A04_Rock_Canyon_ESR_Chaining_SOW_Updated.pdf

Rock Canyon ES&R Chaining Statement of Work

General Information and Requirements

Description of Work

The work required under this contract is to furnish all labor, equipment, supplies and materials, except for specified Government-furnished property (chain and geospatial maps i.e. Avenza ready (or similar) pdf maps, shapefiles, or KML files)), to chain up to 1,675 acres on the Rock Canyon burned area that may include pinyon, juniper, and various shrub species on public lands on the Arizona Strip District near Fredonia, Arizona. The maps associated with the chaining units are attached to this statement of work.

There is potential for acreage reduction depending on need to avoid sensitive resources. Work required will be a single pass chaining. Seeding will occur prior to the chaining and coordination will be required to ensure this timeline. The chaining units intersect open roads and trails. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to clear vegetation from the roads and trails following the completion of the chaining.

The treatment area boundaries will be outlined on a map provided by the Government. The Contractor will be responsible for following the treatment boundaries with a Global Positioning System (GPS) or similar navigation device. The contractor may flag the boundaries of the unit at their discretion however, the contractor will be responsible for the removal of all flagging prior to the final inspection.

The terrain is typically gently to moderately rolling hills with few large rocks. However, there are some areas of slope that are near or exceed 30% and some areas with some large rocks. Slopes greater than 30% are outside of the treatment but equipment may need to cross these areas to access treatment areas. The dozers will be capable of towing an ely chain or similar to complete the work.

Work Layout

The work units are depicted on the attached maps. The Government will provide a map to the Contractor with the treatment area boundaries (outside perimeter, islands, etc.) necessary for the work executed under the Contract. The Government will provide a shapefile or map (for upload on GPS unit i.e. phone, tablet, etc.) of the project area boundary to the Contractor. An updated map with avoidance areas (archaeological sites; springs; structural range improvements; survey markers such as sections corners, quarter corners, mining claims, etc.) will be provided to the contractor before work begins. Survey markers disturbed or removed during chaining operations shall be reset at the Contractor’s expense. Range improvements or other physical structures damaged or removed during chaining operations shall be repaired or replaced at the Contractor’s expense.

Location and Access to Work Sites The project is located in Coconino County, Arizona. Rock Canyon burned area is approximately 20 air miles east of Fredonia, Arizona.

The objective is to restore this burned area. Restoration would be accomplished through seeding coupled with chaining to cover the seed.

Some of the access roads are unimproved two-track roads that may require four-wheel drive vehicles with good clearance. Any use of designated closed roads shall be first coordinated and approved by BLM prior to use during project implementation.

The following legal land descriptions apply for the project areas:

Rock Canyon Burned Area Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona T. 41 N 2 E, sec. 25, 26, 33, 34, 35 T. 41 N 3 E, sec 21, 22, 27, 18, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34

Environmental Considerations

The project site shall be cleaned up, and all refuse removed to an approved landfill at the Contractor’s expense. The Contractor shall not disturb lands adjacent to the project site. Existing access roads and trails within the project area that are damaged by the Contractor shall be restored at the Contractor’s expense to the same condition they were at the commencement of work. Stream channels, springs and other wet areas will be avoided by vehicles and heavy equipment. No new roads shall be constructed during project implementation. Cross-country travel shall be limited and discussed and approved by the BLM. Any heavily travelled areas shall be closed and rehabilitated prior to contract completion. Specifications for closure will be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the BLM.

Any staging areas for fueling or maintenance of equipment shall be approved by the BLM. Any on-site fuel storage tanks shall have a catchment barrier placed underneath the tank to prevent fuel from entering the soil.

Vehicles and other equipment used for implementation of the project shall be washed to remove any vegetation and potential noxious weed and invasive species parts prior to beginning the work and following completion of the work.

Chaining shall not occur when the soil is saturated or where there is sufficient soil moisture that the equipment is leaving substantial ruts (4”) as determined by the Contracting Officer or representative. If and when these conditions are encountered, the Contractor shall stop work and notify the Contracting Officer or designated representative.

Identified cadastral survey markers and other leave areas shall not be disturbed by equipment or the chaining operation. Execution of the work shall be planned in a manner to reduce multiple passes on the same piece of ground with the chain.

Work Schedule

The work schedule shall be submitted at the pre-work conference. The work schedule may be modified if inclement weather conditions occur. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting

Officer’s Representative immediately of any changes in the original work schedule.

Work Camp

Camping will be allowed during project implementation only at sites that have been approved in advance by BLM. All fire regulations and permits shall be followed. All garbage and refuse shall be removed from the camp site by the contractor at the time of project completion. Final payment will be reserved subject to inspection of these sites by BLM and approval of site cleanup.

PROJECT MEETINGS

Pre-Work Conference

A pre-work conference will be held prior to the start of work, and within 10 days of Contract award. The Contractor and Contracting Officer’s Representative will schedule a time for the meeting location, date and time, likely over Teams. The purpose of the meeting will be to review the required work, the project locations, project specifications, the work schedule, and administrative provisions of the Contract. The Contractor 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.

Progress Meetings

Meetings may be called by either the Contracting Officer’s Representative or the Contractor.

Meetings shall be held at the project site or as determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

Final Inspection

The final inspection meeting shall be held at the project site or as determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative at least two (2) working days before the completion date, so the Government can schedule a final inspection. Final payment of the contract will be held pending the completion of a satisfactory final inspection of all associated areas.

Government Furnished and Contractor Furnished Property

Materials Furnished by the Government

The Government will provide paper and electronic copies of maps with the project area boundaries, and a shapefile, Avenza ready (or similar) pdf maps, or KML files of the project area boundaries (for GPS upload).

Equipment Furnished by the Government

Chain

BLM can provide the ~300’ ely chain with approximately 110 lb. links and 2 swivels. If contractors use BLM chain, contractor must provide upkeep to chain including greasing swivels daily

Equipment Furnished by the Contractor

Dozers

The Contractor will be responsible for furnishing the dozers capable of pulling a ~24,100 lb.

ely/anchor chain assembly (equivalent of a D8 or D9 CAT dozer). The contractor will provide repair parts for the above-mentioned equipment.

Chain will be attached to the upside-down ripper tooth through the adjustment hole. Dozers should have 1 1/2” grousers on the dozer tracks to have the required traction to pull the weight of the chain. Dozers should have complete engine covers to prevent fire from wood debris in the engine compartment.

The dozers must be furnished with skilled and experienced chaining operators and the necessary support. Equipment shall be clean and in good working order and free of fluid leaks. Spills of any fluids will be the contractor’s responsibility to properly mitigate and clean. All spills shall be reported to the BLM representative.

GPS Units

The Contractor shall, at a minimum, provide one functioning GPS unit for each dozer capable of uploading shapefiles, Avenza ready (or similar) pdf maps, or KML files and displaying them in a manner that can be followed by the contractor’s personnel. It is expected that the individual assigned by the Contractor who is responsible for using the GPS unit to follow and/or mark project area boundaries will be able to operate and trouble shoot the GPS unit.

Communication

Dozer operators shall be able to reasonably communicate (e.g. via radio) to one another while chaining to ensure proper alignment and deployment of the chain and to avoid restricted chaining areas. The Contractor is responsible for establishing a communication protocol with the dozer operators. Many areas on the Arizona Strip are remote with no cell coverage. It is advised the operators have some type of satellite communication device for safety purposes as well as reliable communication with the Contracting Officer Representative or Project Inspector.

Measurement and Payment

Measurement of Payment

Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres that are fully treated. The total will be rounded up to the nearest whole acre. Area measurements required under this Contract will be measured on a horizontal plane. The determination of the total acreage of completed work will be made by the use of a GPS unit and/or geographic information system (GIS).

There are portions of the unit that are steeper than others where some slopes are approaching or exceeding 30%. The contractor is responsible for reviewing the units sufficiently to determine if they have the technical capacity to complete the project in the terrain. The Government recognizes and respects the contractor’s right of refusal to some of these areas for safety and to prevent damage to equipment. If the contractor elects to not complete certain portions of the unit the contractor will notify the government representative within 48 hours with the location of the area and reasons as to why the area will not be completed. It is expected that these areas will not exceed 5% of the total area of any unit. Any acres not completed at the discretion of the contractor will not be paid for and the total price for the unit will be reduced by the per acre dollar amount.

Basis of Payment

Prices and payment will be full compensation for the work described in this section. Payment will be made under the following:

Pay Item Pay Unit

Chaining Acre

The Contracting Officer or representative will make periodic inspections as a basis for progress payments and recommendations for adjustments in work quality. The Contractor or representative is encouraged to observe inspections at the time they are being made. Work performed according to the specifications will be considered acceptable for payment purposes.

Chaining Specifications

The following is a detailed summary of the work required to complete the chaining treatment for all units.

Type of Work

The project involves the chaining of burnt pinyon, juniper, and various shrubs. The area to be chained will have been seeded prior to chaining so it is expected that seed to ground contact will be made with the pass of the chain.

Treatment Acreage and Areas

Current acreage of the project areas is 1,675 acres. This is the proposed acreage to be chained.

The attached maps delineate the project area boundaries with tentative islands and leave areas.

Leave areas and boundaries may be altered prior to implementation of the project to mitigate sensitive resource concerns and may result in further acreage reduction. Tree cover in the area is moderately to extremely dense with size ranging from 4-20+ inch diameter at root collar.

Treatment

The chaining shall be conducted based on a single pass with the chain dragged in J formation to create drag and prevent roll of the chain. Contractor shall not chain green trees or green tree islands unless otherwise directed. Contractor is expected to execute turns by backing up straddling the chain to avoid driving over the chain.

Chaining shall not occur when the soil is saturated or where there is sufficient soil moisture that the equipment is leaving substantial ruts (4”) as determined by the Contracting Officer or representative. If and when these conditions are encountered, the Contractor shall stop work and notify the Contracting Officer or designated representative.

Within the project area the units are separated by considerable distance. The contractor will be required to unhook the chain and transport it (not drag) to each of the units. When moving between units it will be the contractor’s discretion whether they “walk” or transport the dozer between units.

If the contractor chooses to “walk” the dozer between units the routes must be communicated to the government representative prior to moving the dozer.

Chaining shall not occur under conditions when the seed cannot be properly covered by soil. These conditions include deep snow, saturated conditions or frozen ground. If and when these conditions are encountered, the Contractor shall stop work and notify the Contracting Officer or designated representative.

The Contractor is required to protect and avoid archaeological sites, survey markers, existing physical structures and springs located within the project area from damage or removal. In case of destruction or removal by the Contractor, they will be replaced or repaired by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense. These special areas will be delineated within the avoidance areas and identified within the project area as identified on the shapefile, Avenza ready (or similar) pdf maps, or KML files to be uploaded on the contractors GPS unit and government furnished map (if requested) provided.

The Government Project Inspector will conduct periodic inspections to ensure compliance with the contract procedures and specifications.

Loading, Unloading and Transporting Property

The Contractor shall be responsible for providing the necessary handling equipment to load and unload materials and equipment. The Contractor is responsible for any damages incurred to the materials and equipment, incorporated into the work, while loading, unloading and transporting to and from the project sites. Once the work is completed, the Contractor is responsible for loading all of the equipment at the project site.

Loading and unloading of equipment should occur on established roads or within the treatment units as much as possible. The Contractor shall coordinate and gain approval of the Contracting Officer’s Representative for mobilizing the equipment to the project site.

Equipment Maintenance and Repairs

The Contractor is responsible for all maintenance and repairs of Contractor furnished equipment.

The Contractor shall complete sufficient maintenance of the equipment to prevent down-time on the project sites. The Contractor shall furnish all necessary lubricating equipment, proper lubricants and service tools to conduct minor maintenance to the dozer at the work site. The Contractor is responsible for checking bolts, nuts and other parts on dozer and harrow chain periodically to ensure operating efficiency. The Contractor is responsible for all maintenance measures to ensure proper functionality and for safety precautions.

The Contractor shall be equipped with the proper tools to conduct minor repairs to the dozers and the chain assembly at the work site.

The Contractor will be responsible for the installation or repair of all parts, necessitated by normal wear or breakage or due to the fault or negligence of the Contractor.

Areas needed to work and maintain equipment within the treatment unit may be cleared of vegetation while minimizing soil disturbance. These work areas are to be kept to the minimum amount of area required and will not exceed 1/10th of an acre. The BLM will be notified of all of these locations. Upon completion of the work, the contractor will be responsible for hand scattering removed vegetation back on the sites.

Performance Schedule

This contract needs to be tightly coordinated with a seeding contract for the same areas. Period of performance for this work shall begin as soon as possible following the seeding of this site (within the appropriate treatment timeframes). It is anticipated that all work under this contract will occur from October 19, 2026 to January 19, 2027.

The Contractor shall be required to start and complete the treatment area within the performance time identified above or as otherwise negotiated during the pre-work conference, provided weather conditions permit. If inclement weather conditions should occur prior to the Contractor completing the project, the Contractor shall be issued a stop work order and the project shall be completed as soon as weather conditions permit.

If inclement weather conditions should occur prior to the Contractor completing the project, the Contractor shall be issued a stop work order and the project shall be completed as soon as weather conditions permit, within allowable period of performance.