1 Solicitation AG-435H-S-10-0001.doc

Solicitation AG-435H-S-10-0001 Vegetation Management Services, Chattahoochee-Oconee NF

Oct 29, 2009

LOCAL TIME

Dec 2, 2009

4:00 PM

INFORMATION CALL:

USDA Forest Service

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

1755 Cleveland Highway

Gainesville GA 30501

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UNRESTRICTED OR FORMCHECKBOX

SET ASIDE: 100% FOR

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SMALL BUSINESS FORMCHECKBOX

EMERGING SMALL

BUSINESS

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HUBZONE SMALL

NAICS: 115310 BUSINESS

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SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN- FORMCHECKBOX

8(A)

SIZE STANDARD: $7.0 Million OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINATION UNLESS BLOCK IS MARKED

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SEE SCHEDULE

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700) 13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

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RFQ FORMCHECKBOX

IFB FORMCHECKBOX

RFP

15. DELIVER TO CODE

See Individual Task Orders

16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

USDA Forest Service Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests 1755 Cleveland Hwy., Gainesville, GA 30501

17a. CONTRACTOR/ CODE FACILITY

OFFEROR CODE

DUNS NO. TIN:

TELEPHONE NO.

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

CSC-FS

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17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN 18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

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SEE ADDENDUM

contract for Vegetation Management Services on all Districts of the Chattahoochee-Oconee

National Forests, Georgia.

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

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ARE NOT ATTACHED

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ARE NOT ATTACHED

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. OFFER

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS: ____________________

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV.3/2005)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA ‑ FAR (48 CFR) 53.212 Table of Contents

3GENERAL INFORMATION

4EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

5SCHEDULE OF ITEMS / PRICE SCHEDULE

8DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS / STATEMENT OF WORK

10TREE PLANTING

17HERBICIDE APPLICATION

21HAND TOOLS

22SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

25CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

42REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

50CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS OR ATTACHMENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Introduction The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is soliciting for manual forestry services including planting, herbicide application, and other vegetation treatments using hand tools, including release, mid-story reduction, pre-commercial thinning, cut-and-leave, and raking. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, transportation, supervision, supplies (except those designated as Government-furnished), incidentals, and perform all work necessary to conduct the work in compliance with terms, specifications, conditions, and provisions of this solicitation. All districts of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia are included in this contract.

This solicitation is for a performance-based requirements contract with one base year and four option years that may be exercised at the discretion of the Government. A single contract is anticipated to be awarded as a result of this solicitation. Some task orders will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Those task orders will be subject to the additional requirements shown on page 29.

This procurement is conducted using simplified acquisition procedures under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.5.

Pre-Bid/ Pre-Proposal Conference Date:

November 16, 2009 Time:

1:00pm Location:

Chattahoochee-Oconee Supervisor’s Office Conference Room 1755 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville GA 30501 phone 770-297-3000 Submission Requirements Offerors must complete and submit the following as listed below:

1. Business Proposal – one copy

a. Standard Form 1449 (complete Blocks 17and 30)

b. Section B - Schedule of Items/Prices (pages 6 and 7)

c. Price Worksheet

d. Representations and Certifications

2. Technical Proposal – two copies

a. Responses to Evaluation Factors

b. Copy of State Pesticide Contractor’s License

c. Copy of MSPA Certificate of Registration

3. Contractor Performance Survey – sent to three previous clients to be submitted directly to the contracting officer by the due date.

As a convenience to offerors, the FedBizOpps posting for this solicitation includes a Business Proposal Submittal Package, a Price Worksheet spreadsheet, format for Responses to Evaluation Criteria, and Contractor Performance Survey.

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

Technical Factors

(1) Organizational Experience. The Government will evaluate each offeror's organizational experience on the basis of its breadth, depth, and relevance to the work required under the prospective contract. Two aspects of experience will be evaluated: experience in the required tasks of planting, herbicide and hand tool work, and experience as the prime contractor for multi-year IDIQ or Requirements contracts covering entire Forests or equivalent installations.

(2) Organizational Past Performance. Past performance is a measure of the degree to which an offeror satisfied its customers in the past and complied with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Government will evaluate the contractor’s past performance to determine: (1) that the offeror was capable, efficient, and effective; (2) the offeror's performance conformed to the terms and conditions of its contract; (3) the offeror finished within the contract time; (4) the offeror was reasonable and cooperative during performance; and (5) the offeror was committed to customer satisfaction. The Government may evaluate the organizational past performance of the offeror's proposed key subcontractors.

(3) Ability to Satisfy the Government's Requirements. The Government will evaluate each offeror's ability to successfully perform this contract work using on the following sub-factors:

a) Resources – supervision, crew, equipment

b) Safety

c) Quality Control

d) Certification and Licensing Price

In addition to the unit prices in the schedule, the Government will evaluate the offeror’s understanding of the work by examining the price details provided for the Oconee FY2010 Planting. A spreadsheet format is provided.

Award Decision

Evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are approximately equal to price in the award decision. The critical factor in making any cost/technical trade-off is not the spread between the technical scores, but, rather, the significance of that difference. The significance of the spread of scores will be determined on the basis of what the difference might mean in terms of performance and what it would cost the Government to take advantage of it. Award may not necessarily be made for technical capabilities that would appear to exceed those needed for the successful performance of the work. The Government reserves the right to make cost/technical trade-offs that are in the best interest and advantageous to the Government.

Schedule of Items / Price Schedule

Price Schedules Separate price schedules are provided for 1) the Oconee Ranger District (piedmont terrain) and 2) the Conagauga, Blue Ridge, and Chattooga River Districts (mountain terrain). Contractors shall provide prices for both schedules.

Tasks and Quantity Pricing Tasks with estimated quantities: Estimated quantities for FY2010 are show.

Tasks estimated as 1 Acre: It is not known if these tasks will be ordered during the contract period. A quantity of 1 is used for establishing a unit price.

Tasks with * for estimated quantities: These tasks are required so infrequently that no price is requested at this time. If work in these items is needed, the price will be negotiated at the time the task order is issued.

If a requirement of a particular task order does not fit into the categories in the schedule, or circumstances exist which significantly increase or decrease the work required for a particular task, prices for that task order will be negotiated at the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

Unknown future needs that are not described in the schedule or descriptions of work may arise. Contracting Officer will negotiate contract pricing, performance time, and start date when need is identified.

Option Year Pricing Exercise of Option Periods will be at the unilateral discretion of the Government, with each subsequent Option being exercised with a 2.75% upward adjustment applied to each base unit price, which will be cumulative in nature.

FAR 52.217-5 Evaluation of Options

Except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the Government’s best interests, the Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

AGAR 452.211-75 Effective Period of the Contract (FEB 1988)

The effective period of this contract is from award through September 30, 2010.

Option Period I = October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011 Option Period II = October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012 Option Period III = October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013 Option Period IV = October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014 The performance time for each task order will be stated on the task order.

AGAR 452.216-73 Minimum and Maximum Contract Amounts (FEB 1988)

During the period specified in FAR clause 52.216-18, ORDERING, the Government shall place orders totaling a minimum of $10,000, but not in excess of $1,000,000.

Schedule of Items / Price Schedule

5.1 Manual Tree Planting

5.1.1 Bareroot Pine Seedlings

5.1.2 Containerized Pine Seedlings

5.2 Herbicide Application

(not including cost of herbicide; will be added separate when task order is issued)

Foliar Spraying

Cut Surface Treatment

5.3 Hand Tools

Girdling

For more information on pricing refer to page 5 Schedule of Items / Price Schedule

Conasauga, Blue Ridge, and Chattooga River Ranger Districts

5.1 Manual Tree Planting

5.1.1 Bareroot Pine Seedlings

5.1.2 Containerized Pine Seedlings

5.2 Herbicide Application

(not including cost of herbicide; will be added separate when task order is issued)

Foliar Spraying

Cut Surface Treatment

5.3 Hand Tools

Girdling

FY2010 tasks:

15 acres planting on Chattooga River Ranger District, 63 acres mid-story treatment on Conasauga (ARRA funded)

117 Acres pre-commercial thinning on Conasauga District

200 trees leaf litter/slash raking on Conasauga District (ARRA funded)

For more information on pricing refer to page 5

DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS / STATEMENT OF WORK

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT TREATMENT

CHATTAHOOCHEE-OCONEE NATIONAL FOREST

Fiscal Years 2010 through 2014 SCOPE OF WORK: The Contractor shall provide any and all labor, equipment, supplies, services, permits, and licenses necessary to perform tree planting, herbicide applications, and other vegetation treatments using hand tools, including release, midstory reduction, precommercial thinning, and cut and leave for SPB suppression on the Conasauga, Blue Ridge, Chattooga River and Oconee Ranger Districts of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.

The Contractor must be registered with the Department of Labor under the Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act.

The Contractor will follow all State and Federal regulations, including OSHA guidelines.

This statement of work consists of completing the tasks/subtasks to the performance requirements of the technical specifications. Acreages listed will have been determined by either global positioning system (GPS), or geographic information system (GIS).

LOCATION: The areas are located within the boundaries of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in Georgia. Specific locations, area data, and maps will be issued with each task order.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

BOUNDARIES: Most boundaries have previously been marked by paint slashes on sides of trees or by hanging flagging around each area. Others may have fences, roads, timber age changes, or natural structures which were used as boundaries.

SALVAGE RIGHTS: No salvage rights exist under this contract.

RE-MEASUREMENT: The Contractor may at any time after issuance of a task order request re-measurement of an area. The request must be in writing. Payment will be based on the re-measurement of the acreage, except no adjustment shall be made for areas less than one (1) acre. The Contractor will pay for the cost of re-measurement if the re-measurement results in an increase of less than 10 percent. Method of re-measurement to be used will be determined by the Government.

PAYMENT: Payment for performed work will be based on actual work completed by the Contractor and accepted by the Government.

CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVE: The Contractor will provide a Contract Representative for the performance of the work. The name of this person, who will act for the Contractor when the Contractor is absent, will be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. The Contractor Representative will have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The Contractor Representative and alternate(s) must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English, and communicate with the Contractor’s employees.

PROTECTION OF IMPROVEMENTS: Any improvements damaged by the Contractor’s work will be repaired to the condition that existed prior to the start of work at the Contractor’s expense.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will provide the following item(s) of Government property to the Contractor for use in the performance of this contract. This property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor in accordance with the provisions of the "Government Property" FAR clause contained elsewhere in the contract.

(i) Project area maps (1:24000) scale for each area;

(ii) Vicinity maps that show the general location of the areas on each unit; and

(iii) Tree seedlings for planting.

RESOURCE PROTECTION STANDARDS – APPLICABLE TO MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES

Improvements such as fences, gates, property boundaries, corner monuments and trees that are marked or identified with paint, signs, tags, and/or blazes will be protected by the Contractor.

Trees that are located adjacent to roads, firelines, fences, private property, right-of-ways, or other structures and are designated for cutting will be severed and felled so as not to damage, lean on, clog or otherwise obstruct existing structures or facilities.

The Contractor will notify the COR immediately of any damaged structures and repair damages that have resulted from the Contractor’s operations.

Vegetation placed on rights-of-way as a result of contract work will be removed unless otherwise directed by the COR.

All cut vegetation will be lopped and scattered to lie within two feet of the ground for approximately one hundred feet on either side of a highway or trail that has been designated as having a slash treatment zone on the contract unit map unless otherwise directed by the COR.

Timing of operations will be constrained as needed to avoid conflicts with recreation, T & E species, wet soil conditions or other time-sensitive factors.

Contractor will not treat trees reserved to meet other resource objectives such as wildlife habitat, visual quality, stream bank stability, etc. Identification of these trees will be as agreed with the COR at the time each task order is made.

A minimum of 20 square feet of basal area (the cross-sectional area of a tree stem at 4.5’ above the ground) per acre of canopy or midstory trees will be retained within 25 feet of ephemeral stream channels during any tree cutting activities.

TREE PLANTING

TASK NUMBER 5.1

Timing of Operations

Planting operations will be implemented when sufficient soil moisture is available.

Annual seasonal rains normally begin in December providing sufficient soil moisture.

About ninety percent of the planting is scheduled between January 1st and March 15th. The remaining ten percent may be completed in the fall after the first rains and before Christmas.

Seedlings

Seedlings will be furnished in sealed bags or bales. Contractor will be responsible for loading and transporting seedlings from the storage site to the planting site. Seedlings will be considered delivered to the Contractor when the Contractor loads seedlings on his vehicle for transporting to planting sites.

Seedlings may only be picked up during the specified hours and days except by prior arrangement with the COR. Not more than one day's supply of seedlings can be picked up on any one day, except a two- day supply may be picked up on Friday or the day preceding a Federal holiday.

The Forest Service will coordinate with the Contractor to have sufficient fresh seedlings on hand to meet the agreed upon starting date, estimated crew size, and expected rate of progress. Seedlings are perishable and have limited viability during storage. Once lifted at the nursery, packed and placed in refrigerated storage, survival of seedlings begins to decline. Seedlings stored beyond 21 days are unacceptable planting stock.

The Contractor will be responsible for the cost of expired seedlings when seedlings have been ordered and stored based on the Contractor's schedule but have not been planted before their expiration date due to circumstances within the Contractor’s control.

The Contractor will plant all trees picked up from refrigerated storage within twenty-four hours of accepting delivery unless otherwise approved by the COR. When the COR determines that conditions are unsuitable for planting, the Contractor will return all unplanted trees to the refrigerated storage location with no penalty for delay in planting the delivered trees.

If conditions are outside the following range of preferred weather conditions, then the Contractor will take additional precautionary measures as directed by the COR in the protection, care and handling of seedlings during transport and while on planting site:

Air Temperature:

33 - 75 degrees F

Relative Humidity:

30 - 50 percent

Wind Speed:

no more than 15 miles per hour Spacing

Tree spacing will change with the species being planted and the objective(s) being met on each planting site. Maps provided with each task order and showing the location of planting sites will specify the spacing for that site.

Planting Standards for Bareroot and Containerized Seedlings

Keep seedling bags in the shade in the open air. The Contractor will provide, as a minimum, a light colored, heat reflective tarpaulin to cover tree seedlings during transport and field storage. Do not store within an enclosed vehicle where passive solar heating can occur.

Do not crush, stand or sit on seedling bags.

Do not build a warming fire within 100 feet of area where seedlings are stored or handled.

Keep seedling bags sealed prior to planting.

Open only one bag at a time. The entire crew will get seedlings out of this bag until the seedlings are used up before opening the next bag.

Quickly remove only enough seedlings to fill planting bags to be carried by the planters. Seedlings should not be exposed to the elements for more than two minutes. Do not separate, untangle, or count out an advance quantity of seedlings except as necessary to grade for unplantable seedlings.

Do not allow planters to carry an excessive amount of seedlings. Planting bags should not be filled to the point where "packing" occurs. Do not carry more than a one hour supply of seedlings in the planting bag.

Tightly close partially used bag as soon as seedlings are removed. Contractor will provide a clamp or cord to keep bag closed.

Immediately repair any torn, snagged, ripped or punctured bag.

Keep seedling roots moist at all times prior to and during planting.

Planters will not be allowed to carry any seedlings in their hand between planting locations. Remove a seedling from the planting bag ONLY when a hole for the seedling has been made.

Contractor will provide planting bags. The bags should be of light color, not retain water or heat, have a minimum depth of 15 inches, be free of defects or contaminates, and should be constructed to allow easy and unrestricted extraction of tree seedlings, one at a time. Seedlings will be carried in seedling bag or other suitable container allowing the seedlings to be kept moist and protected.

One seedling will be planted in a trash-free hole.

Trash such as leaves, litter, duff etc. will be removed in the area surrounding the planting hole.

Do not plant seedlings in frozen ground, during freezing weather, or in other unsatisfactory conditions as determined by the COR.

Soil moisture will be present to a depth of at least six inches.

All planting areas in and adjacent to surface obstructions such as windrows, tree tops and/or rocks will be planted.

Do not plant within the clearing limits of any designated system road or powerline right-of-way or within fifteen feet of fence, existing tree line, or designated property boundaries.

Do not plant in standing water.

Seedlings will not be planted within twelve inches of large mounds of dirt, or stump holes large enough to hamper root growth of seedling.

Task Number 5.1.1 Bareroot Pine Seedlings Pine seedlings will be planted following the procedures shown in the attached exhibits, “How to Plant Forest Tree Seedlings” and “Trees Planted in an Unsatisfactory Manner”.

Hand planting tools will be a dibble bar, mattock, or other approved planting tool. Hoedads are not approved. The penetrating portion of the blade will not be less than ten (10”) inches long and four (4”) inches wide.

Lean of planted seedling will not exceed thirty (30) degrees.

Soil will be firmly packed around each planted seedling and the planting hole will be closed at the bottom as well as at the top. Debris in the planting hole such as leaves, bark, wood or stones is unacceptable. Seedlings must be planted with roots in soil firmly enough to not move when the seedling is pulled by the terminal group of needles.

The ideal pine seedling is a balanced, sturdy stemmed, medium-sized seedling seven to thirteen inches in height with a well-developed, fibrous root system.

Seedlings will not be culled in the field without agreement with the COR. Criteria shown in Table A below will be used as guidelines for culling, if necessary. In addition, seedlings with forked tops, having evidence of fusiform rust, or other noted undesirable traits will not be planted.

TABLE A

Minimum Quality Measures

Seedling roots have been root pruned in the nursery. Roots will not be pruned in the field without agreement with the COR.

When seedlings are being separated, do not beat seedlings against objects to loosen the roots.

Do not shake off or remove moisture-retentive root coatings.

Lateral roots are the primary source of water and nutrient uptake - protect and keep them intact.

Shortleaf pine seedlings will be planted with the S-shape in stem (‘basal crook’, if present) showing even with, or just above, the mineral soil ground line, allowing – as needed – for settling of planting hole fill.

Planted seedlings will be considered unacceptable if (1) the root system has a “U”, “J”, or “L” configuration within the planting slit, (2) the planting hole is closed at the top but open at the bottom resulting in an ‘air pocket’, (3) the roots are twisted or balled together, (4) the roots are partially exposed, or (5) the roots have been pruned to below minimum acceptable lengths.

To avoid possible root damage, do not use planting tools to maneuver roots of seedling into the planting hole.

Following is an example of the proper planting procedure for bare root seedlings:

Planting holes will be constructed according to the attached pictures (refer to exhibits). First, clear the immediate area around the spot where the planting slit will be made to remove leaves, litter, duff, rocks, etc., and expose clean soil. After a proper planting slit is made, insert the seedling until the taproot reaches the bottom of the planting slit, then raise the seedling to the proper planting depth. After the seedling is raised to the proper planting depth and it is in a vertical position without leaning, close the planting slit at the bottom and then the top and pack the soil around the planting hole. Proper planting can be determined for pines by grasping four of the terminal needles. If the seedling moves up when the four needles are pulled, the seedling is improperly packed. If the seedling remains still and the four needles release, packing is suitable.

Task Number 5.1.2/3

Containerized Pine Seedlings The soil medium within which the containerized seedlings were grown in the nursery, called a seedling plug, will remain intact with the root system. The seedling plugs will be kept moist but not water soaked to ensure a healthy seedling.

The Contractor will furnish planting tools appropriate to the plug length being planted.

Containerized seedlings will be planted using a tool that will prepare a planting hole the same shape and size (diameter and depth) of the seedling plug.

The ideal pine seedling should be a balanced, sturdy stemmed, medium-sized seedling seven to thirteen inches in height with a well-developed, fibrous root system contained within the seedling plug.

Do not shake off or remove soil that is contained within the seedling plug.

The seedling plugs will be placed no deeper than one-half inch below the ground line and the top of the plug will be covered with soil at the planting site to prevent the wicking of moisture from the very porous nursery planting medium. Organic materials such as leaves, duff, bark, or chips will not be used as a substitute for mineral soil to cover the plug.

The native soil around the seedling plug should be firmed up. However, be careful not to step on the seedling. Seedlings must be planted so as to withstand being pulled up by the terminal group of needles.

Seedlings will not be culled in the field without agreement with the COR. Criteria shown in Table B below will be used as guidelines for culling, if necessary. In addition, seedlings with forked tops, having evidence of fusiform rust, or other noted undesirable traits will not be planted.

TABLE B

Minimum Quality Measures

Correct planting of containerized seedlings, step by step, is as follows:

STEP 1

At the proper spacing within the row, pick a location and scalp (remove leaves, litter, duff, etc) a suitable planting spot to mineral soil.

STEP 2

Insert the entire usable tip of the planting tool (6 inches) straight down into the soil at the center of the planting spot.

STEP 3

Place the containerized seedling in the hole so that the root collar is located at ground level but not more than ½ inch below the scalped ground level.

STEP 4

After inserting and compressing the tree seedling, fill depression with ½ inch of soil to cover the growing medium at the top of the root plug. This will prevent the root mass from “wicking” or drying out. This step is essential for satisfactory planting. Be careful not to step on the seedling during this operation.

Task Number 5.1.4

Bareroot Hardwood Seedlings (Auger planting) Planting equipment will be a shovel, gasoline-powered auger, tractor-mounted auger, or other digging equipment that will excavate a planting hole equivalent to a 6” diameter auger.

The planting hole will be at least as deep as the length of the seedling taproot or – if of a species without a taproot – of a sufficient depth to avoid bending roots sideways or upward.

Seedlings will be planted upright. Seedlings with a lean of more than 15 degrees off of vertical are unacceptable.

Seedlings will be planted at a depth that leaves the root collar just at the top of the planting hole fill surface and the planting hole will be filled to the same level as the original ground surface.

Soil will be firmly packed around each planted seedling by alternately filling a layer and packing it then adding more soil until all excavated soil has been replaced in the planting hole.

The ideal hardwood seedling is a balanced, sturdy stemmed, medium-sized seedling thirty-six to forty-eight inches in height with a well-developed, fibrous root system with numerous first order lateral (FOLR) roots.

If culling of seedlings is necessary, it will be done by Forest Service personnel unless the COR agrees to the contractor cullings seedlings in advance of it being done. Criteria listed in Table C below are the guidelines for deciding whether or not a seedling is acceptable as planting stock.

TABLE C

Minimum Quality Measures

Seedling roots have been root pruned in the nursery. Roots will not be pruned in the field without agreement with the COR.

When seedlings are being separated, do not beat seedlings against objects to loosen the roots.

Do not shake off or remove moisture retentive root coatings.

Lateral roots are the primary source of water and nutrient uptake - protect and keep them intact.

Seedlings will not be planted so as to result in “U”, “J”, or “L” root configurations or in twisted or balled root systems. Tangled root systems will be gently shaken out or straightened by hand until roots are free.

To avoid possible root damage, do not use planting tools to maneuver roots of seedlings into or inside of the planting hole.

Following is an example of the proper planting procedure for bare root seedlings:

After a proper planting hole is made, insert the seedling until the taproot reaches the bottom of the planting slit, then raise the seedling to the proper planting depth. After the seedling is raised to the proper planting depth and it is in a vertical position without leaning, partially fill the planting hole and pack the soil around the seedling then add more fill, pack and continue until the planting hole is re-filled to the original ground surface level.

TREE PLANTING – EXAMINATION DIARY

Species Planted:________________________

COMPARTMENT______________________

DISTRICT______________________

EXAMINED BY _______________________

CONTRACT NO.________________

Contract Rate $_____________ Per Acre

Seedling Cost $_____________ Per M

Acres to Plant ______________

Spacing__________________________________

Prescribed No. per acre______________________

Minimum No. Seedlings/Acre ________________

PAYMENT DETERMINATION

1. 1. Value of total acreage satisfactorily planted:

(No. of acres)_________x $_________= $__________

2. Less value of seedlings planted in excess of +10% tolerance.

(No. seedlings)________@$_________per M = -$__________

3. Less value of seedlings lost or damaged.

(No. seedlings)________@$_________per M = -$__________

4. Less value of seedlings for replanting unsatisfactory areas of

In excess of +10% tolerance.

(No. seedlings)________@$_________per M = -$__________

5. Total amount (2 + 3 + 4) to be deducted -$____________

6. Payment due Contractor $_______________

Remarks: PH – Planted Height; PD – Planted Deep;

PC – Poor Compaction; L – Root; IS – Improper Spacing;

G – Good; PPP – Poor Planting Procedure

TOTAL

DATE OF EXAMINATION ______________

CONTRACTOR_________________

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Take a systematic sample plot at the rate of one per acre with its smallest dimension equal to the largest spacing distance plus 10%. (Radius 1/100 acre plot – 11’9.3”).

2. Tally all planted seedlings within the plot (Column 2).

Tally all seedlings improperly planted within the plot (Column 3).

3. Total Columns 2 and 3.

4. Compute:

a. Number of seedlings planted per acre:

Total Column 2 _________x 100 = ________( __________minimum, _________maximum)

Total Number Plots ______________.

(NOTE: Minimum = Prescribed Number and Maximum = 10% over minimum)

b. Number of seedlings per acre improperly planted:

Total column 3 ________x 100 = ____________.

Total number plots __________________.

c. Number of seedlings per acre properly planted (a minus b) = ____________ 1/

5. Payment deductions, if any:

If excessive seedlings planted, show computation for deduction:

* ___________ = (Number seedlings planted per acre)

-____________ = (Maximum allowed per acre --- 110% of prescribed number)

____________ = (Difference x ________________ = __________________

(No. Acres Planted) (Total Excess Seedlings)

@ $_____________per M = __________________

(Enter Under No. 2 on Reverse)

* NOTE – If replanting is necessary, add number seedlings per acre used in replanting to number per acre planted originally to arrive at a total number per acre actually planted. Then, if this total exceeds the maximum allowed per acre (110%) of prescribed number, or _____________ per acre, make the deduction as indicated above.

1/ Accept area as satisfactorily planted if at least 90% of the seedlings planted per acre are satisfactorily planted (_________________per acre).

HERBICIDE APPLICATION

Task Number 5.2

Timing of Application Foliar spray treatments will be implemented during the leaf-on period of the year when the leaves of target vegetation are at least three-quarters expanded. Normally, bud-break starts about the first of April in the Georgia Piedmont and the middle of April in the Blue Ridge. Full leaf expansion of most species has occurred by about May 1. Foliage has hardened off and is not taking up water by the first frost, which is usually in October.

Cut-surface, injection, hack and squirt, and frill methods of herbicide application may be completed throughout the year except during freezing temperatures. These methods are normally scheduled from April through October.

Herbicide pricing will be requested at the time the task order is done.

Herbicide Standards Common to All Methods of Application The Contractor will supply herbicide (s), including surfactants, adjuvant, and spray pattern indicators used on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Prices for herbicide will be given at time of task order issuance.

The specific herbicide to be used within a treatment area and application rate will be determined by the Forest Service and specified in task orders.

The Contractor will be required to post “Public Notice” signs at each treatment area. The signs (furnished by Government) should be filled out with specific treatment information and posted (usually stapled to a tree) in an easily seen location near the access point to each treatment area.

The Contractor will be required to mix herbicides for each task order. Water for mixing will be available at District work centers. The Contractor will mix and apply herbicides in accordance with the label directions and Worker Protection Standards (WPS).

The Contractor will be responsible for all costs of damage, cleanup, and decontamination in the event of a herbicide spill. If a spill occurs, every effort will be made to keep herbicide runoff from contaminating water or other sensitive off-site areas. The spill will be cleaned up as quickly as possible. The COR will be notified immediately of any herbicide spill or accident, and other Federal, State and local officials will be notified as appropriate. Herbicide spills will be handled in accordance with the standard procedures for spill cleanup (40 CFR 117).

Weather is monitored and the project suspended if temperature, humidity, or wind becomes unfavorable for correct application as shown in Table D below:

TABLE D

Less Than Wind (at target) Greater Than

Ground

Mechanical

Liquid herbicide formulations will include a compatible dye.

No soil-active herbicide is applied within 30 feet of the drip line of non-target vegetation (such as wildlife den trees, hardwood inclusions, or adjacent stands) that is specifically designated for retention within or next to the treated area.

No herbicide is ground-applied within 100 horizontal feet of lakes, wetlands, perennial or intermittent springs and streams, or any public or domestic water source.

No soil-active herbicide (with a half-life longer than three (3) months) is applied within 25 feet of ephemeral streams.

No herbicide is broadcast within 100 feet of private land or within 300 feet of a private residence.

Herbicide mixing, loading, or cleaning areas in the field are located at least 50 feet from ephemeral streams, and are not located in sensitive areas as identified on the individual treatment area maps, or within 200 feet of private land, open water or wells.

Application equipment, empty herbicide containers, clothes worn during treatment, and skin are not cleaned in open water or wells. Mixing and cleaning water must come from a public water supply and be transported in separate labeled containers.

All empty herbicide containers will be triple rinsed on the application site and allowed to air dry. Wastewater from triple rinsing will be added to herbicide mixture and used on treatment area. Dry containers will be punctured and disposed of in a proper manner by the Contractor.

FOLIAR SPRAY

Task Number 5.2.1 Site Prep or release Apply herbicide solution only to the foliage of the target vegetation.

Leaves must be expanded to at least three-quarters of full leaf-out.

Treated stems will be no more than six (6) feet tall.

Do not apply foliar spray in the rain, when rain appears imminent, or when foliage is still wet from recent rain.

CUT SURFACE TREATMENT

Task Number 5.2.2 Site Prep Task Number 5.2.3 Release Task Number 5.2.4 Midstory The outer one (1) inch of the cut surface of the stump will be sprayed until wet around the entire circumference of the stump.

Stump spray will be done as soon as possible after the tree is cut, but no longer than 20 minutes afterward.

The herbicide solution will be thoroughly agitated before filling the squirt bottle or sprayer.

Trees to be stump sprayed will not be cut during rainfall, and all trees already cut when rainfall begins will be immediately stump sprayed.

Trees will not be cut and stump sprayed when the air temperature is 32 degrees or less.

INJECTION OR HACK AND SQUIRT

Task Number 5.2.5 Site Prep Task Number 5.2.6 Release Task Number 5.2.7 Midstory Cuts will be made so that they encircle the tree stem with gaps no wider than one inch between cuts, except on black gum, sweetgum, dogwood, red maple, mountain laurel and rhododendron, where no gaps are acceptable and injector cuts will be made edge-to-edge. If injector cuts cannot be made at the proper interval on multi-stemmed trees, then an attempt will be made to compensate by injecting below-size stems on the same clump.

Cuts will be horizontally angled, thus forming a pocket to hold the herbicide.

Cuts will pierce the bark and penetrate into the wood.

Herbicide solution will be metered into each cut at a rate that will achieve the application rate required in each task order.

Cuts will be within five (5) feet of the ground and will be at the same level on an individual tree.

The herbicide will be thoroughly agitated before filling the injector, squirt bottle, or sprayer.

Trees will not be injected when the air temperature is 32 degrees or less, or during or within one (1) hour after heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall is that which might dilute or wash out herbicide within injector cuts.

Stems within treatment specifications that are too small for an herbicide treatment using an injection or hack and squirt method of application shall be severed and herbicide applied according to label directions for the cut-surface method of application.

BASAL BARK STREAMLINE

Task Number 5.2.8 Release Task Number 5.2.9 Midstory Best results for this treatment are obtained from approximately six (6) weeks prior to hardwood leaf expansion in the spring until approximately two (2) months after leaf expansion is completed.

A band of herbicide solution that is at least 6 inches in width will be applied to a minimum of one side of stems and clumps. For black gum, both sides of the stems will be treated.

The treatment band will be 12" to 24" above ground level.

The herbicide will be applied with a backpack, pumpup, compression sprayer equipped with a hand gun applicator with a nozzle that provides a directed straight stream. A Spraying Systems Co. TP-0002 nozzle tip or equivalent should provide a sufficient amount of herbicide for this purpose.

Avoid getting the herbicide on non-target trees.

During periods of rainfall and while stems are wet afterwards, the Contractor will cease operations.

HAND TOOLS

Task Number 5.3

Timing of Operations

Except for southern pine beetle (SPB) suppression, treatments may be implemented during any time of the year. Normally, the treatments are scheduled for completion from October through April. Cut and leave for SPB suppression occurs from April through November.

FELLING

Task Number 5.3.1 Release

Task Number 5.3.2 Midstory

Task Number 5.3.3 Pre-commercial thinning

Task Number 5.3.4 Non-commercial thinning

Task Number 5.3.5 Cut & leave SPB suppression Task Number 5.3.6 Site Prep

Cut trees will be completely severed from the stump as close to the ground as is safely practical but not higher than six (6) inches from ground level on the uphill side of the tree unless otherwise specified by the COR.

Severed stems will not lean against or hang in standing trees but will lie within two (2) feet of the ground.

Protect ‘crop trees’ and ‘reserve trees’ from damage by directional felling to the maximum practicable safe extent. Stems to be severed adjacent to streams, private land, and improvements should also be directionally felled to avoid potential damage.

For cut and leave for southern pine beetle suppression, all pine trees are felled with their tops toward the center of the SPB ‘spot’. No pine trees will be felled outside the spot into standing green pine trees nor, if they fall into uncut pine, will they be allowed to remain but will be pulled back into the spot with equipment or bucked up and carried back into the spot. Dead pine vacated by the beetle will not be cut except as a necessary safety measure. Hardwood stems will not be cut unless the Forest Service also wishes site prep of the SPB spot. This will be discussed and agreed jointly between the Contractor and the COR prior to the issuance of the task order.

GIRDLING

Task Number 5.3.7 Release Task Number 5.3.8 Midstory

Task Number 5.3.9 Non-commercial thinning Cuts will be made so that they completely encircle the tree stem leaving no intact bark strips. Bark and wood will be removed in a narrow band to visually verify that no bark remains intact within the girdle.

RAKING

Task Number 5.3.9 Raking leaf litter / slash Remove all leaf and pine needle litter, limbs, pine cones, and other debris within a 10-foot radius from the individual tree by raking. Compacted duff and mineral soil in this zone should be retained. Any slash in the 10-foot radius shall also be removed from the zone.

SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

Current Policy and Standard Practices -- Workers and Working Conditions

Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act: Provides requirements for housing, transportation, and working conditions for migrant and seasonal workers. The Department of Labor is responsible for enforcement. See clause FSAR 4G52.222-702 for the definition of migrant workers and seasonal workers.

Service Contract Act: Provides for minimum wages and other benefits under federal service contracts. The Department of Labor is responsible for enforcement.

Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Responsible for setting health and safety requirements in the multitude of industries. OSHA is responsible for enforcement.

Legal status of workers in the U.S.: The Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Naturalization Service is responsible for enforcing the legal status of workers in the U.S.

Personal Protective Equipment The contractor will train in the safe operation and use of equipment to all workers using such equipment.

Personal protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards or processes encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body.

Defective or damaged personal protective equipment shall not be used.

The contractor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, to each employee who operates a chain saw, chain saw chaps and assure the chaps are worn during saw operations. These chaps must be approved by Underwriters Laboratory or meet Forest Service specification 6170-47. The chaps shall cover the full length of the thigh to the top of the boot on each leg.

The contractor shall assure that each employee wears foot protection that provides adequate traction and ankle support. Employees operating chain saws shall wear foot protection that is constructed with cut-resistant material which will protect the employee against contact with a running chain saw.

The contractor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure that each employee who works in an area where there is potential for head injury from falling objects or flying objects wears a hard hat that meets the minimum requirements of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z89.1-1997.

The contractor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, eye protection where there is potential for eye injury due to flying objects. This eye protection must meet the minimum requirements of ANSI standard Z87.1-2003.

The contractor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, hearing protection where there is a potential for hearing loss due to high intensity noise e.g., chain saw operation.

Camping Provisions For Labor Intensive Contracts The following provisions apply to all camping on National Forest lands during performance of this contract:

These provisions are in addition to those contained in, or provided for, in the clause titled “Use of Premises”, in this contract.

Every structure used as shelter shall provide protection from the elements. Where heat adequate for weather conditions is not provided, other arrangements should be made to protect workers from the cold. Firewood may be cut only after obtaining a District Firewood Permit.

The campsite will not encroach beyond the boundaries designated by the Forest Service. The campsite shall be located so as to minimize impacts on streams, lakes, and other bodies of water. No camping shall be permitted within developed recreation sites or along primary recreation roads.

The campsite shall have a clean appearance at…