INDIAN SUITE MAST SECTIONC.docx

C - Description/Specifications/Statement of Work

C.1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT

Description of Work: The intent of this contract is to secure services to mechanically thin conifers, brush cutting, and fuels reduction according to contract specifications. Thinning shall consist of selecting crop trees and mechanically cutting all other trees and brush designated in the contract except for areas designated by the C.O.R. The C.O.R. will designate areas where the brush may be left. Generally areas that will be designated as no brush cutting will be in some of the windrowed areas where there is no thinning to do. Thinning and brush cutting shall be done in a manner that does not damage leave trees not specified to be treated

Contractor Responsibility: The Contractor shall provide everything--including, but not limited to, all equipment, supplies, transportation, labor, and supervision--necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government.

C.2 Project Location & Description

Location: The project is located on the Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River Ranger District. See maps for unit locations.

Description: The perimeters of sub-items are flagged with orange flagging with the words “SILVICULTURE BOUNDARY” in black . In some cases roads or streamzones may make up part of the boundary of a unit and therefore these parts of the unit boundary may or may not be marked or flagged. The project maps are intended to show the general shape and location of the work areas. The map is not intended to be accurate as to precise location and dimension. If the map and field boundaries conflict, the field boundaries shall govern. Positions of the stream zones and topographic features, when shown, also may be approximate.

Exclusions (non-work areas): The following shall be excluded or protected:

1. Riparian Buffer: All stream channels (including dry channels) have RCA’s (Riparian Conservation Areas) and within these RCA’s are riparian buffers. . Perennial streams will have 100 foot wide Riparian buffer. Intermittent streams will have 50 foot wide Riparian buffer. Ephemeral Riparian buffers will be 25 horizontal feet in width measured from center of stream channel. Where RCAs have slope of 20 percent or less, mastication equipment can operate (tracks can be present) up to 100 feet of perennials, 50 feet of intermittents, and within 25 feet of ephemerals. Mastication can be done in Riparian buffers along ephemerals within these no track operation areas in by reaching in with the boom. Note: there are no perennial streams within units in this contract.

2. No equipment will be permitted within stream channels , except at designated crossings by the C.O.R.

3. Controlled sites: Heritage resource controlled sites within the project area will be flagged with blue and black stripe flagging and avoided.

4. Areas of sensitive plants are flagged out with orange and white-stripped flagging.

5. Meadows and wet areas. This includes any areas with wet soils or vegetation indicating the presence of wet soils. The COR shall designate these areas on the ground.

6. Survey monuments and bearing trees shall be protected and not damaged in any way.

7. All specified roads shown on contract maps shall be left in the original condition existing prior to the commencement of work on this contract. Any water bars in skid trails disturbed by the Contractor's operations shall be restored to the condition prior to damage at the Contractor's expense. Excessive slash cannot be left in the roadways after end of each work day. All cut vegetation shall be kept within unit boundaries. If slash is broadcasted onto the roadways, it must be removed by the end of each workday.

8. Accessibility: All sub-items are accessible with a 2-wheel drive vehicle after snowmelt. If a sub-item requires a walk in from the nearest road, this will be specified in the Exhibit C table. The Government assumes no liability to perform special road maintenance to keep roads open to the project area.

9. Any prospective contractor desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing from the Contracting Officer soon enough to allow a reply to reach all prospective contractors before the solicitation closing date. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding.

C.3 Maps

Maps showing the general vicinity and/or specific work areas are included in Section J. Maps are general in nature and are not to be considered as definitively identifying locations.

C.4 Estimated Start Date & Contract Time

Start: June 5, 2010 Time: All Items: 80 days See also Section F

C.5 Restrictions on Work

Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as outlined here. Nothing in this part shall be construed to take away any of the Government's rights under the Suspension of Work Clause (52.242-14). Restrictions are as follows:

1. In accordance with the fire plan, if included in Section J.

2. When the Contracting Officer (or designated representative) determines that adverse weather has made access too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

3. When ground conditions are too wet to continue operations without sustaining resource damage to soils. The Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative will make this determination. When such conditions exist, the Forest Service will issue a written Suspend Work Order.

4. Servicing and refueling of equipment areas shall be located outside of /RCAs or 100 feet from other wet areas. In case of a HAZMAT spill, the material shall be immediately contained and the Forest Service shall be immediately notified.

5. Within the sub-item boundaries, the Government may exclude non-work areas such as: rocky areas, wildlife areas, and other special areas. The Contracting Officer’s Representative will designate non-work areas. Such areas exceeding 1/2 acre in size per unit will be excluded from payment.

C.6 Licenses and Insurance

The contractor shall obtain the insurance and licenses listed here; (see also Section L, Notices to Offerors and Respondents).

MSPA Card (Form WH510): This contract [ ] does [ X] does not require the contractor to be registered with the US Department of Labor as a Farm Labor Contractor.

Other: NONE

C.7 Camping and Housing

Camping is not permitted in US Forest Service campgrounds. Contractor [ X] will [ ] will not be permitted to camp elsewhere on US Forest Service land. Camping on Forest Service land is not a right; permission may be revoked for failure to comply with the terms of the permit. (See also Section H, Camping Permit Compliance)

C.8 Technical Requirements

C.8-1 Definitions:

Aggregation – A pocket of densely packed trees distinct from adjacent areas within a project unit. It is characteristic for trees within aggregations to have a higher percent of phenotypic defects due to competition for resources in close proximity to others.

Conifer - A cone-bearing tree with needles or leaf scales (e.g. pine, fir, cedar).

Co-dominant Tree - A tree with the crown forming the general level of the crown cover and receiving full light from above, but comparatively little from the sides.

C.O.R. - Contracting Officer's Representative.

Crop Tree (Leave Tree) - Any crop tree without excessive damage, which has a live crown ratio of greater than 30%. The top will not be dead, broken, or forked.

Damaged tree – Any crop tree with one or more of the following injuries:

1. Any true fir that has any bark cut or removed to the cambium regardless of the amount.

2. Any other tree species that has bark cut or removed to the cambium from more than 25% of the circumference of the bole.

3. Any tree that has a broken, forked, or dead top.

4. Any tree that has had 25% or more of the live limbs or branches broken or removed by any operation.

5. Defects, which include sweeps in the bole and crooked boles.

DBH - Diameter at breast height; the diameter of a tree measured at a point 4-1/2 feet above the ground on the uphill side of the tree.

Diseased Trees – Any tree greater than two feet tall with a diameter less than eleven inches at DBH with one or more of the following diseases:

1. Mistletoe: Trees with one or more visible infections on any part of the live crown or stem.

2. Gall Rust: Trees with one or more visible cankers on the bole or multiple cankers on the limbs in the green crown.

3. Chlorosis: Trees with off color foliage, weak root system and otherwise exhibiting a general unhealthy appearance.

4. Damage: Tree that exhibits insect infestation, severe mechanical, animal, or other damages (i.e. trees leaning severely).

5. White Pine Blister Rust: On sugar pine, stem / branch cankers, yellow to red flagging of branches and tops.

Excess Tree - A tree that is left but should have been cut to meet spacing standards or trees-per-acre requirements.

Forked Trees – Trees with one or more forks in the live crown or with old dead or broken-out tops within 13 feet of the ground.

Ghost Trees – Trees that are not counted in spacing (example, sugar pine).

Hang-up Tree – A cut tree suspended above the ground by a leave tree.

Hardwood – A tree with broad leaves rather than needles (e.g., oak, madrone, etc.)

Insect Infested Tree– A tree pitching sap from the bark in multiple spots on the bole, frass in cracks of bark or at base of tree, dead or fading top.

Live Crown Ratio – The percentage of the live limbs in relation to the total tree height.

Phenotypic Defects - Referring to inherited defects or deficiencies caused by local environmental conditions. Examples: Trees with flat top shapes having under 4 inches of leader growth (measure of previous year), forked or multiple tops, twisting in the limbs bole and trees with sweeping, leaning or drooping forms.

Riparian Conservation Area (RCA) and Riparian Buffer – - an area designated along stream channels or seeps. Within the RCA, a Riparian Buffer is designated as a area protected during logging, mechanical treatments and site preparation.

Slash - All debris resulting from operations including stems, limbs and tops of trees, and brush.

Suppressed Tree - Any tree with less than 30% of its total height in live green crown or with less than 4 inches of current leader growth.

Thinning - The cutting of trees to meet the short term desired condition.

True fir – This classification refers to the conifer species red fir & white fir.

C.8-2 Specifications

8-2.1 Selection of Crop (Leave) Trees:

Leave trees shall generally be those of the tallest height, largest crown, and straightest boles that are free of damage due to insects, disease, physical and mechanical causes. The Contractor shall select leave tree using the following priorities:

1. Leave all conifers and hardwoods that exceed 10” in DBH.

2. Leave all hardwoods that are at least 2/3 the size of the largest surrounding conifers and space off these trees 10’ to 15’ from the crown edge.

3. Leave all Sugar Pine 6 inches DBH and greater free of defect and disease. Sugar Pine will be ignored relative to spacing requirements.

4. Select leave trees from healthy undamaged conifers as necessary to achieve an average spacing of 22'X22’ (approximately 90 trees per acre). Spacing may be varied up to 25 percent to select the most desirable tree. However, spacing control using the original guides shall be maintained whenever possible. The number of trees per acre shall not be materially increased or decreased. Where this spacing cannot be met due to trees occurring that are greater than 10” DBH, all material not otherwise specified to be left that is less than 10” DBH shall be cut and masticated. Following treatment, the trees per acre should be between 80 and 120 trees per acre (not including “ghost trees” such as sugar pine).

5. Select leave trees with the desired species mixture composition provided it is at least 2/3 the height of comparison trees. The desired species priority for all sub-items is stated in the Schedule of Treatments.

6. Select trees with an increasing height growth pattern.

7. If no healthy undamaged tree exists at the required spacing interval, leave tree with minor damage.

SUPPLEMENT: In cases where a large overstory of conifers and hardwoods exist, the Contractor will not be selecting crop (leave) trees but rather cutting trees up to 10” dbh and shrubs, and masticating ground fuels specified to contract standards.

8-2.2 Selection of Cut Trees

Cut and masticate all conifer trees less than 10” at DBH that do not meet the definition of a crop tree while observing spacing requirements. Exception would be made for sugar pine as specified in C8-2.1.3 and for pacific yew per specification 8-2.6. Cut and masticate all hardwoods that do not meet leave tree specifications as described in C8-2.1.2.

C8-2.3 Mastication Standards

All slash and other vegetative debris shall meet the following specifications when greater than two feet from any obstacle, crop tree, or hardwood:

1. No slash and other vegetative debris shall be more than 12 inches deep as measured from the ground level.

2. All conifer and brush stumps shall be a maximum height of 6 inches above the average ground level as measured on the uphill side or 12 inches above natural obstacles (i.e. logs, rocks).

3. No individual pieces of slash or vegetative debris shall be greater than 4 feet in length.

4. All boles or pieces up to 10 inches in diameter shall be masticated.

5. No damage to crop trees or Sugar Pine as a result of contract operations is permitted.

6. All cut vegetation shall be kept within unit boundaries. Any cut vegetation falling into ditches, roads, road banks, trails or adjacent units shall immediately be removed by the end of the day.

7. All brush within the work areas shall be masticated to within 2’ of leave trees without damage to the leave trees, with the exception of brush designated as not to be treated by the C.O.R.

8. No masticated or cut material shall lean against or be suspended by a leave crop tree.

8-2.4 Treatment of Snags

1. All snags over 10 inches in DBH that do not create a hazard to performing work shall be saved.

2. Snags over 10 inches DBH creating a hazard to performing work will be cut and masticated (according to mastication specifications) only upon approval of the COR.

3. Snags less than 10 inches DBH shall be masticated.

8-2.5 Treatment of Logs

Do not masticate or otherwise damage any existing down logs greater than 16 inches in diameter on the large end. These logs may be moved if possible following approval by the COR.

8-2.6 Treatment of Pacific Yew

All Pacific Yew trees (Taxus brevifolia) will be left and no work will be performed within 5 feet of these trees. These trees will not be considered in spacing requirements or in trees-per-acre counts.

C.8-3 Contractor-Furnished Equipment

Equipment shall be furnished on a fully operational basis, of modern design, and in good operating condition, with a competent, fully qualified operator. The equipment shall be of low ground pressure type which meets the following specifications:

1. Ground pressure shall not exceed a maximum of 7.5 psi.

2. Machine width maximum shall not exceed 12 feet.

3. Machine shall be equipped with a masticating or mulching head. The machine must have a boom capable of reaching at least 10 feet from center of machine to perform the work described in the scope of the contract. The Contractor may opt to use a machine that does not have a boom on it for cutting shrubs only IF the machine has a ground pressure of 3 pounds per square inch or less.

4. Machine shall be free of fluid leaks and have hoses in good operating condition.

5. The Contractor shall furnish all fuel, lubricants, and personnel necessary for the operation of the equipment. All repairs, service and replacements are the responsibility of the Contractor and shall be at the Contractor's expense. If, during the contract period, the equipment requires repairs before operations can continue, it shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to complete such repairs.

6. Machine shall be cleaned before it is moved on to the work site and before transportation between units greater than 2 miles apart.

C.8-4 Government-Furnished Property None. See Section G.

C.8-5 Public Safety

The contractor shall provide for public safety when operating equipment within 200 feet of open roadways and designated trails by posting cautionary signs warning of hazardous work ahead. Warning signs (at least two, one for each direction) shall be posted on roads. These shall be located 200’ from the intersection of the road and unit boundary at each edge of the unit. Signs shall be posted whenever working to alert oncoming traffic of the safety hazards associated with the operation. Trails must also be signed unless administratively closed by the Government. Signs shall include phrases similar to “Caution, flying debris stay back 300 feet” and be no less than 3’X3’ in size. Lettering shall be at least 6” in height.

C.8-6 Salvage Rights N/A

C.8-7 Road Maintenance

All roads used by the Contractor shall be left in the same condition the road was prior to operations. Roads must be kept clear of debris from the Contractors operations. Road clean up must be completed before Contractor/operator leaves the work site each day. Drainage ditches must be cleared of slash created from Contractor operations by the end of each work day. Waterbars that are disturbed by Contractor work shall be repaired to original condition or better.