Appendix_A_Reed_Valley.docx

APPENDIX A – MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL ACTIVITY WORK ITEMS

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

INTEGRATED RESOURCE SERVICE CONTRACT

Reed Valley Stewardship Contract

Mandatory Items

Item No. 1. Road 30196 Reconditioning This project will consist of reconditioning .57 miles, hauling and placing 253 cubic yards of barrow, installing 7 dips This road reconditioning shall be completed prior to hauling any Timber.

A. SCOPE OF THIS ACTIVITY (Applies to Items 1, 2, and 3)

The scope of this work is to perform road reconditioning of haul routes within the Reed Valley Stewardship project area. Work includes road reconditioning, hauling and placing of borrow and construction of intercepting dips. The contractor shall provide all materials, equipment and personnel for construction of all aspects of the road work. Work shall be completed in a systematic manner assuring proper completion of all work identified in the schedule of items.

B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired End Results:

The objective of this contract is to have a proper functioning road system with intercepting dips to protect the roads by minimizing the amount of erosion due to run off.

2. Project Drawings and Specifications

Drawings - See Road Package Reed Valley Stewardship.

Sheet #1 – Cover Sheet Sheet #2 – Vicinity Map Sheet #3 – Typical Cross Sections Sheet #4 – Summary Sheet Sheet #5 – Summary Sheet 2 Schedule of Items

Item No. 2. Road 30240 Reconditioning This project will consist of reconditioning 2.38 miles, hauling and placing 608 cubic yard of borrow and constructing intercepting 11 dips and reconstructing 5 existing dips.

This road reconditioning shall be completed prior to hauling any Timber.

A. SCOPE OF THIS ACTIVITY

See above

B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired End Results:

The objective of this contract is to have a proper functioning road system with intercepting dips to protect the roads by minimizing the amount of erosion due to run off.

2. Project Drawings and Specifications

Drawings - See Road Package Reed Valley Stewardship.

Sheet #1 – Cover Sheet Sheet #2 – Vicinity Map Sheet #3 – Typical Cross Sections Sheet #4 – Summary Sheet Sheet #5 – Dip Summary

Item No. 3. Road 30381 Reconditioning This project will consist of reconditioning 1.7 miles and installing 17 dips.

This road reconditioning shall be completed prior to hauling any Timber.

A. SCOPE OF THIS ACTIVITY

See above

B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired End Results:

The objective of this contract is to have a proper functioning road system with intercepting dips to protect the roads by minimizing the amount of erosion due to run off.

2. Project Drawings and Specifications

Drawings - See Road Package Reed Valley Stewardship.

Sheet #1 – Cover Sheet Sheet #2 – Vicinity Map Sheet #3 – Typical Cross Sections Sheet #4 – Summary Sheet Sheet #5 – Dip Summary

Item No. 4. Mobilization Road Reconditioning This project will consist of mobilization of equipment for road reconditioning. Refer to FP-03, Section 151-MOBILIZATION.

A. SCOPE OF THIS ACTIVITY

This item is for the mobilization of equipment for the reconditioning of roads that will be used for timber removal in the project area.

Item No. 5. Road Maintenance This project will consist of maintaining roads in the project area

The scope of this work is to perform road maintenance on roads within the Reed Valley Stewardship project area. The contractor will be required to perform prehaul maintenance during haul maintenance and post haul maintenance. Work includes Slide and Slump Repair, Ditch Cleaning, Surface Blading, Surfacing Repair, Drainage Structures, Roadway Vegetation, Miscellaneous Structures and waterbars.

B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired End Results:

The objective of this contract is to have a proper functioning road system with in the project area.

2. Project Specifications

See Appendix C Road Maintenance Specifications

Item No. 6. Cutting/Piling of Live Residual Trees for Aspen Regeneration (95 acres) Cutting Units 12-18 (These units average approximately 400 to 500 trees per acre)

Aspen Regeneration (95 acres) harvest decadent aspen clones to promote suckering.

· Cut all live aspen stems greater than 2 inches DBH to 4.9 inches DBH.

· Cut all live conifer greater than 2 feet in height to 4.9 inches DBH.

· Reserve Trees are live Ponderosa pine greater than 24 inches DBH, or are marked with orange paint. No cutting of these trees is allowed.

· All species 5 inches DBH and greater are included in Appendix B as mandatory timber removal.

· Piling is required of all activity created fuels (Live aspen stems greater than 2 inches DBH to 4.9 inches DBH and all live conifers 2 feet high tall to 4.9 inches DBH). Piling must be tepee shaped (taller than wide) placed approximately 20 feet from reserve trees. Piles should be free of anthropogenic trash and not hollow and not on pre-exiting ground logs. No logs should protrude more the 2 feet from the tepee shape of specified piles.

B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired Outcome:

To promote regeneration of aspen.

2. Technical Specifications:

· Cut all live aspen greater than 2 inches DBH less than 4.9 inches DBH.

· Cut all live conifer trees greater than 2 feet in height and less than 4.9 inches DBH.

· All cut trees shall be cut below the lowest limbs, except when prevented by natural obstacles. The maximum allowable stump height is 6 inches measured from the high side of the tree. All limbs below the cutting point shall be removed. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump.

· All trees marked with orange paint are to be left as reserved trees

· Cut trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, established trails, stock driveways, fence lines, established land corners and streams. Any trees falling on such areas shall be removed.

3. Measurable Performance Standards:

· All live aspen trees greater than 2 inches DBH to 4.9 inches DBH are cut.

· All live conifer trees greater than 2 feet in height to 4.9 inches DBH are cut.

· Stump heights 6 inches or less.

· All Reserve Trees are left Standing.

Item No. 9. Yarding of Rotten Logs (758 acres) Units 1-18 (These units average around 65 trees per acre)

All trees designated for harvest (Appendix B) will be cut, skidded and processed at the landings regardless of merchantability.

B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired Outcome:

To remove rotten logs greater than 8 inches DBH in cutting units 1 to 11, and greater than 5 inches DBH in cutting units 12 to 18 in the contract area, to promote forest health objectives.

2. Technical Specifications:

· All trees designated for harvest must be skidded to designated landings (Appendix B).

· Any given 6 foot piece containing 50% or more of rot, may be left at the landings or used to close out skid trails and temporary roads.

· Rotten material will be piled at the landings.

3. Measurable Performance Standards:

· All rotten logs 6 feet and greater containing 50% or less of rot, removed from the contract area.

· Rotten material piled.

Optional Items:

Item No. 7 Aspen Improvement (22.81 acres) Units 20-21 This project consists of non-commercial cutting of trees within the aspen units.

(These units average approximately 400 to 525 trees per acre)

A. SCOPE OF THIS ACTIVITY

Aspen Improvement (22.81 acres) fell, lop and scatter all green conifer trees greater than 2 feet in height up to 4.9 inches DBH.

Aspen will NOT be cut.

B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired Outcome:

To help improve aspen clones; by cutting around live aspen trees.

2. Technical Specifications:

· Fell all live conifer 2 feet in height up to 4.9 inches DBH. The material will be left on site.

· All cut trees shall be cut below the lowest live limbs, except when prevented by natural obstacles. The maximum allowable stump height is 6 inches measured from the high side of the tree. All live limbs below the cutting point shall be removed. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump.

· Cut trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, established trails, stock driveways, fence lines, established land corners and streams. Any trees falling on such areas shall be removed.

· Slash shall be lopped and scattered to a depth of no more than 24” in height.

3. Measurable Performance Standards:

· Green Conifer Trees 2 feet tall up to 4.9 inches DBH have been cut.

· Stump height 6 inches or less

· Slash height maintained to less than 24” inches from the ground

Item No 8. Pre-commercial Thinning (663 acres) Units 1-11

This project consists of pre-commercial thinning of trees within the timber harvest area. This project will occur after timber harvest.

Pre-commercial Thinning Unit 1 to 5 has timing restrictions “No Activity” March 1 – September 30 (Goshawk nest).

(These units average around 400 trees per acre)

A. SCOPE OF THIS ACTIVITY

Conifer areas (663 acres) will be thinned by hand where pre-commercial sized trees less than 7.9” DBH are excessive. These areas will be thinned to approximately 134 trees per acre to promote tree health and vigor.

Engelmann spruce, Douglas-fir and Ponderosa pine will be favored as leave trees.

Aspen trees will not be considered in the trees per acre requirement and no aspen trees shall be cut.

No cutting of live trees over 7.9” DBH will be allowed.

Reserve Trees are live Ponderosa pine greater than 24 inches DBH or are marked in units 1, 7, 9 and 10; with orange paint.

In cutting units 1-11, all dead species greater than 8 inches DBH are included in Appendix B as mandatory timber removal. In cutting units 12-18, all dead species greater than 5 inches DBH are included in Appendix B as mandatory timber removal.

Timber subject to agreement may be included for all downed dead species greater than 5 inches DBH (Appendix B).

B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Desired Outcome:

To promote tree health and vigor in the conifer areas, thinning will be implemented to reduce stand density to approximately 134 trees per acre.

2. Technical Specifications:

· Preference of species to be left shall be (in order of priority) Engelmann spruce, Douglas-fir and Ponderosa pine. Thinning shall generally be from below favoring desirable trees. Desirable trees are trees with the tallest height, fullest crown, and straightest stem and, which are free of damage due to insect, disease, physical and mechanical damage and have at least a 40% crown ratio.

· Cut trees shall include trees from 2 feet tall to 7.9 inches DBH (diameter at breast height). Trees forked below DBH are considered two trees; trees forked above DBH are considered one tree.

· An irregular spacing of 18 by 18 feet will be used for tree thinning with no minimum spacing requirement. In areas with significant numbers of trees greater than 7.9 inches in diameter, the number of trees per acre (TPA) could exceed that target. Spacing range is variable, that is, two or more trees can be left in clumps if no other trees are present in the vicinity; however, the TPA target (134 TPA) shall not be materially increased. Trees greater than 7.9 inches DBH shall be considered in spacing requirements.

· All cut trees shall be cut below the lowest live limbs, except when prevented by natural obstacles. The maximum allowable stump height is 6 inches measured from- the high side of the tree. All live limbs below the cutting point shall be removed. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump.

· Cut trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, established trails, stock driveways, fence lines, established land corners and streams. Any trees falling on such areas shall be removed.

· Slash shall be lopped and scattered to a depth of no more than 24” in height.

· All live Ponderosa pine trees greater than 24” DBH and trees marked with orange paint are to be left as reserved trees

3. Measurable Performance Standards:

· 134 trees per acre

· Proper spacing

· Stump heights less than 6 inches

· Slash height maintained within two feet (24”) of ground.

· All Reserve Trees are left Standing.

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (Applies to Items 6, 7 and 8):

The Contractor shall maintain a plot inspection system that provides an unbiased sample of cutting quality, and which represents the entire area treated. At least 5 percent of the treated area shall be sampled. 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 in a format that meets the contract requirements and a sketch map with plot locations. The Contractor may choose to use the Government Inspection Sheet (R4-2400-4 (2/99) which would be provided by the Government. The Government may observe or re-inspect the Contractor’s plots at any time.

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. All records shall be signed and dated by the person who conducted the inspection.

At no time shall the contractor rely upon Government inspections to provide notification of unsatisfactory performance

Slash treatment quality must reflect full compliance with requirements.

The Contractor’s Quality Control inspections for cutting shall be within 5 percent of the Government quality assurance to be considered acceptable.

Failure of the Contractor to provide tree cutting quality resulting in inspection results within 5 -percent of the Government’s quality assurance at the completion of a unit, will deem the Contractor’s quality control unacceptable and will result in payment for that unit based on results of the Government’s quality assurance . If the Government’s results are objectionable to the Contractor, a re-examination may be requested in writing. The same plot method will be used, but new plots will be selected but with different plot centers than those of plots previously inspected by the Government. A minimum 2-percent sample will be conducted by the Government. If the results of the re-examination support the Contractor’s submitted quality control results, those results will be considered acceptable and used for pay. If results of the re-examination support the Government’s quality assurance results, the Government’s results 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.

Failure of the Contractor to maintain inspection results within 5% of the Government’s quality will deem the Contractor’s quality control unacceptable and may result in the Government performing the inspection. The Government may asses to the Contractor the costs incurred by the Government that is directly related to the performance of such service or terminates the contract for default.

When the Contractor’s inspection results are below the Contractor’s guaranteed quality based on the Contractor’s quality control inspection and verified by the Government monitoring, and excess trees contribute to the deficiency, 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 left.

The Contractor may improve cutting quality by re-working an area if they desire. However, the Contractor shall not modify the cutting quality of an area for the purpose of improving an area identified or anticipated as an inspection plot.

Government verification plots after the rework will be made in the same manner as the first verification plots but on different plot lines. The Government will assess the Contractor the actual costs of conducting the additional quality assurance.

When the Contractor fails to maintain results within 5 percent of the Government’s verification plots, the work is considered unacceptable and the Government may i) accept the work at a reduced price, (ii) require the area to be reworked (inspected) at no additional expense to the Government or (iii) reject the work in its entirety. If work is rejected, the Government will conduct the inspection and may assess the Contractor the costs.