A04_SOW.doc

2023 Elko District Fall Shrub Planting Statement of Work

SUMMARY

Furnish labor, equipment, supplies, and materials to bare root Antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata, PUTR2) seedlings. The total project boundary is approximately 1,333 acres for planting, at nine different planting locations, and a total of approximately 400,000 seedlings. Period of performance will be between Oct 1, 2023, and November 15, 2023.

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS - SHRUB PLANTING

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Furnishing labor, equipment, supplies, and materials to plant approximately 400,000 bare root Antelope bitterbrush (PUTR2) seedlings. The total project area to be planted is approximately 1,333 acres within the 10,384-acre Wildcat Fire burn perimeter in northern Elko County, Nevada. The seedlings shall be planted in a density of 300 seedlings per acre, with a 12-foot X 12-foot spacing.

LOCATION OF WORK

The planting area is spread across nine planting sites located within the 10,384-acre Wildcat fire perimeter in northern Elko County, Nevada.

Included as attachments are two maps: Map 1 shows the Wildcat fire perimeter and the seedling planting locations; Map 2 is a general proximity map showing the location of the project area in relation to cities and major roads.

BOUNDARIES OF PROJECT AREAS

The actual boundaries of the seedling planting project areas will be made available by the Project Inspector through GIS shapefiles or georeferenced PDF maps. Project areas will not be flagged. For each location, the seedling planting areas will fall within the polygon on the location map based on plantable conditions. Therefore, not all the area within each polygon may be planted, however, the Contractor is responsible for ensuring they plant the correct number of acres based on the density identified on this SOW and plantable areas. If there isn’t enough plantable acres within the locations identified, the Contractor will work with the COR for additional plantable areas.

ACCESS TO PROJECT AREAS

Offerors or quoters are urged and expected to inspect the site where services are to be performed and to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the cost of contract performance, to the extent that the information is reasonably obtainable. In no event shall failure to inspect the site constitute grounds for a claim after contract award. Inquiries about project location are welcome, and maps to assist in site visits are available. BLM will not be offering a pre-bid tour of the locations. It is the Contractors responsibility to identify the best access routes to the sites. Due to the timing of the contract and project locations, the BLM recommends 4-wheel drive vehicles for access to the sites. It is the Contractors responsibility to access the sites and the bid amount shall reflect those costs per acre.

All-Terrain Vehicles: If an all-terrain vehicle is used, it shall be of such design that it will travel over rough, uneven terrain and not create wheel ruts and channels. The all-terrain vehicle must meet with the approval of the Government.

BLM is not responsible for access through private property.

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES

Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, planting tools, materials, and containers for carrying seedlings during planting, space blankets, slurry and water containers for dipping seedlings, and incidentals necessary to perform planting services. The planting tools, materials, and containers for carrying seedlings during planting operations shall be of design normally used in seedling planting work, see attached Great Basin Factsheet, pages 4 & 5. Planting tools must be capable of opening a hole perpendicular to the ground surface, broken on 3 sides, and at least 10 inches deep and 4 inches wide. Augers must be capable of opening a hole at least 10 inches deep and 4 inches in diameter.

CREW REQUIREMENTS

a. The Contractor shall always maintain an adequate work force to insure timely completion of the work.

b. At the pre-work conference, and weekly throughout the contract, the Contractor shall provide a work schedule, which must be acceptable to the Government.

c. The operation contained in this contract shall have crew size requirements that are sufficient for timely completion. It shall be the Contractor's responsibility to provide multiple crews as necessary.

d. Estimated start work date appears in the Planting Data Sheet.

e. The Contractor shall obtain written authorization from the Project Inspector prior to camping on BLM administered lands.

f. Prior notice must be given to the COR if there is to be a significant change in crew personnel or working schedule.

SUPERVISORS

a. A non-planting (English literate) supervisor, who is knowledgeable and experienced in seedling planting and supervision, shall be provided for each crew, and is required to stay with the crew while planting is in progress. No more than twelve planters are to be supervised by one non-planting supervisor.

b. The supervisor shall insure proper seedling care, handling and planting. Should the supervisor fail to adequately perform these duties, the Government has the right to request a substitution.

c. Persons designated by the Contractor as supervisors must perform in that capacity. This person shall be capable of speaking and reading English well enough to ensure good communications with the Project Inspector. Any group of people without such an individual will not be considered a crew. The supervisor must therefore effectively direct the crew by:

1. Making periodic inspections of the crew's work,

2. Advising them as to deficient work, and

3. Providing instructions for correcting such deficiencies.

d. The Contractor is fully responsible for the proper planting of the seedlings by the crew(s). The Project Inspector will not act as a supervisor to the crews.

e. The planting crew(s) shall know the requirements of the contract, including, but not limited to, unit location, seedling care, proper planting, spacing, scalping, and clearing.

f. Crews must be always kept together working as a crew under control of a supervisor rather than as individuals in separate areas.

SUPERINTENDENCE BY CONTRACTOR

The Contractor shall give his personal superintendence to the work or have a competent foreman or superintendent satisfactory to the Contracting Officer, on the project always during contract performance, with authority to act for the Contractor.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

a. The Government will provide seedlings of the species/type to be planted in each item under this contract. These are further specified on the Supplemental Specifications -Planting Data Sheet.

b. The Government will furnish seedlings from the storage site at either the Elko District Office or other area identified by the COR at the prework conference.

c. The Contractor shall reimburse the Government for all lost, wasted, or damaged Government-furnished material.

d. The Government will provide a Project Inspector to ensure work follows contract specifications.

DISTRIBUTION AND CARE OF SEEDLINGS

a. Seedlings will be issued to the Contractor at the storage site (Elko District Office) or other location agreed upon on a daily basis unless otherwise specified by the COR. Seedlings shall be protected against damage to tops and roots, including damage from freezing, heating and drying.

b. Seedling availability will be based on the work schedule submitted by the Contractor. Contractor will be responsible for transporting and storing the seedlings prior to planting. Multiple trips from the project area may be required based on crew size and planting rate. This will be the responsibility of the Contractor to receive and transport seedlings.

c. Seedlings will not be dispersed if inclement weather conditions indicate planting would not be allowed on the site.

d. Seedlings may be transported in open pickups if fully covered with space blankets. Seedlings shall not be transported in heated vehicles.

e. Upon arrival at the planting site, seedlings shall be protected from direct sunlight, frost and wind and provided with proper air circulation around bundles or boxes. A space blanket covering shall be used for proper protection. The Project Inspector must approve the location and method of storage at the planting site.

f. Immediately upon removal from the nursery packages, the bare root seedlings shall be soaked in slurry from their root collar to the tips of their roots for a minimum of two minutes. The water container will be capable of holding a minimum of 30 gallons. The water source for this is the responsibility of the Contractor and must meet the approval of the Project Inspector. Soaked seedlings will be immediately placed into planting bags or other containers.

g. The number of seedlings placed in a planting bag shall be limited to a number that allows the removal of individual seedlings without damage to the tops and roots.

h. During the planting operation, planters shall remove only one seedling at a time from the planting bag or container and only after the planting hole has been prepared.

i. When seedling culling is required, it shall only be performed under the direct supervision of the Project Inspector.

j. When dryness of roots, mold, or other evidence of damage to seedlings is detected, the Project Inspector shall be notified immediately.

k. If inclement weather conditions, which could damage seedlings or interfere with proper planting, occur during the planting operation, the Project Inspector may suspend planting until conditions improve. Inclement weather conditions include freezing or high temperatures, drying winds, low humidity, and snowfall. When planting is suspended, any unused seedlings shall be returned to the storage point as directed by the Project Inspector. Examples of inclement weather conditions include, but are not limited to:

1. The soil being frozen over ½ inch deep.

2. More than one inch of snow on the ground.

3. Air temperature is below 30 or above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Wind speeds, excluding occasional gusts, greater than 15 mph.

l. Daily, or when a unit is completed or terminated, or as directed by the Project Inspector, all unused seedlings, empty containerized seedling cells and/or trays shall be returned to the storage point in a condition and manner that is approved by the Project Inspector. The removal and disposal of seedling boxes and other refuse because of planting is the responsibility of the Contractor.

m. Seedlings shall not be mistreated or mishandled in any manner. Palming will be allowed with the approval of the Project Inspector.

PLANTING SPECIFICATIONS

Attached to this contract is the Great Basin Factsheet that provides information on planting shrub seedlings (pg. 4 & 5). On page 5 of this attachment, please refer to Figure 5 which shows proper planting of bareroot seedlings. This standard shall be followed for the containerized plants as well; however, you will remove the plants (with associated) soil and plant them in the ground. Contractors are responsible for ensuring shrubs are planted properly.

WHERE TO PLANT

Plantable

Planters shall plant all areas, unless they meet one or more of the conditions defined as unplantable below.

Unplantable – An unplantable area (spot) is characterized by one or more of the following conditions:

1. Soil covering slash or debris subject to rapid drying.

2. Rock outcrops, talus slopes and areas of stones, cobbles, or gravel over 12" deep.

3. Areas covered by compacted slash over 12" depth.

4. Other areas as designated by the Project Inspector.

The Project Inspector on the project site will indicate examples of unplantable and plantable area.

Where an unplantable spot is encountered, the planter shall plant the closest plantable spot, however, average spacing shall be maintained for the unit and the number of seedlings planted per acre shall not be materially increased or decreased due to planter selection of planting spots.

No seedling shall be planted closer than half the specified average spacing distance from other seedlings.

PLANTING SPOT PREPARATION

The planting spot may be exposed mineral soil or covered with vegetation, gravel, or slash, which will require a clearing effort before planting. Clearing will include the removal of all debris, gravel, humus, ash and living vegetation. In areas or spots meeting the above conditions, cleared spots shall be equal to the depth of the condition requiring clearing (e.g., 12" slash equals a 12" diameter cleared spot). Cleared spots shall be no smaller than 12" in diameter. In all cases, the spot cleared must be large enough to prevent any surface debris from falling into the planting hole.

SHRUB SEEDLING PLACEMENT

The seedlings shall be suspended near the center of the hole with roots in a near natural arrangement at a depth that, after filling, packing, and leveling, the root collar is even with or slightly below the firmed soil level. No portion of the roots shall be exposed.

PLANTING HOLE

Contractor is responsible for properly planting with hand tools to a depth of ten (10"). The planting hole must be wide enough to insure full suspension of root system.

AUGER PLANTING

a. If using an auger, the planting hole shall be drilled by using a power-driven soil auger equivalent to the Little Beaver Post Hole Digger. The auger bit size shall be large enough to produce a hole at least 4" in diameter and 10" deep. All debris such as duff, ashes, rotten wood, loose rock, snow, and surface frost shall be cleared away to expose bare, moist mineral soil in a spot at least one foot in diameter before drilling the planting hole. The drill hole shall be perpendicular to the ground surface.

b. The seedling shall be suspended in the center of the hole. Moist mineral soil shall be brought into the hole and firmly packed around the shrub roots, particularly at the bottom of the hole, by hand or means of a blunt, wooden tool.

UNIT PRIORITY

The sequence of work will be determined by the COR at the pre-work conference and may be subject to change. Certain project areas may be designated as higher priority units, which would require an earlier completion than the bulk of the contract units. The Contractor will keep the COR informed of crew location and any time a unit is completed or a new unit is started.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DEFINITIONS

Bare root seedling - a seedling grown from one to three years in the ground at a seedling nursery. Most soil is removed from the roots before the seedlings are packed for shipment.

Culling - the discarding of individual seedlings from the seedling lot being planted.

Containerized seedling- a seedling grown in a container with soil at a nursery. The seedlings come packaged in the container ready to be planted with the soil in the ground.

"Other" shrubs - natural, previously planted or recently planted conifers readily seen by the Contractor. The Project Inspector at the planting site will indicate examples of size and location.

Palming - holding the shrub roots in the hand while placing the shrub in the prepared planting hole.

Pruning - the cutting or tearing of shrub seedling tops, roots or branches with pruning clippers, other tools or by hand.

Slurry - a mixture of ground peat moss and water, or other slurry mixtures as specified in the Supplemental Specifications - Planting Data Sheet, in which shrub seedling root systems are dipped prior to being placed in planting bags.

Space Blanket - provides shrub seedlings protection from direct sunlight, frost, wind and proper air circulation around bundles or boxes of shrub seedlings. The space blanket provided shall be the equivalent of International Reforestation Suppliers "Heat Shield" seedling protection tarp.

Supplemental Specifications - information specific to this district project.

Supplemental Specifications - Planting Data Sheet - includes size of unit, planting method, shrub species, type of treatment, spacing, number of units, size -range, and miscellaneous information.

CONTRACT TIME

The Contractor shall begin work within 5 calendar days from the effective date of the award. The Contractor shall continue performance of the work under the contract without delay or interruption except by causes beyond his control as defined by contract clauses, or by the receipt of a "Stop Work Order” issued by the Government. Failure to do so may be cause for action under the "Default" clause. The Contractor shall complete all work required within the time specified in the Planting Data Sheet.

PRE-WORK CONFERENCE AND PROGRESS PLAN

Pre-work Conference- The date and time of the pre-work conference will be determined by the Contractor and the COR. At the pre-work conference, the Contractor shall provide to the COR a written "work progress plan" that details his proposed work force and timeframe to provide for orderly completion of the work within the contract performance time. This work progress plan must be acceptable to the Government. At a minimum, the work progress plan should reflect a work progress rate equal to the available amount of contract performance time. The unit sequence work progress plan will be determined by the COR at the pre-work conference and may be subject to change because of normal variations in weather conditions at no change in contract time or price.

Progress Plan- The work progress plan will be used as a guide to measure the Contractor's performance as well as to calculate the rate of seedling deliveries required to meet contract needs. If, for reasons other than adverse weather conditions, the Contractor fails to maintain his work progress plan on plantable areas and the delivered seedlings must be destroyed because of exposure or excessive storage time, the Contractor shall be liable for the Government's full cost of the destroyed seedlings. That cost will be equal to the current nursery selling price, plus delivery.

Work shall progress in accordance with the established schedule. If the Contractor's progress falls behind 20 percent of the established work schedule, the Contractor's right to proceed may be terminated for default if satisfactory progress is not attained within three (3) working days after receipt by the Contractor of a written notice of deficient performance.

WORK HOURS

Work hours under this contract shall be limited to the time between one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset each day. No work will be done on Saturday, Sunday or Federal Holidays unless mutually agreed to by the COR and the Contractor.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Environmental -The Contracting Officer, by issuance of a stop work order, may direct the Contractor to shut down any work that may be subject to damage due to weather conditions or fire danger. The Contractor will be given a resume work order, which will document the date the stop work notice ends. An allowance has been included in the contract time for short-term environmental delays up to one day at a time. The count of contract time will therefore continue during work interruptions of one day or less, but the count of contract time will stop during work interruptions more than one day at a time. All periods of interruptions directed by the Government will be documented. The Contractor will not be entitled to additional monetary compensation for such suspensions regardless of duration.

Endangered Species -The Government may direct the Contractor to discontinue all operations if listed or proposed threatened or endangered plants or animals protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, or Federal candidate (Category 1 and 2), sensitive or state listed species, identified under BLM Manual 6840, are discovered to be present in or adjacent to the project area. Actions taken under this paragraph shall be subject to the Stop Work Clause, FAR 52.212-12.

Cultural Resources -If, in connection with operations under this contract, the Contractor, subcontractors, or the employees of any of them, discovers, encounters or becomes aware of any objects or sites of cultural value on the project area, such as historical or prehistoric ruins, graves or grave markers, fossils, or artifacts, the Contractor shall immediately suspend all operations in the vicinity of the cultural value and shall notify the COR of the findings. Operations may resume at the discovery site upon receipt of written instructions. No objects of cultural resource value may be removed.

Survey markers such as section corners or quarter corners shall not be disturbed during operations. If survey markers are disturbed or removed during operations, they shall be reset at the Contractor’s expense. BLM will be notified immediately upon occurrence of damage.

RESTORATION OF RESOURCES

a. Cleanup - The Contractor is responsible for cleaning up all camp and worksites before leaving the area. Final payment may be withheld until the Contractor has complied with this requirement.

b. Access Roads - Public or private access roads damaged by the Contractor shall be restored, at his expense, to the same condition they were in at the commencement of work.

FOUND EQUIPMENT

Should any of the Contractor's personnel find equipment on a project area, it is their duty to report the discovery to the Project Inspector. It will be the Project Inspector's responsibility to return any such equipment to the proper facility. Any U.S. Government property found on the project area (i.e., fire hose, hand tools, etc.) is the property of the U.S. Government.

IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED MATERIAL

a. Improper disposal includes, but is not limited to, the wrongful ditching, hiding, or burying of Government-furnished material (GFM). The Government may, by issuance of a written order, suspend the Contractor's right to proceed for improper disposal of GFM. The Contractor may be required to remove from the contract site any individuals involved in the improper disposal of GFM.

b. The Contractor will be charged for the actual costs of the improperly disposed GFM. The costs will be based on the current market value and any associated costs.

MEASUREMENT OF PAYMENT

Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres that are satisfactorily completed in accordance with specifications in this contract. Payment will be made at the unit price per acre specified in the Bid Schedule and shall include cost of all work described in these specifications. All measurements will be based on a horizontal plane and will not include the non-plantable areas of the project locations.

Mobilization includes all preparatory work and operations, including those necessary to the movement of personnel, equipment, supplies, plants, and incidentals to the project site; and for other work and operations which must be performed, or cost incurred prior to beginning work and after completion on the various items on the project site. All costs associated with mobilization and transportation of plants to the project site need to be incorporated into the total cost per acre for planting.

The Contracting Officer’s Representative or Project Inspector 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. However, the Contractor bears the responsibility to make sure that they are completing work according to the specifications of the Contract through quality assurance checks of their own. Work performed according to the specifications will be considered acceptable for payment progress.

SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS – PLANTING DATA SHEET

UNIT

PLANTING

SEEDLINGS

SNOW

NO. OF

LOCATION 1.

METHOD

SPECIES/AGE

QUANTITY

TREATMENT

SPACING

PER ACRE

POTENTIAL ACRES

TYPE

Wildcat Acres

PUTR2/1 YR

400,000 Shrub Planting (12’ Spacing)

High

1,333 Bareroot

APPROXIMATE PERFORMANCE PERIOD: 45 Days from Issuance of Contract

LOCATION & LANDSCAPE: Mountainous terrain

Approximate numbers of seedlings to be planted as follows: 300 seedlings per acre over 1,333 total acres = 400,000 total shrub seedlings. Not all areas of the project boundary may be defined as plantable. The basis for payment will not include areas determined as non-plantable, only acres planted.

Tools permissible: Planting bar, planting shovel, hodad, or planting hoe, or dibble. Auger planting is acceptable if in compliance with the stipulations in this document and site conditions, as determined by the Project Inspector, allow suitable auger planting.

Note: Nevada has very harsh sites with usually very limited planting windows. Planting windows commonly may last for as little as three (3) days on a site but have been known to last as long as three (3) weeks. It is also common for the sites in Nevada to begin to open, allowing for planting to begin, and then close due to freezing conditions. Because of the potential short planting windows, it is imperative that the Contractor begins work at first notification of the windows opening. The 30-calendar day performance time is meant to incorporate the period of time when the majority of our planting windows are opening and closing.

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