sawmill_Appendix_A.doc

Solicitation No. XX-XXX-X-XX-XXXX

Sawmill 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, fixed price contract for the treatment of non-sawtimber, biomass and slash. This includes felling, yarding/skidding, decking of and/or removal of the non-sawtimber material. Biomass material will be cut and lopped and scattered.

The timber harvest and removal requirements of this contract, including all specifications and requirements for construction of temporary roads and road maintenance are outlined in Appendix B of this solicitation.

2. Project Location and Description

(a) The project area is located on the Salida Ranger District of the Pike-San Isabel National Forest. Vicinity and Contract Maps showing project location and access, a brief location description, and other information regarding specific items are contained in the solicitation.

(b) Accessibility – Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, and 6 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 keeps roads open. Spring and fall road conditions usually necessitate the use of a 4-wheel drive vehicle. During the Spring break up the Forest Service reserves the right to suspend harvest operations to protect forest road surfaces.

(c) Boundaries – Boundaries are marked above and below stump height with orange paint.

(d) Restrictions – Timber Removal Specifications will apply. Other project specific restrictions may be included on unit data sheets (listed in sec. 9, Page 8 of this document) or in Appendix B.

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.

4. Definitions

(a) Basal Area- The area, per acre, that is occupied by the cross-section of tree trunks and stems at DBH, expessed is square feet per acre.

(b) Biomass – Trees between 1.0” and 4.9” DBH.

(c) Cut Tree – Tree designated for cutting.

(d) Cut Tree marking – A method of timber designation whereby all trees marked above and below stump height with blue paint are designated for cutting

(e) 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.

(f) Designation by Prescription – A method of timber designation whereby a description of the final outcome of timber cutting is used to prescribe the outcome of stand treatments. A sample area may be marked for demonstration.

(g) DIB (Diameter Inside Bark) - Diameter measurement of a standing tree or log in which the estimated or actual thickness of the bark is discounted.

(h) 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.

(i) Hand Pile- A method of piling slash with the use of manual labor. Piling may also be done by other methods.

(j) Leave Tree – Any tree that is selected or required to be left standing as provided in the specifications.

(k) Leave Tree Marking – A method of timber designation whereby all conifer trees >5.0” DBH that are not marked with Orange paint above and below stump height are designated for cutting.

(l) Limb and Top Removal – The moving, during yarding/skidding, of cut tree with tops to a designated location at the landing.

(m) Machine Pile – A method of piling slash with the use of mechanized equipment. Piling may also be done by other methods.

(n) Non-sawtimber – Trees that are 5.0” DBH to 7.9” DBH for Douglas-fir, Engelmann, and blue spruce, 5.0” DBH to 6.9” DBH for lodgepole pine, and 5.0” DBH to 9.9” DBH for ponderosa pine.

(o) Sawtimber – Trees that are 8.0” DBH and greater for Douglas-fir, Engelmann, and blue spruce; 7.0” DBH and greater for lodgepole pine; and 10.0” and greater for ponderosa pine.

(p) Slash - Debris created from work under this contract including all cut trees and their tops, trunks, and limbs.

(q) Streamcourse - The area along a stream that has riparian vegetation and other riparian characteristics. Stream courses are noted on the project maps. They typically require special treatment which may include alteration to the tree cutting, slash treatment, vehicle travel, or fueling of saws.

(r) Stump Height – A point on the bole of the tree from the uphill side that is 12” above the ground for Sawlog trees and 6” above the ground for non-saw and biomass strees.

(s) Thinning – The cutting of trees in excess of those to be left for future management.

5. Performance Standards

Treatment of Non-Saw, Biomass and Slash.

Proposal may include use of manual and/or ground based equipment to accomplish task. Any non-sawtimber removed under timber subject to agreement will be according to specifications in Table 1 – Non-sawtimber Removal Specifications, Subject to Agreement.

Table 1: Non-sawtimber Removal Specifications, Subject to Agreement

Quantity Unit of

Measure Minimum Specifications

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

* Volume for non-sawtimber will be agreed upon at time of removal.

5.1 Task: Treatment of Non-Saw and Biomass material

Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, & 6- For treatment of all Non-sawtimber and Biomass material outlined in Appendix A. All non-sawtimber designated cut trees shall be cut, yarded, and decked at approved landing locations and slash shall be piled at the landings. All designated biomass material shall be cut and lopped and scattered in the unit. See Appendix B, WO-K-C.3.5.5# Designation by Prescription, for treatment specifications. Slash specifications are described in Task 5.2- Slash Treatment.

Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a & 6 also require sawtimber cutting and product removal. Treatments are described in Appendix B.

5.1.1 - Non-Saw and Biomass Designation.

a) Non-sawtimber and Biomass Designation. Trees that meet non-sawtimber and biomass definitions in Section 4 are designated for cutting as indicated in 5.1 Task, Appendix B, and on the Unit Data Sheet.

b) Non-sawtimber decks will not be more than 5 feet in height unless agreed otherwise in writing.

c) Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, and 6 are mechanized product removal units and treatments are described in Appendix B.

5.1.2 - Cutting Methods

a) Non-sawtimber cut tree diameter is from 5.0 inches DBH to 7.9 inches DBH for Douglas-fir, blue spruce. 5.0 inches DBH to 6.9 inches DBH for lodgepole pine and 5.0 inches DBH to 9.9 inches DBH for ponderosa pine. Biomass cut tree diameter is 1.0 to 4.9 inches DBH for all species.

b) Stump height of non-sawtimber and biomass cut trees shall be no higher than 6 inches above ground level.

c) Trees shall be completely severed from the stump.

d) No cut tree shall be left suspended in or leaning against a leave tree or tree outside the unit boundary.

e) Contractor has the option of removing the designated non-sawtimber products as timber subject to agreement.

5.2 TASK: Slash Treatment

Unless specified differently on Unit Data Sheet, slash treatment refers to debris created from work under this contract including all designated cut trees and their tops, trunks, and limbs.

Slash Treatment type by unit is specified in the Unit Data Sheet. Criteria listed below will be followed for the appropriate treatment.

a) No thinning and/or logging slash shall be allowed outside the contract boundary, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer.

b) Contractor shall remove all thinning and/or logging slash:

1) Roads – NFSR 174 and 174B shall be kept free of slash.

2) Land Survey Monuments – lop and scatter pullback within 10 feet. Machine piles shall be at least 25 feet from land survey monuments and bearing trees.

3) Roads, Trails and Ditches- pullback 25 feet from edge of roads, trails and ditches.

c) Tops and limbs which are lost on the way to the landing due to normal felling, skidding and /or yarding operations are not required to be yarded. Lost material is required to be lopped and scattered to lie within 24” of the ground.

d) Trees which must be cut for landings, skid trails or other approved clearings will have the same slash treatment requirements as existing cut trees.

e) Piling at Landings –All designated non-sawtimber cut trees in Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, and 6 will be yarded to approved landings and decked. Slash created will be piled to the following standards:

1. Piles shall be windrowed.

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

3. Piles will not be more than 20 feet in height, or 30 feet in width.

4. Piles shall be located at least 20 feet from residual timber and 50 feet from protected stream courses. If conditions make it impractical to locate pile so that damage to residual green trees can be avoided, an area will be designated by the Forest Service.

5. 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.

6. Piling will be accomplished with a grapple-type machine, of such size, that will cause minimal damage to the residual timber.

f) Lop and Scatter – All designated biomass cut trees in units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, & 6 will be cut and lopped and scattered in the unit. Slash created will be lopped and scattered to the following standards:

1. Contractor shall cut all exposed limbs from included product to a top diameter of approximately 2 inch diameter inside bark, at which point the top will be cut from the remainder of the stem. The top and boles will not extend over 24 inches in height above the ground.

2. Slash should be scattered to reduce slash concentrations with slash left within 24 inches of the ground and not in piles.

6. Government Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan The Government will inspect completed units as a basis for acceptance and payments, and to provide recommendations to improve work quality while work is in progress. The government reserves the right to use any inspection method it deems appropriate to assure adequate Quality Control. The Contractor is responsible for providing quality control to assure that work complies with requirements of contract specifications.

All work included in the contract specifications shall be subject to inspections by the Government at periodic intervals during the performance of this contract. Treatment inspections are for the sole benefit of the Government and shall not release the Contractor of the responsibility of providing quality control measures to assure that the work strictly complies with the contract requirements.

Inspections will be made on a series of 1/50th acre (16.67 feet radius) fixed plots. At least 1 plot will be located per ten acres. Each cutting unit will have at least five plots. Plot locations will be random and determined by a non-biased method

Each plot will be evaluated for compliance with all contract specifications as stated in Appendix A, 5.0 Performance Standards.

Work Quality Percentage Work quality percentages are derived from data developed from inspection plots. The total number of satisfactory plots divided by the number of plots inspected determines the quality rate. This rate multiplied by 100 provides the work quality percentage.

Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all Appendix A, 5.0 Performance Standards, that correspond to the treatment. A minimum basic quality of 85 percent is required to meet the Acceptable Quality Level.

Unsatisfactory Work - If the work quality falls below 85 percent, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor in writing and direct the Contractor to improve the quality of his work. If the quality of work is not raised to an acceptable level within 30 working days after written notification, the Contracting Officer may issue a Suspend Work Order to resolve the problem, during which time contract performance time will continue to run. All work that does not meet contract requirements shall be reworked at no cost to the government until it meets contract specifications. If the contractor does not make the necessary corrections, the Contracting Officer may reduce payment based on the percentage of unacceptable work. Disagreement between the parties will be subject to the clause entitled “Disputes”.

In the event that work is performed that is contrary to the requirements in the task order the Government is not liable for costs incurred by the contractor during negligent performance that is without the fault or negligence of the Government.

7. Plot Inspections

The Contractor shall maintain a plot system that provides an unbiased sample of thinning quality and slash treatment, and which represents the entire area treated. Inspections will be made on a series of 1/50th acre (16.67 feet radius) fixed plots with at least 1 plot per ten acres. Each cutting unit will have at least five plots. Plot locations will be random and determined by a non-biased method across each work unit. The Government may observe or re-inspect the Contractor’s plots at any time. Plots shall be marked and identifiable on the ground. Contractor shall provide written inspection data by unit that meets contract requirements and a sketch map with plot locations. The Contractor shall use the following form for inspections, unless an alternate form proposed by the Contractor is approved in advance by the CO.

Plot Inspection Form

Flag plot center – Write on flagging the plot number, date, and initials of inspector. Mark plot number on map.

Acceptable Plot

Y or N

Acceptable Thinning Criteria:

In Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, and 6 Designation by Prescription: Trees that range in diameter from 5.0 inches DBH and greater will have an average residual Basal Area of 40-60 (Range 0-80).

Biomass trees will be spaced so no more than 5 biomass trees remain on each plot.

Acceptable Limb and Top Removal and Machine pile Criteria:

Plot will be subdivided into four (4) quadrants based on cardinal directions. Each quadrant will be evaluated for compliance with all contract specifications as stated that pertains to that individual treatment. If two (2) or more quadrants fail to comply the plot will fail.

Piling at Landings – All designated Non-saw cut trees in Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, and 6 will be yarded to landings and decked. Slash created will be piled to the following standards:

1. Piles shall be windrowed.

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

3. Piles will not be more than 20 feet in height, or 30 feet in width.

4. Piles shall be located at least 20 feet from residual timber and 50 feet from protected stream courses. If conditions make it impractical to locate pile so that damage to residual green trees can be avoided, an area will be designated by the Forest Service.

5. 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.

6. If piling will be accomplished with a machine, 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.

Lop and Scatter – All designated biomass cut trees in units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, & 6 will be cut and lopped and scattered in the unit. Slash created will be lopped and scattered to the following standards:

1. Contractor shall cut all exposed limbs from included product to a top diameter of approximately 2 inch diameter inside bark, at which point the top will be cut from the remainder of the stem. The top and boles will not extend over 24 inches in height above the ground.

2. Slash should be scattered to reduce slash concentrations with slash generally left within 24 inches of the ground and not in piles.

Thinning will be inspected on a random plot basis. Full payment will be made if 85% of the area meets contract specifications for treatment. Disincentive is Contractor rework to meet the 85% objective or reduced payment if additional performance cannot correct the deficiency.

8. Performance Work Summary Table for Non-Saw treatments

Standard Quality

Assurance

Process Acceptable

Quality Level

(AQL)

Incentive/Deduction

9. Unit Data Sheet

Prescription

CUT & LOP & SCATTER designated biomass trees, CUT designated Sawtimber & Non-Sawtimber trees, Pile slash, YARD Non-Sawtimber boles to landing, DECK boles at landing.

Biomass- Lop & Scatter

Sawtimber & Non-sawtimber- Piling at the landings.

Sawtimber & Non-sawtimber- Piling at the landings.

Sawtimber & Non-sawtimber- Piling at the landings.

Sawtimber & Non-sawtimber- Piling at the landings.

Sawtimber & Non-sawtimber- Piling at the landings.

Sawtimber & Non-sawtimber- Piling at the landings.

Sawtimber & Non-sawtimber- Piling at the landings.