Specifications.doc

SECTION C—DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

DIVISION 100 – GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110 - Scope of Contract. Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, supervision, supplies, and perform all work required for chemical site preparation for natural regeneration by:

· Hand application of herbicide to stems of black birch, striped maples, Fraser magnolia, red maple, and American beech in accordance with the specifications and provisions of the contract.

The Government will furnish no materials, labor, or equipment unless specifically identified in the Government-furnished property clause (See Section 140 below).

120 – Description and Location. The areas to be treated are within the boundaries of the Monongahela National Forest, Greenbrier Ranger District, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. (See attached maps). Units range in size from 22 acres to 40 acres.

From the Bartow office turn south on State Rt. 92, travel 0.25 miles and turn left onto State Rt 28. Stay on Rt. 28 for approximately 4.5 miles and turn left onto FR 14 at the 4-H camp. Travel north on FR 14 for approximately 2.5 miles then turn on to FR803, units 42 and 43 laid along this road. Proceed north on FR 14 for 1/2-mile to State route 250/4 (Johns Run Rd) and turn left and drive 2 miles to FR 224. Units 25 and 28 laid along this road. Travel north on FR14 for another 8 miles to FR 179. Drive down FR 179 approximately 2 miles to FR 178A. Travel back FR 178A for about 3 miles and units 10 and 11 laid along the road. Travel approximately 2 miles further north from the intersection of FR 14 and 179 then turning left on FR 817, units 6, 7, and 68 lay along the road. Travel approximately 1 mile further north from the intersection of FR 14 and 817 then turn left on FR 464, units 72 and 69 can be accessed from this road.

The other units can be accessed by turning right from the Bartow office going north on State Rt. 92, traveling approximately 3.0 miles to Durbin and turning onto FR 44. Travel approximately 6.5 miles, then turning right onto FR 17 and following it for 0.5 miles and turning left onto FR 756 Unit 60 lays at the end of the road. From the intersection of FR 14 and FR17 drive another 2 miles north on FR 44 then turn right onto FR 176. Unit 16 lays along the road. From the intersection of FR 14 and FR 176, travel another approximately 1.5 miles and unit 14 lays on the right side of the road. Units 67 and 73 can be accesses by traveling 3.0 miles further north on FR 44 from unit 14, both lay on the right side of the road.

121 - The general location of and access to each area will be shown on a project area map of each area. These maps will be provided at the pre-work conference.

130 – Contractor Furnished Property, Services, Responsibilities and Obligations. The contractor shall furnish all equipment (except for that listed as Government Furnished Property), labor, materials, transportation, supervision, and incidentals necessary to apply herbicide in accordance with this contract.

131 – Project Supervisor – The Contractor shall designate in writing one person on the job to act as the Project Supervisor, representing the company in all contractual matters that require prompt attention. This person should be familiar with all equipment being used and shall attend any pre-work meetings.

132 – Certification – The contractor shall have a representative who holds a current pesticide use applicator license in the State of West Virginia to supervise the project.

133- Certification – The contractor shall have a current commercial pesticide applicators license for the state of West Virginia to supervise the project.

134 – Records- The Contractor shall maintain an accurate record of the herbicide used on each unit. After completing the contract the Contractor’s Project Supervisor will submit the records with the information to the COR.

140 – Government Furnished Property. None

DIVISION 200 – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210 – Hand Application Instructions.

Cut-surface:

Arsenal herbicide (Manufactured by/BASF EPA No. 241-346) or equivalent shall be applied in accordance with labeling and the following instructions:

1. The Contractor shall use the cut surface method to treat all striped maple, black birch, Fraser magnolia, red maple and American beech between 1 and 8 inches in diameter measured four and one half (4 ½) feet above ground level by spraying the stem frill cuts or the cut stumps with herbicide.

2. Approximately 1 milliliter of imazapyr herbicide diluted 6% with water shall be applied in each frill cut in the stem of the tree. Cuts shall form a continuous circle around the tree below all branches. For stems that have been completely severed, the entire cut surface of the stump will be treated.

3. Apply the herbicide within 1 hour after the stems have been cut.

4. The stem injection treatment will be applied to all treated stems >1.0 dbh to 8.0 dbh between June 1 and October 1.

5. The contractor shall thoroughly agitate the herbicide before applying.

220 - Application. Forest Service personnel have marked spray area boundaries with orange paint.

a) Before beginning treatment in an area, the COR or designated inspector and the Contractor’s representative will walk through the area to review special conditions or area to avoid during spraying.

b) Application of spray material shall be confined to the designated spray area. Buffer areas or places where spraying is not permitted will be identified by the COR or inspector prior to beginning a unit. The boundaries of these buffer areas may or may not have been painted or flagged. Required buffer distances for water quality are as follows:

i. 100 feet wide along each side of perennial streams, impoundments, or intermittent streams flowing water the day of spraying.

ii. 50 feet wide along each side of dry intermittent stream channels and spring seeps.

iii. 25 feet wide along each side of ephemeral stream channels and around wet areas having no defined outlet.

230 – Safety. The Contractor or his Project Supervisor shall report all accidents or incidents associated with this contract to the Contracting Officer within 24 hours. This report shall contain description, cause, and future actions contemplated to avoid future occurrences.

Accidents, as used throughout this contract shall mean destruction or substantial damage to any motorized vehicle, and minor, serious, or fatal injury to personnel.

Incidents, as used throughout this contract shall mean any mishap, malfunction, or situation involving equipment or personnel, which results in a deviation from standard procedures or has the potential of resulting in an accident, injury, or death.

The Contractor shall comply with all Federal and State regulations for spraying herbicide.

The following safety rules will apply for both hand and mechanical applications:

1. Read the safety information on the label.

2. Wear the proper protective clothing.

3. Keep first aid equipment and a supply of clean water readily available, including soap and eye wash equipment meeting OSHA regulations.

4. Do not work alone.

5. Haul only the needed amount of herbicide

6. Stand upwind from the spray projects to avoid contaminating yourself.

7. Keep the container below eye level when pouring to avoid splashing or spilling any herbicide on the face or into the eyes.

8. If herbicides are spilled, stop immediately, wash contaminated area, and remove contaminated clothing.

9. Wash hands after applying herbicides before eating or smoking.

240 – Care and Handling of Herbicide. The Contractor shall be responsible for the security of all herbicide, equipment, and materials furnished for this project. The Contractor shall protect the herbicide and take precautions to prevent loss or theft while it is in his custody. These measures shall include, but are not limited to the following:

1. The herbicide shall not be allowed to freeze.

2. Containers shall not be damaged to the extent that herbicide leaks are likely to occur.

3. The Contractor shall take precautions to prevent spills during transportation, mixing, and handling.

Personnel handling herbicides shall wear protective clothing and or equipment as recommended by the herbicide manufacturer. The contractor will provide soap and water for personnel to wash with on the job site.

Herbicides shall not be applied or equipment cleaned outside of areas designated by COR.

Sites selected for mixing, loading, and cleaning of equipment shall be located so as to prevent contaminating streams, ponds, or spring seeps. The Forest Service will approve all such locations.

241 - Transportation of Herbicides. – Contractor is legally responsible for the safe transportation of herbicides. Contractor shall follow travel routes designated by the COR when transporting herbicides from the public road system to the treatment sites. Transport vehicles shall be parked inside the treatment site in an area designated by the COR. Transportation of chemicals used on this contract shall be in accordance with label instructions and generally approved and accepted procedures for safe transportation of herbicides. The following precautions as a minimum shall be taken by the Contractor to prevent spills, accidents, injury, or theft.

1. Transport herbicides in the cargo compartment of a truck or other vehicle away from the passenger compartment.

2. No personnel shall be permitted to ride in the back of a vehicle with the herbicide.

3. Herbicide shall not be transported in the same compartment with food or clothing.

4. If any herbicide is spilled in or from the vehicle, it shall be cleaned up at once.

5. Maintain herbicides in secure conditions.

242 - Herbicide Spills. Contractor shall be responsible for all costs for damages, clean up and decontamination should an herbicide spill occur. If a spill occurs, every effort shall be made to keep it from contaminating water and other off-site areas. The spill shall be cleaned up as quickly as possible. Herbicide spills shall be handled in accordance with the standard procedures for spill clean up (40 CFR 117).

The Contractor must have a spill prevention and clean-up plan approved by the COR prior to starting work. Herbicide wasted through spills greater than 5 gallons of diluted product, or 1 quart of undiluted product must be reported to the COR and the appropriate state and federal agencies immediately. This report shall contain description, cause, and future actions contemplated to avoid future occurrences.

243 – Storage and Security – The Contractor shall be responsible for the storage and security of all government supplied materials furnished for this project when transporting and using the materials.

244 - Disposal of Herbicide Containers. All empty containers will be rinsed 3 times, and rinse solution will be applied to the treatment site. Empty containers will be punctured and disposed of properly (according to label directions) by the Contractor. No empty containers will be left at the worksite.

250 – Resource Protection. Upon completion of work at each area and prior to moving to the next area, all trash, rubbish, and debris generated by the Contractor’s operations shall be removed from National Forest land and properly disposed of.

260 – Protection of Improvements. The Contractor shall take every precaution necessary to prevent damage to any improvement in or near the contract areas, i.e., roads, trails, ditches, fences, etc. The Contractor shall be liable for any damages caused by his operations and shall make repairs promptly.

DIVISION 300 – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

310 – Inspection Procedures. Inspections of the work performed under this contract will be made as the work progresses by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or the designated Inspector. Inspection will be at intervals necessary to insure compliance with the contract.

320 – Satisfactory Treatment. It is inherent that some trees will be improperly treated and some degree of allowance should be made for improper treatment when the area is otherwise considered satisfactory. Therefore, an allowance will be made for acceptance of an area as satisfactorily treated if at least 95% of the designated trees or unit area has been treated in accordance with the contract specifications.

DIVISION 400 – MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

410 – Method of Measurement. Acreage listed in the bid schedule was determined by GPS for this contract is considered actual acreage.

The acreages shown in the Schedule of Items have not been reduced to account for inclusions of 1 acre or less which are unsuitable for spraying due to standing water or buffer strips (described in section 220 (c) above). Though some of these inclusions exist within the project areas, no reduction will be made in the contract payment to account for them. All areas within units will be treated except for inclusions of 1 acre or less.

If the contractor requests a remeasurement of any unit and the results of the remeasurement show that the acreage is more than 15% different from original measurement, the Government will pay at the unit price for the number of acres shown on the remeasurement and the cost of the remeasurement itself. If, however, the remeasurement shows the acreage to be within the 15% allowable variation, payment will be for the original acreage for that unit and the contractor will pay for the cost of the remeasurement. The Forest Service will determine the method of remeasurement. The Forest Service will perform all remeasurements.

420 – Basis of Payment. Payment will be made at the unit bid price for the total number of acres satisfactorily completed and accepted.