A07a.Junction Creek Thinning PWS-SOW.20200521.docx

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ)

SJNF-CRD JUNCTION CREEK THINNING

Solicitation: 1282CS20Q0034 Award: TBD at time of award

REQUEST FOR A QUOTATION TITLE: San Juan NF Junction Creek Thinning Project

QUOTATION IS VALID FOR 30 Days .

OFFEROR IS TO COMPLETE FILL-IN’S (xxx) ITEMS A AND B.

A. CONTRACTOR INFORMATION

DUNS Number:

Company Name:

Point of Contact :

Phone # Cell #

E-Mail Address:

B. SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

C. TREATMENT IMPLEMENTATION INFORMATION

Days and/or Date for Completion: 120 (insert number of calendar Days to complete all requirements)

Forest Primary Technical Contact:

Name: MATTHEW TUTEN Email: MATTHEW.TUTEN@USDA.GOV Phone: 970-264-1513

Summary of Project Requirements:

Line Items

Introduction –

This thinning project will take place in the vicinity of the Junction Creek Campground and Log Chutes trail system on the Columbine Ranger District. The purpose of the project is to reduce tree density and competition through the thinning of suppressed and/or declining small diameter ponderosa pine trees. The project consists of 70 acres of hand thinning, lopping and scattering of slash and yarding trees >8” diameter to locations along a closed system road.

Scope - Contractors are to provide all labor, supplies and equipment to cut, skid and deck trees designated for removal and pile the required quantity of cutting generated slash.

Purpose – The purpose of this project is to reduce the continuity of the forest canopy and restore some aspects of the historical forest structure present in this area prior to the 1880s. The thinning will reduce tree density and canopy fuels, thereby reducing the probability of severe insect and wildfire impacts. The contract area is within the wildland urban interface, so reducing severe and potentially intense wildfires will also help to protect nearby homes and infrastructure.

Location of Project Area

Location: Legal Description: Colorado, La Plata County - T36N R10W Section 36, NMPM.

A Vicinity Map showing the general location of the Project Area and a Contract Area Map showing the location of the Treatment Segment Units are attached to this contract. The .pdf map file is georeferenced and may be used on a mobile device using a georeferenced .pdf reader to show the user’s location on the contract map.

Treatment Units: The location of the cut unit is shown on the Contract Area Map and delineated on the ground by USFS in form of orange flagging. There is one treatment unit totaling approximately 70 acres.

Boundaries: The unit boundary is marked with orange flagging. Operators must be equipped with a GPS or other device to determine project boundaries. Forest Service will provide shapefiles and/or georeferenced maps of the units.

Access to Project Areas –Refer to vicinity map

From Hwy 550 in Durango, CO take Junction Creek Road/ County Road 204 northwest. Go 3.5 miles to the National Forest boundary, staying left on County Road 204 at the split with Fall Creek Road, continue 2.9 miles to the junction of Junction Creek /Forest Road 171 and Logchutes 2 Trail/Forest Road 151.

Access to Logchutes 2 Trail/Forest Road 151 is restricted by boulders at the intersection with Junction Creek /Forest Road 171. Temporary placement of these boulders off of the road is necessary for equipment access to Logchutes 2 Trail/Forest Road 151.

Project Layout and Cultural Surveys by Contractor – All of the Treatment Units have been surveyed for all cultural sites and all sites were either avoided or flagged off during layout.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES - Forest Service will provide georeferenced maps and/or KMZ or shapefiles to the contractor.

A temporary barricade and sign will be furnished by the Government to limit public vehicular access to Logchutes 2 Trail/Forest Road 151 during contract operations.

SPECIFIC TASKS

SPECIFIC TASKS – REQUIREMENTS/STANDARDS

General

· Access to Logchutes 2 Trail/Forest Road 151 is restricted by boulders at the intersection with Junction Creek /Forest Road 171. Temporary placement of these boulders off of the road is necessary for equipment access to Logchutes 2 Trail/Forest Road 151. These boulders must be replaced following use of this route at the end of contract operations to limit public vehicular access.

· Foot, bicycle and horse access to Logchutes 2 Trail/Forest Road 151 must be maintained during contract operations.

· A temporary barricade (provided by the Government) must be kept in place during contract operations at the intersection of Logchutes 2 Trail/Forest Road 151 and Junction Creek /Forest Road 171.

Manual Thinning:

· Cut approximately 75% (3 of 4) of ponderosa pine trees between the diameters of 5-14” within the cut unit boundary.

· Trees within this diameter range to be cut will be suppressed, with dead, broken or multiple tops or other mechanical damage, crooks or sweeps in the bole, have dwarf mistletoe infection or crown ratios (percent of the tree height having live foliage) of less than 30%.

· Leave trees within this diameter range should be dominant or co-dominant in crown position, have straight stems, crown ratios higher than 30% and generally be free of mechanical damage.

· An irregular spacing of retained trees is desirable. Thinning should attempt to avoid uniform spacing of retained trees to the extent possible given existing stand conditions.

Yarding/Decking:

· Trees larger than 8” DBH to a top diameter of approximately 4” will be skidded to locations adjacent to Forest System Roads.

· The exact location of skid trails and deck locations will be agreed upon to prior to initiation of skidding and decking activities after contract award.

· Heavy equipment shall not operate in areas where excessive soil rutting or compaction can occur, or when soil moisture is above the plastic limit (a rolled thread of soil 1/8th inch in diameter crumbles or cracks when soil moisture is below the plastic limit).

· Logs should be skidded with leading end free of the ground. Contractor shall reuse old skid trails and roads to the extent practical.

· Skidding is prohibited along ephemeral streams or swale bottoms.

· Skidding shall not damage more than 5% of retained trees.

· Trees thinned on slopes exceeding 30% may be lopped and scattered to a maximum height of 2’

· Decks shall be placed outside the drip line of retained trees.

· Decks shall be relatively uniform and free of soil or slash with trees stacked parallel to each other. Decks shall not be taller than approximately 4 feet in order to facilitate removal by fuelwood permittees and the public following completion of yarding and decking.

· Decks may be located outside of cut units, but trees in decks may not protrude onto trails or roads.

Manual Piling:

· Approximately 80-90% of slash and tops generated through thinning will be hand piled. Any slash not piled shall be scattered approximately 20 feet from slash piles.

· Piles should be located at least approximately 15 feet from the drip line of residual trees.

· Piles shall have a maximum diameter of approximately 8 feet, a minimum diameter of 4 feet and a height to diameter ratio of 1:1 to 1:1.2 (an 8’ diameter pile will have a minimum height of approximately 6.7 feet).

· Cull wood and branches shall be vertically arranged on the pile sides.

· All piles shall be constructed in a manner that will promote complete consumption of piled materials. Slash material that causes large air spaces in piles shall be cut and piled to eliminate air spaces. Each pile shall include an ignition area of small sized slash (small branches less than ¼ to ½ inch in diameter and/or small branches with needles or leaves attached) to provide “kindling” for prompt ignition and to aid in combustion of larger slash. These fuels shall be placed in the center of the pile.

· Piles shall be compact, free of soil, trash, stumps or wood larger than 6” diameter and piled in such a manner that will allow them to burn completely.

· The contractor may elect to construct piles mechanically using a brush rake or grapple, consistent with the above specifications.

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL

(Acceptable Quality Level)

No trees larger than 14” cut.

At least 90% of retained trees meet desired retained tree characteristics.

No yarding takes place within prohibited areas or under wet conditions.

Skid trails located in agreed upon locations.

Less than 5% of residual trees damaged by yarding.

Rehabilitation of damaged soils.

Felling of damaged trees where damage is deemed to cause tree death.

All decks <4’ in height.

All decks uniform, logs parallel and free of slash or soil.

Piles located in specified locations.

Appropriate quantity of slash piled.

Piles constructed to minimum and maximum specifications and shape.

CONTRACT TIME PERIOD

120 days

Typical Weather Conditions and Access Constraints:

Work should be completed prior to snow season.

Project Location Information:

Maps: x vicinity x unit Geospatial Data (Avenza, KML, Shapefiles, etc.): x Yes No Contractor required to have GPS or device capable of projecting georeferenced maps of treatment units. Boundaries are flagged in orange.

Additional Information:

CLEANING OF EQUIPMENT

The Contractor shall insure all equipment moved onto Forest Service land is free of soil, seeds and vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. The Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to insure compliance, and shall notify the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) at least 3 business days prior to moving each piece of equipment onto Forest Service land. Arrangements will be made for the COR or a designated Inspector to inspect each piece of equipment prior to it being moved onto Forest Service land.

“Equipment” includes all machinery except for log trucks, chip vans, pickup trucks, cars, or other vehicles primarily for transport of personnel.

CAMPING

The Contractor will be permitted to camp on Forest Service Land. A permit will be issued to allow the Contractor, subcontractors and employees to camp at one location for more than 14 days. Camping on Forest Service land is not a right; permission may be revoked for failure to comply with camping permit issued by the District Ranger.

STAGING AREAS

Staging areas for the temporary parking, refueling and routine maintenance of equipment will be allowed at locations pre-approved by the COR. The following operations approved for the designated staging areas shall require the use of adequately sized catchments and/or absorbent mats to catch and contain possible spills: 1) refueling of mowers from pickups and small tanks; 2) changing hydraulic fluids; and/or 3) performing any other maintenance work which may cause the leakage or transfer of fluids from equipment, including motor oil changes, if necessary.

If any rutting or damage occurs to the access roads or staging areas, the areas will be returned to at least the original condition, or better

PROTECTED TREES

The Contractor must avoid damaging protected trees including: (1) snags over 16 inches DBH (2) live standing trees not designated for mastication (3) all bearing trees. The COR may require the Contractor to cut and/or shred trees damaged by the Contractor or Subcontractors. The COR or designated inspector will identify and mark all damaged trees. If the damage is excessive the Contractor will be charged a rate of $20/tree. To be considered a damaged tree one of the following criteria must apply:

a. bark is removed from more than 50% of the circumference

b. the top is broken

c. more than 30% of the cross-section of the bole is removed

d. more than 30% of the live crown removed

Contractor Safety Plan

1. The Contractor shall provide a copy of their safety plan. This copy of the Safety plan shall be kept in the contract folder for OSHA’s review.

2. The Safety Plan shall be available to all employees and subcontractors working on the contract.

3. The Safety Plan shall cover at a minimum:

a. Safety briefings covering the work area, equipment being used, and any special considerations for the work under the contract.

b. Personal Protective Equipment required for the work under the contract.

c. Appropriate OSHA requirements for the type of work under the contract.

d. Weather considerations for the time of year of the contract.

e. Communication issues and locations of the nearest medical facilities.

f. Name and point of contact information of the supervisor responsible for enforcing the Safety Plan.

g. Name, position title, and point of contact information of the company executive responsible for approving the Safety Plan.

h. Specific contingency plans for emergencies, such as medical, fire, hazard material spills, and any other contract assessed hazard prevention and abatement requirement needs that apply to this project.

i. Emergency contact information for crew personnel.

j. Safety protocols specific to the COVID-19 outbreak that conform to current local, state, and national public health guidance and/or orders.