mechanical_specs.doc

MECHANICAL MIDSTORY TREATMENT

USDA FOREST SERVICE

BIENVILLE NATIONAL FOREST

BIENVILLE RANGER DISTRICT

FOREST, MS

DIVISION 100 – GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110 – Scope of Contract. Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, supervision, supplies and perform all work required for the shredding/mulching of targeted species using a track-driven or rubber-tired machine in accordance with the specifications and provisions of the contract. The Government will furnish no materials, labor, or equipment.

120 – Description and Location. The areas to be treated are within the boundaries of the Bienville National Forest, Scott County, Mississippi (See attached maps). The treatment areas contain a high density of vines, brush, pine/hardwood saplings, and scattered pole-sized stems.

Location:

Proposed Treatment Areas

Description

TOTAL:

DIVISION 200 – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210 – Application Instructions. All trees and woody stems smaller than six inches dbh will be shredded and mulched to within six inches of the ground level. However, machine head may be elevated above residual stump height if warranted.

211 Shredded/mulched strips crossing protected streams shall require prior approval by the designated contract representative.

220- Equipment Requirements.

221 Vegetation control using the shredding and mulching method: the type of equipment used shall be a track-driven or rubber-tired mulching machine which is designed to chip, and mulch brush and small trees without penetrating the top soil. The equipment shall produce shredded/mulched vegetation to minimize erosion due to both wind and rainfall.

222 Transportation: The mulching machine may either be crawled or hauled on a lowboy as determined the most efficient and best method by the contracting officer representative.

223 Unsatisfactory equipment: The Contracting Officer may order the removal and require replacement of any unsatisfactory equipment. The Government reserves the right to inspect bidder’s equipment prior to award of the contract.

224 Substitute equipment: In the event of equipment breakdown, the contractor shall repair or replace broken equipment within forty-eight (48) hours. Substitution of equipment is subject to prior approval of the Contracting Officer.

225 Safety: The equipment shall be equipped with protective canopies and a fire extinguisher and shall meet OSHA standards. When working near or crossing under utility lines, it is the responsibility of the contractor to contact the utility company for specific safety precautions. In all cases the contractor is responsible for the safe operation of equipment around or under utility lines.

226 Maintenance requirements: The contractor shall furnish all fuel, oil, grease, repairs, and other expenses incidental to the operation of equipment.

230 – Resource Protection.

231 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, etc. The Contractor shall be liable for any damages caused by his operations and shall make repairs promptly.

232 Site Protection: The Contractor shall prevent digging, gouging, and moving soil. On steeper terrain, operator shall shred/mulch perpendicular to the slope. Exceptions shall be made when shredding/mulching cannot be done in a safe manner. The Contractor will prevent rutting and compaction by operating his equipment only when suitable soil conditions exist, as determined by the COR.

233 Archeological site: If, during contract operations, new archeological sites are uncovered, the contractor shall cease operations on affected areas and notify the Contracting Officer for further operating instructions.

234 Final Clean up: Upon 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 of.

235 Protection of Streams: Contractor shall use every precaution necessary to protect streams from contamination with harmful chemicals or materials resulting from equipment servicing. All streams will be kept free of Contractor generated debris. The equipment will not be operated over or in a streamcourse with a defined channel, except at designated crossings or as permitted by the COR.

236 Utilities: Contractor shall be responsible for contacting utility companies to determine location of underground lines (gas lines, water lines, telephone lines, etc.).

237 Other Improvements: Contractor is responsible for protecting fences, cattle guards, gates, as well as painted boundary trees, witness trees, and corner markers.

DIVISION 300 – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

310 Inspection Procedures: Inspections of the work performed under this contract will be made as the work progresses by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or the designated Inspector. Inspection will be at intervals necessary to insure compliance with the contract.

320 Satisfactory Treatment: Upon completion of work on an area, the Contractor shall notify the COR the work on the area is completed and the COR shall make an overall inspection of the work completed. If the work completed is accepted, the Contractor shall proceed with work on the next area. If the work is not accepted by the COR, the Contractor shall complete any remedial work required for acceptance prior to commencing work on the next area.

DIVISION 400 – MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

410 – Method of Measurement. Acreage listed in the bid schedule was determined by GPS or closed traverse with an area of closure better than 1 to 100 for this contract and is considered actual acreage.

420 – Basis of Payment. Payment will be made at the unit bid price for the total number of acres completed and accepted.