Attachment 1 Grapple Piling Rogers SOW.pdf

Rogers Cow Camp 2024 Grapple Pile Service Contract Plumas National Forest

Page 1 of 9 Feather River Ranger District

Revised 03.04.2024

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The purpose of this contract is to secure services for fuels reduction work in critical Wildland Urban Interface areas throughout the Plumas National Forest consisting of 9 units totaling 87.3 acres. Treatment types include:

1. Mechanical cutting and grapple piling.

2. Hand cutting and piling.

Units may require a mixture of treatment types. Slopes greater than 35% and inoperable areas may require manual treatment. Treatments within Control Areas shall be agreed upon and approved by the COR and resource specialists prior to operations.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

**Reference Exhibit E for leave and cut tree requirements. **

The following requirements are pursuant to all grapple and hand piling activities:

1. 60% of each pile and/or windrow shall be covered with 7 mil plastic at the top of the pile where it is visible and covered with slash to keep it in place. Windrow plastic shall be placed on either side of the windrow where it is visible and secured in place with slash.

2. Piles shall be constructed a minimum of 15 feet of control areas, standing snags, down logs and stumps and private property.

3. No piles shall be constructed within 20 feet of overhead and/or buried power lines.

4. In grapple pile units, stack boles parallel such that they are compact.

5. Windrows shall be placed parallel to the slope.

6. When using Brace Tree piles on steep slopes, utilize live conifers from 10 to 14 inches DBH as brace trees for pile construction. Do not use snags. (See Exhibit D)

7. Reference Exhibits A-D for pile and windrow drawings.

Mandatory Item 1: Cut and Grapple Pile < 6” DBH

Units: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Grapple pile <6”:

Pile slash into piles greater than or equal to 12’ in height and 12’ in width and/or wind row piles greater to or equal to 40' in length, 12’ in height, and 12’ in width. (See Exhibit A)

1. No mechanical treatments on slopes greater than 35% except for short pitches no greater than 100 feet up to 45% slope.

2. Trees cut within drainage must be pulled out and away, and piled perpendicular to the drainage.

3. Piles may be dispersed, or where feasible to consolidate material, placed into decks as shown in Exhibit

A.

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Mandatory Item 2: Hand Cut and Pile < 12” DBH:

Unit: 3

Hand Cutting:

1. Trees shall be directionally felled into treatment units, and away from identified control areas, drainages, and improvements such as, but not limited to fences, gates, signs, or water tanks.

2. Stumps shall be less than 6 inches in height and shall be cut flat or with a minimal angle of 20% or less to avoid creating a sharp stump. Stumps heights may be higher on slopes of 35% or more.

Hand Piling:

1. Hand pile and/or windrow all slash created from the hand thinning activities. Windrows should be used whenever possible to consolidate individual hand piles. Placing windrows parallel to the slope.

2. Pile slash into piles greater than or equal to 7 feet in height and/or wind rows less than or equal to 40 feet in length, greater than or equal to7 feet in height. Piles shall be piled tall, steep, and compact.

Leaving at least 20 feet between piles. (See Exhibits B and Exhibit C)

3. Piles and/or windrows shall be compact with smaller material such as needles and branches in the bottom and center, and larger material such as boles on top to compress lighter fuels. Boles will be oriented parallel to the slope to prevent rollout during burning. Boles shall be stacked parallel to each other (no teepees).

SECTION III – CONTROL OF WORK

The Contractor agrees to conduct its operations under this contract and other related business activities in compliance with

Federal, State, and local statutes, standards, orders, permits and other regulations.

The Contractor shall meet all State and local environmental quality laws applicable to National Forest system lands.

Work may be done any time during the term of the contract, except under the following conditions:

(1) Biodigradable plant-based chainsaw bar oil is required for Unit 2, and shall be approved by COR and/or GTM prior to commencing work.

(2) When conditions are such that operations shall be restricted or ceased due to increased fire risk.

(3) When soil moisture conditions create excessive risk of damage to the soil,

(4) When snow depth creates a situation where requirements cannot be met and/or work cannot be inspected, as determined by the COR.

(5) The government reserves the right to prioritize the order in which Units are treated.

(6) If any cultural or archeological sites are discovered during operations of this contract, work will be suspended in the immediate vicinity of the site until a reconnaissance survey is completed by the Forest Archeologist.

Areas excluded from treatment shall be deleted from the contract.

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SECTION IV – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

For All Work Items:

At any point during the project, the Contractor and/or Project Manager may request (documented through email, text, or hand-written request) an in the field consultation with the Forest Service to inspect work progress, review contract specifications, or clarify issues. The Forest Service shall respond to Contractor’s request within 5 working days, excluding weekends and federal holidays.

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Government Inspection Procedures - The COR, or a designated inspector (GTM), will make periodic inspections while work is in progress, usually daily at first, as needed to assure work is proceeding satisfactorily. The Contractor shall notify the COR when units are started, when problems are encountered and when contract work needs government oversight.

1. Each unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Unit will not be averaged with other units for acceptance or payment.

2. When units are completed and ready for government inspection, Contractor’s designated Project manager shall request unit inspection in writing, prior to moving out of the general area.

3. The COR, or designated inspector, will determine compliance with contract specifications through informal visual inspections. In the event visual inspection indicates work to be in non-compliance with specifications, prompt corrective action and/or rework shall be required.

Government Inspection Procedures – Formal (Plots)

1. In the event visual inspection indicates work and / or rework to be in non-compliance with contract specifications, a series of verification plots shall be installed by the Government to determine compliance with specifications and percent of satisfactory work for treatment of each unit not meeting specification as observed with visual inspection.

2. Government verification plots will consist of a series of 1/20th acre fixed area plots and variable radius plots

(26.3’ radius) along transects to record whether density, basal area, best tree selection, and other requirements are being met and to what extent. Verification plots for machine piling will be ½ acre (104’ radius) and random.

3. Plots and grid will be distributed so that a representative sample is obtained.

4. The COR or designated inspector will mark the center of each plot on the ground using flagging, stakes, or pin flags. Additional flagging will be hung near the plot center so that it may be seen from a distance. The inspector will include the plot number, their initials and date on the flagging.

5. Plots will be numbered to correlate with the inspection form and transects on a unit map.

6. The minimum number of verification plots, per treatment unit, shall be as follows:

Unit Acreage Minimum No. of Plots

1 – 9 1 plot per 2 acres

10 – 29 10 plots

7. Determination of acceptability of the work performed will be based on Government verification inspections and will be considered conclusive.

8. At each plot, the Government will examine the plot area and record findings on the items listed below:

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a. Plot number

b. Number of trees to be left on plot.

c. Number of trees left on plot.

d. Number of satisfactory trees.

e. Number of deficient trees.

f. Number of excess trees.

i. Stumps containing live limbs which are not in accordance with specifications herein will be counted as excess trees.

ii. Cut trees which are still attached at the stump will be counted as excess trees

iii. Trees meeting cut specifications will be counted as excess trees

iv. Trees in excess of trees to be left will be counted as excess

g. At each piling plot, the Government will examine the plot area and record findings on the items listed below:

i. Plot number

ii. Number of satisfactory pile quadrants

iii. Number of plots x 4.

9. Work quality will be calculated on the form as follows:

Thinning specifications:

No. Trees Deficient + No. Excess Trees

-------------------------------------------------- = % Unsatisfactory work

No. Trees to be left

100% – % Unsatisfactory work = % Work Quality

Grapple and hand piles:

No. of satisfactory quadrants

------------------------------------------------ X 100 = % slash pile quality

No. of inspected quandrants x 4

100% – % Unsatisfactory work = % Work Quality

Unsatisfactory Cutting

1. If the work quality falls below 85 percent, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor, in writing, and order him to improve the quality of subsequent tree cutting. If the quality of subsequent tree cutting is not raised above the 85 percent minimum acceptable standard within 24 business hours after receipt of such written notice, the

Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default.

2. When the work quality falls below 90 percent as a result of excess trees, the Government may elect to do one of the following:

(a) Order rework to be performed and withhold payment until excess trees are cut and the results of a post-rework

Government inspection show work quality to be at least 85 percent or more. No rework shall be performed unless ordered or authorized by the COR.

(b) Order that no rework be performed and payment will either be made at a reduced rate, or not at all, as

Page 5 of 9 Feather River Ranger District determined from the Thinning Inspection Report.

3. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the 85 percent minimum acceptable standard will be considered reason for contract termination and default action.

Reinspection Upon Contractor Request

1. If Government inspection results are unacceptable to the Contractor, a reinspection may be requested, in writing, within 5 business days after receipt of notice of said inspection results. The same inspection procedure will be used; however, the inspection pattern will be shifted so that new inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots.

2. If reinspection results – rounded up to the nearest whole percent – indicate a variance of more than 5 percent from the first inspection, the results of the second inspection will be used to calculate work quality and payment, and the Government will bear the cost of reinspection.

3. If reinspection results – rounded up to the nearest whole percent – are within 5 percent of the first inspection, plots from the initial inspection and the reinspection will be combined and used to calculate work quality and payment, and the Contractor shall bear the cost of reinspection.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 1-2

Table 1 – Minimum Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL) of Work

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

1 Cut and Grapple Pile < 6” DBH MANDATORY ACRE 90%

2 Hand Cut and Pile < 10” DBH MANDATORY ACRE 90%

SECTION V – PAYMENT METHODS

Method of Measurement for Acreages

Acreages were determined by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The acreage for each work item will be rounded to the nearest acre and is final unless:

a. The contract is modified or,

b. The Government makes a determination to remeasure or,

c. The Contractor exercises his/her option under the following Remeasurement provisions:

Remeasurement

1. The Contractor may request, in writing, remeasurement of any units under this contract if he/she feels that acreage stated on the project maps is incorrect. The remeasurement must be within the existing perimeter of the respective unit. No variance of the unit perimeters as laid out on the ground for this contract will be allowed.

All requests for remeasurement must be made prior to payment for each completed unit. Remeasurement will be performed by the Government.

2. If remeasurement indicates that a variance of ten percent or less exists on units of 1 to 5 acres, five percent or less exists on units of more than five but less than 20 acres, or if three percent or less exists on units of 20 acres or larger, the Contractor shall pay for the actual costs of the remeasurement. Under this condition, payment will be made on the acreage stated on the project maps. If the remeasurement indicates the actual acreage varies by more than the above factors from that stated on the project maps, the payment will be made on the remeasured acreage and the Forest Service will pay for the cost of the remeasurement.

Acceptance and Payment

1. Percentages as calculated herein shall be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

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2. No allowance for variation or portion of a variation will be added which will create a percentage greater than

100 percent.

Acceptance and Payment – Mandatory Items 1-2:

1. If informal visual inspection indicates acceptable work quality, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

2. In the event that formal inspections are used, the rate of payment to the Contractor will be calculated as follows:

(a) For work quality of 95 percent or higher, 5 percent (adjustment for statistical variation) will be added and the

Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

(b) For work quality from 85 to 94 percent, the 5 percent will be added to the work quality percent and the

Contractor will be paid the total multiplied by the bid rate.

(c) For work quality 84 percent and less, the 5 percent will not be added and there will be no payment made to the Contractor.

(d) If, after rework, the percentage of satisfactory work is between 85% and 94%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 85%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL): Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all specifications corresponding to the appropriate task(s). A minimum AQL is required for all service work – hand or mechanical. The minimum AQL will receive a satisfactory performance rating.

BIOMASS TREES: Any conifer material 2 feet in height to 4.9 inches DBH.

BOLE SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet from the edge of one leave tree bole to another leave tree bole, measured from the outside bark of each tree.

CIRCULAR PLOT: A sample plot within a thinning unit that is used to determine the number of desirable trees and other contract specifications.

COARSE WOODY DEBRIS: Woody material left on the ground to meet wildlife habitat requirements.

CLEARCUT: A cutting prescription in which all trees within a boundary are designated to be cut.

CROWN RATIO: The ratio of live crown length (tip of leader to base of the crown) to total tree length/height.

CROWN SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet between the dripline of a live crown to another live crown.

CUT TREES: Trees that do not possess the characteristics of desirable leave trees and are required to be cut. As described by the contract or otherwise marked to be cut.

CUTTING UNIT: See Treatment Unit definition

DAMAGED TREES: Trees damaged beyond recovery. A tree that is larger than 2 feet in height, and has the top knocked out, is leaning more than 10 degrees, has less than one half of its original limbs, or has approximately 50% of bark removed from the circumference of the bole.

DBH: Diameter at breast height, measured at a point of 4.5 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

DECKING: Stockpiling of trees in a designated area.

DEAD/DYING TREES: Trees with the crown foliage changing from green to red, yellow, or needleless. Any tree that has pitch tubes indicating Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

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DESIGNATION BY SPECIES AND DIAMETER (DXSD): A cutting prescription in which species and diameter are used to determine which trees will be left and which will be cut.

DIB: Diameter inside bark.

HANG-UP TREE: Any cut tree suspended above ground level.

HEALTHY REGENERATION: Young, healthy, dwarf mistletoe free conifers, less than 4.9 inches in diameter, free of defect or characteristics listed in Section II, 2.2.2.

LEAVE TREE: Trees that possess desirable characteristics and that serve to create the basis for designated spacing requirements or are otherwise designated to be left.

NON-SAWTIMBER TREE: For all conifer species, minimum diameter of 5 inches DBH to minimum diameter by species identified in Appendix B, Division A.

OVERSTORY REMOVAL: A cutting prescription where all trees greater than a specified size are cut. Trees less than the specified size are protected.

PAYMENT UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS): Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

PILING: Material moved to an agreed upon location shall be piled for future treatment by Forest Service.

PROGRESSION OF WORK: Work conducted in a progressive, workmanlike and orderly manner by the

Contractor.

RESERVE CLUMPS: Groups of trees within a treatment area that are protected from cutting, may also include

Individual Reserve trees.

SAWTIMBER TREE: Included timber meeting sawlog size specifications as defined in Appendix B, Division A.2.

SLASH: Woody material existing or created that has accumulated on the forest floor. Woody material includes logs, pieces of logs, tops, and branches.

UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

TEMPORARY ROADS: Non-permanent roads that are constructed by Contractor for the purpose of treatment unit access.

TREATMENT UNIT: An individual area on the ground in which activities will be performed and which may appear as a separate pay item in the Schedule of Items.

UNSATISFACTORY WORK: If work quality falls below the AQL, the COR will issue a work order or notice of noncompliance to the Contractor in writing. Untreated or unsatisfactory treated areas shall be reworked to obtain satisfactory work quality.

WHOLE TREE YARDING: Whole tree logging includes cutting tree and removing the entire tree, including tops and branches, to the landing.

WILDLIFE TREE: Standing tree marked to be reserved as a wildlife tree. Used by birds and small mammals for shelter, nesting, perching, etc.

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Exhibit A- Grapple Pile

Exhibit B- Hand Pile

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Exhibit C- Windrow

Exhibit D- Brace Tree Piling