A04_Hazardous_Tree_and_Stump_Removal_Scope.pdf

Scope of Work, June 2024

Hazardous Tree, Limb Removal, Stump Grinding, and Site Repair Services for

Minute Man National Historical Park

I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Minute Man National Historical Park (MIMA) requires services of hazardous tree removals within the park land in Concord, MA 01742; Lincoln, MA 01773; and Lexington, MA 02421. The project will address the removal or pruning of hazardous trees and limbs following extreme drought, windstorms, and associated failure that has resulted in health and safety concerns. In some locations, as specified in the list of “Actions,” stump grinding, grading, and seeding is necessary to ensure the safety of mowing equipment operators.

Services shall include, but not be limited to, the furnishing of all materials, labor, equipment, tools, transportation, superintendence, qualified Arborists and craftspeople to complete all work described herein.

The MIMA Contract Officer (CO) with representation by the Contract Officer Representative (COR) will be responsible for determining a site work schedule that will not impair cultural, natural, and archeological resources. The Contractor must respond within ten (10) days of being notified of favorable conditions and commence work.

Favorable conditions will include, but not limited to, dry weather, and when disturbing natural processes is not a factor. The Contractor will be notified by phone with follow up correspondence confirming favorable conditions.

II. SCOPE OF WORK:

The following tasks shall be completed in performance of the contract.

SERVICES

o Contractor shall attend an on-site meeting with the MIMA COR after award but prior to the commencement of work.

o Work shall be conducted during regular scheduled working hours. (7:00a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mon – Fri) o All work shall conform to OSHA Regulations, ANSI Z133 “Safety Standard”, ANSI A300 “Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plan Management - Standard Practices”, and Arborist Industry Safe Work Practices.

o Each workday, the Contractor shall communicate with the MIMA COR when onsite and ready to commence work.

o Contractor shall ensure the security and safety of the worksite, including the safety of park visitors, pedestrians, and bystanders. The Contractor shall ensure all drop zones are marked with safety cones and/or caution tape, and that all public walkways within the work zone are blocked.

o Contractor shall coordinate removals with utilities as required by proximity to overhead lines.

o An Arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) shall always be on site during work effort for tree pruning, cabling, assessment, or root disturbance and shall direct all work on the ground or in a bucket truck. For crane use or other equipment with a telescoping arm, a Massachusetts certified crane operator with a hoisting license is required (HE 2A and 1B). For specialty mowing equipment such as boom with flail, a certified operator for specialty mowing equipment is required.

o Contractor will perform the following (as further detailed in Attachment A):

Task Number of Locations Quantity

Overall 13

Remove collapsed trees and tree sections 2 4

Remove standing dead or hazardous trees 8 20

Prune deadwood from standing tree 4 5

Grind stumps, remove excess grindings, grade stump site for seeding, seed northeastern US native grass seed mix

7 10

OPTION 1

Overall 1

Pruning/removal of deadwood greater than 4” diameter over service drive prism

1 500 ft

Remove collapsed trees and tree sections 0 0

Remove standing dead or hazardous trees 1 4

Prune deadwood from standing tree 1 12

Grind stumps, remove excess grindings, grade stump site for seeding, seed northeastern US native grass seed mix

1 5

- PRUNING

• Minimize ground disturbance.

• All cuts shall be made using International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) best management practices.

• Natural tree forms shall be preserved to the extent possible.

• Trees shall not be “topped” without prior approval by the Contracting

Officer’s Representative (COR).

• Remove dead or diseased material.

• Remove all hazardous limbs or main stems of trees, using acceptable arboricultural practices, if these parts of the tree would create a hazardous condition.

• Remove such limbs as may be necessary for the maintenance of tree symmetry when, as in heavy pruning on one side, a condition of imbalance is caused to exist.

- TREE REMOVAL

• See note about work performance period regarding protecting bat and bird habitat.

• Trees that cannot be felled due to proximity of buildings, powerlines, monuments, or other historic features shall be topped and/or sectioned.

Whenever possible trees should be felled on level ground as possible, avoiding stumps, rocks, etc. that may cause the tree to roll when it falls.

• Pull ropes shall be used on all trees that have the potential for damage to monuments, buildings, historic fences and/or other historic features. Pull ropes shall be installed before any cutting is done at the base. Stake holdfasts and individuals pulling ropes shall be outside the striking distance of the tree. If the conditions make this impossible, the tree shall be topped and/or sectioned.

• Removal and Disposal of All Trees Including Disposal of Debris, Clean Up, and Site Restoration:

• All trees shall be flush cut at ground level.

• All trees and debris shall be legally disposed of offsite, according to Federal, State, and Local regulations. Recycling of materials is encouraged where possible.

• Site shall be restored to the same or better condition than it was in before work started.

• Work areas shall be raked clean and restored to the same condition as was present prior to the commencement of work.

• Ruts, divots, and any and all other damage to turf, vehicles, or surrounding structures shall be repaired at Contractor’s expense.

- STUMP GRINDING

• Stumps ground in accordance with the archaeologically sensitive method depicted in the Figure below. The park will provide an archeological monitoring specialist at the time of stump grinding.

• Remove excess stump grindings to level grade. Backfill with imported topsoil free from debris, frozen materials, roots, and deleterious organic materials such as invasive plant seed.

• Seed stump site with Northeastern US native grass seed mix detailed in Section IX of this document.

III. DELIVERABLES:

Within ten (10) days of award, Contractor shall provide the following:

o Safety and Accident Prevention Plan o Proof of Arborist Certification, including certification for an electrical Line Clearing Arborist; OSHA 10 Certification; and Insurance Certificate. Also proof of Hoisting License and Specialty Mowing Certification (if equipment will be used to accomplish work.)

o Manufacturers information for seed mix for stump sites.

IV. PROJECT PERFORMANCE PERIOD

Tree work shall be completed within one hundred and twenty (120) days of award.

o Activities including tree pruning, stump grinding, stump site grading, seeding, and removing collapsed trees and logs may take place at any time after award and in consultation with the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

o Hazardous trees shall be removed within the period of performance. Mature trees that are deemed non-hazardous may only be removed November 1 – April 14 due to the use of individual trees by bat species for diurnal and maternity roosting in the spring, summer, and fall. Peak bird use of individual trees for nesting also occurs during the spring and summer. If necessary to remove non hazardous trees, the period of performance will be extended to accommodate bat and bird species.

V. BID FORMAT:

1. Prior to the bid deadline, the Park will host a pre-bid meeting to show bidders the project areas and locations of trees, storm-damaged branches, stumps, and piles of branches listed in Attachment A, Base Bid and Option 1.

2. The Contractor shall provide a cost estimate for tree work in Attachment A, Base Bid which includes pruning, tree removal, chipping, trunk removal, stump grinding, and stump grinding clean up and seeding. The Contractor may bid on Option 1.

3. Contractor will be evaluated based on ability to meet requirements stated above in item number two, past performance, and lowest price.

VI. CONTRACTOR PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

Contractor must submit invoice after completion of 50 % of work and after completion of 100 % of work. Upon Government acceptance of work, payments shall be made to Contractor.

VII. TECHNICAL COORDINATION:

The Contracting Officer’s Representatives for this action is the park’s Natural/Cultural Resource Manager.

Margie Coffin Brown Natural/Cultural Resource Program Manager Minute Man National Historical Park 174 Liberty Street Concord, MA 01742 Ph: (617) 620-2942 Fax: (978) 318-7800 E-mail: Margie_coffin_brown@nps.gov

VIII. ADDRESS FOR DELIVERABLES:

Point of Contact for Hazard Tree Project:

Margie Coffin Brown, Natural/Cultural Resource Program Manager Minute Man National Historical Park 174 Liberty Street Concord, MA 01742 Ph: (617) 620-2942 Fax: (978) 318-7800 E-mail: Margie_coffin_brown@nps.gov

IX. STUMP GRINDING

Stump Grinding Specification: Diagram above of stump grinding in archeologically sensitive areas. The stump grinding will be minimal to prevent ground disturbance. The circumference of stump grinding will not expand beyond the tree cambium and root mass. The depth of stump grinding will not penetrate below the root mass. Diagram below of finish grade, excess stump grindings removed, low spots filled with topsoil, and stump area seeded with native grass mix.

Northeastern US Native Grass Species (Example mix)

• 34% Virginia Wildrye - Elymus virginicus

• 30% Canada Wildrye - Elymus canadensis

• 17% Indiangrass - Sorghastrum nutans

• 15% Little Bluestem - Schizachyrium scoparium

• 4% Switchgrass - Panicum virgatum

X. LOCATIONS OF WORK

Work is identified in three of the four park units within Minute Man National Historical Park including the North Bridge Unit in Concord, The Wayside Unit in Concord, and Battle Road Unit Concord-Lincoln-Lexington, MA. Additional information on addresses and locations of work is included in Attachment A.

Figure 1: Map of Minute Man National Historical Park showing the Barrett Farm Unit, North Bridge Unit and Wayside Unit in Concord and the Battle Road Unit in Concord, Lincoln, and Lexington, MA.

North Bridge Unit

Battle Road Unit