appendix_A_final.pdf

Solicitation No. AG-82X9-S-08-0120

Front Range Long Term Stewardship: Appendix A

APPENDIX A

WORK ACTIVITY ITEMS – TERMS AND SPECIFICATIONS

1. Scope of Work

Appendix A of this solicitation describes the contract requirement and specifications for services for a performance based, Indefinite Delivery Quantify (IDQ) contract for the treatment of non-saw timber, treatment of biomass, slash treatments, the creation of fuel modification zones, and fireline construction. The services in this contract are designed to:

• Promote less hazardous fuel conditions by reducing overall biomass and canopy continuity.

• Provide for diverse wildlife habitats and recreational opportunities.

• Reduce potential for loss of ecological and monetary values on public and private lands.

• Reduce the potential for insect and disease infestation.

• Promote sustainable, diverse forest conditions, more like historic forest conditions.

• Promote aspen regeneration to increase species diversity and reduce future fuel hazard.

• Watershed restoration to reduce risk of erosion and sediment delivery to area streams; protect short and long term municipal water quality.

This contract may require vegetation manipulation; burn unit preparation;

temporary road construction, and road maintenance in compliance with its terms, specifications and provisions. This may include furnishing labor, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals to perform all work necessary to conduct slashing, lop and scatter, selective slashing, fuel modification zone construction, hand piling, mastication, fire line construction and maintenance, fuels pullback, snag felling, and roadblock removal/restoration.

The timber harvest and removal requirements of this contract are outlined in Appendix B. Specifications and requirements for construction of temporary roads and road maintenance are outlined in Appendix D.

2. Project Location and Description

(a) The work will be performed on the Pike/San Isabel and Arapaho/Roosevelt

National Forests, governed by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. The general location of the work is throughout the State of Colorado within the boundaries of those National Forests. The specific location of the projects will be shown on maps attached to each task order.

(a) Accessibility – Access is by all-weather and seasonal roads. Seasonal roads may be impassable for several days after heavy rains, or snow-blocked during the winter months. All work areas, unless otherwise indicated on the task order, may be reached by Forest roads that are accessible by standard two-wheel drive pickup during normal operating season. The Forest Service assumes no obligation to plow snow or do special maintenance to keep roads open. Spring and fall road conditions usually necessitate the use of a 4-wheel drive vehicle. During the wet conditions, the Forest Service reserves the right to suspend harvest operations to protect forest road surfaces.

(b) Boundaries – Cutting Unit Boundaries are marked with orange paint. Project areas and other treatment units are generally identifiable by changes in vegetation, roads, or marked with paint. The boundaries can be adjacent timber stands, recent harvest units, or other natural or manmade features that clearly define the boundary as noted on the individual Contract Area Maps provided with each task order.

(c) Restrictions – Project specific restrictions may be found in section H, Appendix

A, B, or on individual task orders.

(d) Unique Features of Project Areas - Standing timber, wildlife trees and snags may be present within the project sites. Research plots, cultural sites, and other areas of concern may be located within the project sites and cannot be disturbed during project activities.

3. Contractor-furnished Equipment and Services

(a) The Contractor shall provide sufficiently skilled labor, experienced supervision, transportation, equipment, operating supplies, incidentals and inspection services, except those items listed as Government-Furnished property, to perform the work in compliance with the contract.

(b) The Contractor shall notify the COR of any changes in work schedule.

(c) Security of Materials - The Contractor may leave its equipment and

Government-furnished property at the work site. The Contractor shall be responsible for the Contractor's equipment and Government-furnished property if it should be lost, stolen or damaged.

(d) The working supervisor shall be able to read, write, speak and understand

English. All communication to Forest Service to contractor shall be in English.

A working (English literate) supervisor shall be provided for each crew and is required to stay with the crew while work is in progress.

4. Government-furnished Equipment and Services

(a) All Government furnished equipment and supplies, hereinafter referred to as Government-furnished property, will be picked up by the Contractor at the location designated in the task order for services and signed for on Form DI105 by the Contractor or Contractor's authorized representative. The Contractor shall return all Government furnished-property before final payment on the task order.

(b) The Government shall furnish property and services as listed below:

Threatened and Endangered Species information, cultural survey information and reporting formats, maps, photos and training provided with each task order as appropriate.

5. Definitions

Acceptable Quality Level

(AQL)

The maximum percentage or proportion of nonconformities in a lot or batch that can be considered satisfactory as a process average.

Accessible Road access to a unit. Unit will be considered accessible when road access is within 1/4 mile of the unit.

Basal Area The cross section of a tree at dbh, measured as square feet per acre, a measure of stand density.

Base Course The layer or layers of specified or selected material of designed thickness placed on a subbase or subgrade to support a surface course.

Berm An outer border of the fire control line.

Berm Curb or dike constructed to control roadway runoff water.

Biomass Trees designated to be cut or felled that are from 1.0” to 4.9” DBH.

Bole The trunk or stem of a cut tree or snag.

Borrow Select material taken from designated sites to build up the roadway or other structures.

Bridge A structure, including supports, erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, road, trail, or railway, and having a deck for carrying traffic or other moving loads.

Bucking Cutting the boles and/or limbs to required lengths for a specific purpose, such as for merchantability standards, or slash pile size requirements.

Canopy Cover The percentage of a fixed area covered by the crowns of plants delimited by a vertical projection of the outermost perimeter of the spread of the foliage.

Catch basin A flat bottom basin constructed at the culvert inlet to improve the entrance conditions and to provide space for sediment and debris collection and removal.

CCF The unit of measure for wood volume, representing 100 cubic feet.

Channel A waterway (either natural or constructed) leading into or away from a culvert or bridge.

Chipping The reduction of woody residue by a portable chipper to chips that are left to decay on the forest floor, or removed to produce pulp, hog fuel, etc.

Conifer A cone-bearing tree with needles or leaf scales, usually evergreen, (e.g. pines, firs, spruces, junipers).

Contracting Officer (CO)

A person with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings. The term includes certain authorized representatives of the Contracting Officer acting within the limits of their authority as delegated by the Contracting Officer.

Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR)

A Government employee appointed by the Contracting Officer (CO) to help the CO with the contract administration and surveillance.

Contractor Term used to represent the prime individual or organization that is awarded the contract, who is also responsible for the work and conduct of all partners, employees, equipment, and subcontractors assigned by the prime to perform on the contract.

Controlled Area Areas delineated by flagging for the purpose of protecting sensitive plants or heritage resources. The areas are marked on the ground, they are not located on the solicitation map, however a map with these areas shown will be available to the successful bidder.

Crown The slope of the roadbed away from the centerline to provide for drainage.

Cultural and/or Threatened and Endangered (T&E) Sites

Locations where special protection is required to preserve and protect cultural values and species of plants or animals listed on the T&E list.

Culvert A conduit or passageway under a road, trail, or other obstruction. A culvert differs from a bridge in that it is usually constructed entirely below the elevation of the traveled way.

Cup Trench A trench constructed on the outer edge of the undercut line, deep enough to catch rolling embers and cones.

Cushion Material Native or imported material generally placed over rocky sections of unsurfaced roads to provided a usable and maintainable traveled way.

Cut Trees Trees designated for cutting under this contract.

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

DBH Diameter at Breast Height – Outside diameter of the tree stem at a point 4-1/2 feet above the ground, measured from the high side of the base of the tree.

Deck A stack of logs or the action of stacking logs at the landing.

Designated Skid Trail

A trail flagged by the Contractor prior to cutting and approved by the COR to operate designated equipment on.

Diameter Other vegetation (not trees) is measured 1 foot above ground.

DIB – Diameter Inside Bark

Diameter measurement of a standing tree or log in which the estimated or actual thickness of the bark is discounted.

Directional Felling

Felling cut-trees or snags a predetermined direction to protect natural resources and land improvements, and/or to facilitate proper skidding.

Ditch A relatively long narrow excavation placed to collect or disperse water.

DMR Dwarf Mistletoe Rating is determined by dividing the tree canopy into three parts and assigning the portion of the tree a score of 0, 1, or 2 based on the amount of dwarf mistletoe present. Add all tree scores determines the dwarf mistletoe rating of 1-6.

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

Drainage Dip A uniform depression constructed within the roadbed surface which allows routine passage of vehicles while diverting water from the traveled way.

Drainage Ditch A ditch constructed between the traveled way and the adjacent terrain for the purpose of transporting water that leaves the road surface or cut slope.

Drawings Depictions detailing construction or maintenance contemplated including all road listing diagrams, maps, and performance schedules included in the contract.

Drip Line Point of the longest live tree limb tip end projected vertically downward to the ground, on each side of the tree.

Drop Inlet A vertical conduit used as an inlet to a culvert.

Equipment All machinery, operating supplies, and tools necessary for the proper performance and acceptable completion of the work.

Erosion control Activities designed to prevent/reduce the delivery of sediment to area streams as a result of road building and/or timber harvest. Activities typically include grass seeding and/or installation of structures to trap moving sediment.

Exchanging Goods for Services

Used when a stewardship contract involves removal of some forest materials having market value, mixed with a requirement to do non-related service work. Instead of charging the Contractor a fee for the merchantable materials and paying the vendor (cash) for service work, the government provides the materials in exchange for an equivalent amount of service work.

Excess Material Material obtained for maintenance operations on the roadway which is excess to that needed for maintenance of the roadway.

Excess Trees Uncut trees that do not meet specifications and should have been cut. Trees not severed from the stump, hangup trees, stumps with live limbs, trees not girdled or not girdled properly (if required) are also considered excess trees.

Felling Completely severing a live tree bole from the stump, to place the tree on the ground.

Maximum stump heights apply to both snags and live trees felled.

Fireline A fire control line that is dug or scraped to mineral soil by hand or machine according to minimum clearance standards. In certain areas this may be a natural barrier (road, river, rock, etc). Guide published by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

Publication Number NFES 1414

Flagging Color Designations

The colors of flagging to be used by the Forest Service and the Contractor will be determined prior to operations.

Fuel Modification Zone

(Woodlands/Shrublands): The modification of vegitative fuels in an area. All vegetation less than 12 inches DBH shall be included as surplus when not reserved.

Grade The vertical rise or fall of the finished surface of a roadway or ditch centerline. Grade is expressed as a percent calculated as rise in feet over run in feet times one-hundred (100).

Green Ton 2000 pounds of undried biomass material including sawlogs, roundwood, pulpwood, topwood and limbs.

Hand Thinning Trees specified or allowed to be cut by hand (chainsaw), not by mechanized equipment.

Hardwood A broad-leaved tree, which usually has a single well-defined trunk and/or attains a height greater than 20 feet. Includes, but not limited to, species such as aspen and oak species. Sprouting hardwood species may be in the form of multi-stemmed clumps.

Hazard The existence of a fuel complex that constitutes a threat of wildfire ignition, unacceptable fire behavior and severity, or suppression difficulty.

Hazard Reduction The planned treatment or manipulation of naturally growing vegetation or any other flammable material for the purpose of reducing rate of spread and output of heat energy from any wildfire occurring in the area treated.

Healthy Tree The trees specified in the Unit Information that are the most preferred leave trees of commercial conifer species to be left on site to grow. They typically have the most, green and fullest crown, upright boles with no or only minor forks, no broken or missing tops, no physical damage visible to the crowns or boles, and no insect or disease indicators. Desirable leave tree characteristics: Straight stem; Small branch diameter;

Good coloration; Well formed-crown; Branches horizontal or slightly angled to bole;

Free of insect or disease damage and/or symptoms. In the case of dwarf mistletoe, within the acceptable DMR range in the prescription; Vigorous annual terminal growth (especially in last 1 to 3 years); Crown class of dominant or co-dominant; Crown ratio of 30% or greater; Lean is less than 30 degrees from vertical.

Holding Actions required to contain the fire within the natural or constructed fireline and prevent escapes and slopovers.

Included Timber Sawtimber size trees, designated to be cut, which are at least 33.3% sound. All such trees have been cruised and appraised as “Goods” having market value, which the Contractor will cut and remove at his/her cost.

Inspector A Government person responsible for the surveillance of contractor performance.

Intercept Ditch Any ditch which normally parallels the road centerline and diverts water from natural flow patterns to protect road slopes, roadbed, or downslope areas. Intercept ditches may be located within the roadway or roadside, but as used in this definition excludes drainage ditches.

Invert The bottom of the inside of a conduit or culvert.

Jackpot Concentration of slash or natural fuels, heavier than the surrounding areas.

Ladder Fuels Fuels that provide vertical continuity between the ground and the tree crowns, thus creating a pathway for surface fire to move into the overstory tree crowns.

Landings A loading point where logs are collected preparatory to further transportation.

Lead-off Ditch A ditch used to remove water from drainage ditches.

Leave Tree Any live tree that is selected or required to be left standing as provided in the designation specifications. May include conifers, hardwoods, or hardwood clumps with less than or equal to three sprouts of common origin.

Level 2 Roads Open for use by high clearance vehicles. Passenger car traffic is not a consideration.

Traffic is normally nimor, usually consisting of one or a combination of administrative, permitted, dispersed recreation, or other specialized uses. Log haul may occur at this level. Appropriate traffic management strategies are either to (1) discourage or prohibit passenger cars or (2) accept or discourage high clearance vehicles.

Level 3 Roads Roads open and maintained for travel by a prudent driver in a standard passenger car.

User comfort and convenience are not considered priorities.

Roads are typically low speed, single lane with turnouts and spot surfacing. Some roads may be fully surfaced with either native or processed material. Appropriate traffic management strategies are either "encourage" or "accept." "Discourage" or "prohibit" strategies may be employed for certain classes of vehicles or users.

Level of Difficulty

An evaluation of the site condition that requires varying amounts of time and effort to complete a task.

Limb and Top Removal

The moving, during yarding/skidding, of cut tree with tops to a designated location at the landing.

Live Crown Ratio Percent of live crown in relation to the total height of the tree.

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

Lop and Scatter Cutting limbs from the trunks of cut trees and moving and rearranging of slash concentrations to achieve slash depth required in the contract.

Manual Treat Completely severing a live non-sawtimber or biomass sized tree bole from the stump to place the tree on the ground by hand, without using any mechanized vehicle. This is usually done with a chain saw.

Masticate Mechanical destruction of undesirable vegetation, which may include but is not limited to mowing, mulching, chipping, chewing, grinding, etc.

Materials Any substances specified for use in the performance of the work.

Measurement Method of determining and expressing the quantities of work.

Merchantable Materials

Also called “utilizable”. All slash which has some commercial market available, or salvage value to the Contractor, thus enabling him/her to reduce their costs of slash disposal. Removal off the National Forest is required for all such materials in this contract.

Minor Damage Crooks in the trunk which are offset less than 3 inches from the long axis and within 13 feet of the ground, no forks, broken top, or bark damage extending less than one-fourth the circumference of the tree.

MMBF The unit of measure representing one million (1,000,000) board feet.

Non-merchantable wood

Any woody debris that does not meet the Utilization Standards of included timber in A2 of Appendix B, or does not meet the Non-sawtimber and Biomass Removal Specifications in the Performance Standards (Item 5, Table 1) of Appendix A.

Non-sawtimber – Trees designated to be cut or felled that are:

Species Product Specifications Ponderosa Pine Non-sawtimber 5.0 – 9.9 DBH Lodgepole Pine Non-sawtimber 5.0 – 6.9 DBH Douglas-fir and Other conifer species

Non-sawtimber 5.0 – 7.9 DBH

Outlet Ditch A ditch used to provide drainage from culverts, cattleguards, drainage dips, or other structures.

Outslope/inslope The slope of the roadbed from the cutslope to provide for drainage. Applies to roads without a crown.

Pavement Structure

Subbase, base, or surface course, or combination thereof, placed on a subgrade to support the traffic load and distribute it to the roadbed.

Performance Based Service Contract (PBSC)

A service contract that (1) Describes requirements in terms of results required rather than the methods of performance of the work; (2) Use measurable performance standards (i.e., terms of quality, timeliness, quantity, etc.) and quality assurance surveillance plans; (3) Specifies procedures for reductions of fee or for reductions to the price of a fixed-price contract when services are not performed or do not meet contract requirements; (4) May include performance incentives where appropriate.

Period of Performance (also Performance Period or Contract Time)

The number of calendar days allowed in this contract for completion of the contract work. Once begun on the official start date, the period of performance will be counted in consecutive calendar days, including Sundays and holidays. This time may be suspended by Government issuance of one or more written Suspend Work Order/s.

Pile – Hand A method of piling slash by hand without using any mechanized vehicles.

Pile – Machine A method of piling slash with the use of mechanized equipment.

Project Inspector The PI is responsible for the project inspection for an identified task order. This person has fire behavior, fuels management experience and is qualified to conduct oversight and evaluation of the Contractors operations. The PI provides technical expertise to the COR regarding fuels mitigation.

Pullback Location/relocation of slash a specified distance away from boundaries, roads, fences, utilities, other improvements or resources. Also includes placement of chips over a certain distance from specified resources.

Removal Transportation of cut whole trees, boles, slash, and/or equipment on designated haul roads from landings within the contract area to be completely off of the National Forest, usually within a specified time frame.

Reserved Trees or Reserved Areas

Individual species of trees or certain areas within a treatment unit that the contract or COR designates are reserved from treatment.

Right-of-way A general term denoting land, property, or interest acquired for or devoted to a road.

Riparian Buffer A 50-foot area extending upslope on each side of a designated stream channel.

Roadbed The portion of a road between the intersection of the subgrade and side slopes, excluding that portion of the ditch below the subgrade.

Roadside A general term denoting the area adjoining the outer edge of the roadway.

Roadway The portion of the road within the limits of excavation and embankment.

Sawtimber See Appendix B, Division A2 for Sawtimber utilization specifications.

Shoulder The portion of the roadway contiguous with the traveled way for accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency use, and for lateral support of pavement structure.

Shrubland A plant community in which, in contrast to a typical forest, the trees are often small, characteristically short-boled relative to their crown depth, and forming only an open canopy with the intervening area being occupied by lower vegetation, commonly grass

Skidding To drag cut trees from the place where they are felled to a loading point (landing).

Generally implemented using rubber tired skidders or dozers.

Slash Any non-merchantable woody debris (see definition above), exclusive of stumps and chips/chunks from mastication, created from work under this contract and remaining on the ground after treatment operations, including all cut trees and shrubs and their tops, trunks, and branches.

Slide A concentrated deposit of materials from above or on the backslope extending onto the traveled way or shoulders that has been deposited by mass land movements.

Slough Materials eroded or raveled from back slope which partially or completely block the ditch, but do not encroach on the traveled way so as to block vehicular passage.

Slump A localized portion of the roadbed which has slipped downward or otherwise become lower than that of the adjacent roadbed and constitutes a hazard to traffic.

Snag A dead or living tree that has 10 percent or less live crown.

Sound (referring to dead wood)

Wood that is solid enough to hold together for skidding as an intact piece.

Sound (referring to green wood)

A log meeting sawtimber utilization specifications size that is free enough of defect so that 33% of the total available volume could be recovered from it.

Spacing The horizontal distance from the trunk of one leave tree to the trunk of the next nearest leave tree.

Stream Channel That area influenced by high water at the time of the year with the highest flow.

Stump The lower end of a tree remaining in the ground after the tree has been cut.

Stump Height Stump height is the acceptable maximum level left above ground, measured from the uphill side, after a tree is felled.

Sub-grade Top surface of roadbed upon which subbase, base, or surface course is constructed. For roads without base course or surface course, that portion of roadbed prepared as the finished wearing surface.

Surface Course The top layer of a pavement structure, sometimes called the wearing course, usually designed to resist skidding, traffic abrasion, and the disintegrating effects of climate.

Surplus Vegetation

Only applies to Fuel Modification Zones, item 18: Standing dead conifers, hardwoods and shrubs shall be included as surplus when not reserved. Includes vegetation (conifers and hardwoods) greater than 1 foot tall and up to 12 inches DBH and shrubs less than 12 inches diameter at ground level; when not selected as leave trees, reserved, or needed to meet spacing requirements.

Temporary Road Closure

After a temporary road has served Contractor’s purpose, Contractor shall give notice to the Forest Service and remove bridges and culverts, eliminate ditches, outslope roadbed, remove ruts and berms, effectively block the road to normal vehicular traffic where feasible under existing terrain conditions, and build cross ditches and water bars, as staked or other wise marked on the ground by Forest Service. When bridges and culverts are removed, associated fills shall also be removed to the extent necessary to permit normal maximum flow of water.

Temporary Road Obliteration

The elimination of the road prism from the ground by removing embankments and replacing the material where it was excavated during road construction. The road corridor including turnouts and turnarounds shall be returned to the original shape and contour prior to road construction. Obliteration includes removing drainage structures and their associated fills, and replacing the embankment material where it was excavated. After re-contouring the raw bare soil within the corridor shall be seeded.

Temporary Road Construction

Construction of Temporary Road authorized by contract, permit, lease, other written authorization, or emergency operation not intended to be a part of the forest transportation system and not necessary for long-term resource management.

Tons/Acre Unit of measurement of fuel, usually but not always, of dead and down woody debris (slash). Tons/Acre is determined by using a Photo Series, such as USDA Forest Service GTR-PNW 51 (1976). These documents are available for review by the contractor by contacting the issuing office.

Top Line Fireline constructed on the top of the unit (running parallel to the contours, i.e., across the slope).

Total Percent Cover

Portion of the project area or treatment unit beneath the dripline of vegetation to be cut.

Does not include reserve vegetation.

Trash Rack A structure (usually constructed from vertical bars) which is designed to prevent trash and other debris from entering and blocking a culvert.

Traveled Way The portion of the roadway provided for the movement of vehicles, exclusive of shoulders on asphalt paved roads. For purpose of this contract, traveled way includes turnouts and curve widening.

Treat Completely severing a live non-sawtimber or biomass sized tree bole from the stump, to place the tree on the ground.

Tree Designation The method of identifying which trees are specified to be cut or left under the contract.

See Section H.11.

Turnouts A short auxiliary lane provided for passage of on coming vehicles.

6. Performance Standards

Non-sawtimber and Biomass Treatment

The Schedule of Items, Numbers 1-12 and 19-30 include various combinations of treatments. Some combinations require removal of designated non-sawtimber trees from the contract area, some combinations require designated non-sawtimber trees to be yarded and decked at a landing, some require designated non-sawtimber and biomass trees to be cut and left in the woods, some specify mastication rather than cutting, and some items only address the treatment of slash from previous projects.

The requirements of the individual tasks included in the treatment combinations (Items 1-12 and 19-30) are specified in Performance Standards 6.1 – 6.9.

No combinations require biomass sized trees to be removed from the contract area or to be yarded to a landing. Proposal may option for removal and utilization of biomass and/or non-sawtimber trees in the treatment combinations that do not require non-sawtimber removal. If wood is utilized and removed, non-sawtimber and biomass removal specifications (see Table 1 (below) or Appendix B, Division A) will apply and will be paid for at rates in Part I – The Schedule, Section B.2 Timber Removal Price Schedule.

Undercut Line Fireline constructed on the bottom of the unit (running parallel to the contour, i.e., across the slope).

Unhealthy Tree The least preferred leave tree of commercial conifer species, due to poor tree longevity.

These trees may only be left to maintain spacing if no other more healthy tree of any size is available to leave as a better substitute. Characteristics of trees that are not desirable for leave trees: Multiple tops; Poor crown form; Crook or seep in bole; Dead or broken tops; Poor coloration; Large branch diameter; Presence of insects or diseases;

Branches more than 45 degrees from horizontal Physical or mechanical damage;

Suppressed; Poor annual growth; Sucker limbs

Water Bar A drainage structure constructed across the surface of a road, skid trail, or constructed fireline to divert water from the surface. The purpose is not to block vehicular passage.

Whole Tree Skid Removing an entire upper portion of a tree consisting of trunk, branches, and leaves or needles.

Wildlife Trees Standing dead or live trees left for nesting, feeding, perching and shelter for bids and mammals. Trees may be marked with paint and/or designated with a tag stating it is a wildlife tree or as identified by the COR.

Woodland A plant community in which, in contrast to a typical forest, the trees are often small, characteristically short-boled relative to their crown depth, and forming only an open canopy with the intervening area being occupied by lower vegetation, commonly grass.

Yarding Transporting cut trees from the place where they are felled to a loading point (landing).

Generally implemented using mechanical equipment

Combination of activities to achieve an end result is summarized in Table 2.

Table 1: Non-sawtimber and Biomass Removal Specifications

Minimum Specifications Merchantable Tree Piece Required to be Removed

Species Product Estimated Quantity *

Unit of Measure

Diameter Breast High

(d.b.h.)

(inches)

Number of

Minimum Pieces per Tree

Length

(feet)

Diameter Inside

Bark at Small End

(inches)

Net Merch.

Factor

All Non-sawtimber N/A* Ton 5.0 1 6.5 4.0 N/A

All Biomass N/A* Ton 1.0 1 6.5 0.5 N/A

* Volume for non-sawtimber and biomass not required to be removed will be agreed to in writing at time of removal.

Table 2: Summary of Activities Associated with the Schedule of Items (Applies to items #1-12 and 15-25)

Item Non-Saw Biomass

Slash Treatment (Lop & Scat / Pile / Pile @ Landing / Hand Pile)

Non-Saw (Remove/Deck*)

A Cut - Lop & Scat Remove B Cut - Lop & Scat Deck C Cut - Pile Remove D Cut - Pile Deck

E Cut - Pile @

Landing Remove

F Cut - Pile @

Landing Deck

G Cut Masticate or

Lop Lop & Scat Remove

H Cut Masticate or

Lop Lop & Scat Deck

I Cut Masticate or Cut & Pile Pile Remove

J Cut Masticate or Cut & Pile Pile Deck

K Cut Masticate Pile @

Landing Deck

L Cut Masticate Pile @

Landing Remove M Masticate Masticate - N/A N Cut Cut Lop & Scat N/A O Cut Cut Pile N/A P Cut/Manual Cut/Manual Lop & Scat N/A Q Cut/Manual Cut/Manual Hand Pile N/A

(In the Schedule of Items these activities are further subdivided into three levels of difficulty by the number of trees per acre and two levels of difficulty based on the average slope.)

6.1: Cut Non-sawtimber – This task involves cutting designated ponderosa pine 5.0- 9.9 inches DBH, Douglas-fir and other conifer species 5.0-7.9 inches DBH, and lodgepole pine 5.0- 6.9 inches DBH. The task may be accomplished by hand falling or mechanical methods (unless specified as manual cut in the task order.)

The following specifications apply:

a) Stump height of cut trees shall be no higher than 12 inches above ground level measured on the high side of the stump. This will be the standard height for treatment unless otherwise specified in the task order.

b) Trees shall be completely severed from the stump.

c) The tree must be placed on the ground. No cut trees shall be left suspended in or leaning against a leave tree or tree outside the unit boundary.

d) Task orders will specify the level of difficulty. Levels of difficulty are specified by the number of trees per acre designated for cutting in each cutting unit and the average slope of the cutting unit.

e) The slash that is generated as a result of fuel treatments and sawtimber removal will be treated as specified.

f) All cut trees shall be limbed at the stump, except when slash is specified to be brought to the landing. In that case, trees can be whole tree skidded to the landing and the limbs removed at the landing.

6.1.1 – Non-sawtimber Treatment Cutting Designation.

Non-sawtimber trees to be cut will be specified in the task order for each cutting unit. Designation methods may include, but are not limited to:

• Individual leave tree marking with paint

• Individual cut tree marking with paint

• Clearcutting

• Construction clearing designation

• Designation by description – spacing

• Designation by description – damage class

• Designation by description – species and diameter

• Designation by description – overstory removal

• Designation by description – understory removal

• Designation by prescription

The specifications for each designation method are listed in Section H.11.

6.2 - Cut biomass – This task involves cutting designated trees from 1.0 to 4.9 inches DBH. The task may be accomplished by hand falling or mechanical methods (unless specified as manual cut in the task order.) The following specifications apply:

g) Stump height of cut trees shall be no higher than 12 inches above ground level measured on the high side of the stump. This will be the standard height for treatment unless otherwise designated in the task order.

h) Trees shall be completely severed from the stump.

i) The tree must be placed on the ground. No cut trees shall be left suspended in or leaning against a leave tree or tree outside the unit boundary.

j) Task orders will specify the level of difficulty. Levels of difficulty are specified by the number of trees per acre designated for cutting in each cutting unit and the average slope of the cutting unit.

k) The slash that is generated as a result of fuel treatments will be treated a specified.

l) All cut trees shall be limbed at the stump.

6.2.1 – Biomass Treatment Cutting Designation.

Biomass trees to be cut will be specified in the task order for each cutting unit. Cutting designation methods may include, but is not limited to:

• Individual leave tree marking with paint

• Individual cut tree marking with paint

• Clearcutting

• Construction clearing designation

• Designation by description – spacing

• Designation by description – damage class

• Designation by description – species and diameter

• Designation by description – overstory removal

• Designation by description – understory removal

• Designation by prescription

The specifications for each designation method are listed in Section H.11

6.3 - Slash Treatment –

6.3.1 - Slash Treatment – Lop and Scatter – This task involves cutting limbs and tops from the trunks of designated cut trees and moving or rearranging slash concentrations to achieve slash depth of no greater than 24”. This will be the standard depth for treatment unless otherwise designated in the task order. No thinning and/or logging slash shall be allowed outside the designated treatment area boundary, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer. Contractor shall remove all thinning and/or logging slash from:

1) Roads – Pullback all slash at least 25 feet from the road shoulder on the upper (uphill) side, and 50 feet on the lower (downhill) side.

2) Utility Lines – Pullback all slash within 25 feet of utility corridor.

3) Land Survey Monuments – pullback all slash within 10 feet of monuments.

6.3.2 - Slash Treatment –Piling. This task involves cutting limbs from the trunks of designated cut trees and then piling the slash. Slash to be piled shall include all material from one (1) inches diameter up to and including eight (8) inches in diameter at the large end, having a minimum length of three (3) feet.

1) Piles shall be reasonably compact and free of soil.

2) Piles shall have a minimum height of six (6) feet.

3) Piles will not be more than 20 feet in height, or 20 feet in width.

4) Piles shall be located at least 30 feet from residual timber and 100 feet from protected stream courses. If conditions make it impractical to locate piles so that damage to residual green trees can be avoided, an area will be designated by the Forest Service.

5) Piles shall not be more than 100 feet long.

6) All objects that extend for more than 4 feet in any direction from the pile profile will be cut off and returned to the pile.

7) If piling is accomplished with a machine, it will be of such size that will cause minimal damage to the residual timber and with acceptable brush piling blade. The equipment and type of brush blade will be subject to approval by the Forest Service.

6.3.2.1 - An inventory or tally of the size, shape and number of piles shall be made following the instructions in the task order and recorded on the pile inventory form provided by the COR.

6.3.3 - Slash Treatment – Bring Slash to the Landing – the tops, limbs, and boles of trees designated for cutting will be yarded to the landing. The usual method of accomplishing this treatment is by whole tree skidding. Proposals for other methods to accomplish the treatment will be considered. Tops and branches that break off during skidding operations, shall be lopped and scattered according to the specifications of 6.3.1. At the landing, limbs will be cut from the stem of the trees, limbs will be piled in locations approved by the Forest Service, and boles stacked parallel in a deck at approved locations.

6.4 - Non-sawtimber - Yard Boles to Landing – non-sawtimber sized trees designated for cutting, shall be yarded and decked (boles stacked parallel) at the landing, after all limbs are cut from the stem. Decks will not be more than 20 feet in height unless agreed otherwise in writing. All objects that extend for more than 4 feet in any direction from the deck profile will be cut off and returned to the deck.

6.5 - Manual Cut Lop and Scatter – Trees designated for cutting as indicated in the task order, up to 24” DBH will be hand severed using a saw. Lop and scatter all existing slash by cutting limbs from the trunks of cut trees and moving and rearranging slash concentrations to achieve slash depth required by the task order.

No thinning and/or logging slash shall be allowed outside the treatment unit boundary, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer. Contractor shall remove all thinning and/or logging slash from:

(a) Roads – Remove all cut material at least 25 feet from the road shoulder on the upper (uphill) side, and 50 feet on the lower (downhill) side.

(b) Utility Lines – within 25 feet of utility corridor.

(c) Land Survey Monuments – lop and scatter pullback within 10 feet.

6.6 - Manual Cut and Pile – Hand-

6.6.1 Vegetation as indicated in the task order, up to 24” DBH will be hand severed using a saw, followed by piling and/or covering. Task order will specify number of leave trees, spacing and type. For further pile specifications, see Section 6.7.

6.6.2 An inventory or tally of pile numbers and average measurements shall be recorded throughout the entire unit and recorded on the pile inventory form to be provided by the Government. The information gathered will be used to determine the amount of further treatment needed.

6.7 - Hand Pile Only – All piles shall be constructed as compactly as possible, with heavier material placed on top. The contractor may be required to cover piles with waterproofed material (covering 50% of the pile with a piece of 4-mil polyethylene plastic) or other material as specified in the task order. Larger material 7.0 to 9.0 inches, in diameter shall be placed on top of the waterproofed material retaining the compact pile. Some limbing may be required to construct a compact pile.

All slash between 1 and 7 inches in diameter and greater than 2 feet in length shall be piled. Slash less than 1 inch in diameter and less than 2 feet in length shall be left on the ground. Slash left on the ground shall not exceed 1 foot in depth. The task order or the COR in writing may designate a different size within this range for individual units (example: slash 1-4 or 2-6 inches only, instead of the less than 6 inches), but not greater than 6 inch diameter.

All piles shall be constructed by laying limbs, stems, cut boles, and other slash in the pile so as to be triangular in shape, or as specified in task order. All ends that stick out more than two (2) feet must be bucked off and piled. Larger material in piles shall be placed perpendicular to slope so it cannot roll down hill when burned.

Slash that causes large air spaces in piles shall be cut to eliminate air spaces.

Each pile shall include an area of small sized slash (small branches less than ¼ to ½ inch in diameter and/or small branches with needles or leaves attached) to provide “kindling” for prompt ignition and to aid in combustion of larger slash.

These fuels shall be placed in the center of the pile.

Unless approved by the COR, maximum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height, and minimum pile size shall be 7 feet in diameter by 5 feet in height at the time of final inspection, or as specified in task order.

Piles shall not be constructed in roadways unless specified by the COR. In some cases, the COR may determine that it is beneficial to place piles or slash in old roads that have been closed. Piles shall not be constructed in roads, ditches or drains. Piles shall not be constructed any closer than twenty (20) feet from established roads, trails, existing fences or utility poles. Piles shall not be constructed within the channel of any stream, or on top of downed logs, stumps or snags.

6.7.1 - An inventory or tally of the size, shape and number of piles shall be made following the instructions in the task order and recorded on the pile inventory form provided by the Task Manager.

6.8 - Mechanical Pile Only

Slash to be piled shall include all material from one (1) inches diameter up to and including eight (8) inches in diameter at the large end, having a minimum length of three (3) feet.

1. Piles shall be reasonably compact and free of soil.

2. Piles shall have a minimum height of six (6) feet.

3. Piles will not be more than 20 feet in height, or 20 feet in width.

4. Piles shall be located at least 30 feet from residual timber and

100 feet from protected stream courses. If conditions make it impractical to locate piles so that damage to residual green trees can be avoided, an area will be designated by the Forest Service.

5. Piles shall not be more than 100 feet long.

6. All objects that extend for more than 4 feet in any direction from the pile profile will be cut off and returned to the pile.

7. If piling is accomplished with a machine, it will be of such size that will cause minimal damage to the residual timber and with acceptable brush piling blade. Forest Service will need to approve the equipment and the type of brush blade.

6.8.1 - An inventory or tally of the size, shape and number of piles shall be made following the instructions in the task order and recorded on the pile inventory form provided by the Task Manager.

6.9 - Masticate – Trees designated for cutting shall be mechanically destroyed.

The method may include but is not limited to chipping, chunking, grinding, etc.

All treated material left on site (chips or chunks), shall be six (6) inches or less above the ground, except the boles of non-sawtimber trees treated by the contractor which will be 12 inches or less above the ground, and not exceed 12 feet in length.

6.9.1 Contractor shall furnish two warning signs to be placed on the roadside prior to entrance to the work area. Signs shall be a minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet in dimension and shall warn of possibility of flying debris.

6.10 - Mechanical Fuels Treatment (Chipping)

6.10.1 Each task order will specify the level of difficulty, the specifications, the ranking of preferred species and the size range limits for treatment, whether hardwoods and/or conifers are included, and if any individual species are reserved from treatment.

6.10.2 Accomplish chipping throughout the entire unit, excluding areas identified by the task order or by excessive slope as reserved from treatment.

6.10.3 All surplus vegetation and slash shall be ground or cut, such that no woody piece is greater than 3 feet in length.

6.10.4 Chip depth shall not be more than 12 inches above the normal plane of the ground.

6.10.5 Contractor shall furnish two warning signs to be placed on the roadside prior to entrance to the work area. Signs shall be a minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet in dimension and shall warn of possibility of flying debris.

6.11 - Fuel Modification Zone – Woodland/shrubland (Pushing, brush beating, slashing, masticating) – Fuel modification zones (FMZs) shall be constructed to create a more sustainable vegetation cover in the event of wildfire.

Vegetation density shall be reduced and species composition shall be modified.

Activities required in this task include species identification and selection of leave trees and shrubs, cutting of trees, slashing of shrubs and small vegetation, and snag felling. FMZs will normally be created in whole or portions of stands, along ridgelines, between separate stand and vegetative types, or adjacent to private property.

6.11.1 Task orders for Item 18A thru 18I will include written instructions detailing spacing, any no-treatment areas, reserve trees and shrubs, and/or changes to the order of preference.

6.11.2 Reserve Leave Trees and Shrubs

a. Areas of trees and shrubs may be reserved from treatment in designated units. Reserve areas may be designated by the Government. Prior to the Contractor commencing work in a unit, the Government may designate no-treatment area(s) within each unit, or, the Government may authorize the Contractor to designate the no-treatment area(s) within each unit, pending Government concurrence. No cutting of vegetation shall be done within these designated areas. These areas may range in size from 1/10 acre to 1 acre, and number from zero to twenty.

b. Reserve trees and shrubs shall be designated by the Government with marking (paint, flagging, or sign), size limits, or by written instructions.

Reserve trees and shrubs shall not be damaged or cut. Reserve trees and shrubs shall not be considered in the spacing of leave trees or shrubs.

6.11.3 Selection of Individual Leave Trees and Shrubs, and Groups and Clumps

a. The Contractor shall select leave trees or shrubs based on written instructions from the Government. These instructions may be in the form of a table, or narrative. The Government will issue instructions prior to issuing Task Order for a unit. The Contractor shall determine preference for selection as leave tree or shrub based on the written instructions.

b. Groups and Clumps - Leave tree groups and leave shrub clumps shall be considered for leaving if present. See definitions for Leave Tree Group and Leave Shrub Clump. For spacing purposes, groups and clumps will be considered as one stem.

c. Spacing of Leave Trees and Shrubs - Spacing for leave trees and shrubs, and for leave groups and clumps will be designated for each unit by the task order. The spacing designated shall be no less than 20 feet and no greater than 45 feet between leave vegetation. The designated spacing may be varied plus or minus 10 feet in order to choose the best leave tree or shrub.

d. Leave trees shall not be damaged or cut.

e. Cut and masticate all surplus shrubs whose stems are located under or within 10 feet of the crowns of selected or designated leave trees. Thin all surplus shrubs that are beyond 10 feet of the crowns of selected or designated leave a tree to an average 25' spacing plus or minus 25% for individual shrubs. Shrub species to be cut shall be specified in the task order.

6.11.4 Treatment of Surplus Trees and Shrubs

a. All live and dead conifers, hardwood trees, and shrubs not selected as leave or reserved over one foot tall and up to 12 inches DBH within the specified spacing of each acceptable leave tree or shrub stem and leave group and clump shall be severed six inches or less above the ground. No live limbs shall be left on the stump of any cut stem.

b. Unless otherwise instructed in the task order, the Contractor shall cut surplus trees and shrubs up to 12 inches DBH.

c. Leave trees, shrubs, groups and clumps shall not be damaged while cutting vegetation, or buried with slash.

6.10.5 Stump Heights - All stumps shall be cut six inches or less above the ground.

6.10.6 Bucking of Cut Material - Slashed, cut and felled…