AG67T0S164004-RF4-Appendix_A-v1.docx

AG-67T0-S-16-4004 Red Feather 4 Stewardship Appendix A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DEFINITIONS

1.1 DEFINITIONS

BIOMASS TREES: Any conifer material 2.0 feet in height to 4.9 inches DBH.

BOLE SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet from the edge of one leave tree bole to another leave tree bole, measured from the outside bark of each tree.

CIRCULAR PLOT: A sample plot within a thinning unit that is used to determine the number of desirable trees and other contract specifications.

COARSE WOODY DEBRIS: Woody material left on the ground to meet wildlife habitat requirements.

CROWN RATIO: The ratio of live crown length (tip of leader to base of the crown) to total tree length/height.

CROWN SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet between the dripline of a live crown to another live crown.

CUT TREES: Trees that do not possess the characteristics of desirable leave trees, and are required to be cut. As described by the contract or otherwise marked to be cut.

CUTTING UNIT: see Treatment Unit definition DAMAGED TREES: Trees damaged beyond recovery. A tree that is larger than two feet in height, and has the top knocked out, is leaning more than 10 degrees, has less than one half of its original limbs, or has approximately 50 percent of bark removed from the circumference of the bole.

DBH: Diameter at breast height, measured at a point of 4 ½ feet above the ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

DECKING: Stockpiling of trees in a designated area.

DEAD/DYING TREES: Trees with the crown foliage changing from green to red, yellow, or needleless. Any tree that has pitch tubes indicating Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

DIB: Diameter inside bark.

HANG-UP TREE: Any cut tree suspended above ground level.

LEAVE TREE: Trees that possess desirable characteristics and that serve to create the basis for designated spacing requirements shall not be cut.

NON-SAWTIMBER TREE: Lodgepole pine 5.0 inches DBH to 6.9 inches DBH; ponderosa pine 5.0 DBH to 9.9 inches DBH; other conifers 5.0 inches DBH to 7.9 inches DBH.

PAYMENT UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS): Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the contractor.

PILING: Non-merchantable material moved to agreed upon location shall be piled for future treatment by Forest Service.

PROGRESSION OF WORK: Work conducted in a progressive, workmanlike and orderly manner by the Contractor.

RESERVE CLUMPS: Groups of trees within a treatment area that are protected from cutting, may also include Individual Reserve trees.

SAWTIMBER TREE: Lodgepole pine 7.0 inches DBH and above; ponderosa pine 10.0 inches DBH and above; other conifers 8.0 inches DBH and above.

SUBDIVISION: See Treatment Unit.

TEMPORARY ROADS: Non-permanent roads that are constructed by contractor for the purpose of treatment unit access.

TREATMENT UNIT: An individual area on the ground in which activities will be performed and which may appear as a separate pay item in the Schedule of Items.

WILDLIFE TREE: Standing dead and/or dying trees. Used by birds and small mammals for shelter, nesting, perching, etc.

SECTION II – ACTIVITY ITEMS

2.1 TASK DESCRIPTIONS:

Task 1 - Felling:

a. All trees are designated for cutting when meeting the minimum specifications for cutting as shown on the table below and not selected as Leave trees.

b. All non-sawtimber trees (Lodgepole pine 5.0 inches DBH to 8.9 inches DBH; ponderosa pine 5.0 DBH to 9.9 inches DBH; other conifers 5.0 inches DBH to 7.9 inches DBH) are to be felled.

c. Cut biomass trees: Any conifer material 2.0 feet in height to 4.9 inches DBH All cutting designations are subject to the following criteria:

1) Aspen is not considered in the spacing. Aspen may be cut for logging operations when designated/marked in advance of cutting by Forest Service. Aspen shall be treated as slash.

2) The Desired End Result is retention of the healthiest and best quality trees with large diameters of the preferred species. All surrounding vegetation will be cleared to the specified crown spacing, and remaining understory (biomass trees) will be thinned to the specified bole spacing.

Table A - DBH AND SPACING CRITERIA

DBH AND SPACING CRITERIA

10E,10F,11A,11B,11C,11H,11I

11L,11Y,13 (WO-K-C.3.5.5#)

· Wildlife Trees: Retain a minimum of 3 wildlife snags per acre, minimum of 10 inches DBH and 25 feet in height

· Coarse Woody Debris: leave 1-2 logs on the ground per acre, ≥ 10 inches large end diameter and ≥50 linear feet/acre. 1-2 trees per acre, meeting these requirements may be felled and left in place to ensure requirements are met.

10E,10F,11C,11H,11L,11Y,13

(WO-K-C.3.5.5#)

Where biomass size trees are not located under live non-sawtimber or sawtimber trees, cut biomass trees to a 10 foot x 10 foot (+/- 20%) bole spacing.

In ≥ 0.25 acre (one quarter acre) aspen clones and where aspen occupies 75% or more of the overstory, fell and remove conifers within the aspen clone.

Where biomass size trees are not located under live non-sawtimber or sawtimber trees, cut biomass trees to a 10 foot x 10 foot (+/- 20%) bole spacing.

In ≥ 0.25 acre (one quarter acre) aspen clones and where aspen occupies 75% or more of the overstory, fell and remove conifers within the aspen clone.

Table B - TREATMENT OF BIOMASS MATERIAL

TREATMENT OF BIOMASS MATERIAL

10E,10F,11A,11B,11C,11H, 11L,11Y,13

*Incidental biomass size trees that cannot be feasibly skidded or fall out of the grapple during the skidding operation maybe treated by lopping and scattering not to exceed a depth of 24 inches.

Task 2 - Skidding/Yarding:

a. All non-sawtimber trees are to be yarded (whole tree skidded) to landing with exception of meeting criteria in Table A DBH and Spacing Criteria for Coarse Woody Debris.

b. Skidding within 100 feet of live streams shall not be permitted. Skid trails shall be located high enough out of draws and swales to permit diversion of runoff water to forest ground cover. Prior to periods of accelerated water runoff, Contractor shall inspect and open culverts, drainage structures, construct cross ditches for road runoff and take other reasonable measures to prevent erosion.

Task 3 - Slash:

a. All non-sawtimber trees shall be whole tree skidded (trees are intact when skidded). All non-sawtimber trees are to processed (limbs and tops removed) at the landing.

Bring all slash from designed non-sawtimber trees and biomass trees that are cut to landing and pile.

Slash Treatment of Non-Sawtimber and Biomass Material:

Contractor's Slash Responsibility Table – Non-Sawtimber/Biomass

Task 4 - Removal: All non-sawtimber trees are to be removed (loaded on to a truck and hauled) from the project area.

2.2 TREE CHARACTERISTICS:

2.2.1 Dead/Dying Tree: Displaying characteristics of a successful boring beetle attack;

1) Dead, red or yellowing color in part or all of the crown

2.2.2 Desirable Leave Trees: The largest, healthiest, best-formed trees shall be selected as leave trees.

1) Has no apparent damage to the main bole

2) Is not chlorotic (foliage is green; not fading to red or yellow)

3) Demonstrates good vigor and is disease/insect free

4) Has at least 40 percent crown ratio

5) Species Preference, in order of preference:

a) Engelmann Spruce

b) Limber Pine

c) Ponderosa Pine

d) Douglas-fir

e) Lodgepole Pine

f) Sub-alpine fir

g) Rocky Mountain Juniper: When RMJ will be left as a leave tree, the contractor shall leave all stems that are attached to the root collar. Root collar shall be defined as 3 inches above ground level. Multiple stems attached to the same root collar shall be defined as a RMJ group. Reserve tree spacing shall be measured from the bole if it is an individual RMJ tree (single bole) or measured from the outer branches if it is defined as a RMJ group.

2.2.3 Less Desirable Leave Trees: Where existing trees do not meet desirable leave tree characteristics, less desirable leave trees will be retained such as trees with:

1) Minor Defect - Trees with minor defect such as a crook or a small amount of animal damage.

2) Suppressed Tree - Trees that have been suppressed. Characteristics of suppressed trees are short or nonexistent internodes, twisted gnarled stems, or a sparseness of foliage.

3) Other Live Trees - Trees other than insect or disease damaged trees with at least ¼ live crown and/or sparse crown.

4) Forked Tree - Those trees with two or more terminal leaders. Two or more stems originating from the same base shall only be left if needed for spacing purposes. Either both stems shall be cut or both stems shall be left.

2.2.4 Cut Tree Characteristics: Trees with the following characteristics are examples of cut trees.

1) Crook or sweep greater than 20%

2) Dead or broken tops

3) Multiple tops

4) Mistletoe rating of 3 or greater

5) Leaning more than 20%

6) One half of bole is missing bark

7) Designated to be cut

SECTION III – OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1 PROTECTED IMPROVEMENTS

So far as practicable, Contractor shall protect Specified Roads and other improvements (such as roads, trails, telephone lines, ditches, and fences):

1) Existing in the operating area

2) Determined to have a continuing need or use, and

3) Designated on the Contract Area Map as “PI” Protected Improvements included in this task order:

3.2 FIRE PRECAUTIONARY PERIOD

The Fire Precautionary Period is July 01 to October 31 inclusive. Contracting Officer may change the dates of the Fire Precautionary period by advanced written notice if justified by unusual weather or other conditions. Equitable Adjustment will not be granted for a change in the Fire Precautionary Period dates. Required tools and equipment shall be kept in a serviceable condition and immediately available for firefighting at all times during the Contractor’s Operations in the Fire Precautionary Period.

3.3 FIRE PRECAUTIONS

Prior to initiating Contractor’s Operations during Fire Precautionary Period, Contractor shall file with Forest Service a Fire Prevention and Control Plan providing for the prevention and control of fires on Contract Area and other areas of Contractor’s Operations. See attachment.

3.4 CAMPING

Unless otherwise agreed camping within the Contract Area will not be permitted under the terms of this contract.

SECTION IV – PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

· Visual Inspection – walk through units

· Random verification of compliance – Plot inspections

Regular onsite review of specification compliance.

Periodic verification of compliance with the use of walk through and 1/20 acre inspection Plots.

Written documentation of visual inspection

Regular onsite review of specification compliance.

Periodic verification of compliance with the use of walk through and 1/20 acre inspection Plots.

Written documentation of visual inspection

Regular onsite review of specification compliance.

*Disincentives for failure to meet the above standards may be as follows:

1) Rework will be completed at contractor’s expense.

2) If re-work is not physically possible, payment deductions will be made for work falling below AQL (see Section G.3.1 Payment Reductions).

3) Damage to the residual stand or infrastructure will be assessed against the contractor.

4) Government re-inspection charges may apply.

5) Poor Performance Rating will be given.

SECTION V – QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTIONS

The purpose of this plan is to provide a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for contract bid items and tasks performed. This plan provides a basis for the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to evaluate the quality of the Contractor’s performance. The oversight provided for the contract and this Plan will help to ensure that quality levels of Contractor’s service(s) reach the required levels of performance.

By monitoring the Contractor’s service work, the COR will determine whether the performance levels set forth in the contract have been attained. Quality standards for all tasks are specified in the Performance Work Statement in Section C.6 and individual tasks will be identified in the Task Order Supplemental Specifications.

The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract tasks in the Task Order(s), 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 Contractor(s) work.

If any of the services do not conform to contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by reworking, the Government may:

a. Require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and

b. Reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.

5.1 Government Inspection of Services

The Government will inspect service tasks completed by the Contractor (or Subcontractor) as a basis for acceptance and payments, and to provide recommendations to improve work quality while work is in progress. The Contractor is responsible for providing quality control to assure that work complies with requirements of contract specifications.

All work included in the contract specifications/issued Task Order(s) is subject to inspections by the Government at periodic intervals throughout the performance of this contract. Treatment inspections are for the sole benefit of the Government and shall not release the Contractor of the responsibility of providing quality control measures to assure that the work strictly complies with the contract requirements.

5.2 Inspection for Fuels Reduction Treatments

Once the Contractor notifies the Government of unit completion, the Government will have 14 days to start inspection for payment. Timeframe to complete inspections will depend upon number of acres to inspect and availability of inspectors. Work with CO to determine when units will be inspected.

5.2.1 Work Quality Percentage: Work quality percentages are derived from data developed from inspection plots. The total number of satisfactory quadrants divided by the number of quadrants inspected determines the quality rate. The rate multiplied by 100 provides the work quality percentage.

For each completed task, the Contractor’s quality control inspection percentage services completed will be compared to the Government’s assessment results. If the results differ by < 5%, and the inspection has been conducted to the standards specified, the Contractor’s inspection will be considered acceptable and the quality percentage will be used as the basis for payment. When the results differ by more than 5%, the Governments percentage will be used as the basis for payment.

Government will pay 100% of line item price if work quality of all plots meeting the AQL% or greater. If below, the government will issue a letter of non-compliance. Contractor will be permitted to bring work quality to an acceptable standard. If the Contractor is unable to bring the work to an acceptable standard, then line item pricing will be reduced according to Clause G.3.1 Payment Reductions.

In the event that work is performed that is contrary to the requirements in the contract, the Government is not liable for costs incurred by the Contractor during negligent performance that is without the fault or negligence of the Government.