New_Appendix_A_Elective_Items_Addendum.doc

Sustained Yield Restoration Stewardship Contract – Appendix A –Elective Items Solicitation No AG-04P5-S-08-9001 Fremont-Winema National Forests Page 16

Appendix A-Elective Work Items

Elective Items #3.1, and 3.3: Small Tree Thinning and Slash Treatment, Low and High Level of Effort

Desired Outcome:

The end result of this thinning is to reduce stocking levels in trees greater than two feet in height and up to the specified upper diameter limit to the prescribed density.

Description:

The work under this project consists of cutting specified trees and treating thinning slash.

Location:

Project Locations will be specified in Task Orders.

Technical Specifications:

These Items are intended to be hand chainsaw work. However, other methods may be used by written agreement with the Forest Service if such methods will meet resource protection needs.

a) Cut trees greater than two feet in height and up to the specified upper diameter limit. Range of density will be specified by task order.

Following are Cut tree preference:

1) Species preference to cut: western juniper, white fir, lodgepole pine, incense cedar, ponderosa pine, sugar pine and western white pine.

2) Cut unhealthy trees. Unhealthy trees display evidence of disease including dwarf mistletoe (brooms or sprouts) and gall rust.

3) Cut trees with poor vigor (live crown ratios <25%).

4) Cut trees with damage. Damage is defined as dead tops, multiple tops, sweep, crook or bole damage.

b) Lop and Scatter thinning slash. All thinning slash shall be less than 18 inches high, placing it on or near the ground surface. The slash will be less than 8 feet in length. Cut material shall not lean against an uncut tree, do not create concentrations of slash near leave trees. It shall be secure and not able to roll down hill. Scattered slash will be a distance of 5 feet from improvements, such as private property, roads, culverts, fence lines, power lines, established land corners, and established campsites and trails, unless approved by the COR.

Other Requirements:

1. Cut trees shall be completely severed. Cutting shall be below the lowest live limb unless prevented by natural obstacles.

2. Stump height shall not exceed 6 inches in height on the uphill side unless cutting is obstructed by natural obstacles. Stumps shall be horizontal as possible to avoid sharp spikes.

3. Cut trees shall be cleared away from unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, established trails, stock driveways, fence lines, established land corners, stream or watercourses by 5 feet.

4. No cut trees shall be permitted to suspend above the ground by a leave tree.

5. If operations cause damage to any posted monuments, fences or other improvements the COR will be notified immediately. Contractor will be responsible for restoration or replacement cost.

6. Operations will be conducted to avoid damage to leave trees and resources.

Levels of Effort:

Item 3.1 Small Tree Thinning – Low level of effort; less than 50 cut trees per acre. Lop and Scatter -18 inch maximum slash depth and 8 foot piece length.

Item 3.2 Small Tree Thinning – Moderate level of effort; greater than 50 cut trees per acre and less than 250 cut trees per acre. Lop and Scatter -18 inch maximum slash depth and 8 foot piece length.

Item 3.3 Small Tree Thinning – High level of effort; greater than 251 cut trees per acre. Lop and Scatter -18 inch maximum slash depth and 8 foot piece length.

Acceptable Quality Level:

Monitoring and Disincentives

The government will conduct visual inspections, with random plots, on each unit to determine compliance with work specifications. Inspections will consist of a review of the trees cut and left in terms of tree condition and density, and lop and scatter material. When work appears satisfactory, it will be accepted. When work appears unsatisfactory, the contractor will be responsible for any rework to comply with contract requirements.

If the contractor disagrees with the random walk thru results of the Forest Service, the contractor may request a formal systematic sample across the unit. Work Quality will be judged by the following formula:

Acceptable plots/Total number of plots X 100 = Work Quality %.

Where work quality is > 90%, work item will be accepted.

Where work quality is less than 90%, due to re-workable items, such as leaving too many trees or incomplete slash work, contractor will rework the unit. The unit will be re-inspected, and if deficient items repaired, accepted.

Where work quality is less than 90% due to too many trees cut, the pay will be reduced to a level equal to the work quality achieved. For example if, the work quality is 85% due to cutting too many trees, this cannot be repaired and the contractor’s pay would be reduced to 85% of the pay rate for that pay item.

Calculation of Credit:

The credit rate will be calculated by multiplying the percentage quality rate by the bid unit (mile, acre, etc.) price. When the percent of quality is 90 percent or greater, credit will be made at 100 percent of the bid price.

When the Government verification inspection results find unacceptable work, credit will not be made until the work has been corrected to meet the specifications. No additional credit or payment will be allowed for re-work of unacceptable work. The Government may reduce payment for unacceptable work that is not correctable.

Elective Items #4.1, and 4.3: Road Closure – Barricade and Water Bar, Low and High Level of Effort

Desire Outcome:

Roads specified for closure will be closed to vehicles, and water bars place in road to hydrologically stabilize roads. The objective is to close roads not needed for resource management or causing resource damage.

Description:

The work under this project consists of blocking access of the identified roads from traffic with earth mound barricades. Water bars shall be constructed to prevent further resource damage.

Location:

Project Locations will be specified in Task Orders.

Technical Specification:

Water bars:

Water bars shall be constructed where designated by Government and shall be sloped to drain to the outside area of the roadbed as shown on attached Drawing Sheets unless otherwise agreed in writing.

See attached Drawing Sheets for water bar construction details.

Barricades:

Road closure barricades shall be constructed at locations specified by Government. A typical drawing of this feature is attached. See attached Drawing Sheet. The Contractor may, when available use logs, rock, slash to block the road, to control access and to minimize erosion in addition to or in lieu of an earth barricade.

Selection of Treatment:

The Contractor and Government will coordinate the selection of treatment type (road closure) that best meets the on-the-ground situation. Each project (road closure) may have multiple treatment types performed on the length of the road (Water bar, scarification, or ripping, earth barrier, log/slash barrier).

Levels of Effort: For pricing, Levels of Effort are calculated as follows:

Item 4.1 Low level of effort: less than 20 water bars per mile.

Item 4.3 High level of effort: more than 35 water bars per mile and road gradient less than 20%.

Equipment Specifications:

Unless stated otherwise in the Stewardship project specifications or otherwise agreed by Forest Service the equipment requirements are the same as stated in Appendix B, K-G.4.2# yarding/skidding requirements, or as specified or negotiated per Task Order.

Inspection Procedures:

The Contractor shall visually inspect the barricades and water bars for all roads for compliance with the specifications. The Government will verify the inspection results by visual inspection on a minimum of 10% of the roads treated.

Unsatisfactory Work:

When the Government verification inspection results find unacceptable work, credit will not be made until the work has been corrected to meet the specifications. No additional credit or payment will be allowed for re-work of unacceptable work. The Government may reduce payment for unacceptable work that is not correctable.

Calculation of Credit:

The credit rate will be calculated by multiplying the percentage quality rate by the bid unit (mile, acre, etc.) price. When the percent of quality is 90 percent or greater, credit will be made at 100 percent of the bid price.

Elective Work Item – 5.0– Road Maintenance Road maintenance items, if any, will be detailed and specified in and Appendix C of each Task Order.

Elective Work Item – 6.0– Road Reconstruction

Road reconstruction items, if any, will be detailed and specified in and Appendix D of each Task Order.

Elective Work Item –7.0 – Road Decommissioning

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to remove and dispose of drainage structures (ex. culverts), re-establish natural contours (recontour), reduce compaction, perform designated erosion control work, prepare road prism for revegetation and close road to vehicular traffic. All this will lead to re-vegetaion of and hydrologic stabilizaiton of the area that was constructed into a road prism. Individual Task Orders may require some or all of the items above, or other similar tasks.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each road de-commissioned will vary with individual task order.

Acceptable Quality Level

Monitoring and Disincentives

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item –8.0 – Erosion Control Seeding

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to reseed area specified in the task order with native spcies seed mix specified at the rate (pounds per acre) specified. Work may include machine scarification, mulching and fertilizer application.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each area to be reseeded will vary by Task Order.

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item – 9.0– Aspen Enhancement Desired Outcome: The end result of this Work Item is to reduce conifer tree competition from Aspen clones.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

· Cut conifer trees within the unit boundary greater than two feet in height up to the specified upper diameter.

· Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump below the lowest live limb.

· Stump height shall be no more than six inches and horizontal as possible to avoid sharp spikes.

· The bole or stem of all cut trees shall be cut into sections of no more than eight feet in length.

· Limbs and boles of all cut trees shall be cut off of bole or stems and scattered as necessary to reduce slash heights to no more than eighteen inches above the ground. The ground is defined as the organic litter layer of the soil and not existing slash.

Work items include contractor recognition and cutting of conifer trees as well as identification and not cutting Aspen stems.

Acceptable Quality Level:

Monitoring and Disincentives

The government will conduct visual inspections, with random plots, on each unit to determine compliance with work specifications. Inspections will consist of a review of the trees cut and left in terms of tree condition and density, and lop and scatter material. When work appears satisfactory, it will be accepted. When work appears unsatisfactory, the contractor will be responsible for any rework to comply with contract requirements.

If the contractor disagrees with the random walk thru results of the Forest Service, the contractor may request a formal systematic sample across the unit. Work Quality will be judged by the following formula:

Acceptable plots/Total number of plots X 100 = Work Quality %.

Where work quality is > 90%, work item will be accepted.

Where work quality is less than 90%, due to re-workable items, such as leaving too many trees or incomplete slash work, contractor will rework the unit. The unit will be re-inspected, and if deficient items repaired, accepted.

Where work quality is less than 90% due to too many trees cut, the pay will be reduced to a level equal to the work quality achieved. For example if, the work quality is 85% due to cutting too many trees, this cannot be repaired and the contractor’s pay would be reduced to 85% of the pay rate for that pay item.

Calculation of Credit:

The credit rate will be calculated by multiplying the percentage quality rate by the bid unit (mile, acre, etc.) price. When the percent of quality is 90 percent or greater, credit will be made at 100 percent of the bid price.

When the Government verification inspection results find unacceptable work, credit will not be made until the work has been corrected to meet the specifications. No additional credit or payment will be allowed for re-work of unacceptable work. The Government may reduce payment for unacceptable work that is not correctable.

Elective Work Item – 10.0 – Juniper Cutting Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to cut juniper trees within the unit boundaries.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

· Cut juniper trees within the unit boundary greater than two feet in height up to the specified upper diameter limit.

· Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump below the lowest live limb.

· Stump height shall be no more than six inches and horizontal as possible to avoid sharp spikes..

· Do not cut juniper trees displaying old growth characteristic including

· Larger size (greater than eighteen inches DBH).

· Large catfaces or rotten holes, evidence of wildlife use (woodpecker holes, etc.).

· Large limbs.

· Rounded tops or crowns.

· Large bark flutes resembling twisted ropes.

Work items include contractor recognition and cutting of juniper trees as well as identification and not cutting juniper old growth trees.

Acceptable Quality Level:

Monitoring and Disincentives

The government will conduct visual inspections, with random plots, on each unit to determine compliance with work specifications. Inspections will consist of a review of the trees cut and left. When work appears satisfactory, it will be accepted. When work appears unsatisfactory, the contractor will be responsible for any rework to comply with contract requirements.

If the contractor disagrees with the random walk thru results of the Forest Service, the contractor may request a formal systematic sample across the unit. Work Quality will be judged by the following formula:

Acceptable plots/Total number of plots X 100 = Work Quality %.

Where work quality is > 90%, work item will be accepted.

Where work quality is less than 90%, due to re-workable items, such as leaving too many trees or incomplete slash work, contractor will rework the unit. The unit will be re-inspected, and if deficient items repaired, accepted.

Where work quality is less than 90% due to too many trees cut, the pay will be reduced to a level equal to the work quality achieved. For example if, the work quality is 85% due to cutting too many trees, this cannot be repaired and the contractor’s pay would be reduced to 85% of the pay rate for that pay item.

Calculation of Credit:

The credit rate will be calculated by multiplying the percentage quality rate by the bid unit (mile, acre, etc.) price. When the percent of quality is 90 percent or greater, credit will be made at 100 percent of the bid price.

Elective Work Item –11.0 – Tree Marking

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to implement the silvicultural prescription through the designation of leave trees/cut trees by marking trees with paint.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each area to be marked will vary by Task Order. Specifications will include the marking trees to meet prescription/descriptions, paint color and application.

The Government will not supply paint.

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Work items include contractor recognition of tree species, assessment of health, vigor and quality, and overall understanding of silvicultural applications.

Elective Work Item –12.0 – Tree Planting

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to replant the area indicated with conifer seedlings, at a prescribed density.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each area to be planted will vary by Task Order. Specifications will include spacing, clearing, scalping, shading, and walk in requirements.

The Government will supply seedlings at the tree cooler in Lakeview or Paisley, OR.

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item –13.0 - Hand Fireline Construction

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to construct hand firelines in areas designated to prepare area for prescribed burning.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each fireline will vary by Task Order.

General specification will include necessary width of the fire line, including bare mineral soil scrape, slash pushback and crown opening. Also included will be erosion control structure and techniques such as water bar construction, berm elimination and spreading slash over disturbed areas. Work to be completed by persons using hand tools and power saws. Task order may include post burn rehabilitation.

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item –14.0 - Machine Fireline Construction

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to construct machine firelines in areas designated to prepare area for prescribed burning.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each area to be reseeded will vary by Task Order.

General specification will include necessary width of the fire line, including bare mineral soil scrape, slash pushback and crown opening. Also included will be erosion control structure and techniques such as water bar construction, berm elimination and spreading slash over disturbed areas. Size weight and type of equipment may be specified to meet resource protection needs. Task order may include post burn rehabilitation.

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item –15.0 - Hand Manipulation of Fuel and Slash

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to pile activity and natural fuels by hand.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each area to be piled will vary by Task Order.

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item –16.0 - Machine Manipulation of Fuel and Slash

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to pile activity and natural fuels by piling with excavator type machines or other method.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each area to be piled will vary by Task Order.

Excavator or other machine shall be low ground pressure machine, having a static pressure of 5.5 pounds per square inch or less. Such machine shall be equipped with a thumb other attachment capable of picking up slash with minimal soil disturbance.

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item –17.0 – Soil Productivity Enhancement Projects Including Decompaction

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to restore or improve soil productivity by reducing bulk density.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each area to be enhanced will vary by Task Order.

General specification will provide for deep ripping of the work area. Ripping shall be in excess of 18 inches and generally will require at least two passes at right angles to each other. Work may include erosion control structures such as water bars

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item –18.0 – Seeding, Planting and Culturing Native Species

Desired Outcome: - The end result of this Work Item is to plant or seed the area indicated with desired native species, such as bitterbrush, mountain mahogony, cottonwood or other species.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications for each area to be seeded or planted will vary by Task Order. Specifications will include spacing, clearing, scalping, shading, and walk in requirements.

The Government may supply seedlings at the tree cooler in Lakeview or Paisley, OR, or work on this item could include acquiring required stock.

The government will conduct visual inspections, to judge compliance with task order specification. Acceptable Quality Level for each specification will be listed with the Work Statement included with individual Task Orders

Calculation of Credit:

The method of calculating credit will be spelled out in individual work statements accompanying individual Task Orders.

Elective Work Item – 19.0– Meadow Enhancement Desired Outcome: The end result of this Work Item is to remove conifer tree encroachment into meadows. This will generally be achieved by cutting conifer trees and lopping and scattering the slash.

Project Location(s): Areas to be treated will be shown on an attached map included with the Task Order. Areas to be treated are designated by Contract Area Signs or other method described in the Task Order.

Technical Specifications

· Cut conifer trees within the unit boundary greater than two feet in height up to the specified upper diameter.

· Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump below the lowest live limb.

· Stump height shall be no more than six inches and horizontal as possible to avoid sharp spikes.

· The bole or stem of all cut trees shall be cut into sections of no more than eight feet in length.

· Limbs and boles of all cut trees shall be cut off of bole or stems and scattered as necessary to reduce slash heights to no more than eighteen inches above the ground. The ground is defined as the organic litter layer of the soil and not existing slash.

Work items include contractor recognition and cutting of conifer trees as well as identification and not cutting Aspen stems.

Acceptable Quality Level:

Monitoring and Disincentives

The government will conduct visual inspections, with random plots, on each unit to determine compliance with work specifications. Inspections will consist of a review of the trees cut and left in terms of tree condition and density, and lop and scatter material. When work appears satisfactory, it will be accepted. When work appears unsatisfactory, the contractor will be responsible for any rework to comply with contract requirements.

If the contractor disagrees with the random walk thru results of the Forest Service, the contractor may request a formal systematic sample across the unit. Work Quality will be judged by the following formula:

Acceptable plots/Total number of plots X 100 = Work Quality %.

Where work quality is > 90%, work item will be accepted.

Where work quality is less than 90%, due to re-workable items, such as leaving too many trees or incomplete slash work, contractor will rework the unit. The unit will be re-inspected, and if deficient items repaired, accepted.

Where work quality is less than 90% due to too many trees cut, the pay will be reduced to a level equal to the work quality achieved. For example if, the work quality is 85% due to cutting too many trees, this cannot be repaired and the contractor’s pay would be reduced to 85% of the pay rate for that pay item.

Calculation of Credit:

The credit rate will be calculated by multiplying the percentage quality rate by the bid unit (mile, acre, etc.) price. When the percent of quality is 90 percent or greater, credit will be made at 100 percent of the bid price.

When the Government verification inspection results find unacceptable work, credit will not be made until the work has been corrected to meet the specifications. No additional credit or payment will be allowed for re-work of unacceptable work. The Government may reduce payment for unacceptable work that is not correctable.

Elective Work Item – 20.0– Timber Removal

Timber Removal consists or cutting, removal, and utilization of sawlog or non-sawlog material.

Removal of sawlog products will be subject to, and will comply with all the requirements of the Lakeview Sustained Yield Unit Policy Statement (Revised 1/01), the terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference. If the Policy Statement is revised during the course of this contract, Contractor will be required to comply with the requirements of the revised policy statement.

Contractor will be required to submit a Timber Removal Price, equal to or exceeding the Minimum Acceptable Bid for each Task Order.

Specifications for Timber Removal will be contained in Appendix B – Timber Removal Specifications included with each Task Order.