A04_FODO_NC_Tree_Removal_and_Stump_Grinding_SOW_Final2.docx

National Park Service Fort Donelson National Cemetery

Tree Removal and Stump Grinding in Cemeteries Statement of Work

Park Cultural Landscape Program

1.0 OBJECTIVE, SCOPE, AND LOCATION

The objective of this contract is the safe dismantling, removal, and disposal of 51 trees and grinding of 55 stumps from Fort Donelson National Cemetery. The scope of this contract includes the complete removal of all trees and stumps identified in the contract in a safe and professional manner and with no collateral damage to any park resources.

The trees and stumps identified in this contract are located at 174 National Cemetery Dr, Dover, TN 37058 on the grounds of Fort Donelson National Cemetery and are identified on the provided maps of the work site. Prior to commencement of the Work a site visit will be scheduled for (date TBD) to ensure that the Contractor and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) visually identify and agree upon the Scope of Work to be accomplished under the contract.

Fort Donelson National Cemetery honors veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials that commemorate their service to our Nation. The cemetery receives visitors, holds ceremonies, [and conducts committal services]. Because of the cemetery’s special significance and attention that it receives from the public, strict adherence to contract specifications is essential.

2.0 POINTS OF CONTACT:

· Contractor: (Contractor name & contact)

· Contracting Officer (CO): (CO name & contact)

· Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): (COR name & contact)

· NPS Arborist or Subject Matter Expert if desired for consultation Keith Park, keith_park@nps.gov, 650-678-0614

3.0 GENERAL

a) Work Identification - Trees to be removed will be marked on maps and individually tagged or otherwise identified by park staff prior to contractor arrival and commencement of the Work.

b) Wildlife - All trees identified for work will be surveyed for the absence of nesting birds or other wildlife by qualified park staff within one week prior to the commencement of Work, unless the Work is scheduled outside of nesting season in which case no survey may be needed. If occupied bird nests or nested cavities are encountered during the Work the Contractor shall cease work in that tree and notify the COR immediately. Trees identified in the contract known to harbor active beehives will be rendered safe by the park prior to the commencement of Work.

c) Safety and Standards - All workers shall comply with Federal, State and Local safety requirements. The Contractor and all workers in their employ shall be familiar with and conform to the ANSI Z.133.1-2017 Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations, and when applicable the ANSI A300-2017 Standards for Tree Care Practices.

d) Worksite - All roads, paths, and sidewalks must be left clear of cut stems and branches at the end of each workday.

e) Traffic Control: The Contractor shall provide, erect, and maintain all necessary barricades, danger signals, detour, and other signs, and take all necessary precautions for the protection of the Work and safety of the public. All such barricades and signs shall be in accordance with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD, 2003 Edition, as published by the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

f) Resource Damage: The Contractor shall preserve and protect all existing vegetation such as trees, shrubs, and turf areas (on or adjacent to trees being removed) which do not reasonably interfere with the Work. The Contractor shall be responsible for all unauthorized cutting or damage to trees and shrubs, including damage due to careless operation of equipment, stockpiling of materials, or rutting of turf and other surfaced areas by equipment. Such damaged areas or materials shall be restored, repaired, or replaced by the Contractor at the discretion of the COR and at no additional cost to the Government. The Contractor will be held responsible for any damages to, and for maintenance and protection of existing structures and utilities. The Contractor will be required to furnish all labor, materials, and equipment for cleanup and restoration of all disturbed areas or features, which have been damaged during the course of this contract.

g) Dignity Clause: Every action by Contractor personnel at a National Cemetery must be performed with special care, reverence, dignity, and respect that acknowledge the cemetery as the final resting place that commemorates the service and sacrifice that service members, Veterans and their families made for our Nation. Critically important is the awareness required of the Contractor employees of the remains buried in the grounds where the work is performed. The utmost care must be given to these remains and the historic, vertical headstones and iron commemorative tablets that mark those gravesites and memorialize the service of individuals.

4.0 SCHEDULE

a) Work is to be performed during the hours of 7:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. No work is to be performed on Saturday or Sunday or on federally recognized holidays (unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer 72 Hours ahead of date of work).

b) Period of Performance shall begin upon issuance of each task order and end thirty (30) days thereafter.

c) Once the Contractor begins work on a specific task under this contract, they are expected to be on the job site each workday until that effort is complete, weather permitting.

d) All Stump Grinding shall be completed in consecutive days (weather permitting) once it has commenced, and not spread out across separate days, to minimize the duration of time a monitoring archaeologist will need to spend on site.

e) Only one below-grade stump grinding operation shall occur at any given time to allow the monitoring archaeologist to observe just one subsurface disturbance at a time. Other stump grinding above ground may occur simultaneously but will need to cease at grade to permit monitoring.

f) Work shall be scheduled and arranged so as not to interfere with normal activities of the park such as cemetery burials, memorials, ranger-led tours scheduled at various hours of the day or any special tours or visiting groups. Advanced notice will be given to the contractor if a conflict is expected to divert from a prearranged schedule. Any plant debris, personnel or equipment that would interfere with any NPS sponsored or NPS permitted activity or event shall be removed prior to the activity. If, at any time, the COR determines that the work is unsatisfactory or is being conducted in an unsafe manner, the contractor will be notified and shall immediately cease all work activities.

g) COR will advise Contractor when a burial is scheduled (normally 48 hours advance notice). To ensure a quiet and respective environment for the service and those in attendance, work is to be halted one-half hour prior to scheduled service time, with Contractor employees relocated to the staging area or somewhere off-site and out of view and hearing range so as not to distract service. Most services are less than one-half hour in duration. The COR or other authorized Park employee will advise when work can resume.

h) Memorial Day weekend is the busiest period of visitation, personal observance, reflection, and ceremony in the national cemetery. Prior to Friday, May 26, all equipment is to be removed from the national cemetery and Contractor ensures that work areas are cleared of any branches and/or debris. Operations may resume at the contracted start time on Tuesday, May 30, 2022.

5.0 DELIVERABLES

a) Within five days of award, Contractor shall provide the following:

1. Safety and Accident Prevention Plan (sec. 10.0b below)

2. Proof of Arborist Certification

3. Proof of employee certification and training

4. Job or Activity Hazard Analysis

6.0 INSPECTION/ACCEPTANCE

a) The NPS reserves the right to conduct any inspection it may deem necessary prior to acceptance and approval of payment, to ensure that all work conforms to the Statement of Work and any applicable standards, regulations, or laws.

b) Worksite and operations are subject to periodic observation and/ or inspection by Park Safety Office or Collateral Duty Safety Coordinator or assigned staff.

7.0 OPERATIONS

Tree Removal

a) Resource Protection - Rigging equipment and systems that conform to ANSI Z133.1-2017 sec. 8.5 Rigging standards shall be used to dismantle any tree or tree parts within potential reach of targets or areas containing monuments, grave markers, walls, or other resources to avoid damage from impacts by falling tree parts. In these areas the severed portion of the tree must be under control at all times, and no felling or “cut and chuck” of large diameter limbs or trunk shall occur where sensitive resources are targets. Resource protection measures such as cribbing, or plywood shall be implemented to protect all nearby resources from falling or flying debris. Felling of whole trees or tall tree trunks in high target areas is not permitted without the express permission of the COR. Contractor personnel shall not lean, sit, or stand on or against headstones or monuments. No tools, equipment or other items will be placed or leaned on headstones or monuments.

b) Tree Protection: When ascending a tree on ropes, unless that tree is to be removed, climbing arborists shall utilize friction-saving devices over any main points of attachment to prevent abrasion damage to the limb. Climbing spikes, spurs or gaffs may be used for tree removals only but will NOT be permitted on any tree not intended to be completely removed.

c) Heavy Equipment: Lift equipment such as cranes, bucket trucks, boom lifts, scissor lifts, or “spider” lifts will be permitted at the discretion of the COR based on the conditions on the ground and the location of the tree. All heavy lift equipment, trucks, chippers, or stump grinders that are driven or used on turf or bare soil shall require the laying down of COR-approved plastic mats or equivalent material approved by the COR to prevent soil compaction and rutting of park property. Any ruts or soil damage created by insufficient equipment mitigation measures will be repaired completely by the Contractor at no extra cost to the Government. Pneumatic tires or tracked equipment are a requirement and pavement protection for vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight is required in sensitive areas. Sensitive areas will include turf areas, habitat areas, or any surface area identified by the COR. Ground protection devices such as industry-standard track mats or ¾” plywood shall be utilized for any equipment driven onto sensitive areas.

d) Debris Management: All woody debris generated in the course of the completion of this contract shall be removed from the site and legally disposed of by the contractor unless otherwise directed by the COR. To mitigate the spread of any exotic pests such as Emerald Ash Borer any trunks, logs, or branches from removed ash trees shall be disposed of in accordance with local state and county department of agriculture protocols and not transported beyond established quarantine areas. All hung tree limbs must be placed on the ground as soon as possible but no later than the end of each workday. Any additional tree or debris management incidental to the removal of trees identified in this contract shall be included in the Work at no additional cost to the Government.

Stump Grinding

e) Stumps and large roots: Contractor shall carefully grind, to a depth of 4”-8” below grade, all stumps identified in the contract and any sizeable above-ground roots connected to the stump. Care shall be taken to only grind woody tree parts (stump and roots) while avoiding unnecessary contact with adjacent soil. All chips generated from stump grinding are to be raked up and removed and stump cavity filled with approved weed-free compost or topsoil provided by the Contractor and leveled to match the adjacent grade.

f) Archaeological Monitoring: Stump grinding operations on park property requires the presence of an archaeological Monitor. A trained Monitor from the park staff will be provided for the duration of the stump grinding operation(s) at no extra cost to the Contractor. If monitoring reveals any resources of archaeological value, the Monitor will halt the stump grinding at that location and immediately notify the COR. Once the resources have been assessed, stump grinding may continue with permission of the COR.

8.0 USE OF PARK FACILITIES

a) The Government will provide limited storage and shop area. Space offered will be in as-is" condition. Prior to making any modifications or alterations to the space, the Contractor shall obtain written approval from the COR. Any such modifications or alterations shall be at the expense of the Contractor. Upon completion of the contract, the facility shall be returned to the government in the same condition as received at the expense of the Contractor, except for reasonable wear and tear.

b) Only the Contractor s equipment, supplies and property necessary to perform work under this contract shall be stored at the Contractor's designated storage area at the end of each workday. No maintenance or repair of Contractor equipment shall be conducted on park property without the COR s written approval.

c) Contractor employees may park privately owned vehicles in the area designated for parking by the COR.

9.0 PROTECTION OF PARK PROPERTY

a) Work must be completed without damage to any landscape features or resources, such as earthworks, monuments, grave markers, walls, fences, irrigation, signage, road, trails, pathways, trees not to be removed, or other property. The Contractor will be financially liable to the park for any costs incurred as a result of repairing and/or replacing any of the aforementioned items or for the value of the item as assessed by a qualified NPS resource specialist.

b) Operations resulting in depressions in the soil greater than ½ inch shall cease until conditions change or a plan to mitigate for the damage is agreed upon with the COR. Skidding of logs will not be permitted. No work shall be allowed for at least a 24-hour period following a rain accumulation of one-quarter (1/4) inch or more during the proceeding 24-hour period. After any work stoppage, it will be the responsibility of the COR to determine when work may re-commence. CO, COR, and Contractor will coordinate together on any extension of time in the period of performance lost due to any unforeseen work stoppage.

c) All vehicles and other heavy equipment involved in the completion of this contract will be restricted to roads, parking areas, and road shoulders unless given case-specific permission by the COR.

d) All vehicles should be equipped with absorptive pads while on park property in order to quickly contain any spills of fuel, oil, or hydraulic fluid. Immediate action shall be taken by the Contractor and/or their workers on site to contain, absorb, and/or clean up any spills of equipment fluids or other possibly toxic substances. Any such spills must be reported to the COR as soon as is safely possible who will in turn notify the park Safety Officer and Facility Manager.

10.0 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

a) All work shall be under the on-site direction and supervision of a Certified Arborist who possesses verifiable experience and technical competence in tree physiology, identification, diagnosis of disorders, and current tree care and safety practices in accordance with accepted industry standards.

b) The Certified Arborist must have not less than three (3) years’ experience as a direct supervisor of a tree maintenance operation that has included large tree removal, tree pruning, and stump grinding/removal in industrial, commercial, or public sites and must be certified by International Society of Arboriculture.

c) The Arborist shall be the primary contact with the Government’s COR on site and shall be responsible for directing work in the field, controlling the quality of work, and inspecting all completed work to ensure that contract performance requirements are met.

d) All workers shall, through verifiable related training and on the job experience, be familiar with the technical aspects and hazards of tree removal and stump grinding and the use of equipment used in such operations. All workers shall abide by any code of ethics of professional conduct established by the Tree Care Industry Association and the International Society of Arboriculture

11.0 SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION PROGRAM

a) The Contractor shall be responsible for employee and visitor safety on the work site and shall establish an effective accident prevention. Report to the COR any and all accidents or injuries that occur. Employ all required protective barriers and take all necessary measures to assure unauthorized persons do not enter the work site. Assure there are no hazards to park visitors during execution of the work.

b) The Contractor shall possess and maintain all necessary insurance, licenses, and permits required for contract performance. Contractor is responsible for any injury to himself/herself, his/her employees, as well as for any damage to personal or public property that occurs during the performance of this contract that is caused by his/her employees’ fault or negligence and shall maintain personal liability and property damage insurance having coverage for a limit as required by the laws of the State of Tennessee.

c) ACCIDENT PREVENTION PLAN: Before on-site work begins, submit to the COR for acceptance an accident prevention plan containing at minimum the following information:

1. EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS: Post telephone numbers and reporting instructions for ambulance, physician, hospital, fire department, and police in conspicuous locations at the work site.

2. Name of responsible Arborist or Supervisor to carry out the program.

3. Emergency Planning - Planning for possible emergency situations including fires, windstorms, lighting storms etc.

4. All operations shall be conducted in accordance with ANSI Z133.1-2017 Safety Requirements for Pruning, Trimming, Repairing, Maintaining and Removing Trees and Cutting Brush and all Federal OSHA, state, and local safety requirements.

5. First aid procedures - Provide adequate facilities for the number of employees and the type of construction at the site. Provide adequate training to ensure prompt and efficient first aid.

6. Training - Ensure that all employees have adequate training for the tasks that they perform.

7. Housekeeping - Keep project site in a clean, neat, and safe condition at all times.

8. All workers under Contractor’s employ will wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including hard hat, eye protection, hearing protection, and sturdy work boots. Gloves shall fit tight to the wrist, no “gauntlet style” gloves shall be worn during chipping operations.

9. The Contractor is responsible for all traffic and pedestrian control, including but not limited to signage, and or flagger when working on or adjacent to on roads, or sidewalks. Designated flaggers are required when working over a road and sidewalks

10. The Contractor shall comply in rectifying all unsafe or unhealthy conditions called to his/her attention by the COR.

11. The Contractor shall allow for formal or informal, announced, or unannounced, safety inspections at the worksite.

12. All tools and equipment used on any project must meet all OSHA regulations.

13. There will be no smoking in or around any building, smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

14. Drug and alcohol use while on the site will not be tolerated, Contractor shall ensure no workers are under the influence during work hours on the site.

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