A04_Moapa_NWR_Palm_Tree_Trimming_Red_.pdf

Statement of Work

Palm Tree Trimming at Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge

1) PROJECT DESCRIPTION and LOCATION

1.1 General Description and Location:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has identified the need to trim non-native palm trees to continue to meet restoration goals, reduce fire risk, protect facilities, and ensure visitor safety around potentially hazardous trees at Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The Moapa Valley NWR is managed by the Federal Government and is located near the town of Moapa in Clark County, Nevada, approximately 60 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. Moapa Valley NWR is located at approximately 4001 and 4225 W. Warm Springs Road, Moapa, NV 89025; coordinates are: 36.710738,-114.711449 and 36.71104,-114.716706. The site is about 60 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.

1.2 Purpose/End Application:

• Removal of dry palm fronds from tree skirts to reduce fire risk

• Removal of reproductive stalks to reduce the number of fruits/seeds dispersed in the sensitive riparian area

• Minimal disturbance to vegetation surrounding the trees to be trimmed

1.3 Contractor Qualifications:

Contractor must demonstrate extensive knowledge, ability, experience, and skill in palm tree trimming using lifting equipment (e.g. cherry picker) and climbing techniques.

Contractor must have knowledge of all relevant state and/or federal safety standards and regulations and possess any necessary qualifications.

2) PROJECT WORK

The work to be performed under this contract consists of furnishing all labor, management, permits and fees (if required), equipment, materials, and supplies necessary to meet the following needs, unless otherwise stated.

2.1 Contractor Responsibilities:

a. After award of the Contract, the Contractor shall contact the Onsite Contact to schedule the work and other logistics.

b. The Contractor shall remove fronds and, most importantly, reproductive stalks, and leave a healthy number of fronds on each tree (~3-5).

i. Some trees will be accessible by equipment with a lift bucket. Other trees in sensitive areas will require climbers for trimming.

ii. Some trees have been trimmed within the last 10 years. Other trees have never been trimmed and their skirts reach from the top of the tree to the ground.

iii. Trimmed palm fronds can remain whole or chipped/shredded and transported to designated area. If chipped or shredded, the Contractor must use appropriate equipment and follow procedures to avoid ignition of an accidental fire.

c. The Contractor shall remove all trimmed palm fronds and associated debris to a designated area on the Apcar unit of Moapa Valley NWR, approximately ¼ mile from tree trimming location. The materials will be transferred by equipment and vehicles provided by the Contractor using West Warm Springs Road (versus internal, gravel roads on Moapa Valley NWR). Access will be via existing gates.

The Contractor shall arrange the materials in the designated area as directed by the Service. The Service strongly recommends the removal of fronds and associated palm tree debris occur continuously as the tree trimming efforts proceed to avoid fire hazards from accumulation of vegetation debris near and under equipment, tools, and vehicles.

d. The Contractor shall perform appropriate post clean up and grooming of the site where the tree was trimmed. For example, repair any damages that occurred such as divots left from vehicles or equipment, rake out equipment tracks or footprints, and any other necessary repairs to make the treatment less obtrusive.

e. The Contractor will use good judgment in performing the work when weather conditions are favorable. If weather conditions cause unsafe working conditions (e.g., high winds) or deteriorated site conditions (e.g., saturated soil), the Contractor should adjust the work schedule as appropriate.

f. The Contractor is responsible for safety on the project site at all times, as required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926 and 1910, State of Nevada, Clark County, and all relevant authorities and regulations. In the event where any safety standard referenced herein conflicts with another, the more stringent shall govern. The Contractor is responsible for safety from issuance of the Notice to Proceed until final completion and acceptance of the project by the Contracting Officer’s Representative or designee.

g. The Contractor shall use appropriate and safe equipment, tools, and vehicles as well as best management practices (e.g., high clearance vehicles and equipment, well maintained equipment, debris-free work areas, no smoking onsite, etc.) when performing all aspects of the Statement of Work to avoid:

i. damage to sensitive resources and areas;

ii. damage to existing visitor facilities;

iii. vehicles and equipment stuck due to wet conditions;

iv. ignition of accidental fire since the trees, fronds, and debris subject for removal are highly flammable; and

v. injury to workers.

h. As needed, the Contractor shall use appropriate dust suppression methods and best management practices in accordance with County and State regulations.

i. The Contractor is responsible for quality control of their own work and work performed by its Subcontractors and their Sub-subcontractors. The Contractor assumes responsibility to Government for the proper performance of the work of Subcontractors and all acts and omissions in connection with such performance.

Nothing in the Contract Documents is intended or deemed to create any legal or contractual relationship between Government and any Subcontractor or Sub-subcontractor.

j. 2.2 Service Responsibilities:

a. The Service shall clearly designate or mark the trees to be trimmed.

b. The Service shall coordinate site access with the Contractor.

c. The Service shall provide scheduling guidance with the Contractor regarding reproductive frond trimming.

3) ONSITE CONTACTS

Mailing address:

PO Box 510, Alamo, NV 89001

4) ESTIMATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

4.1 To trim reproductive stalks after they have appeared but before seeds have matured, trees containing reproductive stalks must be trimmed between July 15th and August 15th.

4.2 No palm trimming will occur between April 15th and July 15th to protect nesting birds.

4.3 As determined by the Service, some palms can be trimmed outside of the July 15-August

15th window if reproductive fronds are not a concern.

4.4 The period of performance for the entire contract will be 3 years to allow the Service to allocate funds most efficiently and determine the highest priority trees to be trimmed.

4.5 Work shall be performed during regular business hours, typically between the hours of

7:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday. Limited accommodation to an alternate schedule may possible with coordination with on-site FWS staff. In the event of emergencies, Contractor shall provide contact information.

4.6 Non duty hours include week nights, weekends, and Government holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, President's day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, Christmas).

5) BUDGET/COSTS

Based on the requirements outlined in the Project Description and Location, Project Work, and Estimated Period of Performance, the Contractor will provide time and materials cost estimates on a per tree basis (See attached Bid Schedule).

6) EVALUATION AND ACCEPTANCE

a) The contractor will be evaluated based on past experience and performance.

Subject Past Experience Required or

Preferred Requested Demonstration

Palm tree trimming using lifted bucket

Experience trimming palm trees using lifted bucket/ cherry picker

Required Narrative example of this experience and host a site visit for USFWS staff to a completed project with similar scope and environmental conditions.

Palm tree trimming using climbing equipment

Experience trimming palm trees by using climbing equipment to climb the trunk

Required Narrative example of this experience and host a site visit for USFWS staff to a completed project with similar scope and environmental conditions.

b) Acceptance of final deliverables is contingent upon a visual inspection of deliverables by

USFWS staff.

BID SCHEDULE

for

Palm Tree Trimming at Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Option Item #

Description Unit Cost

1 Trimming of skirt and reproductive stalks of one palm tree when trimming between 1 and 15 palm trees in calendar year 2023

PER

TREE

2 Trimming of skirt and reproductive stalks of one palm tree when trimming between 16 and 30 palm trees in calendar year 2023

3 Trimming of skirt and reproductive stalks of one palm tree when trimming between 1 and 15 palm trees in calendar year 2024

4 Trimming of skirt and reproductive stalks of one trees in calendar year 2024

5 Trimming of skirt and reproductive stalks of one palm tree when trimming between 1 and 15 palm trees in calendar year 2025

6 Trimming of skirt and reproductive stalks of one trees in calendar year 2025

Incomplete Bids will not be considered. See Section 6 of the Statement of Work for requested narrative examples of experience. Based on the requirements outlined in the Statement of Work, the Contractor will provide time and materials cost estimates on a per tree basis. After award of the Contract and the number of trees to be trimmed is known, the trees will be clearly designated or marked by the USFWS.

Name of Bidder and Company:

Address (Include Zip Code):