Appendix_A_Stateline_per_amendment_01.doc

Salmon-Challis National Forest State Line Stewardship

Solicitation No. AG-84M8-S-16-0002 Appendix A. Page 14 of 18

State Line Stewardship

APPENDIX A

STEWARDSHIP CONTRACT

Specifications for Service Type Restoration Work Activities Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall perform services according to the following requirements:

A.1.

Pre-Commercial Thinning (Schedule of Items, Service Item 2A.2) A.1.1.

Scope of Work

This stewardship project work requires pre-commercial thinning within Units 1 through 13 to achieve ladder fuel reductions. Lodgepole Pine trees between 4.0” and 6.9” DBH will be cut and whole tree yarded utilizing ground based logging systems. Trees to be cut in Units 1,2,13 have been marked with blue paint by the Forest Service. Trees to be cut within Units 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 have not been marked, therefore; it is the Contractor’s responsibility to select trees to be cut based on diameter limits and species as displayed in A.1.2. Boundary and leave trees marked in orange paint will not be cut in any units.

Note: Fall, Buck, Skid, and associated slash costs for commercial product will not be paid for in this item (Accounted for in Timber Appraisal).

A.1.2.

Technical Specifications

■ Cut all live and dead conifer trees, with the exception of Whitebark Pine, greater than 3.9”and less than seven (7) inches DBH that are not Leave Tree Marked. Whitebark Pine should not be cut.

■ Leave all shrubs and non-coniferous tree species, except when cutting is necessary to access a coniferous cut tree.

■ Leave all live and dead conifer trees two (2) feet or less in height and seven (7) inches or greater DBH.

■Trees shall be felled away from live streams. Any tree or part thereof is felled into a live stream shall be immediately removed.

■Tops and limbs which are lost on the way to the landing due to normal felling, skidding and/or yarding operations shall be scattered throughout the unit, at least ten (10) feet from the bole of any standing tree or snag and not in piles. Scattered slash must not be over 24” in height above the ground.

■ Cut all Cut Tree Marked live and dead conifer trees greater than 3.9”and less than seven (7) inches DBH.

■ Leave all shrubs and non-coniferous tree species, except when cutting is necessary to access a coniferous cut tree.

■ Leave all live and dead conifer trees two (2) feet or less in height and seven (7) inches or greater DBH.

■Trees shall be felled away from live streams. Any tree or part thereof is felled into a live stream shall be immediately removed.

■ Tops and limbs which are lost on the way to the landing due to normal felling, skidding and/or yarding operations shall be scattered throughout the unit, at least ten (10) feet from the bole of any standing tree or snag and not in piles. Scattered slash must not be over 24” in height above the ground.

A.1.3 Performance Standards

Incentive/ Deduction

AND

The number of Category C deficiencies do not exceed the maximum stated in Section F, acceptance and rework.

· If Contractor achieves 90% or greater quality AND Category C deficiencies are below the maximum allowable, the Contractor will receive unit price as incentive.

· If Contractor exceeds the maximum allowance for Category C deficiencies, the Contractor is required to rework as per ‘Payment Calculations’ prior to payment for other thinning work.

· If Contractor does not achieve at least 90% quality, deductions as per ‘Payment Calculations’ and adverse performance assessment.

Lop and Scatter

Quality Control

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

Contractor’s plot inspections are +/-5% of Government’s quality. Inspection completed to meet timeframes. Inspection forms are complete and accurate.

COR or inspector randomly sample and observe operations.

COR or inspector randomly observe Contractor inspection. Review Contractor inspection sheets.

· The quality of Quality Control provided by the Contractor will be reflected in the performance assessment as either positive or negative incentive.

· If the Contractor fails to meet standards, work may be suspended or put in Default for failure to take corrective action immediately. Result in adverse performance assessment.

· The ability of the Contractor to meet the standard will be reflected in the performance assessment as either positive or negative incentive.

· When Contractor’s plot inspections meet standards, no deduction.

If quality does not meet standard, pay deduction and/or additional costs to the Government will be assessed

Work Plan and Schedule

· Work not completed on schedule is subject to Default and may result in assessment of actual costs.

A.1.4.

Contractor Quality Control Plan

A.1.4.1.

Quality Control Plan

The Contractor shall provide a Quality Control Plan (QCP) with the technical proposal. The Contractor shall supplement the QCP within 7 days of start work based on task orders awarded to the Contractor and Government comments. The general Quality Control plan must demonstrate how the Contractor will assure quality meets the requirements and specifications of the contract. It shall specify how quality will be monitored to assure the performance standards are met; the supervision of crew and work; and the personnel that will be performing the quality control. Quality control includes the monitoring of quality while work is in progress and an unbiased sample of meadow restoration and other work to determine actual quality percentage.

A.1.4.2.

Plot Inspections

The Contractor shall maintain a plot system that provides an unbiased sample of work which represents the entire area treated. Lop and scatter shall be inspected with the thinning work. The Contractor shall sample at least 5-percent of the treated area, with a minimum of 5 plots per treatment unit. The Contractor shall specify plot size to be used during inspection. The Government may observe or re-inspect the Contractor’s plots at any time.

The Contractor shall mark and identify each inspection plot on the ground.

The Contractor shall provide written inspection data by treatment unit that meets contract requirements and a sketch map with plot locations. The Contractor shall use the Thinning Inspection Plot Form provided at the end of Appendix A as Exhibit 01.

All Contractor inspection records shall be provided to the Government based on the schedule proposed by the Contractor and agreed to by the Contracting Officer for quality assurance assessment consistent with the Government Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. The person who conducted the Contractor’s inspection shall sign and date each sheet and certify that the inspection records are complete and accurate.

A.1.4.3.

The following calculation will be used to determine Tree Thinning Quality:

All computations will be carried to at least thousandths (.000) and the final percentage of thinning quality as calculated above will be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

Trees in excess to the maximum number of acceptable trees will be considered unsatisfactorily selected trees (Category B). Thinning quality will reflect the deductions for improperly selected or cut trees and improper treatment.

A.1.4.4.

The following calculation will be used to determine the trees per acre of Category C deficiencies on the unit:

Cat C trees per acre = Total Category C on plots x Reciprocal of plot size

Number of plots

A.1.5.

Acceptance and Rework A.1.5.1.

Pre-commercial Thinning The Contractor’s quality control inspections for services performed for each task order will be considered acceptable when they are within 5 percent of the Government quality assurance results. When the Contractor’s verified inspection results are below the performance standard of 90 percent quality and Category B deficiencies (excess trees) contribute to the low quality, acceptance and payment will not be made until the deficiency has been corrected unless the Contracting Officer determines excess tree deficiency to be minor or an isolated situation that will not result in any material differences in the total number of trees to be left.

When the total number of Category C deficiencies exceed 5 percent of maximum stocking density or a specified number of trees, based on the Contractor’s quality control inspection and verified by the Government monitoring, acceptance and payment will not be made until the deficiency has been corrected unless the Contracting Officer determines the deficiencies to be minor in nature.

The Contractor’s quality control inspections for services performed will be considered acceptable when they are within 5 percent of the Government quality assurance results.

The Contractor’s quality control will be deemed unacceptable when the Contractor inspection is not within 5 percent of the Government’s quality assurance results at the completion of a unit. When the Contractor’s quality control is unacceptable, payment for the unit will be based on the results of the Government’s quality assurance.

If the Government’s results are objectionable to the Contractor, the Contractor may request a re-examination in writing, within 5 calendar days after receipt of the Government’s quality assurance results. The request shall include documentation that supports that the probability of an error exists. The Government’s re-examination will consist of a 2-percent sample utilizing the same inspection method as the original examination, but new plots will be selected with different plot centers than the plots previously inspected by the Government. If the results of the re-examination are within 5 percent of the Contractor’s submitted quality control results, the Contractor’s results will be considered acceptable and used for pay. If results of the re-examination exceed 5 percent of the Contractor’s submitted quality control results, the Government’s re-examination will be used for the basis of pay and the Contractor will be assessed the costs incurred by the Government that are directly related to the performance of such service.

A.1.5.2

Acceptance Acceptance will be determined based on compliance with the contract specifications. Noncompliance will result in non-acceptance of the work. If the Contractor’s work is determined to be unacceptable, the Government may initiate any remedies described in the Inspection and Acceptance section of the contract.

A.1.5.3 Rework

If the initial work is unacceptable to the Government, the Contractor may re-work the area if deficiencies can be corrected. The Government will assess the re-work after receiving the Contractor’s inspection records which reflect that all work meets specification standards.

The Government will assess the actual costs of conducting the additional quality assurance after rework. The Contractor may be assessed actual damages which may include, but is not limited to: wages of the COR and Government inspector(s), costs of vehicles, meals, and lodging that are incurred during the additional quality assurance.

A.1.6.

Measurement All linear and area measurements under this contract are measured on a horizontal plane within the established boundaries. Boundaries are marked as indicated in the contract.

A.1.6.1.

Re-Measurement

The Contractor may at any time after award request re-measurement of any Item. The request must be in writing within 10 days after completion of a unit or pay item. The Government’s re-measurement of the Item will be made within established boundaries.

If re-measurement indicates a variance of 5 percent or less in the acreage stated in the contract, there will be no adjustment in acres and the Contractor shall pay for the actual cost of re-measurement.

If re-measurement results in a variance greater than 5 percent in the acreage stated in the contract, payment shall be based on the re-measured acreage and the Government shall pay for the re-measurement.

A.1.7 Method of Calculating Payment A.1.7.1 The Contractor’s Quality Control For each completed unit, the Contractor’s quality control inspection percentage for tree thinning, and slash treatments will be compared to the Government’s assessment results. If the results differ by 5 percent or less, the Contractor’s inspection will be considered acceptable and the Contractor’s quality percentage will be used as the basis for payment. When the results differ by more than 5 percent, the Government’s inspection percentage will be used as the basis for payment. Note that payment for thinning quality will only be made when Category C deficiencies are below the maximum levels described in the Quality Control section of the contract.

A.1.7.2 Payment Calculation

Payment less damages will be based on the following methods.

Quality at fully acceptable performance- meets or exceeds 90 percent. Whenever the quality of work meets or exceeds 90 percent, based on the results of the Contractor’s quality control inspection and verified by the Government monitoring, the work will be acceptable, an incentive payment will be made that provides payment at the unit price for the Item.

Payment Example: With a unit price of $100 and a unit size of 40 acres, the bid price would be $4,000. If the Contractor’s work quality is 95 percent, payment would be $4,000.

Quality at unacceptable performance level, less than 90 percent. Whenever the quality of work is below 90 percent based on the results of the Contractor’s quality control inspection and verified by the Government monitoring, the work is unacceptable and the value of services provided is significantly reduced. Therefore, a deduction will be made for unacceptable performance. For each percentage point that performance quality falls below 90 percent, a 2 percent deduction in unit price will be made. No payment will be made where quality of work is below 80 percent.

Payment Example: With a thinning quality of 85 percent, the deduction would be: 10 percent for quality 85 to 89 percent (5 x 2%) resulting in the Contractor receiving 90 percent of the bid price.

With a unit price of $100 per acre and a unit size of 40 acres, the bid price would be $4,000. At 85 percent thinning quality, payment would be: $100 x 90% x 40 acres = $3,600.

Payment Example: With a thinning quality of 70 percent, the deduction would be: 40 percent for quality 70 to 89 percent (20 x 2%) resulting in the Contractor receiving 60 percent of bid price.

With a unit price of $100 per acre and a unit size of 40 acres, the bid price would be $4,000. At 70 percent thinning quality, payment would be: $100 x 60% x 40 acres = $2,400.

A.1.7.3 Unacceptable Work

Any unit, with quality less than 90 percent, is considered unacceptable and may be rejected. For these areas the Government may (i) accept the work at a reduced price (ii) require the area to be re-worked at no additional expense to the Government, or (iii) reject the work in its entirety. If the quality is unacceptable, the Contractor's right to proceed is subject to immediate termination for default.

When work quality falls below 90 percent in areas of 1 acre or larger and the quality of work can be corrected, the Government may require the area to be reworked. If the Government does not require the area to be reworked or the quality remains below 80 percent, the area may be separated from the item and payment made in accordance with the ‘Payment’ section of the contract.

Category C deficiencies that exceed the maximum allowance will be considered unacceptable and payment for the unit will not be made until corrections are made.

The Government will document unacceptable work quality in its performance assessment.

B.1.

Hauling –Units 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 (Schedule of Items, Service Item 2A.3) B.1.1.

Scope of Work

This task requires 1,361 CCF of Non-Saw material designated for cutting be removed from the sale area according to the specifications listed in Appendix B. 2B BASE TIMBER/PRODUCT REMOVAL PRICE SCHEDULE and the SCHEDULE OF ITEMS, Item 2A.3 both apply to this item. This work shall be performed in conjunction with logging operations.

B.1.2.

Technical Specifications

Non-Saw material and estimated volume (1,361 CCF) to be hauled is listed in Appendix B. The methods for cutting and removal of included volume are listed in Appendix B and the provisions thereof.

B.1.3

Performance Standards

B.1.4.

Hauling Performance Requirements and Quality Assurance Surveillance

Standard

Amount of merchantable material left in treatment units

Quality of landing piles

Appendix B

Requirements Volume removed meets Appendix B requirements.

Unacceptable utilization standards shall include leaving more than TWO pieces per acre of merchantable timber meeting the minimum specifications listed in Appendix B – Division AT.

Meets Appendix B requirements for landing piles.

Monthly TSA Reporting

The Forest Service will frequently conduct inspections of the sale area to determine utilization of included timber, in accordance to contract specifications

The Forest Service will frequently conduct visual inspections of the sale area.

Correct deficiencies within one work week at no additional cost to the Government.

If not corrected, these defects shall constitute grounds for termination for failure to perform and payment shall not be made.

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

Work not completed in accordance with contract is subject to Default and may result in assessment of damages.

Inspection Form – from FSH 2409.17, 6.4

Exhibit 01 - Plot Inspection and Instructions

USDA - FOREST SERVICE

STAND SUM.

TARGET

ACTUAL

ACCEP. CAT "C" PER AC.

(see back)

(2)

TREES LEFT:

(INCL.SAT., TREES ABOVE MAX DBH. & EXCLUDES**)

CREDIT

NONSTK.

SPOTS

SURPLUS

S2 AND

CAT. "A"

IMPROPER LEAVE

TREE SELECTION

UNCORRECTABLE

CAT. "B"

EXCESS TREES

CORRECT ABLE

CAT. "C"

CORRECTABLE

(3) S3, S4

(4)

(6) A4,A5

(7) B, B1

(8) C1-C7

(9)

Quality Thinning Calculations:

COL. (3) + COL. (4)

TOTAL PER ACRE CALCULATIONS: TREES PER ACRE = "TOTAL ALL PLOTS" in column divided by total of plots, then multiplied by reciprocal of plot size.

Pruning meets task order requirements –

Girdling meets task order requirements –

Slash Treatments meet task order requirements -

Backside

TREE EVALUATION CODING AND INSTRUCTIONS

C5 - Tree left fith excess disease

C6 - Tree not girdled

C7 - Tree improperly girdled

CATEGORY "A" TREES (6) AND (7)

A1 - Improper spacing relationship or too many cut

A5 - Wrong tree cut

CATEGORY "B" TREES (8)

B - Improper spacing or too few trees cut (Excess Trees)

B1 - Stump with live limbs

2. If the total of Col. (3) and Col. (4) is less than the minimum acceptable trees per lot and there are no improperly cut trees (Col. 6 and 7 -Category A), Column 4 must be increased to the extent the total of Col. ((3) and Col. (4) equals the average number of acceptable trees per plot. If trees are improperly cut (Category A) the total of Columns 3 and 4 must not exceed the sum of maximum acceptable trees per plot minus the n;umber of Category A trees (Columns 6 and 7).

Inspection Form – from FSH 2409.17,6.4, exhibit 04, 05

Exhibit 01 (cont) - Thinning Inspection Plot Form and Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS - THINNING PLOT INSPECTION FORM R4-2400-4 (12/97)

1. Use Form 2400-4 to record the results of thinning. This form is designed for daily use to ascertain the thinning quality thinning.

2. Most of the items contained in the heading of the form can be obtained from prescription or contract. Instructions for the use of the form are as follows:

FORM HEADER

a. ID Block. Complete all items prior to inspection.

b. Contract Block. Complete all items prior to inspection. The percent work accomplished should be calculated by the following formula:

1.00 - acres thinned to date x 100 = Percent Work Remaining total contract acres

c. Contract Specifications Block.

(1) Acceptable Minimum and Maximum Trees per Acre. This information is provided in the Silvicultural Summary Prescription as acceptable stocking density.. A specific range of leave trees is specified and then becomes the basis for the timber stand improvement treatment. Trees below minimum height for thinning and any species to be ignored from thinning are excluded.

(2) Priority Species Preference. List the priority of species to be retained from the "Silvicultural Summary Prescription"

(3) Plot Size. Record the plot size. The selected size should be large enough to sample at least 4 to 6 trees based on the expected average prescribed stocking. Plot size is specified in the contract or determined by the Contractor. The same plot size must be used on the entire unit. Utilize larger plots when variability in stand density exits and it is desired to maintain that density.

(4) Acceptable Trees per Plot. The acceptable trees per plot are calculated from the acceptable minimum/maximum trees per acre. For example, if the range were set at 250 to 350 trees per acre the average spacing would be 12 feet (300 trees per acre). Round the spacing to the nearest whole foot if needed. Select the plot size to be used, for example 1/100 ac, 1/50 ac, and 1/20-acre plot. Divide the plot reciprocal into the lower and upper range of trees per acre to determine the range of acceptable trees per plot. Assuming a 1/100-acre plot and acceptable range of leave trees to be 250 to 350 trees per acre, the following calculations would be made. (250/50= 5 trees per plot; 350/50= 7 trees per plot). In this case the range would be 5 to 7 trees per plot. If a 1/20 acre plot was selected the range would be 13 to 18 trees per plot. (250/20= 12.5 trees per plot rounded to 13; 350/20= 17.5 trees per plot, rounded to 18). The specified range allows for varying the spacing on poorly stocked plots to retain the desired crop trees (Best Trees) per plot yet does not permit excessive numbers of trees to be left voiding the purpose of the thinning treatment.

(5) Variation of Spacing. Variation of spacing is described as a percentage of average spacing or as a specified measured distance between acceptable leave trees. Provided in prescription

(6) Species Ignored. Tree species that are not to be cut and are ignored in the thinning activity. These trees are not evaluated within the calculation for thinning quality. Refer to prescription.

(7) Minimum Cut Tree Height. Enter the minimum cut tree height specified in the prescription and/or contract. Trees at or below this height are not required to be cut.

(8) Maximum Cut Tree Diameter Breath height (DBH). Enter the maximum tree size to be cut. Cutting trees larger is a violation.

(9) Acceptable Category "C" Trees per Acre. Enter the acceptable number of Category "C" Trees per acre specified in the contract/prescription. .

d. Stand Sum. The block is for Stand Summary data and is used to record the average target stand and actual stand resulting from the thinning activity. All numbers are expanded in terms of trees per acre. Information can be used to update site/stand information in databases, reporting accomplishments, and certifying accomplishments. The Contractor is not required to fill in this block however it provides useful information for evaluating effectiveness of the treatment.

(1) Trees Left per Acre. The target number of tree per acre is the average trees per acre. Actual trees per acre are computed from column 3.

(2) Category "C" Trees per Acre. The target number of Category "C" Tree per acre comes from the silvicultural prescription and/or thinning contract. The actual number of Category "C" Trees is computed from column 9.

(3) Surplus and ** Trees per Acre Ignored. The estimate of trees to be ignored by species and expected surplus trees can be derived from the silvicultural prescription. Actual numbers of trees per acre can be computed from column 5.

(4) Trees per Acre below Minimum Height. A target estimate for trees not included for thinning that are below a minimum height can be found in the silvicultural prescription. The actual number of trees per acre can be computed from additional plot information taken during the thinning plot inspections.

INSPECTION

e. Plot Number - Column (1). Enter the plot number.

f. Tree Evaluation - Column (2). Utilize the backside of Form 2400-4 as a reference for tree evaluation codes. Enter the tree evaluation codes for all trees found on the inspection plot that are to be used for determining thinning quality. The codes describe tree characteristics, i.e. acceptable trees, credits for non-stocked spots, Category "A", "B", and "C" trees.

If required by the contract, record the tree species below the tree evaluation code utilizing two lines per plot.

g. Trees Left - Column (3). Enter the total of all acceptable trees (S1's) and trees exceeding the maximum DBH cut limit (S2's). If there are surplus (S2) tree(s) they will need to be recorded in Column (5). Surplus trees can be determined after data for Columns (3) and (4) has been recorded. If the sum of Columns (3) and (4) exceeds the maximum acceptable trees per plot Column (3) or (4) must be reduced to equal the maximum acceptable number of trees per plot. A reduction of Column (3) due to surplus (S2) trees must be included in Column (5).

If the sum of Columns (3) and (4) are less than the minimum acceptable trees per plot Column (4) must be increased via (S3) credit for insufficient original stocking.

h. Credit Non-stocked Spots - Column (4). Record the number of non-stocked spots (S3) and credit for missing tree(s) cut due to insects, disease, and/or damage (S4).

i. Surplus S2 and ** Trees - Column (5). Enter the extra (S2) trees from Column (3) and ** (number of trees ignored).

j. Category "A" Trees - Columns (6) and (7). Enter the number of improper leave trees selected (A1, A2, A3) and wrong trees cut (A4, A5).

k. Category "B" Trees - Column (8). Enter the number of excess trees (B,B1).

l. Category "C" Trees - Column (9). Enter the number of trees that meet evaluation codes (C1-C7).

m. Percent (%) Quality Thinning. Compute the quality of thinning based on the sum of columns 3 through 8. The following formula is to be used.

1.00 - Col 6 + Col 7 + Col 8 x 100 = Percent Work Remaining

Col. 3 + Col. 4(rounded up to whole no.)

n. Category C trees. Determine if the number of Category C trees are within the contract allowance.

Cat C trees per acre = Total Col. 10 x reciprocal of plot size

No. of plots

Compare these results with the maximum allowed specified in the contract

Contractor must sign and date the inspection and confirm that information is accurate.

Quality = 1- Improper Cut or selected trees “Cat A” + Excess Trees “Cat B” X 100

Percent Satisfactory Trees left (S1, S2) up to maximum + Non-stocked spots (N1,N2)