Att 02_140P8420Q0054_SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

(Attachment 02)

Vegetation Clearing in Tower House Historic District Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

RFQ No.: 140P8420Q0054

Background and Objectives:

Historic fruit trees in Whiskeytown NRA’s Tower House Historic District are at risk of being impacted by encroaching vegetation. Encroaching vegetation competes for light and nutrients with historic fruit trees and poses a fire hazard in the Historic District. Whiskeytown NRA has implemented integrated vegetation management strategies to treat encroaching vegetation in the Tower House Historic District since 2009. As a result of past treatment success, vegetation densities have been significantly reduced. Vegetation density was further reduced by the 2018 Carr Fire, which burned through much of the Historic District. In most areas, encroaching vegetation does not exceed 36 inches in height, and consists primarily of annual grasses, forbs, Himalayan blackberry, California grape, re-sprouting native shrubs, pole-sized trees and downed tree limbs. The objective of this contract is to implement ongoing vegetation removal treatments in order to maintain low densities of understory vegetation in the Tower House Historic District.

Scope of Work:

A base year purchase order with four (4) option years is contemplated. The Request for Quotation (RFQ) includes one base line item covering the remainder of calendar year 2020, and four option line items covering successive years (if exercised) through December 2024.

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and other items necessary to treat an estimated ten (10) acres annually of encroaching vegetation in the Tower House Historic District. Treatment actions include cutting and hand piling of encroaching vegetation.

For the purpose of this contract, encroaching vegetation is defined as post-fire re-growth of annual grasses, forbs, Himalayan blackberry, California grape, re-sprouting shrubs, downed tree limbs, and live or standing dead trees up to eight inches (8”) DBH (diameter at breast height).

Densities of encroaching vegetation vary throughout the work site (see Table 1).

Tower House Historic District - Vegetation Clearing 2020-2024

Equipment use shall be limited to chainsaws, brush-cutters, string trimmers and hand tools. The use of heavy equipment and/or rigging will not be accepted. All forms of ground disturbance, such as grubbing, digging, or off-road vehicle travel, will not be accepted.

Tasks:

Prior to project start, NPS staff shall selectively mark trees up to eight inches (8”) DBH for removal. All trees within treatment units, marked with a plus (+) symbol with blue paint, shall be felled and limbed by the Contractor; there may be other trees marked with a single stripe (---) that indicate a hazard tree, which are not part of this contract. Trees shall only be felled if marked with a plus (+) symbol with blue marking paint. Tree stumps shall be cut as close to ground level as possible. Rigging (i.e. grip hoist, winch) may not be used in felling operations. Stems greater than six inches (6”) in diameter may be left in place at ground level. Stems left in place may not excessively cross over one another or remain elevated greater than twelve inches (12”) above ground level (i.e. “jackpots”, “hang-ups”, “hangers”, “stubs”). Crossing and elevated stems shall be bucked and/or moved by hand in order to minimize the density of woody material. All other encroaching vegetation within treatment units, unless marked with pink “DO NOT CUT” flagging, shall be cut to within two inches (2”) of ground level.

All woody stems, less than six inches (6”) in diameter, whether from cut brush or limbed trees, shall be piled in designated locations. Herbaceous materials (annual grasses, forbs, leaves) may be left in place where they are cut. Designated pile locations will be in and adjacent to treatment units and clearly identified prior to project start. Pile dimensions shall not exceed six feet (6’) in diameter by six feet (6’) in height. Piles will be burned, at a later date, by NPS staff.

NPS staff will mark treatment unit boundaries with temporary flagging. Flagging will be tied above waist level at intervals not exceeding 100 yards. Trees less than eight inches (8”) DBH will be selectively marked for removal by NPS staff. Trees selected for removal will be marked with a plus (+) symbol of blue marking paint. Pink flagging with the printed words “DO NOT CUT”, will be used to mark desirable vegetation. Worksite supervisors will be provided with printed maps and/or PDF maps of the work site, for the Base Year and all subsequent Option Years (see Figure 1 for Base Year treatment unit map which indicates the specific Vegetation

Table 1. Relative proportion of encroaching vegetation, by type.

Vegetation Type Description

Percent (%) Area

Treatment Requirements

Comments

Annual Plants 15 Cut only See Figure 2. annual grasses and forbs may be left in place after cutting.

Low Density Shrubs 65 Cut, Hand Pile See Figure 3.

High Density Shrubs 15 Cut, Hand Pile See Figure 4.

Trees less than 8"

DBH

5 Fell, Limb, Hand Pile Limbs

Trees to be cut will be marked with blue paint.

Clearing Areas and Vegetation Pile Sites for 2020 work). PDF maps will be compatible with mobile apps such as Avenza.

Option Year Work: The Statement of Work and Tasks as described above and all requirements as stated in this document shall be implemented during any exercised Option Year. An estimated ten (10 acres) of Vegetation Control per year will be implemented in each option year. The general Work Site Area shown in Figure 1 will remain the same, although the specific Vegetation Clearing Areas and Vegetation Pile Sites may vary annually depending on vegetation growth and control needs as determined by the COR. A map of the Vegetation Clearing Areas will be provided to the contractor by the CO at least 30 days prior to commencement of any on-site Option Year work.

Additional Requirements:

Prior to work commencing on site, a site specific safety plan shall be prepared covering on-site work to be performed by the contractor and any subcontractors. The plan shall cover topics such as appropriate PPE (hardhat, eye protection, ear protection, chainsaw chaps while operating chainsaws, climbing equipment, etc.), and any other reasonable safety related topics commensurate with the size and nature of this particular work. The plan shall address adherence to any local government health orders in effect to reduce the rate of transmission of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”). The Contractor’s safety plan will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary prior to commencement of any option year work.

A pre-work site visit will be arranged between the Contractor and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The pre-work site visit will be an opportunity to orient the Contractor to the project site prior to commencement of work.

At the beginning of the first workday, the Contractor and a designated NPS representative will meet to ensure that proper equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are being used.

The designated NPS representative shall periodically monitor work progress to ensure the work limitations and specifications are properly understood and implemented. Any change to the agreed scope of work must be addressed with the Contracting Officer (CO) prior to change.

If the Contractor’s employees do not speak English, the Contractor’s job site supervisor shall be fluent and conversant in both English and the language of their non-English speaking employees.

The Contractor is responsible for providing all necessary tools and supplies, and appropriate

PPE.

The Contractor shall contact the COR with project progress notifications prior to completion of each workday. As the Contractor near the completion of the specified work, a site visit will be scheduled with the COR and/or designated inspector to determine if the work has been successfully completed.

Criteria for Success:

As the basis for approving payment, quality assurance inspections will be conducted to confirm compliance with the project’s specifications and limitations. Inspections will be performed by a designated NPS representative. Approval of payment will require that all encroaching vegetation be flush cut to ground level and hand piled in pre-identified locations (as defined in Scope of Work). Cutting of overstory trees that have not been marked for removal shall not be accepted.

Cutting and/or piling outside of pre-identified treatment units will not be accepted. Any form of ground disturbance, such as grubbing, digging, and off-road vehicle travel will not be accepted.

If the Contractor’s activities result in damage to Resources, the Contractor shall incur all expense associated with damage assessment, damage repair and monitoring.

If the quality of work does not meet the standards outlined in this Scope of Work, a designated NPS Representative will document instances of un-acceptable work with photos and a description of non-compliance. The Contractor will be notified by the CO of all findings of non-compliance.

Payment:

The payment unit is per acre (mobilization and associated costs included).

Invoices must include:

Project name (Tower House Historic District - Vegetation Clearing)

Description of work performed

Start and end date(s) of work performance

Acres completed

Place of Performance / Work Site Description:

The work site is located approximately 16 miles East of Redding, CA in Shasta County.

The Tower House Historic District is a National Park Service-managed Cultural Landscape located at the intersection of Highway 299 and Trinity Mountain Road in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Access to treatment units may require foot travel up to 1/2 mile.

Topography at the work site is variable. Treatment units may be on hillslopes, adjacent to stream banks or on level ground.

Drinking water and sanitation facilities are not available at the work site. The Contractor is required to pack out all refuse.

Period of Performance:

The Base Year work will take place between July 13, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Work schedule must be approved by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) prior to project start. Adjustments in performance period may be made to account for seasonal variation in weather, wildfire risk and plant life cycles if jointly agreed upon by the Contractor and the Contracting Officer (CO).

Due to increased wildfire risk in dry months (May-October), the NPS Fire Management Officer (FMO) may order restrictions on the use of metal brush cutting attachments and/or ban the use of gasoline powered cutting equipment. The Contractor shall be subject to any such order from the FMO. NPS staff will notify the Contractor of any such restrictions no later than five (5) working days prior to project start.

Future Option Years may be exercised at the sole discretion of the Government, per calendar year (2021 – 2024). The on-site performance for any option year work is anticipated to take place between May 1 and June 30 annually.

Contact(s):

Alanna Gardner Contracting Officer (CO) Point Reyes National Seashore 1 Bear Valley Road Point Reyes, CA 94956

(415) 464-5197 (office) alanna_gardner@nps.gov

Anna Schrenk Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) BAER Implementation Coordinator Whiskeytown National Recreation Area P.O. Box 188 Whiskeytown, CA 96095

(951) 236-6652 (mobile)

(530) 242- 3445 (office) anna_schrenk@nps.gov

Joseph Nicholas Vegetation Specialist Whiskeytown NRA

(530) 242-3465 (office) joseph_nicholas@nps.gov

Glendee Ane Osborne Cultural Resource Program Manager Whiskeytown NRA

(530) 242-3438 (office) glendeeane_osborne@nps.gov

Figure 1. Treatment unit map for BASE YEAR (2020)

Figure 2. Example of low-density vegetation. Annual grasses and forbs.

Figure 3. Example of low-density vegetation. Himalayan blackberry.

Figure 4. Example of high-density vegetation. Himalayan blackberry and native shrubs.