SOW_Region10_Cadastral_Specs_Final_03052009.doc

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYING SERVICES – 2009-2012

CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

Region 10 – Alaska Region

Tongass and Chugach

NATIONAL FORESTS

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEY SERVICES

CY 2009 - 2012

CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

TECHNICAL CONTACTS

CONTENTS

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Page C-1

SCOPE OF CONTRACT

C-2

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES & LOCATION

C-3

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - CADASTRAL SURVEYS

C-4

SURVEYS

.100 RESEARCH

.200 CORNER SEARCH, EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION

.300 FIELD SURVEY, DATA COLLECTION AND COMPUTATIONS

.400 CORNER MONUMENTATION, PERPETUATION AND ACCESSORIES

.500 BOUNDARY LINE MARKING AND POSTING

.600 PLATS, LAND SURVEY MONUMENT RECORD FORMS and REPORTS

.700 ENGINEERING SURVEYS

.800 QUALITY CONTROL, INSPECTION and ACCEPTANCE

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

C-1

SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The intent of this contract is to procure surveying services on an "as required" basis. The contractor shall furnish all labor, materials (except Government furnished materials), transportation, equipment, tools, operating supplies, and incidentals to complete the work as specified.

All work performed under this contract will be under the direct supervision of a Registered Land Surveyor (RLS) in the state of Alaska. All surveys shall comply with applicable state laws and regulations, as well as applicable portions of the appropriate GLO/BLM Manual of Instructions, providing they are not less than these requirements set forth herein.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

The work to be performed under this contract may include, but is not limited to cadastral surveys of PLSS rectangular surveys, United States surveys, Mineral Surveys, marking and posting of National Forest property boundaries and Special Management Area boundaries, State of Alaska surveys, Small Tracts Act surveys, Right-of-way and easement surveys. This contract may also provides engineering surveying services such as topographic surveys, hydrographic surveys for bridges, culverts and marine access points, as-built surveys, road/trail surveys, computer aided drafting, as well as any other work incidental to the survey profession.

The contract area includes all portions of the Tongass and Chugach National Forests, Region 10, Alaska (See Figure 1). Delivery or Task orders will be issued when the Government determines its specific surveying needs. Supplemental Specifications, instructions and exhibits for individual project work sites will be provided when necessary with the task orders issued by the Government.

Figure 1. Region 10 National Forests C-3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Government furnished property will be identified in each individual Task Order. .

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – CADASTRAL SURVEYS

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SURVEYS

All surveys shall comply with applicable state laws and regulations. Where state laws and regulations are less restrictive than the specifications contained herein, these specifications shall apply. The principles, practices and procedures as set forth in the Bureau of Land Management publications "Restoration of Lost or Obliterated Corners and Subdivision of Sections" and the "Manual of Surveying Instructions”, hereinafter called the Manuals, shall govern. Where these specifications differ from the Manuals, these specifications shall apply.

.100

RESEARCH

.110 Records Research. It is solely the Contractor's responsibility to research the Public records to obtain the title and survey information of the subject property and adjoining properties which may affect ownership and boundary determination. The Government will provide the Contractor access to Forest Service land status, corner search and survey files upon request.

.120 Landowner Notification. All abutting landowners shall be notified in writing of intent to survey before beginning the fieldwork. Permission to cross or enter private lands to survey, brush lines, or mark accessories is the responsibility of the Contractor. All landowner contacts are to be documented and furnished to the Government prior to field work. Should permission be denied, the Contractor must notify the Government immediately.

.130 Conflicts, Boundary and Title Disputes. The contractor will be informed by the Government of any known conflicts of survey, possession, occupation or title along the boundary lines to be surveyed. Any conflicts discovered by the Contractor in the course of the project shall be reported to the C.O.R. as soon as practical verbally, and in writing within five days of discovery.

The Contractor is not required to resolve title or possession conflicts, but is required to report facts and any professional opinions that may be relative to the conflict. For all surveys, the contractor shall be prepared to testify in court, if called upon by the U.S. Attorney. In consideration of the performance of such services, payment will be made by the Department of Justice in accordance with its prescribed regulations and procedures.

An equitable adjustment of contract performance time or contract price may be made for any addition or deletion of survey work authorized by the Contracting Officer resulting from a conflict.

.200

CORNER SEARCH, EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION

.210 Corner Search. The contractor shall evaluate all physical evidence and record data of all monuments and their accessories, such as bearing trees, line trees, and reference objects prior to use and acceptance as the true corner position. When searching and evaluating the physical evidence of the original corner monument and accessories, the utmost professional care shall be taken to protect and preserve the evidence.

.220 Documentation. Corner search activities and findings shall be documented in a field book. The Contractor shall describe the procedure of evaluation, description of the search area and a narrative of the search process.

.300

FIELD SURVEY, DATA COLLECTION AND COMPUTATIONS

.310 Survey Methods and Procedures. The Contractor shall select the methods and instruments to be used for field data collection and boundary location. The survey process must include check shots for each monument set or found. The use of geodetic quality GPS technology is encouraged when cost effective, but does not relieve the Contractor from the responsibility to search and evaluate all evidence of encumbrances, encroachment or occupation of Government land.

a.) Survey notes. The surveyor shall keep an accurate and complete record of the survey in a standard waterproof field notebook in an orderly, legible and professional fashion. All information pertinent to the work shall be recorded including personal contacts with landowners and other interested parties. The books shall remain property of the Contractor. Legible photocopies shall be provided to the C.O.R. upon request.

b.) Electronic Data Collector. The Contractor may use an electronic data collector system in lieu of traditional survey notes, provided a separate report is furnished to the Government which includes:

1) An ASCII digital copy the original field data prior to any manipulation or adjustments.

2) Description of the format used defining all descriptor codes.

3) Legible photocopies of all field books used in conjunction with the collection system.

4) A field record of all corners searched for, or established with a full description of the monument and accessories. The Contractor shall furnish digital photographs of all monuments.

Field data collection and survey field notebook layout should be done in such a fashion as to allow another technically qualified person to retrace the survey without consultation with the Contractor.

.311 Positional Tolerance. The relative position of each corner established or tied must be determined as part of a closed traverse or point positioning procedure.

.312 Survey equipment calibration. All equipment used in conjunction with this contract shall be calibrated annually. Failure to perform and submit evidence of equipment calibrations may result in the work being deemed unsatisfactory and requiring correction at the Contractor’s expense.

.313 Computations. A legible copy of all computations and a listing of coordinate values of all survey points in ASCII format [point #, northing, easting, and descriptor] shall be provided to the C.O.R. on digital media upon request.

.400

CORNER MONUMENTATION, PERPETUATION AND ACCESSORIES

.410 Monumentation. Monumentation shall comply with the "Manuals”. All original Forest Service Boundary and Public Land Survey monuments, found to be firmly set and legible shall be left in place. Monuments found loose shall be firmed up and solidly placed in earth.

All other Forest Service Boundary corners monuments will be provided by the Forest Service, or if provided by the Contractor, of a type approved by the C.O.R. “Deep One” magnetic memorials shall be placed at the base of new aluminum monuments, unless otherwise directed by the C.O.R.

All Forest Service Boundary and Public Land Survey monuments found or set, shall have a "Land Survey Monument" sign (#54-9) placed on a metal post within one foot of the corner. If the monument is a Forest Service property corner a “Property Boundary” sign (#54-2) shall be attached to the metal post facing private land and bisecting the angle of the intersecting property lines. When practical, all monuments shall be placed within a rock collar and cleared of brush and debris within a 5' radius. (See Figures 2 and 3).

If requested by the C.O.R., the Contractor shall complete a State of Alaska Land Survey Monument Record Form for each corner monument as required by applicable state laws and regulations (See section .600).

Figure 2. Posts and Signs at Corner Monuments .411 New Monument Placement. New monuments may extend up to 6" above ground and shall be solidly placed in earth. The contractor shall bury any original monuments alongside the new monument. This information shall be recorded in the field book and documented in the pertinent report or plat. (See Figure 3) .412 Reference and Witness Monuments. Where it is impossible or impractical to place a monument at the true corner position, the Contractor shall set a Witness Monument. When destruction of a monument is probable, a reference monument shall be established.

.413 Monument Caps. Monument caps and tablets shall be stamped as prescribed in the current version of The Manual. The caps or tablets shall also be stamped to include the year of survey and the surveyor's registration number. If applicable, the stamping shall include any unique Forest Service tract or corner identification.

.420 Bearing Trees and Other Accessories. Forest Service Boundary and Public Land Survey monuments used or set during a survey shall have at least two accessories. All bearing trees shall be marked, signed and painted per Forest Service specifications.

Bearing trees shall be 4 inches or larger, located at not less than 30 degrees apart in angle as measured from the corner (See FIGURE 3). If suitable trees are not available, bearing objects may be substituted. Preferably new bearing trees or objects shall be located on Government land.

All bearing trees shall be described by a bearing and distance measured from the corner to the center of the bearing tree (at root wad height). Distance shall be a horizontal measurement and measured to the nearest tenth of a foot. Bearings shall be measured to the nearest degree. The basis of bearing shall be recorded in the field notes.

The Contractor shall insure that all new or existing bearing trees or objects are clearly visible from the monument, painted and have proper signs attached.

.430 Signing. A 54-3 bearing tree sign shall be nailed on each bearing tree, found or newly established, with the pertinent data scribed on the sign. (See Figure 3). All signs new or found shall be in legible condition. Existing signs found in bad condition shall be replaced. Legible existing signs found ready to pop off the bearing tree, due to tree growth shall be re-nailed. Nails shall extend at least 2 inches from the sign to allow for tree growth.

.440 Marking. All Bearing trees are to be marked (scribed) per the Manual. No marks shall be made on non-Government trees without the owners consent.

.450 Painting. A 6 inch red band shall be neatly painted around all bearing trees (existing and new) with a brush using red boundary marking paint. Rough bark trees shall be smoothed prior to painting. The ban shall be painted above the 54-3 bearing tree sign at a height of 5 to 6 feet above ground.

Figure 3. New Monument and Bearing Tree installation

.500 BOUNDARY LINE MARKING AND POSTING

.510 Marking Boundary Lines. Boundary lines shall be marked, and posted by survey methods that ensure that posts, signs and line blazes on trees defining the true boundary line have a positional tolerance of plus or minus 1 foot in relation to the corners that define the line. Note: Signs placed on live line trees or live trees within 1 foot of the boundary line are preferred over signs placed on posts.

.520 Boundary Post and Sign placement. Posts shall be plumb and solidly planted with a minimum of 18 inches in the ground or supported to 24 inches above the base with a rock mound. Post and signs found that are damaged, or in deteriorated condition shall be replaced by a new post. Signs found nailed to living trees with the nails extending less than 2 inches are to be re-nailed by the Contractor. The new nails (12D or larger) can be driven through the existing sign.

Boundary posts and signs shall be installed:

a) At each corner facing private land and bisecting the angle of the intersecting property lines.

b) On the boundary line at least 50 feet from each corner, but no more than 100 feet from each corner. (See Figure 2)

c) Inter-visible along the line, as if the all trees and brush were removed, and at not more than 250 ft. intervals along the line where feasible.

d) At stream, trail, and road crossings, and at ridge tops. (See Figure 4)

Figure 4. Post and Sign Placement .530 Blazes and Hacks. Blazes and Hacks shall be made in accordance with Figure’s 5 and 6. Blazes and Hacks shall penetrate into the underlying wood tissue. The frequency of the blazes shall be such that by standing by a blazed tree a person can see blazed trees behind and ahead as one walks along the boundary line.

Figure 5. Boundary Line Blazing, Hacking and Marking Limits

Figure 6. Boundary Line Blazes, Hacks and Painting .540 Clearing. This clearing operation shall result in a visually definable line at any point along the boundary line. Line clearing shall consist of removing all brush, and trees less than 4” diameter within 3 feet each side of the true boundary line. Debris from the clearing operation shall be removed from the line and placed on the Government land adjoining the cleared line or bucked so that it will settle within one foot of the ground.

Debris, such as root wads and windfall shall be removed except where safety issues are a concern. The Contractor must notify the C.O.R. if clearing operations are hazardous and present an unsafe or threatening situation for crews. Prudent efforts shall be made to mark the location of the boundary line with paint and posts along areas of windfall or rocky outcrops. No brush or trees shall be cut on adjoining non- Forest Service land without permission from the owner.

.550 Painting. All new and existing blazes and hack marks shall be neatly painted with a brush using red boundary marking paint. Any paint placed in an improper location by the Contractor shall be corrected by painting over the red paint with gray or brown paint by the Contractor (at the expense of the Contractor).

.560 Obliteration of Erroneous Lines. The Contractor shall notify the C.O.R. upon the discovery of Government signs and sign posts previously placed which are not on the boundary line. Separate work orders will be issued for the removal of posts and signs if required.

.570 Clear cut timber units. The Contractor is expected to clear, paint, and post the boundary line through clear cut timber units. In newly cut units where no standing trees are available for blazing the Contractor shall place inter-visible sign posts throughout the unit. Existing tree stumps within 3 feet of the boundary line need not be blazed, but should be liberally painted.

.600 PLATS, LAND SURVEY MONUMENT RECORD FORMS and REPORTS The Contractor shall prepare a recordable Record of Survey plat or Land Survey Monument Records for all surveys performed under this contract, unless otherwise directed by the C.O.R. Preparation of either a Record of Survey plat or Land Survey Monument Records will be specified in each individual Task Order.

.610 Plats. The plat(s) shall show the relationship of recovered and established corner positions used to control this survey. A description of all monuments recovered and established along with their accessories shall be included on the plat(s). Any monuments found near a corner position and rejected shall also be described and shown. A narrative explaining the reason any monument was rejected or accepted shall be included. The record and measured ties to existing accessories will be shown.

A statement of the history of the original surveys and other surveys of record shall be noted.

A certification statement required by the State of Alaska and of the surveyor with a signature and date affixed to the certification shall also be included After review of the Plat by the C.O.R. and after all corrections are made by the Contractor, an electronic .dwg file and a signed & sealed stable base polyester film Mylar plat shall be furnished to the Government. The Government shall record the plat if required at the Governments expense.

.611 Forest Supervisor’s Certificate. Each Record of Survey plat filed in the Public Record shall have the following certificate on the face of the document for signature by the appropriate Forest Supervisor.

“I herby certify this survey was executed at my direction to support the management of the National Forest system lands. For the United States I approve this survey and this plat.”

(Supervisor’s name)

Date

Forest Supervisor

.612 Encroachment Diagram. An encroachment diagram may be required in certain areas to show in greater detail the difference between lines of occupation and lines of title. All features that indicate occupation where it conflicts with title shall be shown. The preparation of this diagram will be on request of the COR.

.620 Land Survey Monument Record Forms. If requested by the C.O.R., the Contractor shall complete a State of Alaska Land Survey Monument Record Form for each corner monument as required by applicable state laws and regulations.

Each Land Survey Monument record form should contain:

1) A description of corner evidence found or a concise statement of the method used to reestablish the corner

2) A description of the monument and accessories established to perpetuate the location.

3) A sketch showing the relative location of the monument and accessories A certification statement required by the State of Alaska and of the surveyor with a signature and date affixed to the certification shall be included

.630 Filing or Recording of Plats and Land Survey Monument Records. The Government shall file or record the survey plat(s) and the applicable land survey monument record forms in the appropriate jurisdiction in accordance with local and state statues. Prior to filing or recording, one paper copy of the plat(s) and the recordation forms shall be submitted to the COR by the contractor for review and acceptance.

.640 Electronic Copies of Record of Survey plat or Land Survey Monument Records. An electronic copy of any Land Survey Monument Record form or Record of Survey plat prepared by the Contractor shall be furnished to the C.O.R. CADD system drawings should be submitted in a .DWG format.

.650 Surveyor's Report. The Contractor shall prepare a Surveyor's Report for all work performed under this Contract if requested by the C.O.R. The report shall contain any information the contractor considers pertinent to the project. At a minimum, the report shall contain the following:

1. History of Surveys and a synopsis of the work performed.

2. Results of search for all corners.

3. Methods used for re-establishing missing corners.

4. Visible signs of possible conflict between lines of occupation and title lines.

5. Statements relevant to the project made by adjoining landowners or other interested parties.

.660 Electronic Forest Service Corner Record Cards. If requested by the C.O.R. the Contractor shall complete all applicable sections of Forest Service electronic corner record card form 7150-52 using Microsoft Office Access database software. The electronic record card form will be furnished by the government for the Contractors use in preparing the corner cards. Electronic copies of completed forms shall be furnished to the government.

.700 ENGINEERING SURVEYS

.710 Specifications. All other surveys provided by the contractor shall be in accordance with applicable State Minimum Standards of Practice providing they are not less than requirements set forth in these specifications or subsequent Supplemental Specifications or Special Instructions and exhibits.

a.) Rights-of-ways surveys shall be surveyed along existing or proposed centerlines, and shall be platted and described in terms of tangent bearings, distances, deflections, and /or simple curves parallel to the surveyed line, and shall not be monumented unless otherwise directed by the C.O.R. All Rights of way surveys shall be tied to the appropriate property corners of the subject properties.

b.) When requested, specific projects shall show a geodetic position on one or more Public Land Survey and/or Forest Service Property Boundary Corners. Information as to the method used to determine the position and geodetic control shall be provided in the plat and or report. The plat shall also show the datum and date established. The accuracy of the geodetic position shall be repeatable to within 0.3 centimeters.

c.) Supplemental Specifications or Special Instructions will be issued for these and other surveys as necessary.

.800 QUALITY CONTROL, INSPECTION and ACCEPTANCE .810 Quality Control. The Contractor has sole responsibility for maintaining quality control for all aspects of work performed under this contract. The contractor will furnish a written plan of self-inspection procedures to the C.O.R. on request.

.820 Inspections. The C.O.R. or a designated Inspector may make periodic inspections of each project as work progresses.

.830 Acceptance. No final approval of any project will be granted until all items specified are delivered to the Contracting Officer's representative and determined to fulfill all specifications, terms and conditions of this contract.

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