A04_SOW.doc

Performance Work Statement

Axehandle 2023 Mastication I. General Information and Requirements

A. Description of Work The contractor is responsible for furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies and materials to masticate pinyon pine and juniper from 500 acres (Units 1-2). There may be up to an additional 497 acres (Units 3 – 7) indicated as option years that would be awarded subject to available funding in subsequent years (see attached maps). The service requested is the mastication or grinding of whole tree biomass. Method 1 will treat all pinyon pine and juniper (regardless of size) by removing them while leaving and not damaging any other species including mountain mahogany and service berry. Method 2 will leave mahogany, pinyon and juniper trees with a spacing of 45ft X 45ft and leave all other species.

Work shall begin as soon as possible following the initial award of the contract, not to exceed 30 days.

The purpose of the project is to improve the overall health of targeted vegetation communities, reduce fuel loading, reduce threat from wildland fire to structures and infrastructure and improve wildlife habitat and other watershed values.

A minimum of 500 acres and potential maximum of 997 acres of mastication will be conducted under this contract (see Table 1). Contractors are to submit a bid for each unit in accordance with Table 1. Bids are to be submitted on a cost per acre basis.

Table 1 – Table of treatment units by line item, treatment and size.

Leave areas and boundaries may be altered prior to implementation of the project to mitigate sensitive resource concerns. Treatment area boundaries will be outlined on a map 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 unit 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.

B. Work Layout

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 pdf map 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 as needed. Movement between and outside of treatment polygons will be coordinated in advance with the government to determine the need for avoidance maps. Survey markers disturbed or removed during operations shall be reset at the Contractor’s expense. Range improvements or other physical structures damaged or removed during operations shall be repaired or replaced at the Contractor’s expense.

C. Location and Access to Work Sites Work under this Contract is located in White Pine County, State of Nevada. The project area is located in Duck Creek Basin along the east side of the Duck Creek Mountain Range (refer to attached Map). The area is typical Great Basin sagebrush communities with pinyon, juniper and mountain mahogany.

Access to the treatment area is along the Duck Creek Basin Highway State Route 486 which is a paved road that can be accessed from Highway 93 approximately 15 miles north of Ely. From this road there are a few improved and unimproved roads that intersect the treatment units. There are privately owned lands within the vicinity of the treatment units. Contractors wishing to cross private lands to access the treatment units will be responsible for securing permission.

Although the roads are in good condition and the terrain within the project areas is gentle, four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to the potential for unexpected inclement weather conditions.

There are no seasonal weather restrictions unless heavy rains occur or during periods of snow melt which may result in an intermittent work schedule due to muddy conditions. Work shall not occur if project implementation is creating excessive rutting. Roads will be considered impassable when saturated and access into the project area may be closed by the government during this time.

The following legal land descriptions apply:

· Township 17 North; Range 64 East; Sections 1, 2, 12-14 and 24; MDM.

· Township 18 North; Range 64 East; Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36; MDM.

D. Environmental Considerations

Due to timing restrictions for sensitive resources, treatments will not occur from 3/1 to 7/31. These timing restrictions shall be built into the proposal. No extensions to the performance period will be granted due to these timing restrictions.

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 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.

E. 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 seven days of camp abandonment. Final payment will be reserved subject to inspection of these sites by BLM and approval of site cleanup.

II. PROJECT MEETINGS

A. Pre-Work Conference A pre-work conference will be held prior to the start of work, and within seven days of Contract award. 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.

B. 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.

C. Final Inspection

The meeting shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer 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.

III. Government Furnished and contractor furnished Property

A. Materials Furnished by the Government

The Government will provide a map with the project area boundaries, and a shapefile of the project area boundaries (for GPS upload). Maps provided within this statement of work represent a general depiction of the work area boundaries may change prior to the initiation of work. Tree densities, terrain and geographic area will be similar to those depicted within the units on the attached maps.

B. Equipment Furnished by the Contractor

The contractor will at a minimum provide one functioning GPS unit capable of downloading 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 equipment shall:

· Be a wheeled or tracked mounted vehicle equipped with either hydraulic or PTO driven cutter head with a minimum head lift height of 12.5’ to alter the vegetation type in accordance with the specified level of work, prescription, or as otherwise as described under specifications.

· Preference will be given to tracked machines (due to slope and leave vegetation) with grinding heads attached to a boom that enable the operator to reach over leave vegetation and vertically grind the trees to be removed. If other machines are proposed clearly address how the objectives will be met.

· Be of durable design and construction to withstand the stresses of natural obstructions within pinyon-juniper woodlands such as rocks, stumps, dust, and the general unevenness of the land.

· Be free of fluid leaks and have hoses in good operating condition.

· Be equipped with a head capable of performing the work described in this document.

· Be of a quality that guarantees the contractor’s safety.

· Meet or exceed the requirements listed in Fire Prevention/Suppression Section.

· The contractor’s GPS (as required) shall be capable of uploading ArcGIS shapefiles.

· Contractor shall insure that all equipment moved on to BLM administered land under this contract is free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold weeds and weed seeds. For purposes of this provision, equipment shall be considered free of soil, seeds, and other such debris when a visual inspection does not disclose such material. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools will not be required. A current list of noxious weeds of concern to the BLM is available at the Ely Field Office for this contract. Known noxious weed areas near the project will be discussed with the successful contractor during the pre-work conference. Areas with known noxious weeds should be avoided if possible. Contractor and CO shall agree on methods of cleaning, locations for the cleaning, and control of off-site impacts, if any. New infestations of noxious weeds of concern to the BLM, identified by either Contractor or the BLM, on BLM land in the Project Area or on the route to the Project Area shall be promptly reported to the other party.

C. Fire Prevention/Suppression

The contractor shall:

a) Equip all diesel and/or gasoline operated engines with spark arresters.

b) Equip all machines with one shovel, and one 12 pound (minimum) “ABC” fire extinguisher.

c) Remove all concentrations of wood dust and debris from equipment daily.

IV. Measurement and Payment A. Measurement of Payment

Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres within each treatment unit (see 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 and recorded with a GPS unit.

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.

V. Specifications

A. Method 1 Remove all pinyon and juniper trees within the designated boundaries (including dead standing). All other tree species and shrubs will not be removed or damaged.

· The by-product of mastication will be a mulch layer less than 6 inches deep, and slash shall be ground or cut, such that 90 percent of woody pieces less than 12 inches in diameter is greater than 3 feet in length. Large boles and branches that exceed 12 inches in diameter may be longer than 3 feet such that they are completely severed from the ground and smaller branches are removed.

· Sever and/or masticate all trees within the project area as identified on the map. All stumps shall be cut so they are no greater than 6 inches in height on the uphill side above mineral soil. If obstacles are encountered, such as rocks, the mastication attachment may be raised to clear the obstacle.

· Work shall not occur if project implementation is creating excessive rutting when the ground is saturated. Work may resume only when the area has sufficiently dried out.

· Any/all skid trails or two-track roads or any other disturbance created by equipment or vehicles maneuvering the project area will be reclaimed as a part of the site cleanup requirements.

· Project must be completed and any necessary rehabilitation must be completed within one calendar year of award.

· Crossing perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral drainage features would be avoided unless deemed absolutely necessary. If it is deemed necessary to cross these features, crossing of drainage features with flowing water would be coordinated with the BLM. Crossing of dry drainage features would be conducted as close to 90 degrees to the long axis of the feature as possible and would minimize disturbance. Damage to drainage features may require repair at the contractors expense to restore natural water flow.

· Contractor may be required to furnish two warning signs to be placed on the roadside prior to entrance to the work area at the governments discretion. Signs shall be a minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet in dimension and shall warn of possibility of flying debris.

· Contractor shall ensure placing fuel containment barrier if storing fuel on project site.

· All units have young trees (less than 2 feet in height) growing. All of these trees must be removed.

B. Method 2

Treatments conducted under method 2 would incorporate all of the specifications from method 1 with the exception of leave trees. Dead standing trees do not need to be masticated. Under method 2 healthy mahogany, live pinyon and live juniper would be left with an average spacing of 45 ft X 45 ft as measured from the bole. Leaves trees will vary in size representing all age classes of trees on site starting from 6’ in height up to the largest trees in the treatment unit. Trees that are left should be healthy trees that are free from disease and damage. All mahogany will be left regardless of densities and will be included in the calculation of leave trees. Where mahogany density falls below 22 trees per acre or approximate spacing of 45 ft X 45 ft preference will be given to leaving pinyon trees over juniper trees if there is an option. All other tree and shrub species will not be removed or damaged.

C. Treatment Acreage and Areas

Up to 997 acres of public lands would be treated within the project area delineated on the attached map. Work under this Contract is located in White Pine County, State of Nevada. The project area is located in Duck Creek Basin along the east side of the Duck Creek Mountain Range (refer to attached Map).

The attached map delineates the project area boundary with tentative islands and leave areas. Leave areas and boundaries may be altered prior to implementation of the project to mitigate sensitive resource concerns.

Within the treatment units the density of mountain mahogany and other target and leave species varies greatly. It is the responsibility of the contractor to properly evaluate these tree densities in order to avoid damage to them during treatment.

Slope within the treatment units is generally rolling ridges with some several slopes exceeding 20% with some rocks. It is the responsibility of the contractor to properly evaluate these units in order to ensure the equipment is capable of completing the described work.

D. Loading, Unloading and Transporting Property

Overland travel may be authorized by the BLM outside of the treatment units to transport equipment and machines between units. The contractor must coordinate with the BLM prior to traveling outside of the treatment units.

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 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.

F. Performance Schedule

Period of performance for this work shall begin as soon as possible following the initial award of the contract, not to exceed 30 days, within the appropriate treatment timeframes (see Table 2). The end of the performance period will be one calendar year from the date of the award.

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.

Axehandle Mastication, 2023 Statement of Work