A04-Statement_of_Work_(2022).pdf

United State Department of the Interior

FWS FELSENTHAL NWR

5531 Highway 82 West

CROSSETT AR 71635

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Trail Flood Debris Removal

At Felsenthal National

Wildlife Refuge

PART 1

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. GENERAL: This is a non-personnel services contract to provide removal of downed trees, logs, limbs (3-inch diameter or larger), and other large debris within designated recreational trails on Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge. 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, fuel, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary remove flood debris (3 inch diameter or greater) from the recreational trails of Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge as defined in this Performance Work

Statement (PWS) except for those items specified as government furnished property and services. The Contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract and assumes all liability for work operating in an area open to the public and near a public road right of way.

1.2 Background/Objective: Annually, Felsenthal NWR experiences annual flooding and storms that results in downed trees, logs, limbs, and other debris on the recreational trails. This project is to clear the trails of this debris to re-open and to maintain the current footprint of the trails while minimizing soil disturbance. Some back-blading or minor dirt work may be required as a result of the removal of the debris. The creation of new trails and or re-routing existing trails is prohibited.

PART 2

CONTRACT PERFROMANCE

2. CONTRACT PERFORMANCE:

2.1 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall begin on August 15, 2022 and end on September 25, 2022. Work may be postponed due to inclement weather, high water, high wildfire danger or to prevent adverse impacts to the soils and access roads or for the convenience to the government. The government may allow an extension of the contract term if it is determined that the contractor could not complete the contract within the normal contract period due to excessive inclement weather or government caused delays that exceed a total of 21 days.

The preferred time period for completing the contract work is summer to early fall due to wet soil conditions associated with winter and spring rainy season.

2.2 Quality Control: The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor must stay within the boundary or right of way/corridor of the trail areas as depicted on the attached map.

2.3 Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the Contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the Contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

2.4 Recognized Holidays: The Contractor may, but is not required to perform services on these holidays:

New Year’s Day

Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Washington’s Birthday

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

2.5 Hours of Operation: Operations should take place during daylight hours and the contractor should make the Contracting Officer Representative aware of times scheduled to work.

2.6 Place of Performance: The work will be performed in Ashley, Bradley, and Union Counties in Arkansas on Felsenthal NWR (see attached map). The refuge has approximately 53 miles of recreational trails. All trails are subject to annual flooding. Not all trails will require treatment.

The staff will provide a list of priority areas. The refuge office lies approximately 5 miles west of Crossett, AR.

2.7 Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm Fixed Price for 120 hours (40 hours/week).

2.8 Security Requirements: Not applicable.

2.9 Special Qualifications: The Contractor shall, without additional expense to the Service, be responsible for obtaining any licenses and permits, and for complying with any applicable State and Federal laws, codes, and regulations in connection with prosecution of the work.

2.10 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer, Government Representative (GR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the Contractor to review the Contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer or GR 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. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

2.11 Government Representative (GR): The (GR) will be identified by separate letter. The GR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The GR 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, including Government drawings, designs, specifications: monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property, and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. The GR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

2.12 Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered key personnel by the government:

Bill Burchfield (870) 364-3167 or Michael Stroeh (870) 364-3167. The Contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work.

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1 Services: The project area is already mapped, using GIS. The Government can provide additional maps of the project areas, flag areas or provide PDF maps to be used on cellular devices or any combination of the above methods to ensure the contractor is clear of the treatment area boundaries. The government will provide a FWS employee during all periods of implementation.

3.2 Facilities: The Government will allow the contractor to unload and park equipment within the treatment area while the contract work is being performed. Any use of private property adjacent to the refuge for transporting, unloading or staging equipment is the responsibility of the contractor. The Government assumes no liability for any damages to equipment that may occur while parked on the refuge. The contractor will be liable for any damages that occur on the refuge during contract implementation or mobilizing/demobilizing of equipment.

3.3 Utilities: The Government will provide no utilities.

3.4 Equipment: The Government will provide no equipment.

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS.

4.2 Secret Facility Clearance: Not applicable.

4.3. Materials: The Contractor shall provide all materials required to accomplish these requirements outlined in this PWS, excluding those outlined in Part 3 as Government Provided

Items.

4.4. Equipment: The Contractor shall provide all personnel and equipment necessary to furnish the requirements of this PWS, excluding those outlined in Part 3 as Government Provided Items.

Contractor will provide a dozer (D6 equivalent or larger low ground pressure dozer with a 6-way blade) capable of pushing large downed trees, logs and other debris off trails, while minimizing soil disturbance on and off the trails. All personnel, fuel, lubricants, consumables, equipment maintenance and repair, lodging, meals and equipment transportation are the responsibility of the contractor.

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

5. SPECIFIC TASKS:

The contractor is responsible for the mobilization and demobilization of equipment around the refuge. The contractor will clear downed trees, logs and other debris for trails while minimizing soil disturbance. Back-blading or minor dirt work is permitted to smooth out trails after debris removal, if needed. All limbs, logs and other debris greater than three-inch diameter need to be removed. No new trails or re-routing of existing trails is permitted. The work is focused on the existing trail footprint.

Refuge Special Use Conditions will include at least the following:

• A pre-entry conference between the Government Representative or designee and the successful bidder representative will be required before beginning operations to insure understanding of the permit conditions and thus avoid serious conflicts.

• The contractor must complete each individual area before moving to another area. Also, the contractor must work from one starting point in a contiguous fashion. Moving from one part of the treatment area to another before completion will not be allowed.

• Damage should be minimized to residual/standing trees remaining in the stands

• Except where specifically authorized by a Special Use permit, all regulations governing activities on Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in general and specific public use regulations for Felsenthal NWR (including littering, possession and use of firearms, and protection of wildlife) apply.

• Vehicles and other equipment will be operated in a safe manner at all times. Both refuge personnel and the visiting public use the refuge roads. The speed limit on refuge roads is 25 miles per hour unless posted otherwise.

• Contractor and his employees shall not build fires on the refuge. The Contractor and his/her employees will be reasonably prudent in preventing and suppressing forest fires.

Contractor shall be liable for all fire suppression cost resulting from his operations.

• Clean up of oil, hydraulic fluid and other contaminants as a result of the operation is the responsibility of the Contractor.

• The Project Leader and/or Contracting Officer Representative/Government Representative shall have authority to temporarily close down all or any part of the operation during a period of high fire danger, wet ground conditions, or for any other reason deemed necessary. The government may allow an extension of the contract term if it is determined that the contractor could not complete the contract within the normal contract period due to excessive inclement weather or government caused delays that exceed a total of 21 days.

• Failure of the Contractor to comply with any of these Special Conditions, with the State or Federal law, or special refuge regulations will be sufficient cause for refusal of future contracts or permits being granted to the party.

• All work must be coordinated with the Project Leader or designee.

• All refuge regulations are in effect unless otherwise designated in writing.

• No collection of plants, animals, rocks, or artifacts allowed.

• No alcohol is permitted on the refuge.

• Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National Wildlife Refuges must comply with all provisions of state and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32).

• Vehicle traffic is restricted to gravel roads designated as open except as marked on attached map of the project work area.

• Contractor is responsible for daily cleanup of work area.

• Destruction of vegetation outside the trail footprint is prohibited.

• Work will not be permitted when the ground is wet and subject to rutting or severe soil compaction. The Contractor will be required to fill any ruts made as a result of their operation.

5.1. The Contractor shall have the required licenses and certifications.

5.2.2. The Contractor may recommend adjustments to the treatment process but must be approved in writing by the Contracting Officer Representative prior to implementation.

5.2.3. The Contractor shall coordinate with the USFWS to determine the date(s) and time(s) of mechanical treatment to minimize impacts on other USFWS and public use activities.