A04_SOW.doc

2022 Lop and Scatter Projects Performance Work Statement

A. Project Area Description and Location The contractor is responsible for furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies and materials to lop and scatter 4,660 acres of pinyon and/or juniper trees in three treatment units (Table 1, Map 1).

Table 1: Treatment Units and Acres.

The treatment units are located in Lincoln County, State of Nevada, approximately 36 to 43 miles north of Pioche, Nevada or 85 to 90 miles south of Ely, Nevada in Cave Valley and Lake Valley on lands administered by the BLM Ely District (Map 1). The area is typical great basin sagebrush communities with pinyon, juniper, and brush scattered throughout the treatment units. The Sage Grouse Habitat Improvement B021 treatment unit is within an existing habitat improvement project and consists of lop and scattering regenerating and remaining pinyon and juniper trees. The 2022 Lewis Well and B016 Atlanta Road treatment units are new areas. The Sage Grouse Habitat Improvement B021 and B016 Atlanta Road treatment units are accessed via the Atlanta Road. Access to the Atlanta Road is from US Highway 93. There are two main ways into the 2022 Lewis Well treatment unit. The first way is via the Kixmiller Road to Sidehill Pass and into Cave Valley and the treatment unit. The second way is via the Bristol Well Road to Silver King Pass and into Cave Valley and the treatment unit. Both the Kixmiller and Bristol Well roads are accessed from U.S. Highway 93. U.S. Highway 93 is a paved highway, and all other roads are well maintained dirt roads. It is advised that potential bidders become familiar with the access within the units.

Although the roads are in good condition, four-wheel drive vehicles and ATVs/UTVs are recommended due to the potential for unexpected inclement weather conditions. Overland travel with ATV’s/UTV’s may be authorized by the BLM.

The following legal land descriptions apply:

2022 Lewis Well Township 5 North, Range 63 East, Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23, and 27 Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian Township 6 North, Range 63 East, Sections 25 and 36 Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian Township 6 North, Range 64 East, Sections 19, 20, and 30 Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian B016 Atlanta Road

Township 6 North, Range 67 East, Sections 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 26, and 27 Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian Sage Grouse Habitat Improvement B021

Township 5 North, Range 66 East, Sections 13 and 24 Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian Township 5 North, Range 67 East, Sections 7, 8, and 16 – 21 Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian The treatment unit boundaries will be outlined on a map and GIS shapefiles provided by the Government. The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring that they are within treatment boundaries by utilizing a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit. The contractor may flag the boundaries of the units at their discretion however, the contractor would be responsible for the removal of all flagging. Leave areas and boundaries may be altered prior to implementation of the project to mitigate sensitive resource concerns.

It is recommended that potential bidders become familiar with access to and within the site, the density of the trees to be cut and the timing stipulations (see Section B).

B. Environmental Considerations The treatment units 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 treatment units. Existing access roads and trails within the treatment units that are damaged by the Contractor shall be restored at the Contractor’s expense to the same condition they were in at the commencement of work. Stream channels, springs and other wet areas will be avoided by vehicles and heavy equipment.

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.

Due to wildlife restrictions, work may not occur between March 1st and July 15th.

C. Work Camp

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

D. Pre-Work Conference

A pre-work conference will be held prior to the start of work. The Contractor will be notified in advance of the meeting location, date, and time. The purpose of the meeting will be to review the required work, the project location, 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.

E. Progress Meetings Meetings may be called by either the Contracting Officer or the Contractor. Meetings shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the Contracting Officer.

F. Final Inspection

Final inspection for the project area shall be held at the project site or as otherwise mutually agreed by the Government and the Contractor. The Contractor shall notify the Government 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.

G. Measurement of Payment Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres within each treatment unit (Table 1) as that unit is completed. The total will be rounded up to the nearest whole acre. Once a treatment unit is complete the acreage completed may be billed for. Area measurements required under this Contract will be measured on a horizontal plane.

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.

H. Specifications

a. Lop and Scatter All live and standing dead Pinyon and Juniper within the treatment units will be lopped and scattered regardless of the height of the tree. Lop and scatter will be conducted within the treatment units specified by the shapefiles and attached maps. Boles shall be cut as close to the ground as possible with a target stump height of less than 6 inches (90% or more of stumps cut) and a maximum height of 12 inches (not to exceed 10% of the stumps cut). Slash shall be scattered with a maximum height of 30 inches above ground level. Stumps will be cut where there are no living branches, bark or other parts of the tree left attached.

A requirement of no more than one live stem per acre remaining after treatment will be adhered to. If inspections indicate the quality of the work does not meet this standard the unit will be reworked. Standard will be randomly sampled during inspections by the government representative via a transect and communicated to the contractor point of contact. The sampled areas may involve portions of a unit and not the entire unit and will be at the discretion of the government representative. A minimum sample size of 3% will be adhered to however a sample size of 5% or more will be the goal.

Contractors are to submit a single bid for each line item on a per acre basis using the Table 2.

Table 2 – Table of treatment units by line item, treatment units, and size.

I. 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 treatment units. The Contractor is responsible for all maintenance measures to ensure proper functionality and for safety precautions.

Any fuels or oils stored on site must be stored in an approved container with an approved spill guard with berms.

J. Salvageable Items

Unsalvageable materials shall be removed from the work site by the Contractor.

K. Performance Schedule Period of performance for this work: July 16, 2022, through September 30, 2023. 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.

2022 Lop and Scatter Projects Performance Work Statement