Att 2_FY23_WZ_HiLo_UFR-HP_taskorder_SOI-n-SOW.pdf

2023 HiLo Understory Fuel Reduction (UFR)

ITEM

NUMBER

DESCRIPTION TREATMENT QTY UNIT UNIT

PRICE

TOTAL

PRICE

1 Westminister Unit 1 Cut & Pile 1 Acres 2 Westminister Unit 2 Cut & Pile 1 Acres 3 Westminister Unit 3 Cut & Pile 1 Acres 4 Westminister Unit 4 Hand Pile 1 Acres 5 Westminister Unit 5 Hand Pile 2 Acres 6 Westminister Unit 6 Hand Pile 15 Acres 7 Hunch Creek Cut & Pile 29 Acres 8 Deer Ridge Cut & Pile 17 Acres

GRAND

TOTAL

67 Acres

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE FOR ALL ITEMS IS: 7/1/2023 -11/30/2024

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Project Description The purpose of this project is to reduce fire risk in wildland-urban interface areas. Fire suppression has allowed shade tolerant species such as balsam fir to establish and proliferate in the understory of upland forest types. Decades of fire exclusion has resulted in a change in species composition, higher fuel loadings, an increase in ladder fuels, and a severe departure in the frequency and intensity of fires that would have occurred here historically. The work to be performed will reduce the understory fuel hazards of designated stands. Implementation of these treatments would substantially reduce the risk of wildfires threatening adjacent values at risk.

A. Vegetation Description All Bid Items The cut & hand pile units are mainly located in mixed forest types consisting of mature white pine, red pine, jack pine, aspen, paper birch and spruce stands with moderate to heavy component of balsam fir in the understory. The hand pile units are typically located in mixed forest type consisting of white pine, red pine, jack pine, aspen, paper birch and spruce. These areas were TSI in a previous contract during the summer of 2022. Most of the material were cut into four-foot lengths. The amount of slash varies from light in the hardwood forest types to heavy in the pine areas.

B. Project Location Bid Items #1 through #6 - Westminister Units – Cut & Pile and Hand Pile Westminister units are located on the Kawishiwi Ranger District. The units are located near the Passi Road (County Road 803) approximately 5 miles northwest of Ely, MN. Legal description is T63N, R12W Sec. 7 and T63N, R13W Sec. 12.

Bid Item #7 – Hunch Creek – Cut & Pile Item #7 is located on the Kawishiwi Ranger District. The unit is located near the Echo Trail (County Road 116) off of an unclassified road approximately 9 miles northwest of Ely, MN. Legal description is T64N, R13W Sections 13 and 24.

Bid Item #8 – Deer Ridge – Cut & Pile Item #8 is located on the Kawishiwi Ranger District. The unit is adjacent to the Mushroom Island Road approximately 3 miles east of Ely, MN. Legal description is T62N, R12W Sec. 1.

C. Maps: The enclosed map shows the general location and specific location of the Bid Items.

D. Unit Boundaries: These are marked with pink colored flagging. Exclusion within the units are identified with stripped pink/black colored flagging.

E. Changes (Acreages): Due to the nature of the work and unknown’s which may be encountered, changes in acreage of units can be expected. If acres are less than what is shown, additional areas maybe identified elsewhere to account for those acres.

F. Meeting: A pre-operational meeting with the designated COR will be required with the contractor before implementing projects. The Contractor will notify the designated COR a week before the crew is expected to begin work.

Cut & Pile Specifications – Bid Items #1, #2, #3, #7 and #8

A. Cut understory hazardous fuels by hand with chainsaws or brush saws and pile material.

1. Understory fuels include:

a. all live and dead balsam fir whether they are standing, suspended or laying parallel to the ground;

b. blowdown, dead and down or dead and suspended combustible* boles and limbs of any tree species less than 5” in diameter and;

c. brush/limbs cut during the removal of the fuels listed above.

*Example of non-combustible material would include downed trees with moss growing on them.

2. Portions of the tree bole from 1.a. and 1.b.greater than 5” will be limbed and cut into lengths to lay flat on the ground. Limbs and boles less than 5” will be disposed into piles.

3. Brush and other material 5” or less in diameter will be piled.

4. Standing spruce, white pine and red pine greater than 8” at d.b.h. will be limbed to a height of five feet off the ground. Limbs will be disposed into piles.

5. Cut stumps must be less than 6” in height and top of stump will be flat.

6. Do not cut and avoid mechanical damage to northern red oak, white pine, red pine, jack pine, cedar, spruce, ash, aspen, paper birch and tamarack.

7. Piles must be at least 10 feet from residual tree boles. Piles should be at least 10 feet in diameter and no more than 14 feet in diameter with a height greater than 6 feet. Vegetation must be piled compactly in a vertical and horizontal manner which maximizes consumption when piles are burned at a later date by US Forest Service.

8. Piles will be located at least 15’ away from trails, roads, signs, unit perimeter and 25’ away from open-water bodies such as lakes, streams, and ponds.

Hand Pile Specifications – Bid Items #4, #5 and #6

A. Pile cut material into compacted piles. Some material may need to be limb or cut into shorter pieces to be piled properly into piles.

1. The material includes all the material cut in a previous TSI contract.

2. Piles must be at least 10 feet from residual tree boles. Piles should be at least 10 feet in diameter and no more than 14 feet in diameter with a height greater than 6 feet. Vegetation must be piled compactly in a vertical and horizontal manner which maximizes consumption when piles are burned at a later date by US Forest Service.

3. Piles will be located at least 15’ away from trails, wetlands, unit perimeter and 25’ away from open-water bodies such as lakes, streams, and ponds.

Technical Requirements – All Bid Items A. Equipment such as chainsaw or brush saw capable of cutting small diameter trees is required.

B. Operating supplies, all fuel, lubricating and other maintenance work shall be the Contractor’s responsibility.

C. Damage done by the Contractor to roads, access routes and trails in the areas of work shall be repaired immediately by the Contractor.