A04_-_BILL_WILLIAMS_RIVER_NWR___Tree_Removal_-_SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge (BWRNWR)

Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Complex Tree Removal & Road Clearing Project

Parker, AZ June 2024

BACKGROUND

The Refuge stations within the Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Complex include Bill Williams River NWR and Havasu NWR. This Statement of Work summarizes the justification to contract services for hazard tree removal and access road clearing at the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The refuge would like to remove dead tree snags killed by the 2021 Planet Ranch Fire as they pose hazards to personnel working in the area, as well as refuge visitors.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT NEEDS

Bill Williams River NWR is a 6,100-acre native tree riparian corridor in the Bill Williams River floodplain. Staff at the Bill Williams River NWR would like to remove 28-acres worth of standing dead cottonwood trees within the 2021 Planet Ranch Fire burn scar. These trees pose hazards to visitors and staff accessing the area and removal of this vegetation would constitute a necessary fuel break and provide vehicle/equipment access. Work is being conducted in this area as part of the Planet Ranch Burned Area Rehabilitation Project to stabilize the cottonwood riparian ecosystem following a devastating fire that occurred in July 2021. Potential contractors are recommended to schedule a site visit before placing a bid since the nature of this work site is wet and can be difficult to navigate with larger heavy equipment.

The standing dead cottonwoods range from 10”-30” diameter at breast height (DBH) and will be cleared and removed to bare soil and smoothed over to allow for easy vegetation maintenance using an Ag tractor with mowing deck or farm disk. The refuge would like to remove these hazard trees in a rectangular polygon (see attached map). Average tree density for this contract, at this site, is just over 125 trees per acre and average tree height is approximately 60 feet tall. Reference photos are provided to size and density of trees that will be removed.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. The job site is adjacent to Planet Ranch Road in La Paz County, Arizona adjacent to Highway 95 at the Bill William River Bridge. The site will be best accessed via a recently cleared dirt access road starting at the Black Gate. The nearest facilities and accommodations are in Parker, AZ, or Lake Havasu, AZ, approximately 20 miles from the work site. Contractors will be provided gate access by refuge staff. Also, some areas to be cleared can get extremely wet and muddy for heavy equipment work during the late winter rainy season or just after a major water release from Alamo Dam. Dam releases seem to occur every 3-5 years with the last release in April 2023.

SCOPE OF WORK

The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to create two cleared rectangle polygons that will maintained as fuel breaks and access roads. A 19-acre cleared area will be oriented south to north will be referred to as “Firebreak Road” and should be roughly 200 foot wide. The second cleared area just northwest of Firebreak Road will be 9-acres in size and will be referred to as “Sunk CAT Road” and should be roughly 150 foot wide. Both these cleared areas total to approximately 28-acres and must be cleared down to bare soil with all vegetation and stumps removed. All cleared areas must be smoothed over with heavy equipment to allow for future gravel road installation or maintenance mowing/ disking. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract and will have on the ground guidance project and planning guidance directed by refuge staff.

Objectives:

• Provide supervision and oversight of personnel while removing approximately 28 acres of hazard trees and vegetation in designated areas as directed by the Refuge Manager. Any marked trees will signify trees to be LEFT undisturbed as it is providing wildlife nesting habitat (eagle nests).

• Refuge staff would like 28-acres of hazard trees and vegetation cleared to bare soil with work beginning adjacent to Planet Ranch Road and continuing north in the primary rectangular polygon at least 200 foot wide until it reaches the active river channel. The second rectangular polygon should be at least 150 foot wide.

• Maintain proper safety and efficiency measures as directed by refuge personnel and crew leader. Heavy equipment operators are cautioned to not cross the main river channel.

• Both cleared areas can currently access from Planet Ranch Road via the Black Gate.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for tree felling and land clearing is September 1, 2024 to March 15, 2025. This period is outside the Arizona Refuge’s nesting bird season.

HOURS OF OPERATION

The Contractor is responsible for conducting business, between the hours of sunrise to sunset Sunday through Saturday except Federal holidays at the contractor’s option. The contractor must always maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this contract when the government facility is not closed. When hiring personnel, the contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

The refuge office is closed on holidays. The contractor is not required to perform work on these holidays:

New Year’s Day, January 1st or the Friday preceding or Monday following

Martin Luther King’s Birthday, 3rd Monday in January

President’s Day, 3rd Monday in February

Memorial Day, Last Monday in May

Juneteenth, June 19th or the Friday preceding or Monday following

Independence Day, July 4th or the Friday preceding or Monday following

Labor Day, 1st Monday in September

Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October

Veteran’s Day, November 11th or the Friday preceding or Monday following

Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November

Christmas Day, December 25th or the Friday preceding or Monday following

PROJECT CONTACTS

Questions regarding the scope of work for this project shall be directed to:

Reese Crebbin, AZ BAR Coordinator, (Scope of Work) Reese_crebbin@fws.gov Mobile Phone (541) 944-0543

Ryan Shatto, Bill Williams River NWR BAR Equipment Operator, (Field Conditions) Ryan_Shatto@fws.gov Mobile Phone (928) 575-7036.

Richard Meyers, Lake Havasu NWR Complex Manager, (Project Parameters) Richard_Meyers@fws.gov Mobile Phone (928) 290-9063

Jasmin Muslimani, Bill Williams River Biologist, (Work Site Representative) Jasmin_Muslimani@fws.gov Mobile Phone (928) 577-9259 mailto:Reese_crebbin@fws.gov mailto:Ryan_Shatto@fws.gov mailto:Richard_Meyers@fws.gov mailto:Jasmin_Muslimani@fws.gov

CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) is Edwin Sparks. He can be reached via at 928- 298-2063 or by email at Edwin_Sparks@fws.gov. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions:

• Assure that the contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract.

• Perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance.

• Maintain written and oral communications with the contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract.

• Issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications.

• Monitor contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and contractor of any deficiencies.

• Coordinate availability of government furnished property and provide site entry of contractor personnel.

SPECIFIC TASK

The contractor shall remain in close contact with the FWS COR and Refuge staff. Contactor is responsible to ensure all pertinent information is clearly understood. Contractor will relay all the job task information the workforce prior to the first day of vegetation clearing. Follow all protocol for the clearing process as described by refuge staff. Meet daily with Refuge representatives to discuss the progress and plans for the following day. Assist in changes and modification to the plan and workday as needed. Perform all the objectives as listed in “Scope of Work”. Adhere to the daily schedule. Follow all National Wildlife Rules and Regulations, including fire safety while on site.

PROJECT MAPS AND REFERENCE PHOTOS

Figure 1. Reference map of work site at Bill Williams River NWR.

Figure 2. Example of size and density of trees that need to be cleared at refuge.

Figure 3. Example of larger DBH trees and density of trees that need to be removed at refuge.