SOW_Drain_Tile_Inventory_Midewin_project_specifications 1 .docx

Drain Tile Inventory, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Wilmington, IL

Statement of Work/Specifications 2012 Field Drain Tile Exploration and Mapping

SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The Contractor shall furnish all equipment, labor, transportation, supervision, materials and incidentals necessary to conduct an exploration and inventory of field tiles within the project areas with the exception of those materials furnished by the Government.

PROJECT AREA LOCATION

Item 1 (169 acres) is located in Section 24, T33N, R09E and Section 19, T34N, R10E, Will County, Illinois. This area is bounded by Baseline Road on the west and fence lines on the north, east and south.

See Figures 1 for project area map.

PROJECT AREA SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

This project includes about 30 acres of woodland south of Jackson Creek at the east end of the project area where no slit trenching is allowed. In addition, this southern area has steep slopes leading down to the Jackson Creek floodplain where no slit trenching or heavy equipment is allowed. These areas will be hand probed only.

There may be flagged sensitive areas within this location. If encountered, hand probing is required.

PROJECT SPECIFICS

Contractor may use slit trenching, probing or other methods approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to determine the locations of field drain tiles within the project area. Exploration and mapping shall occur for both main drain tile lines and feeder tile lines.

At a minimum, the following procedures will be used:

1. Observe aerial photography for the project area and overlay topographic data, including contour elevation lines, with sound data and make rational assumptions as to where drain tiles are typically located within the project area.

2. Observe existing surface waterways, freestanding bodies of water and other depressional areas and cut trenches adjacent to the same with specific attention to and emphasis on ingress and egress points. Trenches shall be, at a minimum, three (3) feet wide, five (5) feet deep and six (6) feet in length.

3. Field stake/flag at a maximum of one hundred (100) feet intervals, using additional slit trenching, hand probes or electronic devices, the location of any existing drain tiles so as to accurately map the same over its complete length within the project unit.

4. Portions of the project units may be wet and standing water may be common.

5. Abide by utility right-of-way survey restrictions and other safety considerations.

Ingress and egress into all the sensitive areas will be coordinated with the COR.

EXPECTED PRODUCTS

1. During exploration, insert a flag or stake into the ground where drain tiles are known to exist. Markings on the ground should be sufficient to allow for GPSing of all known and suspected drain tiles within the project unit by Forest Service personnel.

2. Hard copy map showing locations and unique identifying labels of drain tiles, tile inlets and tile outlets.

Also include those locations that were searched but nothing was found, where tiles are known or suspected of continuing outside the project area, and locations of tile blowouts found during the inventory.

Drain tiles, tile inlets and tile outlets shall be labeled with the following:

A) Type of tile, B) Quality of tile, C) Size of tile (indicate if inside or outside diameter is given), D) Direction of water flow, and E) Whether the feature is known or suspected.

F) Whether tile is known or suspected of continuing outside the project area

3. An electronic map with the above information in PDF format.

GOVERNMENT MATERIALS

Copies of the following materials can be supplied by the Government upon request by the Contractor:

1. Location of known tile blowouts within project areas

PAYMENT

Payment will be made on a lump sum basis after completion of all field work within the contracted units and the receipt and acceptance of expected products.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Equipment Specifications

Equipment suitable to fulfill the Contract shall be furnished on a fully operated basis, of modern design and in good operating condition, with a competent qualified operator. Exhaust stacks on all engines, except those with exhaust-driven turbo-chargers, shall be equipped with spark arresters that will prevent the expulsion of sparks from the engine into the atmosphere. All fuels, supplies, repairs and incidentals shall be furnished by the Contractor.

All heavy equipment and off-road equipment will be washed down by the contractor and will be inspected prior to entering Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie to ensure that all possible invasive plant species are removed from the equipment.

Meeting Requirement

Contractor is required to set up and coordinate a meeting(s) with JULIE prior to work being started.

Health and Safety Requirements

The Contractor shall furnish a qualified, experienced and competent operator capable of operating the equipment in terrain similar to the project area. The Government may require the replacement of an operator who is considered incompetent, careless, or otherwise objectionable. Operator shall wear OSHA approved safety gear while operating equipment and comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (as amended).

The Contractor and its employees and subcontractors shall comply with all State and local safety requirements and will be thoroughly familiar with the Forest Service Safety Code for work of this type. This code is available for review at the nearest Forest Service office. Protective devices such as hard hats shall be worn at all times according to Federal, State, and local safety regulations.

Contractor shall make readily available materials to clean up spills and ensure personnel have the training to identify, respond and report on any spill of fuel, oil, or hydraulic fluid greater than one (1) pint. Any spills of this type shall be immediately reported to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

Contractor must avoid remaining contaminated Army land in or near the work area and must be aware of the potential for discovery of CERCLA wastes, TSCA (PCB) equipment, or Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC, remnant ordnance). Contractor shall immediately notify the Midewin Safety Officer and COR of any discovered suspicious material, equipment or items encountered during work.

Operational Requirements

Work will be performed during 6 AM and 8 PM Monday through Friday only. Work will not be conducted during Federal holidays without prior authorization by the COR.

Contractor shall avoid using heavy equipment when the soil is soft and rutting occurs. Work shall be halted if thawing or heavy precipitation occurs. Operation of heavy equipment in creek beds or within creek channels is not allowed.

Slit trenches or other excavations done during exploration shall be refilled with the same material that was removed during the excavation. Refilling of an excavation will occur before another excavation is made. No slit trenching is allowed within marked wetland and archeological areas.

If damage to drain tiles occurs during the exploration and inventory, repair methods shall be in accordance with Natural Resource Conservation Service specifications for existing drain tile maintenance.