Attachment 1.pdf

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

DIVISION 100 - GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110 - DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials (except for government-furnished property identified in clause 140), supervision, transportation, equipment, supplies, and perform all work necessary for crop tree release in accordance with the specifications, provisions, and clauses of this solicitation and any resultant contract.

This work is necessary to release preferred trees from competing trees and vines.

The preferred trees are, for the most part, mast (food for wildlife such as acorns, nuts, and other edible seeds) producing and may also be valuable timber species. This project will allow the crop trees to grow faster which will allow them to produce mast sooner and increase wood growth for timber production.

120 - LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

Locactions throughout the Mononghaela National Forest.

130 - BOUNDARIES

Boundaries of all areas are delineated by pink paint on the border trees.

140 - GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

None.

DIVISION 200 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210 - CROP TREE SELECTION

The Contractor shall select crop trees and release them from unwanted competition. Crop trees are those trees which meet the following characteristics:

A. Crop trees should be in the dominant or co-dominant crown classes.

Trees in the intermediate crown class may be selected only if there are no other acceptable crop trees nearby. No suppressed trees will be selected as crop trees.

B. Crop trees should be relatively straight and have a healthy crown. The crown should be at least 1/4 of the total height of the tree with no dead branches in the upper crown. There should be no visible evidence of open wounds on the main stem or other damage from insects or disease.

C. Crop trees shall be single stemmed, ground origin double stemmed, or low origin multiple stemmed. Crop trees should have no major forks in the lower 16 feet of the stem.

D. The following list shall govern the priority for selection of crop trees:

Preferred and Acceptable Species List

Preferred Acceptable

Butternut Cucumbertree Red Oak Red Maple Black Cherry Basswood White Oak Chestnut Oak Sugar Maple Yellow-poplar

E. Crop trees shall be selected no closer than 2 feet between stems. If a sprout origin crop tree is selected, no more than two stems from the clump may be left.

F. The number of crop trees selected will vary depending on the quality of the trees and on the number of trees that can be released according to the contract specifications described herein. The spacing between the crop trees should be approximately 25 feet, this spacing may increase or decrease depending on the age of the stand and size of trees.

220 - TREATMENT

Release of crop trees shall be accomplished by felling trees that are in crown competition with the selected crop trees.

221 - Felling shall consist of completely severing the main stem. The main stem of the felled trees must lie within 6 feet of the ground.

222 - Crop trees shall be released from competing crowns by treating as prescribed in this contract any tree that invades the "crown space" of a crop tree. (See Exhibit 1 for a diagram explaining crown space.) Where crop trees are selected in close proximity, a three-sided release may be done if the two crop tree crowns touch. Any other crop tree requires a four-sided release. No less than three sides will be released on any crop tree without prior approval of the designated Forest Service Representative.

223 - Method of treatment of multiple origin stems is dependent upon species and will be discussed with the Contractor throughout the progress of the work.

224 - In units where vines are presenat, all grape vines and camphor vines will be severed.

This includes vines in the crowns and around the stems of all trees regardless if a crop tree is nearby. Vines will be completely severed at approxematly waist height. This treatment may be done in conjuction with crop tree release operations or as a separate treatment.

230 - OPERATIONS

Cut slash shall be removed from trails, roads, and road clearings as specified by the COR.

231 - The Contractor shall exercise care and caution in all operations to prevent damage to all trees left untreated.

232 - Any trash resulting from the Contractor's operations must be removed from the area and properly disposed of.

233 - The Contractor shall repair and replace, without any additional cost to the Govern-ment, any erosion control devices, such as water bars and dips, that were damaged or destroyed during the operation of this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining roads used to access the project areas and for repairing any damage resulting from the operation of this contract.

234 - The Contractor shall not block any roads, trails, or any other improvements in the area during the performance of this contract. The Contractor shall not in any way hinder the progress of any Timber Sale contract in these areas.

235 - No trees will be cut within 25 feet of stream channels

240 - SALVAGE

The restricted removal of salvageable materials shall be permitted on a case by case basis and at the discretion of the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).

250 - WORK AREA

Once work has begun on a unit it shall be completed before moving to another unit unless permission is granted to proceed in a different manner by the Contracting Officer (CO). The Contractor will notify the CO before beginning any work.

270 - NATIONAL FOREST BOUNDARY TREES

Any trees marked with red paint designating the boundary of National Forest land such as survey monuments, bearing trees, etc. are not to be damaged or destroyed during the operations of this contract. Any accidental damage or destruction of boundary trees should be reported to the CO immediately. The Contractor will be solely responsible for damages that occur to the items described above.

DIVISION 400 - MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

410 - METHOD OF MEASUREMENT

The acreage of the project areas was estimated by Global Positioning System equipment, topographic maps, and aerial photographs. The acreages are determined to be correct for the purposes of this contract.

420 - PAYMENT

Payment will be based upon the samples taken by the Inspector. For full payment the work must be satisfactory on 90% of the sample trees taken in each of the following categories:

1. Crop tree selection

2. Crop tree release

3. Proper felling techniques

4. Proper vine severing techniques

Payment may be reduced if work is less than 90% satisfactory in any category.

The actual percent below 90% will be deducted from the bid price. Deficiencies will be additive. For example:

CONTRACT SAMPLE %

CATEGORY BASE % ACCEPTABLE % DEDUCTION

Crop Tree Selection 90 89 1 Crop Tree Release 90 80 10 Total Deduction = 11% Payment = Bid Price X (100% - Total Deduction) Payment = Bid Price X 89%

Payment will made under this contract after a representative of the USDA-FOREST SERVICE has inspected the project areas, approved the work performed and accepted the areas as complete. Partial payment for an area may be made if 1) the Contractor requests such payment, 2) the area meets the guidelines as described above, and 3) two or more units have been completed. If no partial payments are requested then the payment will be made in one lump sum after the final inspection and approval as described above.