AG-82X9-S-12-0051 Revised Pg 4-43 Rds IDIQ.docx

SOL NO. AG-82X9-S-12-0051

Pike & San Isabel National Forests Roads Construction IDIQ

SECTION B – Costs Schedule of Items……………………………………..…………………………………………………………5

SECTION M - Evaluation Factors for Award……………………………………………………………………………………….42

SECTION B--SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

SCHEDULE I – BASE YEAR

The quantities of supplies and services specified in the Schedule are for estimating and evaluation purposes only and are not purchased by this contract. The quantities listed are an estimate of what typical quantities would be for pay items that may be included in a task order. See General Notes – Mobilization Pay Items

SCHEDULE I – BASE YEAR Cont.

SCHEDULE I – BASE YEAR Cont.

SCHEDULE II – OPTION YEAR ONE

The quantities of supplies and services specified in the Schedule are for estimating and evaluation purposes only and are not purchased by this contract. The quantities listed are an estimate of what typical quantities would be for pay items that may be included in a task order. See General Notes – Mobilization Pay Items

SCHEDULE II – OPTION YEAR ONE Cont.

204(20)A

204(20)B

SCHEDULE II – OPTION YEAR ONE Cont.

SCHEDULE III – OPTION YEAR TWO

The quantities of supplies and services specified in the Schedule are for estimating and evaluation purposes only and are not purchased by this contract. The quantities listed are an estimate of what typical quantities would be for pay items that may be included in a task order. See General Notes – Mobilization Pay Items

SCHEDULE III – OPTION YEAR TWO Cont.

602(01)A

SCHEDULE III – OPTION YEAR TWO Cont.

622(02)

622(03)

622(05)

622(07)

633(10)

633(90)A

802(01)

805(01)

805(02)

805(03)

805(04)

808(01)

850(01)A

850(01)B

860(01)A

860(01)B

Schedule General Notes:

1) The base of operations location shall be used for mobilization distance determination purposes. Base of Operations should be the location where the equipment is staged but may be any business office location. Some task orders may be based on shorter distances, if the affected equipment is closer to the project site than the base of operations (e.g., mobilization from one project site to another).

2) Mobilization shall be for one time per job. Mobilization will not be paid for the return trip to the base of operations, or for re-mobilization to the same project (e.g., equipment taken back to the base of operations for the weekend, poor project planning), unless agreed to in advance by the Contracting Officer.

3) Mobilization covers movement of personnel, equipment, supplies, and incidentals to or from the project area. Requirements and provisions shall follow Section 151 in the FP-03 specifications. Payment will be made at the accepted rates shown on the bid schedule for each corresponding piece of equipment, as applicable. Separate mobilization pay items for each type of major equipment anticipated under the contract are shown in the Schedule of Items.

4) Mobilization of equipment for which a separate mobilization pay item is not shown on the Schedule of Items shall be considered incidental to the work pay item requiring that equipment. Pickup trucks, chase vehicles, etc., shall be considered incidental to the pay items shown in the Bid Schedule, and no separate payment will be made for their use. If the Contracting Officer agrees that the equipment needed is a major part of the work it may be negotiated and added to the Schedule of Items. In certain conditions some equipment may be considered incidental to another pay item. An example is when a dump truck is hauling a backhoe to do culvert & aggregate work. In this case the dump truck is incidental to the backhoe and only mobilization of the backhoe shall be paid.

5) Mobilization Item 151(13)M shall include any equipment and transportation necessary to perform Pay Item 303(58) according to specification. Equipment needed to perform the work may consist of motor grader, backhoe, dozer, track mounted excavator w/ hammer attachment, skid steer, wheel loader, water truck, and mobile rock crushing unit. Additional equipment may or may not be needed and unit costs shall be determined by Task Order if applicable based on project design.

6) Pay Item 151(12) Bonding is a percentage unit price and shall be used for any Task Order between $30,000 and $150,000. The Pay Item is calculated by adding all mobilization pay item costs with all work pay items costs and then multiplying it by the percentage unit price.

7) Pay Item 152(01) Construction Survey and Staking shall be performed according to FP-03 Specification 152. Unit costs shall be determined by Task Order if applicable based on project design.

8) Pay Item 157(02) Soil Erosion Control structures shall be installed according to FP-03 Section 157 and the drawing detail.

9) Pay Items 202(55) and 202(55)A assume trees removed shall be limbed, with an on-site lop-and-scatter disposal method. Merchantable material shall be hauled and placed in a F.S.-designated stockpile site within five miles of the tree location, unless otherwise arranged by and paid for by the Contracting Officer. Work under these Pay Items does not include grubbing of stumps, which shall be covered separately, as needed.

10) Pay Item 204(01) involves excavation, placement, and compaction of common/ripable earthen materials for minor roadway and/or trail construction. Cut and fill quantities shall balance out. Bid prices should assume a haul distance not to exceed 1 mile one-way from the work location. Distances exceeding this amount shall be negotiated and covered separately, as needed.

11) Construct Pay Item 204(20)A & B according to FP-03 Section 204 and the drawing detail in the contract.

Schedule General Notes Continued.

12) Pay Item 204(24) Haul shall include ton/mile costs for hauling of excavation, aggregate, pit run, rip rap, borrow material, etc. To cover project hauling not covered in other specifications.

13) Pay Item 211(03)A Roadway Obliteration, Method 1 shall be performed according to Supplemental Specification 211. The intent of this pay item is to re-contour to match original/existing round contour. Unit costs shall be determined by Task Order if applicable based on project design.

14) Pay Item 211(03)B Roadway Obliteration, Method 2 shall be performed according to Supplemental Specification 211. The intent of this pay item is to reshape/outslope existing road bed to drain.

15) Pay Item 211(03)C Roadway Obliteration, Method 3 shall be performed according to Supplemental Specification 211. The intent of this pay item is to scarify ground to a 12” depth one pass and out.

16) Pay Item 230(01) Roadside Brushing shall be performed according to Supplemental Specification 230 and the drawing detail in the contract.

17) Pay Item 251(02) Placed Riprap, Class “4” shall be installed according to FP-03 Section 251. Pay Item shall include furnishing, hauling, and placing the specified material. Bid prices should assume a haul distance not to exceed 40 miles one-way from the nearest acceptable commercial source to the project site. Distances exceeding this amount shall be negotiated and covered separately, as needed.

18) Pay Item 258(01) includes installation, including minor block transportation, excavation, and backfill of pre-cast Government-Furnished modular concrete retaining wall blocks according to FP-03 Section 258, manufacturer’s instructions located in Attachment J.2 Drawings on sheets 15 to 32, and Contracting Officer direction, design, and layout. Unit bid rate should be based on locally available backfill material. Unit costs shall be determined by Task Order if applicable based on project design.

19) Pay Items 301(01)B, 301(01)C, 301(01)D, & 301(15) shall include furnishing, hauling, and placing the specified material. Bid prices should assume a haul distance not to exceed 40 miles one-way from the nearest acceptable commercial source to the project site. Distances exceeding this amount shall be negotiated and covered separately, as needed. Measure according to Subsection 109.03.

20) Pay Item 301(01)A, involves placement only. Any materials shall be Government-Furnished.

21) Pay Item 303(58) Road Reconditioning – In Place Rock Crushing shall be performed according to Supplemental Specification 303. Unit costs shall be determined by Task Order if applicable based on project design.

22) Pay Items 602(01) and 602(02) assume excavation achievable with a backhoe or trackhoe. Solid material requiring the use of hydraulic hammers or blasting shall be covered separately. Imported backfill material will also be covered separately under an applicable pay item as determined by the Contracting Officer. Bid prices should assume a maximum burial depth of 5 feet below existing road surface. Depths exceeding this amount shall be negotiated and covered separately, as needed. Bid prices should assume a dry installation method. If a wet installation method is needed then this unit price shall be negotiated and covered separately. Bid prices should assume using annular corrugated metal pipe.

23) Pay Item 619(02) shall include transporting and installing Government-Furnished gate. Each task order shall detail the specific location of the gate to be installed. Bid prices should assume a haul distance not to exceed 40 miles one-way from the gate location to the project site. Install gate according to FP-03 Section 619 and the drawing detail in the contract. All gate installations require concrete as shown in the drawing detail. Concrete for anchoring locking open, locking closed, and hinge posts shall be Sakrete 5000 Plus High Strength Concrete Mix or equal as approved by the Contracting Officer.

Schedule General Notes Continued.

24) Traffic control for all Pay Items shall be considered incidental, with the exception of work requiring flaggers which shall be covered under Pay Item 623(01) – General labor.

25) Pay Item 623(01) General Labor is intended to cover hand labor and operation of small mechanical equipment not otherwise covered by specific equipment operator requirements (e.g. chainsaws, “whacker-packers’).

26) Pay Item 625(01) Seeding, Dry Method shall be performed according to Supplemental Specification 625.

27) Pay Item 633(10), 633(90)A, and 633(90)B shall be performed according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (2009 Edition) and the Forest Service Sign Installation Guide, Publication No. 1071 2812P. The Sign Installation Guide can be downloaded from http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/.

28) Pay Item 808(01) Cattle guard Cleaning requires cleaning the area beneath the cattle guard deck, generally accomplished by removing the deck. The costs for additional maintenance needed such as welding or replacing parts shall be negotiated and covered separately, as needed.

29) Pay Item 809(01) Developing Water Supply and Watering unit costs shall be determined by Task Order if applicable based on project design.

30) Pay Item 850(01)A covers road maintenance items and includes all aspects of maintenance required by Special Project Specification 850. Pay Item 850(01)B is a travelway maintenance item and shall be performed in accordance with subsection 850.06; it is for roadway surface maintenance and minor drainage maintenance.

31) Pay Item 860(01)A covers road maintenance items and includes all aspects of maintenance required by Special Project Specification 860. Pay Item 860(01)B is a travelway maintenance item and shall be performed in accordance with subsection 860.06; it is for roadway surface maintenance only, and does not include other related work, such as drainage maintenance or vegetative clearing.

32) The Contractor is required to call Digger’s Hotline to obtain a utility line locate before any ground disturbance on any task order. The Forest Service will try to provide as much information about any utilities known but it is the Contractor’s responsibility to locate all utility lines.

33) The Contractor is required to complete a Contract Daily Diary for each day of work. Each Daily Diary must be submitted to the Contracting Officer within one working week of the work being performed. See Supplemental Specification 153 for requirements.

34) The Contractor is required to submit a Construction Schedule for each Task Order awarded. See Supplemental Specification 155 for requirements.

35) Pay Items not listed in the Schedule of Items that are similar in scope but very slightly because of the detail of work may be modified to the contract on an individual Task Order basis. Unit costs shall be determined by Task Order if applicable based on project design.

36) Pay Item 204(02) bid prices should assume a haul distance not to exceed 5 miles one-way from the work location. Distances exceeding this amount shall be negotiated and covered separately, as needed

37) Hour (HR): All hours worked under a pay item as "on-shift" in performance of actual work necessary for the performance of pay item. Hours do not include "off-shift" time allowed for transportation to the worksite or breaks. The minimum computation time allowance is increments of 15 minutes. Rates will be in accordance with the applicable pay item in the schedule.

SECTION C--DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

C.1 Scope of Contract Pike & San Isabel NF’s Road Construction IDIQ Contract located within the Pike & San Isabel National Forests. By design, an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract allows the Government to respond to various emergencies and light construction needs rapidly, without committing to a specific quantity or type of work. When a project is initiated, a Task Order will be offered to the awarded Contractor that outlines the project needs, equipment needs, dates, and specific project location. The resulting Task Orders will be competed among the awardees and evaluated based on a best value to the Government determination. Section C.2 Description of Work below outlines, in a general sense, the various types of work that may be offered as a Task Order under this IDIQ Contract.

C.2 Description of Work The project includes, but is not limited to, the following work: road construction and re-construction, emergency road construction due to major emergencies such as landslides, blizzards, flooding, fire, etc; road and/or parking area construction, reconstruction, reconditioning, maintenance, decommissioning; trail construction, reconstruction, reconditioning, maintenance, and decommissioning; vegetative clearing, grubbing, and brushing; culvert installation and repair; road/stream interaction projects; aquatic organism passage projects, erosion control, sign installation and repair; cattleguard installation and repair; gate installation and repair including minor concrete forming and finishing; recreational site construction, reconstruction, reconditioning, and maintenance; material haul; haul and placement of imported borrow or aggregate, and other related road work as described in the Statement of Work under each individual Task Order issued under this contract. Contractor shall provide all necessary heavy equipment, manpower, transportation and operating supplies and other incidentals to accomplish this work

C.3 Location of Project The project area is described herein and shown on the attached maps (See Section J, List of Attachments). The work is located within the Pike & San Isabel National Forests.

C.4 Performance of the Work All work shall be conducted in a safe and expedient manner and in conformance with the specifications referenced in Section J attachment J.1 and the Task Order. When applicable, traffic control shall be in accordance with standards set forth in the most current edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). See General Notes in Section B for discussion of compensation for traffic control work. All work shall be conducted by personnel fully qualified to perform such tasks assigned and shall be supervised by an onsite designated Contractor’s Representative.

C.5 Equipment All equipment shall be in good repair, and capable of accomplishing assigned tasks in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. Where applicable, all equipment shall be fitted with approved spark arrestors. All repairs to equipment under this contract shall be made and paid for by the Contractor.

The equipment listed in the Schedule of Items constitutes the minimum mandatory equipment to be furnished and operated under this contract. Failure to furnish rates for this equipment will render the offer non-responsive. Larger equipment maybe used except in such cases that oversized equipment would result in unacceptable ground disturbance or be counterproductive. Equipment substitutions must be requested in writing and must be approved by the Contracting Officer prior to use.

Equipment may be owned, rented, or subcontracted.

All equipment shall be cleaned of earthen and vegetative materials that may contain weed seed prior to delivery onto National Forest Lands. If using equipment on multiple Task Orders at one time or if there are long mobilization distances between sites on the same Task Order, the Contracting Officer may require cleaning of equipment between the project sites. See Supplemental Specification 171 - Weed and Disease Prevention.

C.6 Equipment and Materials Storage & Staging Upon concurrence from the Contracting Officer, certain areas on the National Forests may be used on a case-by-case basis for storage of equipment and/or materials during active construction and/or maintenance periods. The Contractor shall be responsible for protection of items stored on Government property, and shall ensure adequate safety measures are maintained at such sites.

C.7 Routine Road Maintenance- Gravel and Native Surfaced Roads When the task order calls for routine blading (road grading) of forest roads, equipment operators with no previous national forest road maintenance experience shall view a short (18-minute) video on proper road maintenance techniques prior to beginning work. The operator shall work in a manner that closely follows the techniques shown in the video.

C.8 References in the Statement of Work/Specifications Any reference in this solicitation to Engineer, Forest Engineer, Project Engineer, Forest Service, COR, shall be replaced with Contracting Officer.

C.9 Standard Specifications “Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects, FP-03”, U.S. Customary Units, is applicable for this project, and is included by reference only. The requirements contained in these Standard Specifications are hereby made a part of this solicitation and any resulting work. These specifications can be viewed at no cost on the FHWA website, which also gives ordering information: http://www.wfl.fha.dot.gov/design/specs/fp03.htm.

Section J of this contract contains Supplemental and Special Project Specifications that supplement and/or modify the Standard Specifications. The Standard, Supplemental, and Special Project Specifications shall all be used in conjunction with each other to properly determine the correct specification for each Pay Item in the Schedule of Items.

C.10 Government Furnished Property The Government will provide the following item(s) of Government property to the Contractor for use in the performance of this contract. This property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor in accordance with the provisions of the "Government Property" FAR clause contained elsewhere in the contract.

Unless otherwise agreed upon, any Government-Furnished Property incorporated into the work shall be furnished and delivered to or near the project site(s) by the Government.

Government will make available 18 minute video as described in Section C.7 Routine Road Maintenance – Gravel and Native Surfaced Roads for the contractor to review and return to the Government.

Government will provide official National Forest Maps and specific vicinity maps for each task order issued.

TASK ORDERS: The CO,or designated Contracting Officer Representative (COR) shall submit an executed task order to the Contractor. All work will be ordered by Firm-Fixed price TASK ORDERS (TO) at the prices listed on the Schedule of Items through the Base Period and each Option Year exercised. The price may change only by a written modification to the task order signed by the Contracting Officer and the Contractor. The Contractor shall schedule work to minimize impact on road use when possible.

AGAR 452.211-73 Attachments to Statement of Work/Specifications (FEB 1988) The attachments to the Statement of Work/Specifications listed in Section J are hereby made part of this solicitation and any resultant contract. This includes Standard Specifications and Supplemental specifications applicable to this project.

SECTION D - Packaging and Marking {For this Solicitation, there are NO clauses in this Section}

SECTION E - Inspection and Acceptance

FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): www.arnet.gov/far/

SECTION F - Deliveries or Performance FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): www.arnet.gov/far/

52.242-14 Suspension of Work (APR 1984)

52.211-10 Commencement, Prosecution, and Completion of Work. (APR 1984) The Contractor shall be required to (a) commence work under this contract within 5 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the notice to proceed, (b) prosecute the work diligently, and (c) complete the entire work ready for use not later than date stated in the individual Task Order. The time stated for completion shall include final cleanup of the premises.

452.211-75 Effective Period of the Contract. (FEB 1988) The effective period of this contract is from 365 days from award date. There will be two (2) one year optional years that may be exercised at the discretion of the Government

452.236-75 Maximum Workweek - Construction Schedule. (NOV 1996) Within five (5) calendar days after receipt of a written request from the Contracting Officer, the Contractor must submit the following in writing for approval:

(a) A schedule as required by FAR clause 52.236-15, Schedules for Construction Contracts, and

(b) The hours (including the daily starting and stopping times) and days of the week the Contractor proposes to carry out the work.

The maximum workweek that will be approved is Monday through Friday, not to exceed forty (40) hours, unless change is agreed to in writing by the Contracting Officer.

SECTION G - Contract Administration Data

AGAR 452.215-73 Post Award Conference (NOV 1996) A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled and held within fifteen (15) days after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at a location to be determined, that will be identified upon contract award.

G.1 INVOICES & PAYMENTS

INVOICES SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO:

Toinette P. Aranda, Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) Phone: 719-553-1431 Fax: 719-553-1435 E-Mail: tparanda@fs.fed.us USDA Forest Service 2840 Kachina Drive Pueblo, Colorado 81008

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS CONTRACT.

PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY:

USDA Rural Development Centralized Servicing Center 4300 Goodfellow Blvd (FC-233) Bldg 105E St. Louis, MO 63120-1703 Phone: 314-457-4525

G.2 FOREST SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES:

Ginger R. Domingos will serve as the Contracting Officer on this contract. She will have full warrant authority over all contract issues. She can be reached at 970 385-1245or gingerdomingos@fs.fed.us.

Toinette P. Aranda will serve as the Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) on this project. She will serve as your primary point of contact throughout this contract. A letter of delegation of her authority will be provided at contract award. Her contact information is included above. She can be reached at 719-553-1431 or tparanda@fs.fed.us .

A Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will be appointed for this contract upon award. His/her delegated authority and responsibilities will be defined on a delegation letter issued after contract award. This delegation will also contain his contact information.

SECTION H - Special Contract Requirements

4G52.222-704 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (FEB 2007)

The contractor shall train workers in the safe operation and use of equipment that the worker may use before the worker begins using such equipment.

Personal protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities must be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards or processes encountered which may cause injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body. Defective or damaged personal protective equipment must not be used.

The contractor shall provide chain saw chaps to each employee who operates a chain saw, at no cost to the employee. These chaps must be approved by an Underwriters Laboratory or meet Forest Service specification 6170-47. The chaps must cover the full length of the thigh and must extend to the top of the boot on each leg.

The contractor shall assure that each employee wears foot protection that provides adequate traction and ankle support. Employees operating chain saws shall wear foot protection that is constructed with cut-resistant material which will protect the employee against contact with a running chain saw.

In any area where the worker is exposed to the potential for flying or falling objects, the contractor shall provide a hard hat, at no cost to the employee, and the contractor shall assure that the employee wears the hard hat. The hard hat must meet the minimum requirements of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z89.1-1997.

The contractor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, eye protection where there is potential for eye injury due to flying objects. This eye protection must meet the minimum requirements of ANSI standard Z87.1-2003.

The contractor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, hearing protection where there is a potential for hearing loss due to high intensity noise for example, chain saw operation.

Emergency Response (AGAR 452.236-77) (Nov 1996)

(a) Contractor’s Responsibility for Fire Fighting. (1) The Contractor, under the provisions of FAR Clause 52.236-9, Protection of Existing Vegetation, Structures, Equipment, Utilities and Improvements, shall immediately extinguish all fires on the work site other than those fires in use as part of the work. (2) The Contractor may be held liable for all damages and for all costs incurred by the Government for labor, subsistence, equipment supplies, and transportation deemed necessary to control or suppress a fire set or caused by the Contractor or the Contractor’s agents or employees.

(b) Contractor’s Responsibility for Notification in Case of Fire. The Contractor shall immediately notify the Government of any fires signed on or in the vicinity of the work site.

(c) Contractor’s Responsibility for Responding to Emergencies. When directed by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall allow the Forest Service to temporarily use employees and equipment from the work site for emergency work (anticipated to be restricted to firefighting). An equitable adjustment for the temporary use of employees and equipment will be made under the Changes Clause, FAR 52.243-4.

ADDENDUM to AGAR 452.236-77(c) Paragraph (c) above add Changes clause, FAR 52.243-5, Changes and changed conditions.

AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel (FEB 1998)

(a) The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel: CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVE, FOREMAN/WOMAN, and INSPECTOR.

(b) During the performance of this contract, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required by paragraph (c) below.

(c) The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

H. 1. FIRE CONTROL

H.1.1. Contractor's Responsibility for Contractor-Caused Fires. The Contractor, whether or not directed by the Forest Service, shall immediately extinguish, without expense to the Government, all fires on or in the vicinity of the project which are caused by Contractor's employees, whether set directly or indirectly as a result of Contractor operations. The Contractor may be held liable for all damages and costs of additional labor, subsistence, equipment, supplies, and transportation resulting from fires set or caused by the Contractor's employees or resulting from contract operations.

H.1.2. Other Fires. For the purpose of fighting forest fires on or in the vicinity of the project which are not caused by the Contractor or his employees, the Contractor when requested by the Contracting Officer shall place his employees and equipment temporarily at the disposal of the Forest Service. Payment for such services will be made by the Government at not less than the current rate for fire-fighting services established by the Forest Service in the area concerned.

H.1.3. Any employees and equipment furnished will be relieved from fire fighting as soon as the Forest Service finds that it is practicable to employ other labor and equipment adequate for the protection of the area.

H.1.4. An equitable adjustment in contract time may be made for this period.

H.1.5. Fire Protection Requirements - Fire Plan. At all times during closed fire season period, as specified by State law, the Contractor shall comply with each of the following provisions to the extent applicable to his operation under the contract.

H.1.5.1. Fire Tools. The Contractor will provide for each employee in the contract area at least one approved handtool of a type appropriate in the contract area, such as shovel, pulaski, or ax. Tools required and furnished under H.2.5.2. and H.2.5.4. below shall count toward fulfillment of the above requirement. Where additional tools, beyond those required below, are to be provided, the Contractor shall seal such tools in one or more boxes painted red and marked "Tools for Fire Only." All tools required herein shall be kept sharp and in good serviceable condition and maintained at locations to be designated by the Forest Service.

H.1.5.2. Fire Extinguishers and Tools on Mobile or Stationary Equipment. Each unit of powered equipment used in connection with this contract, including automobiles, trucks, tractors, etc., shall be equipped with serviceable tools and fire extinguishers as follows:

a. One - fire extinguisher, dry chemical type of not less than 2-1/2 pound capacity with 4 BC or higher rating.

b. One - shovel, round point #0 lady or equal.

c. One - ax, 2 pounds or over, 26-inch minimum length, or one pulaski.

d. One - water container (at least 1-gallon capacity), not required with stationary equipment.

H.1.5.3. Spark Arresters. Each internal combustion engine shall be provided with a spark arrester or spark arresting device approved by the Forest Service. Exceptions where the Forest Service may approve mufflers or other equipment in lieu of spark arresters qualified and rated under Forest Service Standard 5100-1a are: (a) small multiposition engines, such as chainsaws, shall meet Society of Automotive Engineers J335b standards; (b) passenger-carrying vehicles and light trucks may have baffle-type mufflers with tail pipe; (c) heavy-duty trucks may have a vertical stack exhaust system and muffler, provided the exhaust stack extends above the cab of the vehicle. An exhaust-driven turbocharger is considered to be a satisfactory spark arrester. Internal combustion engine exhaust systems, arresters, and other devices must be properly installed and maintained.

H.1.5.4. Powersaws. For each powersaw used in connection with this contract, the following will be provided:

a. One - shovel, round point #0 lady or equal.