SOW WYCOLO BID ITEM 2.pdf

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SECTION C - SPECIFICATIONS

C. 1. INTRODUCTION – BID ITEM 2 - WYCOLO

C.1.1. Background

The purpose of this project is to reduce the amount and continuity of existing fuels surrounding Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas. A major contributor to the fuel hazard adjacent to private land is the amount of dead and dying trees associated with the current Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) epidemic.

Ongoing efforts include other contracts and projects adjacent to or within this contract area. Some of these other activities are displayed on the contract maps, but are not included in this contract.

C.1.2. Scope of Contract

Estimated start date will be ten days after award. Actual start date will be negotiated at award to issue the Notice to Proceed.

This solicitation is for fuels reduction treatments near private property inholdings.

Fuel reduction treatments may include, but are not limited to, cutting dead trees, whole tree skidding, decking merchantable material, thinning to a specified spacing, mechanical or hand piling of slash, lopping and scattering of slash, removal of slash, and chipping or mulching of slash.

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies (except those designated as Government furnished), and incidentals to perform all work necessary on the areas specified. All aspects of the work program shall be performed in an organized, systematic manner to assure services will be performed over the entire unit. The Government may implement any or all of the bid items listed at the Governments discretion.

In all awarded Bid Item treatment areas, the Contractor shall not unnecessarily damage young growth or other trees to be reserved.

PRODUCT REMOVAL BY THE AWARDEE/CONTRACTOR IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER THIS

CONTRACT.

The Forest Service will be using other contracts and permits to remove products decked under this contract. Product removal activities are anticipated to begin immediately following completion and acceptance of individual Items included in this contract, possibly before final contract termination.

Conflicts with this contract and product removal activities are not anticipated due to the geographic separation of work Items in this contract.

Item 01 Mountain Home WUI: This Item is In Need of Urgent Harvest due to multiple resource objectives and is a priority for work completion, despite winter operating restrictions from December 15 to April 1. Operations must commence by July 1, 2010. This Item includes units that border the western and northern portion of the Mountain Home/WyColo Community. The Units in this Item are dominated by Lodgepole pine with small amounts of spruce-fir. The Lodgepole component of these stands has a high mortality rate from Mountain Pine Beetle and the larger Engelmann spruce have been killed by the spruce beetle. There will be a large amount of material to be decked, both sawtimber and POL (Products Other than Logs) material.

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Item 02 Boswell WUI: This Item includes units that border the southern portion of the Mountain Home/WyColo Community, on the south side of Highway 230. Stands for this item have a large Lodgepole component, but may have some pockets of spruce-fir. The Lodgepole component of these stands has a high mortality rate from Mountain Pine Beetle and the larger Engelmann spruce have been killed by the spruce beetle. There will be a large amount of material to be decked, both sawtimber and POL (Products Other than Logs) material.

Item 03 Pelton Creek WUI: This Item includes units on the western side of the Pelton Creek Properties (also known as Teachers Addition). Stands for this Item have a large Lodgepole component, but may have some pockets of spruce-fir. The Lodgepole component of these stands has a high mortality rate from Mountain Pine Beetle and the larger Engelmann spruce have been killed by the spruce beetle. There will be a large amount of material to be decked, both sawtimber and POL (Products Other than Logs) material.

The Contractor is responsible to be familiar with the Design Criteria (J. Exhibit 03) for this project, and design contractual proposals and performance based operations accordingly.

A) Project locations – This project is located on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Laramie Ranger District. Specific unit locations are identified on the ground and maps are found in Section J.

Exhibit 02.

C.1.2.1 This contract is a Performance Based, firm-fixed price contract.

C.1.2.2 Item 01: The period of performance will be 169 days from start date for this item.

Item 02: The period of performance will be 77 days from start date for this item.

Item 03: The period of performance will be 54 days from start date for this item.

Bid item performance time may be concurrent or consecutive, upon agreement.

Under no circumstance will work associated with this contract continue past December 15, 2011.

ITEM TASK DESCRIPTIONS

C.1.3. Location and Description

The work areas are accessed by State, County and Forest Roads on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests. Locations, maps and specifications will be provided in each contract and at the pre-work conference, if necessary.

Access to this project area is approximately 45 miles on Wyoming State Highway 230 west of

Laramie, Wyoming. The units can be accessed using NFSR 501, 526, and 898, and other system roads.

Access to all units is identified on Contract Area Maps, using existing National Forest System

Roads (NFSR). On alternate routes, the Forest Service does not have easements across some portions of private land at this time. Plans for use and direction of haul should be identified in the Contractor’s technical proposal. A portion of the Pelton creek properties on the eastern side does not have an easement at this time, but negotiations are in process. Proposals and plans should be made developed using existing routes. Current access to unit 94 is NFSR 898.C.

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All Contractor operations will conform to the Design Criteria identified in the Decision Notice for the Spruce Gulch Bark Beetle and Fuels Reduction Project. Design Criteria include such measures as Best Management Practices (BMPs), Watershed Conservation Practices (WCPs), Forest Plan standards and guidelines, and other environmental protections required by laws and regulations.

GENERAL ITEM DESCRIPTIONS

These general descriptions provide some direction for the project work, and should be used in conjunction with the Desired End Results section (C.1.3.4) and the Design Criteria (J.1 Exhibit 03) when planning operations in performance of this contract.

ITEM 01, Mountain Home Units

Units 101, 102, 103, 202, and 203 – In Need of Urgent Harvest, Operations Must Commence By July 1, 2010; No Winter Operations from December 15 – April 1 The majority of the existing overstory in these units will be removed to break up the continuity of canopy fuels. All or parts of these units lie within a Lynx travel corridor, requiring a 30% retention of canopy cover, thus these units have ORANGE MARKED LEAVE TREES to meet the retention requirements.

Treatment of the stands emphasize removing dead and dying trees that have been affected by the current bark beetle infestation, which includes removal of non-marked trees over 9” (inches) DBH (Diameter at Breast Height). Full logging activities are anticipated over the area, preferably with whole tree skidding operations, including decking of merchantable material and slash treatment. Sorting will be required during decking of sawtimber and POL (Products Other than Logs).

Units are generally level and operable with few restrictions. A small length of temporary road will be needed to access Unit 101 (J.1. Exhibit 01). Some recommended landing and pile locations have been identified, however there will be a need for additional landing locations or location changes, which will be agreed upon by the FS and contract representative.

ITEM 02, Boswell Units

Units 104 and 204 The majority of the existing overstory in these units will be removed to break up the continuity of canopy fuels. All or parts of these units lie within a Lynx travel corridor, requiring a 30% retention of canopy cover, thus these units have ORANGE MARKED LEAVE TREES to meet the retention requirements.

Treatment of the stands emphasize removing dead and dying trees that have been affected by the current bark beetle infestation, which includes removal of non-marked trees over 9” (inches) DBH (Diameter at Breast Height). Full logging activities are anticipated over the area, preferably with whole tree skidding operations, including decking of merchantable material and slash treatment. Sorting will be required during decking of sawtimber and POL (Products Other than Logs).

Units are generally level and operable with few restrictions. Some recommended landing and pile locations have been identified, however there will be a need for additional landing locations or location changes, which will be agreed upon by the FS and contract representative.

ITEM 03, Pelton Creek Units

Units 92 and 93 The majority of the existing overstory in these units will be removed to break up the continuity of canopy fuels. These units have ORANGE MARKED LEAVE TREES that have been identified as wildlife/reserve trees. Treatment of the stands emphasize removing dead and dying trees that have been affected by the current bark beetle infestation, which includes removal of non-marked trees over 9”

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(inches) DBH (Diameter at Breast Height). Full logging activities are anticipated over the area, preferably with whole tree skidding operations, including decking of merchantable material and slash treatment. Sorting will be required during decking of sawtimber and POL (Products Other than Logs).

Units are generally level and operable, however Unit 93 has 2 small No Equipment Zones to protect riparian resources (J.1. Exhibit 01). Some recommended landing and pile locations have been identified, however there will be a need for additional landing locations or location changes, which will be agreed upon by the FS and contract representative.

C.1.3.1 Merchantability and Utilization Specifications

Trees designated for removal that meet the utilization specifications in the following table must be sorted and decked for future sale opportunities. In general, merchantable trees (and tree pieces) from National Forest lands meeting the designated minimum sizes listed in the table have intrinsic value and are required to be utilized. To meet minimum tree specifications, trees must equal or exceed tree diameters listed and contain at least one minimum piece. Except for timber required or authorized to be left, Contractor shall fall, buck, sort and deck trees at locations designated by the Forest Service.

R2 Utilization Standards effective 9/10/09 will be used for the decking requirements:

LP - Lodgepole Pine, ES - Engelmann Spruce, TF - True Fir (Subalpine Fir) POL – Products Other than Logs* modified for Bark Beetle Forests

* Lodgepole pine trees that are bug hit but still display green needles, with DBH >5” (inches) and <9” (inches) will be sorted and decked separately from the sawtimber decks.

Generally, in a whole tree skidding/logging operation, decked sawtimber would be 43’ (feet) in length maximum pieces, down to the minimum length and DIB (Diameter Inside Bark) on the small end.

Decked POL is commonly 16’ (feet) in length, down to the minimum length and DIB on the small end.

All decks will be placed in decking locations designated by the Forest Service. Decks will be constructed in a safe manner and location, taking into consideration safety for the Contractor, contractor employees, Forest Service employees and the Public.

Deck size will be limited to 8’ (feet) in height. Decks will not be placed along roadways in areas that may obstruct traffic or block line of sight along the travel route. Decks and decked material will be piled in a stable manner, not able to roll or slide under normal conditions.

C.1.3.2 Contractor worksite and Equipment

Product Species Live or

Dead

Unit

Measure

DBH-DOB

Inches

Minimum

Length

DIB

Small

End

Merch

Factor

SAWTIMBER LP Live and

Dead

CCF

9.0

7.0

10.67

SAWTIMBER ES, TF Live

7.0

6.0

SAWTIMBER

ES Dead CCF

10.0

8.0

POL* (all non-sawtimber)

LP Live and

Dead

5.0

4.0

VAR

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The Contractor will follow the Design Criteria (Section J. Exhibit 03) to reduce or prevent undesirable effects resulting from management activities when operating equipment on Forest Service lands. This responsibility also includes items in Section H.4, which includes property protection, protection of residual trees, equipment washing, sanitation and servicing, prevention of oil spills, meadow protection, wetlands protection and streamcourse protection.

The Contractor has the responsibility to be familiar with these requirements in the contract pertaining to worksites and equipment use before moving equipment into project areas.

C.1.3.3 Safety

The Contractor has the responsibility to conduct operations in a safe manner. Colorado and Wyoming State safety regulations for Contractors; 29CFR1910.266 (OSHA standards for logging operations); FSH

6309.11 Contract administration Handbook; and the FSH 7709.58 Transportation System Maintenance Handbook 12.6, Exhibit 01 Maintenance Prescription guidelines; and any other safety regulations available that provide safety information should be incorporated into the Contractors proposal, operating and safety plans submitted prior to operations, and discussed at the pre-work meeting(s).

Forest Service inspections and conduct will follow guidelines found in the Contract Administration Handbook 6309.11, Control of Work; District Health and Safety plan(s); developed JHA’s, the Health and Safety Code Handbook, FSH6709.11; 29CFR1910.266; and any other safety regulations or guidelines necessary to protect Forest Service employees, the Public and Contractor employees.

The National Forest is currently in a bark beetle epidemic, resulting in dead standing trees throughout forested lands. Special precautions are in place to inform the Public, Contractors and Government employees of the dangers of working in and visiting the National Forest. The Contractors Safety Plan should include general OSHA logging requirements and a section on standing dead, hazardous trees and the potential of injury from falling stems and other debris. (See the FS QASP, section J. exhibit 04 for examples.) This will be a safety topic discussed at the pre-work meeting.

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C.1.3.4 General operations and desired end results for Bid Items

DESIRED END RESULTS

As a performance based contract, work methods to be performed will be determined by Contractor to meet the desired end result. The end results for Items 01, 02 and 03 include decking of merchantable sawtimber and POL, thinning, slash piling or chipping and incorporating design criteria identified in the Decision Notice (J.1 Exhibit 03). It is anticipated that full scale logging operations will be employed.

CONDITIONS AND RESULTS WHICH APPLY TO ALL ITEMS:

Boundaries are identified with 3 ORANGE painted vertical stripes. Two stripes are 4 to 6 ‘ (feet) long facing the next boundary tree on each side. One 2 to 4 foot long stripe faces the interior of the unit. Unit numbers are painted on boundary trees.

Leave trees are identified with 2 ORANGE painted bands and butt marks.

Some boundary trees and/or leave trees MAY need to be cut during operations. Boundary trees and/or leave trees that are deemed necessary for removal by FS contract representative will be identified as cut trees with another paint color. The paint color will be decided on at the pre-work meeting.

Additional trees may be designated for cutting and/or removal to facilitate operations on the ground (such as landings, skid trails, hazard trees and minor road clearing).

Any ORANGE painted tree WILL NOT be cut unless agreed on with the FS contract representative.

The Contractor is responsible for selecting the trees to be cut and/or left in this treatment, (unless otherwise designated by the Forest Service (C.1.2) and/or as specified) and designing operations to conform to Design Criteria found in section J. Exhibit 03.

Contractors are responsible for selecting the appropriate tree based on the selection criteria in Section C.2, Definitions, Characteristics of Acceptable Leave Trees and Characteristics of Cut Trees.

Species preference in order of priority to be left is listed in the Special Project Specifications in Section J.1 Exhibit 02 of this contract.

Merchantable material (sawtimber and POL) will be sorted and placed into decks at designated locations approved by the Forest Service. Material not meeting merchantability specifications identified in Section C.1.3.1 will be placed in designated slash pile locations.

Whole tree skidding is the preferred method of treatment.

Sever the tree as close to the ground as feasible, especially within 200’ (feet) of HWY 230 and the Medicine Bow Rail Trail. Maximum stump height shall not exceed 12 inches measured on the uphill side of the tree. Where natural obstacles impede cutting operations, trees may be severed up to 4 inches above the obstacle. Stump angle should be close to horizontal or flush with the ground. All cut trees shall be completely severed, and have no live limbs (as defined in C.2) remaining on the stump, to prevent the tree from growing new vegetative material.

No slash piles will be located within 200’ (feet) of HWY 230 or the Medicine Bow Rail Trail.

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Leave trees shall not be damaged in the operations.

Residual trees damaged as a result of operations shall be removed. All conditions of the contract apply to removal of damaged residual trees, such as sorting, decking and slash treatment. Damaged trees are those with broken tops and/or stems with more than 50% of the bark removed and/or trees leaning more than 15 % (percent).

Traffic Control:

Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) plans are included. See Section J, Exhibit 05. Sign placement and standards in the TCC are required, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, when Contractor operations are in progress adjacent to or on Forest Service controlled roads open to public travel, Contractor shall furnish, install and maintain all temporary traffic controls that provide safety for the road user. Signs shall be appropriate to current conditions and shall be covered or removed when not needed.

Roads are to remain open unless otherwise agreed to in advance. Operations signs will be placed at locations identified in the TTC warning the public that tree felling, logging operations and removal actions are taking place. Roads that provide primary access to private land will generally remain open, unless scheduling closures or other agreements can be reached with the impacted landowner(s).

Written requests for road closures will be submitted at least 5 days in advance to the CO. The CO will verify need and evaluate impacts to the Laramie Ranger District. District personnel may provide additional mitigation measures that could be placed into an agreement before the closure could occur. Road closure requests may be denied. An official Forest Service road closure order may take more than 5 days to be issued. Temporary road closures would be addressed through the COR authorities.

For roads that cannot be closed indefinitely or for extended periods of time during operations such as sole access to private land or busy recreation sites, a flagger may be necessary to alert traffic, or to stop traffic intermittently, as required by the progress of work in a working road segment. The flagging operation provides protection for other contractor employees and the public.

Specific State requirements for training and/or certification of flaggers are the responsibility of the Contractor. On Forest Service level 3-5 roads and on county and state highways, warning signs and traffic control shall be in accordance with the “ Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices” (MUTCD) and Signage Strategies Regarding Bark Beetle Incident Needs, (Forest Service, June 2009).

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CONDITIONS AND RESULTS SPECIFIC TO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS:

Item 01- Mountain Home, Units 101, 102, 103, 202, and 203

-In Need of Urgent Harvest, Operations Must Commence By July 1, 2010

-No Winter Operations from December 15

– April 1

1. Dead and Dying Tree Removal

All standing dead and dying trees not designated as leave trees with orange tracer paint (see definitions in C.2) will be cut and removed from the unit. The majority of the treatment will impact Lodgepole pine trees, although small amounts of Engelmann spruce, and Subalpine fir, may also be cut and removed.

For the purpose of this contract a dead tree is defined as a tree greater than or equal to 3” (inches) DBH, that has lost all needles or leaves, has sloughing bark, obvious cracks that extend into the interior of the tree, and/or damage to the cambium layer that has stopped transfer of nutrients and water that will lead to the eventual death of the tree. This includes, but is not limited to, beetle hit trees that exhibit red or green needles with numerous pitch tubes, loose bark and/or insect galleries.

2. Cut Green Trees over 9” (inches) DBH

All live conifer trees over 9” (inches) DBH not designated as leave trees are cut and removed from the unit.

3. Thinning of remaining standing green trees within 100’ (feet) of Private Property

Boundary

Thin live trees to a 25’ (feet) spacing of the crowns +/- 5 % for natural spacing variations.

Trees less than 24’ (inches) in height are not considered leave trees for spacing requirements and do not need to be cut.

4. Thinning of remaining standing green trees

Thin trees to a 15’ (feet) spacing of the crowns +/- 5 % for natural spacing variations. Trees less than 24’ (inches) in height are not considered leave trees for spacing requirements and do not need to be cut.

5. Slash Treatment

All slash resulting from operations will be piled at landing sites or at designated slash pile locations. Lop and scatter methods will be limited to isolated circumstances and only with written permission. Material in slash piles must conform to Decking and Landing Slash Treatment, 7.D, 7.E and 7.F below. NO slash piles will be located within 200’ (feet) of HWY 230, or within 100’ (feet) of the private property boundary.

6. Skidding

Skid trails will be a minimum of 75’ (feet) apart except where converging, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. Skid trails will be laid out in a manner to maximize productivity and

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7. Decking and Landing Slash Treatment

A. Trees cut will be topped, limbed and decked in landing areas designated by the FS contract representative.

B. Merchantable material will be sorted into Sawtimber decks and POL decks for future sale and removal. See Section C.1.3.1.

C. Landing material not meeting merchantability specifications, such as limbs and tops, will be considered slash and will be piled in a manner that is compact and free of dirt for later burning by the Forest Service.

D. Other slash disposal methods may be considered, such as chipping or mastication, provided these methods meet the limitations found in the design criteria and are approved by the Forest Service in advance. When agreed upon in writing, on-site chipping requires scattering material across the area in a discontiguous pattern of width, length and depth. The depth of the chips cannot exceed 3” (inches) above the ground surface and must not cover more than 50% of the unit area.

E. Slash pile material shall not exceed a maximum piece length of 6’ (feet) in length.

Slash piles will be located away from residual trees, private property lines and decks.

The pile perimeter will be located at least 20’ (feet) from roads, culverts, signs, fence lines, and live trees. Piles will be placed appropriately to minimize potential damage to other resources. NO slash piles will be located within 200’ (feet) of HWY 230, or within 100’ (feet) of the private property boundary.

F. Maximum pile size shall not exceed 25,000 cubic feet unless agreed to by the Forest

Service. Under no circumstance shall a pile or deck exceed 50,000 cubic feet.

Generally, a slash pile 10’ (feet) in height, 20’ (feet) in width and 40’ (feet) in length is 8,000 cubic feet in size. A deck 8’ (feet) in height, 43’ (feet) in length (optimum log truck length) and 40’ (feet) in width is 13,760 cubic feet. Slash piles not located at landings or designated slash disposal areas will be limited to a maximum footprint of 300 square feet.

G. All deck and slash pile locations will be approved by the FS in advance. The decks will be located in designated areas conducive to potential future loading and hauling.

Decks will be constructed in a stable manner, unable to shift, slide or roll. Approved decking locations will be selected to minimize skidding distances and enable the contractor to meet decking specifications outlined here and in C.1.3.1.

8. Other Design Criteria Activities

Important design criteria unique to a specific site are identified in Section J. Exhibit 02 and will be discussed at the pre-work meeting.

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9. National Forest System Road Use

Purchaser brushing, blading and maintenance is allowed and required when necessary to prevent resource damage on lower level NFSRs during operations (See Engineering T-specs in Section J. Exhibit 06). No skidding is allowed on any NFSR surfaces or in road Right of Ways, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

Item 02 - Boswell, Units 104 and 204

-Winter operations are allowed/encouraged and require the approval of the Forest

Service prior to Contractor operations. Written agreement must be in place by

August 1, 2010 in order to conduct operations during the 2010/2011 winter.

Coordination between the FS contract representative, Laramie Ranger District staffs and the contractor will be necessary. Any winter operations may require follow-up treatment to meet stump and slash requirements when conditions allow.

Snow plowing restrictions and requirements will be included in the agreement for winter operations.

impact Lodgepole pine trees, although small amounts of Engelmann spruce, and Subalpine fir, may also be cut and removed.

For the purpose of this contract a dead tree is defined as a tree greater than or equal to 3” (inches) DBH, that has lost all needles or leaves, has sloughing bark, obvious cracks that extend into the interior of the tree, and/or damage to the cambium layer that has stopped transfer of nutrients and water that will lead to the eventual death of the tree. This includes, Trees less than 24” (inches) in height are not considered leave trees for spacing requirements

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230 or the Medicine Bow Rail Trail, or within 100’ (feet) of the private property boundary.

use over the unit, but minimize potential for erosion or compaction. Skid trails will be laid out in a manner to facilitate use of temporary landings or slash piles and minimize damage to residual trees. There will be no skidding allowed on National Forest System Roads or in road approved by the Forest Service in advance. When agreed upon in writing, on-site chipping requires scattering material across the area in a discontiguous pattern of

The pile perimeter will be located at least 20 feet from roads, culverts, signs, fence lines, and live trees. Piles will be placed appropriately to minimize potential damage to

Generally, a slash pile 10’ (feet) in height, 20’ (feet) in width and 40’ (feet) in length is

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8,000 cubic feet in size. A deck 8’ (feet) in height, 43’ (feet) in length (optimum log truck length) and 40’ (feet) in width is 13,760 cubic feet. Slash piles not located at

Decks will be constructed in a stable manner, unable to shift, slide or roll. Approved

Section J. Exhibit 06). Purchaser brushing, blading and maintenance is NOT REQUIRED and NOT ALLOWED on NFSR 526 roads during operations unless otherwise agreed upon by the FS. No skidding is allowed on any NFSR surfaces or in road Right of Ways, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

Item 03 - Pelton Creek Units 92, and 93

-Winter operations are allowed and require the approval of the Forest Service prior to Contractor operations. Written agreement must be in place by August 1, 2010 in order to conduct operations during the 2010/2011 winter. Coordination between the FS contract representative, Laramie Ranger District staffs and the contractor will be necessary. Any winter operations may require follow-up treatment to meet stump and slash requirements when conditions allow. Snow plowing restrictions and requirements will be included in the agreement for winter operations.

impact Lodgepole pine trees, although small amounts of Engelmann spruce, and Subalpine fir, may also be cut and removed.

For the purpose of this contract a dead tree is defined as a tree greater than or equal to 3” (inches) DBH, that has lost all needles or leaves, has sloughing bark, obvious cracks that extend into the interior of the tree, and/or damage to the cambium layer that has stopped transfer of nutrients and water that will lead to the eventual death of the tree. This includes,

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Trees less than 24” (inches) in height are not considered leave trees for spacing requirements less than 24” (inches) in height are not considered leave trees for spacing requirements and do written permission. Material in slash piles must conform to Decking and Landing Slash

230 or the Medicine Bow Rail Trail, or within 100’ (feet) of the private property boundary.

use over the unit, but minimize potential for erosion or compaction. Skid trails will be laid out in a manner to facilitate use of temporary landings or slash piles and minimize damage to residual trees. There will be no skidding allowed on National Forest System Roads or in road approved by the Forest Service in advance. When agreed upon in writing, on-site

- 14 -chipping requires scattering material across the area in a discontiguous pattern of

The pile perimeter will be located at least 20 feet from roads, culverts, signs, fence lines, and live trees. Piles will be placed appropriately to minimize potential damage to

Generally, a slash pile 10’ (feet) in height, 20’ (feet) in width and 40’ (feet) in length is 8,000 cubic feet in size. A deck 8’ (feet) in height, 43’ (feet) in length (optimum log truck length) and 40’ (feet) in width is 13,760 cubic feet. Slash piles not located at

Decks will be constructed in a stable manner, unable to shift, slide or roll. Approved

Section J. Exhibit 07). Purchaser brushing, blading and maintenance is NOT REQUIRED and NOT ALLOWED on NFSR 898 roads during operations unless otherwise agreed upon by the FS. No skidding is allowed on any NFSR surfaces or in road Right of Ways, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

C.1.3.5 Access Refer to Government furnished services in Section C.3 and Contractor requirements in Section C.4 for additional information on access to the treatment areas. Also see C.1.3 for road restrictions.

C. 2. DEFINITIONS

Access point. The point identified for access to roadside hazard tree units.

Borrow Ditch. Maintained edge of the road surface used for drainage. Ditch area on sides of roads that divert water away from road surface.

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Burn Pile Footprint. The ground area under a slash pile that has been burned after the harvest. Excessive soil heating and soil sterilization potential is increased as the size of the slash piles increase. It is important to limit the size of the slash piles to reduce or eliminate this problem in the “ footprint” .

Calendar Days. Every day shown on the calendar, Sundays and holidays included.

Chipping. Thinning slash that can be chipped shall be processed through a chipping machine. Chips shall be scattered to a loose depth not to exceed 3 inches in areas designated by the COR. Chips will not be piled. Chips will be removed from the administrative sites and developed campgrounds.

Contractor. The awardees of this service contract and their business affiliates.

CO. The designated Contracting Officer assigned to this contract.

COR. Contracting Officer’ (feet)s Representative. The on-site contract administrator for the Contracting Officer. The duties and responsibilities of the COR are defined in the letter of designation issued by the Contracting Officer.

Contract Time. See Period of Performance.

Crop Tree. Trees that will be a component of a future commercial harvest or managed into the future. In this contract, it is interpreted as the trees that are of preferred species, free of insect or disease infection, or if it is present does not threaten the tree survival or growth, exhibits leader dominance and growth, exhibits little or no damage that affects tree survival or growth, and has crown ratio of greater than 40% (ratio of crown to overall length).

CSP - Contractor Safety Plan. Formal safety plan providing information on protection of Contractor employees, Government employees and the general Public.

Cut Tree: Tree that is determined to have the characteristics that are not desirable to be left on the site, and will be completely severed from the stump, and have all live limbs removed, then be moved to a decking and/or slash location. (See definition for Differing Tree Characteristics)

Damage. Defect or deformity of a tree, including forks, bent stems, or branches being on only one side, resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, and equipment, and evidenced by such things as dead or broken tops or trunks, crooks, and deep scars or damage to the bark on more than ¼ of the circumference of the tree.

Dead Tree. For the purpose of this contract, a dead tree is described as a tree that has lost all needles or leaves, has sloughing bark, obvious cracks that extend into the interior of the tree, and/or damage to the cambium layer that has stopped transfer of nutrients and water that will lead to the eventual death of the tree. This includes, but is not limited to, beetle hit trees that exhibit red and/or green needles, multiple pitch tubes, loose bark and/or insect galleries.

Diameter breast height (dbh, DBH). The diameter of the trunk measure at a point 4-1/2 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of the tree (usually outside bark).

Diameter Inside Bark (DIB). The diameter of the trunk measured at any point along the stem on the inside of the bark. Usually used to determine the location of the minimum diameter for utilization, defined by the merchantability specifications.

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Differing Tree Characteristics: Differences between Acceptable Leave trees and Cut trees.

Characteristics of

Acceptable Leave Trees

Characteristics of

Cut Trees

a. Dominant - trees are taller than others of same age class and species.

a. Suppressed-trees are shorter than others of same age class and species.

b. Foliage - dark green color;

uniform tree crown

b. Foliage - red or reddish color; sparse, tree crown has holes in it

c. Straight stem. c. Bent, crooked or forked stem.

d. Single terminal leader. d. Two or more terminal leaders of approximately equal length

e. Free from physical damage. e. Shows damage caused by,but not limited to rolling rocks, falling tress, frost cracks, mechanical damage,animals.

f. Free from insect and/or disease damage.

f. Shows evidence of insect and/or disease damage.

g. Free of dwarf mistletoe. g. Dwarf mistletoe present.

h. Spaced more than 7 feet from other acceptable trees

h. Spaced less than 7 feet from other acceptable trees

Dominant tree. Tree whose crown extends above the general level of the main canopy; or in some cases, a tree whose canopy is above the main canopy of the tree’ (feet)s immediate neighbors, receiving full light from above.

Down tree. For this project, a down tree is one that is already on the ground from natural causes, not caused by mechanical operations in the performance of this contract.

Drainage structures. Man made physical devices installed during or after road construction that aids in draining excess water from the road surface. This includes, but is not limited to, culverts, ditch blocks, drain dips, drop inlets and water diverters.

Excess trees. Uncut trees that, according to specification, should have been cut. Trees not severed from the stump, hang-up trees, and stumps with live limbs. When girdling or pruning is required, excess trees also includes trees not girdled or trees not pruned that, according to specification, should have been girdled or pruned.

Existing Slash. Existing woody debris on the ground surface or suspended above the ground that has been previously severed from the stump. Does not include debris that is obviously imbedded in the ground or on the surface as a result of natural mortality, stumps or material in later stages of decomposition.

Existing roads . A road that has a distinguishable roadbed that permits vehicle travel without major improvements to the road. Distinguishable roadbeds that are now reforested or that require major earthwork to permit vehicle travel are NOT considered existing roads for the purpose of this contract.

Limited improvement of existing roads is permitted upon written approval from the Forest Service to allow for safe vehicle access (e.g. filling or smoothing ruts, removing roadside trees or obstacles from the roadbed).

FAR – Federal Acquisition Regulations. The FAR is the primary regulation for use by all Federal Executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds.

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FSH – Forest Service Handbook. The principal source of specialized guidance and instruction for carrying out the direction issued in the FSM.

FSM – Forest Service Manual. The legal authorities, objectives, policies, responsibilities, instructions, and guidance needed on a continuing basis by Forest Service line officers and primary staff in more than one unit to plan and execute assigned programs and activities.

Girdle. A cut through the bark and cambium tissue completely encircling the tree trunk for the purpose of killing the tree.

Green/Live tree. Any standing tree with green foliage.

Hang-up tree. Any cut tree suspended more than 3 feet off the ground.

Harvest Inspector (HI) A person designated in writing by the CO or COR that inspects contractor work.

The duties and responsibilities of the HI are defined in the letter of designation issued by the Contracting Officer or the COR. May be referred to as contract inspector.

Healthy conifer. Trees that are growing well, exhibited by good leader growth, green foliage, and at least 40 % (percent) crown ratio (ratio of crown to overall length), has upright growth form, absence of forking or broken tops, absence of mortality causing diseases or insects in the terminal buds.

Inclusions, unit. A small area or pocket of trees, shrubs or open area within a unit obviously different from the general stand characteristics of the unit. An example may be a ½ acre of aspen in a pocket in the interior of a predominately Lodgepole stand of sawtimber.

Inspector: Individual selected to inspect progress and check quality of operations. Other responsibilities are defined in the letter of designation issued by the Contracting Officer’ (feet)s Representative (COR).

JHA - Job Hazard Analysis. Safety guidance developed for use by the USFS employees during operations.

Landing. An area which is designated either by this contract or the contracting official with the proper authority within the unit for the purpose of decking (stacking) logs or trees.

Leave Trees. Any tree that is selected or required to be left standing according to requirements.

Live limb. A limb of any size that has green needles attached.

Masticating. Chipping vegetation with a mobile chipper shredder (either wheeled or tracked) to reduce vegetation to chips of a specified size (may range from ½” (inches) to 3” (inches) on any side) in accordance with the level of work specified in the contract. Chips shall be scattered to a loose depth not to exceed 3 inches in areas designated by the COR. Chips will not be piled. Chips will be removed from the administrative sites and developed campgrounds.

Missing leave trees. Trees cut that should have been selected as a leave tree.

Minor damage. Trees with damage, however, the crooks in the trunk are offset less than 3 inches from the long axis and within 13 feet of the ground, or bark damage to less than one-fourth the circumference of the tree. Trees with forks or broken tops are not considered to have minor damage.

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NFSR – National Forest System Road. A classified road under jurisdiction of the Forest Service.

OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The government agency that establishes protective standards and enforces those standards to assure safe and healthful working conditions.

Period of Performance (also Performance Period or Contract Time). The number of calendar days allowed in the contract for completion of contract work.

Permanent roads. Roads that are on the District Transportation system, County and State roads and highways.

Pre-work. (Prework meeting, prework conference, post-award conference) Meeting between Forest Service and Contactor to discuss individual task orders, contracts and contract obligations; exchange work and safety plans, designations of authorities and any other required documents outlined in this contract.

Primary road. A road on the NFSR system that is used by the public, generally with no gates or restrictions. Commonly, an arterial road that has a NFSR numbering system without a letter designation.

(i.e. NFSR 512, not NFSR 512K.)

Post-award conference. See pre-work.

Quality Assurance. The actions taken by the Government to assess the results to determine that they meet contract requirements. The methods for quality assurance are described in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

Quality Control. Those actions taken by a Contractor to control the production of outputs to ensure that they conform to the contract requirements. The methods for inspecting for quality control are described in the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan (QCP).

Residual tree. A healthy tree, retained during a thinning operation or partial harvest. For this contract, a healthy live mature tree designated as a leave tree and the healthy understory trees in the stand of any size or species that need to be protected during contract operations.

Slash. Un-merchantable pieces of cut trees, and/or limbs created by the Contractor’s operations. Woody material cut or broken off the main stem of the cut trees and small standing dead tree stems < 3” (inches) DBH. In general, this would be smaller diameter material from branches and tops broken or cut from the main stem, and small burned over trees that would not make adequate firewood material and would not be taken to the designated landings.

Small Trees. Trees less than 5 feet in height and taller than the minimum tree height to thin specified in the Silvicultural Summary Prescription.

Spacing. The horizontal distance from the trunk of one leave tree to the trunk of the next nearest leave tree. Average spacing is calculated from the leave trees per acre.

Stream course. The area along a stream with riparian vegetation and other riparian characteristics.

Stream courses are noted on the project maps. They typically require special treatment, which may include alteration to the tree cutting, slash treatment, vehicle travel or fueling of saws. The Design Criteria will specify site specific special treatments.

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Special Protection Area. A zone that has special characteristics such as riparian vegetation, wildlife calving areas, etc. Special protection areas are noted on the project maps and they may require special treatment such as an alteration to the tree cutting, slash treatment, vehicle travel or fueling of saws.

TCP – Traffic Control Plan. Contractors plan to control public traffic during operations. May include additional information that augments the Governments Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) plan (if included).

Thinning slash. Debris created from work under this contract, including all cut trees and shrubs including the un-merchantable tops, trunks, and branches. Also referred to as operational slash.

TTC – Temporary Traffic Control. Governments traffic control plan that provides information for the control of traffic during operations that temporarily interrupt the normal use of the road.

Unsatisfactory Tree. Cutting of a tree that fails to meet contract standards, includes but is not limited to:

(1) cutting the wrong tree, failing to cut a correct tree, failure to completely sever a live limb, etc.

C. 3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The property and services that will be provided by the Government are as follows:

Item Description Where, When, How

3.1 Project Maps Maps of units with access roads

identified.

Provided in Section J Exhibit 01

3.2 Summary Information

Chart

Table with summary unit information

Provided in Section J Exhibit 02

3.3 Access Roads The Government will provide

access indicated on project maps.

Provided in Section J Exhibit 01

3.4 Access behind locked

gates

Locked gates and access roads will be identified on the Project maps.

Provided in Section J Exhibit 01

3.5 Tree Removal

Operations

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

Provided in Section J Exhibit 04

3.6 Project Design Criteria

from NEPA Decision

Required Mitigation Measures to follow during planning and operations

Provided in Section J Exhibit 03

C. 4. CONTRACTOR WORK REQUIREMENTS and STANDARDS

C.4.1 General.

C.4.1.1 Road Access. Refer to C.3 for Governments responsibilities. State, County and Forest Roads on all Districts of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grasslands access work area. Descriptions of locations and project maps are provided for the contract work for these WUI units. The Contractor may access the units from forest roads indicated on project maps. Contractor shall clear fallen isolated trees that may block roads needed to access units. Also see C.1.3 for road restrictions.

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C.4.1.2 Walk-in areas. Areas that are accessible only by foot, and/or vehicle/harvest equipment access are limited or non-existent.

C.4.1.3 Locked gates. In cases where the unit access is behind locked gates, the Contractor shall close and lock gates (see C.3.5) after entering or exiting each gate and will be subject to all other restrictions of administrative use. The Contractor shall be permitted to drive from the locked gate to the unit with only the minimum number of vehicles necessary for efficient transport of the crew.

No firearms are permitted behind locked gates. The use of the roads behind locked gates is subject to Forest Service approval. Locked gate vehicle access may be restricted during hunting seasons.

C.4.2 Tree Thinning. Thinning reduces the density of a stand, opens the contiguous canopy, reduces fuels and by purposeful selection of leave trees improves the stand composition and condition as prescribed for each individual unit.

There will be one method used to designate which trees are to be cut and treated under this contract. This method is to use the desired conditions with the specifications listed, with the Contractor responsible for selecting the tree(s) for removal.

C.4.2.1 Selection of leave trees. Trees that do not meet the definition of dead or dying or that meet the species or spacing requirements as defined in the scope of work. Leave trees will include residual trees. Protect all live residual trees from damage from operations.

C.4.3. Cutting trees not selected as leave trees

C.4.3.1 Any leave trees damaged during operations that meet the definition of slash. All slash resulting from tree removal operations, which is not removed via whole-tree skidding, where piling and or chipping will occur, will be lopped and scattered to a height of not more than 24 inches above the ground surface, when approved in writing by Forest Service.

Trees damaged as a result of operations shall be removed if they meet the size requirements, piled at landings with slash piled and/or chipped. When approved by Forest Service, in writing, these trees may be lopped and scattered to a height of not more than 24 inches above the ground surface.

Damaged trees are those with broken tops and/or stems with more than 50% of the bark circumference removed and/or trees leaning more than 15 % (percent). Skid trails and landings may require incidental removal of green trees. Any green trees removed will be designated in advance by the COR/HI.

C.4.3.2 All cut trees shall be completely severed, and have no live limbs (as defined in C.2) remaining on the stump, to prevent the tree from growing new vegetative material. Cut trees shall be secured so they do not roll down hill and shall not be hung up on other trees or vegetation.

C.4.5. Slash Treatment. See specific bid item end results descriptions.

C.4.5.1 Slash treatment shall be concurrent and progressive with the unit treatment. The Contractor shall not move onto a new unit without completion of slash treatment, unless approved by the Forest Service. The number of units allowed to be open for operations will be negotiated at the pre-work conference.

C.4.5.2 All trails indicated on the project maps and all open roads within or adjacent to the unit shall be kept free of slash at all times.

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C.4.5.3 The following improvement and developments shall be free from slash, chips or masticated material, created by the tasks in this contract:

(1) The area adjacent to cut and fill slopes, and ditches.

(2) Improvements such as, but not limited to, unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, established trails, stock…