A04_SOW.doc

Hazardous Fuels Reduction on the Virgin River Clark County, NV Statement of Work Mastication I. General Information and Requirements A. Description of Work The Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District Office is seeking contractor services to treat tamarisk (salt cedar) on the Virgin River in Clark County, NV using mastication treatments on fifty five (55) acres (maps attached).

The service requested is 55 acres of mastication or grinding of whole tree biomass (tamarisk). Two parcels totaling 55 acres will be treated. All tamarisk (regardless of size) within the 55 acres of treatment will be removed while leaving and avoiding damage to other plant species including willow, cottonwood, mesquite, arroweed, and other natural riparian plant species.

55 acres of mastication treatment will be conducted under this contract. Bids are to be submitted on a cost per acre basis. Additionally, native or natural vegetation should be left or avoided in all treatment areas where practicable.

Mechanical equipment suitable or appropriate for use in a floodplain or riparian areas is recommended. Because riparian soils are sometimes unstable or wet, it is also recommended adequate equipment be kept on site to extract vehicles or equipment that may become stuck. Maintaining natural vegetation to serve as propagule islands or stringers will help support natural recovery and future restorations efforts. The purpose of the project is to improve the overall health of targeted vegetation communities, reduce wildfire risk and fuel loading, and improve wildlife habitat and other watershed values.

Project Description The Lower Virgin River in Clark County, Nevada is a critical WUI watershed, which provides water for the Greater Las Vegas Metropolitan Area and many rural communities as well as habitat for multiple T&E species. Much of the habitat has been lost or degraded due to invasion by non-native tamarisk or other invasive species.

Most of the vegetation on lower Virgin River floodplain of Nevada is a dense monoculture of tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) which is a Nevada State listed noxious weed and a wildfire fuel. Due to the rapid and unanticipated spread of the tamarisk leaf beetle, the majority of the tamarisk in the Virgin River floodplain have died. The resulting conditions support little to no wildlife and pose a wildfire risk to human communities, the WUI watershed, and threatened and/or endangered (T&E) species. The project will be authorized under NEPA, DOI-BLM-NV-S000-2011-0001-DNA Virgin River Hazardous Fuels Reduction.

The project is within the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher critical habitat. The BLM has conducted multiple informal and formal biological consultations with the USFWS. This guidance has been incorporated into project planning and NEPA. Following NEPA stipulations in addition to the established Contract requirements are likely to mitigate or minimize possible impacts. In addition to protecting the WUI watershed, this project includes design features that will benefit multiple T&E species over the long-term.

The goal of the project is to reduce wildfire risk and transition the floodplain back to a less combustible mosaic of natural riparian vegetation. These efforts will be planned around the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher’s (SWFL) breeding season; therefore mastication will be limited to between September 15th and April 15th.

Site Description The tamarisk treatment on the project site will occur on both sides of the Virgin River within the authorized project area between the river and the populated areas of Riverside and Bunkerville, where the fluvial plain is about 1,500 feet wide (from active channel to valley edge at base of upland). The project is within or adjacent to habitat for multiple T&E listed species.

This also serves as disclosure that the Virgin River has an active floodplain, which means during rain or high water events; the project area could become flooded or inundated with water where access to the project area is cut-off or soils become too wet and muddy to use heavy equipment or travel to the work site. During such events, vehicles or equipment could be stuck or lost in the floodplain. Assessing weather, seasonality, and water levels will be necessary in planning work activities.

Public Safety

The work area borders private property in many areas, and is near the city of Bunkerville. It is used by the public for various recreational activities (hiking, ATV, etc.). Portable signage that adequately warns people how far away they must stay from the working equipment may be required. It will not be possible to restrict the area from public use. The operator will also need to ensure that flying debris does not impact private property outside of the work area.

Physical Clearing of Tamarisk

The majority of tamarisk clearing is expected to be accomplished using tracked equipment (such as a skid-steer driven masticator or excavator) or other equipment suitable for the project area. The amount of area planned to be cleared is 55 acres.

The Contractor will need to locate and identify existing native vegetation in order to preserve this vegetation during tamarisk clearing efforts. Additionally, the project will prioritize the clearing of areas around actively flowing side channels of the river, the margins of which are ideal for willow pole planting. These areas can be found along the side channels and areas with native vegetation.

B. Work Layout

The Government will provide a map to the Contractor with the treatment area boundaries necessary for the work executed under the Contract. The Government will provide shapefiles (for upload on GPS unit or similar device) of the project area boundary to the Contractor.

Any cultural resources encountered are to be avoided in accordance with requirements in the Contract specific to Preservation of Historical and Archeological Data. An archaeologist may be on scene to survey areas as they are cleared and may stop work in order to determine the extent of any cultural resources discovered. Survey markers disturbed or removed during operations shall be reset at the Contractor’s expense. Range, existing riparian improvements or other physical structures (if any) damaged or removed during operations shall be repaired or replaced at the Contractor’s expense.

The Government understands some minor adjustments to accomplish the treatment may be needed within the project area. Some areas could contain cultural resources, certain areas may be impassable due to ditches or channels, soils may be too wet or soft, or ground could be too unstable for heavy equipment. The project is authorized for treatment of 55 acres. Minor adjustments to treatment areas are acceptable and are expected, as long as the adjustments meet environmental compliance standards and are within the scope of the Contract. Regular communication and coordination between the Government and Contractor will be necessary. Consult with the Contracting Officer in accordance with the Contract prior to making any on-the-ground adjustments.

C. Location and Access to Work Sites Work under this Contract is located in Clark County, State of Nevada. The project area is located in the Virgin River floodplain, west of the city of Bunkerville on public land (see Vicinity Map). The project area is on both sides of the Virgin River; steel-tracked equipment may need to be loaded on a trailer to get from one side of the river to the other. The project area is in SWFL critical habitat, which is heavily infested with tamarisk.

The parcels are labelled Mormon Mesa 16 and Mormon Mesa 20. Access to Mormon Mesa 16: Access can be made from driving down a wash that intersects the powerline road here: 36.70961567451212, -114.27242048029527. The wash eventually becomes overgrown with vegetation, so some habitat would need to be disturbed to get to the site. If the sandy wash is an access issue, then there appears to be a road on the terrace (36.70744696138205, -114.27667454079479) that leads down to the site, but it would need to be scouted to see if it actually goes down into the floodplain.

Access to Mormon Mesa 20: Site is adjacent to a farm. A wash on farm property leads to the site. There is also an old, unmaintained road on BLM land that leads to the area, but the Lonetti trespass trenches might make access a bit more challenging. The site can also be accessed cross country from the county road that runs to the southwest from the unit. An effort will be made by the Government to gain access from the farm property.

Work is allowed only between September 15 and April 15, which is outside of the SWFL nesting season. There are no seasonal weather restrictions unless heavy rains occur or during periods of snow melt which may result in changes in the river’s water level and an intermittent work schedule due to muddy conditions. Work shall not occur if project implementation is creating excessive rutting on access routes. Roads will be considered impassable when saturated and access into the project area may be closed by the Government during this time.

Location of Project Area: Near the city of Bunkerville, NV along the Virgin River.

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada, T. 14 S, R. 69 E, sec. 22 D. 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 unless permission is granted by the Government. 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. Given the project’s primary purpose is to mechanically treat tamarisk within the Virgin River corridor, minor impacts to project area river or stream channels and other wet areas by vehicles and heavy equipment is expected. Avoid impacts to stream channels, springs or other wet areas outside of the project area.

Numerous noxious weed species are known to occur within the Virgin River corridor. Vehicles and other equipment used for implementation of the project shall be cleaned using compressed air and washed to remove any vegetation and potential noxious weed and invasive species parts prior to beginning the work and following completion of the work. Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii) seeds become sticky when exposed to moisture which is why compressed air is needed prior to washing vehicles or equipment.

E. Work Schedule The work schedule shall be submitted at the pre-work conference. The work schedule may be modified if inclement weather conditions occur or if the Virgin River goes into flood stage or water levels rise to where the job is unsafe or work products are compromised. The Contracting Officer shall be notified immediately by the Contractor of any changes in the original work schedule.

Due to timing restrictions for SWFL, treatments will not occur between April 15th 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.

F. Work Camp Camping will be allowed at the discretion of the Las Vegas Field Office (LVFO) during project implementation and only at sites approved by LVFO 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.

II. PROJECT MEETINGS

A. 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.

B. 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.

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 or similar device upload).

B. Equipment Furnished by the Contractor

The contractor shall be responsible for providing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies and materials to complete the work described for the duration of the project. The contractor will at a minimum provide one functioning GPS unit or similar device 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 (or similar device) to follow and/or mark project area boundaries will be able to operate and trouble shoot the GPS unit, or similar device.

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 specified.

· Be of durable design and construction to withstand the stresses of natural obstructions within tamarisk and river corridors such as stream channels, soft or unstable soils, 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 and NEPA stipulations.

· The Contractor’s GPS or similar device (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 Southern Nevada District Office for this contract. A Project Area Map showing known noxious weed areas near the project will be made available upon request to the successful contractor. Work will be conducted in areas known to be infested with noxious weeds. Tamarisk itself is a Nevada State listed noxious weed and camelthorn is common in the area. Contractor and CO shall agree on methods of cleaning, locations for the cleaning, and control of off-site impacts. 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. Both parties shall agree on treatment methods to reduce or stop the spread of noxious weeds when new infestations are found.

IV. Measurement and Payment A. Measurement of Payment Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres accomplished when the work is finished. The total will be rounded up to the nearest whole acre. Area measurements required under this Contract will be measured on a horizontal plane.

B. Basis of Payment

Prices and payment will be full compensation for the work described in this section.

The Contracting Officer or representative will make periodic inspections 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 Remove all tamarisk within the designated boundaries. All other native or natural plant species and shrubs will be retained in mastication areas to the extent practicable. Preserve and protect native and natural vegetation in mechanical thinning areas.

· The by-product of mastication will be a mulch layer less than 6 inches deep, consisting of material less than 2 feet in length and 2 inches in diameter.

· Sever and/or masticate all tamarisk within the project area as identified on the maps (see attached maps). All other native or natural plant species such as willow and cottonwoods shall be avoided and maintained, especially in areas adjacent to stream channels and wet areas.

· All stumps shall be cut to ground level when possible to prevent stobs or stumps from impeding access or future restoration activities. If obstacles are encountered, such as rocks, the mastication attachment may be raised to clear the obstacle.

· Avoid working where work is creating excessive rutting when the ground is overly saturated. Because work is in Virgin River corridor and soils are often naturally moist, some rutting is expected. Overly saturated soils or very wet areas could cause equipment to become stuck and/or sink. Scout and test areas prior to committing vehicles or equipment within the project area. Notify Contracting Officer if areas are inaccessible. Monitor river levels and the weather to avoid being caught in a flood event or flash flood.

· Any/all skid trails or two-track roads or any other disturbance outside of the project area created by equipment or vehicles maneuvering the project area will be reclaimed as a part of the site cleanup requirements. Minor soil disturbance due to pioneering access into dense tamarisk stands is expected in the project area.

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

· Crossing perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral drainage features is expected in the project area. Avoid crossing these areas outside of the project area unless deemed absolutely necessary. Avoid crossing of drainage features with flowing water when possible. Crossing of dry drainage features should be conducted as close to 90 degrees to the long axis of the feature as possible and should minimize disturbance. If a dry drainage feature is found to block access to a treatment area with no other way around it, consider using tamarisk slash to temporarily fill in the drainage feature to make it passable. Similarly, if wet or soggy soils are a concern for the passage of equipment, consider using tamarisk slash to make a temporary corduroy road. Notify the Contractor Officer if areas are impassible or inaccessible. Damage to drainage features outside of the project area may require repair at the contractor’s expense to restore natural water flow. Avoid significantly altering riparian features or water flow within the project area.

The project area is comprised of scattered tamarisk in varying concentrations in the midst of native species like mesquite, cottonwood, willow and arroweed. All of tamarisk in the identified treatment areas must be removed. A requirement of no more than one tamarisk stem per acre in treatment areas remaining after treatment will be adhered to. If inspections indicate the quality of the work does not meet this standard the substandard area will be reworked. The standard will be randomly sampled during inspections by the government representative and communicated to the Contractor point of contact. The sampled areas may involve portions of a treatment area and not the entire area and will be at the discretion of the government representative.

The contractor may elect to utilize chainsaws to assist tamarisk removal as needed, especially near stream channels or areas where native vegetation is abundant where masticating could damage the desirable plant species. If a unit is to be reworked, depending upon the number and size of tamarisk stems remaining the government representative may request that the area be reworked.

Performance Schedule The Period of Performance for this work shall be September 15, 2024 to September 14, 2025. 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 and conditions on the river permit. If inclement weather or flood 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 or when safe access to the project area is possible.

Due to timing restrictions for SWFL nesting, treatments will not occur between April 15th 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.

VI. Work Plan Offerors shall prepare an itemized price proposal. Offerors are to provide bids on a per acre basis for the treatments, including the per acre cost for each unit. The price should include all costs associated with the completion of the project.

2024 Hazardous Fuels Reduction on the Virgin River Clark County, NV Mastication Performance Work Statement