A04-SOW.docx

ATTACHMENT 1

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECS/WORK STATEMENT – EQUIPMENT RENTAL WITH OPERATOR

C.1.0 GENERAL

C.1.1 Description of work – This project includes equipment rental with operator requirements, which are (1) wetland restorations, repair of wetland restorations, and maintenance of water control structures; (2) tree removal and general earth moving; and (3) building site demolition and site reclamation.

C.1.2 Task Order – A written task order for each job will be issued to the contractor. This order will specify the type of project, the type of equipment required, the estimated amount of time each piece of equipment is needed, the total ordered amount of equipment cost, anticipated project length, and a completion date.

In accordance with Section I Clause No. 52.211-18 “Variation in Estimated Quantity”, the Contracting Officer must approve any work that goes over the estimate by more than 15%.

In the event of multiple awards, the Government will distribute the work among the awardees equally.

C.1.3 Project Location – the Detroit Lakes Complex (Detroit Lakes WMD, Hamden Slough, Rydell and Glacial Ridge NWRs) encompasses the following counties in the State of Minnesota: Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, and Polk counties.

C.1.4 Performance Time – The Contractor shall be required to commence work on each task order within 14 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the task order and prosecute the work diligently, unless otherwise instructed by the Contracting Officer, usually related to weather conditions.

C.1.5 Underground Utilities – The Contractor will contact Gopher One for marking of underground utilities. Prior to initiation of work, the Contractor shall verify if underground utilities are present within the work area and take measures to avoid damaging them.

C.1.6 Permits and Safety Standards – The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining any necessary permits for equipment movement and operation. All other permits will be obtained by the Government. The Contractor shall comply with any applicable Federal, State, and municipal laws, codes, and regulations, and shall assure the equipment and work practices comply with current applicable OSHA standards.

The Contractor must perform this contract in a safe manner, observing any necessary safety precautions. The Contractor will promptly correct any condition which, in the opinion of the on-site inspector, or his authorized representative, endangers the safety of personnel or property during the performance of the contract. Failure to observe this requirement will result in contract termination, with the Contractor liable for any damages that may occur. It will be the Contractor’s responsibility to assure that equipment and work practices comply with current applicable OSHA standards, including but not limited to 29 CFR 1910, 1925, and 1926.

C.1.7 Landscape Preservation

The Contractor shall give attention to the effect of contract operations upon the land-scape, shall take care to maintain natural surroundings, and shall conduct the work in compliance with the following requirements.

a. The Contractor shall take sufficient precautions to prevent pollution with fuels, oils or other harmful materials.

b. The Contractor shall clean up all garbage left at the worksite.

C.1.8 Preservation of Historical and Archeological Data

If in connection with operations under this contract, the Contractor, subcontractor 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 pre-historical ruins, graves or grave markers, fossils, or artifacts, the Contractor shall immediately suspend all operations in the vicinity of the cultural resource value and shall notify the COR of the findings, preferably in writing. No objects of cultural resource value may be removed. Operations may resume at the discovery site upon receipts of written instructions. Actions taken under this paragraph shall be subject to Section I, Clause 52.242-15 “Stop-Work Order”.

C.1.9 Subcontractor Approval – The Contractor may use rental equipment and/or subcontractors. The Government must approve the use of any subcontractors. The Contractor shall provide the Government with the make, model, manufacturer, date and operator’s qualification for substitute equipment and operators.

C.2.0 DEFINITIONS – None.

C.3.0 CONTRACTOR – FURNISHED ITEMS

C.3.1 Personnel – The Contractor shall furnish skilled operators for each machine. Operators shall have a minimum of three years of experience under similar field conditions and shall be paid in accordance with all applicable laws (Service Contract Act).

C.3.2 Mobilization of Equipment – The Contractor must supply a heavy duty tractor/trailer or lowboy of adequate size for moving equipment. Work sites are scattered throughout the contract area with some sites requiring only 2-3 hours of work. The Government may require the Contractor to provide services at a number of sites each day. Mobilization costs may be charged by the contractor for each mobilization as follows:

The Contractor will bid on mobilizing equipment above or below 100HP. Initial Mobilization on a task order will be paid based upon the number of hours to drive from the contractor’s shop to the work site no matter where the equipment was moved from. If the contractor is moving from site to site for the Service, Mobilization is charged to each site, but Mobilization is never paid for the time to return from the final work site back to the shop. Mobilization of any piece of equipment over 100HP will be one hourly rate in the prices / costs spreadsheet and equipment under 100hp will be another hourly rate in the prices/ costs spreadsheet. If a dump truck is used on the site, and the Contractor choses to use a dump truck to pull the excavator to the new worksite, no additional mobilization cost would be incurred for the dump truck, unless specifically ordered for the job.

C.3.3 Equipment Conditions and Maintenance – All equipment must be 1985 model year or newer and have a working Service-type time recorder for hours worked. Equipment furnished must be in acceptable condition and will be subject to Government pre-use inspection. The Government reserves the right to reject equipment which is not in safe and operative condition. The Contractor operator shall perform all necessary repairs and servicing to maintain the equipment in good operating condition during the period of use.

C.3.4 Equipment Breakdown – In connection with the work to be performed under this contract, in the event of equipment breakdown, the Contractor further agrees that any repairs shall be accomplished at Contractor’s expense within three (3) calendar days from the date of such breakdown, or if such repairs cannot be completed within the 3-day period, that the equipment will be replaced with other suitable machinery and resume operations. If the Contractor fails or refuses to resume operations within the stated period, the Contractor may be declared in default and its right to proceed may be terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Default clause.

C.4.0 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY – The Government will furnish culverts, tile, tile risers, connection bands, stand pipes, and rip-rap if needed. The Government will be responsible for delivery of these supplies to the project site.

C.5.0 SPECIFIC TASKS

C.5.1 Wetland Restoration, Repair or Wetland Restorations and Maintenance of Water Control Structures – This task is to (1) restore wetland habitat through the construction of ditch fills, removal of tile, or excavation of basins (2) preserve wetland habitat by repairing earthen ditch plugs or fills, and (3) maintain wetland habitat by removing silt, beaver dams, brush and trees, and other material from around existing water control structures.

C.5.1.1 Wetland Restorations – Filling Ditches

Many work sites contain open ditches that were employed to drain wetland basins. To restore these wetlands it is necessary to plug and fill the ditch as follows: Contractor will core the area (remove topsoil) at the junction of the ditch and wetland, down to mineral soil, then effectively plug the ditch with a 30 to 50 foot length core/plug of mineral soil (borrowed from on-site). This material will be free of brush, trees, roots over 2 inches in diameter, and rocks over 6 inches in diameter and placed in approximately 6 inch lifts (loose depth) with each lift compacted so that any voids are compressed. An over fill of up to 10% may be required. In most cases, the remainder of the ditch will be filled with on-site spoil in such a manner as to duplicate the original condition and contour that was present before the ditch was dug. A 2-3” layer of topsoil will be placed over the plug and ditch fill in a smoothed condition, suitable for seeding. Most wetland restorations will be accomplished through plugging/filling ditches; however, placing culverts, small water control structures, and/or rip-rap may be required on occasion. These materials will be provided by the USFWS and their placement will be under the direction of USFWS employees.

C.5.1.2 Wetland Restorations-Locating, Excavating, and Blockage of Drainage Tile

To remove these drained wetlands, it is necessary to excavate and break the tile lines or install tile risers. These tile lines may be buried from 3 to 18 feet deep in the ground, and may range in size from 4-18 inches in diameter. To break tile lines, the Contractor will excavate a point determined by a USFWS employee to locate possible tile lines. A minimum of 30 feet of tile will be excavated and mineral soil will be packed back in its place to effectively obstruct water seepage.

In other instances, a tile riser will be set at a predetermined elevation and spliced into the existing tile system. Tile risers, connections, and stand pipes will be furnished by the Government. Some tile inlets and outlets may also require rep-rap placement. The Government will furnish the rip-rap. A Government representative will supervise all work and will aid in the proper placement (elevation and location) of the tile and rip-rap.

C.5.1.3 Wetland Restorations – Excavation of Basins Which Have Filled or Partially Filled with Organic Soil

Organic soil that has been placed in basins, or has eroded into basins will be dozed or scraped out to a depth determined by a USFWS employee. Material will be spread on adjacent upland site, or utilized as material to fill nearby ditches as depicted in paragraph C.5.1.5 below. Excavated basins typically vary in size from .05 to 3.0 acres in size. Materials are typically excavated to a depth of 1.0 to 3.0 feet.

C.5.1.4 Repair of Earthen Ditch Fills/Plugs or Tile Lines/Risers

Repairs made to existing ditch plugs will vary ranging from reconstruction of the entire plug, to the addition and packing of plug material, and overlaying topsoil in small breeches. Repairs of tile lines or risers will vary from reinstallation of collapsed tiles to minor excavations of riser to adjust inlet elevations. The extent of repairs to be made will be determined at the site by the Government representative.

C.5.1.5 Removing Silt, Beaver Dams, Brush and Trees or Other Material from Around Existing Water Control Structures

Maintenance of water control structures will generally involve the excavation of silt, beaver dams, and brush or trees that are obstructing water flows in front of structures, or in ditches leading to, or from, structures. The amount and depth of material removed, as well as the placement of the excavated materials, will be determined at the site by the Government representative. The Contractor may be required to use the material for minor erosion repairs around the structure, or to level the spoil piles to a smooth condition ready for seeding. Some sites may also require rip-rap removal and replacement. The Government representative will determine the amount and proper placement of rip-rap.

C.5.1.6 Commencement and Completion of Work

Performance under this task may be from March 1 to December 31.

C.5.2 Tree Removal and General Earth Moving

C.5.2.1 Tree Removal

This task is to remove brush, trees, and associated rocks from isolated tree groves, areas where they are encroaching onto historic grassland habitats, and for the creation of firebreaks through woodland areas.

The Contractor shall grub all trees, brush, stumps, and rocks from the sites identified by the Government representative. The Contractor may be required to push debris into a pile for future burning and/or on-site burial.

The Government representative will identify the location for on-site burial. The Contractor shall strip and stockpile the topsoil material from the burial site for re-spreading at the conclusion of all backfill operations. A trench will be excavated adequate in size to hold all wood and associated debris.

Burial will be done in such a manner that all debris will be a minimum of eighteen (18) inches below the surface prior to re-spreading topsoil. Topsoil will be re-spread over the entire disturbed area providing a uniform cover of approximately one (1) foot. The burial site shall be graded to conform to the existing ground contours. Final slopes shall be a minimum of two (2) percent and no more than twenty (20) percent. The finished site shall be free of ridges and/or depressions capable of holding ponded water.

C.5.2.2 General Earth Moving

Most of the work consists of installing field approaches, ditch crossings, repair of eroded or washed out access trails and roads, as well as leveling of parking areas.

The Government representative shall designate the location and dimensions of all structures, as well as borrow and waste sites for fill material. For the installation and repair of field approaches, ditch crossings, and access trails/roads, the Contractor shall strip and stockpile the topsoil material from all borrow sites for re-spreading at the conclusion of earth moving operations. The fill material will be mineral soil free of brush, trees, and roots over 2 inches in diameter, and rocks over 6 inches in diameter. The fill material used will be placed in 6-inch layers (loose depth) and each layer will be thoroughly packed. Following placement of the fill material, the stockpiled top soil will be spread in a uniform layer over all but the travel-way surfaces. Approaches, roads, and trails will be crowned with 10% overfill to allow for settling. Borrow area slopes will be graded to conform to existing contours and the remaining stockpiled top soil will be spread in a uniform layer over borrow sites. The entire site will be left in a smooth condition. Some field approaches, ditch crossings, roads and trails may require the installation of culverts of various sizes. Culverts will be furnished by the Government. Some culverts may also require rip-rap placement. The Government will supply any needed rip-rap. A Government representative will oversee all work and will aid in the proper placement (elevation and location) of the culverts and rip-rap.

For the installation and repair of parking areas, the contractor shall strip and stockpile the topsoil material from the designated parking area. The contractor will level the parking area by hauling fill material from the parking areas to a site designated by the Government representative. The parking area surface will be graded level with the side slopes graded to conform to existing contours. Stockpiled topsoil will be hauled and re-spread over the wasted fill material at a uniform depth. The entire site will be left in a smooth condition.

C.5.2.3 Commencement and Completion of Work: Performance under this task may be year round as soil conditions allow.

C.5.3 Building site Demolition/Site Reclamation

C.5.3.1 Demolition of old home sites to include knocking down of farm buildings, houses, and other structures; excavation of any buried concrete footings or underground storage tanks (UST’s); separation and hauling to materials. All structures will be inspected for lead paint/asbestos prior to demolition at the USFWS cost. All asbestos will be abated prior to demolition at USFWS’ cost. Contractors will be responsible for complying with all applicable MPCA/MDH regulations.

All demolition and waste materials shall be separated on-site (concrete, demolition, household hazardous waste, tires, white goods, mixed fill, etc.) and hauled separately to demolition landfills, recycling centers, solid waste facilities, etc. of the Government’s choosing. Contractors will not be responsible for covering concrete/landfill disposal costs, as these will be directly billed to the USFWS. A typical scope of work for building site demolition will include the following:

1) Knock down identified standing buildings.

2) Separate all materials.

3) Locate all septic tanks and fill with soil.

4) Search for cistern, remove concrete and fill with soil if found.

5) Remove any UST’s discovered.

6) Recycle metal.

7) Bury rock foundations, if conditions allow.

8) Provide final site leveling to surrounding ground contour, and topsoil placement suitable to allow for USFWS seeding of disturbed sites.

C.5.3.2 Commencement and Completion of Work

Performance under this task may be year round as soil conditions allow.

C.6.0 GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE PLAN

The Detroit Lakes WMD staff will perform the following steps as a part of the regular surveillance of contractors performing work under IDIQ task orders in order to safeguard the Government from waste, fraud, or abuse:

a. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) representative will be present on-site wen the contractor mobilizes to the worksite to review the planned scope of work and equipment to be used. Each wetland basin is assigned a unique number to be used in recording hours/equipment in the restoration logs.

b. A USFWS representative will remain on-site for a period of time to record initial hour meter readings and observe Contractor’s work.

c. A USFWS representative will continue to visit the worksite periodically to observe/inspect work, record meter readings, equipment hours worked, and basin numbers restored (equipment hours worked are recorded for each individual wetland basin restored).

d. A USFWS representative will be present to do a final inspection of the site, complete the final wetland restoration logs, total number of hours worked for each piece of equipment and the final meter readings.