A21-A04-PWS_Compartment_3_subsoiling_(2025).doc

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Compartment 3 Subsoiling At Overflow National

Wildlife Refuge

Part 1

General Information

1. General: This is a non-personnel services contract to provide subsoiling within Compartment 3 of Overflow 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 to perform mechanical subsoiling at Overflow 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: This project will be one step in the process to restore bottomland hardwood forest to the open field portions of Compartment 3 of Overflow NWR. Follow up treatments are not a component of this contract proposal.

1.3 Objectives: The project will consist of subsoiling 102 acres of open fields (identified in the color blue on the attached map). The contractor will utilize mechanized equipment to physically subsoil the fields on a 10 foot spacing. Subsoiling should be done with a shank and foot combination that leaves minimal soil disturbance on the surface. No plowing or feet with large wings will be allowed. Subsoiling should be at least 18” deep from the soil surface.

1.4 Scope: The contractor may choose their preferred machine and subsoiling attachment as long as the machine and attachment combination should be of low enough ground pressure that soil disturbance will be kept to an absolute minimum. Subsoiling should be done with a shank and foot combination that leaves minimal soil disturbance on the surface. Subsoiling (rips) should be oriented in a north to south direction. No plowing or feet with large wings will be allowed. Subsoiling should be at least 18” deep from the soil surface. The project area is subject to flooding and soils within the project area may be soft and wet. Subsoiling should only be done during dry weather conditions. Excessive soil disturbance will be determined by the Government Representative. In general, any rutting will be considered excessive. The treatment area is located on Overflow NWR within Ashley County (see attached map). Any permission necessary to access the refuge using private roads will be the responsibility of the permittee.

PART 2

CONTRACT PERFROMANCE

2. CONTRACT PERFORMANCE:

2.1 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall begin on August 15, 2025 and end on September 30, 2025. 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.

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 of the treatment area 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: The contractor should make the Contracting Officer Representative and Government Representative aware of times scheduled to work at least 1 week in advance of arrival.

2.6 Place of Performance: The project area consists of 102 acres of open fields (identified in the color blue on the attached map) on Overflow National Wildlife Refuge. The area is located in Section 5 Township 19 South, Range 5 West in Ashley County, Arkansas. The area is approximately 5 miles west of Wilmot, Arkansas. The coordinates for the general area are 33° 04' 26.83"N, 91° 38' 44.67"W.

2.7 Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm Fixed Price.

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 execution 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 GR. 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 a GIS shapefile of the treatment area or flag boundaries of the treatment area in the field. 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.

3.5 Materials: The Government will provide paper and GIS maps of the project area. The Government will also provide either shapefiles of the treatment boundaries or physically flag the treatment boundaries.

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 machine capable of completing the designated tasks listed in section 1.3 and 1.4. All personnel, fuel, lubricants, consumables, cutting tool, equipment maintenance and repair, lodging, meals and equipment transportation are the responsibility of the contractor.

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

5. SPECIFIC TASKS:

Subsoil 102 acres on a 10 foot spacing with minimal disturbance to the soil surface. Subsoiling should reach a depth of 18 inches within the project area identified in blue on the attached map. Subsoiling should be oriented north to south.

Refuge Special Use Conditions applicable to subsoiling

1. A pre-entry conference between the Refuge Forester (or designee) and the contractor or representative will be required before beginning operations to insure understanding of the permit conditions and thus avoid serious conflicts.

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

3. All activities will be within the designated boundaries and coordinated with the Refuge Forester or his designee.

4. The contractor must possess equipment capable of subsoiling to a depth of 18 inches with a minimum disturbance foot and an adequately sized and adjusted coulter blade to leave a smooth seam. All dirt must be left in the subsoiling channel (no plowing). If the contractor is running equipment using multiple feet, they must be set on a 10 foot spacing and each foot must be equipped with an adequate size and adjusted coulter blade to leave a smooth seam. All rips must be spaced 10’ apart.

5. Subsoiling will not be permitted when the ground is wet and subject to rutting or severe soil compaction. The permittee and his employees will do all in their power to prevent rutting and erosion.

6. Contractor must avoid any disturbance to adjacent private lands.

7. The contractor and his/her employees will be reasonably prudent in preventing and suppressing fires. The contractor shall be liable for all fire suppression cost resulting from his operations.

8. The normal operating season on this operation will be August 15th through September 30th, 2025. Any operations outside the normal season must be approved in advance by the Refuge Forester.

9. All license required for this activity, both state and federal are the responsibility of the contractor.

10. Littering in any manner is a violation of the Code of Federal Regulations. The entire work area shall be kept free of litter at all times. Repairs and cleanup work will be accomplished to the satisfaction of the Refuge Manager and/or Refuge Forester.

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

12. The Refuge Manager and/or Forester shall have authority to temporarily close down the operation during a period of high fire danger, wet ground conditions, or for any other reason deemed necessary.

13. The U.S. Government accepts no responsibility to provide right-of-way over private lands for this contract.

14. 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 Special Use Permits being granted to the permitted party.

15. The Contracting Officer Representative, Project Leader or 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.

16. All work must be coordinated with the government representative.

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

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

19. No alcohol is permitted on the refuge.

20. 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).

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

22. Contractor is responsible for daily cleanup of work area.

23. Application 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. Basic Services: The contractor shall provide services for subsoiling 102 acres of open pine fields on Overflow National Wildlife Refuge located in Ashley County Arkansas. Specifics must meet the standards described in sections 1.3, 1.4 and the special conditions section of this document.

5.1.1. FWS will map the treatment area to be treated using GPS and GIS. Paper and digital copies of these maps will be provided to the contractor on or before the application date. Electronic shapefiles and/or PDF maps may also be provided or the boundaries may be physically flagged.

5.1.2. A FWS employee will be on site during the periods of application to make sure the contractor meets and follows all requirements of the contract.

5.1.3. The Contractor will provide a crew to:

1. The contractor must subsoil 102 acres to a depth of 18 inches with a minimum disturbance foot and an adequately sized and adjusted coulter blade to leave a smooth seam. All dirt must be left in the subsoiling channel (no plowing). If the contractor is running equipment using multiple feet, they must be set on a 10 foot spacing and each foot must be equipped with an adequate size and adjusted coulter blade to leave a smooth seam. All rips must be spaced 10’ apart.

5.1.4. An assessment of the treatment area will be made immediately upon completion of the mechanical treatment to ensure 100% of the mapped area was treated according to the specification above.

5.2. Task Heading

5.2.1. 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.

5.2.4. The Contractor is responsible for cleaning up any spills (fluids, oils, fuels, etc) that may occur.

PART 6

APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

6. Applicable Publications (Current Editions):

6.1. The Contractor must abide by all applicable regulations, publications, manuals, and local policies and procedures including Arkansas Best Management Practices for Forestry Manual available at website: http://forestry.arkansas.gov/Services/ManageYourForests/Documents/bmpbookrevise.pdf

PART 7

ATTACHMENT/TECHNICAL EXHIBIT LISTING

7. Attachment/Technical Exhibit List:

7.1 Attachment 1 – Performance Requirements Summary

7.2. Attachment 2 – Deliverables Schedule

ATTACHMENT 2

DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE