A04_Airstrip_Mesquite_Thin_SOW_Final.pdf

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Grassland Restoration Project

Mechanical Mesquite Reduction Airstrip Treatment Unit

Statement of Work

Background and General Scope

A. General Scope The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking to perform a mechanical mesquite reduction treatment on approximately 719 acres in the Airstrip treatment unit, within the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (LCNCA). The retreatment unit is on lands under the jurisdiction of the BLM in Pima County Az, and is generally located in T19S R17E S3,4,8,9,10,17 (see Appendix B). This treatment will be implemented using a service contract.

B. Background The BLM is implementing a grassland restoration project on the LCNCA, one aspect of the restoration project is mesquite reduction. The current method of mesquite reduction is mechanically grubbing the mesquite out of the ground with equipment.

This includes removal of the root ball from the ground and ensuring that all roots are broken or severed from the root ball. The Airstrip treatment unit was initially mechanically thinned in 2011. The retreatment will target the new growth mesquite within the unit while leaving the older growth mesquite.

Work to be Performed

The contractor may utilize rubber-tired or tracked equipment to grub and remove all visible regrowth of mesquite trees and stumps found within the treatment unit. The contractor will windrow grubbed mesquite across the treatment unit.

A. Grubbing

• Rubber-tired or tracked equipment will be utilized to grub all visible mesquite trees found within the treatment unit, leaving small clusters of 12 foot or taller mesquite trees (4-5 per acre).

• Remove root ball from the ground ensuring that all roots are broken or severed from the root ball.

• Back fill any holes generated from the grubbing process to ensure that no holes are deeper than 6 inches.

• Loosely place slash in a windrow.

• The unit is a total of 719 acres with an estimated tree density break out of:

o 719 acres: 100-200 trees per acre, generally 6 ft tall and under.

Equipment Requirements The BLM requires the following equipment specifications as a minimum standard for equipment capabilities; these requirements will allow for sufficient equipment capabilities to handle size class of trees:

• Four-wheel drive.

• Enclosed cab.

• 96 hp.

• Digging force-bucket 14,800 lbs.

• Digging force-crowd 8700 lbs.

• 12” bucket or narrowest bucket available for equipment.

• Toothed, heavy duty bucket

Site Visit A site can be scheduled upon request, during the solicitation period. The treatment unit is easily accessible to the public and can be visited by vendors at any time.

Safety Concerns The contractor will be responsible for completing the contract in a safe and effective manner that is consistent with any applicable safety regulations, polices, or guidelines.

The project area falls within the international border watchout zone see appendix C. for border watch out guidelines.

Cultural Concerns If any cultural artifacts are uncovered during the grubbing process the contractor will immediately stop digging and contact the BLM Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The COR will coordinate with the BLM archaeologist if artifacts are uncovered.

Any known areas of cultural concern will be identified (flagged or marked) prior to the start of the contract. These areas will be excluded from any ground disturbance. A georeferenced map will be provided by the BLM upon award.

Deliveries and Performance The Contractor shall perform in accordance with the specifications of this contract.

Schedule and Calendar Work can be completed anytime between the months of Oct 1 and June 30th every year.

The Airstrip Mesquite Thin treatment unit occurs in an area of high visitor use via the issuing of Special Recreational Permits (SRPs). These SRPs are applied and paid for months or years in advance. The use includes various shoot to retrieve bird dog trials (both horseback and hiking based), horse riding events, and other activities were a high number of visitors use the area, including off road, over the course of a long weekend or occasionally over a week or two. For the months of February through May 2026 these are the events scheduled in and around the treatment unit and the BLM will ask that work not be conducted in the treatment unit during these events. Please account for these days that the treatment unit will be unavailable to have work completed in your schedule/timeline.

• February: No SRP activities

• 3/5-3/8- Southern AZ Quail Forever

• 3/18-3/29: American Endurance Ride Conference

• April: No SRP activities

• May: No SRP activities

After award, the COR will coordinate with the vendor to ensure that they receive a copy of the most current events planned.

Implementation The Contractor shall deliver the following during implementation of the contract:

• Grubbing of 100% of visible mesquite trees, leaving small clusters of 12 foot or taller mesquite trees (4-5 per acre).

Government Furnished Property The contractor is responsible for supplying all equipment, labor, supplies, materials, etc needed to complete the contract. The BLM will not furnish any equipment, supplies, materials, or labor. The BLM will provide georeferenced maps of the treatment units.

Coordination The Contractor shall coordinate closely with the assigned BLM Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and assigned Project Inspectors (PI) throughout the duration of the project, per the developed timeline and schedule. A pre-work conference will be required prior to contract implementation.

The contractor will coordinate with the BLM COR/PI daily or on an as needed basis.

Progress will be tracked using GPS units to count the number of acres completed. The contractor and the BLM COR/PI will establish a schedule of progress tracking during the pre-work conference. A completed acre is defined as an acre where all regrowth mesquite has been grubbed and windrowed according to contract specifications.

COR/PI Contact info Daniel Quintana

COR

928 651 4470 cell dquintan@blm.gov

Appendix A. Photos of mesquite in treatment unit.

Photo 1. Example of mesquite density and size 100+ stems/ac.

Photo 2. Example of mesquit density and size 100+ stems/ac.

Photo 3. Example of mesquite density and size 100+ stems/ac.

Photo 4. Example of mesquite density and size 100+ stems/ac.

Appendix B. Project Maps

Map 1. Airstrip Treatment Unit Land Status

Map 2. Airstrip treatment unit

Map 3. Airstrip treatment unit vicinity

Appendix C.

BORDER WATCHOUTS

1. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

2. Expect other drivers to be distracted. Reckless and unsafe driving is common by those engaged in illegal activity.

3. Radio and cell phone dead areas increase risks. Radio frequency interference from Mexico is likely. Cell phone connections to Mexico are likely. When in Watchout Areas, check out and use the satellite cell phones

4. Language and cultural barriers increase risk in encounters.

5. Threats to employees are present all day, every day, everywhere in Watchout

Areas.

6. You are not clearly identified as a BLM employee. While this is intentional for safety purposes, you need to keep that in mind when encountering visitors.

7. Every visitor/individual you contact has potential risk.

8. There may be a higher occurrence of unexpected visitor/individual encounters.

9. Traditional responses may not be appropriate; go with your gut feelings.

10. Use caution if responding to situations inconsistent with assigned authority and training.

11. Unattended vehicles are subject to being damaged or stolen – lock up every time. Travel with your doors locked.

12. Illegal uses in the Watchout area are likely.

13. There is a heightened risk of biological contamination associated with improper waste disposal.

14. Always know your location and be able to describe it.

15. Let others know your expected route and destination(s) (check-in and check-out).

16. Expect to encounter Interagency Law Enforcement and interdiction actions and activity.

17. Expect high speed driving and law enforcement pursuits.

18. All aircraft operations have increased collision risk.

19. Threats to employees are present at all times.

20. Night operations require special considerations.

Remember … Your Safety is Your Responsibility. Take Charge of It!