Scope of Work.pdf

WFM-0900-1-HFR-687-0910-1 – Hazardous fuels treatment

Hiawatha National Forest Solicitation No: AG-4419-S-09-0012

SCOPE OF WORK

The intent of this solicitation and any resulting contract is to secure services for vegetation cutting in specified units on the Forest. The specified work is to be done utilizing suitable equipment that will successfully meet the goals of the vegetation cutting prescriptions. Jack pine with mixed grasses and forbs are the primary vegetation types on the units. Vegetation cutting is needed to achieve objectives for reducing wildland fuel load, creating wildlife habitat and achieving other resource objectives. Quotes will be accepted until Close of Business on July 25, 2009. All work is to be completed by September 15, 2010.

This request for quotation (RFQ) requires the contractor to provide equipment and operator(s) that will be appropriate to complete the required contract work considering type and size of equipment. You must provide the information requested in the attached contractor questionnaire.

The Contractor shall progressively accomplish the work at a rate that will result in completion of the contract within the time specified. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies and fuel. Insurance in applicable coverage is required to perform work on Forest Service property.

The Government reserves the right to award all or parts or none of the acreage specified within the unit. Services are to be accomplished in accordance with the specifications herein.

Evaluation of Quotations and Basis of Award The award will be made on a best value basis considering factors such as past performance, experience, capability, proposed work schedule, price and to the Government.

Location and Description The unit is located on the west side of the Hiawatha National Forest, east of Co. Rd. 513 and south of US-2 in Delta County, Michigan. The unit is more specifically located in Township 40N, Range 21W, Sections 5, 6, and 8, and Township 41N, Range 21W, Sections 33 and 34. The descriptions of current conditions and applicable maps for the unit are included on pages 8-10.

The cover map shows the approximate location on the west zone of the Hiawatha National Forest. The size of this unit (187 acres) was determined by use of GPS.

The 187-acre unit is vegetated in dense jack pine with blueberry, bracken fern, sweet fern and other herbaceous plants in the ground cover. The jack pine is even-aged as a result of being regenerated by a wildland fire in July, 1988. Trees to be cut are generally 10-15 feet tall and less than 5 inches in diameter. There may be a relative few other trees species present. Trees that are not to be cut will be specified in the individual unit description on page 8. Terrain is generally flat. There are furrows of varying depth present in the unit.

Quoters are urged to inspect the work areas prior to submission of a proposal. It is impossible to fully describe the areas, work problems, and other conditions that may be factors in submitting a quote. Only by physical inspection can the prospective quoters be assured of the existing conditions.

Prework Meeting Prior to starting work, the COR will coordinate a pre-work meeting with the Contractor identifying which sites to treat first, coordination, what equipment will be used, etc. At this meeting, the Contractor will supply 3 copies each of the following submittals printed on Contractor’s company letterhead. Work will not start until all submittals are received and approved. The Contractor will not be paid for work performed before these submittals have been provided and are approved.

1. Safety plan including but not limited to emergency numbers (fire, hospital, 911, point of contacts for workers, company phone number, etc.).

2. All pertinent phone/page/cell numbers for workers on project, superintendents, foremen, office, etc.

3. Schedule of work (how many workers, equipment, hours working per day, etc.)

4. Sample of Contractor’s Daily Log which will be used to daily report personnel on job, hours worked, equipment used, problems occurred, quantity of work accomplished, etc.

The Government will provide a sample form that could be used if the Contractor so chooses.

Specifications for Vegetation Cutting Work The prescription calls for use of mechanized equipment, such as a brushhog or other vegetation cutter. Other types of contractor-owned equipment will be considered if the prescription can be met successfully.

Vegetation Cutting: The objective is to cut woody and herbaceous vegetation to within 12 inches of ground, resulting in pieces generally less than 4 feet in length. Vegetation that is cut should come to rest within 24 inches of the ground. All cut vegetation will be left on site.

For the specified unit:

• The units are primarily vegetated in jack pine less than 15 feet in height. However, there may be other species of trees present. Generally, other tree species approximately the same height or less than the jack pine should be cut and treated the same as the jack pine. Larger trees (there are few of these in the unit) are to be retained.

• Within the unit to be cut, 12 scattered patches of approximately 60 feet wide by 300 feet long (0.4 acres each) will be left in the uncut condition. These islands of trees are not identified on the maps. They will be flagged by Forest Service personnel so as to be readily identifiable to the contractor. They are being retained as wildlife habitat within the project area.

• Red pine, maple, oak and other species taller than the jack pine should not be cut (there are few of these trees in the unit, since it is almost entirely even aged jack pine resulting from a wildland fire in 1988). Also, leave all snags standing (there are few snags in this stand).

• The Contracting Officer may order the Contractor in writing to suspend delay or interrupt all any part of the work of this contract for the period of time that the Contracting Officer determines the appropriate for the convenience of the Government.

Contractor-owned equipment:

Equipment must be sufficient to perform adequate vegetation cutting requirements, as described under “Specifications for Vegetation Cutting Work”. All equipment shall be the proper type and size to perform the tasks indicated. Equipment shall be in good mechanical condition to a standard that will assure maximum productivity. Necessary maintenance and repairs shall be made with the least possible delay to the work program and will be at the contractor’s expense.

Tractors and other mechanized equipment must be kept free of brush and oil spills to minimize fire danger.

Site Access No trucks will be allowed on closed roads unless approved by the COR or inspector. A closed road is any road blocked with an earthen mound or gate. If a road block is removed, it must be put back after work on site is completed and before moving to the next site. Road closure gates used for access will be kept closed at all times.

Open roads are to be kept open and free of any debris that may occur as a result of the work.

Damage to roads that may occur during loading/unloading of equipment or crossing to gain access to another area will be returned to original condition.

Safety All work will be done in a safe manner, minimizing risk to workers and users of National Forest System lands.

Equipment Cleaning In order to prevent the spread of non-native invasive weeds, all off-road equipment (including tractors, cutters, brushhogs, trucks, personal vehicles, etc.) must be cleaned prior to moving on or off of the project area. Equipment shall be cleaned using a stiff, dry brush or broom, with the goal of removing all seeds, soil, vegetative matter, and other debris that could contain or hold seeds.

Prior to moving any/all off-road equipment subject to the cleaning requirements set forth above, Contractor shall advise Forest Service of its cleaning measures and make the equipment available for inspection. Equipment shall be considered clean when a visual inspection does not disclose seeds, soil, vegetative matter, and other debris that could contain or hold seeds.

Sanitation and Servicing Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent pollution of air, soil, and water by

Contractor’s Operations. In the event that Contractor’s Operations or servicing of equipment result in pollution to soil or water, Contractor shall conduct cleanup and restoration of the polluted site to the satisfaction of Forest Service. Contractor shall maintain all equipment operating on site in good repair and free of abnormal leakage of lubricants, fuel, coolants, and hydraulic fluid.

Contractor shall not service tractors, trucks, or other equipment on National Forest lands where servicing is likely to result in pollution to soil or water. Contractor shall furnish oil-absorbing mats for use under all stationary equipment or equipment being serviced to prevent leaking or spilled petroleum-based products from contaminating soil and water resources. Contractor shall remove from National Forest lands all contaminated soil, vegetation, debris, vehicle oil filters (drained of free-flowing oil), batteries, oily rags, and waste oil resulting from use, servicing, repair, of equipment, accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This work is included in the price.

Prevention of Oil Spills If Contractor maintains storage facilities for oil or oil products on site, Contractor shall take appropriate preventive measures to ensure that any spill of such oil or oil products does not enter any stream or other waters of the United States or any of the individual States. If the total oil or oil products storage exceeds 1,320 gallons in containers of 55 gallons or greater, Contractor shall prepare a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan. Such plan shall meet applicable

EPA requirements (40 CFR 112), including certification by a registered professional engineer.

Contractor shall notify Contracting Officer and appropriate agencies of all reportable (40 CFR

110) spills of oil or oil products on or in the vicinity of Project Area that are caused by Contractor’s employees agents, contractors, Subcontractors, or their employees or agents directly or indirectly, as a result of Contractor’s Operations. Contractor will take whatever initial action may be safely accomplished to contain all spills.

Hazardous Substances Contractor shall notify the National Response Center and Contracting Officer of all releases of reportable quantities of hazardous substances on or in the vicinity of Project Area that are caused by Contractor’s employees, agents, contractors, Subcontractors, or their employees or agents, directly or indirectly, as a result of Contractor’s Operations, in accordance with 40 CFR 302.

Site Cleanup Collect and properly dispose of all waste generated by the Contractor’s operation including lunch bags, bottles and cans, paper, fuel, equipment waste, etc. All waste shall be removed from National Forest System lands and disposed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Fire Prevention During fire season, contractor shall comply with the following fire regulations: 1) A shovel, axe or Pulaski, 10-quart pail which is full of water for immediate use, and fire extinguisher is required; 2) All fuel will be stored in UL approved flammable storage containers and be located at least 50 feet from any open flame or other source of ignition; 3) Contractor shall, both independently and in cooperation w/ the Forest Service, take all reasonable and practicable action to prevent and/or initially suppress fires resulting from Contractor’s operations and/or to suppress any forest fire in the work area; 4) Forest Service may require the necessary shutting down of equipment under emergency fire conditions.

Operative Period All work including clean up must be completed before September 15, 2010.

Inspection and Acceptance The Contractor is responsible for quality control on the work performed. The Contractor shall give the COR weekly notification of progress. Inspection may be made by the COR at anytime. The contractor will take prompt corrective action for any deficiencies or deviations that occur. Work to correct unacceptable areas will be done at the Contractor’s expense.

Measurement and payment Amount of Partial Payments will be determined by the percentage of work completed and accepted by the Forest Service. Partial and Final payments may be delayed if contractor has not completed the required American Recovery and Reinvestment Act reporting. The contractor can not request more than one partial payment per calendar month.