Attachment 1 - Specifications SOW.pdf

Statement of Work – Trails Package #3 AP:

Base Bid Items: Big Butt Trail (TR161), Buncombe Horse Trail (TR191) Sections 1 & 2A

Bid Optional Items: Buncombe Horse Trail (TR191) Sections 2B & 3

Location: Big Butt and Buncombe Horse Trails are located on the Pisgah National Forest, Appalachian Ranger District, NE of Asheville, NC, near Mt. Mitchell State Park.

Work to be Performed: Base bid items include maintenance to be performed on 11.5 miles of existing hiking and horse trails. Bid optional items include maintenance on an additional 8.3 miles of horse trail. Maintenance work is to bring trails up to current USDA Forest Service trail standards. Work will include, but may not be limited to, trail tread restoration; cleaning/installing grade dips, de-berming, out-sloping, and restoring positive drainage; brushing vegetation, logging-out, and removal of hazard trees; obliteration of user-created trails; replacing/installing steps and cribbing; and installing turnpike and/or armoring wet areas and approaches to stream crossings.

Assessment logs identifying trail-specific maintenance needs are attached. Trail maps for all trails are included in this package. Stations shown in the trail logs are based on ground distance as measured in the field by a survey wheel. Design parameters for each type and class of trail are attached. Maintenance must meet these parameters unless otherwise specified in the trail assessment logs.

The trail logs illustrate items of work to be accomplished. The intent of the logs is to give a description of the work, at a minimum; however they do not describe the full scope of the work nor identify every work item. Access may be an issue for certain types of equipment. It is the Bidders responsibility to view the project trails to assess the full range of maintenance needs, analyze access points, constraints and the the logistics of transporting imported materials.

Some trails may require a combination of machine work and hand work. It will be the Contractor’s responsibility to set equipment width such that it is within the tread width parameter for the specific type/class of trail. Use of motorized trail equipment may be appropriate for trail work on some segments, dependent upon existing physical access constraints and the existing trail width.

The Contractor shall maintain / improve the trail such that it conforms to current Forest Service standards. The primary goal of trail restoration is to establish positive drainage. Addition and restoration of grade dips are identified in the logs at specific locations; however, it is expected that installation of more grade dips will be required, over and above what is called for. A minimum of 50 grade dips per mile is required.

There are a variety of techniques available to accomplish the goal of establishing positive drainage. It is expected that the appropriate combinations of these techniques will be used.

Suggestions of how to correct drainage problems are given in the trail logs. It will be necessary to fill some areas with suitable, compacted material. Suitable material must be imported if adequate quantities are not made available within the existing, disturbed trail way (previously disturbed areas along the existing trail). All imported materials and materials harvested on-site are to be pre-approved by the COR or inspector.

Base Bid Items

• Big Butt Trail (TR161) is a Class 2 hiking trail, total 6.0 miles overall length.

Maintenance work mentioned above, and in attached Trail Log, shall be performed on the

5.2 mile section of trail which lie on USFS lands; these sections are identified in attached Trail Log and map. No work is to be performed where trail crosses private land. The trail begins at the Blue Ridge Parkway, travels north and crosses two sections of private land, and ends at NC197.

• Buncombe Horse Trail (TR191) is a Class 3 horse trail with an overall length of 18.4 miles. Maintenance work mentioned above, and in attached Trail Logs, shall be performed on the following trail sections; locations are also identified in attached Trail Logs and maps: Buncombe Horse Trail is located within an Inventoried Roadless Area.

Note that living trees along trails in an Inventoried Roadless Areas may only be felled if they present a hazard to public health and safety. Inspector approval is required before felling any living tree along this trail.

o BHT Section 1: Work shall be performed on 2.5 miles of this section. The trail begins at the intersection with a USFS road accessing the mowed wildlife field on Buncombe Range Ridge. The area is accessed by a trailhead on South Toe River Road (FS472). Work begins at Station 117+53 (see trail log). This section ends at the intersection with a spur trail leading to NC128.

o BHT Section 2A is 3.8 miles long and begins at the spur trail to NC128, and ends at the Mt. Mitchell Trail intersection sign on Commissary Ridge.

Bid Optional Items

• Buncombe Horse Trail (TR191)Maintenance is to be performed as described above.

Each trail section below is a separate Bid Optional Item. Buncombe Horse Trail is located within an Inventoried Roadless Area. Inspector approval is required before felling any living tree along this trail.

o BHT Section 2B is a 2.3 mile Class 3 horse trail. Work begins at the Mt. Mitchell Trail intersection sign on Commissary Ridge, and ends at the intersection with Big Tom Trail.

o BHT Section 3 is a 6.5 miles Class 3 horse trail, with work to be performed on

6.0 miles of trail. Work begins at the intersection with Big Tom Trail, and ends at FS5523. Access from the north end is from the trailhead on SR1158.

Specifications:

All trail maintenance, restoration, construction and reconstruction required under this contract must be done in accordance with agency standards found in these publications: “Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Trails” (EM-7720-103) and “Standard Drawings for Construction and Maintenance of Trails” (EM-7720-104). These Standard Specifications and Drawings are available for download via the internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/.ftproot/pub/acad/dev/trails/trails.htm . Visit this website for more information.

Trail Logs identifying trail-specific maintenance needs are attached for each trail, as are maps identifying the trail segments where work is to be performed. Trail Design Parameters for each designed use type and trail class are also included. All work must conform to these Trail Design Parameters and Standard Specifications unless otherwise specified in the Trail Logs, or attached specifications and drawings. Refer to attached or referenced Trail Design Parameters, specifications, drawings, and Standard Specifications.

In the case of a conflict, the Statement of Work, Trail Logs, and attached drawings and specifications supersede the Standard Specifications and Drawings referenced above. The Contractor shall have a copy of the Standard Specifications and Drawings, Trail Logs, and all related specifications and drawings on the job site.

In addition to bringing trails to standard per the Standard Specifications and Drawings, trail specific needs identified in the Trail Logs, and those in attached drawings and specifications, work to be performed includes (but is not limited to):

• Restoration or maintenance of trail tread to provide positive drainage with use of grade dips and other drainage features per attached or referenced drawings and specifications.

This work should establish a minimum of 50 grade reversals per mile (more in wet sections of trail) to ensure proper drainage of the entire length of identified trails or trail sections. Existing dips can be utilized if they produce adequate positive drainage off of the trail.

• Clearing vegetation shall be per the maximum clearing height and maximum clearing width as given in the Design Parameters for each type/class of trail. The clearing height shall be 7 ft. and the clearing width shall be 4 ft. for Big Butt Trail (Class 2 hiking trail). The clearing height shall be 10 ft. and the clearing width shall be 8 ft. for Buncombe Horse Trail (Class 3 pack and saddle trail).

• Standing dead or hazardous trees within the clearing area and within 10’ of either side of the trail centerline shall be removed (i.e., a 20-ft wide corridor).

• Contractor must get COR or inspector approval prior to felling any live trees along Big Butt and Buncombe Horse trails.

• Restricting ground disturbing work activities to the current trail-way. Rock and soil can be moved and utilized within this corridor, but not outside.

• Prior to grading activities, remove and stockpile duff. After grading activities are complete, naturalize the trail corridor by scattering the saved duff on and alongside the newly restored trail (on any disturbed or scattered soils). The intent is for the duff to naturalize the newly restored trailway and to provide erosion prevention. Do not create a berm with the duff. Do not place materials in stream channels, drainage-ways, ditches, culvert inlets, or other locations where they would prevent the free flow of water away from the trailbed.

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• Where pressure treated timber cribbing and stairs are specified in the trail log, timbers shall be pressure treated southern yellow pine (PT SYP), treated with 0.6 ACA or CCA.

Cut surfaces shall be treated with copper naphthenate.

• Verifying required materials prior to bidding. All imported material is at contractor’s cost and should be included in bid. All materials (imported and/or those harvested on site) must be approved by the COR or Inspector prior to installation. Box crib may require timbers on 2, 3, or 4 sides to contain fill, depending on terrain (e.g., 2-sided or L-box crib would be tied back to upslope). Turnpike may require timber, stone and/or log retainers on 0, 1, or 2 sides, depending on terrain and associated box steps.

• Armoring water crossing approaches on:

Buncombe Horse Trail:

Where identified in Trail Logs and/or needed to stabilize soils, install pervious pavement system - EquiTerr TM Grassy Pavers (or equal). Installation shall be per manufacturer’s instructions. Grassy Pavers shall be HDPE, inter-locking honey-comb pattern panels with stabilizing cleats, 19.75” x 15.25” x 1.75”, 2.40 pounds per panel.

Install this pervious pavement system at water crossing approaches. Install from high water mark at the crossing for a length as required to stabilize soils. Fill with mineral soils and/or suitable materials as approved by Inspector.

The materials used, extent of area to be armored, and location of armoring shall be coordinated and approved by the Inspector or COR prior to placement.

• On Horse Trails, the distance between step risers shall be a minimum of 10 ft.

Additionally, contractors shall:

• Review the project site on the ground prior to submitting a bid.

• Lay out and flag dip locations and structures except for those already laid out by the

Forest Service. The Forest Service inspector or COR shall approve lay out prior ground disturbing work on the trail.

• Block trails and post trail closure signs and look-out personnel when maintenance includes felling trees or poses a safety risk to users. The Contractor shall be responsible for and coordinate with the appropriate Ranger District personnel the closure and blocking of trails, and providing associated signage, as required.

• Post signs indicating that ongoing work is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Signs will be provided by the USDA Forest Service.

• If notified, stop work on all or certain sections of the trails due to weather conditions, evidence of archeological sites or sensitive species.