A04_40550760_GRTE_Elk_Ranch_Fencing_Repair_SOW_0001.docx

Statement of Work National Park Service Grand Teton National Park Repair Fencing at Elk Ranch July 31, 2021

I. INTRODUCTION

Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) administers grazing allotments for pastureland at Elk Ranch, located 8 miles north of Moose, Wyoming. Pasture allotments include approximately 600 acres of irrigated grassland that is enclosed by fence and subdivided into individual pastures. The fencing consists of a post and rail fence with two strands of smooth wire, and a removable electric fence on both sides of the top rail. Fences are constructed to be wildlife friendly, with a max height of 42”. Gates are placed intermittently throughout long runs of continuous fence to help promote passage of bison and pronghorn. Bison frequent the area in summer months, resulting in severe damage to the fencing that includes removal of rails or breaking of rails, and frequent rubbing on posts has caused older posts to break off at ground level.

Grazing of the pasture has not occurred in two operating seasons due to a severe drop in beef prices. As a result, bison have used the area extensively over the past two summers and have severely damaged numerous runs of fence on the perimeter of the allotment. The most crucial stretch of fencing is adjacent US 89 on the east side of the highway. Grand Teton National Park has contracted and done some in-house replacement of posts along this stretch, however, numerous additional posts need to be replaced and rails need to be installed as well as smooth wire needs to be installed.

During a typical operating season for grazing at Elk Ranch, permittee crews along with NPS crews work to maintain the fencing as well as haze bison out of the area to prevent damage to fencing to contain livestock and prevent them from encroaching on the highway. NPS crews have also performed irrigation of the area, however, without numerous challenges in helping the permittee achieve optimal operation.

II. OBJECTIVE

GRTE is seeking to contract work to repair and replace numerous posts, rails, and smooth wire around the pasture at Elk Ranch. Work would include replacement in kind of posts and rails that are determined to be no longer functional, and to string smooth wire in the spring of 2022 (before the end of May 2022). Work would also include providing all materials and supplies to replace posts, rails, wire, as well as construct new ‘H’ braces for supporting prefabricated gates that would remain open during non-use periods to promote the passage of wildlife.

III. SCOPE

Work shall include the following:

1. Provide and install 700 new posts. Posts shall be green pressure treated, pointed posts 6”-8” diameter, 7’ in length. Posts may be pounded into the ground in lieu of augered as ground conditions are conducive to pounding. Posts shall be spaced 8’ apart and shall be located along existing fence lines. Posts shall be placed in locations where existing posts are no longer functional or are damaged beyond the point of re-use. Existing post spacing is 16’ and it is desired to space posts at 8’ intervals to maximize support of rails where rails can be placed on top of posts and shall be supported by 3 posts per rail. Location for spacing posts every 8’ shall include the pasture area adjacent US 89 and on the south boundary of Elk Ranch. In areas where existing posts are sound and functional, new posts shall not be installed, as deemed such by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Posts may be spaced at 16’ intervals in areas deemed such by the COR, as this work item shall include providing and installing 700 new posts at locations to be determined by the COR, but generally consist of areas along US 89, the south end of the pasture, north end of the pasture, and the east end of the pasture. The COR shall attempt to limit post installations only to locations where numerous posts shall be installed in a row, rather than a few in one location, a few in another location and so on. Posts shall be pounded into the ground using only approved means such as hydraulic pounders mounted on rubber tire equipment such as tractors, truck mounts, back hoes, or skid steer equipment. Access along the fence lines shall be available to vehicles and trailers and equipment to be used working on fencing, however shall only be from locations approved by the COR as to minimize the visiting public from following tracks into the pasture. Posts installation may occur from time of award until winter snowfall, up until the end of May 2022 when occupancy of the pasture is anticipated.

2. Provide and install 700 new log rails. Rails shall be 17’ long, 4”-6” diameter logs that are not peeled or treated. Rails shall be installed on posts in locations where existing rails are broken, missing, or determined by the COR to be no longer functional. In general, rails shall be installed along US 89, the south end of the Elk Ranch boundary, and the east end of the Elk Ranch boundary. Rail installation locations may also include areas where there are small sections of rails missing or broken in an attempt to patch holes in the perimeter fence that may include numerous 1-rail replacement sections spread throughout long runs of fence on the main perimeter of the pasture. As such, access to the fence for installation of rails shall be available to trucks, trailers, and equipment in several locations as approved by the COR in an attempt to make small sections of rail replacement more accessible to equipment and vehicles for supplies. Rails shall be installed to existing and new posts using 10” long heavy duty Timberlok wood screws or approved equal. Fasteners must have a integral washer attachment and be consistent for use in this application. Note that approximately 200 new rails shall be installed in locations on new posts where post spacing is 8’, where rails shall be fastened to 3 posts instead of 2. Rail installation may occur from time of award until winter snowfall, up until the end of May 2022 when occupancy of the pasture is anticipated.

3. Provide and install 5 new Powder River Boss gates, 10’w x 48” high, 14 guage, 2” rails powder coated brown, or approved equal. All gates shall be installed on the length of fence adjacent US 89 and along the south Elk Ranch Fence boundary. All gates shall be installed per manufacturer’s recommendations and shall be installed to posts and H-braces. All bracing and posts required for gate installation shall be included in the fence gate installation costs. In general, H-braces shall be as per required for gate manufacturer requirements for safely supporting the weight of the gate and movement of the gate and swing. All gate installation locations shall be as marked by the COR in the field. Approval of all bracing and gate supports shall be as approved by the COR prior to construction and installation. All materials required for installation of braces for gate installations shall be included in the cost for installation of gates. Gate installation may occur from time of award until winter snowfall, up until the end of May 2022 when occupancy of the pasture is anticipated.

4. Provide and install 10,000 lineal feet of barbless wire. Wire shall be 12.5 Gauge 2 strand twisted galvanized barbless wire. Wire shall be installed along fence posts below rails, equally spaced with two strands running parallel to one another. Wire shall be stapled using 10 gauge galvanized fencing staples, affixed to each post, and strung from post to post. Wire shall be pulled tight upon final installation. NOTE – final installation of fence wire shall be done before the end of May 2022 and not before March of 2022, to allow for migration of pronghorn and bison and elk over the fall and spring prior to June 1, 2022. All wire shall be pulled in no more than 500’ lengths, where it shall be tied to H-braces used for gate installations or otherwise installed for the purpose of wire pulling. Wire shall be pulled tight to a tension of no less than ½” sag between fence posts. If this tension can’t be achieved, lengths of runs shall be shortened and braced to where this minimal allowable tension shall be achieved. All H-bracing needed for wire pulling shall be included in the cost of placing wire. H-brace design shall be approved by the COR prior to installation, and shall, in general, include installation using two posts (as in section 1 above) spaced 6’ apart with a top rail all timberlok screwed together, and connected using diagonal wire twists from each top corner to bottom corner to sufficient tension needed to support the tensile force exerted by each wire strand.

5. Location of work shall be Elk Ranch, located within Grand Teton National Park approximately 4 miles south of Moran, WY. Note that materials may be delivered and shipped or stored at the Elk Ranch Barns. See attached image below for location of fence, pasture, and the Elk Ranch Barns.

6. NOTE: All old, unsalvageable materials such as posts, rails, wire, debris, etc., shall be removed from NPS lands and disposed of in a lawful manner. Contractor shall include this cost in the pricing.

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