A04_SOW___PWS_Trinity_River_REVISED_7_5_23.pdf

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Performance of Work Statement (PWS)

Fuel Break Construction project on Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge

1. GENERAL/BACKGROUND: The Texas Chenier Plain Fire Zone wants to mulch and/or remove woody tree and shrubs on Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). This is a non-personal services contract to provide hazardous fuel reduction for the US Fish & Wildlife

Service (FWS). The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to meet objectives within the units specified in the contract. The mulching/removal will encompass approximately 23.7 acres across on Trinity River NWR as defined in this Performance Work Statement. Woody vegetation occurs over the entire 23.7 acres at densities that range from sparse shrubs and saplings (~50%) to dense closed canopy forest

(~50%). In the Luce Bayou Unit, there is approximately 0.5 miles of barbwire fence to removed, including T-posts. The new fuel break will also run alongside the fence that needs to be removed.

Post creation of the fuel breaks, all fuel breaks will be mowed at least three times per year (i.e., spring, summer, and fall) in the option years (i.e.,FY 2024, FY 2025, & FY 2026) that follow.

This will be completed to prevent woody species from reoccupying the fuel breaks.

All equipment used on the project must first be washed to remove seeds and prevent the transfer of undesirable flora to the project area.

Contractor must have experience in this type of work. Contractor must be willing to provide documentation of experience if requested along with references if needed. Contract will be awarded to the best value to the government.

There are no physical addresses for the project areas; the location of project areas will be in attachment(s).

1.2 Objectives:

Mulch or remove woody species to the soil over 23.7 acres on the Trinity River NWR as outlined on the attached map(s) within one year of contract awarded.

Any woody species that are not to be mulched/removed will be physically marked and/or verbally communicated to contractor by FWS personnel.

Undesirable woody species that are less than 6-inch Diameter at Breast Height (DBH, diameter at 4.5 ft.) will be mulched and scattered inside of project area.

Most trees that are greater than 6-inches DBH are desirable and will not be removed, mulched, fallen, or otherwise damaged.

All mulch scattered with in the project area will not exceed 1 foot tall in any pile or location.

Undesirable woody species that are greater than 6-inches DBH will be removed from the refuge.

No mulch or slash will be left within 20-feet of the created fuel breaks or refuge boundary.

Mulch size will not exceed 1-inch thick and 10-inches long.

Fill or smooth over any large holes or ruts from operations.

Contactor shall remove 100% of all their debris and trash from tract daily.

Areas must be kept clean at all times.

Keep all equipment in designated locations.

Maintenance or mowing of fuel breaks to prevent the regrowth of woody species within the fuel breaks.

A fuel break at the Luce Bayou unit will be created along a remnant barbed wire fence.

This fence will need to be removed by the contractor. Fuels break also need to be clear of limbs growing into the break so that a tractor and marshmaster can mow fuel break without being obstructed by tree limbs.

1.3 Period of Performance:

April 1st to October 31st

The first year will be 2023 and followed by three option years (i.e., 2024, 2025, & 2026).

Only two treatments (summer and fall) will be necessary in 2023. Three treatments

(spring, summer, and fall) will be required during all subsequent option years.

If areas have standing water or the soil is saturated with water to the point that equipment is leaving ruts in the project area, they will not be able to work on project area, to minimize damage to refuge.

At minimum every 2-weeks the contractor should have 25% of the project area completed dependent on weather.

1.4 Scope:

Weekly work reports will be completed by contractor and turned in to FWS personnel.

Contractor should access the area only during dry times and/or during times preapproved by FWS personnel.

The Contractor shall use the least impactful machine on the soil of this area, no more than

10% of a sub-unit should have soil disturbance.

1.5 General Information: Refuge access roads provide for one-way travel. Road construction will not be permitted. Contractors must use preexisting roads to access project area. Options for site access and all equipment storage and environmental concerns will be addressed during project meetings. Road conditions must remain in the same or better conditions during the performance of work.

1.5.1 Hours of Operation: The contractor is responsible for conducting business, between the hours of sunrise to sunset Sunday through Saturday except Federal holidays at the Contractor’s option. The Contractor must always maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is not closed for

Federal Holidays. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.5.2 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at the Trinity River NWR. Please see the attached maps and/or coordinates provided within the

PWS.

1.5.3 Gate Locks: The government will provide combination lock for the gates if needed. Gates need to be closed and locked to the status of what the gate was found.

1.5.4 Pre-Job Showing: There will be a pre-job showing of the project area where contractors will have access and FWS personnel will be present to answer questions. Date and time are to be determined.

1.5.5 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor shall attend any post award conference or progress meetings as deemed necessary by the Contracting Officers

Representative (COR). The COR or other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings, the

COR will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. As stated above a weekly work report will be completed by contractor and turned in to FWS personnel.

1.5.6 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract, perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance, maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract, issue written interpretations of technical requirements, monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the

Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies and provide site entry of Contractor personnel if required. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms or conditions of the contract.

1.5.7 Contractor Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered contractor key personnel by the government: Contract Manager and Site Project Leader. The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer Representative. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available to discuss any issues between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons.

1.5.8 Contractor Travel: Contractor shall be responsible for all travel cost and scheduling of travel. Contractor is responsible for the cost to transfer between units as required for the contract.

2. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

2.1 General: The government will not provide any services, facilities, utilities, equipment, or materials for this contract.

3. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

3.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities, and services required to perform work under this contract.

3.1.1 Equipment: The Contractor shall furnish all equipment to adequately perform the requested job and that is least impactful on the soil areas of this unit.

4. SPECIFIC TASKS:

4.1 The contractor will conduct an initial site visit with FWS personnel for access arrangements placement of staging equipment and to ensure proper identification of each area to be worked.

Contractor will then mobilize their equipment (i.e., excavators, backhoes, skid steer) to mulch or remove trees/shrubs to soil. Any woody species that are less than 6-inch DBH shall be mulched and scattered with each sub-unit. Woody species greater than 6-inch DBH will be removed from the refuge. No mulch or slash shall be left within 20-feet on sub-unit boundary. Any woody species that the refuge wants to remain will be visually marked and verbally communicated to contractor.

5. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS (CURRENT EDITIONS):

5.1. The Contractor must abide by all applicable Federal and State regulations and laws applicable to this project.

Nixon Smith Rd

Ni xo n Sm it h R d

146Nixon Smith Rd H ig h w a y N

H ig h w a y N

0 0.20.1

Miles

Legend

TX_TCR Fire Zone

TX_TCR Fire Zone

Fuel Breaks 10 ft

Current Fuel Break

Trinity River NWR - Silver Lake BIL Project Area

Turnaround

Fuel Break Length = 0.7 miles Fuel Break Width = 10 feet Fuel Break Area = 1.7 acres

94.7554072, -30.3527225

County Road 2300

F M

C o u n ty

R o ad

Mud Lake

C o u n ty

R o a d

Trinity River NWR - Luce Bayou BIL Project Area

Legend

TX_TCR Fire Zone

TX_TCR Fire Zone

Fuel Breaks 10 ft

Fuel Breaks 22 ft

Fence Removal

Fuel Break Length = 5.3 miles Fuel Break Area = 23.0 acres Fence Removal = 0.5 miles

94.9002890, -30.2236263

0 10.5 Miles

Turnaround