Chainsaw Felling Contract Specification.pdf

RECOVERY: WFM-0801-09HF

Mechanical Fuels Reduction-Mulching & Chainsaw Felling

Talladega Ranger District, National Forests in Alabama

Chainsaw Felling Specification

DIVISION 100-GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110-Scope.

The project is described in detail in the “Specifications” section. The purpose of this project is to reduce or minimize catastrophic wildfires and restore fire dependent woodlands. This contract will remove hardwood and pine understory and midstory competition from these three units which will allow the development of the fire dependent herbaceous layer common to the longleaf ecosystem. This project will improve the fuel condition class and further enhance wildlife foraging and habitat. The three units total approximately 194 acres and are located within Talladega, Cleburne and Clay Counties (Alabama).

The contractor will furnish all labor, supplies, tools, equipment, transportation and supervision to perform all work necessary to treat all woody stems specified in Division 211-Trees to be treated. All specified stems will be cut, severed, or otherwise put on the ground with a chainsaw as specified in

Division 213-Fuels Treatment Procedures.

111-Description and Location.

All areas are within the boundaries of the Talladega Ranger District, in Talladega, Cleburne and Clay

County (Alabama). See Exhibits: Project Area Maps.

Project Area Legal Acres Completion Date

Unit C T18S R8E S 6 58 9/30/10

Unit D T18S R8E S 6

T18S R7E S 1

82 9/30/10

Unit E T18S R7E S 1 54 9/30/10

112-Description of Treatment Area(s).

Treatments will occur in stands that were thinned as part of the 1997 Ebenezer Timber Sale. Vegetation in these areas consists of pine with interspersed hardwood and pine understory and mid-story of various ages and sizes.

All treatment areas are accessible with existing roads.

113-Boundaries.

Boundaries of areas to be worked will be marked primarily with pink flagging (unit E will have short section flagged with orange flagging). Areas marked in white paint are archeological sites and will not be treated. In some areas, Forest Service roads may be used as boundaries but roads are flagged. A map is attached showing project boundaries. See Exhibits: Project Area Maps.

114-Contractor Furnished Items.

The contractor will furnish all materials and equipment needed to complete the contract.

115-Pre-work Conference

Prior to commencement of work on any of the treatment areas, a meeting, requested by the Contracting

Officer, will be attended by the Contractor, Contractor’s Representatives, and delegated Forest Service representatives. The meeting will be held at a time and place mutually agreeable to the Contractor and

Forest Service for the purpose of discussing work schedules, quality control, and review of the specifications for the mandatory and optional Quote Items. At this meeting the Contractor will provide written delegations of authority for his/her Contract Representative and Field Representatives.

Contractor will provide, for Contracting Officer’s approval, a schedule of work for completing all Quote

Items and a quality control plan. Schedule of work will present a practicable work progress schedule showing the order in which work on each treatment unit will be started and completed. The schedule will show a self inspection plan, daily planned acreage accomplishments, number of workers, equipment and/or tools that will be used, and planned completion dates. The Quality Control Plan will identify who and how Contractor’s work will be self inspected and what documentation will be provided during and at the conclusion of work.

116-Performance and Acceptance

The Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer or his/her representative written notification within

10 days of planned commencement of work.

The Contractor may only work in one treatment unit at a time and may not start work in another treatment unit until all work has been completed and accepted by the Contracting Officer Representative

(COR) or unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

At completion of work in a treatment area, the Contractor will notify the Contracting Officer's

Representative that the required work has been completed to standards and is ready for final inspection.

Upon final inspection by the COR, the Contractor will be given written notice of acceptance. Upon written notice of acceptance, the Contractor is then authorized to move to the next work unit identified in the schedule of work.

Payment will be based upon written acceptance of all required work in a Quote Item by the Contracting

Officer. When there is more than one Treatment area in a Quote Item, partial payments for completed and accepted work in one or more units can be made at the written request of the Contractor and with the written approval of the Contracting Officer.

117-Method of Measurement

Acres of treatment were determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS) and are considered to be actual acreages. Boundaries are identifiable on the ground by pink flagging (unit E will have short section flagged with orange flagging).

118-Safety

The Contractor and the Contractor’s employees shall operate within the Occupational Health and Safety

Administration (OSHA) standards for safety and safety equipment.

The Contractor and Contractor’s employees shall adhere to all safety regulations and guidelines applicable to this type of work. It is the contractor’s responsibility to know what safety regulations and guidelines are applicable to this type of work.

The Contractor shall provide a written, job-specific safety plan for the inherently hazardous conditions that exist during operations. Contractor’s safety plan shall identify and describe any inherently hazardous conditions and specific actions to reduce these hazards. This plan shall be provided to the

Contracting Officer (CO) at the post award conference. Work shall not commence on this project if the

Contractor fails to provide the CO with a safety plan.

When Contractor’s operations are in progress adjacent to roads open to public travel, the Contractor shall furnish, install and maintain temporary traffic controls signs which will provide adequate warning of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions associated with Contractor’s operations.

119-Work Unit Trash Disposal

Contractor shall ensure that all Contractor generated trash, paper, cans, food, etc., is picked up by the

Contractor or the Contractor’s crew(s). No trash shall be left at work units, along forest roads, or other forested areas.

DIVISION 200-TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210-Time of Treatment.

All areas with this treatment shall be completed during the leaf-on period unless changed by the COR.

See Exhibits: Project Area Maps

210a- Order of Treatment

There is no mandatory order for treating the units. See Exhibits: Project Area Maps.

211-Trees to be Treated.

All trees and shrubs less than 5.1 inches DBH will be treated/cut.

212-Trees or other Vegetation NOT to be Treated.

1. Oak, longleaf and shortleaf pine seedlings and saplings.

2. All trees greater than 5.1 inches DBH

3. Any other trees marked with paint or horseshoes (i.e., green/white diagonal paint-superior tree, red-property line, light blue-Pinhoti trail, blue-resource protection area, orange-SPB reserve tree, white or blue banded-RCW cavity trees, green-SMZ, white paint denoting archaeological sites, horseshoe-horse trail.).

4. Recognizable den trees (i.e., those with cavities or crevices) and naturally occurring snags (i.e., dead trees).

5. Other trees, species, or size classes designated by the COR/INSPECTOR as work progresses.

213-Fuels Treatment Procedures.

1. All trees and shrubs designated for treatment will be completely severed from the stump with a maximum stump height of 6 inches. No trees will be removed from the treatment areas.

2. The contractor shall avoid any damage to improvements such as, but not limited to, roads, gates, signs, culverts, bridges, fences, utility poles, and survey markers. The contractor will be required to repair or pay fair market value to replace any damaged improvements.

3. Trees to be retained will not be damaged by the Contractor’s operations. Accidental nicking

(scuffing of bark exposing the cambium layer or inner wood) of reserve or retention trees shall be immediately repaired with nursery tree heal paint.

DIVISION 300 – GENERAL INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE SPECIFIC TO ALL ITEMS.

300-Inspection of Services

Definition. “Services” as used in this clause, includes services performed, workmanship, and materials furnished or utilized in the performance of services.

The Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer’s duly authorized representative will inspect and accept the services to be provided under this contract.

The Contracting Officer's Representative or a designated Inspector will make periodic inspections as work progresses at such intervals as is necessary to ensure compliance with the contract specifications and provisions. The Contractor may observe the inspection while it is being made.

The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system that is acceptable to the Government that covers the Services under this contract.

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

If any of the Services do not meet contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the Services again in accordance with contract requirements, without increase in the amount of the Quote Item. 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 meets contract requirements; and (2) reduce the Quote Item value to reflect the reduced value of the Services performed.

If the Contractor fails to perform the Service again or to take the necessary action to ensure future performance meets contract requirements, the Government may, (1) by contract or otherwise, perform the Service and charge the Contractor costs incurred by the Government that are directly related to the performance of such Service or (2) initiate breach of contract actions.

Government will randomly review the manner in which the Contractor is conducting the Quality Control

Program by both reviewing Contractor records and observing actual performance. Government may inspect any area within treatment units and compare records and/or do all of the above. If Government inspection shows a difference in results as compared to the Contractor’s inspection, then the

Government may elect to inspect the unit at the Contractors expense, not limited to, but including time and mileage.

Upon completion of work, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer's

Representative that work has been completed. The Contracting Officer's Representative or Inspector will then make an overall inspection of the work completed.

310-Acceptance of Work

Work will be accepted when the work is completed according to the contract specifications. If the work completed is accepted, the Contractor shall proceed according to the Work Progress Schedule. If the work is not accepted, the Contractor shall not receive payment until completing any remedial work required for acceptance. If the area cannot be brought up to specifications, credits or payments will be reduced or not be awarded.

Non-conformance with any of the specifications will classify the work as unsatisfactory and rework may be required to bring the work up to standard.

At least 93% of the area must be properly treated according to contract specs to be satisfactory.

A quality of work less than 93% will result in an equal rate of pay. (Ex. 80% quality will equal 80% of full payment being made.

Acceptance of units worked will be reserved until a final inspection is held. If said Contractor moves to another unit and describes the unit left as being completed and upon inspection, the Contracting

Officer's Representative or Inspector determines the work unacceptable, said Contractor shall be required to return and complete all unacceptable work at no additional cost to the Government.