s-10-0530-Specifications.doc

2010 Ozark National Forest Ice Storm Related Work- Wildfire Suppression and Hazardous Fuels

Scope of Contract

The contractor shall furnish all equipment, labor, transportation, supervision, and perform all work required to conduct mastication of woody debris and create fuel breaks on the Big Piney and Sylamore Ranger Districts of the Ozark National Forest. The work will be completed in accordance with the specifications and provisions of this contract. The work will be broken down into four (4) different equipment types needed to complete the work. The contract will be bid per hour for each different type of equipment needed on each District and the contractor should bid on the estimated hours for each activity listed in the Schedule of Items.

Description and Location

The contract areas are located within the boundaries of the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas counties of Newton, Stone, and Baxter (Figure 1A and 1B). Portions of these areas of the Forest were severely damaged by an ice storm that occurred in January 2009. All of the work for the Wildfire Suppression contract will be done on the Sylamore, and work under the Hazardous Fuel contract will be split evenly between the two Districts. Areas to be treated include masticating buffers along boundaries with private property, masticating along existing secondary roads, and masticating within the general forest area. The work will be widely spread over Stone and Baxter Counties on the Sylamore District and only in the portion of the Big Piney District within Newton County The primary objectives of this contract are:

· Reduce fuel loading along roads and private land boundaries.

· Create fuel buffers along private land boundaries.

· Establish permanent fuel breaks.

· Reduce fuel loading in and around upcoming prescribed burn areas.

Technical Specifications

1. The Forest Service will have the authority to restrict when a specific treatment area can be entered. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or the inspector will be present when equipment enters an area for the first time, unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR.

2. All equipment will be cleaned and in sound working condition prior to entering the National Forest. Leaking hydraulic fluid or other equipment fluids will be repaired prior to entering the National Forest.

3. All equipment will be inspected prior to use on the National Forest by Forest Service personnel.

4. Some work areas will require that mid-story vegetation be severed from the stump and ground up in addition to grinding the pre-existing slash and storm debris.

5. Vegetation that is cut must be severed from the stump within 6” of the ground. Stumps may be left higher if the cutter head must be raised to negotiate terrain features.

6. All slash, including tops, limbs, logs, and vegetation cut in the above specifications shall be mowed, mulched, shredded, or otherwise ground into small pieces. This shredded material shall be scattered over the treatment area and not piled.

7. Standing dead trees (i.e. snags) will be left standing within the treatment areas unless they present a safety hazard or have the potential to fall across fire lines, roads, or property lines.

8. No treatment will occur in streams, drains, or low lying areas without approval of the COR. Heritage sites will be avoided and if any new sites are located work will stop in the immediate area and the District Archaeologist will be contacted.

9. The contractor shall take every precaution necessary to prevent digging, gouging, and moving soil. The contractor shall prevent excessive rutting and compaction by operating the equipment only when suitable soil conditions exist, as determined by the COR. Mechanical chipping and line building activities should be avoided after rainfall in order to prevent soil damage.

10. All supplies, personnel, and equipment needed to complete the contract will be supplied by the contractor.

11. Prior to commencement of work, the contractor(s) shall schedule a meeting with Scott Osborne (870-269-3228) on the Sylamore or Mark Morales (479) 284-3150 or Ricky Adams (870) 446-5122 on the Big Piney in order to review contract areas, provide contractor with maps, and answer any questions the contractor may have.

12. Bulldozer operations may include removal of storm debris from roads and fire lines, improvement of existing fire lines, construction of new fire lines, and other road work associated with storm damaged areas.

Required Equipment Specifications

It is recommended that all of the mulching equipment have a heavy-duty drum type cutter head that can be raised and lowered. The machine shall be capable of producing the desired finished conditions outlined above.

Submit the model number and horse power for each piece of equipment before use. Make equipment available for inspection and approval before use.

Contractor shall furnish and operate equipment with such auxiliary attachments, oilers, and so forth as usually needed for efficient operation of the equipment. Keep the equipment in good repair and capable of operating 90 percent of the working time.

The contractor shall obtain approval length of workday and work week before beginning work and keep daily records of the number of unit hours of operation.

Rubber Tired Mulcher: A primary mover machine with 200-400 horsepower with a heavy duty forestry mulcher head capable of mulching up to 8” diameter logs.

Excavator Mulcher: A tracked excavator with 90-130 horsepower with a heavy duty forestry mulcher head capable of mulching up to 8” diameter logs.

Skidsteer Mulcher: A skidsteer loader with 75-120 horsepower and forestry mulcher head capable of mulching up to 8” diameter logs.

Bulldozer: Dozer with a full roll over protective structure, a six way adjustable blade, and 75-105 horsepower.