A04_SOW.doc

South Steptoe Watershed 2023 Unit 1 Chaining Maintenance Statement of Work A. Project Area Description and Location The contractor is responsible for furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies and materials to lop and scatter 2,328 acres (Units 1 and 2) of pinyon and/or juniper trees. There may be up to an additional 536 acres (Unit 3) indicated as an option item that would be awarded subject to available funding (see attached maps). A maximum of 2,864 acres would be treated under this contract. Trees to be cut are pinyon and juniper that have been previously chained. Leave areas and boundaries may be altered prior to implementation of the project to mitigate sensitive resource concerns that may reduce the acreage.

The project area is located in White Pine County, State of Nevada. The project area is located in the South Steptoe Watershed along the east bench of the Schell Creek Mountain Range, south of Connors Pass along Highway 50. (refer to attached maps). The area was previously chained around 2015, and is typical Great Basin sagebrush communities with pinyon and juniper.

To access the site, take Highway 50 east from Ely to the Horse and Cattle Camp Road approximately 16 miles. The treatment units are located approximately 6 miles south along this road. The roads are not regularly maintained but are generally in good repair. It is advisable to access with a 4x4 vehicle.

Overland travel may be authorized by the BLM to access the units with ATVs/UTVs. There are private lands near the treatment units. It is the contractor’s responsibility to secure permission to cross these lands if they wish to do so.

The following legal land descriptions apply:

· Township 13 North; Range 64 East; Sections 23-26 and 36; MDM

· Township 13 North; Range 65 East; Sections 16-21 and 28-30; MDM

The 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.

It is recommended that potential bidders become familiar with access to and within the project area, the density of the trees to be cut and the trees to be left by unit, and the timing restrictions by unit (see Section C).

B.

Specifications

a. Lop and Scatter Lop and scatter treatments will be conducted within the treatment units as shown on the 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 or the height of the surrounding shrubs (whichever is higher). Stumps will be cut where there are no living branches, bark or other parts of the tree left attached. All pinyon and juniper within the units will be cut regardless of the height of the tree. Some trees are lying horizontally, which may require all branches to be cut to be within the slash height specifications. Some units (areas previously burned) are very sparse and have young trees (less than 2 feet in height) growing. All of these trees must be removed.

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. The 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.

Contractors are to submit a single bid for each line item on a per acre basis using the table in Attachment 1.

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

C.

Environmental Considerations 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.

Due to timing restrictions for sensitive resources, treatments will not occur between November 1st and September 15th. These timing restrictions shall be built into the proposal. No extensions to the performance period will be granted due to these timing restrictions. Waivers may be granted from August 1st to September 15th as well as November 1st through February 28th pending further agency consultation, but the contractor shall not include these dates when submitting a bid.

D. 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.

E.

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.

F.

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.

G.

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 four (4) 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.

H.

Measurement of Payment

Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres within each treatment unit 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.

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 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.

J.

Performance Schedule Period of performance for this work shall begin as soon as possible following the award of the contract, not to exceed 15 days. The end of the performance period would be one calendar year from the date of 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.

Due to timing restrictions for sensitive resources, treatments will not occur between November 1st and September 15th. If a waiver is granted work may be allowed from August 1st and September 15th as well as November 1st through February 28th.

South Steptoe Watershed, Unit 1, Chaining Maintenance, 2023 Lop and Scatter Performance Work Statement