A04_SOW_Final.docx

KERN - GALLAGHER TREE REMOVAL

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

The Bureau of Land Management Ely District Office is seeking contractor services to conduct a whole tree removal treatment on approximately 118 acres (line items 0010 and 0020) of pinyon pine and Utah juniper which has established on sagebrush ecological sites. Mountain mahogany, if encountered, shall remain uncut. Additional acres may be offered through consecutive option years. The first option year would include 101 acres (line items 0030 and 0040) to be treated in the same manner as the original task order. A second option year would include 62 acres (line items 0050 and 0060) to also be treated in the same manner as the original task order. Total project size including option years is 281 acres (See Table 1.). The service requested is the cutting of whole trees, the utilization of available biomass, and the piling of remaining slash. The use of mechanical equipment fitted with tracks or low-pressure tires is permissible. The purpose of the project is to improve the overall health of sagebrush ecological sites, reduce fuel loading, and improve wildlife habitat and other watershed values.

1.2 Location

Gallaghers Canyon Project Area The project is located along Cave Valley Road, aka County Road 45, via Highway 93/50 South, 10 miles south-southeast of Ely Nevada. The legal description for the project location is: T. 15 N., R. 63 E. Sec. 24, 25, 36; T. 15 N., R. 64 E. Sec. 19, 30 (Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian).

Kern Mountain Project Area The project area is located in the Kern Mountains near the Utah/Nevada border in far eastern White Pine County, Nevada (see attached locational map). The following legal land description applies: T. 22 N., R 69 E. Sec. 26, 27, 33, and 34 (Mt Diablo Base and Meridian).

The treatment area can be accessed by two primary methods:

1) Travel north approximately 42 miles along the Gandy Road from US Highway 50/6 near the Utah/Nevada border, and then travelling west along the Pleasant Valley Road approximately 6 miles to the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and Blue Mass Road.

2) Travel north approximately 40 miles from Ely, Nevada on US Highway 93 to Schellbourne Rest Area, travel east along Schellbourne Road to Spring Valley, then travel south, southeast to Twelve-mile summit, then east to Antelope Valley until reaching Tippett Ranch. Travel east approximately 14 miles to the intersection of Blue Mass Road.

1.3 Project Area Description

Vegetation in the area is typical of the Great Basin and consists of a mixture of pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush, bitterbrush, and grasses. The area has some drainages, but is relatively rolling with slopes 5-15% although, there may be slopes greater than 30% in some areas. Current tree densities vary widely from 100-250 trees per acre in some areas.

It is the responsibility of the offeror to consider tree densities and terrain while developing and proposing a performance timeline for this project.

1.4 Accessibility

Two-track and county roads provide access to both project areas. Two-wheel drive vehicles may be sufficient, however, these travel routes may require a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle during certain times of the year. Although, the majority of the roads within the project areas are gentle in slope they can be very rough with ruts, holes and rocks. There may be drainage crossings that must be traversed within the project area. High clearance four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended on all non-paved roads due to the potential for unexpected inclement weather conditions as well as general road conditions.

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 wet and access into the project area may be closed by the government during this time. Road maintenance may be permitted on existing roads with prior government approval; describe any planned maintenance or improvement work in your technical proposal.

1.5 Boundaries of Project Area

The project boundaries are not marked on the ground. Maps and a GIS shapefile of the project boundary 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 not flag the unit boundaries and will only be on site for periodic work inspection.

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. Any adjustment WILL NOT change the total project size.

1.6 Unique Features

Cultural avoidance areas, survey corner markers, and other special features, if present, will be identified on maps and provided in a shapefile. There may be potential operating restrictions or areas subject to closure from April 15 to July 15 due to restrictions for big game, sage grouse, raptor, and migratory bird seasons. The potential restrictions or closures would be pending the result of clearance surveys. Additionally, work shall not occur if project implementation is creating excessive ground disturbance. Work may resume only when appropriate clearances are completed or weather conditions improve or work processes are altered to accommodate inclement working conditions.

2. Contractor Furnished Property and Services

2.1 Contractor Responsibilities

Contractor will be responsible for all labor, supplies, equipment, and maintenance needs for duration of project. The contractor is required to provide a GPS unit capable of uploading a shapefile of the project boundary.

2.2 Contractor Equipment

The contractor equipment shall:

2.2.1 Be a wheeled or tracked mounted vehicle equipped with either hydraulic or PTO driven cutter head that will sever the tree near the ground; OR chainsaws that will thin/cut trees near ground level as required , or as otherwise specified below in Section 4.2.

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

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

2.2.4 Be equipped with a head capable of performing the work described in this document.

2.2.5 Be of a quality that guarantees the contractor’s safety.

2.2.6 Meet or exceed the requirements listed in Section 2.5 Fire Prevention / Suppression.

2.2.7 The contractor’s GPS (as required) shall be capable of uploading ArcGIS shapefiles.

2.3 Landing(s)

All fuel storage devices (e.g., Trailers and/or tanks) occupying the project area, for utilization specific to this project, must have with it a proper fuel containment barrier in the event of a leak or accidental spillage. The government reserves the right to approve an adequate barrier. A nylon tarp, or equivalent, will not be deemed an adequate barrier for the containment of hazardous fluids.

2.4 Work Camp

Camping will be allowed during project implementation only at sites approved by BLM in advance. All fire regulations and permits shall be followed. All garbage and refuse shall be removed from the camp site by the contractor at the same time as camp abandonment. Final payment will be reserved subject to inspection of these sites by BLM and approval of site cleanup.

2.5 Fire Prevention/Suppression

The contractor shall:

a) Equip all diesel and/or gasoline operated engines with spark arresters.

b) Equip all machines with one shovel, and one 12 pound “ABC” fire extinguisher.

c) Remove all concentrations of wood dust and debris from equipment daily.

3. Government Furnished Property and Services

Government shall provide one paper map depicting the project area, any avoidance areas, and other special features, if present, in 1:24,000 scale. A GIS shapefile and/or geo-referenced maps will be provided of the project boundary to be uploaded to GPS or map navigational device (e.g., Avenza).

4. Project Specifications

4.1 Methods

Complete removal of ALL pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) tree species, regardless of height, width, or diameter, from the project area as described in Table 1. Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) if present, SHALL NOT be cut and, therefore, will not be included in the final density measurements. The contractor is responsible for severing the tree at the base, pruning all branch material (slash) and leaving behind a single tree bole to be moved to a predetermined landing site for further removal by the contractor.

All slash will be gathered into piles, within required specifications provided (See Exhibit A, enclosed), throughout the unit for prescribed burning by the Government. Method of cutting and pruning can be by hand or mechanical means. The creation of slash piles and fuelwood decks can be completed by hand or mechanical means.

The contractor may negotiate with the Government the amount of woody biomass to be retained by the Contractor. Any amount not utilized by the Contractor will be available to the public through the issuance of personal or commercial wood permits. See below for clarification and direction:

48 CFR 1452.237-71 UTILIZATION OF WOODY BIOMASS

1. The contractor may remove and utilize woody biomass if:

(a) Project work is progressing as scheduled; and

(b) Removal is completed before contract expiration.

2. To execute this option, the contractor must submit a written request to the Government.

3. Following receipt of the written request, and if appropriate, the Government and the contractor will negotiate and execute a separate timber/vegetative sales contract under 43 CFR 5400. Payment under the timber/vegetative sale contract must be at a price equal to or greater than the appraised value of the woody biomass. The contractor must make any appropriate payment specified in the related timber/vegetative sales contract before removal may be authorized.

4. If required by law, regulation or Bureau policy, the Government will prepare a timber/vegetative sales notice and/or prospectus, including volume estimates, appraised value and any appropriate special provisions.

5. The contractor must treat any woody biomass not removed in accordance with the specifications in the service contract.

6. The sales contract and service contract are severable; default or termination under either contract does not remove the contractor from payment or performance obligations under the other contract.

Table 1. Line item descriptions and specifications for thinning

0 trees/acre

5K

30-36G

6K

*Base item to be awarded **Optional items may be awarded depending on funding availability

4.2 Specifications for Tree Removal and Slash Piling

4.2.1 The by-product of tree removal shall be 1) fuelwood decks or piles of tree boles and limbs suitable for use as fuelwood (i.e., generally greater than 5-inch diameter), and 2) slash piles of all other limb, needle, and residual tree material (non-fuelwood material) as described in Attachment A.

4.2.2 Sever all trees within the project area as identified on the map. All stumps shall be cut so they are no greater than 6 inches in height on the uphill side or above mineral soil. If obstacles are encountered, such as rocks, the cutting attachment may be raised to clear the obstacle.

4.2.3 Work shall not occur if project implementation is creating excessive rutting during spring thawing or after precipitation events when the ground is saturated. Work may resume only when the area has sufficiently dried out.

4.2.4 Any/all skid trails or two-track roads or any other disturbance created by equipment or vehicles maneuvering the project area will be reclaimed as a part of the site cleanup requirements.

4.2.5 Project must be completed and any necessary rehabilitation must be completed by January 31, 2023. Completion of optional areas will be negotiated if/when they are awarded.

4.3 Schedule

All work performed on the project shall follow the schedule included with the contractor’s technical proposal. The schedule must be mutually agreed upon by the contractor and the Government during the initial awarding of the contract. If the contractor needs to deviate from the schedule or encounters difficulties during the implementation of the project, they shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative or Project Inspector to discuss and approve any changes to the original performance schedule.

4.4 Measurement of Payment

Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres that is completed to specifications. The total will be rounded up to the nearest whole acre. Fifty percent of the total cost per unit will be paid for thinning, and the remaining fifty percent will be paid after piling slash. Area measurements required under this Contract will be measured on a horizontal plane. Invoicing may occur no more often than bi-monthly (i.e., twice a month).

4.5 Start Date

Work shall start within 14 days after contract award or as negotiated by the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative.

4.6 End Date

Work for the base award area shall be completed by January 31, 2023 unless approved reasonable and excusable delays occur. Completion date for any optional areas will be negotiated when awarded.

4.7 Level of Difficulty

Tree densities and over land travel are two factors that may limit production. The Contractor will be responsible for mitigating these factors to meet project completion benchmarks and the performance schedule.

Level of Difficulty Approximate Acres

Unit density of material to be severed is estimated to average greater than 60 percent total cover, greater than 150 trees per acre and an average of greater than 50 slash and fuelwood piles per acre.

Exhibit A. Piling diagram specification image3.jpeg image1.jpeg image2.emf