AppendixAsol0489s109001.doc

Myers Rat Stewardship - Appendix A

Solicitation No: AG-0489-S-10-9001

APPENDIX A – Mandatory Work Items

K-G.9# - STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS.

(9/04) Performance of stewardship projects will be in accordance with the following specifications.

MANDATORY STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS

PROJECT NUMBER 3.0 –

Understory thinning and fuels treatment within commercial thinning subdivisions

Unit of Measure: Acres

Estimated Quantity: 214 This work consists of THINNING, mechanically or by hand:

· all live coniferous trees less than (10.0 inches) stump diameter and (4 feet) or greater in height;

· all live hardwood trees less than (10.0 inches) stump diameter and (4 feet) or greater in height;

· all live shrubs (4 feet) or greater in height;

· and all dead standing trees within (2 tree lengths) of roads.

This work also consists of TREATING, mechanically or by hand:

· all topwood portions of live coniferous trees that are designated to be cut, as defined in K-C.3.5.7#;

· all existing down woody material;

· and all natural vegetative fuels (standing and down, live and dead) and activity slash, as defined in K-G.7.

Note: Natural vegetative fuels and activity slash is hereafter referred to as “FUELS.”

The Subdivisions listed in the following tables and shown on the Contract Area Map shall have sub-merchantable trees and shrubs thinned and fuels treated as described below, unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

PROJECT NUMBER 4.0 – Logging slash fuels treatment within commercial Campground subdivisions

Unit of Measure: Acres

Estimated Quantity: 25 This work also consists of TREATING by removal from the site, mechanically or by hand:

· all topwood portions of live coniferous trees that are designated to be cut, as defined in K-C.3.5.7#.

PROJECT NUMBER 5.0 –

Directional felling of trees within Campground subdivisions to be used as fish structures

Unit of Measure: Trees

Estimated Quantity: 44

This work consists of directional felling of trees which may include wedging, jacking, or other actions.

· Do not limb trees

· Do not buck trees

· Do not fell small trees (<12" dbh) into a large (>20 feet wide) stream immediately upstream (within 100 yards) of a culvert unless the felled trees will have less than 25% of their length in the stream channel

· Jack trees leaning away from streams toward streams where safe and appropriate to do so (i.e. would not create other resource damage to trails, etc)

· Where possible maximize the amount of tree in contact with the stream (this may require felling at a shallow angle rather than 90 degrees to the stream)

· If felling a tree to maximize contact with the stream fell with tip pointing upstream rather than downstream if possible

· Where appropriate create jams with 3-5 trees (trees can be used for ballast when left on the banks and felled on top of other trees that are felled in the stream)

· If trees will not reach the stream leave felled trees intact for wildlife coarse wood requirements in the Riparian Reserves

Table 1. Project Acres & Boundary Designation by Subdivision for Project Numbers 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0.

Subdivision

Boundary Description

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS & SITE CONDITIONS are as follows:

1) LIVE STANDING TREES AND SHRUBS

Table 2. Technical Specifications for Thinning by Subdivision

Conifers - Thin all live coniferous trees less than (10.0 inches) DxD stump diameter and (4 feet) or greater in height to a (30-foot) slope distance spacing, leaving approximately (50 trees) per acre (+/-10%).

Spacing may be varied (+/- 50%) to leave the “best tree” 1/, but located no closer than (10 feet) from leave trees required to be retained, per K-C.3.5.7#.

Spacing for hardwoods may be varied (+ 50%) to leave the “best tree” 1/, and is independent of the spacing for conifers and shrubs.

Spacing for shrubs may be varied (+ 50%) to leave the “best shrub” 2/, and is independent of the spacing for conifers and hardwoods.

1/ Definition of Best Tree: healthiest midstory or understory tree, largest DBH, 40% live crown ratio or greater, unforked/undamaged, and with little visible sign of defect.

2/ Definition of Best Shrub: healthiest, largest sprout cluster, and fullest crown.

2) DOWN WOODY MATERIAL (DWD) required to be left in subdivisions following treatment shall consist of the following:

Subdivision

Quantities (pieces)

Leave all large (12-inch) small-end diameter and greater, and (6-feet) in length and longer DWD existing prior to harvest activities.

In addition, leave (3 to 5 pieces) per acre of (6.0-inch) small-end diameter and greater, and (6-feet) in length or longer DWD.

Pieces in excess of these amounts are to be treated

· DWD size and type preference to leave on site: 1) largest naturally occurring (or logging activity created) diameter at the small-end and longest length, and 2) cull/unsound/decayed material.

· DWD arrangement preference to leave on site: 1) well distributed across the unit and avoiding heavy concentrations, and 2) less than (2-feet) in height on average over each acre.

3) FUELS required to be left in subdivisions following treatment shall consist of the following:

Table 4. Maximum Fuel amounts to be left on site

3.0 to 6.0 inch large-end diameter Less than 3.0 inch large-end diameter

Less than (1 ton) per acre within 300 feet of road 2500000, Taylor Creek Trail, and the Sam Brown Campground to achieve visual quality objectives. Less than (4 tons) per acre beyond 300 feet of road 2500000, Taylor Creek Trail, and the Sam Brown Campground.

BVRAT 1 & 2

A) Description of Work In Terms of Results or Outcomes The desire is to complete work activities stand and fuel treatments within the Myers Rat Stewardship Project Area in a manner which minimizes disturbance (soils and wildlife habitat) and provides for efficient utilization of forest product values to accomplish the following:

· Sawlog removal and utilization within skyline units.

(See Appendix A and B for requirements and specifications).

· Sawlog removal/utilization with ground-based system units.

(See Appendix B for requirements and specifications).

· Road construction/reconstruction (See Appendix C for requirements and specifications).

· Road maintenance for log haul (See Appendix D for requirements and specifications).

· Understory Thinning and Fuel treatments of commercial units.

(See Appendix A)

· Treatments of logging slash in commercial BVRAT units 1 & 2.

(See Appendix A)

· Felling of trees for fish structures in BVRAT units 1a and 2a.

(See Appendix A)

B) Desired Residual Stand Characteristics following treatments

· Overstory Trees - Protect and retain residual trees located within the overstory. Minimize mechanical damage (to either the boles or crowns) of residual trees. Forest Service designations provide for desired stocking levels to achieve resource objectives and reductions of fuel levels.

· Leave and protect Hardwoods greater than 10 inches DxD stump diameter.

· Dead Trees - Leave and protect all dead trees.

· Thinning Understory Conifer Trees – Retention of healthy, vigorous understory trees at an average spacing of 30 feet slope distance to improve tree condition and forest health.

· Thinning of Hardwoods and shrubs – Retention of hardwood trees less than 10 inches DBH at 60 feet slope distance.

· Down Woody Material – Retention of down woody material larger than 12 inches on the small end and longer than 6 feet in length.

· Fuels – Reduce fuel loading to the levels shown in Appendix A.

GOVERNMENT’S QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

A. The Government shall conduct inspections to determine compliance with the standards described in the Statement of Work. Each unit shall be inspected separately and inspection results on one unit shall not be averaged or combined with those of any other unit. Determination of the acceptability of the work performed shall be based on these inspections and shall be considered conclusive.

B. Government inspections for acceptance may consist of informal visual inspections. When informal visual inspections show unacceptable work, formal plots shall be taken. Final determination of acceptable work shall be based on these formal plots.

Pre-commercial Thinning

1.

Formal Plot Inspection Procedure a.

The Government shall install a series of circular plots with slope correction (see Exhibit B in the Attachments). Plots shall be located throughout the unit area to obtain a representative sample of the work.

b.

A minimum of one plot per two acres shall be taken. Plot size shall be 1/20th acre (26.3 feet radius) with slope correction unless otherwise specified in Task Orders.

c.

Inspection plots shall be marked on the ground with flagging to locate plot center, and identified with plot number and date of inspection.

d.

On each plot the items listed below shall be examined and recorded on thinning inspection cards (Exhibit A in the Attachments, Form R-6-2470-117a).

1.

Number of trees to be left

2.

Number of trees left 3.

Satisfactory trees 4.

Number of trees deficient 5.

Number of trees excess 6.

Remarks (brief description of deficient or excess trees, plot percentage, etc) 7.

Slash depth to meet specifications in Detailed Unit Information Sheet shall be recorded as acceptable in the Remarks column.

2.

The quality of thinning shall be calculated as follows:

(No. of deficient trees + No. of excess trees) / (No. of trees to be left) x 100 = quality %) The quality percentage will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage 3.

The quality of slash treatment shall be calculated as follows:

a.

Number of plots with acceptable slash treatment / Total number of plots = Slash treatment quality b.

Slash treatment quality must be above 90%. Failure to do so shall require rework by the Contractor.

Hand Piling

1.

The quality of hand piles will be evaluated as follows:

a.

At least 90% of the project defined slash is hand piled.

b.

Spacing of piles c.

Location of piles d.

Size of piles e.

Any other requirements defined in the task order or Detailed Unit Information Sheet 2.

The quality of hand piling shall be calculated as follows:

a.

Number of piles with acceptable slash treatment/Total number of piles = Hand piling quality b.

Hand piling quality must be above 90%. Failure to do so shall require rework by the Contractor.

C.

Unacceptable Performance

1.

Excess trees a.

If the percentage of thinning quality falls below 90% and excess trees constitute the majority of the problem, payment shall not be made until the excess tree problem has been corrected. Inspections after rework shall be made in the same manner as the first inspection but on different plot lines. For any re-inspections due to rework, the Contractor may pay for the Government’s administration costs. When the percentage of thinning quality falls below 90% and the problem is not correctable by rework due to deficient trees, the rate of pay shall be based on the percentage of the Government inspection.

2.

Slash treatment a.

When inspection results are below 90 percent and unacceptable slash treatment constitutes any part of the deficiency, payment shall not be made until the slash treatment is corrected. Inspections after rework shall be made in the same manner as the first inspection but on different plot lines. For any re-inspections due to rework, the Contractor may pay for the Government’s administration costs. When the percentage of thinning quality falls below 90% and the problem is not correctable by rework the rate of pay shall be based on the percentage of the Government inspection.

3.

Hand Piling a.

When inspection results in a hand piling quality of less than 90 percent payment shall not be made until the hand piling is corrected. Inspection after rework shall be made in the same manner as the first inspection. For any re-inspections due to rework, the Contractor may pay for the Government’s administration costs. When the percentage of thinning quality falls below 90% and the problem is not correctable by rework the rate of pay shall be based on the percentage of the Government inspection.

4.

Repeated failure to perform work at or above 90% acceptable thinning shall be considered reason for contract termination for default.

D.

After inspection of a completed unit, the Contracting Officers Representative shall calculate the pay rate. The pay rate shall be calculated by multiplying the percentage quality of the unit times the contract price per acre. When the percent of quality is 90 percent or greater, payment shall be made at 100 percent of the contract price.

E.

If Government inspections reveal completed work is unsatisfactory, the COR or inspector will immediately notify the Contractor by Notice of Non-Compliance or Work Order. Quality must be raised to an acceptable standard within 5 workdays after receipt of the Notice or Work Order. If it is not, the contract will be considered in default and the Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated.

F.

Measurement and Payment a) Measurement: Unit acreages are calculated GPS (Trimble) survey, measured on the horizontal plane.

b) Re-measurement:

(i) The Contractor may at any time after award request re-measurement of any treatment acreage. This request must be made in writing. Re-measurement will be made within the established unit or roadside vegetation treatment area boundary.

(ii) If re-measurement indicates a variance of 5 percent (%) or less, Contractor shall pay for the actual cost of re-measurement and no adjustment will be made in the acreage as stated in the Schedule of Items (iii) If re-measurement indicates a variance greater than 5 percent (%), payment will be based on the re-measured acreage and the Government will pay for the cost of re-measurement.

c) Basis of Payment (i) Non-riparian, no treatment acreage will be deducted from unit acreage totals for purpose of payment. The acres show in contract and on map are total acres and not always payment acres.

(ii) No payment will be made for work performed on a unit until all refuse, debris, junk, etc. brought onto work site by Contractor’s employees is removed from National Forest lands and appropriately disposed of at approved locations.

(iii) After inspection of completed acreage by the Government, the Contracting Officer will calculate the payment multiplying the contract unit price by the following:

1) Unit (Thinning/Release Slash Treatment) a) For a pay item, when the inspection results are 90 percent (%) or greater, payment will be made at the contract price.

b) For a pay item, if the inspection results fall below 90 percent (%) and excess trees, shrubs or slash contributes to the deficiency, payment will not be made until these problems are corrected. If re-inspection determines that quality is 90 percent (%) or greater, payment will be made at the contract price.

c) If re-inspection determines that quality is between 70-89 percent (%) and this is due to uncorrectable problems, payment will then be made at actual re-inspection percent multiplied by the contract price.

d) If re-inspection determines that quality is below 70 percent (%), rework is required.

e) If re-inspection determines that quality is below 70 percent (%) and rework would not bring the percentage above 70 percent (%), then the contract will be considered in default and the Contractor's right to proceed may be terminated. No payment for the work will be made.