A04_Attachment_2_Sycamore_Agua_Fria_CutStump_SOW_22_RV_1_11_2022.pdf

Sycamore/Agua Fria

2022 Cut Stump

Statement of Work

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Purpose: The purpose of this order is to secure the services for a combination treatment of Manual

(chainsaw) and chemical treatment of 200 acres of Tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis) within the Agua Fria

National Monument riparian corridor south of EZ Ranch to just north of Kelton Ranch and South of

Kelton Ranch ending just north of Horseshoe Ranch (see attached maps).

Vegetation: The primary plant community found within the planning area is mature, native riparian woodland with cottonwoods, willows, sycamores, and mesquite with isolated pockets of Tamarisk.

Tamarisks are characterized by slender branches and grey-green foliage. The bark of young branches is smooth and reddish brown. As the plants age, the bark becomes bluish-purple, ridged, and furrowed.

The leaves are scale-like, almost like that of junipers, 1–2 mm long, and overlap each other along the stem.

They are often encrusted with salt secretions. The pink to white flowers appear in dense masses on 5–10 cm long spikes at branch tips from March to September, though some species (e.g., T. aphylla) tend to flower during the winter. Tamarix can spread both vegetatively, by adventitious roots or submerged stems, and sexually, by seeds. Each flower can produce thousands of tiny (1 mm diameter) seeds that are contained in a small capsule usually adorned with a tuft of hair that aids in wind dispersal. Seeds can also be dispersed by water. Seedlings require extended periods of soil saturation for establishment. Tamarix species are fire-adapted, and have long tap roots that allow them to intercept deep water tables and exploit natural water resources. They are able to limit competition from other plants by taking up salt from deep ground water, accumulating it in their foliage, and from there depositing it in the surface soil where it builds up concentrations temporarily detrimental to some plants.

Location: Work under contract is in Yavapai County, East of Cordes Junction, State of Arizona, as shown on location maps. Project location extends from Sycamore Creek and Agua Fria confluence, following the Agua Fria riparian corridor south to Horseshoe Ranch.

Access to the Work:

Project site is accessible from EZ ranch road on the north end, Kelton Ranch Road for middle project area and Bloody Basin Road for south end, in dry conditions with two-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle. In wet conditions four-wheel drive high clearance vehicle may be needed. Public or private access roads damaged by the contractor shall be restored, at the contractors’ expense, to the same condition they were in at the commencement of work. Motorized vehicles are prohibited within the project boundaries.

Site Tour: Prospective contractors are encouraged to conduct a site tour prior to submitting a bid.

SPECIFIC WORK REQUIREMENTS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflorescence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetative_reproduction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventitiousness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_table https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrology

Description of Work: The work shall be a combination of mechanical and chemical treatment of 200 acres in the Agua Fria riparian corridor. Treatment will utilize the cut-stump method accomplished by using chainsaws, brush cutters and/or pruning shears to cut tamarisk plants while backpack sprayers, handheld spray bottles, and/or application wands would be used to apply herbicide to the entire circumference of the cut surface. Combination treatments will require the application of one of two herbicides approved for aquatic use in Arizona for cut-stump application: glyphosate or ispropylamine salt of imazapyr ranging from a 50% solution to full strength (isopropylamine salt of imazapyr) and 6.25

– 9.375% dilute solution and/ or 20 concentrated solution (glyphosate) and/or recommended label approved applications rates. Only label-approved, spray adjuvant will be used. Colored dye may be added to herbicide mixtures to temporarily identify treated plants. Optimum time for cut-stump application is during the periods of active growth and full leaf expansion when air temperatures are less than 85℉. Contractor will furnish all chainsaws, pruning shears, brush cutters, backpack sprayers, and herbicide needed to complete the work. The treatment shall consist of a combination (cutting/chemical) treatment of 200 acres of tamarisk. Specifics area as follows:

• The BLM will mark the treatment area boundary with either pink-ribbon flagging or marked on geo-referenced PDF map;

• No treatment will occur outside the marked treatment area;

• Down dead material will be left untreated;

• Private land will not be treated;

• The Contractor is required to protect section corners, benchmarks and other makers and stakes form damage or removal.

• The BLM may temporarily suspend work during periods of high fire danger;

• The BLM may temporarily suspend work to mitigate concerns in regard to migratory birds;

• The BLM may temporarily suspend work to mitigate concerns in regard to weather;

• The BLM may temporarily suspend work to mitigate concerns in regard to safety;

• Complete work by May 30th, 2022

Surface Conditions: Project area is located within the riparian corridor of the Agua Fria River. Access is to project area is limited to foot travel only. River bottom is mixture of soft gravel, silt, and river rock. Water is present in the river and is subject to flash flooding.

Terrain:

Slope: The project area generally consists of gentle slopes not greater than 30%

River: Agua Fria is flowing and averages 2 feet in depth with isolated pools deeper than 2 feet.

Project Layout: The Government will flag or otherwise define areas to be treated by this Contract, as identified above. The Contractor is required to protect all section corners, benchmarks, and other markers and stakes. In case of destruction or removal by the contractor, they will be replaced by the

Government and actual cost for replacement will be deducted from payment due the Contractor. The

Contractor shall also avoid areas flagged in pink and blue-ribbon flagging by the Government to preserve historical, archaeological, paleontological, wilderness, or other resources.

Cultural Considerations: Because cultural resources may be present in the area, project activities and any other action which causes disturbance of the earth’s surface shall be limited to those areas approved by the BLM. Deviations from routes flagged or shown on the drawings are not allowable without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall insure that he/she, employees, or representatives do not collect or disturb historic or prehistoric artifacts in accordance with the

Archaeological Resources Protection Act (43 CFR 7). Should the condition of the cultural resources in the area be altered during construction due to unauthorized activity by the Contractor or his employees, the Contractor shall be responsible for all costs of mitigating the cultural resources involved. If deterioration of the archeological sites is found to be occurring during the construction phase, work on the project shall be terminated until a data recovery plan is prepared and completed in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800). The Contractor shall immediately bring to the attention of the Contracting Officer any and all cultural resources including, but not limited to, historic and prehistoric sites or artifacts, buried artifacts, and buried features such as fire pits, burials, and house floors discovered as a result of drilling operations. The Contractor shall immediately suspend all activities in the immediate vicinity that might harm the object(s), notify the Contracting Officer, and shall leave such discoveries intact until instructed to proceed by the Contracting Officer.

Work Camps: The location of any work camps established by the contractor must be approved in advance by the Contracting Officer. Contractor shall maintain the camp in a sanitary, orderly manner, and upon vacating the camp, remove refuse and any other signs of occupancy. In the equipment maintenance area, special precaution shall be taken to contain spilled fuel, lubricants, and wash water.

Work Hours: Operations shall be permitted only during daylight hours unless additional working hours are authorized by the Contracting Officer.

CONTRACTOR PROVIDED EQUIPMENT

General: Contractor shall furnish at the worksite all equipment, labor, supplies, and materials required to complete the work within the specified performance time. The Contractor shall service and maintain such equipment as necessary to maintain satisfactory progress on the work.

Tractor: Rollover protection structures are required on equipment regardless of age, as defined in

CFR1920-1000-1002. Operators skilled in the operation of the furnished tractors shall also be supplied by the Contractor. Tractors shall be furnished and maintained in good mechanical conditions throughout the term of the contract. The Contractor shall furnish all required fuel, oil, and lubricants for operation of the tractors and the Government-Furnished equipment.

Motor Vehicles: The Contractor shall finish motor vehicles for hauling equipment and personnel to the worksite. The Contractor shall not load tractor(s) or Mower(s) on public highways unless authorized by the Contracting Officer.

Fire Prevention/Suppression: Contractor Shall:

Ensure all equipment diesel and/or gas engines are equipped with an approved spark arrester. Spark arresters shall meet the requirements of the U.S. Forest Service Spark Arrester Guide, dated May 1985.

Have one shovel and a minimum of one 10-pound ABC fire extinguisher for each tractor. Shovel and fire extinguisher be accessible to operator.

Government furnished Property and Service: The BLM will:

• Supply maps depicting project area.

• The Government will flag or otherwise define areas by geo-referenced maps to be treated by this

Contract. The Contractor is required to protect all section corners, bench marks, and other markers and stakes. In case of destruction or removal by the contractor, they will be replaced by the Government and actual cost for replacement will be deducted from payment due the

Contractor. The Contractor shall also avoid areas flagged in pink and blue ribbon flagging by the Government to preserve historical, archaeological, paleontological, wilderness, or other resources.

SEQUENCING AND SCHEDULING:

Work Schedule: The schedule shall be submitted at the pre-work conference. When requested, the

Contractor shall submit an updated schedule within three (3) calendar days.

Start Date: Tentative start of work is upon award of contract.

Performance Period: Complete work by May 31st, 2021.

Pre-work Conference: A pre-work conference will be held prior to the start of work. The Contractor will be notified in advance of meeting time, date, and place. The purpose will be to review required work, project drawings and specifications, construction schedules, payroll and payments, and administrative provisions of the contract.

The Contractor, subcontractors, and the persons responsible for coordination of the work shall be present at the meeting.

The Contractor shall be prepared to summarize and explain procedures planned for the project.

Final Inspection: The meeting shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the Contracting

Officer. The Contractor shall require his or her superintendent (if designated) to be present during the inspections. The Contractor shall correct any deficiencies noted and the project will be re-inspected by the Contracting Officer.

The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer, in writing, at least three (3) working days before the completion date so the Government can schedule a final inspection.

MOBILIZATION, MEASUREMENTS AND PAYMENTS

Mobilization: Includes all preparatory work and operations, including those necessary to the movement of personnel, equipment, supplies and incidentals to the project site; and for other work and operations which must be performed, or cost incurred prior to beginning work on the various items on the project site. All costs associated with mobilization will be incorporated into the cost per acre to be mowed.

Measurement and Payment: Measurement for payment for mowing will be the number of acres satisfactorily completed in accordance with these specifications. Measurements will be made from GPS

Survey. Payment will be made at the unit price per acre specified in the Bid Schedule and shall include cost of all work described in these specifications. All measurements will be based on horizontal distances. Re-measurement of the acreage under this Contract will be made upon the written request of the Contractor. Request for re-measurement must be made in writing within 10 calendar days after seeding has been completed. If re-measurement indicates a difference of not more than 5% from the original measurement, the Contractor shall pay the actual cost of the re-measurement. Payments will be based on the second measurement where the difference between measurements is more than 5%. Where the difference is less than 5% the results of the first measurement will be used.