26AUG2015_Solicitation_AG-82BH-S-15-0032_Stand_Exam_Section_B_to_M.pdf

Solicitation Number AG-82BH-S-15-0032

Pike National Forest, South Park Ranger District

Proposed Common Stand Examination Project

SECTION B – PRICES / COSTS SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

B. 1. BASE BID

PAY

ITEM

DESCRIPTION

UNIT

OF

ISSUE

QUANTITY

UNIT

PRICE

TOTAL

PRICE

00001

Stand Exam Data

Collection Services Plot

1,300

(in 217 stands)

TOTAL $

Vendor Information:

Company Name: _____________________________

Company Address: _____________________________

DUNS Number: _____________________________

Federal Tax

Identification Number:____________________________

Point Of Contact: _____________________________

Telephone Number: ____________________________

E-Mail Address: ____________________________

U. S. Forest Service

Point Of Contact: USDA Forest Service

Attn: David F. Siekaniec

2840 Kachina Drive

Pueblo, CO 81008-1560

All invoices are to be submitted via the electronic Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). This is a mandatory requirement initiated by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

For further information the following World Wide Web Internet address is provided:

https://www.ipp.gov/index.htm

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS / STATEMENT OF WORK

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

COMMON STAND EXAMINATION FOR 2015

SOUTH PARK STAND EXAMS

C. 1. INTRODUCTION

C.1.1. Scope of Contract

Contract is for stand examination data collection activities within the Pike and San Isabel National

Forest.

Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, transportation, supervision, supplies (except those designated as

Government-furnished), incidentals, and perform all work necessary to conduct stand examinations in compliance with terms, conditions, specifications, conditions, and provisions of contract.

Information shall be collected as outlined in Chapter 4 of the Government provided Common Stand Exam

User Guide and Region specific Appendices, unless specifically modified by the contents of Contract.

C.1.1.1. Contract is a Commercial Services Performance Based Firm-Fixed Price.

C.1.2. Location and Description

LIST UNIT INFORMATION:

1. A list of polygons to be surveyed is included in Exhibit 6.

2. Shapefiles of the sample stands and sample plot locations to be measured within each stand have been created. A “.kmz” file of the plot locations is provided within Section “J” titled List of

Dcouments, Exhibits, and Other Attachments. If unable to open or use the “.kmz” file, shapefiles or a “.gpx” file can be provided by Ed Biery, who can be reached at email address ehbiery@fs.fed.us, or at telephone number 719-553-1473.

3. The stands to be sampled are in Park County.

C.1.3 Performance Period

Period of performance for this requirement is 300 calendar days from receipt of a Notice to Proceed.

If a winter shutdown is necessary, those days will not count against the 300 calendar days.

C. 2. DEFINITIONS

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

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The on-site contract representative of Contracting

Officer. The duties and responsibilities of COR are defined in the letter of designation issued by

Contracting Officer (CO).

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

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).

C. 3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

As stated within Section I titled CONTRACT CLAUSES.

Use of Premises permits may be required for Contractor’s camp if it exceeds local occupation time limit. All maps, aerial photos, and other unused Government furnished items shall be returned to the

Government upon completion of the job or upon request of CO and or COR.

Aerial photos (if requested) must be given exceptional care and returned to the COR in essentially the same condition as delivered.

Replacement cost for any lost, damaged, or unused Government property that is not returned, shall be deducted from Contractor’s final payment at the following rates: aerial photos unit price of

$10.00 each.

C. 4. CONTRACTOR WORK REQUIREMENTS and STANDARDS

C.4.1. General Specifications

C.4.1.1. Accessibility

Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary permission to gain access to sample locations. If Contractor cannot obtain permission to access a sample location, Contractor must notify the COR in writing in a timely manner.

Accessibility may be determined from maps, aerial photographs, or digital orthoquads which will be furnished by the Forest Service. Contractor shall be responsible for adhering to the USDA Forest

Service travel management plan, including yearlong or seasonal closures to motor vehicles, unless authorization is obtained from COR. Maps and photos may indicate that a road goes to the stand;

however, vehicle access may be difficult or restricted. Stand locations may necessitate that

Contractor walk to the stand or acquire some other means of travel. Most stands have road access, or have access through contiguous sample stands. Those that aren’t are generally within 1 mile of a road.

Most roads are accessible between the months of May through October, though high clearance vehicles may be necessary on some roads. A four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle is recommended if these roads become saturated with water. The Government assumes no responsibility to maintain roads in a passable condition.

4.1.2 Resource Protection Conditions

Contractor is expected to respond to sensitive resource conditions, i.e. walk to plots where road conditions are poor and or wet.

4.1.3 Work Plan and Schedule

Contractor shall prepare a Work Plan and Schedule that demonstrates that work will be completed within the performance period described in Section F. Contractor shall provide a generalized Work

Plan as well as Contractors proposed Schedule with the technical proposal.

4.1.3.1 Contractor shall advise CO and COR of any periods Contractor will not be working that are not specified in the accepted Work Plan and Schedule.

4.1.3.2 Contractor may update their Work Plan with adequate justification when work is in progress and submit for consideration to CO and COR.

C.4.2 Technical Specifications

A. Locating Plots – New Plots in untreated or recently treated stands (n=1300)

1. Plot Location Determination. The UTM coordinates of the plot locations for each stand are provided in Exhibit 1. Contractor shall use a geographic position system

(GPS) to locate the plots on the ground with datum and waypoint information provided by the Government.

2. A shapefile and a .kml of the sample plot locations to be measured within each stand have been created. They may be requested from COR.

3. Plot numbers have been pre-assigned for each plot in each stand.

4. Locating Plot Center. Upon arrival at the specified coordinates, Contractor shall check the photos to see if he/she is at the correct sample plot location and adjust as necessary. Contractor shall locate the sample plot location on the ground. Installing plots in the wrong stand shall result in rejection of data.

5. Non-functioning GPS. If on a particular day the GPS is unable to acquire satellites to execute the traverse from waypoint data or the GPS is unusable for any other reason

Contractor may elect to use traditional methods of plot location. In any event

Contractor will travel to the sample plot locations to be measured within each stand that have been marked on digital orthophoto prints.

B. Plot Center Identification/Flagging

1. Contractor shall identify sample plot centers with a marker that will be a wire flag and a spike (spike will be provided by the Government), which will be set completely flush with the ground, or other marker as agreed upon at the pre-work conference. Upon inspection, the center point of the marker where it intersects the ground shall be used as plot center. Sample plot center markers shall be firmly driven into the ground.

2. Flagging shall be tied to the marker, and so that it is visible above the plot center.

The location, stand, and plot number shall be written legibly on the flagging or wire flag using a waterproof marker. For example: "US0102, Stand 209, plot l, examiner’s initials”. In addition, a 1’ piece of flagging will be placed at the end of the Brown’s transect.

3. Five (5) digital photos will be taken at each plot. They shall be: plot id on dry erase board; uphill and downhill; across the hillside; and of plot center (oblique shot from

6-10’). The photos will be identified in the delivered file with the stand and point number, either in the photo name, or in a caption, or using any other protocol agreed-upon at the pre-work meeting. These photos will be repeated post-treatment, so it is important to try to include in the field of view objects that are likely to remain after a fuels reduction. Examples are: large trees, old trees, large rocks, and large old stumps.

Using a zoom is generally not helpful with photos that are intended to be retaken in the future.

4. The photos will be delivered to the COR organized in folders for each stand, and sub-folders for each point. Photos can be delivered via CD, DVD, or a USB device that has been scanned for viruses, or using any other protocol agreed-upon at the pre-work meeting.

C. Survey Technique

Plots shall be located using waypoint navigation with a GPS unit. Plots shall be located on the ground according to orthophoto print location. Acceptable error is +/- 50 feet of the true plot location. Recurring errors in location of sample plots greater than the acceptable error shall make the stand survey unsatisfactory and relocation of sample plots and remeasurement shall be required. In cases where Government provided photo plot location differs from GPS UTM location found on the ground the photo location will prevail.

D. Recording Requirements

The data fields to be collected and recorded are enumerated in Section C 4.3. Data

Collection Specifications.

Data shall be recorded electronically using one or more of the following:

Government provided ExamsPDR program. The ExamsPDR program runs on several types of PDR style computers with the Windows CE or Windows Pocket

PC 2003 operating system Government provided Exams PC program. The Exams

PC data entry program runs on computers with the Windows 2000/XP operating systems. This may require data to be recorded on paper forms in the field and then entered into the Exams PC program at a later time.

Contractor is responsible for providing the computer hardware necessary for running the software program’s.

E. Qualifications

The success of this field inventory is dependent primarily on Contractor's professionalism and expertise. It is necessary Contractor's staff meet certain standards. A crew can consist of one or more individuals. Minimum technical qualifications are specifically defined as follows:

1. Each crew must have a crew leader with undergraduate courses in mensuration, tree identification, plant identification, silviculture, and ecology and three months prior experience collecting data for Forest inventory or vegetation classification.

2. Each crew leader must also have the additional following minimum qualifications:

a. Proficient in the interpretation of aerial photography and associated maps.

b. Ability to distinguish between stand types both in the field and on original or photocopied aerial photographs.

c. Knowledge in the use of hand held compass, pacing, and map measurements.

d. Ability to accurately identify necessary tree, shrub, forb, and grass species needed for identifying local habitat types.

e. Knowledge of rating tree defects and parasitic plants.

f. Knowledge of common forest insect pests and diseases.

g. Familiar with habitat typing.

h. Proficient in the use of forest measurement equipment.

i. Proficient in the use of GPS equipment and data recorders.

Specific technical experience may be substituted for a given educational requirement.

Contractor shall designate crew leaders for each crew. The crew leader shall be the individual responsible for ensuring plot measurements are taken in accordance with the accuracy standards.

Contractor by acceptance of Contract Award agrees to use only personnel meeting the aforementioned education requirments and qualifications for performance of the work specified herein. The Government reserves the right to make determinations of

Contractors employees' qualifications and any Contractors employee who does not meet the above described qualifications may be requested to leave the worksite with Contractor responsible for the re-collection and re-submitting any data supplied by that employee.

F. Fire suppression equipment will be required at all work sites.

EMERGENCY CONTROL - FIRE PLAN

This plan outlines the channels of responsibility for fire prevention and suppression activities and sets up an attack procedure in the event of a fire within the project area. The project area is defined as the area within the National Forest and within one-half mile of the project right-of-way, work areas, and all roads used for construction purposes.

A. Tools and Equipment

1. Tools.

(a) The contractor shall furnish and maintain in a serviceable condition one shovel or pulaski for each of his employees, to be used only for suppressing forest fires. These tools will be kept in sealed boxes and available within the immediate working areas.

(b) The contractor shall furnish one shovel, LHRP, size 0 or larger, one ax, two pound or larger, for each truck, each personnel vehicle, each tractor, and each grader. For each welder, he shall furnish one shovel, LHRP, size 0 or larger, and one backpack, five-gallon pump; for each gasoline power tool (power saw, soil auger, etc.), one shovel, LHRP, size 0 or larger, and one eight-ounce chemical pressurized fire extinguisher. Contractor shall also furnish any other equipment called for elsewhere in the contract.

(c) All fire tools and equipment required to be furnished by the contractor shall be in good working condition at all times.

2. Equipment. Prior to the beginning of each fire season, the contractor shall furnish a list of equipment used on the project, on forms provided by the Forest Service.

3. Manpower. The contractor shall furnish a list of supervisory personnel and amount of manpower available on the project on forms furnished by the Forest Service.

Changes in supervisory personnel and amount of manpower shall be reflected in amendment to the list.

B. General Provisions

1. Fire Prevention

(a) Burning, Blasting, or Welding. During the period from April 15 through November 15, advance approval in writing will be required and will contain special stipulations pertinent to the particular job. The District Ranger may give, in writing, seasonal approval with stipulations for blasting and/or welding. At no time will use of detonating cord be allowed in clearing operations. At all times, explosives will be stored in a locked box marked

"Explosives." All Federal, State and local laws concerning the use and storage of explosives shall be complied with.

(b) Spark Arrestors. All diesel or gasoline operated engines, except those machines equipped with exhaust driven turbochargers, and all flues used on the project and in construction camps shall be equipped with adequate, serviceable arresting devices that meet

Forest Service Standard 5100-1, Spark Arrestors for Internal Combustion Engines.

Information in this standard will be furnished upon request.

(c) Lunch and Warming Fires. Permits will be issued by the District Ranger or his representative specifying conditions for lunch and warming fires during the period april 15 through November 15.

(d) Smoking. The contractor may permit smoking by his employees from April 15 through

October 31, but only in safe places such as: along roads, in truck cabs, or where all inflammable material has been cleared away from an area at least three feet in diameter.

During periods of high fire danger, smoking may be prohibited by the District Ranger except in truck cabs and at places of habitation. Under no circumstances will smoking be permitted during the period of April 15 through October 31 while operating tractors or other open-type vehicles in areas not cleared to mineral soil, or while walking or working in such areas.

(e) Power Saws. Gas and oil will be carried only in metal safety cans.

(f) Storage and Parking Areas. Equipment service areas, parking areas, gas and oil drum storage areas, and explosive storage areas will be cleared of all inflammable material for a distance of 50 feet. Small stationary engine sites shall be cleared of all inflammable material for a distance of 15 feet. Inflammable and explosive storage areas will be labeled as such and "No Smoking" signs erected.

(g) Oil Filters, Cartridges, Oily Rags. Used and discarded oil filters, cartridges, and oily rags or waste will be buried in mineral soil or burned in a safe area. Glass jugs or bottles will not be used for gas, oil, or water.

C.4.3 Data Collection Specifications

This section describes the data collection forms and the fields on each form to be completed.

Detailed information and lists of valid codes for each of the following data forms are found in the Common Stand Exam (CSE) User Guide and Appendices. (See Government

Furnished Property) If the following Contract specifications differ from the provided

Common Stand Exam User Guide and Appendices listed in C.4.4 below, the following

Contract specifications shall have precedent.

A. Setting Form (CSE)

A setting is normally a stand in which the stand exam is being done. Following is a list of data fields required for each setting. Project name (Field 1) will be supplied by the

Government.

Contractor shall be responsible for collecting and filling out the Setting Form for all data items that are set to “YES” in the Required column:

FIELD

NUMBER

FIELD

DESCRIPTION

REQUIRED

DATA

SOURCE

COMMENTS

1 Project Name Yes Government CSE 2015 SOPA

2 Region Yes Government Always ‘02’

3 Proclaimed

Forest

Yes Government Always ‘08’

4 District Yes Government Always ‘10’

5 Location/Waters hed Alias

Yes Site List See Exhibit1 – Survey

Stand List, as identified in Section J, titled List of

Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

6 Stand Yes Site List See Exhibit 1 – Survey

Stand List, as identified in Section J, titled List of

Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

12 Date Yes Contractor

14 Exam Level Yes Government Always ‘3221’

15 Exam Purpose Yes Government Always ‘SE’

18 Potential Veg

Ref

Yes Government Always ‘201’

19 Potential

Vegetation

Yes Contractor

20 Structure Yes Contractor

21 Capable Grow

Area

Yes Contractor

23 Elevation Yes Site List

24 Aspect Yes Site List

25 Slope Yes Site List

26 Slope Position Yes Contractor

27 Acres Yes Site List

28 Radial Growth

Interval

Yes Contractor Always “10”

FIELD

DESCRIPTION

REQUIRED

DATA

SOURCE

COMMENTS

32 Precision

Protocol

Yes Contractor Always “CSE”

33 Examiner Yes Contractor

34 Remarks Yes Contractor

All Setting Form fields, whether required by Contract or not, are included on the setting form provided in the exhibits, as identified in Section J, titled List of Documents, Exhibits, and

Other Attachments. Fields not specifically required by Contract are to be skipped on the setting form.

B. Sample Design Form (CSE)

Contractor shall use a 10 BAF for overstory trees.

Contractor shall use a plot size of 1/300 (6.8’ dia.) on 3 small fixed plots for understory trees.

The 1 st is at plot center, and the other 2 at each end of the Brown’s transects. It will be recorded as a 1/100 sample.

Contractor shall collect piece count data on 2, 50 foot transects.

Contractor shall be responsible for collecting and filling out the Sample Design Form for all data items that are set to “YES” in the Required column. Contractor shall use the Sample

Design form in Exhibit 2 as the template for all plots.

FIELD

DESCRIPTION

REQUIRED DATA

SOURCE

COMMENTS

Region Yes Government

Proclaimed Forest Yes Government

District Yes Government

Location/Watershe d Alias

Yes Site List

Stand Number Yes Site List

1 Sample Selection

Method

Yes Government See Exhibit 1 –

Survey Stand List, as identified in Section

J, titled List of

Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

2 Sample Expansion

Factor

Yes Contractor or

Government

See Exhibit 1 –

Survey Stand List, as identified in Section

J, titled List of

Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

3 Starting Azimuth Yes Contractor Collected for

Brown’s

4 Subpop Filter Yes Government See Exhibit 2 –

Sample Design Form, as identified in

Section J, titled List of Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

5 Selection Criteria

Number

Yes Government See Exhibit 2 –

Sample Design Form, as identified in

Section J, titled List of Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

6 Subpop Variable Yes Government See Exhibit 2 –

Sample Design Form, as identified in

Section J, titled List of Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

7 Subpop Minimum

Value

Yes Government See Exhibit 2 –

Sample Design Form, as identified in

Section J, titled List of Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

8 Subpop Maximum

Value

Yes Government See Exhibit 2 –

Sample Design Form, as identified in

Section J, titled List of Documents, Exhibits, and Other

Attachments.

9 Remarks No Contractor

All sample design fields, whether required by Contract or not, are included on the design form provided in the exhibits. Fields not specifically required by Contract are to be skipped on the setting form.

C. Plot Form (CSE)

The following items are required to be recorded at each plot on the Plot form. Detailed information and lists of valid codes for each data item are found in the Common Stand Exam

Users Guide and Appendices (see Government Furnished Property). Contractor shall be responsible for collecting and filling out the Plot Data Form for all data items that are set to

“YES” in the Required column.

Amend Common Stand Exam User Guide, Chapter 4, Plot Data with the following:

Capable Grow Area Percent. Based on a 1/10 th acre plot, ocular estimate and record the percent of the area that can support tree growth. If the plot has no trees present and is not capable of supporting tree growth (nonstockable), record a 0 percent. If a portion of the plot is capable of supporting trees (stockable), record the percent of the plot area that is capable of supporting trees.

DESCRIPTION

REQUIRED

DATA

SOURCE

COMMENTS

Region Yes Government

Proclaimed Forest Yes Government

District Yes Government

Location/Watershed

Alias

Yes Site List

Stand Number Yes Site List

1 Plot Number Yes Contractor

2 Latitude No Contractor

3 Longitude No Contractor

4 Capable Grow Area Yes Contractor Measured on a

1/10 ac plot

5 Aspect Yes Contractor

6 Slope Yes Contractor

7 Slope Position Yes Contractor

8 Slope Horizontal

Shape

Yes Contractor

9 Slope Vertical Shape Yes Contractor

16 History Yes Contractor

17 History Date Yes Contractor

19 Plot Remarks Yes Contractor Please use plot remarks

All plot data fields, whether required by Contract or not, are included on the plot data form provided in the exhibits. Fields not specifically required by Contract are to be skipped on the form.

D. Tree Form (CSE)

Begin recording standing tree data on the Tree form at azimuth 360 (North), progressing in a clockwise direction around plot center. Trees shall be recorded in the following order:

a. Live Trees and Dead Standing trees located on the variable radius plot.

b. Live Trees located on the small fixed radius plots.

c. Site trees that are located off plot.

All tree data fields, whether required by Contract or not, are included on the tree data form provided in the exhibits. Fields not specifically required by Contract are to be skipped on the form.

Amend Common Stand Exam User Guide, Chapter 4, Tree Data with the following:

Field 4: Site/Growth Trees. A minimum of 1 site trees will be sampled per plot, up to a maximum of 3 per stand. Site tree species selected will be representative of the species comprising the cover type of the stand. Acceptable site tree species are listed in Exhibit 4 -- List of Acceptable Site Tree Species.

If more than 1 tree species is expected to be present in the stand, then two large (>=

5.0” DBH) GST (of different species) will be measured on each plot. The largest cohort in each stand will be sampled.

Field 9: Height. Heights will be required for all trees recorded.

Field 22,23,25: Damage. The presence or absence of Dwarf Mistletoe will be checked on all trees. Always record if present regardless of what other damages have been recorded. For all other damages record only those significant damages that are most affecting tree growth and/or longevity. For all trees, a maximum of 3 damages will be recorded. If a tree has no significant damage, record no damages for that tree.

Field 27: User defined. We need to know the density of Old trees in each stand.

Contractor shall classify every tree for old tree characteristics as defined in the report

RMRS-GTR-110. The classes will be OLD, MOD(erate), and Y(oung). The general age ranges (at dbh) for these classes are: <140y = Y; 140-190 = MOD; >190 = OLD.

Any tree species can be given an OLD identity. For this Contract an example is ponderosa pine: flattened, misshapen, sparse crown; few but large branches; columnar shaped trunk; pale orange or grey bark, smooth, with small scales; fire scars, dead tops, broken branches, lightning scars, rot, burls, exposed roots; generally remnants are larger in diameter and height than surrounding trees but some may have broken tops. Remnant lodgepole pine can resemble remnant ponderosa pine in bark color and texture. Identifying OLD Douglas-fir is more subtle, yet they can have many of these characteristics and the bark may be thickly furrowed. Old limber pines often have young-looking tops, but the old characteristics show up as large middle and lower branches and/or large dead branches. In this area old fire butt scars almost always indicate OLD, or at least transitional (MODerate) age.

The following items, except as noted, are required to be collected by Contractor for each tree on the plot, for the specified exam level. Detailed information and lists of valid codes for each data field are found in the Common Stand Exam User Guide and Appendices (see

Government Furnished Property). Contractor shall be responsible for collecting and filling out the Tree Data Form for all data items that are set to “YES” in the required column.

FIELD

DESCRIPTION

INTENSIVE DATA

SOURCE

REQUIRED FOR:

BAF Yes Contractor

Fixed Plot Size Yes Contractor

Breakpoint DBH Yes Contractor

Location/Watershed

Alias

Yes Site List See Exhibit 1

Stand Number Yes Site List See Exhibit 1

1 Plot Number Yes Contractor All trees

2 Tag ID Yes Contractor All trees

3 Tree Status Yes Contractor All trees

4 Tree Class No Contractor All trees

5 Site/GST Yes Contractor For site & growth trees only

6 Species Yes Contractor All trees

7 Tree Count Yes Contractor All trees

8 DRC Number Stems Yes Contractor DRC species only

9 DBH/DRC Yes Contractor All trees

10 Height Yes Contractor All trees

11 Height to Crown Yes Contractor All live trees 5 + inches

DBH

12 Radial Grow Yes Contractor Growth sample trees 5+ inches DBH or DRC

15 Age Yes Contractor Site and growth sample trees

16 Crown Ratio Yes Contractor All live trees equal to and greater than 4.5’ in height

17 Crown Class Yes Contractor All live trees 5 + inches

DBH

18 Crown Width Yes Contractor All Site/Growth Trees

19 Wildlife Use Yes Contractor Anything observed!

FIELD

DESCRIPTION

INTENSIVE DATA

SOURCE

REQUIRED FOR:

20 Log/Snag Decay Yes Contractor All standing dead trees greater than 5” DBH or

DRC.

22 Damage Category Yes Contractor All trees with damage.

Record up to 3 most severe.

23 Damage Agent Yes Contractor Required if damage category is not blank

25 Damage Severity Yes Contractor Required if damage category is not blank

26 Tree Remarks Yes Contractor All trees

27 User Determined Yes Contractor All live trees 5 + inches

DBH

E. Vegetation Composition Form (CSE)

Vegetation composition form 1 will be recorded on a plot size of 1/10 acre (37.2 foot radius).

Form 4 (ground surface cover) will be collected on the same plot area (1/10 acre).

Record the total cover percent by lifeform, and the presence of any Species of Concern

(Noxious Weed species, see list – Appendix 5), even if that species does not have 1% or more cover.

The following items are required at each plot. Detailed information and lists of valid codes for each data item are found in the Common stand Exam Users Guide and Appendices.

Field Description

Form Type

Data

Source

Remarks

Form

Form

Form

Form

Region No No Yes Yes Government

Proclaimed Forest No No Yes Yes Government

District No No Yes Yes Government

Location/Watershed

Alias

No No Yes Yes Site List

Stand Number No No Yes Yes Site List

Plot Num No No Yes Yes Contractor

Life Form No No Yes N/A Contractor

Layer No No N/A N/A Contractor

Layer Code No No N/A N/A Contractor

Species No No Yes N/A Contractor

Canopy cover No No Yes N/A Contractor

Predominant height No No N/A N/A Contractor For Trees only

Predominant dbh/drc No No N/A N/A Contractor For Trees only

Predominant age N/A No N/A N/A Contractor

Maturity N/A No N/A N/A Contractor

Shrub Form N/A No N/A N/A Contractor For Shrubs only

User defined data No No No No Contractor

Remarks No No No No Contractor

Surface Cover Type N/A N/A N/A Yes Contractor

Cover % N/A N/A N/A Yes Contractor

All vegetation composition data, whether required by Contract or not, are included on the vegetation composition form provided in the exhibits. Fields not specifically required by

Contract are to be skipped on the form. All ground surface cover data, whether required by

Contract or not, are included on the Ground Surface Cover Form provided in the exhibits.

Fields not specifically required by Contract are to be skipped on the form.

F. Down Woody Form (CSE)

The following items are required to be recorded on the down woody form at each plot.

Detailed information and lists of valid codes for each data item are found in the Common

Stand Exam Users Guide and Appendices.

Down woody material data will be collected using the Brown’s Planar Intercept Method for determining fuel loading. See the Sample Design Specifications, exhibit 2, for the transect lengths.

Field

Number

Field Description

Required

Data

Source

Comments

Region Yes Government

Proclaimed Forest Yes Government

District Yes Government

Location/Watershe d Alias

Yes Site List

Stand Number Yes Site List

1 Plot Number Yes Contractor

2 First Duff Yes Contractor

3 Second Duff Yes Contractor

4 Fuel Depth Yes Contractor

5 Twig 1 (0-.24) Yes Contractor

6 Twig 2 (.25-.99) Yes Contractor

7 Twig 3 (1.0-2.99) Yes Contractor

8 Piece Count Yes Contractor

9 Decay Class Yes Contractor

10 Diameter Yes Contractor

11 Diameter Large

End

Yes Contractor

12 Diameter Small

End

Yes Contractor

13 Piece Length Yes Contractor

All down woody fields, whether required by this contract or not, are included on the down woody form provided in the exhibit 1 and 2. Fields not specifically required by this contract are to be skipped on the form.

G. Field Verification of Polygon Data (Walkthrough) Form (FV).

This form will not be required for Contract.

H. Format Data is to be provided

Data shall be provided to the Government COR in electronic files, digitally delivered via email, or on a portable drive, or on CD/DVD disk. With either method, data must be readable by the Government’s PC computers (Windows 7 operating system).

Specific electronic file naming convention/s will be outlined during the pre-work conference.

A listing of all settings and plots contained in each submitted data file shall also be provided by the COR.

Setting level Field Verification Polygon Data (Walkthrough) form (FV) data will be provided in the .tru file format generated by the PIVEG program. This is NOT required for this project.

C.4.4. Standards

Common Stand Exam User’s Guide and appendices – current version applies.

C. 5 Quality Control

C.5.1 Quality Control Plan

Contractor shall prepare a written Quality Control Plan to describe methods and procedures to ensure quality. Contractor shall inspect the work in accordance with the accepted Quality Control Plan. All Contractor quality control records shall be provided to the Government COR at the time a block of data is submitted for acceptance. All records shall be signed and dated by the person who conducted the inspection.

The Government COR will review the quality control performed by Contractor as well as any required paper forms, electronic data, and pinpricked plot labeled aerial photographs, or other work submitted to determine whether the quality is sufficient for inspection.

C.5.2 Quality Assurance Plan

The Government COR reserves the right to inspect any data submitted by Contractor, including Contractor inspected plots. As an initial guide, the Government COR shall inspect10% of the plots in a block submitted for acceptance.

The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

No content in Section D of this Solicitation and or Contract

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 Inspection and Acceptance

An inspection block, as established by the Government, will contain a minimum of 50 plots and a maximum of 100 plots, and will consist of complete stands. The initial inspection may be done on less than 50 plots if requested by Contractor.

A. Compliance Inspection

COR will, by formal review, determine if the specified progress and methods of work are being carried out. Failure to comply with specified work standards may be cause for termination of Contractor’s right to proceed until such time as Contractor corrects its noted deficiencies.

B. Inspection of Work

The Government will inspect the stand examinations to determine compliance with Contract specifications and to provide a basis for payment. The completed work shall be submitted within seven (7) calendar days after completion of each block. The Government will inspect no more than 100 plots of submitted and completed work per week.

Completed work, consisting of any required paper forms and electronic data, will be turned into COR for inspection in blocks. Inspection will only be made on completed stands. When electronic data is provided, the inspection will be based on a printout of the electronic data or the inspection will be based on the .pdr or .tru files, as applicable. If at any point during the inspection process, an error trend or other unacceptable work is found, the inspection will be stopped and the failed batch will be returned to Contractor for re-work.

The Government COR will make the compliance inspection of each block of completed stands within 10 calendar days without cost to Contractor. No charge will be made for the first re-work inspection. Thereafter, any Contract re-inspection required will be at

Contractor's expense. Re-inspection charges may include, but are not limited to: inspector's wages for travel time to and from work site; inspector's wages to re-inspect; per diem cost

(meals, lodging, field costs); COR wages; and vehicle use daily rate and mileage.

C. Demonstration of Inspection Procedures

Upon written request from Contractor, the Government will perform one demonstration inspection of one sample plot at no cost to Contractor as an example of inspection procedures and demonstration of potential problems. Contractor shall accompany the Government inspector on the inspection at Contractors full expense.

D. Determination of Acceptable Work

An inspection, as stated above, will be performed by the Government for the evaluation of

Contract specification compliance.

The following will be used for determination of acceptable or unacceptable work:

1. Pass-fail check of specified standards and procedures for each block.

Site examinations deficient in any of the following specifications are unacceptable on a

"pass-fail" basis and will be returned to Contractor with the entire block for re-work. The determination of noncompliance with these items may be made during the office edit or during field inspection. Many of the following failed items appearing on the Inspection

Point Score Calculation Form included in the exhibits include but are not limited to:

a. All completed forms and electronic data not submitted to the Forest Service in a timely manner after Contractor completion.

b. Forms that are illegible or cannot be reproduced on a copying machine.

c. Electronic data that cannot be read by Government computers.

d. Stands failing to meet minimum tree/plot averages where specified when a lower

BAF could be selected, unless the Government specified the BAF used.

e. Located plot centers not within acceptable distance of plot location based on

Government provided data or where plot location bias is evident.

f. Stands having less than the prescribed number of sample plots examined.

g. Sample plot center falls outside the stand boundary as identified on the stand map or aerial photo.

h. Any sample plot center which cannot be located because of improper plot center labeling or because of improper reference point labeling, or for any other reason attributable to noncompliance with specifications.

i. Stands with less than the minimum number of site and/or growth trees (as specified).

j. Stands submitted with incomplete information on any form, paper or electronic.

k. Any form with inaccurate stand location and stand number data.

l. Stands where Government supplied information are incompletely or inaccurately transcribed onto the forms.

m. Stands with an error or incomplete information in a field designated

“Unacceptable” in the Point Value column (A) on the Common Stand Exam

Inspection Form (See attachments).

n. Plot photos not present or not labeled as specified.

2. Point deduction for each deficient entry or procedure on an inspection site.

Acceptable tolerance levels for individual measurements are shown on each Exam

Inspection Form located in the exhibits. Any item or measurement indicated by inspection to be outside these tolerance levels will be assigned a point deduction. Point deductions will be calculated separately for each form. An inspection/payment block may fail based on an individual form score or on the total form score calculation.

The number of errors for each field for the entire inspection/payment block is recorded in column 'B', "Number of Errors". The Point Deduction, column 'C', is calculated by multiplying the number of errors, column B, by the "Point Value", column 'A'. The Point

Deductions are then totalled at the bottom of column 'C' in the "Total Deductions" field

(D). This is then divided by the number of stands, plots, or tree data records inspected-

Field (E) to calculate the "Form Score" -Field (F). Field (E) is the number of stands, plots, or tree data records actually inspected for that Form.

In determining pass/fail for Form Score or Total Score for inspections the Government score will prevail.

3. Error Trend

If during inspection of selected plots or review of submitted data, the Government determines an error trend is occurring in the information being recorded by Contractor, the Government will notify Contractor in writing of the findings. If the same trend continues in future inspection blocks, the blocks will be returned for re-work even if the blocks have passing inspection scores. For example, all tree heights are measured taller by 15% when 10%+/- is the tolerance. Even though all other measurements are within tolerance the work could be returned for correction.

If during inspection of selected plots or review of submitted plot sheets, Contractor’s inspection determines a similar discrepancy is occurring in the information being recorded, Contractor shall ensure that their personnel are made aware of the findings to prevent further occurrences. In addition, if Contractor notices a discrepancy trend developing while inspecting plots on the ground, he/she may visit plots not selected in the random sample, to inspect the field(s) in question, at Contractors expense. These plots will be used to determine if a discrepancy trend does exist, but not for payment purposes.

Contractor shall ensure that their personnel are made aware of the findings to prevent future occurrences. Discrepancies found on initial inspection plots are subject to point deduction.

E. Rework of Unacceptable Work

The Government reserves the right to require unacceptable blocks, as determined under

Section C Determination of Acceptable Work, to be re-worked. Upon written notification by

COR that a block is unacceptable, Contractor may be required to complete and submit re-work before beginning work on another block, at Contractors expense. The Government will specify re-work requirements for each unacceptable block. In the case of data errors, the

Government can require that they be corrected. In the case of plot location errors, the

Government may require that the plots be relocated and measured.

1. Correction of Data Errors

a. Pass-fail failures require correction of errors throughout the block.

b. Point deduction failures require:

For failure due to a Form Score;

Correct individual items or measurements in the Form that failed. (i.e., if Tree Form fails, then only that form would need to be reworked). This may require revisiting all stands and sample plots in the block;

For failure due to a Total Score;

Correct all items and measurements on all forms. This may require revisiting all stands and sample plots in the block; and

For a failure due to a Form Score and a Total Score. If a block fails due to both a

Form score and a Total score, then the re-work will be the same as for a Total score failure.

c. Trend error failures require rework of all items identified as having an error trend.

2. Correction of Plot Location Errors

a. Incorrectly located plots shall be relocated and measured.

The Government will re-inspect blocks of data that have been reworked to determine compliance.

If re-worked and re-inspected blocks fail during the first re-inspection, additional re-work may be allowed at the discretion of the COR. Failure to pass inspection may result in

Contract default.

F. Re-inspection upon Contractor Request

If the original inspection results are not acceptable to Contractor, a re-inspection may be requested, in writing, up to seven (7) calendar days after receiving notification of unacceptable work. If the re-inspection confirms the results of the original inspection, Contractor shall reimburse the Government for actual costs incurred for performing re-inspection. If re-inspection indicates that work does meet acceptable standards, the

Government assumes the cost of re-inspection.

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

52.211-9 Desired and Required Time of Delivery. (JUNE 1997)

(a) The Government desires delivery to be made according to the following schedule:

DESIRED DELIVERY SCHEDULE

NO.

QUANTITY

See

Section

“B”

See

Section

“B”

Within 10 business days after the date of receipt of a written Notice to Proceed, commence work. As stated within the Description / Specifications / Statement of Work, complete all tasking no later than 300 calendar days.

If the offeror is unable to meet the desired delivery schedule, it may, without prejudicing evaluation of its offer, propose a delivery schedule below. However, the offeror’s proposed delivery schedule must not extend the delivery period beyond the time for delivery in the Government’s required delivery schedule as follows:

REQUIRED DELIVERY SCHEDULE

NO.

QUANTITY

See

Section

“B”

See

Section

“B”

Within 10 business days after the date of receipt of a written Notice to Proceed, commence work. As stated within the Description / Specifications / Statement of Work, complete all tasking no later than 300 calendar days.

Offers that propose delivery of a quantity under such terms or conditions that delivery will not clearly fall within the applicable required delivery period specified above, will be considered nonresponsive and rejected. If the offeror proposes no other delivery schedule, the desired delivery schedule above will apply.

OFFEROR’S PROPOSED DELIVERY SCHEDULE

ITEM NO. QUANTITY

(End of clause)

F. 2. DELIVERIES

F.2.1. Contract Performance Time and Required Rate of Progress

Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the performance period. The minimum acceptable rate of progress will be calculated by dividing the total units of work for each item by performance time specified.

F.2.2. Contract Time

Contractor shall start work promptly after receipt of a Notice to Proceed. Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the stated Contract time.

AGAR 452.211-74 Period of Performance (FEB 1988)

The period of performance of Contract is from the date of the Notice to Proceed through 300 calendar days.

(End of Clause)

The Government will issue a written Notice to Proceed within ten (10) calendar days after the date of Contractors written Notice of Award.

F.2.3 Work Plan and Schedule

Contractor shall prepare a written Work Plan and Schedule that demonstrates work will be completed within the performance period described in Section F.2.2. Contractor shall provide a

Work Plan and Schedule with their technical proposal. A supplementary Work Plan and Schedule shall be provided to CO as well as COR no later than five (5) calendar days after Contract Notice of

Award.

Contractor shall advise in writing to CO as well as COR of any periods of time that Contractor will not be working, which is not specified in the accepted Work Plan and Schedule.

Contractor may update their Work Plan and Schedule with adequate written justification when work is in progress. CO as well as COR may or may not accept Contractors updated Work Plan and

Schedule.

F.3. PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

The following describes major items within Contract with the motivations and judgements for the work described.

Work

Statement

Performance

Standard

Gov’t Method of Assessment

Motivations/Judgements

Stand Exam

Data

Collection, C.4.3

Quality meets or exceeds acceptable performance standard in C.4.3

COR or inspector conduct periodic monitoring of operations and random plot inspections consistent with

QASP.

Contractor’s quality will be reflected in the performance evaluation either as positive or negative.

If Contractor achieves acceptable performance quality, Contractor will receive payment of full unit price.

If Contractor does not achieve at least acceptable performance quality, all rework will be at

Contractors expense. If rework does not meet acceptable performance quality negative judgement would be no pay for that line item, possible

Contact termination for default, and/or adverse final performance evaluation.

Quality

Control

C.4.5 and

E.1

Contractor maintains good quality control on all aspects of operation Actions not consistent with contract specifications are corrected as per the

Quality Control

Plan.

COR or inspector randomly sample work and observe operations.

The Quality Control provided by

Contractor will be reflected in the performance evaluation as either positive or negative motivations or judgements.

Achieving acceptable quality control is necessary to receive payment of full unit price as positive motivations.

If Contractor does not achieve at least acceptable performance quality, rework is at no expense to the Government. If rework does not meet acceptable performance quality negative judgement would be, no pay for that line item, possible

Contract termination for default, and/or adverse final performance evaluation.

The Government may charge

Contractor for re-inspection of a block in accordance with E.1.

Contractor and

Government passes pass-fail check of specified standards.

Contractor and

Government’s verification scores

< 5.0 and Total

Score < 10.0.

COR or inspector randomly observe

Contractor inspection per

Quality

Assurance Plan.

Review

Contractor inspection forms.

Work Plan and

Schedule

Work meets schedule as per the accepted work plan.

COR and inspector conduct

Contractor’s ability to maintain their work schedule and complete work on time will be reflected in

Work

Statement

Performance

Standard

Gov’t Method of Assessment

Motivations/Judgements

C.4.1.3 Contractor inspection completed to meet timeframes.

periodic monitoring.

Government inspection completed to meet timeframes.

their final performance evaluation as either positive or negative motivation and or judgement.

Completing work on time according to approved schedule is necessary to receive payment of full unit price as positive motivation.

Work not completed on time according to approved schedule is subject to default and may result in assessment of actual costs for

Government to re-work.

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

452.215-73 Post Award Conference. (NOV 1996) A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled ten (10) calendar days after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at a location to be determined, and will be identified upon Contract award.

G.1. INVOICES AND PAYMENTS

G.1.1. Contractor shall be registered, and submit invoices through Invoice Processing

Platform (IPP).

The "Submit Invoice-to" address for USDA orders is the Department of Treasury's Invoice

Processing Platform (IPP). The contractor must follow the instructions on how to register and submit invoices via IPP as prescribed in previous communications from USDA and Treasury. All invoices are to be submitted via the electronic Invoice Processing Platform. This is a mandatory requirement initiated by the U.S. Department of Treasury and you can find more information at this website https://www.ipp.gov/index.htm

Please make sure that your company has registered at: https://www.ipp.gov/vendors/enrollment-vendors.htm to establish your account. Contractor must have an established account prior to Contract award.

G.2. GOVERNMENT CONTRACT APPOINTEES

G.2.1 Contracting Officer Contracting Officer (CO) will be determined at the time of Contract Award.

G.2.2. Contracting Officer’s Representative

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will be appointed for this Contract upon Award.

His/her delegated authority, responsibilities will be defined on a delegation letter issued after

Contract Award.

This delegation letter will also contain his/her contact information.

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