Section_C_revised_9252017_-_Duncan_Ridge_Trail_Re-Route.pdf

Duncan Ridge Trail Re-Routes - Rhodes Mountain to Fish Gap

1. Scope of Contract

The Contractor(s) shall furnish all labor, supervision, equipment and materials to perform all operations necessary to accomplish the work in accordance with the Solicitation, Provisions, Contract Clauses, and Statement of Work.

The intent of this project is to re-route up-to 4.1 miles of the Duncan Ridge Trail from Rhodes

Mountain to Fish Gap with sustainable grades and water management. The contract will include a base bid item of approximately 1.3 miles of new trail with three optional bid items totaling an additional 2.8 miles of new trail. The contractor is to provide layout, planning, survey, any required permits, and construction for non-motorized primitive hiking trails that are low maintenance, sustainable, and that meet the needs of the user at a reasonable price. The contractor will also close and rehabilitate part of the existing trail to be unusable by trail visitors.

The base bid section of trail extends 1.3 miles west from Sarvis Gap to Gregory Gap. Option 1 extends 0.54 miles west from Gregory Gap to Rhodes Mountain Gap. Option 2 extends 1.14 miles southwest from Rhodes Mountain Gap to intersect the Benton Mackaye Trail. Option 3 extends 1.1 miles west from Fish Gap to Sarvis Gap. The base bid item and all three options take the trail off the fall line and instead follow the contour of the land.

The trail centerline has been mapped and flagged on the ground. The contractor will use this centerline to layout and construct the new routes within a twenty-five foot corridor with trail maintenance equipment. The contractor shall also close poorly located, undersigned, and existing trails in areas that are not incorporated into the new trail network proposal. Under the base bid item, approximately 1.3 miles of existing trails will need to be decommissioned and rehabilitated, with three optional items totaling an additional 2.1 miles of trail decommission and rehabilitation.

The Duncan Ridge Trail is managed as a “Class 2 Hiking Trail” as found in FS 2309.18, section

23.11 Exhibit 01 (Attached to this solicitation). This document describes specific design and construction criteria required to meet this management goal.

2. Project Location

The work is to be performed on the Duncan Ridge Trail from Rhodes Mountain to Fish Gap. To locate the project site from Blairsville, GA head west on US 76, and turn left onto Blue Ridge

Highway. Travel 2.7 miles to a left turn onto Mulkey Gap Road and continue for approximately 8 miles. The road turns to gravel after about 2 miles and becomes FS 4. Turn right onto FS 88, and travel approximately 1.8 miles to the end of the road at Fish Gap.

3. Project Timeline

Estimated Start Date – November 13, 2017

Contract Duration - Approximately 404 days

Completion Date - December 21, 2018

Estimated Project Timeline

Contract Award October 27, 2017

Start Date November 13, 2017

Design Complete and Approved March 19, 2018

Begin Construction March 21, 2018

Completion Date December 21, 2018

A pre-bid tour is scheduled for October 3, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the project site (Fish

Gap). This date and time may change, contact the COR for any questions.

4. Specifications

Refer to Standard Specifications for Construction of Trails and Trail Bridges on Forest

Service Projects. The design plan will tie directly to these specifications and drawings. The manual can be found at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trail-management/trailplans/index.shtml

The contractor must follow these steps established for the project in order to ensure timely Forest

Service participation at key junctures in the life of the project.

a. Special Project Specifications

Pay Item : LP - Trail Layout and Planning

The project will require layout and survey of approximately 1.3 miles of “Class 2 Hiking trail, non-wilderness,” with 3 options totaling an additional 2.8 miles. The trail and the options have been mapped and the centerline has been flagged on the ground. The location of this centerline has been approved through the NEPA process and is designed to keep the trail consistent with current management direction. The contractor is required to finalize the layout of the trail to be within 50 feet (25 feet each way from centerline) of the flagged centerline. In addition to these requirements, the contractor is required to construct trails with a maximum tread width of 18 inches.

The project also requires the closure of approximately 1.3 miles of existing trail and includes the option of up to another 2.1 total miles of trail closure. The location of this trail has been mapped.

The contractor will be required to close and rehabilitate this trail. Closure will include using boulders, trees, or other materials along the trail that can be used to block and / or “naturalize the trail. This shall be done for a minimum distance of 100 feet on both ends of the closed trail and to the satisfaction of the contracting officer. Rehabilitation of the trail will include stabilizing soils and addressing overland water flow so that erosion and sedimentation are minimized. Details on how this will be accomplished shall be made a part of the trail planning and layout process. Trail obliteration layout and planning are included in this pay item.

http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trail-management/trailplans/index.shtml

Trail planning may be conducted concurrently with the trail layout or immediately after. This plan will emphasize the design and location of structures needed for control of overland water flow along the trail to minimize loss through erosion and sediment buildup. This can include, but is not limited to, structures such as drainage dips, water bars, climbing turns, and grade reversals.

Submittal of and approval of trail layout and plan on the base bid item is required at 20 percent

(0.25 miles), 50 percent (0.65 miles), and 100 Percent (1.3 miles) of new trail are completed and when 20 percent (0.25 miles) and 100 percent (1.3 miles) of closed and rehabilitated trail is completed. Upon final approval by the Forest Service, the contractor will submit a final list of stations, work-lists, and cross-reference the appropriate drawings and specifications from this website: https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trail-management/trailplans/index.shtml.

Submittal of and approval of trail layout and plan of new trail on option 1 is required at 20 percent (0.11 miles), 50 percent (0.27 miles), and 100 Percent (0.54 miles) are completed and when 20 percent (0.11 miles) and 100 percent (0.54 miles) of layout and plans for closed and rehabilitated trail is completed.

Submittal of and approval of trail layout and plan of new trail on option 2 is required at 20 percent (0.23 miles), 50 percent (0.57 miles), and 100 Percent (1.14 miles) are completed and when 20 percent (0.1 miles) and 100 percent (0.45 miles) of layout and plans for closed and

Submittal of and approval of trail layout and plan of new trail on option 3 is required at 20 percent (0.22 miles), 50 percent (0.55 miles), and 100 Percent (1.1 miles) are completed and when 20 percent (0.22 miles) and 100 percent (1.1 miles) of layout and plans for closed and

The Forest Service will provide the final approval of the layout and planning. In the event that the contractor determines that the preliminary centerline is not suitable for trail layout because of sustainability or safety issues, the contractor will contact the Forest Service with a proposed relocation. The Forest Service retains final approval of the relocation. Relocation outside the 25 foot centerline will require further NEPA coordination by the Forest Service prior to the construction stage of the contract.

The product of the trail layout and planning step will be a precisely marked (with flagging or similar method) trail on the ground that has the location of features identified with survey “white cans” or wooden stakes. A trail log and a map indicating where features are and a description of the feature will also be produced. This will be approved by the COR and inspector prior to the contractor moving on to step 2.

Pay Item: SRV - Trail Survey

Once layout and planning for trail re-route and obliterations have, occurred then a professional survey for re-routes and of the trail obliteration by an appropriately qualified individual(s) will be conducted by the contractor. This survey will result in an engineer approved site plan for the trail and features. It will show Best Management Practices (BMP’s) and soil and erosion control https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trail-management/trailplans/index.shtml features to be used during and after construction. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that survey is of detail and quality to satisfy permitting requirements.

The product of this step will be a site plan that can be used to acquire necessary permits, produce an Erosion Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan and produce Plans/Drawings meeting contract requirements.

Pay Item: PDWG - Project Drawings and Plans

Upon final approval of the preliminary site plan and layout by the Forest Service the contractor will produce and submit a final set of project plans for Forest Service approval.

Project Plans and Drawings shall include the following at a minimum:

1. Title Page/ Vicinity Map

2. Site Plans

3. Summary of Quantities

4. Typical Sections and Details

5. Technical Details and Shop Drawing

6. Feature/Structure Schedules (Station Specific)

7. Description of work for trail construction, obliteration, and restoration

8. Trail Centerline Plan and Profile Views

9. Trail Cross Sections

10. Erosion, Sedimentation, and Pollution Control Plan (ESPC)

The Standard Trail Plans are provided in United States customary units and are available at the link below as PDF and as AutoCAD files.

https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trail-management/trailplans/index.shtml.

Pay Item: PM - Permits

The contractor will be responsible for acquiring the required permits to complete this project. The following permits may be required:

● Land Disturbance Permits under the administration and jurisdiction of Union County

● Stream Buffer Variance for all stream crossings and work to occur within 50 feet of cold water trout streams under the administration and jurisdiction of the Georgia

Environmental Protection Division (EPD) in Atlanta.

● National Pollution Discharge Elimination System – Storm Water (NPDES) permit, under the jurisdiction of the Georgia EPD.

● Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of

Engineers

The Georgia Maunal for Erosion and Sediment Control (2014) can be found at http://gaswcc.georgia.gov/2016-edition-manual-erosion-and-sediment-control

In order to secure these permits the contractor will prepare and submit their project plan, including an Erosion and Sediment (E&S) Control Plan to the county and to Georgia EPD as required. The E&S Plan must be approved by the Forest Service prior to the start of construction.

https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trail-management/trailplans/index.shtml http://gaswcc.georgia.gov/2016-edition-manual-erosion-and-sediment-control

The time frames involved in submitting applications, plans, and supporting documents for review and approval by the administering agency varies by project, but is estimated to take 90 days. No work shall begin until the required permits are obtained and copies are provided by the Forest

Service.

Pay Item: 91101: Trail Construction and Methods

Construction work will be done in accordance with the detailed schedule of items, plans, specifications, and progress schedule developed by the contractor and approved by the Forest

Service.

Completed work on the new trail construction on the base bid item will be inspected by the Forest Service after work has been completed at 20 percent (0.25 miles), 50 Percent

(0.65 miles), and 100 Percent (1.3 miles) to ensure compliance with specifications.

Completed work on the new trail construction on option 1 will be inspected by the Forest

Service after work has been completed at 20 percent (0.13 miles), 50 Percent (0.27 miles), and 100 Percent (0.54 miles) to ensure compliance with specifications.

Completed work on the new trail construction on option 2 will be inspected by the Forest

Service after work has been completed at 20 percent (0.23 miles), 50 Percent (0.57 miles), and 100 Percent (1.14 miles) to ensure compliance with specifications.

Completed work on the new trail construction on option 3 will be inspected by the Forest

Service after work has been completed at 20 percent (0.22 miles), 50 Percent (0.55 miles), and 100 Percent (1.1 miles) to ensure compliance with specifications.

All equipment proposed to be used for performance for the work shall be of the size, type, and in such condition to properly pursue the requirements of this contract. Construction methods used to complete this contract should be consistent with methods used for non-motorized trail construction.

Pay Item 91116: Trail Closure and Obliteration

Trail closures will be done in accordance with the detailed schedule of items, plans, specifications as well as a progress schedule developed by the contractor and approved by the Forest Service.

Completed work on trail closures will be inspected by the Forest Service on the base bid item after 20 percent (0.26 miles) and after 100 percent (1.3 miles) of closed and

Completed work on trail closures will be inspected by the Forest Service on option 1 after 20 percent (0.26 miles) and after 100 percent (1.3 miles) of closed and rehabilitated trail is completed.

Completed work on trail closures will be inspected by the Forest Service on option 2 after 20 percent (0.23 miles) and after 100 percent (1.14 miles) of closed and rehabilitated

Completed work on trail closures will be inspected by the Forest Service on option 3 after 20 percent (0.22 miles) and after 100 percent (1.1 miles) of closed and rehabilitated

5. Additional General Information

The contractor’s proposed equipment shall be made available to the Contracting Officer for inspection prior to the award of the contract if requested by the Contracting officer. If at any time during the course of the contract any equipment is deemed unsatisfactory, the Contracting Officer may order removal and may require a satisfactory replacement at the Contractor’s expense.

Any movement or transportation of equipment to or from the work areas required to pursue the work, repair or replace, or for the contractor’s convenience shall be at the contractor’s expense.

Appendix A: Proposed Project Progression

Step Product

1: Layout and Planning 1) Precise location of trail marked on the ground with flagging or similar method

2) Trail features and structures marked on the ground

3) Trail log identifying trail features

4) GPS map showing trail locations and features

5) Approval by the Forest Service on the base bid item at 0.25, 0.65, and 1.3 miles of new trail, and at 0.25 and 1.3 miles of closed and rehabilitated trail

2: Survey 1) Site plans that are of detail and quality so that they can be used to acquire any needed permits, produce an Erosion

Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan and produce Plans/Drawings meeting contract requirements.

3: Permits 1) Contractor acquires any and all necessary permits to proceed with trail construction and closures.

4: Trail Construction 1) Trail construction is completed and result is a trail built with a high degree of finish to the specifications that were agreed upon.

2) Inspections completed at milestones mentioned above must meet contract specifications and requirements and be approved by the Forest Service prior to beginning the next section of trail

5: Trail Closure 1) All trail closures are completed and the result is closed, obliterated, and rehabilitated trails to the specifications that were agreed upon

Appendix B – Design Parameters for Trail Class 2 Hiker / Pedestrian Trail (Non-Wilderness)