A04_Vulcan_MX_SOW.pdf

C.1.0 VULCAN HAZARDOUS FUELS TREATMENT

C.1.1 Description of Work: The Vulcan vegetation treatment consists of mastication of mixed mountain shrub vegetation types located three miles east of New Castle, Colorado; in

Township 5 South (T5S), Range 90 West (R90W) Sections 36 & 36 and Township 6

South (T6S), Range 90 West (R90W), Sections 3, 4, 5, & 9 6th P.M. (see project area maps below).The proposed project is located in Garfield County, elevation of the project ranges from 5,800’ to 7,400’ feet. The vegetation is primarily mixed mountain shrub

(oak brush, snowberry, serviceberry), pinon pine and juniper. To achieve the objectives the project work is vegetation treatment by mastication and mowing of one polygon, their shape is determined by slope, or bedrock exposures. In addition, pursuant to 48CFR1437

(as amended in the Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 166 / Friday, August 27, 2004) biomass resulting from this contract may be purchased from the BLM as described under

C.1.2 below.

The average slope is less than 35%. Crown cover is less than 45%.

The Contractor will be responsible mastication of 40-70% of mixed mountain shrub species and all pinon and juniper 10” diameter at breast height (dbh) and smaller in a mosaic fashion. The 909 acre project area is identified on attached maps. It is understood that isolated areas may be too steep or rocky to operate will be left untreated . The contractor will grind/mulch shrub species with contractor furnished rubber-tired equipment (e.g., Hydro-Ax, Fecon Bull Hog or similar).

In total, there are a total of 909 acres IDIQ Item 1B – Level 2 General Mastication.

Additional specific objectives will be communicated during the required on-site pre-work meeting or during subsequent project inspections with the Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR) or Project Inspector (PI). Notice to Proceed is expected to be issued approximately mid August 2021. The period of performance will be August 15, 2021 to August 15, 2022. Operations will cease during the Colorado big game rifle seasons from October 30 through November 19 and migratory bird shutdown from May

15 to July 15. Work on this project is to begin within 10 days of contractor’s receipt of

Notice to Proceed and shall be completed no later than 75 calendar days (minus Rifle seasons shutdown period and migratory bird shutdown period).

C.1.2 Biomass Removal:

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.

Payment under this sales contract must be at a price equal to or greater than the appraised value before the removal of any woody biomass. The contractor must make any appropriate payment specified in this timber/vegetative sales contract.

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

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

C.1.3 Location: Directions to the general vicinity of the project area may be found at the following link: https://goo.gl/maps/4AFdcYLnH3LtFfMj6

C.1.4 Access to the Work: Access to the project site is via a primitive, unmaintained, four-wheel drive road that may be unpassable when wet from the adjacent subdivision. Any travel or use of private land must be coordinated between the contractor and landowner.

C.1.5 Environmental Considerations: The majority of the targeted area is relatively flat to moderately sloping ridges. Most rocky areas are associated with drainages and knobs.

Most slopes steeper than 35% avoided by design.

C.1.6 Work Limits: Moving of equipment should be limited to dry conditions to reduce damage to any roads or operator will need to smooth roads with equipment at the end of the project returning it to the prior condition. Work should not continue in wet conditions where more than 3 inch ruts will be produced by equipment operation.

C.1.7 For all interested bidders.

Contact the COR or PI listed below to confirm meeting time and location.

COR: Hilary Boyd BLM Office: (970) 876-9000, cell: (970) 366-2891

PI: Chad Sewell BLM Office: (970) 876-9030. Cell: 970-216-8999

C.2.0 SCHEDULING: This is a single schedule contract.

C.2.1 In the event of extreme weather or environmental conditions, the Contracting Officer will determine the best course of action based on comments from the Contractor and PI/COR.

C.3.0 CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED ITEMS:

C.3.1 The operator will provide an articulated tractor with an operator. The tractor will be equipped with a machine mounted, thinning and shredding machine [a Mower/mulcher].

Either a vertical-shaft or horizontal-shaft may be used in this contract area, however care must be taken to avoid spreading material on private property.

C.3.2. Transportation for equipment and operator to and from the site.

C.3.3. All fuels, lubricants, parts for repairs, and repairs to the machine.

https://goo.gl/maps/4AFdcYLnH3LtFfMj6

C.4.0 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY:

C.4.1 The BLM will provide shapefiles and geo-referenced PDF maps and at the contractors request, will flag the outer perimeter of the areas to be treated using plastic surveyor flagging. Areas within the project perimeter which are to be excluded from treatment will be flagged with a stripped contrasting color flagging. Total avoidance of these areas is required and is the Contractor’s responsibility.

C.4.2 The BLM will provide maps and descriptions of the area and will go with the operator around the boundary of the area. The government will map the area treated by the

Contractor using a Global Positioning System (GPS), based on horizontal plane measurement, not “slope” acreage.

C.4.3 The government will provide representatives from the BLM Colorado River Valley Field

Office to act as liaison between the contractor and the BLM Contracting Officer to implement the project and to ensure that the resource objectives of the project are met.

C.4.4 The BLM will provide treatment measurement: The determination of the acreage of completed work will be made by using the Global Positioning System (GPS). Area measurements required under this Contract will be measured on a horizontal plane.

Mechanical treatment of trees and brush will be measured and paid for by the number of acres treated to the nearest whole acre. Work performed according to the specifications and C.9.0 will be considered acceptable for payment purposes.

C.4.5 The BLM will provide re-measurement of the acreage under this Contract upon the written request of the Contractor. The request for re-measurement must be made in writing within

10 calendar days after completion of the work. If re-measurement indicates a difference of not more than 5 percent from the original measurement, the Contractor shall pay the actual cost of the re-measurement. Payments will be based on the second measurement where the difference between measurements is more than 5 percent. Where the difference is less than 5 percent the results of the first measurement will be used.

C.4.6 The PI and/or COR will conduct weekly on-site inspections. The Contractor is encouraged to observe inspections while they are being made and have a supervisor on site to confer with the PI and/or COR. If an onsite visit has not occurred during the period, the contractor is required to report status of work each week, or when any special situations or problems are encountered. These reports may be made by telephone to the PI or COR.

C.5.0 TRANSPORTATION OF EQUIPMENT, DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING:

C.5.1 The contractor will provide transportation for all equipment; operators, fuel, and water to and from the site. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing the necessary material-handling equipment to on-load and off-load all materials and the appropriate security when equipment or property is left on site.

C.6.0 LUBRICATING AND SERVICING OF EQUIPMENT:

C.6.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for all service to all equipment including support vehicles. The Contractor shall keep all the equipment in proper functioning condition to ensure objectives of the project are met.

C.7.0 REPAIRS TO EQUIPMENT:

C.7.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for repair of all equipment including the support vehicles. The Contractor shall keep all the equipment in proper functioning condition to ensure objectives of the project are met. The Contractor shall be equipped to make necessary field repairs to equipment.

C.7.3 Use of welding equipment may be limited by fire restrictions. It is the Contractors responsibility to keep current on any restrictions.

C.8.0 SPECIFIC TASKS:

C.8.1 Surface Conditions: Treatment shall not be done when soil surface conditions are muddy or when equipment is leaving ruts greater than 3 inches. When such conditions are encountered, the Contractor shall stop work and notify the Contracting Officer. The

Contracting Officer will determine the best course of action based on comments from the contractor and the COR/PI.

C.8.2 Protection: The Contractor is required to protect section corners, bench marks, and other markers and stakes from damage or removal. In case of destruction or removal by the

Contractor, they will be replaced by the Government and the actual cost for replacement will be deducted from payments due the Contractor. The Contractor is also required to avoid all areas flagged and identified by the COR as areas to be protected due to resource concerns.

C.8.3 Noxious Weeds: Vehicles and heavy equipment are one of the primary agents for the spread of noxious weed seed to public lands. In efforts to mitigate the spread of weed seed to BLM lands the following actions are required for contractors prior to transport to a

BLM project area. The Contractor will be responsible for power-washing or comparable cleaning, to ensure that noxious weed seeds are removed from any and all equipment and vehicles used on the project prior to entering the project area. BLM will require a pre-implementation inspection to ensure compliance which would be arranged to occur in

Silt, CO when the contractor is planning transport to the project area. The Contractor is responsible for any additional transport or expenses associated with non-compliance.

Support vehicles (pickups, fuel/service vehicles, transports, dump trucks, etc.)

< Pressure wash radiator to flush seeds.

< Pressure wash undercarriage to remove accumulations of mud and soil that may contain seeds.

Heavy Equipment (dozers, road graders, excavators, backhoes, loaders, etc.)

< Pressure wash radiator(s) to flush seeds.

< Pressure wash tracks to remove accumulations of soil.

< Pressure wash all areas of soil/debris accumulations (i.e. steps)

< Pressure wash blades and buckets where soil/mud is accumulated.

< Empty pre-cleaners (air intake) before transport.

C.8.4 Hazardous Materials: Use of Hazardous Materials and/or petroleum products requires that all appropriate State and Federal Regulations be complied with including, but not limited to, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on hand and use of necessary Personal

Protective Clothing (PPE). On-site disposal of Hazardous Materials or Waste including hydrocarbons is not authorized. The Contractor will be responsible to prevent introduction of hazardous materials into the environment during the implementation of the proposed action. Any on-site disposal or release of two gallons or more in the form of spilled fuel, hydraulic fluid, or oil used by the machinery and the resulting contaminated soil will subject the contractor to at least the cost of reclamation and the appropriate disposal of contaminated soil. Fueling and maintenance activities should not take place in or adjacent to any drainage (perennial or ephemeral.)

1. All product containers, cans, and debris should be removed from the site and disposed of properly.

2. Incidental leaks from fittings, gaskets, or ruptured hoses will not subject the contractor to remedial requirements (if less than 2 gallons).

3. Fueling equipment and maintenance/repair locations, and equipment will be inspected and approved prior to contract startup by the owner/operator and the

Government’s PI/COR. Inspections will include checking for evidence of oil/fuel leaks at all piping, oil/fuel lines, hydraulic lines and seals, fuel tanks and other potential sources of leaks. All evidence of leaks will be investigated and immediately repaired prior to equipment operation on the job and continual leaks will be noted on inspection reports and corrected through required maintenance.

4. All non-manual fueling equipment will have an automatic shut-off switch installed to avoid fuel releases.

5. Fuel tanks greater than 200 gallons may only be used within a spill containment pit.

The spill containment pit shall be constructed at a site designated by the PI/COR, with an impermeable liner capable of containing a released volume of one and one-half times the tank volume. The Contractor will report all hazardous substance spills immediately to the BLM PI or COR

C.8.5 Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Provisions: The government may require the contractor to curtail or cease operations should wild land fire danger approach critical levels. The contractor will be given 24 hours notice in the form of a suspend work order issued by the Contracting Officer.

Ignition of a wild land fire that threatens the project area may require the Contractor to proceed with an emergency evacuation of the project area.

A 10 lb ABC fire extinguisher and shovel or equivalent tool will be available on the operating equipment for fire prevention and control.

C.9.0 MASTICATION OPERATIONS:

C.9.1 General: Mastication shall be performed within the project area as identified by the

Government and instructed by the COR or PI. Insufficient shredding/mulching may require some work areas to be treated more than once to meet objectives.

Remaining stumps shall not exceed 6 inches in height.

Vegetation shall be reduced to a mulch material with a minimum of 80% of the woody material less than 1" in diameter and 6" long. The mulch shall be scattered evenly across the soil surface and not remain in piles greater than 8" deep.

Vegetation which is pushed over by equipment but not shredded shall be severed by the contractor by hand (chainsaw) and slash shall not exceed 18 inches in height.

No trees/shrubs shall be left to cross any improvement such as, but not limited to roads, fences, gates, ponds, power lines or cattle guards.

C.9.2 Additional Requirements:

The following guidelines for Mastication are a required mitigation measure incorporated in the decision record authorizing this project and will be communicated to the owner/operator during the on-site pre-work meeting:

-The contractor will post signs on the access road warning visitors of heavy equipment use in the area. These signs will be checked daily by the contractor to ensure they are in place.

The signage will be coordinated with and pre-approved by the BLM Project Inspector (PI) or the Contracting Officers Representative (COR).

-The BLM PI or COR must be informed of any objects or sites of cultural, paleontological, or scientific value such as historic or prehistoric resources, graves or grave markers, human remains, ruins, cabins, rock art, fossils, or artifacts. The objects shall not be damaged, destroyed, removed, moved, or disturbed. Any person who knowingly violates this may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment (Public Law 16-95; 16 U.S.C. 470).

- Work will not occur between Colorado big game rifle seasons from October 30 through

November 19 during Colorado Big Game hunting seasons.

-Any damage to private lands caused by the contractor crossing private lands to get to the project are is the responsibility of the contractor.

-Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.4(g), the Contractor must notify the authorized officer, by telephone, with written confirmation, immediately upon the discovery of human remains, funerary items, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony on federal land. Further, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.4 (c) 41 and (d), the Contractor must stop activities in the vicinity of the discovery that could adversely affect the discovery. The Contractor shall make a reasonable effort to protect the human remains, funerary items, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony for a period of thirty days after written notice is provided to the authorized officer, or until the authorized officer has issued a written notice to proceed, whichever occurs first.