A02_12_-_Performance_Work_Statement_(PWS)_-_Draft_1.pdf

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

Native Plant Propagation, Delivery, and Installation

Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract

1.0 Objective

The objective of this contract is to acquire contractor services to propagate, deliver, and install native plant materials as part of riverscape restoration, post-fire rehabilitation, and ecosystem recovery on conservation and mitigation project areas administered by the Utah Reclamation

Mitigation and Conservation Commission (Commission) for the Bonneville Unit of the Central

Utah Project (CUP). The largest unit of the CUP, the Bonneville Unit collects and distributes water in both the Uinta Basin of eastern Utah, and the Bonneville Basin of central Utah.

1.1 Background

Titles III and IV of Pub. L. 102-575 as amended (Central Utah Project Completion Act; or

CUPCA) establish and authorize the Commission to complete the fish, wildlife and recreation mitigation and conservation program for the Bonneville Unit of the CUP. The Commission has made substantial progress with land and water right acquisitions constituting a significant portion of the mitigation program. The acquired mitigation lands or easements require management, development, and operation and maintenance to provide effective long-term mitigation and conservation. Native habitat restoration is a key treatment to achieve desired vegetation ecosystems which support fish and wildlife biological diversity and productivity, particularly in conjunction with the riverscape. Restoration areas are located within riparian corridors and adjacent uplands where disturbances such as wildfire have degraded vegetation, soils, and hydrologic function.

2.0 Scope

The contractor shall provide all personnel, supervision, plant materials, equipment, supplies, tools, logistics, incidentals, and non-personal services necessary to:

1. Collect and Propagate locally adapted plants (container and cutting stock) to the size specified herein;

2. Transport and Deliver plants to designated project sites;

3. Install plants within described area(s) according to vegetation community prescriptions, water availability, and restoration plans.

Activities will comply with applicable federal, state, tribal, and local rules and site-specific permits supplied with each order. Typically, the Contractor will work under the direction of the

Commission through an onsite contractor managing the restoration construction and revegetation implementation.

2.1 Contract Type, Maximum/Minimum, and

Period of Performance

Resultant award will be a five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Type

Contract. This contract is for a base year plus four option years with a total maximum dollar amount of $2,500,000. The minimum dollar amount is 10% i.e. $25,000. Performance is anticipated to begin in September 2026 and continue through August 2031. Task Orders will be issued detailing the quantities of each species in corresponding container sizes needed to implement each site’s restoration plan. The Task Order will also include dates for installation (i.e.

planting), typically during the spring or fall planting season.

3.0 Geographic Area

Field planting work will occur within the following CUP watersheds in Utah: Diamond

Fork, Duchesne/Strawberry, Great Salt Lake, Jordan River, and Provo River/Utah Lake.

Project site access includes major paved highways or roadways but may also include graveled, minimally maintained rural county roads, and/or dirt two tracks better traveled by

ATV/UTV. It is anticipated that the vast majority of the planting sites will be associated with post fire remediation actions included in the Middle Strawberry River Restoration

Project (MSRRP) located near Fruitland, Utah. The MSRRP is located on the Strawberry

River between the Soldier Creek Dam and the Strawberry Pinnacles. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to provide appropriate vehicles for drivers and crews during transportation, delivery, and installation activities. The Commission will coordinate with the contractor to identify suitable routes, drop-off, staging and temporary storage areas.

3.1 Field Site Information

The Commission will identify riverscape reaches and micro-sites within each project area as identified in restoration plans or other guidance documents. Planting locations include areas within the wildland-urban interface with nearby facilities and accommodations; however, some sites can be remote and rugged, lack electricity, restroom facilities, potable water and may have limited to no cellular service. The Commission will provide restroom facilities. It is the contractor’s responsibility to provide or see that the drivers and planting crews have all remaining accommodations to include, but not limited to, lodging, proper protective equipment, food, and water. Project planting areas may include uneven terrain, slippery surfaces, saturated soils, etc. of field work commonly encountered in floodplains, streambanks, wetlands, terraces, and adjacent uplands. As with any outdoor areas/activities, caution must be taken to avoid risks and injury. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to do due diligence regarding remote environments and address risks in their safety plan (see section 5).

3.2 Reference Documents

A list of the Commission’s program elements (mitigation and conservation project sites) can be found on the following website and document links below.

Welcome to Utah Reclamation Mitigation Conservation Commission Home Page

Mitigation & Conservation FY 2021-2025 Plan and FY 2020 Annual Report

Maps and locations of the program elements and requested service areas are located on page 2-2 of the above listed plan.

4.0 Services to be Performed

4.1 Propagation

For the purpose of the contract, the term “propagation” includes collection. Preference will be given to local nurseries with established native stock species listed in table 1. Supplemental collection of parent species from Commission project areas can be arranged, as needed.

Propagation includes replicating new plants from parent plants via seeds, cutting, or other plant parts using accepted and successful nursery practices to produce healthy, weed-free, disease-free stock that are viable, hardened, well-developed, and non-root-bound. The Contractor determines propagation techniques to meet the quantities required by the Commission.

4.1.1 Plant Materials Requirements

The Contractor shall provide propagated plant materials that are:

• Native to the region, specifically the Bonneville and Uinta Basins.

• Locally sourced and prioritizing ecotypic populations– adapted to site-specific sub-basin elevation, soils, and hydrology of the Booneville and Uinta Basins. i.e. the Strawberry

River watershed spans an elevation range from approximately 5,500 feet at its confluence with the Duchesne River to nearly 10,000 feet in the Wasatch Mountains where it originates. The elevation of the Strawberry Reservoir is 7,602 feet and the USGS gauge at the Pinnacles is 6,051 feet, this is the maximum and minimum elevations within the

MSRRP riverscape area.

o Stock source and compatibility documentation is required (collection location, elevation, date etc.).

Table 1- Plant Material Species List

Wetland

1 Baltic rush Juncus balticus Graminoid

2 beaked sedge Carex rostrata Graminoid

3 Canada bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Graminoid

4 Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis Forb

5 clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis Graminoid

6 common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Graminoid https://www.mitigationcommission.gov/index.html https://www.mitigationcommission.gov/aboutus/pdf/report_and_plan_web.pdf

7 common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens Graminoid

8 hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus Graminoid

9 swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata Forb

10 water sedge Carex aquatilis Graminoid

Riparian

11 black hawthorne Craetagus douglassi Shrub/Tree

12 blue elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea Shrub

13 coyote willow Salix exigua Shrub

14 Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii Tree

15 peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides Tree

16 narrowleaf cottonwood Populus angustifolia Tree

17 red osier dogwood Cornus sericea Shrub

18 river birch/water birch Betula occidentalis Tree

19 shining willow Salix lucida Shrub

20 yellow willow Salix lutea Shrub

Upland

21 antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata Shrub

22 big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata Shrub

23 chokecherry Prunus virginiana Shrub

24 golden current Ribes aureum Shrub

25 showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa Forb

26 silver buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea Shrub

27 skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata Shrub

28 Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis Shrub

29 winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata Shrub

30 Woods' rose Rosa woodsii Shrub

The plant material species list is provided in Table 1; however, some species may be substituted with comparable native species based on the site-specific desired vegetation cover, soils, hydrology, history of success or failure, plant material inspection condition, and/or external stressors. A limited number of species substitutions may be requested at the mutual agreement of the Contractor and the Commission through written concurrence.

4.1.2 Pot Sizes and Types

Pots shall be appropriately sized for the target plant growth size class. The pot size must be appropriate to allow for maximum root development for each species. The pots must accommodate non-root-bound systems, minimize root circling. Pots must be suitable for plant viability and maximum installation depth. The Contractor determines the planting medium based on previous propagation experience of native species found in the Bonneville and Uinta Basins.

Plants shall have quality root balls; defined as, dense root ball when removed from the container consisting of a minimum ration of 50% root mass to 50% growing medium.

The Contractor shall provide plant materials in the following pots in the following dementions and volume classes:

1. Standard 1-gallon containers - typical for shrubs and small trees

2. 30-inch deep treepots- typical for species requiring deep rooted development like cottonwoods or willows

3. D60 (D60L/D60H Deepot) - ~10 inch deep, 40 cubic inch containers for deep root development

4. D40 Deepot - ~ 10 inch deep, 60 cubic inch containers for deep rooted development

5. 27 cubic inch or SP3 containers - plugs, typical for wetland species. 20 plug per flat.

6. 10 cubic inch containers - plugs, typical for wetland species. 98 plugs per flat.

7. Live cuttings - sized to length and planted deep enough to penetrate the saturated soil zone/capillary fringe; length typically 2-5 feet for whips and up to 8-12 feet for poles. i.e.

only for willow, cottonwood, and dogwood species.

Other compatible pot sizes may be requested or substituted at the mutual agreement of the

Contractor and the Commission through written concurrence.

4.1.3 Lead Times

Estimated lead times range from 30 days for cutting/poles up to 12 months for species growth larger container sizes. It is estimated task orders will be issued for at least a year to allow appropriate propagation timeframes based on species and container sizes. The Contractor shall provide a schedule confirming their stock and anticipated targets.

4.1.4 Inspection

Plant materials are subject to approval or rejection 1.) at the place of growth (i.e. the greenhouse)

1-2 months prior to schedule delivery dates and 2.) upon delivery to the project site just prior to installation. Approval or rejection will be based upon:

• Quantity, quality, and size of plants meeting the required order.

• Defects and injuries – plants shall be free of disease, no apparent yellowing, leaf drop, wilting, colored spots, leaf curling, or insect infestation.

• Plants shall have quality root balls, defined as dense root ball when removed from the pot consisting of a minimum ration of 50% root mass to 50% growing medium.

If the Contractor is unable to supply the quantity or species of plant listed in the task order the

Contractor will replace that species with another species specified in the task order at no additional cost following approval from the Commission.

4.1.5 Site evaluations

Site evaluations could identify site-specific concerns before delivery and installation. A site evaluation or pre-install visit may occur between the Contractor and the Commission. This meeting/site visit can occur at the same time as the first plant material inspection or other mutually agreed upon date.

The Commission and the Contractor will evaluate project area conditions to ensure that:

• The site meets the requirements for planting methods.

• Review directions and access to the site for drivers including turn arounds, delivery drop-off locations, and storage/staging areas.

• Determine if staging areas are adequate for vehicles, equipment, and crews.

• Identify and areas that need to be avoided for safety or resource concerns.

• Early identification of hazards or implementation challenges.

4.2 Task 2 – Transportation and Delivery

The Contractor shall transport and deliver the plant materials to the project areas and planting locations. Locations are limited to those listed in Section 3.2. The contractor is responsible for providing appropriate vehicles, equipment, and large containers for delivery, offloading, and temporary storage. Specific delivery dates and exact locations of project areas will be identified in the task order. Each task order may require multiple trips depending on quantities, transportation vehicle, etc.

An anti-desiccant agent shall be applied before shipping to ensure quality plants are maintained.

Plants shall be shipped in closed containers to prevent injuries due to environmental conditions.

The Commission and the Contractor will develop a shipping and installation schedule based on acreage and planting methods to ensure plants do not remain in shipping containers longer than necessary.

Plant materials approved during growth inspection are still subject to rejection at the time of planting if found to be noncompliant with stated standards in section 4.1.4. The Contractor may supply a replacement. If a replacement is not supplied the Contractor may not bill the remaining

70%. Any plant rejected must be removed from the site by the Contractor.

The Contractor will have an onsite representative shall be in the work area whenever delivery occurs. The on-site representative will review shipments against the shipping slips and assist the

Commission in conformance with accepting or rejecting the delivery. The representative will assist with order conformance and communicate any issues with the Commission.

4.3 Task 3 – Installation

Task 3 includes all activities required from the time the plant materials arrive on the project site until they are installed/planted in the ground. The Contractor shall supply all necessary equipment and labor to load and unload plant deliveries and accomplish installation by hand, utilizing mechanized methods, or a combination of both. The Contractor will have crews available during the designated planting timeframes outlined in the task order. Ground preparation is the responsibility of the Commission.

Installation using hand planting or mechanical methods will be discussed prior to planting in

Coordination with the Commission and the onsite Contractor managing restoration construction.

Typical planting locations include two categories: 1. Existing habitat enhancement 2. Replanting the ground disturbance footprint remaining following habitat restoration construction.

Ground conditions may include:

• Mulched grounds: The planting area may have been minimally or fully cleared of vegetation, root plowed, ripped, and/or surface smoothed, seeded, and mulched.

• Minimally prepared grounds: The ground will be minimally cleared of vegetation and may be root plowed. The Contractor may encounter debris in the soils. The Contractors can expect ground conditions that may include varying slopes and terrain, stream/riverbanks, compacted and or inundated soils. Ground may be planted by hand or if slope allows mechanized equipment.

• Water inundated grounds: Marsh and wetland planting may be required in areas inundated by water that may or may not have newly created instream habitat features.

Plants, tools, and equipment will need to be secured to avoid damage or loss from flowing water and potentially increased sediment loads.

The Contractor is responsible for digging holes appropriately sized for the root ball (about twice as wide). The Contractor must install plants so that the plant is oriented correctly, the roots are backfilled by the soil and covered entirely, the crown is level with the surrounding soil surface, and the shoot system is clear of growth medium and native soil. Whips and poles shall be planted at an appropriate depth to reach the capillary fringe. The soil should not be overly compacted, yet stable enough to support the plant without leaning.

The Contractor will have an onsite representative who shall be in the work area whenever work is in progress. The representative will assist with installation conformance and communicate any issues with the Commission.

4.3.1 Densities and Layout

Specific densities for each vegetation community will be identified in the task order for each project area according to the restoration plan. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, installation density can be increased or decreased depending on a multitude of factors including, vegetation class, pot size, soil conditions, adjacent vegetation cover class and condition, hydrology, desired vegetation goals, invasive species threats, etc.

Example density ranges:

• Wetland/Emergent/Grasses: 1–4 feet on center.

• Riparian/Scrub–Shrub: 3–6 feet on center.

• Trees/Poles: 10–20 feet on center (container stock); bands/strings of poles/whips at 10–15 ft `spacing.

4.3.2 Demobilization

The Contractor is responsible for daily cleanup of containers from which plant material has been removed. Upon completion of installation, the site shall be cleaned by the Contractor including the removal and proper disposal of any debris, excess materials, containers, and other garbage.

All equipment and vehicles shall be transported off the site within 3 days.

4.3.3 Reporting

The contractor shall document installation progress through written and verbal reports on a weekly basis. On site or virtual meetings may occur weekly or biweekly during the planting season. The Contractor is responsible for having a representative attend these meeting and provide updates to the project team. Written documentation can be brief and to the point but must include photos, maps, and GIS files. Reporting may also include suggestions or guidelines for plant protection strategies. The Contractor shall notify the Commission and the onsite construction management contractor immediately should there be any deviations from the restoration plan. Supporting documentation shall be included in the report.

5.0 Commission Responsibilities

1. The commission will provide detailed maps of specific project areas and restoration plans including the revegetation plan.

2. The Commission will provide restroom facilities.

3. The Commission will be responsible for ground preparation in areas reasonably accessible by equipment.

4. Irrigation, if available, will be the responsibility of the Commission.

6.0 Contractor Requirements

6.1 Quality Control Plan

The Contractor shall submit a Quality Control Plan to the Contracting Officer and the

Contracting Officer’s Representative for review and acceptance within 15 calendar days of a contract award. The plan shall be submitted in accordance with the requirements of the PWS ‘s and address the following:

• How/where stock plant materials have been or will be obtained, including collection sites and methods to obtain cuttings (section 4.1.1).

• A description of the Contractor’s greenhouse facilities, conditions and methods used for propagation in accordance with section 4. Include a description of the inspection system which the Contractor shall use to identify unhealthy plants and corrective or preventative actions taken.

• A description of planting methods, plant care, and supervision of the crews and installation.

6.2 Safety plan

The Contractor shall submit a Safety Plan to the Contracting Officer and the Contracting

Officer’s Representative for acceptance within 30 calendar days of contract award. The plan shall be submitted in accordance with the PWS ‘s submittal requirements referenced in section 3.1.

The Safety Plan, at a minimum, shall include requirements for use of protective clothing such as:

protective eye wear, leather leg chaps, as well as a summary of safety and emergency procedures to be used in the event of insect, rodent, or reptile bites (i.e. rattlesnake bites). A good source of

Reference is U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Safety and Health Standards at the following link:

https://www.usbr.gov/safety/rshs/index.html

7.0 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

Task Performance

Objective

Standard Minimum

Acceptable

Quality

Level

Surveillance

Method

Frequency Acceptance

Criteria

Action

4.1 Plant

Material

Quality

Correct species, size, health

≥95% compliant

Visual

Inspection, random sampling

At growth site inspection

Work meets schedule.

Correct species, quantity, and pot type, healthy, not root-bound, No disease or significant stress

Accept/R eject

4.2 Plant

Delivery

Condition

Correct species, size, health, no damage during transport or desiccation

≥95% compliant

Visual

Inspection, random sampling

At each delivery inspection

Work meets schedule.

Correct species, quantity, and pot type, healthy, not root-bound, No disease or significant stress

Accept/R eject

4.3 Installation

Quality

Proper depth, spacing, and stability

≥90% compliant

Visual inspection, random, or plot sampling

During install/planting

Work meets schedule.

Correct orientation, proper planting depth, adequate soil cover and compaction, correct spacing, proper stability of plant

Pass/fail

4.3.3 Reporting Accurate

assessment of progress and design

≥95% compliant

Reading review

Weekly during install

Clear, concise and professional writing, free of grammatical

Pass/fail errors or extraneous material. No more than one revision.

5.2 Quality

Control Plan

Written quality control plan.

≥95% compliant

Reading review

15 calendar days following contract award

Clear, concise and professional writing, free of grammatical errors or extraneous material. No more than one revision.

Pass/fail

5.3 Safety Plan Written

safety plan.

≥95% compliant

Reading review

30 calendar days following contract award

Clear, concise and professional writing, free of grammatical errors or extraneous material. No more than one revision.

Pass/fail

8.0 Deliverables Data and Reports

Item # Description Content Format Medium Delivery

1 Plant material source documentation

4.1.1 Microsoft Word 2021 (or

higher) document. Figures in

PDF;

GIS in ESRI-Arc compatible. Excel.

Electronic During submission review

2 Ordering schedule

4.1.3 Microsoft Word 2021 (or

higher) document. Figures in

PDF;

GIS in ESRI-Arc compatible. Excel.

Electronic Within 30 days of contract award

3 Itemized plant material list

4.1.4 Microsoft Word 2021 (or

higher) document. Figures in

PDF;

GIS in ESRI-Arc compatible. Excel.

Electronic 1 week prior to growth location inspection

4 Itemized plant material list for delivery

4.2 Microsoft Word 2021 (or

higher) document. Figures in

PDF;

GIS in ESRI-Arc compatible. Excel.

Electronic and hard copy

At delivery

6 Reporting 4.3.3 Microsoft Word 2021 (or higher) document. Figures in

PDF;

GIS in ESRI-Arc compatible. Excel.

Electronic Weekly during installation

7 Quality

Control Plan

5.1 Microsoft Word 2021 (or

higher) document. Figures in

PDF;

GIS in ESRI-Arc compatible. Excel.

Electronic 15 calendar days following award

8 Safety Plan 5.2 Microsoft Word 2021 (or higher) document. Figures in

PDF;

GIS in ESRI-Arc compatible. Excel.

Electronic 30 calendar days following award

9.0 Payment Schedule

Task 1 Collection and Propagation will be paid in two installments:

• 30% after collection of plant materials for propagation, and

• 70% upon delivery of plant materials to the site

Task 2 Transportation and Delivery will be paid upon delivery to the site.

Task 3 Installation will be paid upon completion of installation.