Attachment 1.pdf

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/WORK STATEMENT

Opening Rehabilitation Allegheny National Forest

Marienville Ranger District

SECTION C SPECIFICATIONS

DIVISION 100 – GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110 - Scope of Contract

The intent of the contract is:

Plowing, Ripping or modified (plow or double) disking, regular disking and/or shallow dozing (sod removal) and ripping, seeding, liming, and fertilizing using a cultipacker or pulvi-mulcher on 18.3 acres of ten small existing herbaceous openings. Some ripping, cutting, digging, or plowing of small trees and shrubs, typically less than 6” dbh is anticipated. Some moving of downed trees to the edge of the opening of the perimeter is anticipated.

The completed sites will be expected to grow a dense cover of grasses and legumes that can be easily mowed and managed using standard equipment. Some sites will require the protection and retention of specific trees, shrubs, improvements, trails, oil/gas facilities, pipelines, water courses, moist soils, nesting structures, or fences. The Contractor shall furnish all transportation, supervision, labor, materials and equipment necessary to complete the contract. Access to sites will be reconstructed (if necessary) to their original condition.

In order to have the best chance of establishing adequate ground cover, the contractor shall complete field operations on all of these sites between April 15 and June 1, 2025 (Spring Planting) and/or August 20 and September 30, 2025 (Fall Planting).

120 - Location and Description of Areas

Vicinity and Site-Specific Maps of the openings and access to the project area are attached.

Site #1 - K-718012-A (41.555160 / -79.434318)

• Site #1 is approximately 1.3 acres in size and access is provided from SR4002 Dawson Run Rd. in the Cornplanter Grant Warrant, Harmony Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or inspector.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. All infrastructure will be protected.

Site #2 - K-718012-B (41.552130 / -79.437014)

• Site #2 is approximately 2.8 acres in size and access is provided from SR4002 Dawson Run Rd. in the Cornplanter Grant Warrant, Harmony Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or inspector. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter. The slope is gentle, ranging from 0-20 percent.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. All infrastructure will be protected.

Site #3 - K-718012-C (41.552330 / -79.434254)

• Site #3 is approximately 0.6 acre in size and access is provided from SR4002 Dawson Run Rd. in the Cornplanter Grant Warrant, Harmony Township, Forest County.

This site is a small herbaceous opening. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or inspector. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter. The slope is gentle, ranging from 0-20 percent.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. All infrastructure will be protected.

Site #4 - K-718012-D (41.553042 / -79.433440)

• Site #4 is approximately 4.9 acres in size and access is provided from SR4002 Dawson Run Rd. in the Cornplanter Grant Warrant, Harmony Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter. The slope is gentle, ranging from 0-20 percent. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or inspector.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. All infrastructure will be protected.

Site #5 - K-718012-E (41.555230 / -79.432093)

• Site #5 is approximately 3.5 acres in size and access is provided from SR4002 Dawson Run Rd. in the Cornplanter Grant Warrant, Harmony Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or inspector. All infrastructure will be protected.

Site #6 – DW-607035-A (41.549119 / -79.357893)

• Site #6 is approximately 0.5 acre in size and access is provided from Church Hill Rd., Warrant 5192, Hickory Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or inspector. All infrastructure will be protected.

Site #7 – DW-607035-B (41.548532 / -79.360992)

• Site #7 is approximately 0.3 acre in size and access is provided from Church Hill Rd., Warrant 5192, Hickory Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or inspector. All infrastructure will be protected.

Site #8 – DW-607035-C (41.549594 / -79.360038)

• Site #8 is approximately 1.0 acre in size and access is provided from Church Hill Rd., Warrant 5192, Hickory Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or

Site #9 – DW-607035-D (41.549999 / -79.360246)

• Site #9 is approximately 1.7 acres in size and access is provided from Church Hill Rd., Warrant 5192, Hickory Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or inspector. All infrastructure will be protected.

Site #10 – DW-607035-E (41.549315 / -79.362016)

• Site #10 is approximately 1.7 acres in size and access is provided from Church Hill Rd., Warrant 5192, Hickory Township, Forest County.

This site is an herbaceous opening. The terrain is relatively flat. The opening is marked with pink and black striped flagging along its perimeter.

Contractor will prepare seedbed as indicated, following technical specifications outlined in Division 200. Some trees and shrubs may be designated in the opening and should be avoided, and roots protected as directed by the Contract COR or

130 - Equipment and supplies furnished by the Contractor

131 - The contractor will provide required lime, seed, and fertilizer (See clause(s)

250, 260). The contractor will be required to retain and submit all weigh tickets, bills of sale for seed mixtures, lime, fertilizer, and empty lime, fertilizer and seed bags. Seed samples will be provided to the COR.

132 - The contractor will provide and use all heavy equipment required for grading, leveling, tilling, disking, and culti-packing and for applying all applicable seed, lime, and fertilizer.

140 - Contractor Representative

The contractor or authorized representative will be at the site whenever work is in progress. In the absence of the contractor, the authorized representative will receive instructions from the FS Contracting Officer (CO) or designee or FS Contracting Officer Representative (COR). If the contractor designates a person to act for him/her in their absence, or subcontracts, that person will be knowledgeable with all contract requirements.

150 – Protection of Existing Structures

The Contractor shall be required to protect existing improvements such as roads (including system, oil, gas, minerals, woods or skid trails), pipelines (buried or above ground), hiking trails, power lines (buried or above ground), buildings, gates, fences, plantings, nesting structures, oil/gas equipment, etc., which are located in the project areas. The Contractor shall be required to repair or replace such improvements if damaged as a result of their operations. This includes replacing, re-seeding, and mulching water bars and earthen barricades, pipelines, powerlines, wells, parking areas, access trails, roadside ditches, culverts and signs if disturbed as a result of this contract.

160 – Progression of Work

161 – The Contractor is required to inform the COR of where and when work will commence.

162 – The Contractor is required to inform the COR or Contract Inspector of the completion of seedbed preparation (plowing or tilling) on each site so that site inspections can be made prior to the application of lime, seed, and fertilizer.

If work which was submitted by the Contractor for final inspection does not meet the specifications of this contract, the Contractor will be responsible for correcting any items in order to meet the specifications at no additional cost to the government.

163 – To avoid damaging sensitive or valuable resources the Contractor is required to halt operations and contact the COR or Contract Inspector and have the issue resolved on site if: the site appears inconsistent with instructions or maps, boundaries are questionable, requirements or restrictions are unreasonable, previously unreported water courses or wetlands are found on site, or should soils become too wet or rocky to complete the site safely and without damaging the resource(s).

Division 200 - Technical Specifications

210 – Plowing and Disking – All Sites 211 – Except for a limited number of residual trees and small shrubs, these sites generally have been previously cleared of standing trees. Some sites, especially along the perimeter, have trees and shrubs approximately 6” dbh and less, which will need to be removed in order to keep the original shape of the opening. These trees and shrubs can be cut, ripped, dug, plowed, or moved to the perimeter. Slash height should be less than 6 feet for this material. Other areas may have “islands” of trees/shrubs that will be retained. Generally, avoid and protect any hemlock, fruit trees or residual live or dead trees that occur within the boundary of each opening, unless discussed with the COR.

212 – Rocks must be removed so the site can be plowed and disked for seedbed preparation. Rocks will be removed unless otherwise determined by the COR to be un-removable. Surface stone, roots, and sod will be removed or tilled under to expose mineral soil over the entire site.

220 – Grading and Leveling – All Sites Sites will be graded and leveled to a standard that will allow a 2-wheel drive vehicle to traverse the site without difficulty, under normal moisture conditions.

250 - Seedbed Preparation – All Sites (1-10)

251 – These sites will be plowed, ripped or modified (plow or double) disked to a depth of 6 to 7 inches to turn over existing grass/sod and expose mineral soil.

Each site will be disked a minimum of three times. Allowances in plow/disk depth are anticipated in rocky areas with shallow soils. In preparing a suitable seedbed, sites that prove to have an excess amount of rock may require shallow dozing (sod removal) and ripping of the surface.

After disking/tilling of these sites, the contractor shall notify the COR or CO.

Inspection will commence prior to applying seed, fertilizer and lime.

After disking, the lime and fertilizer will be applied, and the site will be disked again. Prepared soil will be seeded within 3-5 days after soil discing, a cultipacker/pulvi-mulcher will be used on the entire site.

252 – Any water bars or dirt or stump mounds removed for access must be rebuilt and reseeded and mulched. Parking areas will be seeded and rehabilitated if needed.

253 - Questionable areas will be resolved on the ground between the Contractor Officer Representative (COR) and the Contractor.

260 – Seeding

Sites must be seeded, fertilized and limed and a cultipacker/pulvi-mulcher used after disking is completed. To delay this work due to weather or other factors, prior agreement with the COR or Contract Inspector is required. The following seed and soil amendments are to be applied:

Seed:

Cover crop If Spring planting:

Oats (clean and tested, certified, pure live) (Avena sativa) 2 bushels (approx. 64 lbs/acre) (or)

If Fall planting:

Winter Wheat (clean and tested, certified, pure live) (Triticum aestivum) 2 bushels (approx. 120lbs/acre)

Legume

Medium red clover (Trifolium pratense) 7 lbs/acre Ladino (white) clover (Trifolium repens) 7 lbs/acre

Site # Red Clover (pounds total)

White Clover (pounds total)

Oats (pounds total)

Winter Wheat (pounds total)

1 9 9 83 156 2 20 20 179 336 3 4 4 38 72 4 34 34 314 588 5 24 24 224 420 6 3 3 32 60 7 2 2 19 36 8 7 7 64 120 9 12 12 109 204 10 12 12 109 204

Lime: – (Sites 1-10) – bulk agricultural lime or bagged pulverized or pelletized lime. All lime used will have a calcium carbonate equivalent of between 94-98%, Based on soil test results, the following lime applications will be applied to the following Sites:

Site #1 – 5.0 tons/acre = 6.5 tons total Site #2 – 3.5 tons/acre = 9.8 tons total Site #3 – 3.5 tons/acre = 2.1 tons total Site #4 – 3.5 tons/acre = 17.1 tons total Site #5 – 4.0 tons/acre = 14 tons total Site #6 – 5.0 tons/acre = 2.5 tons total Site #7 – 5.5 tons/acre = 1.7 tons total Site #8 – 3.5 tons/acre = 3.5 tons total Site #9 – 4.5 tons/acre = 7.6 tons total Site #10 – 5.5 tons/acre = 9.3 tons total

Fertilizer: - (Sites 1-10) – 6-24-24 (N-P-K) ratio/blend of fertilizer will be used.

Based on soil test results and assuming the standard packaging of fertilizer is sold in 50-pound bags, the following fertilizer application rates will be adhered to at the following Sites:

Site #1 – 11 bags (50-pound bags) = 550 pounds total Site #2 – 23 bags (50-pound bags) = 1,150 pounds total

Site #3 – 7 bags (50-pound bags) = 350 pounds total Site #4 – 53 bags (50-pound bags) = 2,650 pounds total Site #5 – 29 bags (50-pound bags) = 1,450 pounds total Site #6 – 6 bags (50-pound bags) = 300 pounds total Site #7 – 3 bags (50-pound bags) = 150 pounds total Site #8 – 12 bags (50-pound bags) = 600 pounds total Site #9 – 20 bags (50-pound bags) = 1,000 pounds total Site #10 – 18 bags (50-pound bags) = 900 pounds total

270 - Cultural Resource Avoidance

Cultural Resource Surveys have been conducted for this project area. If during the execution of this contract the operator unearths a site, work must cease in the general area and the Contract Inspector or COR notified immediately.

280 - Special Requirements

For Sites 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 a heritage professional shall be present during and immediately after tilling operations.

Sites will not be operated during wet weather conditions. Access to sites will be established by Contract COR or Inspector.

The contractor will be required to retain and submit all weigh tickets, bills of sale for seed mixtures, lime, fertilizer, and empty lime, fertilizer and seed bags. Seed samples for the sites will be supplied by the contractor.

Contractor is responsible for calling PA 1-Call (811) and adhering to those procedures before work begins at a site.

300 - Safety

It is recommended that the successful Contractor utilize appropriate personal protective safety equipment/clothing per OSHA regulations, which may include, but is not limited to, a hard hat, leg protection, ear protection, eye protection, and hand protection while working in the project area.

310 – Equipment Clean-up

Contractor shall ensure that prior to moving any equipment to a work site, between work sites, and from the Allegheny National Forest, that all dozing/plowing/seeding equipment, such as but not limited to: dozers, tractors, plows, discs, mulchers, and shovels, are free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Off-road equipment used for the transport of material, such as ATV’s and trailers, shall also be free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Equipment shall be considered free of soil, seeds and other such debris when a visual inspection by a FS representative does not disclose such material. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection of tools is not required. Cleaning of equipment on-site may entail brushing or hosing off with compressed air. The use of water and/or detergents or other cleaning agents are not to be used unless they are used at a car wash or other facility equipped for water catchment and treatment. Equipment is not to be cleaned in streams, ditches or other waterways.

320 - Time of Performance

In order to have the best chance of establishing adequate ground cover, the contractor shall complete field operations on all these sites between April 15 and June 1, 2025 (Spring Planting) and/or August 20 and September 30, 2025 (Fall Planting).