A04_SOW.pdf

United Stated Department of the Interior National Park Service

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park Cornish, NH 03745

I. Statement of Work

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION: PMIS Number 312810 Project Title: Provide Needed Maintenance to SAGA Landscape Trees Project Location: Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, Cornish, NH

POINTS OF CONTACT:

Contracting Officer (CO):

Contracting Officer Representative (COR): Stephen Walasewicz, Saint-Gaudens NHP

PART 1: TASKS

A. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract, contractor shall perform the work as described herein. All services performed under this contract shall be performed in accordance with applicable codes and accepted industry standards.

B. The Contractor shall furnish all equipment and sufficient personnel to complete all tree work described in the attached Project Maps. The work to be completed will take place on the main campus of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (SAGA,) as well at the Blow-Me-Down Farm (BMDF,) located approximately 1 mile North on NH Route 12A. The work on the main campus will include fertilizing the one-time national champion, Thornless Honey Locust (67 inch DBH,) as well as an American Elm (30 inch DBH.)

The fertilization will require a deep tine, soil penetration technique and the fertilizer must include a mycorrhizal fungi solution. Three Lombardy Poplars (3–8 inches DBH) will be removed and replaced in-kind or with a substitute species approved by the COR whose mature form and growth habit closely match that of Populus nigra (Lombardy Poplar). The stump of a previously removed White Birch will be ground and a new one planted. Four trees ranging in size from 14.5–20 inches DBH will be pruned to remove all dead, dying and weak branches. An American Elm cultivar, resistant to Dutch Elm Disease, will be planted to replace one removed roughly three years ago.

Finally, two trees ranging in size from 13.5” to 39” DBH will be removed. All replacement trees shall be a minimum of 10 feet in height.

C. The work at the BMDF will consist of the removal of 5 dead, damaged or declining trees, these trees range in size from 14”- 20" DBH. Four large, mature oaks will be pruned to reduce weight and to remove all dead, dying, diseased and weak limbs.

D. Stump removal will be required for 5 trees removed at BMDF. The stumps are to be ground to 3” below grade, grindings removed and filled with topsoil.

A tall fescue grass blend will then be applied.

PART 2: GENERAL PROVISIONS

2.01 QUALITY ASSURANCE:

2.01.1 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

A. All work shall be under the direction and general supervision of an Arborist(s) certified by The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or equivalent state certification. The Arborist shall be the primary contact with the Government’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and shall be responsible for controlling the quality of work and inspecting all completed work to ensure that contract performance requirements are met.

B. An experienced Crew Supervisor shall be present at all times while work is being performed.

C. All work around power lines shall be performed by Certified Line Clearance Tree Trimmers in accordance with all work around power lines shall comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 and 1910.331–335.

D. All tree workers shall have thorough related training and on the job experience and shall be familiar with the technical aspects and hazards of tree maintenance work and equipment used in such operations. All tree workers shall abide by any code of ethics or professional conduct established by the Tree Care Industry Association and the International Society of Arboriculture.

2.01.2 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

A. Equipment must meet all federal OSHA, state and local safety requirements and must be properly licensed. This includes equipment such as bucket trucks, aerial lifts, chipper trucks, wood trucks, stump grinders, etc. which may be needed to correctly perform tree care operations in accordance with the specifications stated herein.

2.02 SCHEDULING AND COORDINATION:

A. Within seven (7) calendar days of Notice to Proceed, the contractor shall submit a detailed work schedule for COR approval. Any deviation from the approved schedule must receive written COR approval.

B. Following the Notice to Proceed, all work shall be completed within six (6) months. Work shall be performed during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, Federal holidays excluded, unless authorized in writing by the COR. The 6-month period is provided due to the potential presence of Endangered bat species at the park that prohibits the removal mature trees from April 1 – October 30. Other aspects of the project can however be completed outside those dates with COR approval.

C. Once the contractor begins work on a specific effort (ie. tree removal) they are expected to be on the job site each workday until that effort is complete.

D. Work shall be scheduled and arranged so as not to interfere with normal activities of the park. Advanced notice will be given to the contractor if a conflict is expected. Any plant debris, personnel or equipment that would interfere with an activity or event shall be removed prior to the activity. If, at any time, the Contracting Officer (CO) determines that the work is unsatisfactory or is being conducted in an unsafe manner, the contractor will be notified and shall immediately cease all work activities.

2.03 SAFETY:

A. Nearly all trees are located within developed areas containing high densities of pedestrians, vehicles, utilities, and structures so safety is of the utmost importance.

B. All operations shall be conducted in accordance with ANSI Z133.1-2000 Safety Requirements for Pruning, Trimming, Repairing, Maintaining and Removing Trees and Cutting Brush and all Federal OSHA, state and local safety requirements.

2.03.1 CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. The Contractor shall provide a safe and healthful workplace for all employees while at Saint-Gaudens NHS.

B. The Contractor shall provide a level of public safety, proportionate with exposure, while working at Saint-Gaudens NHS.

C. The Contractor shall comply in rectifying all unsafe or unhealthy conditions called to his/her attention by the CO or COR.

D. The Contractor shall allow for formal and informal, announced and Unannounced, safety inspections at the worksite.

203.2 SAINT-GAUDENS NHS SAFETY REGULATIONS:

A. All tools and equipment used on any project at Saint-Gaudens NHS must meet all OSHA regulations.

B. There will be no smoking in or around any buildings at Saint-Gaudens NHS.

Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

C. Saint-Gaudens NHS is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.

D. Local emergency phone numbers will be posted by the Contractor at the worksite.

E. Directions to the nearest hospital will be posted by the Contractor at the

F. The Contractor must provide a first aid kit at the worksite.

G. The Contractor must provide an adequate number of fire extinguishers at the

H. No public street shall be used for a staging area for any purpose.

I. Hard hats and safety gear must be worn as applicable to the type of work being performed.

2.04 WARNING SIGNS AND BARRICADES:

A. All roadways and pathways shall remain open to the public unless approved by the CO. The public ways shall not be encumbered or any unusual traffic situations be created by reason of operations under this contract without approval of the CO.

B. The Contractor shall provide, erect and maintain all necessary signs, barricades, traffic cones, warning and danger signals and signs, and provide a sufficient number of watchmen and flagmen to insure the safe flow of traffic, protection of the work area, and the safety of the public.

2.05 WORK AREA:

Contractor shall confine his/her work, the storage of materials and equipment, the parking of vehicles, and all other operations in connection with this contract to the specified hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Contractor shall not permit heavy equipment or vehicles or the stock piling of heavy materials off hard surface roads without the expressed permission of the CO. Limited activity may take place, within the root protection area, with the expressed permission of the CO only in areas determined to be safe from excessive damage. The root protection area is defined as an area equal to a radius of 1.5 feet for each inch of diameter at breast height (DBH) (i.e. a 10 inch DBH tree will have a root protection area equal to 15 feet from the main trunk in all directions). Contractor shall not operate equipment, store materials, or disturb soil within the designated root protection zone unless written authorization is provided. Any damage resulting from such operations shall be repaired to original condition or to the satisfaction of the CO, at no additional cost to the Government. Restoration shall match pre‑disturbance conditions in grade, soil composition, and vegetation cover.

2.06 RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING EXISTING STRUCTURES,

UTILITIES, EXISTING PLANT MATERIAL AND OTHER

LANDSCAPE FEATURES:

A. The Contractor will be held responsible for any damages to, and for maintenance and protection of existing structures and utilities.

B. The Contractor shall preserve and protect all existing vegetation such as trees, shrubs, and grass areas (on or adjacent to trees being removed) which do not reasonably interfere with work. The Contractor shall be responsible for all unauthorized cutting or damage to trees and shrubs, including damage due to careless operation of equipment, stockpiling of materials or tracking of grass and other surfaced areas by equipment. Such damaged areas or materials shall be restored, repaired or replaced by the Contractor, as directed by the CO, at no additional cost to the Government.

CLEANUP AND RESTORATION:

A. The Contractor will be required to furnish all labor, materials, and equipment for cleanup and restoration of all disturbed areas or features, which have been damaged during the course of this contract.

2.07 AIR AND WATER POLLUTION CONTROL:

A. The Contractor shall take all necessary measures to prevent air and water pollution by any material and/or equipment used during the contract effort.

The Contractor shall keep the site clean and free of trash and debris. All debris shall be disposed of, off site, at the end of each day unless otherwise directed by the CO.

PART 3: EXECUTION

3.01 TREE REMOVAL/FELLING:

A. Trees shall be felled only when there is an adequate felling area at least equal in radius to the height of the tree.

B. Trees that cannot be felled due to proximity of the roadways, buildings, structures, utilities, and/or lack of an adequate felling area shall be topped and/or sectioned.

C. The contractor is responsible for taking all precautions to ensure that the tree will fall where desired. If a tree cannot be felled safely in one piece, the tree shall be topped and/or sectioned.

D. The contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to avoid damaging surrounding vegetation or lawn areas and prevent gouging and erosion of soils as a result of tree removal operations.

E. Heavy Equipment: turf and tree root zones will be protected from damage including soil compaction with the use of surface barriers, such as Alturnamats, or an equivalent brand.

F. The contractor shall, on the same day the tree is removed, chip all materials and remove all remaining wood and debris from the park and dispose of legally off site, unless approved otherwise by the COR. Removal from the park and disposal is the responsibility of the contractor.

3.02 STUMPS:

A. All stumps shall be cut to a height not to exceed 2” from grade unless directed otherwise by the COR.

B. The identified stumps to be ground shall be ground to a minimum of 3” below grade unless directed otherwise by the COR. The remaining holes are to be filled in with topsoil and a tall fescue seed mix applied.

3.03 TREE PRUNING

A. The work to be performed under this section shall include pruning trees in accordance with the American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations Pruning, Repairing, Maintaining and Removing Trees and Cutting Brush – Safety Requirements – All pruning and tree work shall conform to ANSI Z133 and ANSI A300 standards, latest edition..

B. Pruning shall consist of the removal of dead, dying, diseased, interfering, objectionable weakly attached, low vigor branches one inch in diameter and greater not taking more than 25% of live foliage. Dead wood greater than 2 feet in length shall be removed regardless of diameter.

C. Climbing hooks shall not be worn for tree pruning.

3.04 PLANTING:

A. All trees will meet or exceed the minimum requirements of the American

Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) Trees will be transported to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park when ready for planting.

B. Trees may be balled-and-burlapped or grown in containers (only if tree is not available as B&B.) All trees shall be healthy, vigorous, and well grown, single-trunked, high-branched specimens showing evidence of proper root and top pruning

C. Roots must be kept moist during transport and storage and protect foliage from wind.

D. Park staff will review all trees before planting. Contractor will replace defective trees with acceptable trees in a timely manner.

E. Planting shall only be performed when weather and soil conditions are suitable for planting the materials specified in accordance with locally accepted practice.

F. No planting shall take place during extremely wet, hot, dry, windy or freezing weather.

G. During planting, all practices and techniques shall conform to all ANSI A300 Part 6.

H. The contractor shall provide 48-hour notice prior to planting to allow for

COR inspection.

3.05 FERTILIZING:

A. Fertilizer must be a slow-release liquid fertilizer suitable for mature trees.

B. A mycorrhizal inoculant will be added to the fertilizer solution. The product must be viable, fresh and manufacturer guidelines followed, to ensure appropriate distribution throughout root zone.

C. Deep-tine injection shall be performed using equipment capable of penetrating 8 inches (minimum 4 inches) with injection points spaced 2–3 feet apart in a uniform grid or radial pattern.

D. Work shall take place during appropriate seasons: spring or fall.

E. Application rate shall follow manufacturers’ recommendations.

F. A grid, or radial pattern shall be used, with 2-3’ spacing between each injection site.

G. The entire root zone shall be targeted, from the trunk flare to past the drip line.

H. All work and equipment shall conform to all of ANSI A300 Part 2.

3.06 PLANT WARRANTY:

A. The contractor shall replace, at no additional cost to the Government, any trees that fail to survive or do not maintain healthy condition during the two-year warranty period. The park technical representative shall make the final determination if plants are suitable or defective.

B. A warranty of 2 Years shall begin on the date of Substantial Completion

Acceptance

C. Warranty replacements shall be completed within 30 days of COR notification, weather permitting.

PART 4:

INSPECTION/ACCEPTACE

4.01

INSPECTION

A. The National Park Service reserves the right to conduct any testing or inspection it may deem advisable prior to acceptance and payment to assure that all work conforms to the specifications herein.

B. The Government may withhold final acceptance until all work is completed, inspected, and determined to meet specification requirements. Interim inspections do not constitute acceptance.

I. Statement of Work