1449 Sec C_E.pdf

AAP - WFM-0900-6-HFR-711-0909-01

Timber Stand Improvement 6500 Acres

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/

STATEMENT OF WORK

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

C.1 - SCOPE OF WORK

The services covered in this contract are for the furnishing of all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies and incidentals, except as described as Government Furnished Property (Section F); and performing all work necessary to accomplish a wide variety of silvicultural work including but not limited to: tree planting, animal browse control, cone collection and TSI (release, pruning and precommercial thinning) in compliance with the terms, specifications, conditions and provisions of this contract.

C.2 - DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

1. All sites are located within Cook, Lake or St. Louis counties and within the boundaries of the Superior National Forest.

2. Maps – Vicinity, East and West zone maps are available at:

ftp://ftp2.fs.fed.us/incoming/r9gis/superior/AAP%20-%20WFM-0900-6-HFR-711-0909- 01%20arra%20tsi%20docs/

3. Access – See project work maps for detailed description of access. Overall access would be described as good to fair. An actual visit to the sites prior to bidding is encouraged to view the access to the site. Units showing trails for access require ATV or walking access. Travel by ATV must be approved by COR.

4. General Description of the Work Area(s)

a) All units are to be cut between the months of June and September.

Most units have cutting unit boundary lines from previous timber sales. Others would be marked by ribbon line. All acres are from traversed/GPS'd acreages.

b) Preferred species (to retain) are red pine, white pine, tamarack, white spruce, paper birch and northern white cedar. These trees will always be protected and released. They can be either natural or planted. No oak will be cut.

5. Unit Descriptions: See - Schedule of items; Unit related work , such as desired species for release, will be provided by District personnel at a later date.

C.3 - CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, tools, equipment, transportation, supervision and supplies necessary to perform silvicultural work. No materials or labor will be furnished by the Government unless specifically identified in the “Government – Furnished Property Clause.”

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

C.4 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Animal Browse Control (Mesh tubes and/or cones)

A. Seedling protection tubes and/or cones will be installed around those trees so designated on the task order.

B. When installing seedling protection tubes/cones, care will be taken so that the main bud is not damaged and branches are in as near a normal position as is possible. If branches need to be bunched in order to fit in the tube, their branches should point upward rather than downward.

C. Seedling protection tubes will be secured in place by weaving either one or two bamboo stakes, as determined in the task order, through the tube and firmly pushing the stake(s) six (6) inches to twelve (12) inches into the ground. The bamboo stakes are then secured to the mesh using plastic ties.

If the seedling protection utilizes the “cone” type, the wires of the cone will be pushed all the way into the soil. When properly installed, the bottom of the tube/cone is in direct contact with the ground.

Any obstructions which prevent the tube from coming within contact of the ground will be removed.

Quality Standard – Browse protection materials properly installed with trees free to grow in natural configuration. Seedling buds are not damaged.

Monitoring method – Visual observation; inspections.

C.5 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Timber Stand Improvement

Individual Tree Release A. The objective of release is to obtain a stand of desired species that are free to grow two or more years after planting. The desired species (reserve trees) to be retained and release radius for each unit are listed in each task order; COR will also discuss in the field prior to start of work. To achieve this objective all woody vegetation (trees and shrubs or if directed by the COR), less than 5.0 inches dbh and within a range of a 6-10 foot radius from the base of the reserve tree, shall be cut.

B. In some cases, as directed by the COR, other species of interest will be retained but will not require release.

C. If directed by the COR, aspen or birch will be retained in the desired tree spacing if there is no otherwise suitable reserve tree available. Aspen, birch, alder, pin cherry, chokecherry, juneberry and willow may be left untreated where they are not competing with desired trees and shrubs.

D. No oak and other species so designated as reserve trees by the COR will be cut.

E. For all items, if cut trees are four (4) inches diameter breast height (dbh) or larger and cutting/falling will harm desirable species, they will be instead girdled. Two separate complete rings, each being one-half to one inch deep, will be made around each tree (ends of the rings must touch). The recommended height for girdling is 3-4 feet above ground level.

F. Cut all trees and brush by using either brush saws, chainsaws or hand tools. Past experience has shown heavy duty brush saws to be the most effective tool to use in young plantations. Irregardless of the method/tools employed to accomplish the task, the Contractor shall follow all OSHA safety requirements.

G. Stump height – Trees will be cut below the lowest branch but not higher than 8 (eight) inches above ground level.

H. Cut trees and brush shall not be left on top of or within trees to be retained.

I. Cut trees and brush are to be lopped and scattered so that branches are no higher than 36 inches above ground level.

J. No slash or debris will be left on or across any road or travel way.

C.6 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Timber Stand Improvement

Area Release/Release with Leave Trees A. The objective of area release is to obtain a stand of desired species that are free to grow four or more years after release. See section C.2(4)(b) and site-specific descriptions of work areas for species to be retained/cut. The treatment is “Area Release”; as such, all hardwood species (except for oak) competeting with a desired conifer species, within unit boundaries will be cut. (See B. below).

B. In some cases, as directed by the task order, other tree species of interest will be left, these are usually desired conifer tree species that naturally established themselves and need release from competition. This treatment may involve areas with planted trees or not. It may involve a naturally regenerated area that needs asssitance from competition Depends on the task order.

C. See Items C, D, E, F, G H, I and J under Individual Tree Release (above).

C.7 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Pruning

Minimum size of white pines to be pruned will be designated in the task order.

Pruning consists of the following:

A. All branches on the bottom one-third to one-half of the total height of each white pine tree will be pruned. No more than one-half of the live crown will be removed. The branches being pruned should not be cut flush with the main stem of the tree, but just outside of the branch collar (See Exhibit 1).

B. Any white pine tree that shows evidence of “white pine weevil” damage in the terminal bud and/or terminal stem should receive corrective pruning in the following manner: The damaged terminal stem should be cut off at the uppermost whorl of branches. Also, remove all but one (1) of the terminal branches leaving the one with the best vigor and shape, etc. All of the removed damaged tree parts will be collected and deposited outside of the plantation area in an area designated by the COR.

C. Care must be taken so as not to damage the bark on the pruned trees, while pruning. If this occurs through negligence, an amount of $5.00 per damaged tree will be assessed against the Contractor.

C.8 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Precommercial Thinning

A. Precommercial thinning to spacing as directed by task order may be conducted in conjunction with release and pruning (see release and pruning specifications). The priority for trees to be left standing will be those in the best health and vigor.

B. Spacing may vary by 25% in order to meet the planted tree preference or to leave phenotypically superior trees. Spacing will generally range from 5 to 8 feet.

C. Maximum cut diameter is 5.9” dbh. Only desirable species under 6.0” dbh will be used for spacing. Desirable trees over 10 inches dbh will be treated as ghost trees for spacing purposes.

D. Stump heights and slash requirements – see items D, E, F and G under Release specifications.

Quality Standard – 90%+ quality.

Monitoring method – Visual observation; inspections

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

{For this solicitation, there are NO clauses in this Section}

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address: www.arnet.gov/far/.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR CHAPTER 1) CLAUSES

52.246-4 Inspection of Services—Fixed-Price (AUG 1996)

E.1 – INSPECTION PROCEDURE

General - The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during and at the completion of each silviculture service unit and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

The Government will conduct inspections to insure compliance and quality control by the Contractor.

Inspections will be conducted so as to sample representative conditions within each unit. COR’s may increase or decrease sampling frequency as needed.

Each TSI unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Units will not be averaged with other units for acceptance and payment unless approved by COR.

A. TSI (RELEASE, PRUNING, PRECOMMERCIAL THINNING)

The Contractor or his/her representative is encouraged to observe the inspections and will receive inspection summaries upon request. A series of plots, (1/50th acre or larger) will be distributed over the entire unit sufficient to yield a suggested minimum of one (1) percent sample of each unit’s work and quality. Plot centers will be numbered and marked with flagging. A minimum of five plots will be established on each unit; units will not be combined for quality determination.

Inspections will not occur until all activities, including slash treatment, are complete.

The following actions will be considered as being in non-compliance:

1) Individual Tree Release Specifications

a) Specified trees and shrubs not cut that are within the specified distance of a crop tree.

b) Slash removal not complete.

c) Stumps too high.

d) Cut trees that are interfering with crop trees.

e) Cutting of reserve or crop trees.

2) Area Release Specifications

a) Specified trees and shrubs not cut.

b) Slash removal not complete.

http://www.arnet.gov/far/

c) Stumps too high.

d) Cut trees that are interfering with crop trees

e) Cutting of reserve or crop trees.

3) Precommercial Thinning Specifications

a) Improper spacing of crop trees

b) Improper selection of crop trees

c) Slash removal not complete.

d) Stumps too high.

e) Cutting of reserve or crop trees

4) Pathological Pruning

a) Pruning above or below 1/3 of total height

b) Improper pruning techniques (includes trees addressed under Pruning (2) (C).

c) Improper spacing of pruned trees

d) Corrective pruning not done, or not done correctly on forked and dead top trees.

A. Inspection Plots for Individual Tree Release, Area Tree Release, and Precommercial

Thinning

a) Each plot will be examined to record findings on the items listed below:

1. Number of stems that should have been cut but were not; or were improperly cut (missed stems)

2. Number of crop trees or reserve trees that were cut, but should not have been cut (leave trees cut)

3. Number of stems that should have been cut

b) The following formula will be used to calculate the quality of the work for all tree felling projects:

Quality % = (1 - (no. of missed stems + no of leave trees cut)) * 100

no. of stems that should have been cut

B. Inspection Plots for Pathological Pruning.

a) Each plot will be examined to record findings on the items listed below:

1. Number of trees that should have been pruned but were not (missed trees)

2. Number of improperly pruned or damaged trees (improperly pruned trees).

3. Number of trees that should have been pruned

b) The following formula will be used to calculate the quality of the work for pathological pruning:

Quality % = (1 - (no. of missed trees + no. of improperly pruned trees)) * 100

no. of trees that should have been pruned

E.2 - Re-work and Reinspection after Re-work

Reinspection requests by the Contractor will be made in writing. The same inspection procedure will be followed on replanted areas, however, the inspection grid will be shifted so that the new plot lines and inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots. If re-examination indicates a variance of less than five percent from the first examination, the Contractor shall pay the cost of the re-examination, payment will be based on the results of the re-examination, the contractor's right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default. If re-examination indicates a variance of greater than five percent from the first examination, the Government will bear the cost of the re-examination and payment will be made based on the results of the re-examination.

E.3 - Rework

The Government will permit the Contractor to rework an area only if a) in the case of planting, sufficient planting stock is available; and b) existing deficiencies can be corrected.

Any rework, and subsequent inspection, will be at the Contractor’s expense. Expenses may include wages of the COR and inspector(s), costs of vehicles involved and the cost of materials such as planting stock.

E.4 - Remeasurement

Acreages shown in the task order may be determined by dot grid/aerial photos, GPS (Global Positioning System) or closed traverse.

Contractor may, at any time after award, request remeasurement of any treatment area. The request must be made in writing. Remeasurement will be made by a closed traverse of the unit. If remeasurement indicates a variance of 5% or less, the Contractor shall pay for the actual cost of the remeasurement and no adjustment will be made in acreage or contract price. If remeasurement indicates a variance greater than 5%, payment will be based on the remeasured acreage and the Government will pay for the remeasurement. No increase in unit price will be allowed for the sub-item based solely on increased acreage.