Attachment_0002__Statement_of_Work.pdf

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Greensboro, NC

STATEMENT OF WORK

Removal of Hazardous Trees (330718)

DATED

September 17, 2024

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SOUTHEAST REGION

Statement of Work Removal of Hazardous Trees

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

I. GENERAL. The National Park Service, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (NMP), has a need for preventative and unplanned Hazard Tree Removal and Hazard Limb Removal in all park lands.

Guilford Courthouse NMP preserves part of the Revolutionary War battleground where the British and American militiamen and Continentals clashed on March 15, 1781. For the parameters of this contract, the tour road which spans approximately 2.25 miles, a section of New Garden Road approximately a quarter mile, and the walking trails within Guilford Courthouse NMP may need to be serviced.

II. REQUIREMENTS. Contractor shall provide all labor, tools, equipment, materials, and supervision required to accomplish this Statement of Work.

Base project: Contractor shall routinely remove the designated hazardous trees and tree limbs along the 2.25-mile tour road, a .25-mile section of New Garden Road, and the trails contained within Guilford Courthouse NMP limits.

A. Mechanically create a 15-foot-wide hazard fuels break along each side of the park tour road and that portion of the tour road where a fuel break does not presently exist, totaling approximately 11,000 linear feet (2.25 miles). This would include removing all dead trees and saplings 2-inch diameter and smaller. Beyond the 15-foot fuel break remove dead trees and trees that have fallen 100 feet from edge of tour road. The work can be conducted using mechanical means using a masticator/mulcher to chip deadwood. Chips would be left in place. Access points will be identified that minimize the machines access to the ground and the locations would be accessed by the tour road and ashplant trail system wherever possible. The intent is NOT to disturb the ground as part of this project.

B. Contractors are advised to visit the site, verify the existing site conditions to develop their proposal.

C. Schedule for work is to be completed from Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The contractor shall coordinate specific on-site work schedule with the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) five days prior to performance start date for scheduled preventative tree trimming and removal. While on site, the COR may be reached by mobile phone during normal business hours.

D. The cutting method is the determination of the contractor but will include standard forestry best management practices with the understanding that work is occurring within a Revolutionary War battlefield site.

E. Woody material will either be (1) removed from site or (2) chipped and dispersed in place. Wood chips must be dispersed to a maximum of four inches in depth. Hazard trees still standing shall be cut to within 6 inches of ground level and removed.

Bid Option 1: Contractor shall routinely remove the designated hazardous trees and tree limbs along the 2.25-mile tour walking trails within Guilford Courthouse NMP limits.

A. Remove dead fall and standing dead trees within 25-feet each side of all walking trails (approx. 2.25 miles). . The work can be conducted using mechanical means using a masticator/mulcher to chip deadwood. Chips would be left in place. Access points will be identified that minimize the machines access to the ground and the locations would be accessed by the tour road and ashplant trail system wherever possible. The intent is NOT to disturb the ground as part of this project.

B. Contractors are advised to visit the site, verify the existing site conditions to develop their proposal.

C. Schedule for work is to be completed from Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The contractor shall coordinate specific on-site work schedule with the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) five days prior to performance start date for scheduled preventative tree trimming and removal. While on site, the COR may be reached by mobile phone during normal business hours.

D. The cutting method is the determination of the contractor but will include standard forestry best management practices with the understanding that work is occurring within a Revolutionary War battlefield site.

E. Woody material will either be (1) removed from site or (2) chipped and dispersed in place. Wood chips must be dispersed to a maximum of four inches in depth. Hazard trees still standing shall be cut to within 6 inches of ground level and removed.

III. STIPULATIONS

A. Site hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 4:30pm.

1. Any work outside of normal business hours shall be pre-approved by the Contracting Officer and COR in writing.

B. Any and all work should not occur during wet soil conditions.

C. Disposal of materials from either preventative or emergency tree or tree limb removal shall follow these restrictions:

1. No unauthorized dumping of the material is acceptable. The contractor is strictly responsible for properly disposing of removed material and shall be liable for any fees or fines associated with improper hauling or disposal.

2. Material will not be piled on any roads, road shoulders, or trails or be allowed to accumulate except during hauling or chipping operations. All areas must be kept free of debris at the end of each workday. Any necessary interruptions in foot or vehicle traffic flow will be minimized.

B. Staging areas will be identified by park before project starts for preventative tree removal projects.

C. Safety - The Contractor shall preserve and protect all structures, equipment, and vegetation (such as trees, shrubs, grass, and rutting of the turf) on or adjacent to the work sites. These aspects of the park are not to be removed and should not reasonably interfere with the work required under this contract. The Contractor shall only remove trees when specifically authorized to do so and shall avoid damaging vegetation in the process. If any limbs or branches of trees are broken during contract performance, or by the careless operation of equipment, or by workmen, the Contractor shall trim those limbs or branches with a clean cut at no cost to the government. The contractor shall repair any ruts or damage to the ground surface caused during tree removal or limb trimming. The Contractor shall protect from damage all existing improvements and utilities at or near the work site, the locations of which are made known to or should be known by the Contractor. The Contractor shall repair at no cost to the government any damage to those facilities, including those that are the property of a third party, resulting from failure to comply with the requirements of this contract or failure to exercise reasonable care in performing the work. If the Contractor fails or refuses to repair the damage promptly, the Contracting Officer may have the necessary work performed and charge the cost to the Contractor.

1. General - The Contractor must comply with all Federal and State OSHA requirements. The contractor shall be responsible for the safety of their employees and equipment, and for any injury or damage done to or by them from any source or cause. The contractor shall save and hold the United States free from all claims for damages to all persons and (or) property arising from the execution of the work covered by these specifications.

2. Equipment Restrictions in relation to Safety on Guilford Courthouse NMP Property:

A. No equipment will be permitted on known wetlands (this includes drainages and creeks).

B. Heavy equipment can be used but must be low ground pressure track type.

C. At no point shall the contractor allow equipment on existing bridges.

D. Contractor must have access to appropriate equipment, including but not limited to extended reach equipment to reach up to approximately 100 feet safely for the duration of the 12-month term.

E. Hauling Restrictions: When hauling on National Park Service roads, do not exceed the following load restrictions:

Single Units Gross Vehicle Weight – Lbs.

2 axles 40,000

3 axles 48,000

4 or more axles 52,000

Combined Units Gross Vehicle Weight – Lbs.

3 axles 57,000

4 axles 62,000

5 or more axles 66,000

F. Operate loaded vehicles mauling material at speeds not exceeding 15 MPH and spaced at 500-foot minimum intervals. Hauling materials, supplies, and equipment over the park road, other than within the limits of the project, shall not be permitted without prior approval of the Contracting Officer. Load restrictions on park roads are identical to the state load restrictions with such additional regulations as may be imposed by the Contracting Officer. Vehicles shall not be counted for the purpose of load determination unless they are equipped with brakes. Trucks and other heavy equipment shall be confined to the limits of the project on the Park road. Hauling materials, supplies, and equipment over the park road, other than within the limits of the project, shall not be permitted except as is necessary to perform the required work.

3. Incorporate traffic control, when necessary. Traffic control shall meet or exceed the specifications laid out in the Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects, FP-96, sections 156 Public Traffic and 635 Temporary Traffic Control or most recent version of GA Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction. The contractor will provide two flagmen whenever work operations may interfere with the flow of traffic. The flagman will be located at least 150 feet in advance of the work site. “FLAGMAN AHEAD, 500 FT.” signs will be used at all times the flagmen are working, and flagmen and workers are required to wear orange safety vests while working on and along roadways. The contractor is responsible for providing all signs and other equipment to perform this task.

Contractor will be responsible for blocking off parking lots and buildings as needed to insure staff and visitor safety. If this situation arises, the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer Representative shall be contacted and will help coordinate efforts.

4. Accident Prevention - The Contractor shall conduct operations to prevent accidents, injuries, and damages. Additionally, the Contractor shall comply with applicable state and local safety, health and sanitation laws.

5. Accident Reporting - The Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer or his/her designated representative of any and all accidents to which the Contractor’s employees are a party or witness; and, of any and all accidents involving his/her employees or equipment working under this contract.

6. Insurance - The Contractor must be insured in accordance with the State of NC insurance regulations. The Government will not be responsible in any way for damage to Contractor’s equipment, vehicles, tools or materials or the Contractor’s employees and their belongings brought onto the Government’s premises, occasioned by fire, theft, accident, or otherwise. Nor will the Government accept any liability as a result of Contractor or Contractor employee negligence.

IV. QUALIFICATIONS.

A. Offeror must submit a proposal and include a list of two similar projects successfully completed by the staff proposed for use in this project.

B. Qualified Offerors should have 5+ years full-time practical experience working in professional tree care to meet the needs to this project.

C. Offeror must submit a list of available and relevant equipment to ensure the projects needs can be met within time frames and safety requirements outlined in this contract.

V. BID FORMAT

A. Bid format:

1. Cost for labor, materials and all other costs associated with the project.

2. Statement on bid form that all components meet or exceed the specifications contained in this statement of work.

3. Applicable taxes.

IV. PROJECT SCHEDULE

A. The Contractor shall coordinate work with the Contracting Officer or his/her designated representative. Contractor shall provide the government 5-days advance notice of when work is to begin. Work on Saturday and Sunday or federal holidays will not be allowed without the approval of the Contracting Officer.

B. Period of Performance: Work shall be completed within a set period of performance of the notice to proceed. The Contractor must work around all special events at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. The contractor must stop work and not continue again until the special event is finished.

C. GUCO is within the range of the tricolored bat. The species is currently proposed as endangered. Though the information hasn't been finalized yet, GUCO is likely going to be in the "year-round active" portion of the range that also includes "winter torpor". Once the listing is final, tree/limb removal is likely to be restricted from May 1-July 15 to protect pups and Dec 15 to Feb 15 to protect bats in winter torpor. Trees that are on the ground are not a concern and can be removed at any time of year.

V. INSPECTIONS

A. The Government will conduct inspection upon completion of project work. Any and all final payments will not be made until all noted discrepancies are corrected by the contractor and the CO and COR accepts the completed work.

VI. PROJECT COORDINATION. The NPS Contractor Officer’s Representative for this action is to be appointed by the Contracting Officer and will be on site for the duration of all contracted work.

A. Note: All communication shall be routed through the Contracting Officer unless other people are authorized by the CO for the project. If additional staff are authorized by the CO, they will send out an email including contract details and capacity announcing such actions to all parties involved. CO shall be included in all communications, preferably from the beginning of the conversation. Nothing within the terms and conditions of the contract is to be changed without the CO’s authorization in writing in advance.

B. Site Visits / Project Inspections: Each bidder is urged to visit the sites prior to bidding. Site visits will be scheduled by contacting the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

VII. ADDRESS FOR INVOICES. Provided in the contract award documents.

End of Statement of Work