Solicitation_AG-94TZ-S-15-0010.pdf

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OFFEROR

94TZ

PHOENIX AZ 85006-2440

2324 E MCDOWELL ROAD

WESTERN ZONE CP

USDA FOREST SERVICE

CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BYCODE

X

X

X

115310

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100.00 % FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED OR94TZ

RFPIFB

10. THIS ACQUISITION ISCODE

RFQ

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

13b. RATING

NAICS:

SMALL BUSINESS

04/30/2015 1630 MS

03/31/2015

602-225-5344NORMA HOWARD

(No collect calls)

INFORMATION CALL:

FOR SOLICITATION 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIMEb. TELEPHONE NUMBERa. NAME

4. ORDER NUMBER3. AWARD/ 6. SOLICITATION

AG-94TZ-S-15-0010

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE OF

1 64 OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

TELEPHONE NO.

17a. CONTRACTOR/

15. DELIVER TO

PHOENIX AZ 85006-2440

2324 E MCDOWELL ROAD

WESTERN ZONE CP

9. ISSUED BY

7.

2. CONTRACT NO.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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12. DISCOUNT TERMS

THIS CONTRACT IS A

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DPAS (15 CFR 700)

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SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

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24.

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UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

NORTHERN AZ THINNING AND SLASH TREATMENT IDIQ

Coconino, Kaibab, and Prescott National Forests

Perform tree hand thinning and slash treatment services under a multiple award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ)contract for a five year period. Work will be performed on the Kaibab, Coconino, and Prescott National Forests.

Task orders under this contract will include thinning and/or piling.

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

XX

DATED

JANET C. SCAGGS

. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5),

INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER

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ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL

SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

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OFFER

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

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41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

This Request for Quotation(RFQ)solicitation is being issued using Simplified Acquisition

Procedures in accordance with FAR 13.5.

A two-day Site Visit Tour is scheduled for April

9 and 10, 2015. See page 49 for details.

Offers shall address the evaluation factors listed in FAR 52.212-2 on pages 50 and 51.

Offer/Quotation shall be submitted electronically to the following email address: nhoward@fs.fed.us

Offeror must be active in the System for Award

Management (SAM) to be eligible for award.

(www.sam.gov)

001 Thin, Lop, Buck and Scatter

See Schedule on Page 4

Product/Service Code: F014

Product/Service Description: NATURAL

RESOURCES/CONSERVATION- TREE THINNING

002 Hand or Machine Piling

See Schedule on Page 4

Product/Service Code: F014

Product/Service Description: NATURAL

RESOURCES/CONSERVATION- TREE THINNING

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

64 2 of

Northern AZ Thinning and Slash Treatment IDIQ Solicitation No. AG-94TZ-S-15-0010

Table of Contents

SF-1449 1 - 2

Part 1 – The Schedule 4 - 5

Part 2 – Description / Specifications / Statement Of Work 6 - 29

Part 3 – Contract Clauses 30 - 44

Part 4 – Solicitation Provisions 45 - 49

Part 5 – Evaluation Criteria 50 - 51

Part 6 – Representations and Certifications 52 - 64

PART 1 – THE SCHEDULE

PRODUCTION RATE PRICING

ITEM

NO.

PRODUCTION

RATE UNIT UNIT PRICE DESCRIPTION

1 THIN, LOP, BUCK AND SCATTER 0.25 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

0.5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

0.75 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

1 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

1.5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

2 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

2.5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

3 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

4 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

7.5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

10 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

2 HAND OR MACHINE PILING 0.25 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

0.5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

0.75 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

1 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

1.5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

2 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

2.5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

3 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

4 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

7.5 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

10 AC/MAN/DAY $____________

SPECIAL NOTES:

Unit Prices are to include mobilization, applicable taxes, and all costs associated with the work. The price per acre per day is all inclusive. For example, saws, overhead, profit, direct and indirect labor, equipment, etc. shall be included in the production rate pricing.

AGAR 452.216-73 Minimum and Maximum Contract Amounts (FEB 1988)

During the period specified in FAR clause 52.216-18, ORDERING, the Government shall place orders totaling a minimum of $2,500.00, but not in excess of $6.5 million over the life of the contract.

NOTE: The Government intends to award multiple(5-6), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contracts. For each contract awarded, the minimum of $2,500.00 is guaranteed during the full contract performance period. Total of all orders under this IDIQ will not exceed $6.5 million.

INDIVIDUALS AUTHORIZED TO PLACE TASK ORDERS:

Any contracting officer within the Forest Service, R3 Western Zone AQM, within their warrant limitations, may initiate, award, and administer a task order for work within the scope of this contract.

PART 2 – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS / STATEMENT OF WORK

PERFORMANCE STATEMENT OF WORK (PWS)

SECTION 1 - GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE OF WORK. Contractor shall provide any and all labor, equipment, supplies, services, permits, and licenses necessary to perform tree thinning and slash treatment under multiple award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts for a five year period. Work will be performed on the Kaibab, Coconino, and Prescott National Forests. Task orders under this contract will include thinning and/or piling. This solicitation is being issued using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The Contractor must be registered with the - Department of Labor under the Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act. This statement of work consists of completing the tasks/subtasks in Section 5 to the performance requirements of Section 7.

1.2 BACKGROUND. The Forest Service is in need of prescribed forest thinning treatments on the Kaibab National Forest, Coconino National Forest, and Prescott National Forest. Historically, treatments for timber stand improvement, fuels reduction and forest health objectives have been achieved by thinning, piling, various slash treatments, and prescribed fire. These treatments have proven to be effective forest management by improving stand vigor and by reducing the severity of wild land fire. The purpose of this contract is to implement prescribed treatments on Forest Service land to improve forest health and protect natural resources and property across the landscape.

1.3 LOCATION. The Kaibab National Forest, Coconino National Forest, and Prescott National Forest are located in northern Arizona. Specific project locations and cutting units will be identified on individual task orders.

General location maps are attached.

1.4 DESCRIPTION. Thinning areas are at elevations from approximately 3,000 to 9,300 feet. Snow is common during the winter months (at the upper end of the elevation range where most work will occur) and thunderstorms are frequent in the summer months. Project areas are natural and managed stands of timber, woodlands, and encroached grasslands of all ages, sizes, and species. Fuels will consist of thinning activity slash and pre-existing slash. The area to be treated each year ranges from an estimated minimum of 1,000 acres to an estimated maximum of 7,500 acres, depending on the funding received for each year.

Thinning work consists of falling trees and treating the activity slash (and occasionally, a portion of the pre-existing slash). The most common tree species cut will be ponderosa pine, but white fir, Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, blue spruce, pinyon, juniper, and other species will be cut under individual task orders.

Treatments will require thinning up to a specified diameter with some additional guidelines. Some areas may require falling of trees based on presence or rate of dwarf mistletoe infection and/or disease. Other areas may require trees to be retained in groups. There may also be instances where trees up to a specified diameter, located within a specified distance of certain trees (yellow pines, aspen and Gambel oak) will be felled. Generally, the upper diameter limit of trees to be felled will be less than 12” dbh (occasionally up to 16” dbh). Some work, including grassland or aspen restoration treatments may require the felling of trees up to 24” dbh. Other uncommon activities may be added into the thinning work such as tree girdling, pruning, and herbicide application on cut stumps.

Unless piling is specified, activity slash (tree limbs, boles, and tops) will generally be lopped and scattered to a height of less than 18” or 24” above ground with tree boles cut so they are in pieces less than 10 feet long. Slash will be pulled back specified distances from improvements and other key fire sensitive features such as large live trees and snags. Other slash treatments that may be utilized in units not specifically slated for 100% piling include jackstrawing and limited piling in key areas such as along trails and roads. All slash treatments (with the exception of machine piling) are considered part of the thinning process and shall be kept current with thinning.

Where piling is specified, piles of slash shall be constructed so activity slash will fully consume upon ignition.

Piles may be constructed by hand or machine (i.e., grapple, bucket thumb, or dozer piling) unless the method of piling is specified within the task order. Hand piling will be required in many instances for the purposes of resource protection. Hand piles will generally be a minimum of 6 feet high and 6 feet diameter with different sized material distributed throughout the pile to facilitate full consumption. Piles will be constructed outside the dripline of residual trees where possible and located specified distances from improvements and other fire sensitive features. Piles constructed by machine will generally be a minimum of 8 feet high and 9 feet wide. Due to their larger size, piles constructed by machine will need to be located a greater distance than hand piles from certain features.

If hand piling is not specified, the Contractor is responsible for determining whether it has the capability to use a machine to pile within each cutting unit. An inability to machine pile due to rough terrain, machine breakdown, or lack of machine availability will not be acceptable reasons to delay piling or renegotiate bids. If the Contractor determines a machine cannot be used to pile in a particular area, the Contractor will revert to hand piling and the associated hand piling specs within this contract and individual task orders will apply. Damage to residual trees and ground disturbance from machine piling will be closely monitored to determine shutdown or reimbursement.

1.5 ACCESS. See Section 5.1 and individual task orders.

1.6 BOUNDARIES. Unit boundaries will generally be marked in tracer paint, which could be a variety of colors.

Most common colors are orange, pink, and yellow. Units may also be identified with flagging, wooden stakes, or by other means (i.e., road edges). Any discrepancies will be immediately brought to the Government’s attention.

1.7 SHUTDOWN PERIODS. Timing restrictions for work are common management practices on the Kaibab, Coconino, and Prescott National Forests. Operations within all or portions of the project area may be shut down from January 1st to July 1st to prevent potential Ips infestation, March 1st to September 30th for the northern goshawk, and March 1st to August 31st for the Mexican spotted owl. Shut down areas will be identified on the Detailed Information Sheet. Shut down will also occur as the Government sees fit for fire hazard, red flag warnings, and undesirable road/ground conditions. During the shutdown period, time will not be charged against the number of days allowed in individual task orders for completion.

1.8 CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVE. The Contractor shall provide a Contractor Representative for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate(s) who shall act for the Contractor when the Contractor is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The Contractor Representative or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The Contractor Representative and alternate(s) must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.

1.9 PERSONEL/CREW REQUIREMENTS

Personnel must be capable of accurately assessing distances (i.e., between trees or groups of trees), tree species, tree diameters, cutting trees, and have knowledge of industry safety requirements.

1.10 TASK ORDER PROCEDURES

Generally, task orders will be issued in the spring and late summer of each year. Each awardee will be given fair opportunity to be considered, unless one of the exceptions in FAR 16.505(b)(2) applies. A Request for Quotation will be issued on a SF-18 form and include specific information such as a Schedule of Items, Detailed Information Sheets, Vicinity and Project maps, site visit information, contract time, and a current Wage Determination No.

1977-0211.

(a) Contractors will be expected to view the area of the project and submit their quotation. The Government will evaluate and issue a task order for the specific project considering:

(1) Price – Contractors shall provide a cost based on their awarded bid price shown on the Schedule of Items and the production rates they arrive at to accomplish the work described in the task. Unit prices for productions rates must be as specified under the IDIQ contract or less. The Government may accept a lower unit price if it is in its best interest.

(2) Past performance – The Government will evaluate the Contractor’s past performance on task orders under this contract, including quality, timeliness, and cost control.

(3) Potential Impact – On other orders placed with the Contractor. Contractor’s capacity to successful perform within the time required.

(4) Minimum Order Requirements

(b) Awardees who do not participate in task order competition at least once in a 12-month period, may be removed from consideration for future task orders. In the event an awardee is removed from consideration, the contractor will forfeit the minimum guarantee under AGAR 452.216-73.

(c) Task orders will be awarded on Form OF-347 and incorporate the requirements, clauses and provisions of the original IDIQ contract. The Contractor shall perform the work within the time period established in the task order.

1.11 CONTRACTOR’S QUALITY CONTROL PLAN

The Contractor shall provide a Quality Control Plan (QCP) with each task order quotation. In general, the Quality Control Plan must demonstrate how the Contractor will assure quality will meet the requirements and specifications of the contract. It shall describe (1) how quality will be monitored to assure the performance standards are met, (2) the supervision of the work, and (3) personnel that will be performing the quality control.

1.12 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

A Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will be designated for each individual task order by the ordering Contracting Officer.

1.13 GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

The Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer’s Representative, or Government Inspector will inspect the services to be provided under this contract in accordance with the inspection procedures stated in Section 7.2; however, the Contracting Officer has the sole authority to accept services on behalf of the Government. The COR/Inspector may recommend acceptance of completed work to the Contracting Officer.

1.14 BIOBASED PRODUCTS

This procurement requires the use of biobased products (such as bar/chain lube and 2-cycle engine oil) to the extent that such products are reasonably available, meet agency or relevant industry performance standards, and are reasonably priced. Where available, these products should first be acquired from among qualified products that fall under the umbrella of items designated through the Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program (FB4P). Information is available at: http://www.biopreferred.gov/.

http://www.biopreferred.gov/

SECTION 2 - DEFINITIONS

2.1 STANDARD DEFINITIONS.

Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). The maximum allowable deviation from perfect performance that may occur before the Government will invoke payment deduction. An AQL does not allow a Contractor knowingly to offer defective service, but limits reduced payment to circumstances in which defective performance results in a measurable reduction in the value of services rendered.

Calendar Days. Every day shown on the calendar, Sundays and holidays included.

Contracting Officer (CO). Federal Government employee with the sole authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). A Government person appointed by the contracting officer to help the contracting officer with contract administration and surveillance.

Defective Service. A unit of service which contains one or more defects, or nonconformance (noncompliance) with specified requirements.

Government Inspector. A Government employee responsible for surveillance of Contractor performance.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS). Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

Performance Work Statement (PWS). A statement of work to be performed which identifies the specific work to be performed.

Quality Assurance. Those actions taken by the Government to assure services meet the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document used for quality assurance surveillance.

The document contains specific methods the Government will use to perform surveillance of the Contractor.

Quality Control. Those actions taken by a Contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the requirements of the PWS. The methods for inspecting for quality control are described in the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan (QCP).

Random Sampling. A sampling method in which each service output in a unit has an equal chance of being selected.

2.2 TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS.

Access: Point(s) and road(s) identified for approved access to project area.

Activity Slash: Debris from felled trees or brush (live and dead; boles, tops, and limbs) resulting from cutting activities conducted under current task order.

Archeological Site: Location where special protection or measures are required to preserve and protect cultural values.

Bearing Survey Marker Sign: Sign posted on a tree for the purpose of relocating a nearby land survey monument.

Bole: Trunk or stem of tree.

Boundary: Marked features to indicate the outer edge of a cutting unit.

Brush (or shrub): Any vegetation consisting of woody perennial plant usually having single or multiple stems originating at or near the ground level and less than 20 feet in height.

Buck: To sever completely through tree boles to prescribed length.

Compact(ed): Having a dense structure closely packed occupying a small volume by reason of efficient use of space.

Contract Time: See Period of Performance.

Cut Flush: Severing a tree from its stump as near to the ground as possible.

Cut Tree: Tree between 10 inches tall and 24 inches DBH prescribed for cutting (or not prescribed for leaving) to meet the contract requirements specified in the Detailed Information Sheet.

Cutting Unit: Specific area of ground where work is to be performed within a larger project area.

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

Damages: Loss or harm resulting from injury to property.

Desirable Leave Tree Characteristics (see also “Undesirable Leave Tree Characteristics”): Trees considered desirable as leave trees have most or all of the following characteristics:

(a) Straight stem (leaning <15 degrees from vertical axis)

(b) Well-formed crown (wide, full, symmetrical; >40% live crown ratio)

(c) Live, single top with vigorous annual terminal growth (generally >6”)

(d) Good coloration (foliage green during growing season)

(e) Free of animal, insect or disease damage and/or symptoms

(f) Absence of physical or mechanical damage

Detailed Information Sheet: Document within a task order that describes individual cutting units and the treatment to be applied within each cutting unit.

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH): Bole diameter measured at 4½ feet above ground level (uphill side of the tree) or at the smallest point below 4½ feet above ground level for trees with forks, branches, swell, or other deformities at breast height

Diameter at Root Collar (DRC): Diameter of the trunk measured near ground level, above the point of “butt swell.”

Oak and juniper diameters are generally measured at DRC.

Dripline: Vertical extent of a tree crown’s edge to the ground.

Excessive Damage: Damage that exceeds what is usual, proper, necessary or normal.

Forest Canopy Opening: Area of ground outside of the any tree’s dripline with no tree canopy above.

Forest Road (FR): Travel route on Forest Service land that may be open to highway legal vehicles, open to all vehicles, or closed as indicated on Forest Service official Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) or maps provided in the awarded task order.

Horizontal Measurement and Distance: An area or route, measured on a linear plane that is parallel to 0% slope.

Improvement: Manmade feature such as a road, trail, power line, fence, structure, land survey monument, etc.

Land Survey Monument: Stamped metal cap attached to a metal pipe; generally found along property lines and section corners.

Leave Group: Multiple trees left uncut within a designated area to meet the contract requirements specified in the Detailed Information Sheet. A tree is considered part of a leave group if the distance between it and its nearest neighboring tree is less than half the minimum distance prescribed between groups on the Detailed Information Sheet.

A tree larger than the maximum cut diameter for a unit is considered part of a leave group if it falls within the interior of the group; it may or may not be considered part of a group (benefit of the doubt will be given to the Contractor) if it falls on the edge of the group.

Leave Group Interspace: Space between adjacent leave groups, measured from the outermost tree bole on the edge of one group to the nearest tree bole on the edge of an adjacent group.

Leave Tree: Any tree left uncut to meet the contract requirements specified in the Detailed Information Sheet.

Live Limb: Limb of any size that has green needles/leaves attached or live buds.

Live Crown Ratio: Ratio of crown length (portion of tree with live branches) to total tree height (expressed as a percentage).

Lop, Buck, and Scatter (or “Lop and Scatter”): Treatment of slash that requires cutting boles to a certain length, removing limbs and scattering to a certain height.

Mobilization: The act of delivering all ordered personnel and equipment to the project area.

Noxious Weed: Weed that is physically harmful or destructive to native plants. The latest list of noxious weeds can be found on the USDA Plants website (http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=04).

Opening: See Forest Canopy Opening.

Open Road: Road that is open to the public. Forest Roads that are open to the public are indicated on the Forest Service’s official Motor Vehicle Use Map (http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/ohv_maps.shtml).

Period of Performance (Performance Period or Contract Time): Number of calendar days allowed in the contract for completion of contract work.

Pre-existing Slash (or Residual Slash): Debris or material from trees or brush that is not created by cutting activities conducted under current task order but from past management activities or natural occurrences.

Private Property: Ownership designation where property rights are controlled private citizen(s).

Project Area: General location of work that will be completed under a task order.

Protected Stream Course: A drainage shown on the project map (identified by blue lines within drainages) that requires designated mitigation measures

Prune (or “Pruning”): Cutting of tree branches to raise the crown base height (height of lowest branch). Pruning cuts will be as close to the main bole as possible without damaging the bark on the bole of the tree.

Pullback (or “Pull Back”): Pulling slash away from improvements and other fire-sensitive features according to the contract requirements specified in the task order “Detailed Information Sheet;” includes scattering of pulled back slash to meet slash height requirements.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=04 http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/ohv_maps.shtml

Residual Slash: See Pre-existing Slash.

Residual Trees: Trees within a project area that are not cut during thinning operations (may include leave trees within a cutting unit and other trees outside of the cutting unit).

Road Ditch: A long narrow excavation dug in the earth for drainage along a road.

Road Edge: The edge of a road is defined as the outer edge of the road ditch. For roads unaccompanied by a ditch, the edge of the road is defined as the edge of the pavement (along paved roads) or the line of relatively continuous vegetation, needle or leaf litter, or other undisturbed natural surface (along dirt roads).

Satisfactory Cut Tree: Trees cut that should have been cut according to contract specifications.

Satisfactory Leave Tree: Trees left that should have been left according to contract specifications.

Scatter: To distribute irregularly and promote slash breakdown.

Sever: To cut a tree into two distinct parts (i.e., bole and stump).

Slash: Debris from tree or brush material resulting from, but not limited to, logging, thinning, natural or unnatural events, and/or fire.

Snag: Standing dead tree.

Spacing (Group): Horizontal distance from the bole of a leave tree on the edge of one leave group to the bole of the nearest leave tree on the edge of an adjacent leave group. A minimum, maximum, and/or average spacing between groups will be defined in the Detailed Information Sheet.

Spacing (Tree): Horizontal distance from the bole of one leave tree to the bole of the next nearest leave tree. The average distance in feet between leave trees will be defined in the Detailed Information Sheet. Unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Information Sheet, spacing may be varied by ±25 percent to ensure retention of the best trees.

For example, a 20’ X 20’ spacing specification allows for a 5’ variation to retain the best tree. In this example, some trees may be spaced 15’ apart but the average spacing across the cutting unit shall still average 20’ (excluding areas where trees are absent). In this example, no trees shall be spaced <15’ apart.

Stump: Base of the tree sticking out of the ground surface after the tree is cut or felled.

Symmetrical: Having corresponding points whose connecting lines are bisected by a given point or perpendicularly bisected by a given line or plane.

Thinning slash: See Activity Slash.

Undesirable Leave Tree Characteristics: Trees considered undesirable as leave trees have one or more of the following characteristics:

(a) Leaning or bent (>15 degrees from vertical axis; often related to prolonged suppression)

(b) Crook or sweep in bole

(c) Poor crown form (one-sided, narrow, or sparse; <40% live crown ratio)

(d) Multiple, dead, or broken tops

(e) Poor annual terminal growth (generally <6”)

(f) Poor coloration (foliage turning gray or brown)

(g) Presence of insects, diseases, or animal damage

(h) Physical or mechanical damage

Unsatisfactory Cut Tree: Tree cut that should have been selected as a leave tree.

Unsatisfactory Leave Tree: Uncut tree that, according to specifications, should have been cut; includes trees not severed from the stump, hang-up trees (suspended more than 3 feet off the ground), and stumps with live limbs.

Walk-In: Access to an area by foot traffic only.

Wildlife Features: Snags, logs, large live trees and other features used by wildlife for nesting, feeding, perching and/or shelter. Wildlife features may be identified in the Detailed Information Sheet, marked with paint, designated with a wildlife tag, or identified by the COR.

Yellow Pine: An older, usually larger ponderosa pine on which the bark has changed from a darker color to a lighter orange or tan on at least 40% of the length of the tree’s main bole. The bark around the base of these trees has also started to plate. These trees are greater than ~140 years old. The COR or inspector will explain how to identify these trees at the time of thinning.

SECTION 3 - GOVERMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

There is no Government-furnished property provided, however the Government will provide the following materiel and services for each task order.

Item Description Where, When, How

3.1. Project Maps Maps of units with access roads and suggested access to walk-in units identified.

Provided with task order.

3.2. Summary

Information Chart

Table with summary unit information (may be combined with 3.3)

Provided with task order.

3.3. Detailed

Information Sheet

Unit description and prescription for each unit. Provided with task order.

3.4. Access Roads The Government will provide access via the

roads indicated on project maps. Most access roads are accessible by 2-wheel drive vehicle.

Provided with task order.

3.5 Access behind

locked gates

Some units may be behind Forest Road closures (locked gated). The Government will provide a permit to the Contractor to access closed roads but the Contractor may need to provide a combination lock.

Provided during period unit is being treated.

3.6 Thinning

Inspection Plot Form

The Government will provide the quantity necessary to inspect the contract.

Provided at Pre-work meeting.

SECTION 4 - CONTRACT FURNISHED ITEMS / SERVICES

The Contractor shall furnish everything required to perform the work associated with the Performance Work Statement. The Contractor shall use equipment that will not cause resource damage. Contractor shall furnish all equipment/personnel as required by the Industrial Fire Plan.

SECTION 5 – TASKS / SUBTASKS

CONTRACTOR WORK REQUIREMENTS and STANDARDS

5.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL BID ITEMS

5.1.1. Units, Acres, and Feature Boundaries. The Contractor shall understand and recognize the proper boundary identifier and color. Unit boundary identifiers are described in each task order. Identifiers include, but are not limited to, painted bands on trees, flagging, stakes, road edges, etc. Acreage and boundary measurements are measured on a horizontal plane and will not account for variations in slope. Bid units will be based on horizontal measurements and distances.

5.1.2. Private Property and Other Ownerships. The Contractor shall be responsible for any damages to private property or other ownerships due to Contractor negligence.

5.1.3. Road Access. The Contractor may access the units from roads indicated on project maps (unless shown as closed). The Contractor shall be responsible for clearing fallen trees that block roads needed to access units.

Inaccessibility due to snow, slides or washouts on roads may or may not be corrected at the option of the Government.

If road access is blocked, the Government may issue a Notice to Suspend until access is restored, or under the Changes Clause (1) provide an alternate access route; (2) exclude the inaccessible unit(s) or; (3) substitute similar unit(s). The following also apply:

(a) No vehicles will be permitted to operate off access roads without approval of the COR.

(b) Permission to use or reopen closed roads and to access thinning units through fences or other improvements must be obtained from the COR. After completion of work and prior to acceptance of a unit, these improvements shall be repaired and restored to original condition.

(c) The Contractor shall not access a unit through private property roads or other roads closed to the public unless prior written authorization is given.

5.1.4. Walk-in Areas. Some units require the Contractor to walk in after parking work vehicles by a road indicated on project maps.

(a) Units indicated as ‘walk-in’ units are not to be accessed or driven to by vehicle.

(b) The Contractor shall not access a unit by walking through private property.

5.1.5. Locked Gates. In cases where units not designated as “walk-in” are behind locked gates, the Contractor shall close and lock gates (see Section 3.5) after entering or exiting each gate and will be subject to all other restrictions of administrative use. If access behind a locked gate is granted:

(a) The Contractor shall be permitted to drive from the locked gate to the unit with only the minimum number of vehicles necessary for efficient transport of the crew.

(b) No firearms are permitted behind locked gates.

5.1.5. Industrial Fire Plan. The Contractor shall abide by all terms and conditions set forth in the Industrial Fire Plan (see attached).

5.2 BID ITEM 1 – THIN, LOP, BUCK, AND SCATTER

5.2.1. General Criteria for Selection of Leave Trees. Prescriptions for individual cutting units are based on the overall composition and condition of each stand and are intended to be a guideline for achieving the desired condition.

Section 5.2.2 describes specific methods that may be utilized to select leave and/or cut trees and the individual task order Detailed Information Sheet will describe which method(s) are to be used, but the following describes general criteria for leave tree selection:

(a) Unless otherwise specified on the Detailed Information Sheet, large trees with desirable leave tree characteristics (see definition in Section 2.2) shall be favored for retention.

(b) Trees with multiple stems extending from the same stump shall have the entire tree retained and considered one leave tree if any stem exceeds the DBH or DRC limit (unless other specifications are provided in the Detailed Information Sheet).

(c) Trees with Bearing Survey Marker signs and Wildlife Feature/Tree signs posted on them shall be retained.

(d) The Contractor shall use their silvicultural knowledge to identify and adjust to any conditions within the stand and notify the Contracting Officer or COR of any conditions not addressed in the prescription. The Contractor shall recognize any insect, disease or animal damage problems and report them to the Contracting Officer if it is not recognized in the prescription.

(e) The Government may, at the suggestion of the Contractor, revise prescriptions with approval by the Contracting Officer. Alternate prescriptions must meet the overall stand objectives to be considered by the Contracting Officer.

5.2.2. Methods of Tree Selection. Specific methods for selecting leave and/or cut trees will be described in the Detailed Information Sheet. The following methods may be utilized individually or together to select leave and/or cut trees:

(a) Species Preference – The Contractor shall select trees of certain species for cutting and trees of other species for retention. If multiple species are specified for retention in mixed species stands, species preference dictates which trees shall be retained.

(b) Maximum Diameter - The Contractor shall select trees up to a specified diameter for cutting. All trees larger than the maximum diameter shall be retained.

(c) Tree Spacing – The Contractor shall leave trees at a specified spacing. Spacing may be altered by ±25% (unless otherwise described in the Detailed Information Sheet) to select trees with the most desirable leave tree characteristics.

(d) Tree Density – The Contractor shall leave trees at a specified density (i.e., trees per acre, basal area).

(e) Leave Groups – The Contractor shall leave trees in groups based on a specified group size (acres or # trees), spacing between groups, and individual tree spacing within groups.

(f) Near Key Features – If key features (i.e., yellow pines, private land, roads, stumps or other evidences of old trees) are defined in the Detailed Information Sheet, the Contractor shall select trees for cutting or retention within specified distances of those features.

(g) Marking – In some cases, trees to be cut or retained may be marked with paint or flagging.

(h) Other Tree Selection Methods – In addition to those described above, other methods of tree selection may be defined in the Detailed Information Sheet.

5.2.3. Tree Cutting. All of the following apply when cutting trees not selected as leave trees:

(a) Unless prior approval is granted by the COR, the Contractor shall complete tree cutting within the current unit before cutting begins in a new unit.

(b) All trees greater than 10 inches tall not designated as leave trees shall be cut.

(c) Cut trees shall be completely severed and have no live limbs remaining on the stump to prevent the growth of new vegetative material.

(d) Stump heights of cut trees shall be no higher than 6 inches above ground level or 4 inches above natural surfaces (i.e., rocks). Stump surfaces shall at be cut at an angle no greater than 30 degrees from horizontal to ensure the safety of workers and other people in the area. Special areas with shorter stump heights or other stump requirements may be identified in the Detailed Information Sheet.

(e) Cut trees shall be secured so they do not roll down hill and shall not be hung up on other trees or vegetation.

(f) Cut trees shall be felled away from and out of archeological sites unless otherwise specified in the Detailed

Information Sheet or by the COR.

(g) Leave trees and improvements such as roads, trails, fences, telephone/power lines, corrals, stock driveways, buildings, signs, tables, grills, land survey monuments, cattle guards, etc., shall not be damaged during the tree cutting operation.

(h) Individual task orders may require Contractor to spray or paint a non-restricted use herbicide on the stumps of trees (i.e., alligator juniper) immediately following cutting. Details would be provided in the task order.

5.2.4. Slash Treatment. Post thinning activity requires a specified type and amount of slash treatment. This bid item generally includes lop, buck, and scatter, but may require other forms of slash treatment including piling within identified areas (i.e., along roads). Areas that require piling will be described in the Detailed Information Sheet and/or project maps. Piling associated with this bid item shall be subject to all piling specifications described in Section 5.3 (unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Information Sheet). Activity slash not being piled shall be subject to the following:

(a) Slash treatment should be kept current with the cutting throughout the cutting unit. Unless prior approval is granted by the COR, the Contractor shall not move into a new unit without completion of slash treatment in the current unit.

(b) Unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Information Sheet, all activity slash shall be bucked into lengths not to exceed 10 feet and lopped and scattered to less than 2 feet in height, placing it on or near the ground surface.

(c) Cut material shall not lean against or be suspended by an uncut tree or other obstacle (i.e., large rocks). It shall be secure and not able to roll downhill.

(d) All trails indicated on project maps and all roads (including roads closed to the public but open to administrative use) within or adjacent to cutting units shall be kept free of slash at all times.

(e) Unless otherwise specified on the Detailed Information Sheet or by the COR, all activity slash shall be pulled out of archeological sites and scattered beyond the site boundary.

(f) The Contractor shall pull back and scatter activity slash specified distances from the following improvements:

(1) 10 feet from an open road (road edge).

(2) 10 feet from improvements such as established trails, fences, telephone/power poles, corrals, stock driveways, buildings, signs, tables, grills, land survey monuments, cattle guards, etc.

(3) 5 feet from culvert openings.

(4) Additional areas/features with slash pullback requirements will be identified in the Detailed Information

Sheet.

(g) The Government may allow the Contractor to remove slash if specified in the task order. The Contractor shall submit a written request for salvage rights prior to starting work. The Government has the discretion to allow or not allow salvage rights to the Contractor.

5.3 BID ITEM 2 – PILING

5.3.1. Piling of Slash. Slash to be piled generally consists of material up to 12 inches in diameter. There may be some units where slash to be piled is larger than 12 inches in diameter. Unless otherwise specified on the Detailed Information Sheet and/or project maps, piles may be constructed by hand or with a machine. Most task orders are expected to require some hand piling. In cutting units where machine piling is allowed, the Government may restrict the type of machine that can be used (i.e., excavator with grapple or bucket thumb only). It is the Contractor’s responsibility to determine whether it can feasibly use a machine to pile all or a portion of each cutting unit based on topography, ground conditions, prescription, etc. Bids shall not be adjusted if the Contractor determines it needs to hand pile in areas where it had planned to machine pile.

5.3.2. Specifications for All Piling. This section describes specifications that apply to all forms of piling.

Pile Construction:

(a) All activity slash created by the thinning operation exceeding 2 feet in length or 0.5” in diameter on the large end shall be piled unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Information Sheet.

(b) Piles shall be constructed to facilitate full consumption and prevent fire spread/creep when they are burned.

(c) All piles shall be built and compacted by distributing limbs, tops, boles, and other slash so there are very few air spaces. Material of all sizes shall be mixed throughout the pile, but smaller material should generally be concentrated towards the bottom. Unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Information Sheet or by the COR, boles shall not be leaned against the outside of the pile (as this method of piling tends to leave the bottom portion of each bole unburned). Piles shall be constructed so they will burn after a snow event or rainstorm.

(d) Each pile shall include an area of kindling near the center or bottom of the pile to facilitate prompt ignition and to aid in combustion of larger slash.

(e) At a minimum, all activity slash shall be bucked to the pile diameter.

(f) It shall be the Government’s discretion to determine if the Contractor’s pile construction/quality is acceptable.

An unacceptably constructed pile may, at the discretion of the Government, need to be reconstructed by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense.

Pile Location:

(a) The minimum distance between adjacent piles shall be equal to the height of the tallest pile.

(b) Piles shall not be constructed on known archeological sites or outside of cutting unit boundaries.

(c) Piles shall not be constructed on old stumps (> 1 foot tall) or large, down logs (> 12” in diameter at the mid-point and > 8 feet long)

(d) Piles shall be located at least 20 feet from open roads (road edge) and 10 feet from other improvements such as roads closed to the public but open for administrative use (road edge), established trails, fences, telephone/power lines, corrals, stock driveways, buildings, signs, tables, grills, land survey monuments, cattle guards, etc. Additional pullback requirements may be described in the Detailed Information Sheet.

(e) Piles shall be constructed in locations where burning will not damage live trees. Forest canopy openings shall be utilized for piling where available. The following is a list of the order of preferred pile placement that the Contractor shall follow:

(1) In the center of large forest canopy openings (i.e., openings >1/10th acre).

(2a) On slopes <20%, outside of the dripline of standing live trees on the south or west side of smaller forest canopy openings (i.e., openings <1/10th acre).

(2b) On slopes >20%, outside of the dripline of standing live trees on the downhill to middle portion of smaller forest canopy openings (i.e., openings <1/10th acre).

(3) If the specifications above are not attainable, piles shall be located as far from standing live trees as possible.

(f) It shall be the Government’s discretion to determine if the Contractor’s pile location is acceptable. An unacceptably located pile may, at the discretion of the Government, need to be relocated by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense.

Other Pile Specifications:

(a) Individual task orders may require the Contractor to pile some pre-existing slash (i.e., in areas such as burns with high tree mortality). Details would be provided in the task order.

(b) Individual task orders may require the Contractor to cover a portion of each pile with government-furnished plastic sheeting (to reduce the risk of a bark beetle outbreak). Details would be provided in the task order.

5.3.3. Additional Specifications for Hand Piling. This section describes specifications that apply to hand piling.

Hand pile construction:

(a) Unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Information Sheet, the minimum pile size shall be 6 feet high and 6 feet in diameter. The maximum pile size may be specified in the Detailed Information Sheet, but otherwise shall be determined by the opening dimension of the residual forest canopy and tree susceptibility to crown scorch or mortality. Piles located near or underneath the dripline of trees with low-hanging branches shall be smaller than piles near trees with high branches or in forest canopy openings. Measurement is taken from the downhill side of the pile for pile height, at the narrowest point along the base of the pile for minimum pile diameter, and at the widest point along the base of the pile for maximum pile diameter. The pile diameter shall be symmetrical on each side and circular in shape.

(b) All material shall be contained within the general contour of the pile and any material protruding out 2 feet or more shall be sawed off and placed back on the pile. Protruding slash will not be included in measurements of pile height.

Hand pile location:

(a) Piles shall be located outside the dripline of standing live trees where possible.

(b) On the south or west side (135° to 315°) of yellow pines >16” dbh, snags >18” dbh, and Gambel oak >12” dbh, piles shall be located at least 25 feet from the bole.

Hand pile timing:

(a) Hand piling should be kept current with the cutting throughout the cutting unit.

(b) Unless prior approval is granted by the COR, the Contractor shall not move into a new unit without completion of hand piling in the current unit.

5.3.4. Additional Specifications for Machine Piling. This section describes specifications that apply to machine piling.

Machine pile construction:

(a) Unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Information Sheet, the minimum pile size shall be 8 feet high and 9 feet in diameter. The maximum pile size may be specified in the Detailed Information Sheet, but otherwise shall be determined by the opening dimension of the residual forest canopy and tree susceptibility to crown scorch or mortality. Piles located near the dripline of standing live trees shall be smaller than piles located in forest canopy openings. Measurement is taken from the downhill side of the pile for pile height, at the narrowest point along the base of the pile for minimum pile diameter, and at the widest point along the base of the pile for maximum pile diameter. The pile diameter shall be symmetrical on each side and circular to ovular in shape.

(b) A machine pile shall not exceed a diameter of 25 feet…