Attachment 01 FY23 Bass Lake Tree Planting Specifications.doc

2023 Bass Lake Tree Planting

127EAS23Q0022

Bass Lake Ranger District

2023 Bass Lake Tree Planting Specifications

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION C PLANTING

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

C.1 SCOPE

The objective of this item is to secure services for hoedad tree planting of Government-furnished tree seedlings within the French Fire reforestation areas.

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, except those designated as government furnished, and incidentals, to perform all work necessary on the areas specified. Item #1 Hoedad tree planting shall have two crews working concurrently for the duration of the contract work.

Contractors and employees working on the Sierra National Forest will be expected to follow guidelines prepared by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) including guidance for COVID-19 to identify risk levels in workplace settings and to determine appropriate control measures to implement.

For more information please visit the links below.

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/ https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf When preparing your proposal for submission please draw together a Safety and Risk Mitigation Plan to illustrate how you will implement the COVID-19 guidance for this project. This is a requirement that must be included for your offer to be considered an acceptable and responsible offer.

It is the Contractors responsibility to check and adhere to any current State and Local Government requirements in regard to COVID-19.

C.2 GENERAL INFORMATION

All work unit borders are identified by general description or with red and white stripe or blue and white stripe flagging.

C.3 PROJECT LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

The project is located on the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest, Madera County, California. Location and access to the work site and other information pertinent to each unit is contained on the project maps and the paragraphs below.

Directions are given from the Bass Lake Ranger District office, 57003 Road 225, North Fork CA.

From the Bass Lake Ranger District office, turn left onto Road 225 and travel for approximately 5 miles to Mammoth Pool Trailer Park. At this point Road 225 becomes Forest Road 4S81.

Fish Creek Units: Proceed for approximately 16 miles and just past the apple orchard are unit # 524-078 on the right side of the road and Units 524-030 and 524-029 on the left side of the road. Travel a half mile and unit 524-031 is on both side of Road 4S81. Proceed a short distance and unit 524-102 is on the right side of the road and unit 524-100 is located on both sides of Roads 4S81 and 7S07. Turn left onto Rd 7S07 to reach 524-0101 located on the right side of the road. Continue Road 4S81 and a short distance past Fish Creek campground on the right is Road 4S81P and Unit 523-020.

Travel across Road 4S81 and proceed on Road 4S81X to reach the following Units 523-022, 523-027/011, 523-018, 523-010 and 523-044, including the western area of 523-046.

Return to Rd 4S81 and turn left and unit 523-048 is to the right below the road just west of the overhead powerline. Continue on Road 4S81 and units 523-004, 523-005 are both located on the right side of the road next to each other. Spur Road 4S81U will be used to reach the work area, Turn left onto Road 4S81I to reach units 523-018, 523-045 and the mid-section of 523-046. Return to Road 4S81 and turn left and proceed a short distance on the right is unit 523-042. Unit 523-043 is located a short distance past Road 4S81E (with a green gate).

Travel a short distance on Road 4S81 and units 523-046 and 523-047 are located on the left side of the road at the landing/ intersection of Road 7S40. Road 7S40 is washed out for vehicle access.

Rock Creek Units: Continue on Road 4S81 and at the Slide Creek hairpin curve turn left onto Road 7S45 for access to 520-080. Return to Road 4S81 for access to the eastern edge of 520-080. Turn right onto Road 7S47Y at Rock Creek Campground, turn left to reach units 520-047 and 520-046. Return to Road 4S81 turn right and travel a short distance and turn left on to Road 7S02 to reach unit 520-064 located on the right side of the road. A short distance is unit 520-072 which is located on the left side of the road. Return to Road 4S81 and turn left and just past Rock Creek on both side of the road are 520-078 and unit 520-079 is located on the right side of the road. Travel a short distance and on the right side of the road are both units 520-082 and 520-083. Continue travel on Road 4S81 and unit 520-077 is on both sides of the road. Access to the planting area is also from Road 7S44Y Mile High Units: Travel a short distance and turn left onto Road 4S81H to reach the upper area of unit 517-064. The planting area also includes the section of land to the northeast towards Road 4S81 near Mile High Overlook.

Return to Road 4S81, turn left, travel past Mile High Curve and Units 513-004 and 513-003 are located on the right side of the road before and at Mile High Overlook.

Continue on Road 4S81 and unit 517-065 is located on the left side of the road and

Unit 517-066 is across the road on the right side of the road. Travel a short distance and on the right is a spur road (adjacent to the “Rock Falling Sign”) to reach Unit 517-014.

Eagle Beak Units: Return to Road 4S81, turn right and proceed less than a mile and turn left on Road 7S15Y, pass through a locked gate and proceed a short distance to reach the intersection with 6S25X and unit 517-080 is located on all sides of the road. Turn left on Road 6S25X to reach the following units: 517-074, 517-011/009, 517-073, 517-0071, 517-0060, 517-0085 and 517-0057.

Shake Flat Creek Units: Return to Road 4S81 and turn left and located on the right side of the road is a dirt landing to reach the 2 polygons of Units 517-008. Travel a short distance and Unit 517-077 is located on the right side of the road. Proceed to Road 4S81W and turn right to reach Unit 517-025. Return to Rd 4S81, turn right and travel a very short distance and turn right onto Road 6S12X to reach unit 517-081 and Unit 517-005 boundary starts at the water barred spur road on the left side of the road and continues along the left side of the road, beyond the wet meadow to the large rock outcrop. Return to Road 4S81 and turn right and travel a very short distance and turn right at the green gate onto Road 7S35. Travel a short distance and on both sides of Road 7S35 is Unit 517-001. Proceed north on Rd 7S35 to reach Units 517-019 and 517-004/ Nehouse Fuelbreak.

Mammoth Pool Units: Return to Road 4S81, turn right and travel several miles towards the Mammoth Pool Road and turn right. Travel for approximately 4 miles to Road 6S25 and turn right. Proceed through the gate and the work area is on both sides of the road for approximately 1 mile.

Attached contract maps are intended to show only the general size, shape and location of the work areas. The locations on the ground take precedence over the locations on the Project Map.

All work areas may be reached by roads that are accessible by a 2-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle with chains, unless otherwise noted. Depending on weather conditions tire chains may be required to access some of the units. No vehicles will be permitted to operate off Forest Service system roads without approval of the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

Inaccessibility due to snow, fallen trees, mudslides, failed culverts and or washouts on roads may or may not be corrected at the option of the Government. If road access is blocked, the Government may, under the Changes Clause (1) provide an alternate access route, (2) delete the inaccessible unit(s), or (3) require an "unspecified walk-in". In all cases the government will make its’ best effort to get the trees to the unit or as close as possible. It is still the contractor’s responsibility to get the workers and necessary equipment to the units. If the unspecified walk-in is less than one quarter mile there will be no additional compensation to the Contractor.

C.4 CONTRACTOR'S REPRESENTATIVE

Before work starts, the Contractor shall designate, in writing, an English speaking person to be acting as a representative during Contractor's absence from the work site. The Contractor shall list the extent of authority, the representative shall have on the job. The Contractor or the Acting Authorized Representative shall receive instructions from the Contracting Officer's Representative or the Inspector and shall take necessary actions as required to keep the job in progress under the terms of this contract.

The Contractor shall have a minimum of one designated working foreman per crew. Each crew foremen shall be able to speak fluent English and understand written English. If no English-speaking foreman is available, work may be suspended until the situation is resolved. In this event, contract time will continue, unless contract is terminated for default.

C.5 PRIORITY OF WORK

Seeding survival and growth is dependent on proper soil and weather conditions when planted. These conditions will only prevail for a limited length of time; therefore planting must start promptly as suitable conditions are present. Work shall start no later than 3 days after the effective date of the Notice to Proceed. Units shall be planted in the preference established by the Contracting Officer Representative. The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate which assures completion within the indicated contract time. The minimum acceptable rate of progress will be calculated by dividing the total estimated trees to be planted by contract time.

The Contracting Officer will specify a priority of work by soil conditions and aspect. In nearly all cases, work will move to adjacent units of work. The Government will give the Contractor a 24 hour notice of the next day’s item priority unless conditions regulate the need for an immediate priority switch.

C.6. CREW SCHEDULING

Two crews with at least 11 workers per crew working concurrently shall be required for Item #1 hoedad tree planting. Due to the recent Creek Fire, all of the non-work areas are being reflagged.

The Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer, for approval, a schedule of work and an operational plan. The Schedule will include the proposed work days, and the proposed size and number of crews to be assigned for the item of the contract.

If additional crews are needed due to being behind schedule or due to unseasonable weather, the Contractor shall request in writing to the Contracting Officer.

If the Contractor fails to provide a crew as stated in the notice, the Government will assess liquidated damages of $400/crew for one day.

The Contractor may cancel a crew and incur no liquidated damages, by submitting a written notice to the Contracting Officer 48 hours before cancellation.

C.7 DEFINITIONS

1. BARE ROOT STOCK - Conifer seedling with little or no soil attached to the roots.

2. BASAL BURL – The thickened and woody swelling of a shrub located between the aerial branches and subsurface roots.

3. CONTAINERIZED STOCK - Conifer seedling grown in a container, with a growing medium attached to the roots.

4. DAMAGE – Any injury to the main stem or branches of treated trees from release efforts. Injuries include severing, scraping, stripping, or breaking of any portion of the tree.

5. DOMINANT TREE – A tree that is noticeably taller, more vigorous, having a fuller crown and bearing fewer signs of physical damage or disease than adjacent trees.

6. DRIP LINE - The line where moisture dripping from the extremities of a living tree's crown strikes the ground.

7. EXCESS TREE (Item #1a Hoedad Tree Planting) - Seedlings that are planted in excess of the maximum allowable seedlings per plot. Excess seedlings are considered wasted trees and are chargeable.

8. FIRMNESS OF SEEDLING:

a. PINE - In general, a pine tree shall be considered as firm when it will not pull loose by a tug strong enough to detach a small group of live needles.

b. FIR - In general, a fir tree shall be considered firm when the base of the terminal leader or a lateral branch can be grasped at the vertex of the middle and index fingers and pulled through the tightly clamped fingers without pulling the seedling loose.

9. LOOSE SOIL OR AIR POCKETS - At the base of the roots of a planted seedling if two fingers can penetrate the soil without resistance the soil is to be determined as loose and unacceptable.

10. MINERAL SOIL - The state of soil where humus and large organic matter are not present.

11. PLANTABLE SPOT - An area from which vegetation, ash, duff, snow, and debris have been or can be removed to moist mineral soil, and a tree seedling can be planted according to specifications.

12. OAK SEEDLING – An oak (Quercus spp.) seedling that became established from an acorn and is less than 1 inch in diameter at breast height.

13. OAK SPROUT CLUMP – A clump of oak sprouts originating from a dead (often fire killed) established oak tree. The main stem of original tree is greater than 6 inches in diameter. For example oak sprout clumps may be various feet wide and various feet tall.

14. OVERSTORY TREE - Large mature trees, (12 DBH and larger) including oak, left for shelter wood or as seed trees.

15. PLANTING SCALP - Hoedad Tool prepared planting scalp shall cut and remove all vegetation to bare mineral soil to prepare a 2.5’ x 2.5’ planting spot for one tree to be planted in the center.

16. RELEASE – The removal of competing vegetation including excess seedlings from a selected vigorous leave tree.

17. REPLANT – Areas with less than approximately 100 trees per acre including previously planted and natural trees.

18. ROOT COLLAR - The portion of the seedling stem where the cotyledon scar is located.

19. SATISFACTORILY PLANTED SEEDLING - A seedling planted in full accordance with all planting specifications set forth in this contract.

20. SUITABLE EXISTING TREE - An acceptably established tree will be considered to be; any natural or planted conifer, except lodge pole pine, knob cone pine or gray pine without any visible defects or damage, having a 25%+ live crown ratio, disease free and a height of 4 inches or greater. Oak sprout clump [e.g. 2-10 feet tall] and associated with a 2” or greater DBH oak main stem.

21. TOP - That portion of the seedling exposed above the top of the soil.

22. UNIT BOUNDARY - The perimeter of the planting unit as indicated by Forest Service marking at various points along an irregular perimeter. Perimeter may be designated by flagging, recent clearing and or the edge of dense vegetative conditions, rock, wet stream management zone buffers or roads.

23. UNPLANTABLE SPOT - An area within the specified limits in which it is not possible to plant a seedling according to the specifications. Includes wet areas such as springs, draws and meadows, rocky conditions or compacted soil on skid roads and landings.

24. UNSATISFACTORILY PLANTED SEEDLING - A planted seedling which does not meet one or more of the specifications in this contract.

25. WASTED SEEDLING - Seedlings which are damaged, destroyed, or handled contrary to the specifications for care of seedlings and or planted seedlings in excess of the maximum number of creditable seedlings as specified by the spacing requirements.

26. TREE PLANTING BAG LINER – A bag liner that sets inside the tree planting bag, made of sponge like, foam material that retains some water moisture for bare root seedling protection.

27. NON-WORK AREAS – will include riparian areas, cultural resource sites, sensitive plants, noxious weeds, old road beds, underneath the canopy of live oaks, conifers and power lines. Some of these non-work areas will be flagged.

C.8. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will deliver to the Contractor the following Government furnished property in accordance with FAR clause 52.245-4 (incorporated by reference in

Section I):

The Government will furnish tree seedlings at the District office location, or at the unit or accessibility nearest the unit boundary, or to the point where the walk-in begins, unless other points are mutually agreed to by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

The Government will provide to the Contractor bare root or container stock (also known as plugs). The roots are protected by soil and are shipped in plastic bags that usually contain 10-20 trees per bag. As the trees are handed out to the planters, the plug stock shall remain in the plastic bags, as they are carried in the planting bags during the planting procedure. Too reduce the risk of root damage during handling and carrying, the planting bag shall not be over filled. The empty plastic bags shall be discarded at the truck in a trash bag. The Government will provide access to water at the North Fork office for both tree dipping and crew drinking. The Contractor’s workers shall have access to clean igloos and or bottles for drinking water.

The bare root seedling bundles shall have the rubber bands removed and the bundle be split open as they are dipped into a tub of water and properly place into wet liners that sit inside the planting bags. A tree tally per specie will be recorded as the seedlings are being handed out for each planting area and will be used for Contract work payment. Seedlings handout shall be performed in an orderly fashion by the Contractor, so an accurate record of the tree tally can be completed.

Routinely, before the trees are handed out the Contractor will inform the COR on the total trees per specie he intends to hand out. The total tally of trees per hand out and grand total per work area per day will be agreed upon by the Contractor and COR. A written receipt will be provided and approved by both the Contractor and COR. At the end of the workday, the Contractor and the COR will discuss and agree on the next day’s work plan and number of trees estimated to bring to the project.

C.9. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Contractor shall furnish and meet the following minimum requirements:

Planting Tools Hoedads: The hoedad planting tool shall have a blade long enough to prepare a hole that will accommodate 30.5 cm (12 inch) roots to be placed straight with no J-roots or L-roots. The digging portion of the blade shall be a minimum of 12 inches long and 10.2 cm (4 inches) wide. The head or scraping blade is not to be included in the length measurement. Hoedad tool will prepare a planting spot /scalp size 2.5 ft x 2.5 ft.

Planting Bags: Planting bags shall be a light color, clean and free from dirt and residue from prior planting operations. They shall have a minimum depth of 38 cm (15 inches) and shall be free of defects.

Planting Bag Liners: Planting bags shall have polyurethane foam liners or other insulated liners acceptable to protect the seedling roots and line the interior sides and bottom of the bags. The liners shall be free of dirt and residual from previous operations. Any other type of liners shall be discussed with the Contracting Officer Representative. Burlap is not acceptable.

Seedling Water Container: Water and a water container shall be present at each location where tree planting shall be performed. The container shall be of sufficient volume and dimensions to allow the individual planting bag liner to be fully submerged and to dip the bare root seedlings without bending or damaging the roots. Water from the USFS North Fork compound can be used to refill water containers.

Water for Workers: The Contractor shall provide clean water in clean containers for both drinking and sanitation purposes. Water from the USFS North Fork compound can be used to refill both drinking and tree dipping water containers.

C.10 GENERAL WORK STANDARDS AND PLANTING OPERATIONS

To maintain stand diversity trees and/or brush providing homes for wildlife shall not be disturbed.

Protection of Cultural Resources. Location of known historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology and culture, such as settler or Indian artifacts, protected by American Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431433), National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470), and implementing regulations (36 CFR 800), the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (PL 96-95 and 36 CFR 261.9(e)) will be identified on the ground by the Forest Service. The Forest Service may unilaterally modify or cancel all or portions of this contract to protect an area, object of antiquity, artifact, or similar object which is or may be entitled to protection under these Acts regardless of when the area, object or artifact is discovered or identified. Discovery of such areas or objects by either party shall be promptly reported to the other party.

The Contractor shall protect Controlled Areas (CA) shown on the Project Unit Maps, by AVOIDANCE, and shall protect all known and identified or discovered historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology and culture against destruction, obliteration, removal or damage during the Contractor's operations. The Contractor shall immediately notify the Contract Officer if damage occurs to any cultural resources and immediately halt operations in the vicinity of the resource where damage occurred until the Contract Officer authorizes the Contractor to proceed. If such damage is negligently or willfully caused by the Contractor's operations, the Contractor shall bear costs of investigation and restoration in accordance with 36 CFR 296.14(c), provided that such payment shall not relieve the Contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law.

All known Controlled Areas are identified on the project map, and or on the ground with solid white flagging and blue and black stripped flagging. The sites may be reflagged immediately prior to operations.

Hoedad tree planting guidelines provided by the District Archaeologist may include planting seedlings within specific portions of the Control Areas with hoedads “without” scraping a planting site scalp. The planting hole preparation and packing of the seedling roots shall be followed within these designated Control Area sites.

Protection of Land Survey Monuments. The Contractor shall protect all known survey monuments, witness corners, reference monuments, and bearing trees against avoidable destruction, obliteration, or damage during the Contractor's operations. Known corners are identified on the contract maps by black diamonds. It is the Contractor's responsibility to locate and protect them during operations. If the Contractor causes such damage, the Contractor shall hire the appropriate registered land surveyor to establish or restore at the same location the monuments, corners, or accessories. Such surveyors shall use procedures in accordance with the "Bureau of Land Management Instructions for the Survey of the Public Lands of the United States" for the General Land Office surveys, and in accordance with the State law for others. The Contractor shall record such survey in the appropriate county records.

Protection of Sensitive Plant Populations. Adjacent to Road 4S81W on the left side of the road in Unit 517-025 is a population of sensitive plants that will need to be protected. No parking of vehicles or planting of trees shall occur within the designated site. Any protected plants located within any of the units will be designated for protection by the Forest Botanist or the Contracting Officer Representative.

Elderberry bushes/trees shall not be cut or damaged.

The Contractor shall remove all trash from the work site.

All completed work within the project areas shall be implemented to meet the contract specifications. Seedlings shall be planted 20 feet measured from the outside edge of the canopy of an oak and existing conifer and work shall tie in with the edge of the unit boundary. Maintain designated spacing from previously planted conifers, existing natural conifers, oak seedlings, oak stump sprouts, Elderberry plants and brush. Take advantage of placing planted seedlings on the north side of and or adjacent to down logs and or stumps. Tree planting shall begin 20 feet from the edge of the road and 75 feet from each side of the outside edge of the existing overhead power lines. Refer to map for the powerline location.

Planting Operations:

Planting areas include recent wildland fire, insect mortality/hazard tree removal activities for site prep and fuels treatments.

Initial and interplant areas may have natural seedlings, saplings, existing plantation trees or mature natural trees that will be part of the overall stocking levels to meet Forest Service Region 5 Stocking requirements. Tree planting shall be spaced off suitable natural tree reforestation, mature conifers and oaks, brush, young oaks and sprouting oak stumps.

All crew operations shall be performed in an organized manner. This includes, but is not limited to arrival, bagging, re-bagging, planting, and completion of a unit. The Crew’s organized work methods and performance shall ensure proper spacing, coverage and good quality. Scattered crew work methods are not recommended for proper coverage and or quality of completed work within the work areas. If operational procedures are promoting poor contract results, there is the option to cease operations for the day and or issue a notice of non-compliance.

Seedlings shall not be planted on landings, skid trails, or haul roads.

Within the site prepped work areas, the burn pile scar and the established fire line shall be planted.

The planting units will be initial plant, replant or interplant. Some of these units have established stake lines, which are a row of wooden survey stakes that have been installed on the north side of the planted seedling. The stakes that have dead or missing trees shall be replanted during the regular planting implementation.

Adhere to the following specifications for seeding care, protection and planting:

1) CARE AND HANDLING OF SEEDLING

a) At all times, seedlings shall be protected from drying, heating, smothering, freezing, crushing, drowning, abrasion, rapid temperature fluctuations, or contact with injurious substances.

b) Seedlings stored in boxes, bags or bundles shall not be exposed to direct sunlight. Punctured or torn bags or boxes shall be promptly resealed. Containers of seedlings shall be opened only in full shade. Bundles, bags or boxes shall be separated to provide air movement.

c) Seedlings shall not be removed from shipping containers until they are needed for the planting procedures.

The Contractor shall remove the bundles of bare root seedlings from the seedling bag, loosened and split in half, dip the roots into the container of water, tallied by a Forest Service designated inspector and place the seedlings into the planting bag.

d) Seedling tally, dipping and bagging of the seedlings shall be conducted in an organized manner to ensure proper accountability and follow protection measures to prevent seedling root exposure to the direct sun, outside air or windy conditions.

e) Frozen seedlings shall be thawed in full shade and handled after they are completely thawed.

f) Seedlings shall be planted without further culling, root or top pruning. If pruning or culling appears necessary, or if mold, dry roots, evidence of injury, or dying is seen, the condition shall immediately be reported to the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Seedling roots shall not be pruned, clipped, or cut by the Contractor or Contractor's employees.

g) Planting bags shall not exceed the number of seedlings that can be carefully carried and removed without injury. The seedlings shall be planted before the roots show signs of heating or drying. The Contracting Officer’s Representative will determine an acceptable limit of seedlings after inspections of the seedlings inside the planters' bags. Species composition, seedling size, and nursery bundling will also be considered in determining the number of seedlings provided per bag-up.

h) Seedlings in planting bags shall have only their tops exposed.

i) Seedlings shall be gently removed from the planting bags, one at a time to prevent stripping or injury and immediately inserting the seedling into the prepared planting hole.

j) Seedlings placed in bags shall be planted out before lunch, before the end of the day, or before any other significant work stoppage and not returned to storage.

k) Seedling planting spacing requirements are indicated in the item #1 data chart.

l) One tree shall be planted at each scalped area. Scalp size is 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet.

2. SPACING

Item #1 Bass Lake Ranger District

Ave. Planting Ave. Planting

Trees per Min. – Max.

Spots per Spots per Spacing Acre +/- 5% 1/50 Acre 1/100 Acre

7 X 7 845 – 933

7 X 14 422 – 466

8 X 8 647 – 715

8 X 16 323 – 357

9 X 9 511 – 565

10 X 10 414 – 458

11 X 11 342 – 378

11 X 12 330 314 – 346 6-7

12 X 12 287 – 317

13 X 13 257 246 -- 268 5 -6 2-3

14 X 14 211 – 233 18 X 18 134 123 – 145 1-2 1-2 Those trees, which exceed the maximum trees stated in the attached Planting Data Tables, will be treated as wasted trees.

For individual seedlings the specified average spacing may be varied up to 25 percent in any direction to find a suitable planting spot. The number of seedlings planted per acre, however, shall not be materially increased or decreased because of individual planting spot selection.

Planting shall occur in recent insect and fire mortality areas (French Fire) that may have re-established oak sprouts and conifers. Planting will be 20 feet from the outside edge of the canopy of the crown of a mature live crown of a conifer and oak. Established oaks and conifers are counted as existing trees and will be part of determining the tree spacing. Refer to the data table for work areas that have overhead power line. Maintain a 75 foot tree planting spacing from each side of the outside edge of the overhead power line.

The designated prescription for tree planting shall include bare root Ponderosa Pine and containerized plug stock Sugar Pine and Incense Cedar seedlings. On site direction will be provided for the planting species ratio. Tree planting spacing shall be either 13 x 13, 14 x 14 or 18 x 18.

Hoedad prepared planting scalp shall cut and remove all vegetation to bare mineral soil to prepare a 2.5’ x 2.5’ planting spot for one tree to be planted in the center.

3. PLANTING SPOT SELECTION AND PREPARATION

a) Whenever possible, spacing requirements to determine planting spots shall be selected where stumps, logs, dead brush, and terrain features shall provide partial protection from sun, wind, animals, loose debris, and other agents detrimental to seedling survival and growth. Berms of soil created by site prep activity are not suitable planting spots. Exhibit A

b) Seedlings shall be planted following the spacing specifications including existing seedlings, oaks and conifers and proper distance from the edge of the canopy of mature trees. This includes spacing off the edge of the powerline clearance, road edge, existing brush, wet draws, meadows, natural springs and forest improvements.

c) Hoedad planting scalp preparation shall be cleared to mineral soil 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet.

d) Hoedad planting tools - an open hole shall be prepared to be wide enough, deep enough to fully accommodate the roots of the seedlings to be planted straight with the soil firmly packed. Slit planting shall not be permitted.

4. SEEDLING PLACEMENT

a. Bare root seedlings: The seedling shall be planted near the center of the scalp with roots in a natural arrangement so that the root collar sets at the level of the earth. No needles or branches shall be covered with soil.

The roots shall not be doubled up, twisted, spiraled, or bunched. The root system shall be aligned with the axis of the planting hole with all roots extending downward. (See attached Exhibit A).

b. Containerized seedlings: The seedlings shall be planted in the center of the scalp, deep enough so that two centimeters of soil placed on top of the plug and leveled with the surrounding soil surface will seal the plug into the ground. Containerized seedling root material (soil plug) shall not be broken from the root system during the planting process.

5. FILLING AND FIRMING

a. The hoedad shall be inserted into the ground approximately five centimeters (approx. 2 inches) in front of the seedling and the lower part of the blade rocked toward the seedling to wedge the soil at the bottom part of the hole to a packed tight or closed condition. The upper part of the blade shall then be rocked forward to wedge the upper part of the hole closed. The goal is to pack the soil for the entire length of the root zone while the tap root and fine roots are straight and in a downward position. Apply pressure with the workers boot to firm and level the soil surrounding the stem of the seedling. All actions in this process shall be done in a manner that assures that dry soil, ash, organic matter, rock, and other foreign material does not enter the hole. No air spaces or loose soil shall be present beneath or on top of the soil and the seedling stem shall be erect and free to grow and not be weighted down with mud or debris.

6. SPECIES MIXTURE

The species percentage mixture will be determined on site to meet the planting prescription. Bare root Ponderosa Pine and plug stock Sugar Pine and Incense Cedar are expected from the nursery.

8. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD SURVEYS

The results of the Heritage Resource field surveys may permit hoedad tree planting within the perimeter of some of the archaeological site boundaries. Specific planting guidelines will be provided by the District Archaeologist. Designated non work areas will be identified with on-site flagging.

9. EXHIBITS

See exhibits in Section J. for information on proper planting technique.

C.11 SUSPENSION OF PLANTING OPERATIONS

Planting operations shall cease when it is determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative that weather conditions are detrimental to the survivability of the newly planted seedlings. Exhibit A - Weather Guidelines for Planting Seedlings, may be used as a determinant along with the predicted weather and local experience in the decision to stop planting. Weather data for use with Exhibit F will be obtained at the planting site using observations and if necessary, handheld weather instruments.

ITEM #1 DATA TABLE

2023 Tree Planting 8(a)Contract *STAKELINE Bass Lake Ranger District pg 1/

Overlook

517-0001/

517-0082

18 x 18

517-0014

Pg 1= 45,213

Roadside 4S81

18 x 18

517-077

14 x 14

14 x 14

13 x 13

interplant

520-0083 Pg 2=102,184

Rock, interplant

interplant

14 x 14 east of power line

interplant

523-018 *

interplant

523-043

14 x 14 east pwrline

Pg 3= 89,890 *=stakeline

All vegetation shall be cut and scaped to bare mineral soil to prepare a scalp size 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet with the seedling planted in the center of the scalp area.

Tree planting shall maintain 75 feet distance from the outside edge of either side of powerline, 20 feet measured from the outside edge of the canopy of a living mature green conifer or oak and space off living resprouted oaks and natural seedlings.

To meet stand diversity, some planting units may have two or three different tree species including Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine and Incense Cedar. Specific species mix shall be determined on site during the tree handout, tally procedures.

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION E:

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 CONTRACTOR INSPECTION REQUIREMENT (FAR 52.246-01) (APR 1984)

The Contractor is responsible for performing or having performed all inspections and tests necessary to substantiate that the supplies or services furnished under this contract conform to contract requirements, including any applicable technical requirements for specified manufacturers' parts. This clause takes precedence over any Government inspection and testing required in the contract's specifications, except for specialized inspections or tests specified to be performed solely by the Government.

E.2 INSPECTION OF SERVICES--FIXED-PRICE (FAR 52.246-04) (AUG 1996)

(a) Definitions. "Services," as used in this clause, includes services performed, workmanship, and material furnished or utilized in the performance of services.

(b) The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

(c) The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the terms of the contract. The Government shall perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the work.

(d) If the Government performs inspections or tests on the premises of the Contractor or a subcontractor, the Contractor shall furnish, and shall require subcontractors to furnish, at no increase in contract price, all reasonable facilities, and assistance for the safe and convenient performance of these duties.

(e) If any of the services do not conform to contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by re-performance, the Government may (1) require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements and (2) reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.

(f) If the Contractor fails to promptly perform the services again or to take the necessary action to ensure future performance in conformity with contract requirements, the Government may (1) by contract or otherwise, perform the services and charge to the Contractor any cost incurred by the Government that is directly related to the performance of such service or (2) terminate the contract for default.

E.3. INFORMAL VISITS

The Contracting Officer and their appointed representatives will be onsite at all times during the implementation of the work to observe the Contractor's work in progress for inspection requirements. We will meet each morning at the North Fork office at a pre-determined time and drive together to the work site.

E.4. CONTRACTOR'S FORMAL INSPECTIONS

Pursuant to the Inspection of Services clause, the Contractor shall establish an inspection system acceptable to the Government. The Contractor’s inspection system must be submitted and agreed upon by all parties at the pre-work conference. The primary purpose of the Contractor's inspection is for assurance of quality control. The Government may, however, accept the Contractor's inspection for unit acceptance either wholly or in part. Contractor shall have a dedicated (non-planting) inspector to take plots for quality control and payment calculation.

The Contractor's inspection shall comply with the following:

(a) Shall be systematic in application.

(b) Shall yield an inspection of at least two percent of the area.

(c) Shall be documented on a Contractor designed form.

(d) Shall be timely in performance.

(e) Shall address all the work specifications.

(f) Shall show a method of determining quality attained.

(g) Each unit shall be inspected separately and the results of one unit shall not be averaged with those of other units.

The Contractor's inspection system shall consider, as a minimum, the following:

Tree Planting

Above Ground Inspection

1. Spacing

2. Planting spot selection and preparation

3. Seedling location on spot

4. Root collar depth and firmness of roots

5. Stem and root position

6. Firmness and leveling of soil Tree Planting

Below Ground Inspection

1. Planting hole orientation

2. Root configuration and orientation

3. Altered root length and damage

4. "Foreign" material, or dry soil, in planting hole

5. Loose soil or air pockets

E.5. TIMING OF INSPECTIONS

Inspections for seedling planting shall be performed promptly as work is performed. Contractor and USFS inspectors shall work together during the designated inspection plots and random tree inspections. Problems that may be discovered will be reviewed together so proper corrective actions may take place.

E.6. GOVERNMENT INSPECTIONS

If the results of the Contractor's inspections cannot be verified by Government inspection, the Government may elect to conduct all subsequent inspections. If the Government does assume the burden of the Contractor's inspections, there will be an inspection charge of $25.00 per thousand seedlings planted deducted from the Contractor's payment.

E.7. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS

Failure to comply with the specifications will require rework of the area at Contractor's expense. If the quality of future work is not improved to meet specifications within two consecutive work days after Contractor's receipt of notice, the Contractor's right to proceed may be terminated. Failure of the Contractor to correct unsatisfactory conditions or continued failure to follow contract specifications will be considered non-compliance with terms of the contract and may be considered grounds for contract termination.

E.8. UNIT ACCEPTANCE

The Contracting Officer may accept a unit based on the results of the Contractor’s inspection, providing observations during the informal visits conforms to the Contractor's inspection results. However, the Government may perform supplementary or complete inspections. Government inspections will conform to the same criteria as those specified for Contractor's inspection. If Government inspections are performed, the Government inspections will take precedence and will be used for acceptance or non-acceptance of the work.

Each payment unit will be inspected separately and inspection results will not be averaged with those of other payment units.

E.9. REINSPECTION CHARGES

Re-inspection charges of $50.00 per acre or for entire acreage of all re-work areas on the second and subsequent inspections will be deducted from any payment due to the Contractor.

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION F

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 CONTRACT TIME

Estimated 2 crews working concurrently

Item

Estimated Start Date Calendar Days

#1 Tree Planting March 1, 2023

25 days Performance start time and end time is dependent on soil mositure conditions, weather and access.

Sunday is generally a non-workday. Planting will be permitted when mutually agreed upon by the Contracting Officer Representative and the Contractor. Workdays for two crews is estimated at 14 days.

Contract start time is estimated for March 1, 2023, Contract stop time is estimated for March 25, 2023.

F.2. SEEDLING PLANTING PROGRESS

Seedling survival and growth is dependent upon proper soil and weather conditions when planted. These conditions will only prevail for a limited length of time; therefore, planting must start promptly after these suitable conditions occur. Work shall start no later than 3 days after the effective date of the Notice to Proceed. Project areas shall be planted in the preference established by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate which assures completion within the indicated contract time. The minimum acceptable rate of progress will be calculated by dividing the total units of work for each bid item by contract time.

The Contractor's right to proceed may be terminated if any of the following conditions exist:

(a) Progress falls behind the minimum acceptable rate of progress by more than 5%.

(b) Planting quality falls below 80 percent

(c) Satisfactory planting quality or progress is not attained within the time specified in a written cure notice. Such notice may be in the form of a Work Order and there shall be no more than 2 working days for corrective action to be completed.

F.3 NOTICE TO PROCEED AND CONTRACT TIME

The Government will issue a Notice to Proceed as soon as weather and ground conditions are favorable for survival of planting stock and tree planting conditions are suitable. The temperature, humidity, soil moisture, plant moisture stress, winds, or a combination of these and other physical conditions have become unsuitable for seedling survival on any area, the Contractor shall move the work force to another work area.

When no other area is available, the Contracting Officer will issue a Suspend Work Order for the bid item and contract time will stop for that item. When conditions are again favorable, the Contracting Officer will issue a Resume Work Order in writing. The Contractor shall resume work within 3 calendar days after the effective work resumption date and be contacted by phone, email or text.

Work will commence in areas free of snow allowing time for the snow covered sites to melt and be accessible.

F. 4. VARIATION IN ESTIMATED QUANITY (FAR 211-18)

If the quanitity of a unit-priced item in this contract is an estimated quantity and the actual quantity of the unit-priced item varies more than 15 percent above or below the estimated quantity, an equitable adjustment in the contract price shall be made upon demand of either party. The equitable adjustment shall be based upon any increase or decrease in the costs due solely to the variation above 115 percent or below 85 percent of the estimated quantity. If the quantity variation is such as to cause an increase in the time necessary for completion, the Contractor may request in writing, an extention of time, to be received by the Contracting Officer within 10 days from the beginning of the delay, or within such further period as may be granted by the Contracting Officer before the date of final settlement of the contract. Upon the receipt of a written request for an extension, the Contracting Officer shall ascertain the facts and make an adjustment for extending the completion date as, in the judgement of the Contracting Officer, is justified.

F. 5. GOVERNMENT DELAY OF WORK (FAR 52.247-17) (APR 84)

(a) If the performance of all or any part of the work of this contract is delayed or interruped (1) by an act of the Contracting Officer in the administration of this contract that is not expressly or impliedly authorized by this contract, or (2) by a failure of the Contracting Officer to act within the time specified in this contract, or within a reasonable time if not specified, an adjustment (excluding profit) shall be made for any increase in the cost of performance of this contract caused by the delay or interruption and the contract shall be modified in writing accordingly. Adjustment shall also be made in the delivery or performance dates and any other contractual term or condition affected by the delay or interruption.