A04_SOW.doc

Mechanical Fuels Reduction – Fife Point Chaining

Issuing Office: BLM Nevada State Office

Location: BLM Ely Field Office

Statement of Work

I. General Information and Requirements

A. 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 associated attachments and seed), to chain 1,475 acres of green pinyon and juniper southeast of Caliente, NV in the Clover Mountains.

Work required will be a double pass chaining with the second pass conducted in the opposite direction as the first pass. The chain to be used will be an Ely anchor chain (battleship anchor chain with railroad iron welded perpendicular to the chain links). The Government will apply seed to the site after the first pass is completed, and prior to the second pass. The Contractor shall reopen existing roads within the project area once the second pass is completed. However, the Elly Spring Road needs to be reopened daily if chaining occurs across the road.

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 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 contractor will provide to the Contracting Officer’s Representative every 3 days during the first and second pass a shapefile depicting the route covered.

The terrain varies from gently to moderately rolling hills with very few large rocks. Two dozers capable of towing an Ely anchor chain (battleship anchor chain with rail welded perpendicular to the links) will be required to complete the work. Contractors shall submit a bid on a per acre basis.

B. Work Layout

The project area is 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) of the project area boundary to the Contractor. A 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. Cadastral survey markers and archaeological avoidance areas will also be flagged onsite by the Government. 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.

C. Location and Access to Work Sites The project is located in Lincoln County, NV approximately 12 miles southeast of Caliente, NV. The project lies within the Clover Mountains (Map 1).

Access to the treatment area is via the Clover Creek Road, to the Barnes Canyon Road which leads to the project. The Clover Creek Road is accessed from US highway 93 in the town of Caliente, NV. Both roads are well-maintained county roads. However, there is a water crossing on the Clover Creek Road and the Union Pacific Railroad must be crossed at the beginning of the Barnes canyon Road (Map 1).

The following legal land descriptions apply for the project area:

Township 5 South, Range 68 East, Sections 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 33 Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian D. Environmental Considerations

The project sites 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 and adjacent to the project area that are damaged by the Contractor shall be restored and cleared of downed trees at the Contractor’s expense to the same condition they were at the commencement of work. 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 should be within the chaining area and shall be approved by the BLM. To prevent excess ground disturbance and potential access roads, the chain shall be disconnected from the dozers prior to moving them to a fueling or maintenance staging area (i.e., do not drag the chain to the same location day after day to fuel or maintain dozers).

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.

The dozers shall be configured in a “J” or “U” formation to prevent excessive dragging of the chain. The operators shall configure the dozers in a fashion, so the chain is rolling as much as possible to prevent excessive soil disturbance and excessive tree piling. See the attached informational document on proper chaining techniques to consider.

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

Identified cultural sites, 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.

E. 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.

The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative at least seven (7) days prior to finishing the first pass, so seeding can be scheduled. Every effort will be made to prevent delay of the second pass from the seeding operation. However, the Contractor shall be prepared to accommodate seeding operations for at least two days between the first and second pass.

Chaining operations shall begin October 1, 2021 and be completed no later than December 31, 2021.

F. 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.

G. PROJECT MEETINGS

1. Pre-Work Conference A pre-work conference will be held prior to the start of work. The Contractor and Contracting Officer’s Representative will schedule a time for the meeting location, date, and time. The purpose of the meeting will be to review the required work, the project locations, project specifications, the work schedule, payroll and payments 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

II. Government Furnished and Contractor Furnished Property

A. Materials Furnished by the Government

The Government will provide paper and electronic copies of maps with the project area boundaries, and a shapefile of the project area boundaries (for GPS upload).

B. Equipment Furnished by the Government

1. Ely Anchor Chain and Associated Apparatus The Government will provide an Ely anchor chain, pigtail chains, swivels, clevises and associated pins, and repair parts for the above-mentioned equipment.

The Ely anchor chain and pigtail chains weigh an estimated 22,000 to 28,500 pounds. The overall length of the Ely anchor chain and pigtail chains will be approximately 180 to 200 feet in length.

The Government-furnished materials and equipment will be provided by the Bureau of Land Management located at 702 North Industrial Way in Ely, Nevada. The materials and equipment will be available for pick-up Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on holidays. Pick-up time should be scheduled at least two (2) working days in advance. Equipment to pick-up and move government-furnished materials to be provided by the Contractor.

C. Equipment Furnished by the Contractor

1. 2 Dozers The Contractor will be responsible for furnishing two dozers capable of pulling an Ely anchor chain assembly which is approximately 180 to 200 feet in overall length and weighs an estimated 22,000 to 28,500 pounds. The dozers must be furnished with skilled and experienced 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.

2. GPS Units

The Contractor shall, at a minimum, provide one functioning GPS unit capable of uploading, recording shapefiles, 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. The contractor will provide to the Contracting Officer’s Representative every 3 days during the first and second pass a shapefile depicting the route covered.

3. Communication Dozer operators shall be able to reasonably communicate 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.

III. Measurement and Payment A. Measurement of Payment

Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres that are fully treated (double chained). The total will be rounded up to the nearest whole acre. Billing may occur once the first pass has been completed for the entire treatment area. Once the first pass is completed for the treatment area, the acreage may be billed at a rate equal to half of the per acre bid price. 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 using a GPS unit and/or geographic information system (GIS).

B. Basis of Payment

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

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.

IV. Chaining Specifications The following is a detailed summary of the work required to complete the chaining treatment.

A. Type of Work

The project involves the double chaining of pinyon and juniper. The area is dominated by pinyon and juniper with declining amounts of native shrubs and perennial, herbaceous species.

A double pass (twice over) chaining shall be conducted. The first pass will be conducted prior to aerial seeding. Once the first pass in completed, aerial seeding will immediately follow. The aerial seeding will be conducted and administered by the Government. Once the aerial seeding is completed, chaining will immediately follow a second time in the opposite direction. The second pass will occur in the opposite direction of the first pass to assist in further removing targeted vegetation and assist in imbedding the seed mixture into the soil. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative at least seven (7) days prior to finishing the first pass so aerial seeding can be scheduled.

B. Treatment Acreage and Areas

Acreage of the project area is 1,475 acres. Maps 2 and 3 depict where the project will occur.

The area where the chaining occurs is low to moderate terrain with some rocks. There are drainages that run though the area that consist of moderate terrain. Tree cover in the area is dense with size ranging from 3-20+ inch diameter at root collar. If areas are encountered that are excessively steep or rocky, the Contractor shall discuss these with the Contracting Officer’s Representative to determine proper course of action.

C. Treatment The chaining shall be conducted based on a double pass. The first pass will be conducted prior to aerial seeding. Once the first pass is completed, aerial seeding will immediately follow. The aerial seeding will be conducted and administered by the BLM under separate contract. Once the aerial seeding is completed, chaining will immediately follow a second time in the opposite direction of the first pass to assist in further removing targeted vegetation and assist in embedding the seed mixture into the soil.

The dozers will pull the Ely anchor chain in a “J” or “U” formation with the horizontal dozer spacing at approximately 90 feet and the vertical dozer spacing at approximately 50 feet (“J” formation). The contractor shall adjust dozer spacing or chain length to ensure the chain is “rolling” along the ground as much as possible to prevent dragging and piling of trees. See attached literature on proper chaining technique to follow.

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

Chaining of the second pass 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 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 to be uploaded on the GPS unit and map provided.

D. Loading, Unloading and Transporting Property

The Contractor shall be responsible for providing the necessary handling equipment to load and unload materials and equipment. Transportation of all Government furnished items to and from the project sites must be arranged and supplied by the Contractor. 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. The Contractor is responsible for loading all the equipment (Ely anchor/smooth chain, pigtail chains, swivels, clevises, seed dribblers and other necessary parts) at the BLM ware-yard, transporting all of the equipment to the project site, unloading and assembling all of the equipment at the project site. Once the work is completed, the Contractor is responsible for loading all the equipment at the project site, transporting it to the BLM ware-yard and unloading the equipment at the BLM ware-yard.

Loading and unloading of equipment should occur on established roads or within the treatment area 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.

E. 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 dozers at the work site. The Contractor is responsible for checking bolts, nuts and other parts on dozers and Ely anchor chain periodically to ensure tightness and 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 Ely anchor chain assembly at the work site.

The Government will supply parts for the Ely anchor chain, pigtail chains, swivels, clevises, and pins that fail due to normal wear. The Contractor will be responsible for parts to the Ely anchor chain, pigtail chains, swivels, clevises, and pins if damage occurs due to negligence by the Contractor. 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.

Under no circumstances will the Contractor make any modifications to the Ely anchor chain assembly without prior approval from the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative. The Contractor is responsible for returning the Ely anchor chain without damage and in good working condition. The Contractor is responsible for returning the swivels cleaned (free of rocks, wood, dirt, and other debris) and lubricated.

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 these locations. Upon completion of the work, the contractor will be responsible for hand seeding (the BLM will provide seed) these sites and scattering removed vegetation back on the sites.

F. Performance Schedule

Period of performance for this work shall be from October 1, 2021 and be completed no later than December 31, 2021. 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 weather prevents the project from being completed within the timeframe above, arrangements shall be made with the Contracting Officer to finish the project in a timely manner.

Fife Point Chaining Work Statement