A06 0040486205 SOW .pdf

Roadside Prism Clearing, Hazard Tree Removal and Vista Clearing

1 | P a g e

140P5320Q0044

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Statement of Work

Roadside Prism Clearing, Vista Clearing and Hazard Tree Removal

SCOPE: This project is for road prism clearing and brushing, vista clearing, and hazard tree removal. The work is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount and Sevier

Counties, Tennessee and Swain County, North Carolina.

Road Prism Clearing: This work shall include clearing, trimming, brushing, and thinning per Figure 1 and 2 in this document. Identify, cut, and remove encroaching brush, trees, and limbs as designated to clear/reopen the road prism to clear vegetation from roadside waterways, open shoulders and clear zones, and provide appropriate clearance for travel lanes, pulloffs, and mow zones. This shall include removing previously fallen trees and limbs. Because of existing vistas/overlooks, open clearings, and requirements for developed areas, the amount of work needed in each area can fluctuate between intensive and minimal.

Hazard Tree Removal: The contractor shall remove all hazard trees within 50 feet from the existing tree line along roadway unless otherwise specified in Proposed Schedule Sheet. On some roadways the distance is listed at 100 feet and/or to remove all hazard trees that may hit the roadway. It will be important that contractor have a certified arborist on site at all times that can accurately identify hazard trees in accordance with the definition of what attributes a tree has to be defined as a hazard tree per this contract. There is also a tree risk evaluation form that is attached that can be used if desired. Hazard trees shall be removed within specified distance from tree line along roadway, pulloffs, and parking areas. Specified distance will be measured horizontally (not slope distance) from the tree line. Clearing will not be required at existing overlooks or large maintained clearings where tree line is more than 50’ from edge of pavement.

Vista Clearing: Identify, cut and remove trees, saplings, re-sprouts, and tall growing shrubs within specified depths of included vistas (A vista is an opening along the tree line or in the forest through which distant scenic views are typically enjoyed.) to provide clear and unobstructed views for visitors. Trees along listed vistas shall be trimmed in accordance to Park standards. Trees understory, or brush areas may only require selective trimming, while other areas may need extensive clearing to achieve the desired visibility per the vista prescriptions provided and as determined by contractor’s certified arborist and COR.

Campground Areas: Work includes prism clearing and hazard tree removal as described above within distance specified in Proposed Schedule Sheet. All trees cut that are 12” in diameter or less shall be cut into maximum 2 foot log lengths and stacked at woods line. All other logs and brush shall be pulled out to be legally disposed of off Park property. Grind all stumps.

2 | P a g e

Removal/Disposal of Logs, Tree Tops, Brush, and Debris: The majority of cut material (70 to

90%) shall be hauled out of the Park. Some cut material (10 to 30%) may be disposed of in wooded areas adjacent to immediate work area so long as it is pulled into woods area, made to look natural, ends of cut logs or piles of debris are not visible from roadways, trails, vistas, pulloffs or other visitor areas and as long as, in the opinion of the government, the aesthetic quality of the Park is not compromised. This shall Contractor is expected to have to pull and haul out 70 to 90% of the felled trees/logs for aesthetic purposes. 100% of material in campgrounds and picnic areas, not left as allowed above, shall be hauled out. No trees, brush or limbs shall be allowed be left along roadside shoulders, developed areas, or open areas. Material hauled out shall be legally disposed of off park property except as allowed above.

All species of logs pulled out shall be legally disposed of off Park property. Logs left on site, in Government approved area, shall be laid flat to be in full contact with the ground.

Complete traffic control in accordance with MUTCD will be the responsibility of the contractor.

No vehicular or equipment access will be allowed beyond the edge of forest. Protect asphalt pavement in a manner that felling operations, dragging, outriggers, equipment, tracks, etc.

will not damage asphalt. Small pavement patches will not be allowed on the new pavement sections on any Park Roads that have been paved within 3 years of project work. Mill and overlay full lane width per FHWA special contract requirements will be required on new pavement, patching will be accepted on other roads. (See Appendix C) Any asphalt or grounds damaged due to construction activities will be promptly and properly repaired at the expense of the contractor.

Work shall be done by mechanical methods and hand work. No wheeled or tracked equipment/vehicles shall be used for tree removals or felling operations inside of the wood line

(within the forest).

Provide equipment typical with hazard tree removal including technical removals, such as but not limited to:

Bucket Truck

Self-Loading Dump Trucks

Crane

Skid Loader

Chipper

Stump Grinder

3 | P a g e

PERFORMANCE PERIOD: The work shall be accomplished from approximately September

2020 through September 2021. No work will be allowed May 1 to November 15, on weekends, government recognized holidays, the month of October, or the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and the weeks before and after Easter Sunday. Weekends will be from noon on Fridays to 8AM on Mondays. If requested, consideration will be given to allowing contractor to work in closed park areas during the aforementioned prohibited timeframes.

Additional work restrictions are as specified in Proposal Schedule Sheet.

All trees scheduled for removal which are more than 6” in diameter (DBH) and are potential bat habitat shall be removed between November 15 and March 31.

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION: The work shall consist of the services described below for the referenced project. In this document, the project shall be referred to as Roadside and Vista

Clearing.

CONTACTS:

• Contracting Specialist (CO)/Administrator: Geraldine Larsen; Geraldine_larsen@nps.gov

• Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for this contract is: TBA

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses 814 square miles, making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States. The main park entrances are located at the towns of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina. The general scope of work includes identifying, and removing brush, trees, and limbs to clear the road prism to specified clearances/distances as specified and shown in included diagrams, remove hazard trees to eliminate hazards to the motoring public and identifying, cutting, and removing trees, shrubs, brush, briars, and vines within specified depths of included vistas providing appropriate vertical and horizontal clearances to improve sight distances at vistas. Work shall be accomplished adjacent to the Park facilities including roads, trails, campsites, picnic sites, parking areas, overlooks, and pull offs in several areas of the Park.

II. FUNDING LIMITATIONS

The Government obligation for performance of this contract is contingent upon the availability of funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond the amount that has been authorized through the issuance of written contracts.

The Government may award a contract for the Proposal Schedule, for the Proposal Schedule and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatlinburg%2C_Tennessee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee%2C_North_Carolina

4 | P a g e any Options, or for the Proposal Schedule and any combination of Options up to and including all

Options. All work shall be performed under a single contract.

NOTE:

Locust trees should be treated like any other species of tree and if it is a hazard with a target it should be removed per SOW III. Scope of Services section.

Herbicide being applied to Vista only (not road prism of campgrounds), there a few rare exceptions like the historic wall in Twin Creeks development area where the trees are growing inside of the wall and will need to be treated after cut.

GLarsen Highlight

5 | P a g e

III. SCOPE OF SERVICES

1. Roadside/Corridor Clearing and Brushing: Identify, cut, and remove encroaching brush, trees, and limbs to restore sight distances and provide appropriate vertical and horizontal clearances to improve sight distances and eliminate hazards to the motoring public. Vertical and horizontal clearances are as shown in diagrams and on Proposal

Schedule Sheet. Cut and remove all hazard trees within the clearing limits and extending into perimeter that may pose a hazard to the road corridor.

Edge of corridor should be cleared to a natural look that allows for a scalloped edge rather than a clean straight edge along the woods line. Trees 10” DBH and smaller beyond the identified limits of clearing shall be removed to achieve the natural look. Specimen trees and shrubs should be left in place to help in achieving this natural scalloped edge.

Vegetation material shall be hauled out of the Park or be disposed of in adjacent wooded areas (chipped only) as long as, in the opinion of the government, the aesthetic quality of the Park was not compromised.

o Vegetation disposed of in adjacent wooded areas must be chipped and dispersed.

o Stumps shall be cut to no greater than 2 inches or removed and the area repaired to original contour.

o No piles of grindings shall be greater than 3 inches high as measured to the surrounding area, and chips shall be evenly spread across the area of disposal.

o No wood debris shall be left in open grass areas.

o Do not allow leaves, wood chips, or wood debris to be deposited in or near any drainage structure that could inhibit water flow.

Cutting and trimming around buildings, masonry walls, guardrails, fencing, signs, headwalls, specimen trees, boulders, and curbing shall be accomplished in a way that avoids damage to and protects the Park’s infrastructure.

Road, Pull-off, and Parking Lot: Trees along parking area and roadways shall be trimmed in accordance with Figure 1 and 2. Small trees (less than 10 inch DBH) within 8 to 10 feet of the pavement edge shall be removed or chipped and spread across the area evenly. Large managed turf areas (Figure 1.) may only require selective cutting and trimming, while areas that are adjacent to the edge of pavement (Figure 2.) may need extensive clearing to achieve the desired visibility and vertical clearance.

2. Hazard Tree Removal: Identify, cut, and remove hazard trees, and limbs to eliminate hazards to the motoring public. Identify, cut and remove all hazard trees within the clearing limits (50 feet in from tree line or as specified in Proposed Schedule Sheet) and extending into perimeter that may pose a hazard to the road corridor. For the purpose of this contract hazard trees will be defined as follows:

6 | P a g e

Hazard trees are defined as any tree over 6” diameter with a major defect that upon failing would cause all or parts of the tree to impact the identified target. (For example, roadway, campsite, picnic site, building, parking areas, ETC). Major defects include:

• Dead-standing snags

• Significant dead stems, leaders, or scaffolds (that are too large to mitigate by pruning-out)

• Heavy, unnatural lean towards or parallel to target

• Open Hollows, cankers, or other areas of dead cambium or rot on trunk flare or bole of tree that encompasses over 30% of diameter at the site of defect.

• Obvious internal hollows at trunk flare that account for over 66% basal area of tree

• Horizontal or vertical cracking on trunk flare, bole, or major scaffold.

• Root lifting near base of tree

• Damage to, or exposure of, over 30% of major anchoring roots

• Significant recent dieback on over 50% of crown.

• Vegetation material (tree tops) shall be hauled out of the Park or be disposed of in adjacent wooded areas (chipped only) as long as, in the opinion of the government, the aesthetic quality of the Park is not compromised. Contractor is expected to have to pull out about 70% to 90% of felled trees/logs, and as directed by CO for aesthetic purposes, to be disposed of as described above.

• All species of logs pulled out and hauled off shall be legally disposed of off Park property. Logs left on site in Government-approved areas shall be laid flat to be in full contact with the ground.

• Campground Areas: All trees 12” in diameter (DBH) or less shall be cut into maximum 2 foot lengths and stacked at woods line. Grind all stumps to ground level. All other logs shall be pulled out to be legally disposed of off Park property.

• Woody material that is left on site shall be cut flush to the ground and laid flat.

• Stumps shall be cut to no greater than 2 inches or removed and the area repaired to original contour.

• No piles of grindings shall be greater than 3 inches high as measured to the surrounding area, and chips shall be evenly spread across the area of disposal.

• No wood debris shall be left in open grass areas.

• Vegetation less than 12” in diameter (DBH) may be chipped and dispersed.

• Do not allow leaves, wood chips, or wood debris to be deposited in or near any drainage structure that could inhibit water flow. Logs dropped in streams shall be cut to no longer than 8’ lengths.

• Cutting and trimming around buildings, masonry walls, guardrails, fencing, signs, headwalls, specimen trees, boulders, and curbing shall be accomplished in a way that avoids damage to and protects the Park’s infrastructure.

7 | P a g e

3. Vista Clearing: The acreage listed in the Proposal Schedule Sheet is an estimate. It will be incumbent on contractor to verify quantities and present any discrepancies prior to doing work beyond quantities estimated here. Trees along listed vistas shall be trimmed in accordance to arborist standards and trimming as shown in photos in this document. Trees, understory, or brush areas may only require selective trimming, while other areas may need extensive clearing to achieve the desired visibility. All stumps of tall growing species, will be treated with a 25% Garlon 4 Ultra mixed with 75% JLB Oil Plus carrier oil with a tracer dye. Herbicides must be preapproved by CO or designated representative.

8 | P a g e

Information for each vista, such as location by mile marker is listed in the Proposal

Schedule Sheet. All of the vistas in this contract have been cleared in last 5 years so clearing limits are mostly visible on site. Assistance will be available to determine the start point and end point (width) for specific vistas and narrative descriptions can be provided.

Vista Clearing Shape: Work on vistas varies from light re-clearing of vistas that were cleared in last 2 to 5 years to intensive for those that have not been cleared in recent years.

Generally vistas are to be tapered from each end to the full depth of the vista to prolong the view and provide a natural appearance. Long vistas may have an established mature tree line that runs the full cut depth approximately parallel to the roadway between the ends of the tapers. Smaller vistas may have a “v”, semi-elliptical, or irregular shape. The limits of clearing lines should not be perfectly straight but slightly staggered to produce a varied and natural appearance.

For vista clearing, trees greater than 12” diameter (DBH) that obstruct the view should be

“French Cut” (pruning of limbs to provide opening without removing the tree) or removed as directed by park staff.

o Woody material shall be cut flush to the ground and laid flat. Logs greater than

12” in diameter shall be cut into small sections and left in place.

o Vegetation material (tree tops) shall be hauled out of the Park or be disposed of in adjacent wooded areas (chipped only) as long as, in the opinion of the government, the aesthetic quality of the Park is not compromised. Contractor is expected to have to pull out about 25% of the felled trees/logs, as directed by CO for aesthetic purposes, to be disposed of as described above.

o Trees 50 ft. or closer to the edge of pavement shall be hauled out unless the Park feels that it would be unsafe or would harm surrounding plant communities.

o Sprouts of small statured native trees on vista clearings should generally be preserved if on the lower 1/2 to 2/3 of the clearing, where they will not block views at full size.

o Re-sprouts and seedlings of tall growing native species of deciduous trees, are to be cut and treated with herbicide on vista clearings, while seedlings of pines or other evergreens are usually just cut.

o Native shrubs on vista clearings should generally not be treated, except perhaps at the very top (approximately 20 feet) where they may grow tall enough to block views. Remove and treat small native shrubs designated by the COR that are 20

ft. or less from the top edge of the vista. Exotic shrubs should be treated and removed.

9 | P a g e o Do not remove low growing native shrubs 20 ft or more away from the top edge of the vista. Native shrubs may be trimmed as deemed necessary by the COR.

Exotic shrubs should be treated and removed. Use the “Do Not Cut” Species list provided below. Any questions about native versus exotic shrubs should be sent to COR.

o All species of logs pulled out shall be legally disposed of off Park property. Logs left on site in Government-approved areas shall be laid flat to be in full contact with the ground.

o Stumps shall be cut to no greater than 2 inches or removed and the area repaired to original contour.

o No piles of grindings shall be greater than 3 inches high as measured to the surrounding area, and chips shall be evenly spread across the area of disposal.

o No wood debris shall be left in open grass areas.

o Do not allow leaves, wood chips, or wood debris to be deposited in or near any drainage structure that could inhibit water flow.

o Cutting and trimming around buildings, masonry walls, guardrails, fencing, signs, headwalls, specimen trees, boulders, and curbing shall be accomplished in a way that avoids damage to and protects the Park’s infrastructure.

4. General: Identify, cut, and remove hazard trees, and limbs as designated. Vegetation material shall be disposed of in the manner as outlined above. All trees scheduled for removal, that are more than 6” in diameter (DBH) and potential bat habitat shall be removed between November 15 and March 31. Outside of that time period, contractor will be required to identify potential bat habitat trees and to observe those trees, at dusk (for 1 hour before and after sunset), for bats before starting work. If no bats are observed, remove tree(s) the next day. If bats are observed wait a week to observe tree(s) again. Repeat procedure as needed. Cut and remove all black locust trees within the clearing limits and extending into perimeter that may pose a hazard to the road corridor.

Construct erosion control measures if needed and as approved by COR.

Note: Consult with Park Ecologist Tom Remaley or Troy Evans for specific locations and information on species to be avoided and protected within the clearing limits.

1. Clearing Limits: Within the clearing limits (as specified in line items in the

Proposal Schedule Sheet), clear trees and other vegetation as follows:

o Remove all stumps within the grading area of the project.

o Protect all trees designated to remain in or near the clearing limits during all operations. Special equipment or techniques may be required to perform clearing around trees designated to remain.

o Trees damaged by fallen trees shall be trimmed according to accepted surgery practices as depicted below.

o Do not place timber against trees designated to remain or against trees outside the construction limits.

10 | P a g e o Remove vegetation in a manner that does not compact or gouge the topsoil. Do not mix topsoil with subsoil.

o No vehicular or equipment access will be allowed beyond the edge of forest.

o Protect asphalt pavement in a manner that felling operations, dragging, outriggers, equipment, tracks, etc. will not damage asphalt. Small Patches will not be allowed on the new sections of any roadway that has been paved or overlaid within last 3 years. Mill and overlay full lane width per FHWA special contract requirements will be required on newly paved sections of road damaged by the Contractor during contract operations. (See

Appendix C) o Any asphalt, grounds, guardrail, signs, or other park amenities damaged due to construction activities will be repaired at the expense of the contractor.

11 | P a g e

12 | P a g e

20 ft. min.

Road surface Clear Zone

Free of all vegetation

Mow Zone

Free of woody

Brush Zone

Selective cutting and thinning of woody vegetation or grasses

Maintenance, if any, shall be minimal to allow for natural forest conditions to persist. Trim limbs to maintain desired vertical clearance.

Figure 1. Road Prism for an open area.

20 ft.

8 ft. varies varies

Tree Line

13 | P a g e

20 ft. min.

Road surface Clear Zone

Free of all

Mow Zone

Free of woody and thinning of woody vegetation or grasses

Figure 2. Road prism for a rock cut area.

IV. SPECIAL PROJECT REQUIRMENTS

1. Special Work Considerations:

• The contractor must keep the roads open for public use at all times during construction except when closures have been permitted.

• One lane closures will be permitted for this work.

• Contractor shall notify COR one month in advance of areas requiring closures such campground loops, picnic area loops, one way roads, pullouts, parking areas, or trailheads.

• The contractor will be required to post appropriate advance warning signs indicating periods of construction. Traffic control shall be in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic

Control Devices (MUTCD) and traffic control measures must be in place and functional at all times during construction activities.

• Special care must be taken to prevent impacting the surrounding area or facilities.

• The successful contractor shall use best management practices for tree removal and trimming, following all state and OSHA regulations pertaining to tree removal and trimming.

• Employees utilizing chain saws shall wear approved safety equipment to include chaps, hard hat, eye protection, and hearing protection, fall protection, etc. Sawyers shall be trained and currently certified in first aid and CPR.

20 ft.

Varies

8 ft. 10 ft. Tree Line

Maintenance, if any, shall be minimal to allow for natural

Brush Zone forest conditions to persist. Trim limbs to maintain desired vertical

Selective cutting clearance.

14 | P a g e

• The contractor must stop work immediately and immediately notify the COR if any cultural and/or natural resources are encountered.

• Contractor shall clear roadways of all tree and brush clearing debris before reopening roadway lanes to traffic.

• Contractor shall provide a copy of Company Safety Plan that addresses all safety topics including work hazards associated with this project and accident and spill response.

2. Indiana Bats: The normal period for cutting trees that are potential roost trees for Indiana Bats is between November 15th through March 31st.

There are no restrictions on cutting trees that are potential roost trees for Indiana Bats during the time period of November 15th through March 31st. If work is to be performed outside this window, the contractor shall, at no additional cost to the government, determine if the tree exhibits these important characteristics of summer roost trees for Indiana bats: Structural (e.g., exfoliating bark, tree cavities, crevices, etc.) and are typically found on dead, hollow, dying, damaged, or very large trees. For the purpose of this contract, only trees with these characteristics that are greater than 6 inches DBH will be considered potential Indiana bat roosting habitat. Trees that would not be considered potential summer habitat for Indiana bats, and therefore shall be removed in accordance with this contract, include: 1) root sprung trees that pose a hazard along roads; 2) live trees with tight bark and no crevices or hollows that could be used as roosts, and 3) Spruce/Fir forests.

3. Northern Flying Squirrels: Northern Flying Squirrel habitat is found only at elevations greater than 4,500 feet above sea level. For the purposes of this contract, the areas that are potential habitat are found along Newfound Gap Road. The Carolina northern flying squirrel prefers yellow birch cavities for nesting and, therefore, tree and/or limb removal in areas that contain northern hardwoods, particularly yellow birch, should be conservative. Cutting live trees or the limbs of live trees at the trunk in northern hardwoods would not impact northern flying squirrels provided the live trees or limbs do not have holes, crevices or cavities. Trees or limbs that contain holes, crevices or cavities shall not be cut. It shall be the contractor’s responsibility, while in the identified habitat areas, to survey the limbs and trees for holes, crevices or cavities, and make the determination to remove the limbs or trees or to not remove them. If tree or limbs are not removed they shall be noted and shown to the COR for concurrence that they are not to be removed.

4. Certified Arborist: The contractor shall provide a Certified Arborist who shall be required to be on-site at all times that any tree clearing, brushing, tree trimming/pruning, and any other tree work is taking place. Provide alternate certified arborist whenever primary arborist must be off site.

5. Treating Stumps: In designated sites, treat all cut stumps except short statured shrubs and native trees with the approved herbicide. Check with the COR for sites designated to receive herbicide.

15 | P a g e

1. Application of Herbicide: The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, equipment and materials required to apply the approved herbicide to the designated vistas. Herbicide shall be applied by a licensed applicator in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations. All stumps of tall growing species within vistas will be treated with a 25% Garlon 4 Ultra mixed with 75% JLB Oil Plus carrier oil with a tracer dye. Herbicides must be preapproved by COR or designated representative. All shrubs and conifer stumps are not to be treated unless otherwise directed by COR.

Garlon 4 Ultra herbicide is currently the approved herbicide for use in this contract but may be subject to change. The COR will notify contractor of any changes in approved herbicide product prior to awarding contract.

Using the herbicide manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines, apply the herbicide mixture immediately (seconds matter) to the freshly cut stubs in the designated vista area.

Use a wick applicator or backpack sprayer with a narrow angle nozzle to reduce and control over-spraying and completely coat the cut surface of the stump. Do not spray if weather conditions are windy. Do not apply herbicide in close proximity to other personnel or designated protected plants.

6. Health & Safety:

1. Protection of the Public: The treatment sites are located in public areas that often receive many park visitors. The contractor shall provide suitable signs and barriers, barrier tape or barricades necessary to warn people of and protect people from the contract operations.

2. Worker Safety: The Contractor shall take all necessary precautions for the safety of, and shall provide the necessary protection to prevent damage, injury or loss to all Contractor or Sub-contractor employees on the job. Safety requirements are governed by OSHA regulations. Contractor shall provide employees with the proper personal protection equipment such as hard hats, goggles, chaps, leather gloves, hearing protection and high top leather work boots with lugged soles. Each worksite should have readily available a first aid kit, a bee sting kit, two-way radios or cellular phones for communications in the remote areas of the parkway and a vehicle available for emergency transportation to a medical facility.

3. Fire Prevention: Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to prevent fire during this contract work. Internal combustion equipment shall be located by the contractor so that exhausts discharge well away from combustible materials. The contractor shall provide a minimum of one fire extinguisher per vehicle/equipment at each separate job site that is appropriate for each type of fire that could occur on the job. Contractor shall notify COR as soon as possible of any fire starts regardless of size and whether or not fire is/was contained.

4. Contractor Conduct: While at the work site or traveling to and from it in the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Contractor shall comply with any rules

16 | P a g e and regulations of the National Park Service governing the park in general and the work site in specific.

5. Accident Reporting: Report all accidents on the jobsite to the area Ranger and COR or area Project Inspector.

7. Reporting:

1. Daily Reports: Contractor shall maintain daily logs of construction. Reports shall log date, weather, employees on site, equipment on site, and work accomplished. Contractor shall use their own form.

2. Tree Removal Reports: Contractor shall maintain daily logs that report number of hazard trees and all trees removed each day. Contractor shall also count number of stems cut at vistas. The "Trees and Vistas" contractor form will be completed daily and sent to the COR weekly. See form attached in Appendix A.

3. Contractor may use the Hazard Tree Evaluation Form “At-Risk Evaluation” provided to help in properly identifying hazard trees that may be in question as to whether they are a hazard or not. Contractor is not expected to use this form for all trees and other hazard trees that are dead or that are obviously hazardous, or for trees identified by park staff as hazardous. Contractor shall submit these forms weekly if they are used. See form attached in Appendix B.

8. Submittals:

Contractor will be required to submit the following before beginning work:

• Certificate of Insurance

• Safety Plan

• Traffic Control Plan

• SF 1413s for All Subcontractors

• Project Schedule

• First Aid and CPR Certification of all Sawyers

• Certification/Licensure of Certified Arborists

• TN Certification/Licensure of Herbicide/Pesticide Applicators

• Data and MSDS for Herbicide

9. Quantity: The mileage and acreage of roadside prism clearing, hazard tree removal, vista clearing, and tree trimming shall be as estimated on the Proposal Schedule Sheet at each designated location. The tree line distance varies from being very close to the edge of pavement to being 25+ feet away from the edge of pavement. Because of this variance in distance, the amount of work needed in each area can fluctuate between intensive and minimal.

17 | P a g e

10. “Do Not Cut” Species List for Roadside Prism Clearing and Hazard Tree Removal: The following is a list of species that are not to be cut unless they are dead. It is the contractor’s responsibility to identify these trees and ensure that they are not damaged during the course of the work of this contract. If the contractor’s Certified Arborist identifies a tree listed as “Do Not

Cut”, that in their professional opinion is damaged or diseased and is hazardous, the contractor shall bring this to the attention of the COTR so that a determination can be made about its removal.

Common Name Scientific Name

Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida

Redbud Cercis canadensis

Flame Azalea* Rhododendron calendulaceum

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia

Rosebay Rhodo* Rhododendron maximum

Catawba Rhodo* Rhododendron catawbiense

Punctatum, Carolina Rhodo.* Rhododendron minus/caroliniana

Fraser Fir ** Abies fraseri

Mountain Ash Sorbus americanus

Serviceberry Amelanchier spp.

Juglans cinerea** Butternut

Deciduous Azalea* Rhodendron spp.

Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis

*Rhododendron and hemlock to be trimmed will be field marked by Park personnel only.

**federally listed tree species

11. “Do Not Cut” Species List for Vista Clearing: The following is a list of species that are not to be cut. It is the contractor’s responsibility to identify these trees and ensure that they are not damaged during the course of the work of this contract. If the contractor’s Certified Arborist identifies a tree listed as “Do Not Cut”, that in their professional opinion is damaged or diseased and is hazardous, the contractor shall bring this to the attention of the COR so that a determination can be made about its removal. In addition to the “do not cut” species list, no species on the Federal and State Threatened and Endangered List should be damaged during this work, and it is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that these species are protected.

Common Name Scientific Name

Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida

Redbud Cercis canadensis

Flame Azalea* Rhododendron calendulaceum

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia

Rosebay Rhodo* Rhododendron maximum

18 | P a g e

Catawba Rhodo* Rhododendron catawbiense

Punctatum, Carolina Rhodo.* Rhododendron minus/caroliniana

Fraser Fir ** Abies fraseri

Mountain Ash Sorbus americanus

Serviceberry Amelanchier spp.

Juglans cinerea** Butternut

Deciduous Azalea* Rhodendron spp.

Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis

Chalk Maple Acer leucoderme

Mountain Paper Birch Betula papyrifera v. cordifolia

American Chestnut Castanea dentata

Butternut Juglans cinerea

Bigleaf Magnolia Magnolia macrophylla

Big Tooth Aspen Populus grandidentata

Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis

Northern Bush Honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera

American Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis

Minniebush Menziesia pilosa

Sharp’s Mock Orange Philadelphus sharpianus

Common Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius

Virginia Meadowsweet Spiraea virginiana

*Rhododendron and hemlock to be trimmed will be field marked by Park personnel only.

**federally listed tree species

V. QUALITY STANDARDS

Quality Standards for all work under the base contract and options shall be in accordance with the base contract, commercial practices and as described in this statement of work.

1. Contractor must have good past performance on previous federal government work.

2. Quality Assurance and Quality Control are the responsibility of the contractor. The COR and park inspectors will evaluate contractor’s performance based on the SOW and Tree Risk Evaluation form in this document. Contractor Arborist(s) must have a tree identification accuracy of 80% or better otherwise contractor will need to find another arborist before work can proceed. Sites will be periodically inspected for quality throughout the contract period and contractor will be informed if he has missed anything or there are any discrepancies.

3. At the conclusion of the work of this project, it is expected that selected trees and brush shall be removed or chipped and spread in the area of disturbance, and that safe access to roads, trails, pull-offs, overlooks, and parking lots is reestablished.

19 | P a g e

4. The contractor must understand that its employees will be working alongside, near, and in some cases on the road. Proper safety protocol will be the responsibility of the contractor. This includes, but is not limited to, proper signage for oncoming traffic and safety attire for employees (e.g. orange or yellow vests, traffic cones, and flags) as stated in the MUTCD.

The contractor will need to coordinate with the Facility Management Office at Great Smoky

Mountains National Park regarding the safety protocol along roadside and traffic control. Traffic

Control must be reviewed and approved by COR. Arrow board shall be used in certain areas if dictated by MUTCD. And arrow board is required for any work on the Gatlinburg Spur. Traffic control in areas/road closed to the public will still be required for park staff and other contractor traffic. Equipment used along the roadside will need to be approved prior to contract work.

Flaggers will be needed while working along the roadside and flaggers must have way to communicate with one another besides visually.

5. Remove any incidental trash and all equipment from the work site each day. Repair any direct or indirect damage to Government property caused by the Contractor’s personnel or equipment and restore such property to its condition prior to sustaining such damage.

VI. SCHEDULE

1. Work may start on site after the contract is awarded, all submittals have been approved, a pre-construction conference is held, a Notice to Proceed issued, and once a work schedule is coordinated with the CO.

VII. FEE AND PAYMENT

After completion of the work and as a prerequisite to the final payment on this contract, the contractor shall furnish to the Contracting Officer a Release of Claims arising out of this Contract. Such claims as are asserted by the contractor and alleged as excepted from operation of the Release shall be listed in spaces provided after the word “except” and shall be referenced to correspondence or other identifying data, together with monetary amount for each major claim item.

NOTE: The Government may award a contract for the Proposal Schedule, for the Proposal Schedule and any Option or for the Proposal Schedule and any combination of Options up to and including all options. All work shall be performed under a single contract.

20 | P a g e

Appendix A: GRSM Contractor Form for Trees and Vistas

21 | P a g e

Great Smoky Mountains Contractor Form

Trees and Vistas

Location:

Date:

(For Roads, give range of mile markers or sections.)

HAZARD TREES

Number of Hazard Trees Removed: Deciduous (non-Locust): Deciduous (Locust):

Evergreen:

VISTAS

Number of Stems Removed

If Large trees cut, give total

Trees Cut

Number of Trees Removed

HERBICIDE USE

Cut Stumps Treated:

Herbicide (Brand Name) (Percent) %

Surfactant (Brand Name) (Percent) %

Quantity used (in Liters)

NOTES

(This should include anything you want the park to know about. For example, many of the trees had borer damage, hazard trees noted that were outside of contract range, heavy erosion noticed when a tree root-balled, etc)

Submitted By: (Signature and Date) Company Name:

Entered By: (Signature and Date)

Reviewed By: (Signature and Date)

22 | P a g e

Appendix B: Hazard Tree - At Risk Evaluation Form

23 | P a g e

24 | P a g e

25 | P a g e

Appendix C:

Reference:

FP-14 Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on

Federal Highway Projects. https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/specs/fp-14/fp14.pdf

Mill the defective area the full lane width (from outside edge of pavement to longitudinal joint) and for a distance of no less than three times the length of the defective area or minimum of 15 feet and according to Section 413 of the FP 14. Overlay to be done with road paver. Use asphalt mix to match existing. If two or more defective areas are discovered within any half mile section, mill and repave the entire half-mile segment. For irregularly-shaped paved areas, the area of replacement is at the direction of the CO.

https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/specs/fp-14/fp14.pdf