Cuprum Appendixes 715.doc

Cuprum Fuels WUI Stewardship

APPENDIX A

Stewardship activities Performance of Stewardship activities shall be in accordance with the following Specifications and Special Contract Requirements.

Stewardship activities as shown in the Stewardship Activity Map shall be performed when authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer. Such authorization may be for all or a portion of the quantity shown. Upon written request, additional activities shall be authorized; however, the Contracting Officer shall not be obligated to authorize additional activities if three or more authorized activities remain uncompleted. The Contracting Officer shall not be obligated to authorize additional activities at any time if in his/her opinion it is estimated there is insufficient value of remaining designated timber to cover the value of additional activities. For each Stewardship Activity, the Contractor will be responsible for a ½ acre test plot, in which ½ acre of the specified Stewardship Activity is conducted and submitted for inspection, before completing the remaining acres.

Item - Fell and Remove Sub-Merch Felling and Removal of all 3.0 inch D.B.H. to 7.9 inch D.B.H (3.0 inch to 6.9 inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine) trees in portions of timber harvest units: 1(50ac.), 9(44ac.), 10(18ac.), 33(12ac.) and 38(12ac.) Total acres (approx): 136

A. SCOPE OF THIS ACTIVITY

This activity consists of felling and removing sub-merchantable material from the understory and related work in compliance with the terms, specifications and provisions in this contract. Material will be removed from designated areas in the units listed above, where slopes are less than 35% and deposited at the log landings. This includes furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals.

B. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The work is located on the Council Ranger District of the Payette National Forest in Adams County, Idaho. The Stewardship Activity Map shows the location of these units. Exterior boundaries are marked in the field with orange paint on boundary trees.

C. SCHEDULING OF OPERATIONS.

Unless otherwise agreed, contractor shall complete required work on above units during harvest activities.

D. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired End Results:

The desired end result of the felling and removal of sub-merch material is to remove fuels in dense areas of the units to reduce the risk of wildfires.

2. Obligations of the Contractor

Before work begins on this Stewardship Activity, the Contractor shall designate, in writing, the person, or persons who shall represent the Contractor during any absence from the project site. In the designation, the Contractor shall describe the areas of responsibility assigned to the representative. Designated representative(s) shall be fully conversant in the English language, and shall be able to fully communicate with all parties.

3. Definition of Terms

Activity slash – All non-merchantable material from cut trees.

Bole - The main stem portion of a tree.

Cut-tree – Trees that are a minimum of 3.0 inches D.B.H. up to 7.9 inches D.B.H (3.0 to 6.9 inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine). Trees marked for boundaries (orange paint) shall not be cut.

D.B.H. - (Diameter at Breast Height) - Diameter of the bole measured at a point 4.5 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of a tree.

Damage - Includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, fire and/or equipment; evidenced by such things as dead or broken tops or boles, crooks, cat-faces, and scars.

Excess Trees - Uncut trees that do not meet specifications and that should have been cut.

Excessive Damage - Damage caused by Contractor to leave trees in excess of contract specifications. Excessive damage will include damage to the bole of the tree where the wood is exposed, broken out tops, root damage as evidenced by lean or splitting of the bole, and any tree pushed out of the soil.

Leave Tree - Any tree that is selected or required to be left standing as provided in the specifications. Conifers planned to become part of the forest canopy in the long term

Riparian Conservation Area (RCA) – An area adjacent to a stream, lake, or wet area that supports riparian vegetation, and/or influences the characteristics of the stream, lake, or wet area. Also referred to as a SMZ or Streamside Management Zone.

Riparian Vegetation – The vegetation bordering watercourses, lakes, bogs, and seeps.

Slash - Limbs and boles of down trees.

Sub-merchantable (Sub-merch) - Trees that do not meet the merchantability specifications for a sawtimber.

Understory - The trees less than eight inches D.B.H., or less than seven inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine.

Unit – An area of where contract work will be completed. Unit numbers and estimated sizes are listed in Contractor’s Stewardship Activity Table.

4. Felling and Removal Specifications

During all operations, care shall be taken to minimize damage to leave trees.

a. Felling Specifications Trees designated for cutting:

· Cut all trees that are a minimum of three (3) inches D.B.H. and less than eight (8) inches D.B.H. for all species except lodgepole pine. Lodgepole pine shall be cut only if it is less than seven (7) inches in diameter.

Trees may be cut using a feller-buncher. Felling and removal shall be done concurrently with felling and removal of the sawtimber. Trees selected to be cut shall be cut at or below ten (10) inches above the ground level. If natural obstacles prevent cutting the bole at 10 inches, then the stump shall not exceed six (6) inches above the obstacle. All live limbs shall be removed from the stump. Stumps shall be cut horizontally.

All roads within these units shall be kept free of cut material.

b. Removal Specifications

Removal shall be done concurrently with removal of the Sawtimber. Sub-merch material will be yarded to the landing and piled there for burning or for removal for biomass.

E. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

NOTE: THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE AN INSPECTION SYSTEM THAT ASSURES WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO THE SPECIFICATIONS, BEFORE REQUESTING A GOVERNMENT INSPECTION.

The Government will make periodic visual inspections of the entire unit to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below for felling and removal will be taken to determine the quality of the work performed. The Contractor or designated representative is encouraged to observe the inspection and will receive inspection summaries upon request.

Each unit as designated on the Stewardship Activity Map will be inspected as a separate unit for acceptance or Stewardship Credit. Each sub-item (felling and removal) will be inspected separately and the average percent quality of these two items will be used to determine overall unit quality.

1. Felling and Removal Inspection

a. Inspection The Government will inspect units reported completed for acceptance, as follows:

a. Each Unit, as designated on the attached maps and described in the Schedule of Items, will be visually inspected separately to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below, will be taken to determine the quality of work performed.

b. The inspector will mark a series of 1/20-acre (26.33 ft. horizontal plot radius) plots on the ground. Plot center will be located and marked on the ground. The number of plots to be taken will be based on the unit’s treatment size:

· Treatment areas less than 2 acres = 4 plots per acre with a minimum of 4 plots total.

· Treatment areas greater than 2 acres = 2 plots per acre with a minimum of 8 plots total and a maximum of 16 plots total.

c. Plots will be randomly distributed over the entire acreage within each pay item. When indicated on the Schedule, units will be combined for purposes of inspection and payment.

d. Each tree (including stumps) on each plot will be examined, and each tree will be classified as a Satisfactory Tree (tree meets specifications), a Category “A” Tree (tree does not meet specifications, and is not correctable), or a Category “B” Tree (tree does not meet specifications, and is correctable). See the following tables. Additionally, the following information will be collected:

1. Number of trees on plot.

2. Number of Satisfactory trees.

3. Number of Category “A” trees.

4. Number of Category “B” trees

SATISFACTORY TREES

INSPECTION CODE

All live trees between 3.0 inches D.B.H and 8.0 inches, (3.0 – 7.0 inches LP) are cut.

All felled trees are removed to the landing S4 S5

CATEGORY "A" TREES

CATEGORY "B" TREES

High stump.

All Trees not removed to the landing B5 B6

b. Felling and Removal Quality Calculation

The Government will use the above information to compute the tree felling quality using the following formula:

Felling and Removal quality (percent) = (#Satisfactory trees/#Trees on Plot) X 100

Percentage of felling and removal quality as calculated above will be rounded up to the nearest whole percent.

c. Rework and Reinspection After Rework

When inspection results are below 90 percent and Category “B” trees constitute a part of the deficiency, payment will not be made until the Category “B” trees have been corrected, unless the Contracting Officer determines Category “B” trees to be minor or an isolated situation that will not result in any material differences in the thinning quality. Inspections after rework will be made in the same manner as the first inspection but on different plot lines. The Contractor shall pay for inspections necessitated by the rework.

Reinspection of Felling Upon Contractor Request. If the original inspection results are unacceptable to the contractor and a second inspection is requested without rework, the same inspection procedure will be used. However, the inspection pattern will be shifted. If the second inspection shows less than 5 percentage point improvement from the first inspection, the Contractor shall pay the cost of the second inspection, and the result of the first inspection will be used in determining payment. Requests for reinspection must be made in writing.

F. DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

Additional Deliveries or Performance Requirements

a. Performance Period. Task orders will include the performance period.

b. The Government will issue a Task Order as soon as weather and ground conditions are favorable for work. The count of contract time will start on the date specified in the Task Order.

c. It is estimated that adverse weather and/or road conditions may prevent access to the work sites or performance to specifications during the period November 1 to May 1

G. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

1. Liquidated Damages

It is understood and agreed that when inspection determines Stewardship activities quality is below 90 percent and rework would not bring Stewardship activities quality above 90 percent, Contractor would not receive payment for pay item. Alternatively, if quality of Stewardship activities falls below 90 percent and is not corrected, the Government may terminate this contract in whole or in part under the Termination for Default Clause. In that event, the Contractor will be liable for fixed and agreed liquidated damages on all Stewardship activities acres where Stewardship activities quality is less than 90 percent.

2. Method of Payment.

Payment, less deductions will be made for completed pay items at the unit contract price wherever the average felling and removal quality is 90 percent or above, based on inspection as outlined above. Where inspection determines the average felling and removal quality is below 90 percent and rework would not bring average felling and removal quality above 90 percent, Contractor would not receive payment for pay item. Where average felling and removal quality is below 90 percent and rework would bring quality to or above 90 percent, Contractor would not be responsible for second inspection costs. However, if second inspection indicates percent is still below 90 percent, Contractor shall pay for the actual costs of reinspection.

3. Stewardship Credit After inspection of completed acreage, the Contracting Officer must calculate the Stewardship Credit amount.

The Stewardship Credit amount must be calculated by multiplying the number of units (acres, miles, job, ect..) times the Stewardship Activity Offer price per unit when the quality of the Stewardship activities is equal or greater than 90 percent. No Stewardship credits will be established if Stewardship activities quality is below 90 percent.

Stewardship Credit shall be made on a completed unit basis only, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.

Item - Fell and Excavator Pile Sub-Merch Felling and Excavator Piling of all 3.0 inch D.B.H. to 7.9 inch D.B.H (3.0 inch to 6.9 inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine) trees in portions of timber harvest units: 1(21ac.), 8(13ac.), 9(13ac.), 10(4ac.), 11(15ac.) 12(10ac.), 27(3ac.), 31(4ac.), 32(2ac.), 33(10ac.), 38(7ac.), 49(17ac.) and 53(4ac.). An additional 11 acres will be cut and piled along private land near unit 27, shown on map as unit I. Total acres (approx): 134

This activity consists of the felling and excavator piling of sub-merchantable material from the understory and related work in compliance with the terms, specifications and provisions in this contract. Material will be cut and piled in designated areas in the units listed above. This work includes furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals.

B. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The work is located on the Council Ranger District of the Payette National Forest in Adams County, Idaho. The Stewardship Activity Map shows the location of these units. Exterior harvest unit boundaries are marked in the field with orange paint on boundary trees. Excavator piling in unit I along private land does not have painted boundary lines.

C. SCHEDULING OF OPERATIONS.

Unless otherwise agreed, contractor shall complete required slash work on units within the same field season as timber harvesting.

The desired end result of the felling and piling of sub-merch material is to reduce fuels in dense areas of the units to reduce the risk of wildfires.

Before work begins on this Stewardship Activity, the Contractor shall designate, in writing, the person, or persons who shall represent the Contractor during any absence from the project site. In the designation, the Contractor shall describe the areas of responsibility assigned to the representative. Designated representative(s) shall be fully conversant in the English language, and shall be able to fully communicate with all parties.

3. Definition of Terms

Activity slash – All non-merchantable material from cut trees.

Bole - The main stem portion of a tree.

Cut-tree – Trees that are a minimum of 3.0 inches D.B.H. up to 7.9 inches D.B.H, not chosen as a leave tree; trees designated for removal from the stand. Trees marked for boundaries (orange paint) shall not be cut.

Cut-tree – Trees that are a minimum of 3.0 inches D.B.H. up to 7.9 inches D.B.H (3.0 to 6.9 inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine). Trees marked for boundaries (orange paint) shall not be cut.

D.B.H. - (Diameter at Breast Height) - Diameter of the bole measured at a point 4.5 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of a tree.

Damage - Includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, fire and/or equipment; evidenced by such things as dead or broken tops or boles, crooks, cat-faces, and scars.

Excess Trees - Uncut trees that do not meet specifications and that should have been cut.

Excessive Damage - Damage caused by Contractor to leave trees in excess of contract specifications. Excessive damage will include damage to the bole of the tree where the wood is exposed, broken out tops, root damage as evidenced by lean or splitting of the bole, and any tree pushed out of the soil.

Leave Tree - Any tree that is selected or required to be left standing as provided in the specifications. Conifers planned to become part of the forest canopy in the long term

Slash - Limbs and boles of down trees.

Sub-merchantable (Sub-merch) - Trees that do not meet the merchantability specifications for sawtimber.

Understory - The trees less than eight inches D.B.H., or less than seven inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine.

Unit – An area of where contract work will be completed. Unit numbers and estimated sizes are listed in Contractor’s Stewardship Activity Table.

4. Hand Felling and Excavator Piling Specifications

During all operations, care shall be taken to minimize damage to leave trees.

a. Felling Specifications Trees designated for cutting:

· Cut all trees that are a minimum of three (3) inches D.B.H. and less than eight (8) inches D.B.H. for all species except lodgepole pine. Lodgepole pine shall be cut only if it is less than seven (7) inches in diameter.

Trees will be cut by hand. Trees selected to be cut shall be cut at or below four (4) inches above the ground level. If natural obstacles prevent cutting the bole at 4 inches, then the stump shall not exceed six (6) inches above the obstacle. All live limbs shall be removed from the stump. Stumps shall be cut horizontally.

Any material that falls outside of the unit shall be returned to a minimum of 20 feet inside the boundary. All roads within these units shall be kept free of cut material.

b. Excavator Piling Specifications

Piles shall be made using an excavator. Piles shall be compact, free of soil and of sufficient size to facilitate burning. Piles shall be a maximum of 8 feet high and 15 feet in diameter and shall be placed no closer than 25 feet from any standing live tree or Forest boundary. Smaller piles may be placed closer than 25 feet with Forest Service approval. All material extending more than 4 feet beyond the outside perimeter of the pile shall be trimmed off and returned to the pile. Equipment shall be restricted to slopes of 45% or less.

E. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

NOTE: THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE AN INSPECTION SYSTEM THAT ASSURES WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO THE SPECIFICATIONS, BEFORE REQUESTING A GOVERNMENT INSPECTION.

The Government will make periodic visual inspections of the entire unit to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below for felling and excavator piling will be taken to determine the quality of the work performed. The Contractor or designated representative is encouraged to observe the inspection and will receive inspection summaries upon request.

Each unit as designated on the Stewardship Activity Map will be inspected as a separate unit for acceptance or Stewardship Credit. Each sub-item (felling and piling) will be inspected separately and the average percent quality of these two items will be used to determine overall unit quality.

1. Felling Inspection

a. Inspection

The Government will inspect units reported completed for acceptance, as follows:

e. Each Unit, as designated on the attached maps and described in the Schedule of Items, will be visually inspected separately to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below, will be taken to determine the quality of work performed.

f. The inspector will mark a series of 1/20-acre (26.33 ft. horizontal plot radius) plots on the ground. Plot center will be located and marked on the ground. The number of plots to be taken will be based on the unit’s treatment size:

· Treatment areas less than 2 acres = 4 plots per acre with a minimum of 4 plots total.

· Treatment areas greater than 2 acres = 2 plots per acre with a minimum of 8 plots total and a maximum of 16 plots total.

g. Plots will be randomly distributed over the entire acreage within each pay item. When indicated on the Schedule, units will be combined for purposes of inspection and payment.

h. Each tree (including stumps) on each plot will be examined, and each tree will be classified as a Satisfactory Tree (tree meets specifications), a Category “A” Tree (tree does not meet specifications, and is not correctable), or a Category “B” Tree (tree does not meet specifications, and is correctable). See the following tables. Additionally, the following information will be collected:

1. Number of trees on plot.

2. Number of Satisfactory trees.

3. Number of Category “A” trees.

All live trees between 3.0 inches D.B.H and 8.0 inches, (3.0 – 7.0 inches LP) are cut.

CATEGORY "A" TREES

Tree cut exceeds the maximum D.B.H cut limit.

A1 Leave tree damaged excessively by salvage or felling operations.

A2 Improper tree selection (does not meet specifications).

A3

CATEGORY "B" TREES

Not completely severed from stump.

B1 All trees less between 3.0 inches and 8.0 inches at D.B.H. (3.0 -7.0 inches for LP) not cut.

B2 Hang-up tree.

B3 Stump with live limbs.

B4 High stump.

B5

B6

S4 A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

B3

B4

B5

b. Felling Calculation

The Government will use the above information to compute the tree felling quality using the following formula:

Felling quality (percent) = (#Satisfactory trees/#Trees on Plot) X 100

Percentage of felling quality as calculated above will be rounded up to the nearest whole percent.

c. Rework and Reinspection After Rework

When inspection results are below 90 percent and Category “B” trees constitute a part of the deficiency, payment will not be made until the Category “B” trees have been corrected, unless the Contracting Officer determines Category “B” trees to be minor or an isolated situation that will not result in any material differences in the thinning quality. Inspections after rework will be made in the same manner as the first inspection but on different plot lines. The Contractor shall pay for inspections necessitated by the rework.

Reinspection of Felling Upon Contractor Request. If the original inspection results are unacceptable to the contractor and a second inspection is requested without rework, the same inspection procedure will be used. However, the inspection pattern will be shifted. If the second inspection shows less than 5 percentage point improvement from the first inspection, the Contractor shall pay the cost of the second inspection, and the result of the first inspection will be used in determining payment. Requests for reinspection must be made in writing.

1. Excavator Piling Inspection

a. Inspection

The Government will inspect units reported completed for acceptance, as follows:

i. Each Unit, as designated on the attached maps and described in the Schedule of Items, will be visually inspected separately to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below, will be taken to determine the quality of work performed.

j. The inspector will mark a series of 1/20-acre (26.33 ft. horizontal plot radius) plots on the ground. Plot center will be located and marked on the ground. The number of plots to be taken will be based on the unit’s treatment size:

· Treatment areas less than 2 acres = 4 plots per acre with a minimum of 4 plots total.

· Treatment areas greater than 2 acres = 2 plots per acre with a minimum of 8 plots total and a maximum of 16 plots total.

k. Plots will be randomly distributed over the entire acreage within each pay item. When indicated on the Schedule, units will be combined for purposes of inspection and payment.

l. Each pile on each plot will be examined, and classified as a Satisfactory Pile (pile meets specifications.

Satisfactory Piles__________________________________________Inspection Code ________

c. Rework and Reinspection After Rework

When inspection results show that less than 90% of the excavator piles are unsatisfactory, payment will not be made until the piling is corrected. Inspections after rework will be made in the same manner as the first inspection but on different plot lines. The Contractor shall pay for inspections necessitated by the rework.

Reinspection of Felling Upon Contractor Request. If the original inspection results are unacceptable to the contractor and a second inspection is requested without rework, the same inspection procedure will be used. However, the inspection pattern will be shifted. If the second inspection shows less than 5 percentage point improvement from the first inspection, the Contractor shall pay the cost of the second inspection, and the result of the first inspection will be used in determining payment. Requests for reinspection must be made in writing.

F. DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

Additional Deliveries or Performance Requirements

d. Performance Period. Task orders will include the performance period.

e. The Government will issue a Task Order as soon as weather and ground conditions are favorable for work. The count of contract time will start on the date specified in the Task Order.

f. It is estimated that adverse weather and/or road conditions may prevent access to the work sites or performance to specifications during the period November 1 to May 1

G. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

1. Liquidated Damages

It is understood and agreed that when inspection determines Stewardship activities quality is below 90 percent and rework would not bring Stewardship activities quality above 90 percent, Contractor would not receive payment for pay item. Alternatively, if quality of Stewardship activities falls below 90 percent and is not corrected, the Government may terminate this contract in whole or in part under the Termination for Default Clause. In that event, the Contractor will be liable for fixed and agreed liquidated damages on all Stewardship activities acres where Stewardship activities quality is less than 90 percent.

2. Method of Payment.

Payment, less deductions will be made for completed pay items at the unit contract price wherever the average felling and excavator piling quality is 90 percent or above, based on inspection as outlined above. Where inspection determines the average felling and excavator piling quality is below 90 percent and rework would not bring average felling and excavator piling quality above 90 percent, Contractor would not receive payment for pay item. Where average felling and excavator piling quality is below 90 percent and rework would bring quality to at or above 90 percent, Contractor would not be responsible for second inspection costs. However, if second inspection indicates percent is still below 90 percent, Contractor shall pay for the actual costs of reinspection.

3. Stewardship Credit After inspection of completed acreage, the Contracting Officer must calculate the Stewardship Credit amount.

The Stewardship Credit amount must be calculated by multiplying the number of units (acres, miles, job, ect..) times the Stewardship Activity Offer price per unit when the quality of the Stewardship activities is equal or greater than 90 percent. No Stewardship credits will be established if Stewardship activities quality is below 90 percent.

Stewardship Credit shall be made on a completed unit basis only, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.

Item - Fell and Hand Pile Sub-Merch Felling and Hand Piling of 3.0 inch D.B.H. to 7.9 inch D.B.H (3.0 inch to 6.9 inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine) trees in handpile units A – H. Total acres (approx): 47

This activity consists of the felling and hand piling of sub-merchantable material from the understory and related work in compliance with the terms, specifications and provisions in this contract. Material will be cut and piled in designated areas as displayed on the Stewardship Activity map. Some areas of hand piling will be on slopes greater than 45%. This work includes furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals.

B. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The work is located on the Council Ranger District of the Payette National Forest in Adams County, Idaho. The Stewardship Activity Map shows the location of these units.

C. SCHEDULING OF OPERATIONS.

Unless otherwise agreed, contractor shall complete required work in all units listed above within 90 calendar days of initiating work.

Operation Restrictions: No activity will be allowed in hand pile areas B, C and D from March 1st to September 30th to minimize disturbance during goshawk nesting and post-fledging periods. If goshawk nest is found to be inactive by June 30th, activities may resume with approval from the Wildlife Biologist.

The desired end result of the felling and piling of sub-merch material is to reduce fuels in dense areas of the units to reduce the risk of wildfires. Piles will be burned at a later time by the Forest Service.

Before work begins on this Stewardship Activity, the Contractor shall designate, in writing, the person, or persons who shall represent the Contractor during any absence from the project site. In the designation, the Contractor shall describe the areas of responsibility assigned to the representative. Designated representative(s) shall be fully conversant in the English language, and shall be able to fully communicate with all parties.

3. Definition of Terms

Activity slash – All non-merchantable material from cut trees.

Bole - The main stem portion of a tree.

Buffer - A strip of uncut trees, commonly separating or bordering sensitive areas such as streams or riparian zones.

Crown - That portion of a tree that has green needles or leaves.

Cut-tree – Trees that are a minimum of 4.5 feet tall and 3.0 inch D.B.H. to 7.9 inch D.B.H (3.0 inch to 6.9 inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine). Trees marked for boundaries (orange paint) shall not be cut.

D.B.H. - (Diameter at Breast Height) - Diameter of the bole measured at a point 4.5 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of a tree.

Damage - Includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, fire and/or equipment; evidenced by such things as dead or broken tops or boles, crooks, cat-faces, and scars.

Dripline – The line extending vertically from the exterior edge of a tree’s live crown to the ground.

Excess Trees - Uncut trees that do not meet specifications and that should have been cut.

Excessive Damage - Damage caused by Contractor to leave trees in excess of contract specifications. Excessive damage will include damage to the bole of the tree where the wood is exposed, broken out tops, root damage as evidenced by lean or splitting of the bole, and any tree pushed out of the soil.

Leave Tree - Any tree that is selected or required to be left standing as provided in the specifications. Conifers planned to become part of the forest canopy in the long term

Riparian Conservation Area (RCA) – An area adjacent to a stream, lake, or wet area that supports riparian vegetation, and/or influences the characteristics of the stream, lake, or wet area. Also referred to as a SMZ or Streamside Management Zone.

Riparian Vegetation – The vegetation bordering watercourses, lakes, bogs, and seeps.

Slash - Limbs and boles of down trees.

Sub-merchantable (Sub-merch) - Trees that do not meet the merchantability specifications for sawtimber.

Understory - The trees less than eight inches D.B.H., or less than seven inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine.

Unit – An area of where contract work will be completed. Unit numbers and estimated sizes are listed in Contractor’s Stewardship Activity Table.

4. Felling and Hand Piling Specifications

a. Felling Specifications Trees designated for cutting:

· Cut all trees that are a minimum of three (3) inches D.B.H. and less than eight (8) inches D.B.H. for all species except lodgepole pine. (Lodgepole pine shall be cut only if it is less than seven (7) inches in diameter.)

· In hand pile area C, cut only trees 3-8 inches D.B.H. that occur under or within 5 feet of the dripline of an overstory tree.

· In all Riparian Areas do not cut trees if the height of the tree is greater than the distance from that tree to the stream.

Trees shall be cut by hand. Trees selected to be cut shall be cut at or below four (4) inches above the ground level. If natural obstacles prevent cutting the bole at 4 inches, then the stump shall not exceed six (6) inches above the obstacle. All live limbs shall be removed from the stump. Stumps shall be cut horizontally.

b. Piling Specifications Sub-merch material shall be piled by hand. Piles shall be compact, free of soil and of sufficient size to facilitate burning. Piles shall be a minimum of 4 feet high and shall be placed no closer than 20 feet from any standing live tree or Forest boundary. All material extending more than 4 feet beyond the outside perimeter of the pile shall be trimmed off and returned to the pile.

In Riparian Areas the District Hydrologist and/or Fisheries Biologist will need to approve placement of hand piles within the RCA.

E. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

NOTE: THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE AN INSPECTION SYSTEM THAT ASSURES WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO THE SPECIFICATIONS, BEFORE REQUESTING A GOVERNMENT INSPECTION.

The Government will make periodic visual inspections of the entire unit to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below for felling and excavator piling will be taken to determine the quality of the work performed. The Contractor or designated representative is encouraged to observe the inspection and will receive inspection summaries upon request.

Each unit as designated on the Stewardship Activity Map will be inspected as a separate unit for acceptance or Stewardship Credit. Each sub-item (felling and piling) will be inspected separately and the average percent quality of these two items will be used to determine overall unit quality.

1. Felling Inspection

a. Inspection

The Government will inspect units reported completed for acceptance, as follows:

m. Each Unit, as designated on the attached maps and described in the Schedule of Items, will be visually inspected separately to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below, will be taken to determine the quality of work performed.

n. The inspector will mark a series of 1/20-acre (26.33 ft. horizontal plot radius) plots on the ground. Plot center will be located and marked on the ground. The number of plots to be taken will be based on the unit’s treatment size:

· Treatment areas less than 2 acres = 4 plots per acre with a minimum of 4 plots total.

· Treatment areas greater than 2 acres = 2 plots per acre with a minimum of 8 plots total and a maximum of 16 plots total.

o. Plots will be randomly distributed over the entire acreage within each pay item. When indicated on the Schedule, units will be combined for purposes of inspection and payment.

p. Each tree (including stumps) on each plot will be examined, and each tree will be classified as a Satisfactory Tree (tree meets specifications), a Category “A” Tree (tree does not meet specifications, and is not correctable), or a Category “B” Tree (tree does not meet specifications, and is correctable). See the following tables. Additionally, the following information will be collected:

1. Number of trees on plot.

2. Number of Satisfactory trees.

3. Number of Category “A” trees.

All live trees between 3.0 inches D.B.H and 8.0 inches, (3.0 – 7.0 inches LP) are cut.

CATEGORY "A" TREES

Trees cut exceeds the maximum D.B.H cut limit.

A1 Leave trees damaged excessively by or felling operations.

A2 Improper tree selection (does not meet specifications).

A3

CATEGORY "B" TREES

Not completely severed from stump.

B1 All trees between 3.0 inches and 8.0 inches at D.B.H. (3.0 -7.0 inches for LP) not cut.

B2 Hang-up tree.

B3 Stump with live limbs.

B4 High stump.

B5

B6

S4 A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

B3

B4

B5

b. Felling Calculation

The Government will use the above information to compute the tree felling quality using the following formula:

Felling quality (percent) = (#Satisfactory trees/#Trees on Plot) X 100

Percentage of felling quality as calculated above will be rounded up to the nearest whole percent.

c. Rework and Reinspection After Rework

When inspection results are below 90 percent and Category “B” trees constitute a part of the deficiency, payment will not be made until the Category “B” trees have been corrected, unless the Contracting Officer determines Category “B” trees to be minor or an isolated situation that will not result in any material differences in the thinning quality. Inspections after rework will be made in the same manner as the first inspection but on different plot lines. The Contractor shall pay for inspections necessitated by the rework.

Reinspection of Felling Upon Contractor Request. If the original inspection results are unacceptable to the contractor and a second inspection is requested without rework, the same inspection procedure will be used. However, the inspection pattern will be shifted. If the second inspection shows less than 5 percentage point improvement from the first inspection, the Contractor shall pay the cost of the second inspection, and the result of the first inspection will be used in determining payment. Requests for reinspection must be made in writing.

1. Hand Piling Inspection

a. Inspection

The Government will inspect units reported completed for acceptance, as follows:

q. Each Unit, as designated on the attached maps and described in the Schedule of Items, will be visually inspected separately to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below, will be taken to determine the quality of work performed.

r. The inspector will mark a series of 1/20-acre (26.33 ft. horizontal plot radius) plots on the ground. Plot center will be located and marked on the ground. The number of plots to be taken will be based on the unit’s treatment size:

· Treatment areas less than 2 acres = 4 plots per acre with a minimum of 4 plots total.

· Treatment areas greater than 2 acres = 2 plots per acre with a minimum of 8 plots total and a maximum of 16 plots total.

s. Plots will be randomly distributed over the entire acreage within each pay item. When indicated on the Schedule, units will be combined for purposes of inspection and payment.

t. Each pile on each plot will be examined, and classified as a Satisfactory Pile (pile meets specifications.

Satisfactory Piles__________________________________________Inspection Code ________

c. Rework and Reinspection After Rework

When inspection results show that less than 90% of the hand piles are unsatisfactory, payment will not be made until the piling is corrected. Inspections after rework will be made in the same manner as the first inspection but on different plot lines. The Contractor shall pay for inspections necessitated by the rework.

Reinspection of Felling Upon Contractor Request. If the original inspection results are unacceptable to the contractor and a second inspection is requested without rework, the same inspection procedure will be used. However, the inspection pattern will be shifted. If the second inspection shows less than 5 percentage point improvement from the first inspection, the Contractor shall pay the cost of the second inspection, and the result of the first inspection will be used in determining payment. Requests for reinspection must be made in writing.

F. DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

Additional Deliveries or Performance Requirements

g. Performance Period. Task orders will include the performance period.

h. The Government will issue a Task Order as soon as weather and ground conditions are favorable for work. The count of contract time will start on the date specified in the Task Order.

i. It is estimated that adverse weather and/or road conditions may prevent access to the work sites or performance to specifications during the period November 1 to May 1

G. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

1. Liquidated Damages

It is understood and agreed that when inspection determines Stewardship activities quality is below 90 percent and rework would not bring Stewardship activities quality above 90 percent, Contractor would not receive payment for pay item. Alternatively, if quality of Stewardship activities falls below 90 percent and is not corrected, the Government may terminate this contract in whole or in part under the Termination for Default Clause. In that event, the Contractor will be liable for fixed and agreed liquidated damages on all Stewardship activities acres where Stewardship activities quality is less than 90 percent.

2. Method of Payment.

Payment, less deductions will be made for completed pay items at the unit contract price wherever the average felling and excavator piling quality is 90 percent or above, based on inspection as outlined above. Where inspection determines the average felling and excavator piling quality is below 90 percent and rework would not bring average felling and excavator piling quality above 90 percent, Contractor would not receive payment for pay item. Where average felling and excavator piling quality is below 90 percent and rework would bring quality to at or above 90 percent, Contractor would not be responsible for second inspection costs. However, if second inspection indicates percent is still below 90 percent, Contractor shall pay for the actual costs of reinspection.

3. Stewardship Credit After inspection of completed acreage, the Contracting Officer must calculate the Stewardship Credit amount.

The Stewardship Credit amount must be calculated by multiplying the number of units (acres, miles, job, ect..) times the Stewardship Activity Offer price per unit when the quality of the Stewardship activities is equal or greater than 90 percent. No Stewardship credits will be established if Stewardship activities quality is below 90 percent.

Stewardship Credit shall be made on a completed unit basis only, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.

Item - Fell, Lop and Scatter Sub-Merch Fell, lop and scatter all trees 3.0 inches D.B.H to 7.9 inches D.B.H. (3.0 inch to 6.9 inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine) within units # 39 and 51.

Total acres (Approx): 60

This activity consists of hand felling and lopping of sub-merchantable material in the understory and related work in compliance with the terms, specifications and provisions in this contract. This includes furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals.

B. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The work is located on the Council Ranger District of the Payette National Forest in Adams County, Idaho. The Stewardship Activity Map shows the location of these units.

C. SCHEDULING OF OPERATIONS.

Unless otherwise agreed, contractor shall complete required work on all units listed above within 90 calendar days of initiating work.

Operation Restrictions: No activity will be allowed in these units from March 1st to September 30th to minimize disturbance during goshawk nesting and post-fledging periods. If goshawk nest is found to be inactive by June 30th, activities may resume with approval from the Wildlife Biologist.

The desired end result of the felling, lopping and scattering is to reduce wildfire risk by removing fuels from the understory while maintaining a dense overstory cover for goshawk habitat.

Before work begins on this Stewardship Activity, the Contractor shall designate, in writing, the person, or persons who shall represent the Contractor during any absence from the project site. In the designation, the Contractor shall describe the areas of responsibility assigned to the representative. Designated representative(s) shall be fully conversant in the English language, and shall be able to fully communicate with all parties.

3. Definition of Terms

Activity slash – All non-merchantable material from cut trees.

Bole - The main stem portion of a tree.

Cut-tree – Trees that are a minimum of 3.0 inches D.B.H. up to 7.9 inches D.B.H (3.0 inch to 6.9 inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine), Trees marked for boundaries (orange paint) shall not be cut.

D.B.H. - (Diameter at Breast Height) - Diameter of the bole measured at a point 4.5 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of a tree.

Damage - Includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, fire and/or equipment; evidenced by such things as dead or broken tops or boles, crooks, cat-faces, and scars.

Excess Trees - Uncut trees that do not meet specifications and should have been cut.

Excessive Damage - Damage caused by Contractor to leave trees in excess of contract specifications. Excessive damage will include damage to the bole of the tree where the wood is exposed, broken out tops, root damage as evidenced by lean or splitting of the bole, and any tree pushed out of the soil.

Leave Tree - Any tree that is selected or required to be left standing as provided in the specifications. Conifers planned to become part of the forest canopy in the long term

Riparian Conservation Area (RCA) – An area adjacent to a stream, lake, or wet area that supports riparian vegetation, and/or influences the characteristics of the stream, lake, or wet area. Also referred to as a SMZ or Streamside Management Zone.

Riparian Vegetation – The vegetation bordering watercourses, lakes, bogs, and seeps.

Sub-merchantable (Sub-merch) - Trees that do not meet the merchantability specifications for sawtimber.

Sweep - Gentle curvature in the bole of a tree.

Understory - The trees less than eight inches D.B.H., or less than seven inches D.B.H. for lodgepole pine.

Unit – An area of where contract work will be completed. Unit numbers and estimated sizes are listed in Contractor’s Stewardship Activity Table. Actual acres will be measured.

4. Felling and Lopping Specifications

a. Felling Specifications

Trees designated for cutting:

· Cut all trees that are a minimum of three (3) inches D.B.H. and less than eight (8) inches D.B.H. for all species except lodgepole pine. Lodgepole pine shall be cut only if it is less than seven (7) inches in diameter.

Trees selected as cut trees shall be cut at or below four (4) inches above the ground level. If natural obstacles prevent severing the bole at that point, stump height shall not exceed four (4) inches above the obstacle. All live limbs shall be removed from the stump. Stumps shall be cut horizontally.

Material to be cut within 50 feet of the boundary of a unit shall be felled toward the center of the unit, where it is safe to do so. Any material that falls outside of the unit shall be returned to a minimum of 20 feet inside the boundary. All roads within these units shall be kept free of cut material. Cut vegetation shall be felled along the contour as much as possible for water runoff soil movement protection.

c. Lop and Scatter Specifications

Contractor shall lop and scatter the 3.0 inch D.B.H. to 7.9 inch D.B.H. cut trees as shown on the Stewardship Activity Map.

All material will be lopped so that it does not extend up over 2 feet in height above the ground. Boles of lopped trees will be left in segments no longer than 6 feet. Slash will be pulled away at least 10 feet laterally and 15 feet away from above and below the boles of residual trees and scattered, so that slash does not form a berm around residual trees.

E. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

NOTE: THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE AN INSPECTION SYSTEM THAT ASSURES WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO THE SPECIFICATIONS, BEFORE REQUESTING A GOVERNMENT INSPECTION.

The Government will make periodic visual inspections of the entire unit to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below for felling, lopping and scattering will be taken to determine the quality of the work performed. The Contractor or designated representative is encouraged to observe the inspection and will receive inspection summaries upon request.

Each unit as designated on the Stewardship Activity Map will be inspected as a separate unit for acceptance or Stewardship Credit. Each sub-item (felling, lop and scatter) will be inspected separately and the average percent quality of these two items will be used to determine overall unit quality.

1. Felling Inspection

a. Inspection

The Government will inspect units reported completed for acceptance, as follows:

u. Each Unit, as designated on the attached maps and described in the Schedule of Items, will be visually inspected separately to determine adherence to the specifications. If the visual inspection indicates unsatisfactory work, then a series of plots, as outlined below, will be taken to determine the quality of work performed.

v. The inspector will mark a series of 1/20-acre (26.33 ft. horizontal plot radius) plots on the ground. Plot center will be located and marked on the ground.