ATTACHMENT 1 - 12444123R0008 SOW.pdf

12444123R0008

ATTACHMENT 1 SOW

PERFORMANCE STATEMENT OF WORK

The contractor will provide any and all labor, equipment, supplies, services, permits and license necessary to perform wildlife, recreational, office building environment, and various other support services not associated with fire fighting to include but not limited to disking, mowing, invasive plant treatments (e.g., mastication and herbicides), clearing (i.e., reclaiming openings by dozer or pushing/removing vegetation), day-lighting (removing limbs and/or vegetation from opening edges or along roads to allow sunlight to ground), fertilizing/liming, planting, gate installation, wildlife disking, and equipment rental activities to be covered under a fixed-price performance based BPA Call. This work will be performed on various Forest Service locations throughout the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, Savannah River Site in South Carolina and the National Forests in North Carolina. Individual tasks to be performed will be assigned by individual against the BPA Calls and will contain detailed specifications. Awardees will not be required to cover all locations nor will the by required to cover all projects; Awardees will be asked to complete ATTACHMENT 1 – Schedule of Items and annotate which areas and types of work they are able to complete. Awardees will not be required to submit pricing on each BPA Call.

NOTE: These general descriptions of work were written by technical individuals from different sections of the Forest Service. While “wildlife” is discussed throughout this document, this BPA may be used for other areas of the Forest Service in accordance with the Statement of Work/Specifications/Performance Work Statement and common industrial practices. This is not an all inclusive list (see Section 1.26 of this document).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

Disking, Mowing, Mastication, Herbicide Treatments, Clearing, Daylighting, Fertilizing/Liming, Planting, and Gate Installation.

1.1 - Disking Requirements:

- Disking shall consist of disking or cutting into the soil up to 6” below the surface of the ground.

Disking would include the cutting or chopping of vegetation (e.g., grasses and woody plant growth) three inches diameter or less with the disking equipment within the wildlife openings, along the system roads, on and along the linear wildlife strip (LWS), or on various forest locations.

All debris or slash (i.e., windfall trees or branches) larger than three inches in diameter within the disking limits shall be removed. Slash may be scattered outside of the disking limits. No slash shall be placed in roads, LWS, wildlife openings, streams or ditches. All woody material larger than one inch in diameter or two feet in length and any sharp object shall be removed from the travel ways (e.g., roads, LWS, and wildlife openings).

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.2 - Mowing Requirements:

- Mowing shall consist of cutting grass and woody plant growth three inches diameter or less, four inches above the ground either within the wildlife openings, along the system roads, or on and along the LWS.

Maximum mowing height shall be four inches above the ground or standing water.

All debris or slash (i.e., windfall trees or branches) larger than three inches in diameter within the mowing limits shall be removed. Slash may be scattered outside of the mowing limits. No slash shall be placed in roads, LWS, wildlife openings, streams or ditches. All woody material larger than one inch in diameter or two feet in length and any sharp object shall be removed from the travel ways (e.g., roads, LWS and wildlife openings).

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.3 - Mastication Requirements:

- Mastication shall consist of cutting, chopping and mulching all vegetation 6” or less in diameter down to ground surface level. This activity would be occurring on LWS, wildlife openings and within some forested stands for wildlife habitat improvement by reducing the abundance of woody stems within these areas. All mastication activities would occur above the surface of the ground, but due to land contours (e.g., unevenness) an occasional bounce may occur, which would result in the scratch of the surface.

All debris or slash (i.e., windfall trees or branches) larger than three inches in diameter within the mastication limits shall be removed. Slash may be scattered outside of the working limits. No slash shall be placed in roads, wildlife openings, streams or ditches. All woody material larger than one inch in diameter or two feet in length and any sharp object shall be removed from the travel ways (e.g., roads and wildlife openings).

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.4 - Herbicide Treatment Requirements:

- Herbicide treatments shall consist of spraying the targeted undesired vegetative species (i.e., non-native invasive species or unwanted native invasive (sweetgum)), following current Forest Service specifications and requirements for treatment of vegetative species, within the wildlife openings, along the system roads, on and along the LWS and within some forested stands for wildlife habitat improvement. All herbicide activities would occur above the surface of the ground.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s

1.5 - Clearing Requirements:

- Clearing activities shall consist of reclaiming openings by dozer and pushing or removing woody vegetation from the wildlife openings in order that normal planting practices could resume. Clearing activities could include pushing root-balls out of the area so the ground would be prepared for later disking and planting.

All debris or slash (i.e., windfall trees or branches) larger than three inches in diameter within the clearing limits shall be removed. Slash may be pushed outside of the clearing limits. No slash shall be placed in roads, wildlife openings, streams or ditches. All woody material larger than one inch in diameter or two feet in length and any sharp object shall be removed from the travel ways (e.g., roads and wildlife openings).

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.6 – Day-lighting Requirements:

- Day-lighting activities shall consist of reclaiming designated LWS by dozer, articulating side-arm boom mower, and chainsaw by pushing and removing woody vegetation from the LWS in order that normal planting practices could resume. Day-lighting activities could include pushing root-balls out of the area so the ground would be prepared for later disking and planting.

All debris or slash (i.e., windfall trees or branches) larger than three inches in diameter within the LWS limits shall be removed. Slash may be pushed outside of the LWS limits. No slash shall be placed in roads, wildlife openings, streams or ditches. All woody material larger than one inch in diameter or two feet in length and any sharp object shall be removed from the travel ways (e.g., roads and wildlife openings).

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.7 – Fertilizing/Liming Requirements:

- Fertilizing/Liming shall consist of broadcasting or spreading fertilizers or lime into the surface of the ground. Fertilizing would be accomplished on wildlife openings and LWS.

All debris or slash (i.e., windfall trees or branches) larger than three inches in diameter within the fertilizing limits shall be removed. Slash may be scattered outside of the fertilizing limits. No slash shall be placed in roads, wildlife openings, streams or ditches. All woody material larger than one inch in diameter or two feet in length and any sharp object shall be removed from the travel ways (e.g., roads and wildlife openings).

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s

1.8 - Planting Requirements:

- Planting shall consist of disking (breaking the ground), seeding (broadcasting) and covering seed (second disking) or by using a grain drill. All planting activities would be accomplished within 8” of the surface of the ground. Planting would be accomplished on wildlife openings and LWS.

All debris or slash (i.e., windfall trees or branches) larger than three inches in diameter within the planting limits shall be removed. Slash may be scattered outside of the planting limits. No slash shall be placed in roads, wildlife openings, streams or ditches. All woody material larger than one inch in diameter or two feet in length and any sharp object shall be removed from the travel ways (e.g., roads and wildlife openings).

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.9 – Gate Installation Requirements:

- All gates and associated signs for each gate will be provided and locations to install gates will be well marked (maps provided). Contractor will install each gate in a designated location and the activities will include digging of the gate post holes, placing/positioning of the gate posts (using concrete mix and leveling), hanging the gate on the posts (leveling), and attach all provided reflective safety signs to gate.

1.10 – Wildland Disking Requirements:

- Wildland Disking shall consist of disking, cutting or chopping into the soil up to 6” below the surface of the ground and through roots, sticks, rocks and other wildland debris. This type of disking would take place in wildland or woodland settings. This type disking would require the use of a heavier disk (e.g., a wildland disk) than would be used in more typical disking and cultivating practices. Disking would result in 8’ wide lanes across pre-selected stands (i.e., wildland, woodland and/or open stands) to increase edge habitat and improve the landscape’s overall wildlife habitat. All heavy disking treatments would be conducted on flatter, gently rolling or slopes less than 5%. The machine used to pull this heavy disk would be a heavier tractor or bulldozer with a heavier frame and more horse-power necessary to handle and pull this type of disk through these types of areas. A tired tractor may need to be equipped with the heavier layered wildland tires to protect against punctures from stubs, stumps and other sharp edges.

All woody material larger than eight inches in diameter and two feet in length and any larger sharp objects (e.g., larger rocks) shall be avoided while constructing these cross-country, wildland strips.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.11 – Equipment Rental:

Equipment requirements: Equipment furnished shall be a wheel tractor with operator with a minimum engine horsepower of 55, bush hog > or = to 8 ft. cutting width, disk harrow with a minimum of 16 disk, a spin spreader with a minimum of 400 lb. capacity, > or = to 250-gallon sprayer. All equipment furnished shall be in satisfactory operating condition and capable of producing at the manufactures rated horsepower. If a second wheel tractor is used with the spin spreader or sprayer, it may be less than 55 horsepower, but still capable of handling the attached equipment.

1.12 WILDLIFE TREE CREATION

-The purpose of this project is to create structures suitable for use by cavity nesting wildlife or to provide down woody material for wildlife or fish habitat improvements. Standing trees will be treated in a variety of methods to create live and dead wildlife trees or snags, or by creating coarse or large woody material by falling standing trees. Contractor shall select trees according to BPA Call specifications.

Tree inoculation using dowels containing stem decay requires Contractor to store, handle and use the provided inoculate dowels according to specifications.

Cavity Creation treatments performed to the tree bole will accommodate the invasion of heart-rot fungus and treatments shall be distributed evenly throughout the project area.

The Contractor may use a choice of tools (chainsaw, auger, or other hand tools) unless otherwise specified in BPA Call.

Documentation and digital mapping using approved software shall be submitted to designated COR for inspection and approval.

Each BPA Call will list specifics including when nest structure surveys are required, treatment heights, DBH ranges, live limb retention or removal, number of inoculated dowels to use, method of cavity creation, and/or combinations of treatments, and specific required documentation.

1.13 Herbicide Application with Skidder.

Performing site preparation and midstory control by means of mechanical ground broadcast herbicide applications. Applications will be made using articulated rubber-tired skidder with spray tank. Detailed specifications will be issued with each BPA Call.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.14 Mechanical Thinning

Stands will be reduced to 30 to 60 Basal Area (BA). All Stems higher than 6 feet tall and greater than 1 inch in diameter but less than or equal to 8 inches in DBH will be cut unless these stems are needed to meet the required basal area for the stand. Detailed specifications will be issued with each BPA Call.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

Road signs, culverts, culvert markers, gates, and other appurtenances damaged by the contractor’s operations shall be repaired by the contractor at his/her expense.

1.15 Mastication/Chipping of Timber Stands

This will be conducted to reduce adverse wildfire effects, limit rate of spread, and/or to establish defensible areas for use during fire suppression activities. Flammable material shall be masticated or chipped and dispersed on site, including live and dead fuels. Treatments required in this item may include mastication/chipping standing trees, shrubs and small vegetation, dead and down trees, and snags.

Mastication/chipping may occur in whole or portions of stands, along ridge lines, between separate stand and vegetative types, and on or adjacent to private property. The primary type of masticator to be used on these BPA Calls will be the vertical shaft, or rotary disc (further referred to as rotary), masticator and needs to be boom-mounted. What distinguishes a masticator as rotary is a vertical drive shaft that is attached to a bar or disk; this bar or disk contains the cutting apparatus which can be fixed or free-swinging teeth or blades. Other specifications might include rubber tracked, rubber wheeled, or metal tracked.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

1.16 Sheering/ Raking

All material designated to be sheared shall be sheared off, at or within, six (6) inches of ground level.

Shearing shall not be below ground level. Trees must be sheared off rather than pushed over and/or uprooted.

Shearing

The shear tractor will be equipped with a V-blade. This blade will be kept sharp at all times. The Government may suspend the Contractor's shearing operations if the cutting edge is not maintained. The cutting edges of the V-blade must be serrated to achieve a sawing and shearing action. These equipment requirements are the minimum needed as specified to properly shear the woody material on the sites. The slopes contain sandy topsoil which can be damaged by equipment movement. Erosion must be kept to a minimum in order to accomplish the needed results on the ground.

Raking

The raking operation must be performed with tractor(s) equipped with a raking blade that will permit raking without unnecessary movement of soil. The functioning part of the teeth on the rake should be a minimum of 14 inches long with a minimum of 12 inches and maximum of 18 inches between teeth.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

1.17 Drum Chopping

Drum chopping is defined as an area being completely covered using a single drum brush cutter. The total working weight of the brush cutter drum shall not be less than 2000 pounds per linear foot when completely filled with water. Minimum drum length permitted will be 8 feet. All trees up to 8 inches in diameter at a point measured 4 1/2 feet above the ground must be chopped to lay close to the ground.

Chopping will not be permitted when soil moisture conditions cause chopper blades to clog or fill with dirt or mud. At least 5 inches of the chopper blades must be available for cutting. The COR will determine suitable soil moisture conditions for chopping operation. Certain trees or groups of trees may be designated by the COR to be left. These trees or groups of trees will be marked with ribbon or paint. A five-foot buffer will be left unchopped adjacent to all trees or clumps of trees designated to leave.

Contractor will scatter with dozer blade all logging slash and debris located on log landings or debris piles without pushing off topsoil. The chopper drum shall be completely filled with water except when the terrain limits efficient operation. Any reduction of water in the drums shall be approved by the COR at the job site. The chopper blades must be sharpened as often as needed for work to conform to BPA Call specifications.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

1.18 Piling

Contractor shall fall and completely sever from the stump, trees and vegetation to accomplish site preparation. All trees greater than 2 ft in height are to be treated unless otherwise indicated by the COR.

No trees larger than 8 inches dbh shall be cut unless designated by the COR or inspector. On areas where longleaf, shortleaf, and loblolly pine reserve trees are present they are not to be cut or damaged. Trees that are felled will be cut as close to the ground as practical, but not higher than 6 inches from ground level on the uphill side of the trees. Trees will be cut horizontal to the ground and not at an angle that will be a hazard to humans or equipment from puncture. Trees felled will not be left lodged or leaning against other vegetation, or higher than 2 feet above ground. This may require cut trees to be bucked up into shorter segments.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

1.19 Release

In pine or pine stands crop trees are defined as: Longleaf Pine, Shortleaf Pine, Loblolly Pine, and Slash Pine in order of priority. All crop trees shall be free of competition within a specified radius around each crop tree. If any portion of a competing plant falls within the specified radius, then the entire plant shall be treated. Spacing for desired crop trees will range from 8x8 to 12x12. Release tree spacing and radius will be specified on task order or by COR on site. Trees that are felled will be cut as close to the ground as practical, but not higher than 6 inches from ground level on the uphill side of the trees. Trees will be cut horizontal to the ground and not at an angle that will be a hazard to humans or equipment from puncture. Trees felled will not be left lodged or leaning against other vegetation, or higher than 2 feet above ground. This may require cut trees to be bucked up into shorter segments.

Unless approved by the COR, all work shall be completed on each specific site (e.g., wildlife opening and associated roads/LWS), before moving to the next location.

1.20 UNDERSTORY REMOVAL

All Stems higher than 5 feet tall and less than 8 inches in DBH will be cut unless these stems are needed to meet the required basal area for the stand. Basal Area (BA) requirements and species priority for residual trees will be given. Within a Stream Zones, retain at least 50 BA. A higher BA can be left in the residual stand if the prescribed BA for the Project Area is higher than 50 BA. Stream Zones will be identified on a map. Emphasize the more vigorous and larger trees in the residual stand. Trees to be removed from the stand will be felled. Trees will be cut as close to the ground as practical; but no higher than eight (6) inches from ground level on the uphill side of the tree. Trees will be cut horizontal to the ground and not at an angle that will be a hazard to humans or equipment from puncture. Trees that are cut will not be left hanging or leaning. Logging slash within 100 feet of State highway will either be lopped within 2 feet of the ground and scattered or would be dragged out of this zone. Other roads may have slash requirements which will be described on each task order. The measurement will start from the edge of the clearing limits. Broken and leaning trees within these zones will be cut. All debris from these activities will be removed from the clearing limits along any State, county, or forest service road. Take sufficient precautions to prevent pollution of streams, lakes and reservoirs by fuels, oils, other chemicals, silt or other harmful materials. Keep felled trees and vegetation from concentrating around residual trees.

In drainages with defined channels or perennial streams, no more than 5 trees per chain can be felled into the stream channel. All gas and oil cans or other debris/trash generated by the contractor during this contract will be removed from Forest Service land as work progresses.

Roads, fire lines, and trails identified by the COR and/or contract maps shall be kept free of logs, slash and debris. Any road or trail, used by the contractor, which is damaged by his operations, shall be repaired at the contractor’s expense.

Flaggers and advanced signing will be required to direct or stop traffic when there is danger of a tree falling onto the road travel way while being felled.

Signing for traffic control shall conform to the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices” (MUTCD), Part VI- Traffic Controls for Street and Highway Construction, Maintenance, Utility and Emergency Operations”, latest edition. (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov).

1.21 PRECOMMERCIAL THINNING

Contractor shall sever from the stump all competing trees and vegetation as is necessary to thin existing seedling/sapling stands. The contractor will reduce the density of the crop trees to a spacing specified.

Spacing will be determined by site conditions and the COR. All crop trees shall be free of competition http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ within a specified radius around the crown. If any portion of a competing plant falls within the specified radius, then the entire plant shall be treated.

1.22 MIDSTORY REMOVAL

Contractor shall sever from the stump all competing trees and vegetation as is necessary to thin existing stands. Residual trees will be left at a 30 – 60 BA within the treatment area as designated by the COR.

Leave tree list: ALL TREES WILL BE DESIGNATED. Leave 2-5 live den trees per acre on average if available. These trees will be a part of the BA estimates. Trees will be cut as close to the ground as practical; but no higher than eight (6) inches from ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

1.23 WOODLAND RESTORATION

Stands will be reduced to 30 to 60 Basal Area (BA). All stems above 5 feet in height will be used in determining BA. Snags and areas designated as a No Cut Zone will not contribute to the overall BA. The Residual BA will be identified. Within a Stream Zones, Retain at least 50 BA. A higher BA can be left in the residual stand if the prescribed BA for the Project Area is higher than 50 BA. Stream Zones will be identified on a map. In drainages with defined channels or perennial streams, no more than 5 trees per chain can be felled into the stream channel. Emphasize fire tolerant tree species such as but not limited to, pine; the larger size classes; and the more vigorous trees in the residual stand. Each BPA Call will have a prioritized list of tree species to be left in the residual stand for each area.

1.24 SELECTIVE SLASHING/THINNING

Selective Slashing/Thinning consists of falling standing vegetation as specified in each task order. This activity will be done primarily by mechanical means unless the slopes exceed 35%. Units that have areas where the slope exceeds 35% may be required to be felled by hand.

1.25 MECHANICAL PILING OF SLASH AND/OR MERCHANTABLE MATERIAL

This task includes mechanical skidding of slash and/or merchantable material into windrows or piles at selected locations. Specific equipment requirements and percentage of slash/merchantable material to be skidded and piled may be specified.

1.26 – ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

This is not an all-inclusive list. Work may be performed in wildlife environments, recreational environments, roadside locations, in and around buildings both in remote and urban locations, and various other locations. Each BPA Call will have specifications, a Statement of Work, or a Statement of Objective associated with the Call; these documents will outline specifics for each Call that must be followed. Failure to respond to any or all BPA Call will not penalize you for future BPA Calls; if the requirement on the specific BPA Call does not match with your company’s type of work, do not respond to the Request for Quote/Request for Proposal.