SOW_FY17StreamlineRelease.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK SPECIFICATIONS

RELEASE & VINE CONTROL TREATMENT

SPECIFICATIONS:

The specifications for this contract includes the treatment of 8 areas, totaling 207 acres, by means of application of herbicides by thin-line basal spray method or mechanical release. The type of treatment prescribed for each area is identified in section 120 of the contract. The herbicide handling and application shall be performed under direct supervision of a licensed North Carolina Applicator. The contractor is required to employ crew members with sufficient knowledge to accurately identify vegetation species named for treatment and any species added to the list by the COR. The contractor will be responsible for the necessary training for crew members to accurately perform their duties.

The contractor must attach a copy of recent renewal North Carolina Applicator’s License in the bid package.

DIVISION 100: GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110 Scope of Contract The contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, materials, transportation, supervision, tools, and supplies. The contractor shall perform all work required to treat designated trees with herbicide or mechanical treatments, as identified in section 120. No materials will be furnished by the Government unless specifically identified in the “Government furnished property clause”.

120 Description and Location The contract area is located on the Nantahala National Forest, Cheoah-Tusquitee Ranger District, North Carolina. (See attached maps) There are eight project areas identified for this contract. The project area description and contract action are identified in the following table:

130 Government Furnished Property The Government shall deliver to the contractor the following listed materials, supplies, and property, here-in-after referred to as “Government furnished property”, at the place and time specified below. The contractor shall be liable for all damage or loss of such delivered Government furnished property, until completion and final acceptance of work required under this contract. If the Government fails to make timely delivery of Government furnished property suitable for its intended use, and upon written request by the contractor, the Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment of contract delivery performance dates, contract price, or both, pursuant to the “Changes” clause of the General Provisions of this contract.

Herbicide Mixture The Forest Service will furnish a mixture of Garlon 4 and mineral oil in 15 gallon plastic containers or other suitable containers. The contractor will be responsible for transporting this mixture from the Cheoah or Tusquitee Ranger District Work Center to the work sites. The contractor will also be responsible for security of the material until the contract is completed and accepted. The contractor will return all unused chemical and containers to the pickup point at the Ranger District daily, for the purpose of this clause 130. Herbicide shall be considered delivered by the Government upon contractor’s loading onto their vehicle for transporting to the contract area. No herbicide mixture or containers will be left in the woods overnight.

DIVISION 200: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Basal streamline release of desirable species & vine control

1. All undesirable species listed shall be treated with an herbicide mixture of 20% Garlon 4 and 80% mineral oil. Species to treat are the following:

a. vines, red maple, silverbell, black gum, sourwood stems, sweetgum, striped maple, black locust, fire cherry, Fraser magnolia, wahoo, sassafras, rhododendron, and mountain laurel. Paulownia and Ailanthus with a height greater than 1 foot will also be treated.

Species may be added or dropped on a unit-by-unit basis by the COR. There will be no tolerance for error in species identification and treatment.

2. All stems shall be wet from ground level up to 15 inches above ground level, so that at least 6 inches of the wet section will be wetted with chemical mixture.

3. Only the targeted vegetation is to be treated with the herbicide mixture. Careful and accurate application of the mixture is required to minimize spill, splash, or misses.

Mechanical Release of desirable species and mechanical vine control (Modified CTR) This activities will be a type of modified Crop Tree Release which will include (1) cutting of all vine species, (2) cutting of undesirable species but leaving adequate spacing of stems, and (3) crop tree release around desirable stems where present and appropriate. Stems identified to be cut will be completely severed from the stump.

1. All vine species will be cut and completely severed for the stump. Vines shall be cut 18-24” above the ground where practicable.

2. All undesirable species shall be cut, except where stems should be left to maintain adequate spacing across the stand. Stems including desirable and undesirable species should be spaced approximately 10X15 (~300 TPA). Desirable species will be favored for retention where possible but higher quality undesirables should be left in place to support a 300 TPA stocking level.

a. Undesirable species include red maple, silverbell, black gum, sourwood stems, sweetgum, striped maple, black locust, fire cherry, Fraser magnolia, wahoo, sassafras, rhododendron, and mountain laurel. Paulownia and Ailanthus with a height greater than 1 foot will also be treated. Higher quality stems of these species may be left. Higher quality examples include single stem red maple or silverbell.

3. Crop trees should be identified and released where found and appropriate across the site. Crop tree spacing should be considered during release operations (#2 above). Selection of crops trees should meet the following:

a. Be at least as tall as the average tree height in the stand;

b. Have relatively good form with no apparent damage;

c. Have healthy crowns;

d. Be a desirable species, i.e. a tree that is valuable for timber and/or wildlife. Species selection of crop trees will be according to the following priority:

If trees of stump sprout origin are picked as crop trees:

· Select low-origin sprouts near ground line, and never more than six inches above ground line;

· On steep slopes, favor sprouts on the uphill side of the stump;

· Select the best one or two sprouts per clump (preferably the tallest), and cut the rest. If two are selected, they should be widely spaced, and not have a V-shaped connection at the base.

· If two good crop trees are located near each other, treat them as one tree.

220 Handling of Empty Herbicide Containers Empty herbicide containers will be rinsed with water a minimum of three times with rinse water poured on the contract area. The rinse areas will be designated by the COR/Inspector. Empty containers will then be returned to the pickup point.

230 Handling of Herbicides All handling, application, and use of herbicides will be under the direct supervision of a licensed North Carolina Applicator. All herbicide handling, transfer, and application must have prior approval of the COR/Inspector.

235 Order of Treatment Units The Forest Service reserves the right to specify the order in which areas will be treated.

250 Resource Protection 251 Stream, Lake and Reservoir Pollution Prevention During the handling, transporting, and use of the herbicide, the contractor will use every precaution necessary to prevent herbicide pollution of any streams, lakes, and reservoirs. No stems will be treated within 30 feet, horizontal distance, of any live stream, lake, or reservoir. Under no circumstances will sprayers, containers, or other contaminated materials be washed in any stream, lake, or reservoir.

252 Spill Protection Contractor shall use every precaution necessary to prevent herbicide spillage in loading, transporting, pouring, and applying the herbicide. Contractor will provide a spill kit containing 25 pounds of cat litter, two large polyethylene garbage bags with ties and a square point shovel for each vehicle transporting herbicide. If a spill occurs, contractor will immediately contain the spill, using the cat litter to absorb it, and seal the material in the polyethylene bags. Contractor will notify the COR of any spill in excess of one gallon, as soon as possible, after following the above procedures. Contractor will not transport more than a two-day supply of herbicide, at one time.

253 Access The contractor shall have approval to access gated Forest Service roads as is necessary for the project area, with approval from Forest Service officials. The contractor is required to protect all roads, ditches, fences, and other in to the project area. Roads and trails shall be kept free of logs, slash, and debris caused by the contractor.

254 Protection of Trees The contractor will use every precaution necessary to prevent herbicide from drifting onto species not identified as target species.

255 Final Cleanup Before final acceptance, all trash, rubbish, and debris generated by the contractor’s operation will be removed from National Forest Land.

256 Protection of Archaeological and Historical Resources The contractor will cease work upon discovery of suspected archaeological or historical materials and immediately notify the COR.

257 Protection of Workers Each crew member should be properly clothed including leather boots or shoes, eye protection, long sleeve shirts, long pants, and gloves. Fresh water for washing should be kept with the crew at all times. The contractor or his representative will be responsible for the health and safety of his crew members.

DIVISION 300: INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Inspection of the work performed under this contract shall be made by the Contracting Officer’s Representative or the designated Inspector as the work progresses and at such intervals as are necessary to insure compliance with the contract specifications and provisions.

Upon completion of work on each area, the contractor shall notify the COR that 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 COR, the contractor shall complete any remedial work required for the acceptance prior to commencing work on the next portion.

DIVISION 400: MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

410 Method of Measurement Acreages were measured by GPS method and, for the purpose of this contract, are considered actual and not estimated acreages.

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

430 Time All work must be completed according to specifications within the designated time specified. No work will be permitted during a rain. Basal spraying will not be permitted following a rain, when the stems to be treated are wet. Basal spraying will not be allowed when the local rain forecast exceeds a 40% chance in the next 8 hours. No herbicide shall be applied during times when temperatures are 32°F or less.