Scope.doc

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Wayne National Forest, Fireline Construction and Maintenance

Athens Ranger District- Zone 1

Project Number: WFM-0900-9-HFR-683-0914-03

Requisition Number: 302598

Ironton Ranger District- Zone 2 Project Number: WFM-0900-9-HFR-683-0914-04

Requisition Number: 302613

STATEMENT OF WORK

PURPOSE AND NEED

Prescribed Burning reduces the potential for severe wildfires, which negatively impact the forest ecosystem, damage resources, and increase safety risks. Wayne National Forest reduces hazardous fuels and promotes forest health through prescribed burning and mechanical fuel reduction.

Specifically, this project will include the construction and maintenance of firelines, which are essential for prescribed burning and suppression operations.

ADMINISTRATION

This contract will be administered by the Contracting Officer (CO). The CO will designate a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to insure compliance with the specifications and provisions of the contract. The COR may designate a FS Inspector to the project.

Prior to commencement of work, the CO or COR will arrange a meeting with the Contractor to discuss the contract terms and work performance requirements. A work progress schedule will be developed at this meeting.

Before work begins, preferably at the pre-work conference, the Contractor shall designate in writing a person to act in the contractor’s absence. The Contractor or the designated representative shall be on the job whenever work is in progress.

In the absence of the Contractor, the authorized representative will take action as required to keep the job in progress under the terms of the contract. The presence of the Contractor’s representative on the job will not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for satisfactory performance.

Equipment Furnished by Operator

The Contractor will supply all labor, equipment, and incidentals as needed.

The government is not liable for loss, damage, or destruction of equipment furnished under this contract, except for such loss, damage, or destruction resulting from the negligent or wrongful act(s) of government employee(s) while acting within the scope of their employment. All claims arising under this clause will be submitted to the Contracting Officer.

Government Furnished Property

Fireline location maps will be provided to the Contractor. Specific fireline location information will be available by contacting the Contracting Officer Representative.

Repair, Maintenance, supplies and Operation of equipment

The Contractor shall be responsible for all repairs, maintenance, and operating supplies that are required in the use of contractor equipment. Should the need for repairs develop, such repairs shall be accomplished at no additional cost to the Government. The Government is not responsible for down time on equipment that is not in service due to repair, maintenance or no need of its services at that moment.

Representatives and Communications

The Contractor shall designate in writing Contractor Representative and Field Supervisor, representing the company in all contractual matters that require prompt attention. The Field Supervisor must be present on the ground when work is being performed, and be familiar with all equipment being used, and shall attend any pre-work meetings.

Prior to the start of work, the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and the Contractor (or their designated representative – in writing) must participate in a pre-work conference to discuss the contract terms and work performance requirements. At this conference, the contractor will be required to submit a plan of work outlining the earliest date work can begin. The plan should also include work techniques and labor utilization (e.g. how many people working, number of hours worked in a day, number of days worked per week, distance of fireline completed). The Contractor shall provide a schedule for completion of the work as required by this Contract.

When work is scheduled Contractor shall notify the Forest Service each day by 8 AM where they plan to work that day, or when they do not plan to work.

The Contractor shall report treatment progress to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) at least every other weekday.

A written record must be maintained by the contractor recording the date of work, fire-line location, fireline type, distance completed, and any interface with oil and gas features at a minimum. The written record must available when requested by COR.

Procedures The Contractor shall ensure that all equipment that goes off paved roads will be free of seeds, soil, vegetative matter, and other debris that could contain or hold seeds. All equipment on the prescribed burn units will be cleaned of all vegetative debris and soil before entering the project area to reduce the likelihood introductions and invasions of NNIS. Once equipment enters the project area, the equipment will no longer need to be cleaned unless it is exposed to another geographical area other than the project area. Equipment cleaning can not take place on national forest land.

Project Limitations Due to the probability for excessive water run-off and soil compaction, dozer operations shall not occur when the soil is saturated without approval from the COR

No standing trees greater than or equal to 6 inches dbh will be felled during the Indiana bat non-hibernation period from April 15th to September 15th unless approved by the COR. All standing trees to be felled greater than or equal to 6 inches dbh will be identified and marked by the COR or contract inspector prior to felling.

Safety

The Contractor shall comply with all Federal and State regulations.

It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the work environment is safe for their employees. If the Contractor feels that a requirement of this contract would place them or their employees in an unsafe environment, then work should stop on that area of work and the Contractor should contact the Forest Service. Work on other areas of the contract that the Contractor does not view as unsafe should continue.

Storage and Security – The Contractor shall be responsible for the storage and security equipment provided by the Contractor. The Contractor will not disclose prescribed burn unit maps to parties not included within this contract.

Work Site - Upon the 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. All areas affected by the Contractor’s activities shall be restored to an acceptable condition, and approved by the COR.

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, oil/ gas features, etc. The Contractor shall be liable for any damages caused by Contractor operations and shall make repairs promptly to a pre-damaged condition as approved by the COR.

Work will require the crossing of natural gas pipeline right of ways. The Contractor will be responsible for contacting the gas line owner prior to crossing the line with equipment.

Inspection, Measurement, and Acceptance

(a) Definitions. "Services", as used in this clause, includes services performed, workmanship, and material furnished or utilized in the performance of services.

(b) 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 contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

(c) The Government has the right to inspect and test all service called for by the contract, to the extent practicable at all times and places during the term of the contract. The Government shall perform inspections and test in a manner that will not unduly delay the work.

(d) If any of the services do not conform to contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When defects in services cannot be corrected by re-performance, the Government may

(1) Require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and

(2) Reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.

(e) If the Contractor fails to promptly perform the services again or to take the necessary action to ensure future performance in conformity with contract requirements, the Government may

(1) By contract or otherwise, perform the services and charge to the Contractor any cost incurred by the Government that is directly related to the performance of such service; or

(2) Terminate the contract for default.

The Contractor shall notify the Forest Service within 7 days of when a Task Order is expected to be completed so that inspections can be planned. The Government will perform a final inspection for each Task Order and advise the Contractor of acceptance or rejection of the work performed.

If original inspection results are unacceptable to the Forest Service, the Contractor must continue work until results are acceptable or request a re-examination. This request must be made in writing within 5 days of notice of unacceptable work.

SCOPE OF WORK AND SITE DESCRIPTIONS

Scope of Work

The Forest Service (FS) anticipates one or multiple awards of a Firm-Fixed Priced Contract for each Zone as described in the Schedule. There will be two zones, the Athens District (Zone 1) and the Ironton District (Zone 2). The Contractor shall provide all expertise, labor, supervision, services, equipment, tools, supplies (i.e., water, etc.), permits, coordination with utilities, licenses, transportation, and incidentals necessary to perform fireline construction and maintenance, for which the desired outcome is in strict accordance with the standards attached to each Task Order. Performance of individual tasks will be accomplished by the issuance of Task Orders (TOs) against the contract. The Task Order will list items to be performed per the Schedule of Items and shall be completed to conform to the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). The awarded contract shall constitute the entire agreement including all terms and conditions applicable to the contract. Please quote on either Zone 1 in its entirety or Zone 2 in its entirety or both Zones in their entirety. Mobilization will be charged as stated so as to prevent undue expense in moving from into a Zone that you did not submit a quote.

ZONES:

1. Athens Ranger District - Counties: Majority of work in Athens, Hocking, Perry, and minor amounts possible in Washington, Monroe counties.

2. Ironton Ranger District – Counties: Majority of work in Lawrence, Gallia, Scioto and minor amounts possible in Nobel, Vinton, Jackson counties.

Work will include the use of heavy equipment, chainsaws, and hand tools to maintain and construct fireline on prescribed burn units located within the Athens Ranger District and Ironton Ranger District on Wayne National Forest.

The majority of all possible fireline construction and/ or maintenance locations are shown on the attached maps. (Attachments 1-11).

Athens Ranger District – Zone 1 Prescribed burn units include the maintenance of approximately 19.19 miles of dozer line, 5.13 miles of hand line, 3.21 miles of bush hog fireline, .62 miles of trail fireline, and .20 miles of natural barrier fireline consisting of streams and creeks.

Prescribed burn units will also include the construction of approximately 5.7 miles of dozer line, and .13 miles of hand line. Prescribed burns are located predominantly in hardwood vegetation with some grassland areas.

Ironton Ranger District – Zone 2 Prescribed burn units include the maintenance of approximately 4.2 miles of dozer line, 4.1 miles of hand line, 1.3 miles of bush hog fireline, 3.5 miles of trail fireline, and 10.7 miles of natural barrier fireline consisting of streams and creeks.

Prescribed burn units will also include the construction of approximately 4.6 miles of dozer line, and 2.7 miles of hand line. Prescribed burns are located predominantly in hardwood vegetation with some grassland areas.

Fireline Type Specifications:

Dozer line: Fireline will require an 8ft wide removal of ground vegetation and debris to expose mineral soil. Dozer line vegetation will have a cut width of 8 ft and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8 ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Hand line: Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 6 ft and a 4 ft wide exposure of mineral soil. Hand line vegetation will have a minimum cut height of 8 ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Bush Hog Fireline: Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 8 ft and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8 ft. Bush-hog line does not require exposure to mineral soil. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Trail Fireline: Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 6 ft. and a 4 ft wide exposure of mineral soil or trail tread, i.e. gravel. Trail fireline vegetation will have a minimum cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Natural Barrier Fireline: Natural barriers such as streams and creeks will require a minimum vegetation cut width of 6 ft. and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8 ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Hazard Tree/ Standing Tree Removal: All standing trees greater than or equal to 6 inch dbh to be felled will be identified and marked by COR or contract inspector prior to felling. Trees marked for removal will become the property of the contractor and may be removed from forest service land or left as approved by COR. The number of trees to be felled will depend on the number of trees identified by the Forest Service (Estimate: 300 trees per mile of fireline construction, Estimate 50 trees per mile of fireline maintenance).

Seeding and Mulch: Seeding and mulching as per specification 625 in The Forest Service Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges EM-7720-100. Seed will be applied at a minimum rate of 50#/acre and Mulch at a rate of 1.5 tons/acre. Seed will be a 50%/50% mix of Winter wheat and annual rye or perennial rye unless directed otherwise in the TO. Mulch will be straw mulch, no hay mulch will be allowed. Mulch will be visually free of weeds and exotic plants, seed and deleterious materials.

Water Bars: Water Bars on firelines will be placed to provide positive drainage of water. Water Bar spacing and quantity will be determined by percent slope and length from the following specifications:

5-10% slope– Every 100ft. of fireline

10-15% slope– Every 75ft. of fireline

15-20% slope- Every 50 ft. of fireline

Water Bar spacing specifications can be modified by request from COR. Water Bars can be constructed out of soil from the localized area. Water Bars constructed from material other than natural soil must be approved by the COR.

PERFORMANCE PERIOD

This contract shall be completed within 2 years of the Notice to Proceed. It is anticipated that nearly all of the estimated quantities may be required under Task Orders for this period of performance.

The majority of all possible fireline construction and/ or maintenance locations are shown on the attached maps. (Attachments 1-11).

How contract(S) will be awarded BASIS OF AWARD OF FFP CONTRACTS: The Forest Service anticipates a multiple award Fixed-Priced contract as a result of this Request for Quotation.

The Government may award a multiple contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible bidder whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Not all Line Items may be awarded per this request for quote. The following factors shall be used to evaluate the bidder's offer:

* Experience

* Past Performance

* Price

Documentation of technical capability and past performance is required.

In addition to the above criteria, the following criteria will be considered:

· The ability, capacity and skill of the bidder to perform the Contract or provide the services required.

· Whether the bidder can perform the Contract or provide the service promptly, or within the time specified, without delay or interference.

· The character, integrity, reliability, reputation, judgment, experience and efficiency of the bidder.

· The quality of performance on previous Contracts or services.

· The previous and existing compliance by the bidder with laws and ordinances relating to the Contract or service;

· The sufficiency of the financial resources and ability of the bidder to perform the Contract or provide the service.

· The quality, availability and adaptability of the goods or services to the particular use required.

· Whether the bidder is in arrears to the Government for a debt or Contract.

· The Bidder’s overall price will be evaluated with past performance information for selection of an offer that provides the best value to the Government.

· Such other information as may be secured by the Forest Service having a bearing on the decision to award the Contract.

PRE-BID MEETING

A pre-bid meeting is recommended and can be schedule with Jonathan Olsen to view the project areas. Please contract Jonathan at jolsen@fs.fed.us, or 740-534-6538.

Schedule Of Items: Athens Ranger District- Zone 1

Project Number: WFM-0900-9-HFR-683-0914-03, Requisition Number: 302598

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

Mobilization will require the crossing of natural gas pipeline right of ways. The contractor will be responsible to contact the gas line owner prior to crossing the line with equipment.

It is the sole responsibility of the Contractor to protect the public at large from the dangers of work activities during working and nonworking hours.

Distance from Offeror’s Facility to Forest Service Office

Schedule Of Items: Athens Ranger District- Zone 1

Project Number: WFM-0900-9-HFR-683-0914-03, Requisition Number: 302598

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

(Maintenance of existing fireline)

Fireline will require an 8ft wide removal of ground vegetation and debris to expose mineral soil. Dozer line vegetation will have a cut width of 8ft and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

(Construction of new fireline) Fireline will require an 8ft wide removal of ground vegetation and debris to expose mineral soil. Dozer line vegetation will have a cut width of 8ft and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

(Maintenance of existing fireline)

Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 6 ft and a 4ft wide exposure of mineral soil. Hand line vegetation will have a minimum cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

(Construction of new fireline)

Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 6 ft and a 4ft wide exposure of mineral soil. Hand line vegetation will have a minimum cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

(Maintenance of existing fireline)

Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 8ft and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8ft. Bush-hog line does not require exposure to mineral soil. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 6ft. and a 4ft wide exposure of mineral soil or trail tread, i.e. gravel. Trail fireline vegetation will have a minimum cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

(Maintenance of existing fireline)

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

Water Bar spacing specifications can be modified by request from COR. Water Bars can be constructed out of soil from the localized area. Water Bars constructed from material other than natural soil must be approved by the COR.

Schedule Of Items: Ironton Ranger District- Zone 2

Project Number: WFM-0900-9-HFR-683-0914-04, Requisition Number: 302613 Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

Mobilization will require the crossing of natural gas pipeline right of ways. The contractor will be responsible to contact the gas line owner prior to crossing the line with equipment.

It is the sole responsibility of the Contractor to protect the public at large from the dangers of work activities during working and nonworking hours.

Distance from Offeror’s Facility to Forest Service Office

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

(Maintenance of existing fireline)

Fireline will require an 8ft wide removal of ground vegetation and debris to expose mineral soil. Dozer line vegetation will have a cut width of 8ft and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

(Construction of new fireline) Fireline will require an 8ft wide removal of ground vegetation and debris to expose mineral soil. Dozer line vegetation will have a cut width of 8ft and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 6 ft and a 4ft wide exposure of mineral soil. Hand line vegetation will have a minimum cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

(Construction of new fireline)

Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 6 ft and a 4ft wide exposure of mineral soil. Hand line vegetation will have a minimum cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

(Maintenance of existing fireline)

Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 8ft and a minimum vegetation cut height of 8ft. Bush-hog line does not require exposure to mineral soil. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Fireline will require a vegetation cut width of 6ft. and a 4ft wide exposure of mineral soil or trail tread, i.e. gravel. Trail fireline vegetation will have a minimum cut height of 8ft. All materials removed by the clearing operations shall be scattered, not piled, adjacent to fireline on Forest Service Land as approved by the COR.

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

(Maintenance of existing fireline)

Line Item No.

(CLIN)

Annual

Quantity

Price Total

Price

Water Bar spacing specifications can be modified by request from COR. Water Bars can be constructed out of soil from the localized area. Water Bars constructed from material other than natural soil must be approved by the COR.

Attachment 1- Bailey Prescribed Burn

Athens Ranger District- Zone 1 Project Number: WFM-0900-9-HFR-683-0914-03

Requisition Number: 302598

Attachment 2- Greendale Prescribed Burn

Attachment 3- Kerns Prairie Prescribed Burn

Attachment 4- Buckhorn Prescribed Burn (Map is not to scale indicated) Ironton Ranger District- Zone 2 Project Number: WFM-0900-9-HFR-683-0914-04

Requisition Number: 302613

Attachment 5- Pine Creek Prescribed Burn (Map is not to scale indicated)

Attachment 6- Lake Vesuvius Prescribed Burn (Map is not to scale indicated)

Attachment 7- Fradd Hollow Prescribed Burn (Map is not to scale indicated)

Attachment 8- Darby Creek Prescribed Burn (Map is not to scale indicated)

Requisition Number: 302613

Attachment 9- Youngs Branch Prescribed Burn (Map is not to scale indicated)

Attachment 10- Blue Grass Prescribed Burn (Map is not to scale indicated)

Attachment 11- Young’s Branch Prescribed Burn (Map is not to scale indicated)

Attachment 12- Fire Plan

Attachment 12 - Fire Plan (Continued)

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