A05_PWS_SHEN_MASTICATION_SOW_fy25.pdf

SHEN MASTICATION PROJECT

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK

NPS

SHEN MASTICATION STATEMENT OF WORK

1.DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The purpose of the project is to create defensible space around values of concern, maintain existing fire breaks, and to reduce hazardous fuel loading in desired areas within Shenandoah National Park Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as "SHEN HQ”) to improve efficiency and safety of future prescribed fire operations as well as future wildfire suppression. Fire exclusion has allowed for unnatural fuel loading and arrangement compromising natural cycles, creating unhealthy forests, increasing the potential for high severity wildfires, and leading to invasive species encroachment. Mastication for the purpose of this document is defined as “mulching”, “chipping”, “mowing” with the use of heavy equipment equipped with a mastication head.

2. PROJECT LOCATION AND SITE INFORMATION

Project Location

The SHEN HQ mechanical mastication project area currently consists of three burn units at SHEN HQ, for a total of 20 acres. The included map identifies these units. The project area is immediately accessible by paved and gravel roads.

The project area is well delineated by paved roads, gravel roads, water utility corridors, and or trails.

GPS coordinate is provided for the unit centroids.

Unit 2: Latitude: 38.666123; Longitude: -78.371665

Unit 4: Latitude: 38.666312; Longitude: -78.370532

Unit 5: Latitude: 38.664378; Longitude: -78.370271

Site Information

HQ lies within the western foothills of the Blue Ridge. Topography varies from a 0 to 10% within the project area. Most of the site is accessible and does not have much exposed rock. There are a few visible ditches around the perimeter of unit 5 that are 0 to 5 ft deep.

3.SPECIFIC WORK REQUIREMENTS

Estimated Acres

FY-25 20

These estimates may vary depending on work already completed and touch up work needed.

Units: HQ-5 16 acres HQ-4 3 acres HQ-2 1 acre

Contractor shall masticate:

Thinning Hazardous Fuels

a. Shall masticate all standing vegetation, dead or alive, up to 5 inches diameter a breast height (DBH). The only exception shall be “leave trees” as described in the “will avoid” section.

b. Will be carried out using techniques that minimize unnecessary soil compaction, and displacement when operating off trail.

Contractor will avoid:

a. Any areas flagged off by park staff.

b. “Leave trees” are identified as any spring flowering tree native to Virginia. These include Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida); Red Bud (Cercis canadensis); serviceberry (Amelancheir arborea); cherry (Prunus serotina); black haw (Viburnum prunifolium), and similar species.

c. Limit collateral damage to trees greater than 6 inches DBH.

d. Disturbing wildlife species found nesting in the work area.

e. Leaving wind rowed, stacked, or piled material.

Additional mastication requirements

Residual masticated vegetative debris resulting from Contractor’s operations shall lie flat on the ground.

No masticated or cut material shall accumulate against leave trees. Chips, chunks, or shredded woody material shall not be concentrated into piles. No individual pieces of slash or vegetative debris shall be greater than 4’ in length. All boles or pieces up to 5 inches in diameter shall be masticated. Any cut/masticated vegetation falling into roads, road banks, trails shall immediately be removed. Slash created during mastication will not be stacked or wind rowed.

Mastication will be accomplished with machines which shall meet the following requirements:

Contractor must provide at least one tracked skid steer with masticator head attached. Wheeled vehicles are not recommended and may not be accepted.

The Contractor may choose to leave equipment in place overnight. Contractor will be responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged equipment while equipment is under contract.

Work restrictions:

Public Awareness All Units

The area will remain open to the public during this time. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure public safety around operating equipment at all times.

All Contract Areas No ground disturbing operations shall be allowed when wet weather conditions result in unnecessary soil displacement. Restrictions on soil displacement apply to all equipment operating on this contract. The COR will be responsible for monitoring soil conditions.

The Contracting Officer may specify the priority of work by item (unit), without additional cost. Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except during the following conditions:

a. When the COR determines that adverse weather has made access or project work unacceptable, too dangerous or ground damaging, or continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road/trail damage.

b. Values of special concern in the project area will be flagged. If new sites are found by the Contractor, stop work in the vicinity of the finding and notify COR as soon as feasible.

5. SCHEDULING AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Scheduling

Scheduling or prioritizing specific work locations will be determined by a pre-determined SHEN Fire Management employee.

Period Of Performance

Mastication work will start on 8/15/2025 and needs to be completed by 12/31/2025.

6. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Contractor Quality Control Inspection System

The Contractor shall identify the quality control inspection system it will use to ensure that contract specifications will be achieved. At no time shall the Contractor rely upon Government inspections to provide notification of unsatisfactory performance. The Contractor may be required to produce written inspection records in a format and at times and places satisfactory to the Contracting Officer. Inspection records shall be made available upon request of the COR and be maintained until the date of contract closure. The COR may observe the Contractor's inspection at any time and shall otherwise have unlimited access to the inspection data.

Quality Control Plan

The Contractor shall provide a general Quality Control Plan (QCP) with the technical proposal. The Contractor shall supplement the QCP within 7 days before start work based on items awarded to the Contractor and Government comments. The Contractor shall conduct quality control inspections on all aspects of work. The field inspections shall be performed on each item listed.

The general QCP must demonstrate how the Contractor will assure quality meets the requirements and specifications of the contract. The Plan shall describe how quality will be monitored to assure the performance standards are met, the supervision of crew and work, and personnel that will be performing the quality control. Quality control shall include monitoring quality while work is in progress, residual tree care and other associated tasks, an unbiased sample of:

Mastication for all Work Items

a. Size and distribution of material after mastication

b. Height of stumps after mastication

c. Width of mastication from center of trail and roads

d. No trees greater than 5 inches DBH cut

e. No “leave trees’’ masticated

6.1 Inspection Procedures

Government inspections

Government inspections may be by work observation, measurement by pacing, tape, ocular estimation, and progress of work over time. The Government will accept a unit when all work has been completed and all work specifications have been met.

Specific Inspection Procedures

Inspection of site

Each inspection site will be randomly selected. A final inspection from the site will determine:

a. Size and distribution of material after mastication

b. Height of stumps after mastication

c. “Leave trees” with no contractor-created damage

d. Mastication of live and dead trees under 5 inches DBH

7.Traffic Control Plan

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, when Contractor’s Operations are in progress adjacent to or on National Park Service controlled roads and trails open to public travel, Contractor shall furnish, install, and maintain all temporary traffic signs that provide the user with adequate warning of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions associated with Contractor’s Operations. Contractor and SHEN representative shall agree to a specific Traffic Control plan for each individual project prior to commencing operations. Devices shall be appropriate to current conditions and shall be covered or removed when not needed.

8. Protection Measures Needed for Plants, Animals and Cultural Resources

Areas, known by SHEN staff prior to contract solicitation, needing special measures for the protection of plants, animals and cultural resources will be identified on the ground, and shall be treated as follows:

a. Contractor shall conduct operations in a manner that does not damage or disturb identified areas. In the event that protective measures identified by the National Park Service are for any reason inadequate, Contracting Officer may delay or interrupt Contractor’s operations, under this contract, and/or modify this contract. Contractor shall immediately notify the designated SHEN employee if its operations disturb or damage any area identified as needing special protection and shall immediately halt its operations in the vicinity of such area until the designated SHEN employee authorizes continued operations. In the event that Contractor's operations disturb or damage an area identified as needing special protection, then Contractor shall reimburse the National Park Service for the full cost and expense of any evaluative and remedial measures undertaken by the National Park Service in connection with such disturbance or damage. Such payment shall not relieve Contractor from civil or criminal liability under applicable law.

b. Following task order solicitation, additional areas needing special measures for protection may be discovered or identified; protective measures may be revised or newly prescribed; and additional species of plants and/or animals may be added to federal lists of protected species. In such event, Contracting Officer may delay or interrupt Contractor’s Operations, under this contract, and/or modify this contract.

c. Discovery, by either the Contractor or the designated SEHN employee, of additional areas, resources, species, or members of species needing special protection shall be promptly reported to the other party.

Protection of Residual Trees

Contractor's Operations shall not unnecessarily damage trees to be reserved i.e., trees greater than5 inches DBH.

9.Sanitation and Servicing

Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent pollution of air, soil, and water by Contractor’s Operations. If facilities for employees are established on Contract Area, they shall be operated in a sanitary manner. In the event that Contractor’s Operations or servicing of equipment result in pollution to soil or water, Contractor shall conduct cleanup and restoration of the polluted site to the satisfaction of National Park Service.

Contractor shall maintain all equipment operating on Contract Area in good repair and free of abnormal leakage of lubricants, fuel, coolants, and hydraulic fluid. Contractor shall not service tractors, trucks, or other equipment on National Park Service lands where servicing is likely to result in pollution to soil or water. Contractor shall furnish oil-absorbing mats for use under all stationary equipment or equipment being serviced to prevent leaking or spilled petroleum-based products from contaminating soil and water resources. Contractor shall remove from National Park Service lands all contaminated soil, vegetation, debris, vehicle oil filters (drained of free-flowing oil), batteries, oily rags, and waste oil resulting from use, servicing, repair, or abandonment of equipment.

Prevention of Oil Spills

If Contractor maintains storage facilities for oil or oil products on Contract Area, Contractor shall take appropriate preventive measures to ensure that any spill of such oil or oil products does not enter any stream or other waters of the United States or any of the individual States.

If the total oil or oil products storage exceeds 1,320 gallons in containers of 55 gallons or greater, Contractor shall prepare a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan. Such plan shall meet applicable EPA requirements (40 CFR 112), including certification by a registered professional engineer.

Contractor shall notify COR and appropriate agencies of all reportable (40 CFR 110) spills of oil or oil products on or in the vicinity of Contract Area that are caused by Contractor’s employee’s agents, contractors, Subcontractors, or their employees or agents, directly or indirectly, as a result of Contractor’s Operations. Contractor will take whatever initial action may be safely accomplished to contain all spills.

Hazardous Substances

Contractor shall notify the National Response Center and COR of all releases of reportable quantities of hazardous substances on or in the vicinity of Contract Area that are caused by Contractor’s employees, agents, Subcontractors or their employees or agents, directly or indirectly, as a result of Contractor’s Operations, in accordance with 40 CFR 302.

Equipment Cleaning

In order to prevent the spread of noxious weeds into the Contract Area, Contractor shall be required to clean any equipment that will be traveling on ORV trails prior to entry on to the Contract Area. This cleaning shall remove all soil, plant parts, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Only equipment so cleaned will be allowed to operate within the Contract Area. All subsequent move-ins of equipment to the Contract Area shall be treated in the same manner as the initial move in. "Off-road equipment" includes all machinery, service vehicles, water trucks, pickup trucks, cars, ATV’s, UTV’s and similar vehicles.

Contractor shall provide whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure that off-road equipment is free of noxious weeds. Park may provide the use of the cleaning basin area if needed to wash equipment. Equipment shall be considered free of soil, seed, and other such debris when a visual inspection does not disclose such material. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools is not required.

Unless otherwise agreed, Contractor shall give the designated SHEN employee at least 24 hours’ notice when equipment is ready for inspection. Notification will include an agreed upon location where the equipment will be available for inspection by the designated SHEN employee.

New infestations of noxious weeds, of concern to National Park Service and identified by either Contractor or SHEN employee, on the Contract area, shall be promptly reported to the other party.

Contractor and designated SHEN employee shall agree on treatment methods to reduce or stop the spread of noxious weeds when new infestations are found. A current list of noxious weeds of concern to National Park Service is available at The Park Service office.

10. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED CRITICAL ITEMS

The Contractor shall provide all labor, housing, supervision, transportation, tools, and material (except Government-furnished Property) necessary to perform the requirements of the contract.

11. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE

This information will be provided to the contractor once awarded.