Att 5. Camas_Prairie_Fence_Statement of Work.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Contents Project General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

2.0 Background

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Government Furnished

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

Project Camas Prairie Fence

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

Camas Prairie is an important biological resource for numerous wildlife species, including an endangered frog species. It is co-located within the White River grazing allotment on the Mt. Hood National Forest. Fencing exists around the perimeter of the prairie to exclude cattle and protect sensitive biological resources from trampling and grazing.

However, the fence is ineffective at excluding cattle, preventing the Forest Service and grazing permittee from effectively managing livestock grazing in the area. The goal of this project is to redesign and replace the fence to effectively exclude cattle and meet Forest Service design recommendations for barbed wire fence. Doing so will protect the only known population of an endangered frog species on the Mt. Hood National Forest and improve grazing operations for the permittee. Replacing the fence to be a uniform type and age will make future maintenance significantly more efficient, as well. Work should be completed as soon as the area is accessible and shall be completed before the livestock grazing season begins on the allotment on June 1, 2026.

2.0 Background

The Camas Prairie fence is approximately 3 miles long, and follows the perimeter of a 102-acre wetland prairie. The original design for the fence included two sections of buck-n-pole fence (1.0 miles total), two sections of 4-strand barbed wire fence (2 miles total), and a let-down fence (33 feet). The buck-n-pole fence is placed strategically in drier areas that are also closest to a public trail and road to extend the life of the fence and keep it accessible for maintenance and inspections going forward. Since its original construction in the late 2000’s, the fence has been inconsistently maintained with a variety of different materials, designs, and groups. This inconsistency, along with fallen trees and regular wear and tear, has caused the fence to fail in multiple locations. The buck-n-pole sections have seen many reconstructions and redesigns without effectively excluding cattle from the prairie as intended.

The vision for this fence is to replace the buck-n-pole sections with 4-strand barbed wire that meet both Forest Service and wildlife-friendly design specifications; design and build a section of let-down fence; design and build a gate, as well as rehabilitate and replace the existing barbed wire sections. A 4-foot right-of-way will be cleared of vegetation and debris along both sides of the north edge of the fence. Old barbed wire and buck-n-pole fence will be removed, including wire strands, wire stays, fence clips, T-posts, bucks, and poles. Salvageable material will be made available to the contractor. The fence will keep the same footprint without any modifications or extensions.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

Fencing will be completed by clearing a 4-foot right-of-way of all vegetation, debris, or other material along approximately 1 mile of fence; removing approximately 1 mile of old buck-n-pole and barbed wire fence; constructing approximately 1 mile of new 4-strand barbed wire fence while adding new corner braces, wire, and T-posts as needed;

constructing an approximately 14-foot wide gate; constructing approximately 33 feet of let-down fence; and repairing approximately 2 miles of 4-strand barbed wire fence. All sections of 4-strand barbed wire fence will be built and repaired to the spacing and height specifications listed in Table 2.

The fence line corridor shall be cleared to an approximate width of 8 feet, measuring 4 feet on each side of fence centerline, and 8 feet above ground. All live woody vegetation greater than 24 inches in height to be removed, except any live tree 8 inches or greater at diameter breast height (DBH) (4.5 feet above ground); those trees shall not be removed. Stumps shall be cut no higher than 12 inches above the ground. Small diameter brush does not need to be cleared. Large diameter brushes containing stems greater than 1-inch basal diameter shall be cleared.

The fence will be constructed and repaired with the following materials:

Wood Posts. Line posts shall have a minimum top diameter of 3 inches and shall be a minimum of 6 feet in length.

Corner, gate, and brace posts shall have a minimum top diameter of 5 inches and shall be a minimum of 7 feet in length.

Braces shall have a minimum top diameter of 4 inches and shall be a minimum of 6 feet in length.

Steel Posts. Steel line posts shall be the “T” type with a welded or riveted anchor plate near the bottom (minimum 18 inches square area) and have suitable corrugations, knobs, studs, or grooves for fastening the wire. Line posts shall weigh at least 1.25 pounds per linear foot of length and shall be a minimum of 5.5 feet long.

Barbed Wire. Barbed wire shall be composed of two strands of 12.5-gauge zinc-coated wire wrapped around each other, with 2-point 14-gauge barbs spaced no more than 5 inches apart conforming to ASTM A 121.

Smooth Wire. Smooth wire shall be a single steel wire of 9-gauge or heavier, two wrapped strands of 12.5-gauge or heavier wire, or 12.5-gauge or heavier hi-tensile wire. Wire shall have a minimum tensile strength of 45,000 psi.

Wire Panel Fasteners. Staples shall be 9-gauge or heavier and have a minimum length of 1.5 inches, except 1.0-inch staples are allowed on very hard woods. Fasteners for use with steel posts shall be 12-gauge or heavier zinc-coated wire.

Stays. Wire stays shall be 9.5-gauge or heavier, zinc-coated, twisted wire. The length shall be at least two inches longer than the distance between the top and the bottom strands of the fence. Wood stays shall be sound, straight pieces at least 2 inches in diameter.

For installation, the fence shall be reasonably straight and shall not deviate more than 12 inches between any corner and gate or line brace assembly.

Post Depth. Steel line posts and wood line posts shall be set to a minimum depth of 2.5 feet, unless otherwise specified.

Gate, corner, and brace posts shall be set to a minimum depth of 3 feet, unless otherwise specified. Steel pipe and angle section posts shall be embedded in a 12-inch circular or square concrete pier, except when set in firm rock.

Post Spacing. The maximum post-spacing interval shall be 20 feet on fences without fence stays, 25 feet with one stay between posts, and 30 feet with two stays between posts.

Line Bracing. Line brace assemblies shall be located at all corners, gates, and abrupt changes in vertical topography (generally considered as 15 degrees). On straight reaches of fencing, line braces shall be installed at a spacing of no more than 1300 feet.

Wire Spacing. Wire spacings are as follows, unless otherwise specified:

Table 2. Barbed Wire Fence

Fence Type Spacing Measured from Groundline (inches) 4-wire 16 22 30 42

Wire Fasteners. Staples shall be driven diagonally toward the ground into the wood grain of the post. Space shall be left between the post and the staple to allow movement of the wire. Fasteners on steel posts shall be snug enough to prevent vertical movement of the wire on the post.

Wire Stays. Stays shall be uniformly spaced between the posts as required for the specified post spacing.

Drainageways. In crossing drainageways or depressions, a weight or deadman anchor shall be fastened to the fence to maintain the required spacing interval or additional wires shall be added to maintain the required minimum wire height from the groundline.

Gate. Gate shall be 14 feet wide and shall be constructed with barbed wire and wood or wire stays with cheater bar.

Laydown Fence. Laydown fence shall be 33 feet wide and shall be constructed with barbed wire and wood stays, with No. 9 wire or rope loops at the top of each post that permit enough slack to hold or release stays.

For removal, the contractor shall remove and dispose of old fence materials, including all old posts and fencing material from the sections of fence designated for removal. This cleanup is an incidental item for which no special payment will be made. The contractor shall also remove its own trash and refuse from the contract area. All debris shall be disposed of off National Forest Lands and in accordance with State and Local disposal requirements.

Salvage material will be made available to the contractor. Any such material shall become the property of the contractor on a salvage rights basis and may be removed from the project provided project work is progressing as scheduled and removal is completed prior to expiration of contract time. Rights to any material not removed from the project prior to expiration of contract time shall revert back to the Government.

4.0 Government Furnished

The following property will be furnished to the contractor at the pre-work conference.

• Topographic and project maps necessary to complete the contract

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

• Contractor shall adhere to the specifications outlined in Section 3.0 of the Statement of Work.

• Work shall be completed prior to June 1, 2026.

Key Deliverables

Item No.

Deliverable / Item Title

Description Reference Due By

1 Buck-N-Pole Fence Removal

Removal and disposal or salvage of old buck-n-pole fence

June 1, 2026

2 Barbed Wire Fence Installation

Installation of new 4-strand barbed wire fence, metal t-posts, and H braces, with a 16.5-foot gate and a 33-foot section of lay-down fence

June 1, 2026

3 Barbed Wire Fence Repair

Repair of existing 4-strand barbed wire fence, adding new wire, post replacement, and H brace replacement as needed

June 1, 2026

6.0 Travel

The project area is accessed by Forest Service Road 2120-240 and is located in Township 5 South, Range 10 East, Sections 16 and 17. The existing fence is accessible from the end of this road and will require cross country travel to access all sections of the fence. Access to work sites will include both on-trail and off-trail travel by foot. Accessibility may be determined from maps, which will be furnished by the Forest Service (see Attachments). Contractor shall be responsible for adhering to the USDA Forest Service travel management plan, including yearlong or seasonal closures to motor vehicles, unless authorization is obtained. The general project areas may be reached by State and County roads as shown on vicinity and project maps.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

Personnel shall have experience building wildland fences in remote areas and have the ability to perform the required tasks to the outlined specifications referenced in Section 3.0 of the Statement of Work. Work will require crossing rough terrain and thickets of dense vegetation. Personnel must be physically fit.