A04_SOW.doc

PETERSEN MOUNTAIN UNIT

AND

UPPER COLONY UNIT

FUELS MAINTENANCE PROJECT

STATEMENT OF WORK

6/08/2023

PURPOSE

The purpose of this request contract is to secure the service of mowing of brush and grass on 1493 acres within two geographically separate units for the purpose of hazard fuels reduction. The project will modify the structure, amount, and continuity of flammable vegetation within the treatment units and prepare a portion of the treatment units for subsequent seeding in order to reduce fire intensity.

LOCATION

The project is located on two geographically distinct units on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management’s Carson City Field Office.

- Petersen Mountain Units (398 acres): consists of 5 discontinuous sub-units all located approximately 10-15 miles northwest of Reno Nevada in Lassen County California and Washoe County Nevada. Units are in the vicinity of the community of Cold Springs NV, and Hallelujah Junction CA. Units are approximately 1-4 miles apart from each other, and movement of equipment between sites may require trailering.

- Upper Colony Unit (1095 acres): consists of 6 nearby yet discontinuous sub-units, all located along Upper Colony Road, near the community of Wellington in Lyon County NV. Units are approximately 1-3 miles apart from each other, and movement of equipment between sites may require trailering.

PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION

Vegetation in the area is typical of the western Great Basin and consists of a diverse mix of grasses, forbs, and scattered light brush such as sagebrush, bitterbrush, desert peach and rabbitbrush. Some scattered Pinyon and Juniper trees can be found in the Upper Colony Road Unit. All treatment units were previously treated by mastication and mowing between 2006 and 2011, and most of the treatment units were subject to a mowing maintenance treatment between 2014 and 2017.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Government does not assume obligation to plow snow or do special maintenance to keep roads open.

- Petersen Mountain Units (398 acres): Access to the project area is by US Hwy 395 north from Reno. The treatment units on the west side of Petersen Mountain in California are accessed using two-track dirt roads off US Hwy 395. The treatment units on the east side of Petersen Mountain and adjacent to the communities of Cold Springs and Silver Knolls in Nevada are accessed using two-track dirt roads and paved residential streets from/within the communities of Cold Springs and Silver Knolls. The project sub-units are generally accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles, although high clearance 4WD will improve access options.

- Upper Colony Unit (1095 acres): Access to the project area is by US 395 south from Gardnerville NV, then HWY 208 East, then Upper Colony Road (paved). One side of each sub-unit is generally located in very close proximity to paved roads.

BOUNDARIES

The Government will load the treatment unit boundary into devices with GPS capability (e.g., Garmin GPS, Trimble GPS, iPad and/or iPhone with the Avenza PDF Maps app) provided by the Contractor. Areas within the treatment units to be excluded from treatment will be either noted on GPS device or marked with flagging. Any flagging hung by the Contractor will be pulled and properly disposed of before the project will be considered complete.

PROGRESS OF WORK

Project period of performance is between September 15, 2023 and March 1, 2024. Prior to start and during the performance period of the contract, the Government may specify priority areas to be treated. The Contractor will maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the contract time. At the pre-work conference, the Contractor will provide a work schedule which must be acceptable to the Government.

EQUIPMENT

Machine shall:

1. Be either rubber tired or rubber tracked.

2. Be of durable design and construction to withstand the stresses of natural obstructions within such as rocks, stumps, dust, and the general unevenness of the land.

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

4. Be equipped with a cutting head capable of performing the work described in the contract.

5. Be clean and free of soil, seeds, and vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds.

TREATMENT DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATIONS

General Description – The proposed treatment is to mechanically mow grass and brush in nine treatment units, on a total of 1493 acres. Grass and brush will be mowed to modify fuel structure, reduce horizontal continuity and vertical height. Shredded vegetation will be left in place to stabilize soils and reduce dust generation in the treated area. Any standing trees in the project units will be left in place.

Treatment Specifications – Grass and brush will be mowed to between 8 and 12 inches of the ground. Products of mowing will be a mulch layer no more than 3 inches deep, consisting of material less than 6 inches in length and 2 inches in diameter.

Individual patches of vegetation will be left standing as untreated islands within the treatment area to reduce visual impacts. In most treatment areas, these patches were chosen during initial treatment in 2006/2011, and vary in size from individual plants to clusters of 10-15 plants, are irregular in shape and be placed randomly throughout the treatment units, and shall contain the largest healthiest brush plants. These patches of untreated islands will be left untreated during this maintenance project.

The outer edge of all the treatment units will be irregular in shape (wavy) to prevent the creation of strong linear features.

If obstacles are encountered, such as rocks, the Contractor may raise the attachment height to clear the obstacle.

If any Greater Sage Grouse are encountered, contractor will cease work and immediately notify COR; work may be postponed depending on location of sighting.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Soil Stability/Water Quality Protection - Contractor will cease operation when soil moisture levels result in significant soil compaction and/or rutting. Contractor's activities shall be executed in a manner which avoids large drainages. Any rutting of the soil will be returned to the natural contour as part of the work process.

Weed Control - Contractor shall insure all equipment moved onto public land is free of soil, seeds, and vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure compliance and shall notify the Government prior to moving each piece of equipment onto public land. Notification will include identifying the location of the equipment’s most recent operations.

Cultural Resource Protection - Locations of known historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology, and culture, such as settler or Indian artifacts that need to be avoided by the Contractor will be identified on the ground by the Government. Discovery of such areas by either party during Contractor’s operations shall be promptly reported to the other party and operations will be suspended at that location until the significance or potential significance of the resource is determined.

Public Safety - When the Contractor's operations are in progress in treatment units G, H and I, the Contractor shall install and maintain signs which provide the public adequate warning of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions associated with the Contractor's operations.

Fire Prevention/Suppression - The Contractor shall (1) equip all diesel and/or gasoline operated engines with spark arresters that meet Forest Service standards set forth in the National Coordinating Group publication for Multiposition Small Engines, #430-4 (spark arresters are not required on equipment powered by exhaust driven turbo charged engines), (2) equip all machines powered by an internal combustion engine with at least one 10 lb. ABC rated fire extinguisher (minimum) or equivalent, (3) remove all concentrations of wood dust and debris from the equipment daily, (4) have one 10 lb. ABC rated fire extinguisher, one shovel, and five gallons water readily available adjacent to grinding/welding operations.

The Contractor shall, independently and in cooperation with the Government, take all reasonable action to prevent and suppress fires on the project. Independent initial action shall be prompt and shall include the use of all personnel and equipment available in the project area. The Government may require emergency measures, including the necessary shutting down of equipment or portions of operations during periods of high fire danger.

The Contractor shall report all fires on or in the vicinity of the project to the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center (775) 883-5995. When reporting a fire, provide the following information: name, call back telephone number, project name, location, and fire description.

Other Resource Protection Measures - Other resource protection measures may be imposed, as needed, by the COR based on project location, resources sensitivity and site conditions.

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