A04_SOW.docx

Three Bar Ranch Mastication Statement of Work

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Bureau of Land Management, Battle Mountain District Office is seeking contractor services to conduct a tree thinning (mastication/grinding) treatment on approximately 838 acres of single-leaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma). The service requested is the mastication or grinding of whole tree biomass. The use of mechanical equipment fitted with tracks or low-pressure tires is permissible for this work.

Table 1: Summary of Units

2.0 Background

2.1 The purpose of the project is to improve the overall health of sagebrush and woodland ecological sites, modify fuel loading to reduce the risk and severity of wildfire, and to improve wildlife habitat and other watershed values.

2.2 Vegetation in these units is typical for the Great Basin and consist of a mixture of pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush, bitterbrush, and various grasses. The treatment units may have areas with slopes that exceed 50%, but the overall topography is relatively average for these sites with slopes mostly ranging from 5% to 40%. Current tree densities vary widely from 50-300 trees per acre. Tree size, determined by DRC (Diameter at Root Collar), range from 6” to 24” on average within the project area.

3.0 General Information

3.1 Site Tour: Interested parties are urged and expected to inspect the site where services are to be performed 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 at the Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820.

3.2 The Contractor shall provide such operation facilities as may be required for competent performance of contract. Use of any operation area shall be arranged by and at the discretion and risk of the Contractor, and the Government shall not be held responsible for any loss, mishap, or accident due to conditions of any operating facility used. The Contractor shall provide appropriate warning signs for traffic if roads are used during operations of contract performance. Contractor will return sites and any roads utilized for operations of contract performance to pre-use condition.

3.3 Designated area shall be masticated in conformance with these specifications and this Statement of Work. Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor shall furnish at work sites all equipment, labor, supplies, and materials required to complete the job as specified in this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for service and repair of equipment as necessary to continually maintain satisfactory work progress.

3.4 The contractor is responsible for making sure that the correct mastication specifications are followed.

3.5 Work Crew: Crew for operation of equipment and any additional site needs.

4.0 Scope of Work: Mechanical Woodland Maintenance (Mastication)

4.1 Required specifications for the treatment areas are as follows:

4.1.1 Masticate only single leaf pinyon pines and Utah juniper trees within the project area as identified on the map to create clusters (islands) of trees, each containing 2-8 trees. Islands shall be spaced 500 feet from other islands.

Do not cut any leave islands or individual trees with blue marking/flagging or if nests are present in trees.

Leave Tree Island Specifications:

Prioritize leaving pinyon pine trees over juniper trees.

Prioritize leaving trees in islands with following age class percentages:

Seedlings (Less than 3” DBH/DRC) Young Trees

(3” – 10” DBH/DRC)

Mature Trees

(10”–20” DBH/DRC)

Old Growth (Greater than 20” DBH/DRC)

4.1.2 Standing dead pinyon or juniper will be masticated, but dead and down material should not be treated to provide for wildlife values.

4.1.3 All stumps shall be grinded until they are no greater than 6 inches in height on the uphill side of slope from mineral soil surface. The stem, branches, or other parts of the severed trees or shrubs remaining after treatment shall not be left any higher than 12 inches from the mineral soil surface.

4.1.4 If obstacles are encountered (i.e., rocks) that prevent the mastication attachment from reaching material to be grinded to meet the specifications in this contract, the mastication attachment can be raised to clear these obstacles and only tree the material that can be reached without damaging equipment.

4.1.5 The by-product of mastication will be a mulch layer less than 5 inches deep.

4.1.6 Contractor will protect and shall not disturb any improvements (such as roads, trails, telephone lines, ditches, and fences) that existed in the operating area prior to commencement of work under this contract. These improvements shall be left in the original condition existing prior to the commencement of work on this contract.

4.1.7 Excessive slash shall not be left in the roadways after end of each workday. All cut vegetation shall be kept within unit boundaries. If slash is broadcasted onto the roadways, it must be removed by the end of each workday.

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

4.1.9 Cut trees, hardwoods or brush lodged in or covering a leave tree shall be dislodged or removed before mastication.

4.1.10 Contractor shall ensure a fuel containment barrier is used if storing fuel on project site.

4.1.11 It is the responsibility of the contractor to consider tree densities and terrain while developing an overall plan as required.

5.0 Other Restrictive Features

5.1 Cultural avoidance areas, survey corner markers, and other special features, if present and known, will be identified on maps, and provided in a shapefile. There may be potential operating restrictions or areas subject to closure from March 15 to July 31 due to the migratory bird season. The potential restrictions or closures would be lifted if the result of migratory bird surveys by a qualified Bureau of Land Management Wildlife Biologist clears the area for work.

5.2 If threatened or endangered species (flora or fauna) or archeological sites are discovered within the treatment area, the contractor is to immediately notify the COR. The Government may issue a suspend work order and/or partially terminate any portion of the work due to these discoveries during contract operations.

5.3 The Government may issue a Suspend Work Order for work within any portion of the project area at any time if the following conditions exist:

5.3.1 When the Contracting Officer (or designated representative) determines that adverse weather has made access too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

5.3.2 When ground conditions are too wet to continue operations without sustaining resource damage to soils. The Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative will make this determination.

5.4 No monetary compensation will be given to the contractor for work suspensions.

5.5 Servicing and refueling of equipment areas shall be located outside of riparian buffer or 100 feet from other wet areas. In case of a HAZMAT spill, the material shall be immediately contained, and the Bureau of Land Management shall be immediately notified.

5.6 Within the unit boundaries, the Government may exclude non-work areas such as: rocky areas, wildlife areas, and other special areas. The Contracting Officer’s Representative will designate non-work areas. Such areas, exceeding 1/2 acre in size per unit, will be excluded from payment.

6.0 Location

6.1 These projects units are located north of Hwy 50 near Eureka, Nevada in Eureka County.

The project area is found within the following legal land description (Mount Diablo Base & Meridian):

3 Bars Ranch:

Township 22N, Range 49E; Sections 13, 24, 25 Township 22N, Range 50E; Sections 18, 19, 29, 30

6.1.1 Directions: To access the project areas, take Hwy 50 west from Eureka, Nevada for approximately 25 miles and turn right onto 3 Bars Road. After 16 miles, turn right onto Gold Bar Road. After 1.3 miles, turn right onto the two-track road. Drive for about 3.5 miles and turn right on to the two-track road. Continue north for approximately 1 mile to reach the project areas.

7.0 Expected Delivery or Performance Times

7.1 The period of performance is between September 15, 2024 to February 28, 2025.

7.2 The work for this contract shall start within 15 days after the Period of Performance Start Date of September 15, 2024, unless otherwise approved by the CO/COR with a sufficient work plan schedule to ensure the work is completed in a timely manner.

7.3 The Government acknowledges that weather conditions during this time, may impede this time frame. The contract performance period will not be extended due to misallocation of time or resources by the contractor. Winter weather will most likely impact the project after the end of the period of performance as well, so extensions will most likely not be allowed.

7.4 There will be a pre-work conference prior to the start of the project at an agreed upon date between the COR/PI and the Contractor. This may be in person or via video/teleconference. At the pre-work conference, the Contractor shall provide the COR a written “work progress” plan that details the proposed workforce and schedule to provide for orderly completion of the work within the contract performance times. This work schedule must be acceptable to the government. At a minimum, the schedule should reflect a work progress rate capable of completing the project on time while accounting for up to 15 calendar days of delays.

7.5 The Contractor shall begin work within seven calendar days of the start date set/agreed upon at the pre-work conference. The Contractor shall continue performance of the work under the contract without delay or interruption except by causes beyond his/her control as defined by contract clauses, or by the receipt of a “Suspend 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.

8.0 Boundaries

8.1 The project boundaries MAY NOT be marked on the ground with flagging tape. Maps and GIS shapefiles of the unit boundaries will be provided for upload into a GPS unit provided by the selected contractor. The selected contractor will be responsible for navigating with a GPS unit to stay within the project boundaries. The Government will only be on site for periodic work inspection. The Government MAY have flagged avoidance areas regarding cultural and/or wildlife related sites with flagging tape, but maps and shapefiles may also be given to the contractor for these avoidance areas. It is incumbent on the contractor to make sure that work is performed within the boundary and not within avoidance areas.

8.2 Only BLM land is allowed to be treated under this contract. The Contractor is responsible for determining that the treated area is within the correct area and on BLM-administered land only. The Contractor should not treat any areas on private land under this contract.

8.3 Minor boundary adjustments to treatment units, up to 10% of the total project area, may occur for administrative purposes during project implementation that would potentially change the size or shape of treatment units. These adjustments WILL NOT change the total project size.

9.0 Access

9.1 Cross-country travel should be expected to access portions of the project area. Some drainage crossings may have to be traversed within the project area. Some portions of the treatment areas may require high clearance vehicles and/or off-highway vehicles for access. There are no paved roads within any of the units.

9.2 Contractor is responsible for identification and avoidance of any ground and aerial hazards.

10.0 Contractor Furnished Property and Services

10.1 Contractor will be responsible for all labor, transportation, materials, and equipment necessary to perform the work described.

10.2 Any/all flagging used by the contractor is to be removed upon completion of the project.

11.0 Required Equipment

11.1 All equipment must be weed free prior to entering site.

11.1.1 Mastication equipment shall:

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

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

11.1.1.3 Be either rubber tired, rubber tracked, or metal tracked.

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

11.1.2 Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment shall:

11.1.2.1 A GPS capable of showing project and avoidance boundaries (boundaries provided by BLM) must be utilized by all personnel masticating. Unit boundaries may not have any visible markings. Any area treated outside of the unit boundaries will be at the contractors’ expense and may include payments of restitution to the BLM if resource damage is the result.

11.1.3 Fire suppression equipment:

11.1.3.1 The Contractor shall furnish and have available for emergency use one fire engine or water tender during mastication/welding operations. This piece of equipment shall remain available adjacent to the mastication/welding operations to extinguish fires on or in the vicinity of the project which are caused directly or indirectly by the Contractor or his employees.

11.1.3.2 Fire suppression Equipment Shall:

11.1.3.2.1 Be staffed at all times at the project location with a minimum of two people. One of these people can be operator of the machine used for mastication, but that machine must be shut down while suppressing the initial start.

11.1.3.2.2 Be four-wheel drive.

11.1.3.2.3 Have a pump capable of delivering a minimum of 50 gallons per minute at 150 psi.

11.1.3.2.4 Contain a minimum of 200 gallons of water.

11.1.3.2.5 Be equipped with a minimum of 500 feet of 1-inch diameter hose, 2 nozzles, 1 shovel, and 1 pulaski which must be able to reach the mastication equipment at any time while actively masticating.

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

11.1.3.2.7 All tools and equipment above shall be in good workable condition.

11.1.3.3 The Contracting Officer may, by written notice, authorize substitute measures or equipment or may waive specific fire readiness requirements during periods of low fire danger.

11.1.3.4 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.

11.1.3.5 The Government may require emergency measures, including the necessary shutting down of equipment or portions of operations in the project area during periods of fire emergency created by hazardous climatic conditions. It is the responsibility of the contractor to reach out and find out if those climatic conditions are occurring by contacting either the dispatch center and or the COR.

11.1.3.6 The Contractor shall report all fires on or in the vicinity of the project to the Central Nevada Interagency Dispatch Center at (775) 635-1555 during regular business hours (775) 635-3444 for 24 hour coverage. When reporting a fire, provide the following information: name, call back telephone number, project name, location, and fire description.

12.0 Government Furnished Property and Services

12.1 Government shall provide maps depicting the project area and may include avoidance areas or other special features, if present. A GIS shapefile, KMZ file, and a geo-referenced PDF can be provided, to the contractor, of the project boundary to be uploaded to a GPS or mobile device. Whatever device is used to track the progress of the project it must be sufficiently sensitive to provide an accuracy of ± 15ft in either the WGS84 or NAD83 datum.

13.0 Measurement and Payment

13.1 Mastication will be measured and paid for by the number of acres treated to the nearest acre.

13.2 Measurement for payment for mechanical treatment will be the actual area, in acres, within the designated boundaries satisfactorily treated in conformance with these specifications. Measurement will be made from either physical survey of the areas or GPS tracks at the option of the BLM. The shapefile will be used in ARCGIS for final acreage measurement, which will be computed along the horizontal plane within the area.

13.3 Full payment of the award amount will be authorized for satisfactorily treating the whole project site. Up to a 10% reduction in acreage can receive full payment at the discretion of the BLM to avoid impacts to areas of cultural, historical, or biological significance identified after the contract is awarded. If the actual acreage varies more than 10% below the estimated quantity, an equitable adjustment in the contract price shall be made upon demand of either party, and will be based on the per acre costs in the accepted bid.

14.0 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and/or Project Inspector (PI)

14.1 The COR will be appointed by the Contracting Officer upon award of the contract. The COR/PI will be responsible for giving the contractor any special instructions or guidance necessary to complete delivery as required by the contract. The COR and/or PI does not have the authority to modify or in any way amend the terms of this contract.

15.0 Safety

15.1 The contractor is responsible for providing a safety plan that identifies a point of contact in the event of any accident. The plan should include names and emergency phone numbers for personnel and facilities to contact in case an emergency warrants such actions. The plan should also include a description of on-site emergency procedures to follow in case of an accident. The plan should identify the insurance company providing coverage and the pertinent group coverage number.

15.2 In addition to being responsible for the safety of their employees, the contractor is also responsible for providing for the safety of the public during operations. This includes compliance with all OSHA and State of Nevada regulations for the use of equipment.

15.3 Any hazards that would pose a danger to Contractor, Contractor’s personnel, the public or operating equipment should be identified, mitigated and/or avoided by the Contractor and brought to the Government representative’s attention.