A04 SOW.docx

2020 DESATOYA LOP/DROP

STATEMENT OF WORK

PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to secure the service of cutting 3,211 acres of pinyon and juniper trees to maintain sage grouse habitat characteristics, improve migratory bird habitat characteristics, and improve hydrologic resources. The objective of this project is to improve sage grouse habitat by modifying the structure and continuity of the existing vegetation by reducing wildfire intensity potential caused by the expanding pinyon and juniper trees. This project consists of three treatment units located in the Desatoya Mountains. Each treatment unit has different specifications outlined below:

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 a shapefile (for upload on GPS unit) of the project area boundary to the Contractor. A map with avoidance areas (archaeological sites; springs; structural range improvements; survey markers mining claims etc.) will be provided to the Contractor. Survey markers disturbed or removed during operations shall be reset at the Contractor’s expense. Range improvements or other physical structures damaged or removed during operations shall be repaired or replaced at the Contractor’s expense.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Cedar Creek Treatment Site (250 acres) 100% 3A-Level 1

Location The project area is located on the north side of the Desatoya Mountains, in Churchill County, Nevada. The project is on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). See vicinity and project maps.

Project Area Description Vegetation in the project area is typical of the western Great Basin and consists of a diverse mix of grasses and forbs, sagebrush, mountain mahogany, rabbitbrush, Mormon tea, pinyon and juniper trees etc.

The treatment unit is on the northern side of the Desatoya mountain range. Elevation ranges between 5,400 and 6,000 feet, aspect will vary and slope ranges between 0 and 40 percent. The number of trees per acre and tree density varies throughout the unit from widely scattered to slightly dense. Trees are generally small to medium size for the species. The project area topography is typical for the western Great Basin.

Rock Creek Treatment Unit (2,139 acres) 100% 3A-Level 1

Location The project area is located on the west side of the Desatoya Mountains, in Churchill County, Nevada. The project is on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). See vicinity and project maps.

Project Area Description Vegetation in the project area is typical of the western Great Basin and consists of a diverse mix of grasses and forbs, sagebrush, mountain mahogany, rabbitbrush, Mormon tea, pinyon and juniper trees etc.

The treatment unit is on the western side of the Desatoya mountain range. Elevation ranges between 5,600 and 6,500 feet, aspect will vary and slope ranges between 0 and 55 percent. The number of trees per acre and tree density varies throughout the unit from widely scattered to moderately dense. Trees are generally small to medium size for the species. The project area topography is typical for the western Great Basin.

Dalton Meadow Treatment Site (822 acres) 80% 3A-Level 1 and 20% 3B-Level 2

Location The project area is located on the north side of the Desatoya Mountains, in Lander County, Nevada. The project is on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). See vicinity and project maps.

Project Area Description This will be a re-treatment of a lop and drop project in 2013 and a mastication treatment in 2016. The northern portion (564 acres) will be 100% tree removal regardless of size. The trees to be cut will be larger. All seedlings and trees missed during the initial treatment will need to be cut or lopped. 258 acres were masticated in 2016. The trees missed during the initial treatment will need to be cut and dropped. While cutting the pinyon and juniper trees, directionally fall trees to minimize damage to mahogany trees.

The treatment unit is on the eastern side of the Desatoya mountain range. Elevation ranges between 6,000 and 7,000 feet, aspect will vary and slope ranges between 0 and 40 percent. The number of trees per acre and tree density varies throughout the unit from widely scattered to slightly dense. Trees are generally small to medium size for the species. The project area topography is typical for the western Great Basin

Accessibility The nearest full support community to the project is Fallon, NV. Average travel time from Fallon to the project site is 2.5 hours. Limited support is available in Austin, Cold Springs Station and Middlegate, Nevada. Access to the project is on paved and dirt roads. Access is limited during the winter months due to weather and road conditions. Although the project can be reached by two-wheel drive vehicles, four-wheel drive high clearance vehicles will improve access options. The Government does not assume obligation to plow snow or conduct special maintenance to keep roads open and maintained.

There are no seasonal weather restrictions unless heavy rains occur or during periods of snow melt which may result in an intermittent work schedule due to muddy conditions. Work shall not occur if project implementation is creating excessive rutting. Roads will be considered impassable when saturated and access into the project area may be closed by the government during this time

Treatment Specifications The Contractor is expected to manually cut all pinyon and juniper trees, saplings, seedlings and standing dead on 250 acres (See attached map) with the exception of large old trees located on rocky slopes with no understory vegetation. These older trees typically have round or flat crowns, plate like bark, and large gnarled limbs. Old-growth trees (individual stems >24 inches in diameter 12 inches above ground) and trees with obvious signs of wildlife use, such as cavities in the trunks or large stick nests, will not be cut.

· Boles shall be cut as close to the ground as possible with a target stump height of less than 6 inches.

· Stumps will be cut where there are no living branches, bark or other parts of the tree left attached.

· Material from cut trees will be treated so that it lays no higher than 36 inches above the ground.

· A minimum of one crew member will utilize hand loppers to cut the smallest trees and lowest live limbs on the larger trees that cannot safely/effectively be cut with a chainsaw. One crew member utilizing hand loppers per seven crew members utilizing chainsaws is recommended.

· Pinyon and juniper trees with obvious signs of wildlife use such as nest cavities or large stick nests will not be cut.

· Refueling of chainsaws and equipment shall be done at least 50 feet away from water bodies and wet meadows.

· Vehicles shall operate on existing roads only. No cross-country travel is authorized.

· No trees other than pinyon and juniper trees shall be cut or damaged (e.g. do not cut Aspen, willow, mountain mahogany, wild rose etc.)

· All trees to be felled within a stream zone (200 feet either side of the creek) shall be directionally felled away from the creek.

· A requirement of no more than one live stem per acre (except those designated leave trees) 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. 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 unit and not the entire unit and will be at the discretion of the government representative.

SCHEDULE/PROGRESS OF WORK

The notice to proceed will be issued September 1st, 2020. The project needs to be completed by February 29th, 2021. Due to timing restrictions for sensitive resources, treatments will not occur between March 1st and August 31st. These timing restrictions shall be built into the proposal.

Pre-Work Conference Prior to start of and during the 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.

Progress Meetings Meetings may be called by either the identified Federal Representative (s) or the Contractor. Meetings shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the identified federal or state agency representatives.

Final Inspection The meeting shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the identified federal or state agency representatives. The Contractor shall notify the identified federal or state agency representative(s) at least two (2) working days before the completion date, so the agency representatives can schedule a final inspection. The Contractor must be present for the final inspection, unless otherwise approved by the government Project Manager

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS

The Contractor will provide all tools, materials, equipment and labor necessary to complete the work as specified in the contract.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND 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 appropriate federal agency. 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 shall be avoided by vehicles and heavy equipment. Work shall not occur in either project area if project implementation is creating excessive rutting during or after precipitation events when the ground is saturated. Work may resume only when the area has sufficiently dried out.

Camping – Camping will be allowed during project implementation only at sites approved by the appropriate federal agency and identified federal agency representative. All fire regulations and permits shall be followed. All garbage and refuse shall be removed from the camp site by the Contractor within seven days of camp abandonment. Final payment will be reserved subject to inspection of these sites by the identified federal agency representative and approval of site cleanup.

Weed Control - Contractor will ensure all equipment moved onto public land is free of soil, seeds, and vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Contractor will employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure compliance prior to beginning the work and following completion of the work and will 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 will 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.

Sensitive Plant and Animal Protection -Rare plant and animal surveys may be necessary to be conducted by the Government prior to treatment. Locations of any sensitive resources that need to be avoided by the Contractor will be identified on the ground by the Government by flagging and will not be disturbed.

Fire Prevention/Suppression - Vegetation occurring in the Great Basin can be highly flammable. Under dry and windy weather conditions the potential for a fire start is high. The risk of wildfire is year-round. Be extra careful when working on or around the dry grasses. Check under vehicles when parking off road. Plan any activity that could cause a spark, in the morning, when the relative humidity is up and the temperatures are cooler (grinding or welding). The Contractor will, independently and in cooperation with the Government, take all reasonable action to prevent and suppress fires on the project. Independent initial action will be prompt and will include the use of all personnel and equipment available in the project area.

Emergency Reporting Requirements:

911 (initial call for all emergencies) Central Nevada Dispatch Center: 775-623-1555 (wildland fire emergency line)

Information needed in reporting a wildland fire would include: Location: Geographical reference and if possible, Latitude/longitude coordinates. Description on what the fire is doing size, spread, color of smoke, etc.

The Government may require emergency measures, including the necessary shutting down of equipment or portions of operations during periods of high fire danger.

Under Title 43 CFR 9212 the holder of this permit may be held liable for any and all costs should a wildland fire occur caused by the activities associated with the construction, maintenance, or operation of this project. Fire trespass action might be initiated, and wildfire suppression costs may be collected from the holder of this permit.