve existing plans.

Provide, install, or place control devices, such as erosion control bales, wattles, logs and rolls, silt fence, temporary rolled erosion control products both short and long term, temporary mulching/seeding, check dams, settling ponds, basins, bio-filtration, geo-textiles, and geo-composite materials, etc., sufficient to meet all local, state and federal regulatory requirements. Work may involve "on-call" duties and storm patrols.

Compost. Produce compost from non-recycled woody debris/slash created through the clearing of project rights-of-ways, timber sales, fuels reduction, etc. Provide all equipment necessary to produce a final product that complies with the standards set forth by the

American Composting Council and/or project specifications. Compost production is generally performed on site or adjacent to the project. Material handling, monitoring, turning, consolidation, off-site storage, and transporting may be needed in part or whole prior to composting as well as after. Compost and transport from other sources and suppliers may be requested.

Project Mobilization In/Out. This cost should reflect the time and resources required to travel to and from a project with the appropriate equipment to perform the task at hand.

Mobilization may be incidental on some Calls.

General Labor. Provide general labor and necessary equipment for a variety of jobs which may include, but are not limited to, repairing/enhancing/removing established sediment and erosion control systems; plant maintenance including: weeding, watering, replanting, fertilizing, and protection; minor landscaping and enhancement; project clean-up; materials hauling and disposal; and modifications to completed revegetation plans.

Item 2: Plant Material Collection/Inventory/Mapping

Seed Collection/Inventory/Mapping/Seed Cleaning. Services may be required in part or whole depending on project requirements. Identify and collect phenologically appropriate native tree, shrub, fem, forb, grass-like, and grass seed from a wide range of ecological settings. Collection sites may be remote requiring significant driving and/or hiking. Sites may also be along heavily traveled highway corridors.

Rough cleaned seedlots shall meet the following minimum standards:

Species Class

Purity1

(min % by weight)

Noxious

Weeds2

(max %)

Non-target

Species

(max %)

Graminoids 90 0 0.3

Forbs 90 0 0.2

Shrubs 90 0 0.5 1 Seedlots with less than 90 percent pure seeds shall receive a reduced payment in accordance with Section 9 Payments.

2 Oregon Seed Certification Service Handbook, Section V lnventory and mapping involve locating, identifying, evaluating, and recording potential collection sites, species, and phenology progression. A typical project for example may first involve the contractor performing a 5-6 species inventory and mapping exercise, followed up with seed collections over a range of elevations and habitats, cleaning and seed testing.

Vegetative Collection/Salvage/Inventory/Mapping. Services may be required in part or whole depending on project requirements. Identify and collect phenologically appropriate native hardwood, shrub, forb, fem, grass-like, and grass vegetative plant materials from a wide range of habitats and conditions. Collection sites may be remote requiring significant driving and/or hiking. Sites may also be along traveled highway corridors. Inventory and mapping involve locating, identifying, evaluating, and recording potential collection sites, species, and phenology. Post collection material handling, storage and transport may require refrigeration and/or overnight delivery. Long term cold storage (2-4 months) may be required prior to nursery planting.

Collection requests for vegetative materials, for example, may vary from small twigs to rhizomes to large poles depending on project design.

Item 3: Native Grass and Forb Seed and Straw Production

Native Grass and Forb Seed Production

Services may be required in part or whole depending on project requirements. Produce native grass and forb seed as well as straw to aid in restoration efforts. The Contractor's growing facility may be require to be located within specific geographic ranges, depending on project location and need.

Straw Production

Services may be required in part or whole depending on project requirements. Produce native grass and forb seed as well as straw to aid in restoration efforts. The Contractor's growing facility may be required to be located within specific geographic ranges, depending on project location and need. Delivery to project site may be requested, necessitating appropriate transportation, loading and offloading equipment, and storage equipment.

Item 4: Plant Propagation

Provide nursery services and facilities sufficient to propagate, produce, and track a wide variety of tree, shrub, fern, grass, grass-like, and forb species from seed and/or vegetative means providing an array of container and/or bare-root configurations. The Contractor's growing facility may be required to be located within specific geographic ranges, depending on project location and need.

Delivery to project sites may be requested, necessitating appropriate transportation and storage equipment, such as mobile refrigeration.

Container requests may range from small volume plugs (3 in3) to (5 gallon) or larger. Depending on project needs, bareroot plant stock or balled-and-burlapped or a tree spade may be required.

Due to the uncertainties involved with many projects scheduled delivery dates of plant materials for a specific project may occasionally need to be modified. This may involve delaying delivery(weeks-months), changing container configuration and/or production strategy to accommodate an additional year of growth, or over wintering in a secure facility. The

Government may provide all plant materials, a portion of, or none to the grower.

Item 5: Tree Climbing and Cone/Seed Collection

Provide all necessary equipment and personnel sufficient to access and collect cones and seeds from a variety of conifer and hardwood tree species. Collection sites, conditions, and methods may be highly variable. Collection sites may be remote requiring significant driving and/or hiking. Work may also include climbing and caging cones prior to collection, installing wildlife habitat structures, or tree topping via mechanical or explosive means.

Item 6: Tree Cooler Maintenance and Servicing

Provide qualified service representatives to perform routine and emergency refrigerated tree cooler maintenance services and repairs as recommended by the manufacturer. Tree cooler servicing will follow manufacturer's recommendations for operation, startup, and shutdown.

Item 7: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/Systems (UAV/UAS)

Provide necessary equipment and trained/licensed personnel to conduct UAV/UAS flights under visual flight rules. Flights may be requested to locate native seed source populations, monitor restoration work, map non-native or undesirable plant populations, to locate access routes or water locations, assess or identify natural hazards such as wildfire affects, landslides, mud flows, flooding, etc. Flights may originate from remote locations requiring significant driving or hiking.

Flights from multiple elevations, utilizing a variety of sensors including near infrared, color, and others may be requested. Products requested may include mosaiced images, image classification, bundled GIS files with aerial imagery, 3D modeling and renderings, GIS analysis, as well as others.

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

The Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer's duly authorized representative (COR) will inspect and accept the supplies and/or services to be provided under this contract.

Monitoring of restoration and revegetation work will vary by call, but will consist of monitoring

Contractor's:

(a) Field operations by visiting job site(s).

(b) Compliance to Quality Control Plan.

(c) Compliance to any requirements listed on individual call orders, including adherence to performance period and time table for sub items.

In addition, monitoring of native grass and forb seed production, as well as the production of straw, will consist of monitoring:

(a) Field records to check the progress of contract.

(b) State seedling and seed crop reports to verify land requirements, isolation distances and field management standards.

(c) Seed tests to ensure minimum standards for germination, purity, other crop, weed, prohibited weeds and inert matter are met.

(d) Operations by making field visits during the contract. The Government may arrange visits to inspect sowing, production fields, harvesting, storage facilities, seed cleaning and seed test sampling.

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVELS (AQL) FOR NATIVE GRASS AND FORB SEED

AND STRAW PRODUCTION

(a) Payments

(1) Upon receipt of satisfactory Certified State Laboratory seed test results (fall of each year), the Government will pay the Contractor 100% of the production year contract price for the pounds of seed produced and accepted.

(2) For Call Orders involving field preparation and sowing the Government will pay the

Contractor 100% of the field preparation and sowing contract price upon the Government's receipt and acceptance of:

a) The technical approach to growing the specific species,

b) Field preparation, and

c) Sowing

(3) The Contractor shall provide planting records and seedling inspection and seed crop inspection reports at the request of the COR. The Contractor will arrange for original seed test results to be mailed to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) by the seed lab.

Payment shall not be made until reports and test results are received by the Government.

(4) The Contractor shall notify the Government prior to removing a field from production.

Failure to notify the Government may affect future awards for Call orders under this contract as well as follow on contracts. Removing a field prior to completing a call order does not remove the obligation to produce the seed within the performance period of the contract.

Should stand failure occur as a result of contractor negligence or failure to perform the

Government may terminate for cause. Should stand failure occur, and the Contractor can show that the failure was due to circumstances beyond their control the Government shall consider and accept one of the following:

a) The acreage shall be replanted, if seed is available.

b) A substitution will be provided, if available, and acceptable to the Government.

c) The call order shall be terminated, if no seed nor suitable substitution is available.

A modification to the call will be executed for any of the circumstances described in a), b) or

c) above.

(5) Should the Contractor fail to produce seed of contract quality, the Government may refuse to accept the seed and refuse payment of the balance due on the contract. The Contractor may recondition the seed to achieve contract quality, or a fair market price for the seed as-is (e.g., PLS weighted by contract price) may be negotiated within 60 days of receipt of the contract seed test results, and the contract price will be negated.

(b) Government Rights to Seed Produced and Excess Seed

(1) The Government retains the right of first refusal for any additional amount of seed or straw produced. Price will remain the same as offered for additional amounts within 25% of the original quantity ordered. A price will be negotiated for any additional quantities that exceed 25%. The government shall notify the Contractor within two weeks following the date of receipt of contract seed test results to exercise its option to purchase excess seed or straw.

The Contractor may have salvage rights to any seed or straw that is excess to the

Government's needs.

(2) If the Government decides to purchase excess seed or straw over $2,500, a call order will be submitted to the Contractor at the contract or negotiated price.

(3) The Contractor may continue producing seed or straw from the contract planting beyond the termination of the contract at their option, and the Government will have the opportunity to negotiate, in a timely manner, a new contract for such production or the Government will release the field to the Contractor.

NOXIOUS WEEDS

(a) In order to prevent the potential spread of noxious weeds onto Federal lands, the Contractor shall be required to furnish the Forest Service with proof of weed-free equipment.

(b) Noxious weeds are defined as any exotic plant species present or that may be introduced in the

State, which may render the land unfit for agriculture, forestry, livestock, wildlife, or other beneficial uses and which is designated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, County Weed

Boards, or by other appropriate agencies having jurisdiction.

(c) All equipment and vehicles to be used at the job site shall be cleaned and certified free of noxious weeds and their seeds prior to entrance onto the National Forest. The restriction shall include equipment and vehicles intended for off-road use as well as on road use, whether they are owned, leased, or borrowed by the contractor or subcontractor.

(d) Cleaning shall consist of the removal of all dirt, grease, debris, and materials that may harbor noxious weeds and their seeds. This may require the use of a pressure hose. Cleaning shall occur off Federal lands.

(e) Equipment, materials and vehicles shall be visually inspected by a designated Forest Service

Officer, and certified in writing to be reasonably clean and weed free. Inspections will take place at a location designated by the Forest Officer in advance of equipment and material arrival.

Equipment and vehicles are expected to proceed directly to the job site following the inspection.

Materials to be used on the project will be delivered to the project.

Certification shall remain valid for each identified piece of equipment or vehicle only for the duration of the specified project and only as long as the vehicle or equipment remains at the job site. Equipment and vehicles (excepting passenger vehicles - this includes pickups and vans) that leave the job site will need to be recertified as weed free before they are allowed to return to the job site or re-enter the National Forest. Equipment not passing inspection will be refused entry to the project site. Refused equipment will require re-cleaning by the Contractor at an approved off-site location at no additional time or cost to the contract. The equipment will then be re-inspected prior to entry to the project site.

SEED CROP AND STRAW QUALITY STANDARDS

(a) Land requirements shall meet State Certification Standards for the appropriate state, which includes planting seed on clean land with the crops in distinct rows. Field history records shall be available for Government inspection. The land shall not have been recently planted to or have grown the same species being propagated under this contract to prevent contamination by volunteers of non-target seed sources.

(b) Fields of the individual seed lots shall be isolated by a minimum of 165 feet from contaminating sources which may potentially cross-pollinate with the species being grown under this contract. If a species is known to be predominately self-pollinating, then a mechanical separation is allowed (See table below for a list of self-pollinating species). The Contractor may choose to use a larger isolation distance in order to meet State Certification Standards, or a COR may specify the isolation distance on individual calls.

Minimum Isolation Distance: Species listed in the following table are predominantly self-pollinating. The distance between fields of any other germplasm (seed lot) of the same species must be adequate to prevent mechanical mixture (e.g., 25 feet), unless otherwise specified on the

Call order. For all other species, a minimum isolation distance of 165 feet is required, unless otherwise specified on the Call.

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Bro mus cani natu s

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Bro mus mar ginat us mount ain brome

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(c) The Contractor shall apply for seedling and seed crop inspections with the State Certification

Agency to check compliance with land requirements, isolation distances, presence of prohibited and restricted weeds, and other standards listed in the State's Certified Seed Regulations. State inspections will be responsibility of the Contractor. ·

(d) Produced seed shall meet State's Standards for Source Identified class of seed. Purity, germination, and All-State Noxious Weed examinations will be required. Tests and payment will be the responsibility of the Contractor. Samples will be tested by a state certified seed laboratory.

Seed test results should include the Government's source seed lot number as specified in the call order. Test results must be satisfactory to the Government before final acceptance of the seed is made. NotC(: A tetrazolium test (TZ) may be made in lieu of a germination test for a seed viability test with the approval of the COR. This decision may be based on the species involved

(see Exhibit 1) or time constraints.

(e) The minimum acceptable standards for seed include:

1. Seed must meet or exceed State Certification Standards for that species. Generally, where no standards exist, Kentucky Bluegrass standards shall be used for grass seed, except for

Achnatherum and Hesperostipa species for which the minimum germination standards will be 50.0%. Standards for forb and grass seed may also be set by the Government and listed on individual call orders. Seed standard guidelines for a variety of species are provided in

Exhibit 2.

2. Seed must be free from prohibited weed species and meet or exceed minimum standards for restriction weed seed as listed in the current State Certification Standards.

3. Seed moisture content shall not exceed 10.0%.

4. Grass seed will be de-awned.

5. Harvested and cleaned seed will be bagged and secured in 25 or 50 lb. bags made of a strong material that maintains seed viability during storage.

6. All bags shall be tagged and labeled to meet State seed law labeling requirements. Bags of seed shall also be labeled by stencil or permanent marking pens (characters at least 1 inch in size) with the

Government's source seed lot number as specified on the Call order. Additional labeling information may be requested by the COR on the Call order, such as the Project Name, National Forest unit, etc.

7. Bags of seed shall be stored in a cool and dry storage facility to assure optimal viability of seed until seed delivery to the Government.

(f) Seed lots shall be positively identified with seed lot numbers throughout sowing, all stages of grass growth, and on all packaging.

(g) The minimum acceptable standards for straw include:

1. Straw must meet or exceed State Certification Standards for weed free straw. Generally, where no standards exist, acceptance will be based on seed crop inspection reports, and/or visual field inspections by the COR prior to harvest. Standards may also be set by the

Government and listed on individual call orders.

2. Straw will be baled and secured according to specifications listed on the Call order.

Generally, bales will be less than 100 pounds.

3. Straw shall not be allowed to become wet after harvest or during storage prior to delivery.

SEED AND STRAW DELIVERY

(a) Delivery for Government acceptance shall occur within 120 days of harvest date or as otherwise agreed upon by the Government. Delivery dates may also be specified on the call.

(b) After the seed or straw has been determined to be acceptable, the Government will assume the financial responsibility for shipment, unless shipping charges are included in the call.

LANDSCAPE PRESERVATION

The Contractor shall give attention to the effect of contract operation upon the landscape, shall take care to maintain natural surroundings undamaged, and shall conduct the work at all times in compliance with the following requirements.

a. Prevention of the Landscape Defacement. The Contractor shall not remove, deface, injure, or destroy trees, shrubs, lawns, or other natural features or any other improvements in the work area unless specifically authorized by the Contracting Officer. Unless otherwise provided herein, the Contractor shall confine contract operations to within the areas designated in contract documents.

b. Protection of Streams, Lakes, and Reservoirs. The Contractor shall take sufficient precautions to prevent pollution of streams, lakes, small ponds, and reservoirs with fuels, oils, bitumen's, calcium chloride, silt, or other harmful materials. Mechanical equipment shall not be operated in live streams without written approval of the Contracting Officer.

REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROJECTS

(a) Applicability

In accordance with the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), several requirements are being implemented under our contracts that involve vegetation management. This contract involves work that falls within coverage of the FEIS, and therefore requires compliance with applicable provisions below. These requirements apply to all vegetation management projects within coverage of the FEIS, whether accomplished by manual, mechanical, prescribed fire, biological, or herbicide methods.

(b) Reports and Notice Requirements

(1) The contractor shall prepare and submit, after work is completed but prior to fmal payment under this contract, a report which includes:

(A) The vegetation management treatment method used;

(B) Names of each person who worked on the project, their assignment, training received, dates of actual work, and a list of the protective clothing and equipment used;

(C) Details of all exposure incidents, accidents, and/or worker health complaints, if any occurred;

(D) If the project involves use of herbicides, the exact identity of the product used, its formulation, manufacturer, inixture, and method of application; and,

(E) If the project involves use of herbicides, a certification that the health information required by the ROD as amended was provided to all employees in a language they could understand.

Reports and notices shall be provided to the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer's

Representative for each call order.

(c) Restrictions on Personnel Assignments for Herbicide Projects

(1) All employees who do not want exposure to the herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides will be given alternate work assignments not involving direct contact with these herbicides.

(2) Workers who are hypersensitive to the herbicides used in a project covered by these provisions shall not be used in positions in which they may come into direct contact with the herbicides. Workers who display symptoms of hypersensitivity to herbicides during application shall be removed from direct contact with the herbicides.

(d) Requirements to Inform Workers of Potential Health Hazards

(1) Prior to beginning any project utilizing the herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides each worker shall be provided with a copy of the "Methods Information Profile for

Herbicides". If the worker cannot read English, the information in these profiles will be explained in a language the worker can understand.

(2) Each worker shall sign a statement indicating that she or he has reviewed the material, and either agrees to work on the project as assigned, or requests another assignment. The statements will be provided to the COR prior to commencement of work.

(e) Equipment and Clothing Requirements

(1) For projects utilizing the herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides all equipment and clothing required by the ROD as amended in February 1992 shall be on-site prior to commencement of work.

(2) The COR will assure compliance with these requirements prior to authorizing commencement of work.

(t) Penalties for Non-compliance

Failure by the Contractor to comply with these requirements will be grounds for contract termination or other remedies provided under the Default clause and other provisions of this contract. State and Federal health and safety agencies may also have grounds for action in cases of noncompliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

(g) Government Not Liable for Accidents and Exposures

The Government will not accept any liability for accidents and exposures resulting from work under this contract, except in cases in which it is shown that there was a direct action of the

Government or its employees which caused the accident or exposure. Otherwise, the Contractor retains responsibility for accidents and exposures that occur during work under this BPA/Calls.

Clearance and survey support for wildlife and plants, particularly T&E species including include field survey to meet policy requirements, reporting to the Unit specialist, data analysis for extent of populations.