A04_Springer_Spring_Chipping_SOW.pdf

SPRINGER SPRING CHIPPING PROJECT

STATEMENT OF WORK

I. General Information and Requirements

A. Introduction

The Bureau of Land Management Ely District Office is seeking contractor services to chip and distribute pinyon and juniper biomass. The contractor is responsible for furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies and materials to accomplish this task. The purpose of the project is to chip and distribute biomass of downed pinyon pine and juniper trees along an installed water pipeline.

This would reduce hazardous fuels, provide soil stabilization, and aid in rehabilitation of pipeline area.

The project area consists of pushed over pinyon pine and Utah juniper trees along the pipeline route of approximately 3.7 miles (Map 1). Downed trees are not located along the entire length of the pipeline but in numerous push piles at various locations along the route. Each pile consists of a few (2-3) to several (10-20) trees and associated slash ranging in size up to approximately 20-25 feet long and up to approximately 12 inches plus in diameter. Slash material ranges from 1-6 inches in diameter and up to approximately 12 feet in length. See the photos for examples of the trees pushes. The service requested is to chip and distribution of the biomass from the downed trees and associated slash.

B. Location

The project is located in Silver Canyon of the Mount Irish Range approximately 25 miles north of Alamo, NV or approximately 140 miles south of Ely, NV. It is approximately 12 miles north of State Route 375 or 9 miles west of State Route 318 (Map 2). All lands within the project are administered by the Bureau of Land Management’s Ely District Office; however, there are private lands adjacent to the project area. The legal description for the pile locations is T. 3 S., R. 59 E., Sections 3, 9, 10, 16, and 21.

C. Project Area Description

The project area is located in mountain terrain along a buried pipeline route that also serves as a jeep trail. The jeep trail is drivable with a 4 wheeled drive type vehicle. Pinyon and juniper trees were pushed over and out of the way during construction of the pipeline in 2022. The chips must be spread over the disturbed areas along the pipeline route.

D. Accessibility

The project area can be reached by a pick-up truck using two routes: 1) from State Route 318 along the Silver Canyon road to the south end of the project area, or 2) from State Route 318 along the Mail Summit Road, past Mail Summit to the Silver Canyon Road. From the Silver Canyon Road to a jeep trail that leads to the northern end of the project area. The Silver canyon Road can be used to traverse to both ends of the project area (Map 1). State Routes 375 and 318 are both paved highways and the Silver Canyon Road is a well-maintained dirt road. The jeep trails along the project area and to the northern end of the project are established drivable routes and drivable with a 4 wheeled drive type vehicle. Although the roads are in good condition, four-wheel drive vehicles and ATVs/UTVs are recommended due to the potential for unexpected inclement weather conditions.

E. Boundaries of Project Area

A GIS shapefile of the project area 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 area.

F. Unique Features

Cultural avoidance areas, survey corner markers, and other special features, if present, will be identified on maps and provided in a shapefile. Live trees shall not be damaged by the chipping operation. Travel within the project area shall be on existing trails as much as feasibly possible.

G. 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 within five (5) days of camp abandonment. Final payment will be reserved subject to inspection of these sites by BLM and approval of site cleanup.

H. 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.

I. Project Meetings

a. Pre-Work Conference

A pre-work conference will be held prior to the start of work. The Contractor and Contracting Officer’s Representative will schedule a time for the meeting location, date, and time. The purpose of the meeting will be to review the required work, the project locations, project specifications, the work schedule, payroll and payments and administrative provisions of the Contract. The Contractor and the persons responsible for coordination of the work shall be present at the meeting. The Contractor shall be prepared to summarize and explain procedures planned for the project.

b. Progress Meetings

Meetings may be called by either the Contracting Officer’s Representative or the Contractor.

Meetings shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

c. Final Inspection

The final inspection meeting shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative at least two (2) working days before the completion date, so the Government can schedule a final inspection. Final payment of the contract will be held pending the completion of a satisfactory final inspection of all associated areas.

II. Task Order Specifics

a. Chip all downed pinyon pine and juniper trees and associated slash within the project area as identified on the map.

b. Distribute all chipped biomass to a depth of no more than 4 inches. Chipped biomass distribution shall be on the disturbed areas and/or jeep trail within the project area.

c. 100 percent of the trees and 90 percent of the slash shall be chipped and distributed at each location and within the project area.

d. Work shall not occur if project implementation is creating excessive ground disturbance.

Work may resume only when ground conditions improve.

e. If an excavator is utilized, it must stay on the jeep trail when reaching for the downed trees and slash.

III. Government Furnished Property and Services

Government shall provide one paper map depicting the project area, any avoidance areas, and other special features, if present. A GIS shapefile will be provided of the project boundary to be uploaded to the contractor’s GPS.

IV. Contractor Furnished Property and Services

A. Contractor Responsibilities

Contractor will be responsible for furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, and materials needs for duration of project. The contractor shall provide a GPS unit capable of uploading a shapefile of the project area.

B. Contractor Equipment

The contractor’s equipment shall be sufficient to chip trees and distribute chips on disturbed areas and/or jeep trail within the project area at depths no greater than four inches.

The following machinery shall be provided by the contractor:

a) A chipper capable of processing pinyon and juniper trees that is:

• Wheeled and capable of being pulled behind a vehicle or

• A tracked mounted chipper

b) The chipper shall be capable of:

• Must have sufficient power and be of durable design and construction to process pinyon and juniper trees

• Be capable to withstand the stresses of natural obstructions within the project area such as rocks, stumps, dust, and the general unevenness of the land.

• If desired the chipper may have a winch capable of winching the trees to the chipper.

• Must be free of fluid leaks and have hoses in good operating condition.

c) Proper equipment (i.e., chainsaw) to reduce the size of the downed tree(s) and slash to enable it to be feed into the chipper.

d) GPS capable of uploading ArcGIS shapefiles.

The following machinery shall be provided by the contractor if they desire to utilize it to move the downed trees and slash to the chipper:

a) Medium sized excavator with a thumb that is capable of picking up the downed trees and bring them to the chipper.

• Must be free of fluid leaks and have hoses in good operating condition

C. Equipment Maintenance and Repairs

The Contractor is responsible for all maintenance and repairs of Contractor furnished equipment. The Contractor shall complete sufficient maintenance of the equipment to prevent down-time on the project sites. The Contractor shall furnish all necessary lubricating equipment, proper lubricants, and service tools to conduct minor maintenance to the equipment at the work site. The Contractor is responsible for all maintenance measures to ensure proper functionality and for safety precautions.

V. Measurement and Payment

Work will be measured and paid for by the number of miles completed. A completed mile would consist of all the downed trees and slash being chipped and chip spread to a depth not exciding the specifications (4 inches). Billing may occur for half of the treatment area once half of the miles have been completed or for the entirety of the treatment area once all miles have been completed. The determination of the total miles of completed work will be made using a GPS unit and/or geographic information system (GIS).

Basis of Payment

Prices and payment will be full compensation for the work described in this section. Payment will be made under the following:

Pay Item Pay Unit

P/J Chipping and Distribution Miles

The Contracting Officer or representative will make periodic inspections as a basis for progress payments and recommendations for adjustments in work quality. The Contractor or representative is encouraged to observe inspections at the time they are being made. Work performed according to the specifications will be considered acceptable for payment purposes.

VI. Performance Schedule

Period of performance shall start within 14 days after contract award or as negotiated by the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative and be completed no later than 60 days after start and no later than September 30, 2024. The Contractor shall be required to start and complete the treatment area within the performance time identified above or as otherwise negotiated during the pre-work conference, provided weather conditions permit. If inclement weather conditions should occur prior to the Contractor completing the project, the Contractor shall be issued a stop work order and the project shall be completed as soon as weather conditions permit. If weather prevents the project from being completed within the timeframe above, arrangements shall be made with the Contracting Officer to finish the project in a timely manner.

All work performed on the project shall follow the schedule agreed upon by the contractor and the Government during the pre-work conference. 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.