Attachment 1 GRD_TrailBrushing_PWS.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

GLACIER RANGER DISTRICT TRAIL BRUSHING PROJECT

Performance Work Statement

Contents Project Title General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

2.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

3.0 Deliverable / Schedule

4.0 Performance Requirement Measures

5.0 Government Furnished

6.0 Travel

7.0 Applicable Laws, Regulations, Specifications and Guidance

8.0 Attachments

Project Title Glacier Ranger District Trail Brushing Project

General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

This is a non-personal services task order to clear vegetative growth and brush located along approximately 26.45 miles of trail (base items, and an additional 23 miles of option items) on the Glacier Ranger District, Chugach National Forest.

The Government will not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn, is responsible to the Government.

1.1 Outline of Services: The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, management, tools, materials, equipment, facilities, transportation, and other items necessary to provide the services outlined below and described in this Performance Work Statement (PWS).

1.2 Project Location: The project areas are located within close proximity to Girdwood, AK, (furthest trailhead is approx. 25 miles from town) within the Chugach National Forest. Trailhead locations can be accessed by the Seward Highway.

1.3 Background: The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for maintaining healthy, diverse, and productive

National Forests. Part of these responsibilities include maintaining trails and the management of vegetation growth. The Glacier Ranger District (GRD) manages several miles of these trails.

1.4 Period of Performance:

a. Base items shall be Date of Award through November 1, 2023

b. Option items shall be Date of Award - November 1, 2023.

1.5 Government Regular Working Hours: The Government's regular working hours are from 0700 to 1700, five days per week, Monday through Friday, except observed Federal holidays.

Exceptions to the regular hours of operation are detailed in subsequent sections of this PWS.

1.6 Federal Observed Holidays: The government observes the following holidays:

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Independence Day Christmas Day Juneteenth

1.7 Time frame of Contract Work Performance: Contractor shall conduct work before snowfall begins or after snow melts.The contractor shall coordinate with Forest Service staff for any overlapping or concurrent work that may be happening on some of these trails. Work occurring on the Whistle Stop Trails (Task 2.1.2) shall occur during normal Glacier Discovery Train operations, June 4 – September 11, 2023.

1.8 Service Interruptions: If any services must be interrupted (even temporarily) due to maintenance of contract work, the Contractor shall notify the CO, and COR at least three working days in advance. If the service is due to an emergency breakdown the Contractor shall notify the CO and COR as soon as practicable.

1.9 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 42.5. The CO and/or COR shall meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the CO will apprise the Contractor of how the Government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues.

1.10 Project Manager (PM): The Contractor shall provide a PM and designated alternate, as applicable, who has full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to this contract. The PM or alternate shall be on-site during the Government's regular working hours and shall be available on-site within one hour after the Government's regular working hours.

1.11 Quality Control Program (QCP): The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective QCP to ensure services are performed in accordance with (IAW) this PWS. The QCP must be forwarded to and accepted by the CO. The Contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of deficiencies. The Contractor’s QCP is the means by which the Contractor assures that the work complies with the requirement of the contract. The QCP shall be delivered to the CO within 10 days after contract award. After acceptance of the QCP the Contractor shall receive the contracting officer’s acceptance in writing of any proposed change to the QCP.

1.12 Quality Assurance: The contractor shall comply with the quality assurance program as defined in the

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable quality level(s) (AQL). Government surveillance of contractor performance is not limited to the Performance Objectives as outlined in this PWS. The Government reserves the right to conduct compliance surveillance of any contractual requirement of this acquisition.

1.13 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): A COR may be assigned to this contract to monitor all technical aspects and assist in contract administration. The COR may be authorized to perform the following functions: Assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract;

perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance; maintain written and oral communication with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract; issue written interpretations of technical requirements (without increasing or decreasing contract scope), including Government drawings designs, and specifications; monitor Contractor's performance and notify both the CO and Contractor of deficiencies; and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the contract or any task order.

Contractor Requirements

2.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

2.1 The contractor shall provide trail maintenance clearing and removal services for site locations awarded in this task order. Clearing and removal includes cutting, trimming, and disposing of live and dead brush/slash, logs and debris as identified in Trail Clearing Limits diagram (see attached). The following is a description of the work areas:

2.1.1 BASE ITEMS: Base items include vegetative clearing within the defined clearing limits (see attached) on the following trail segments of the Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT): Crow Pass Trail, Upper Winner Creek Trail, Portage Pass Trail, and the Trail of Blue Ice (17.5 miles total). See below for trail specific information. GAOA funded work.

2.1.1.1 INHT: Crow Pass Trail (1.5 miles): Trail access is located at the end of Crow Creek

Road, in Girdwood, AK. Vegetative clearing beginning at the trailhead and ending at the junction with Monarch Mine Trail (approximately 1.5 miles).

2.1.1.2 INHT: Upper Winner Creek Trail (9.1 miles): Trail begins at a junction at approximately

MP 1.5 of the adjacent Winner Creek Trail. Access is from the Winner Creek trailhead, behind the Alyeska Hotel, in Girdwood, AK. Vegetative clearing will be for the entire length of trail (from the Winner Creek Trail junction to the trail’s end at Rosehip Creek). Note that some alpine segments of trail will have sparser vegetation with less brushing need.

2.1.1.3 INHT: Portage Pass Trail (2.2 miles): Trail access is at the Portage Pass trailhead, located adjacent to the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, in Whittier, AK. Vegetative clearing will be for the entire length of trail (from the trailhead to Portage Lake).

2.1.1.4 INHT: Trail of Blue Ice (4.7 miles) Trail is located in Portage, AK, running the length of the valley, paralleling the Portage Highway. Several trailhead access points exist, including at the Moose Flats Day Use Site and at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center.

Vegetative clearing will be for the entire length of trail.

2.1.2 BASE ITEMS: Base items include vegetative clearing within the defined clearing limits (see attached) on the following trails accessed via the Alaska Railroad and the associated Whistle Stops (8.95 miles total). See below for trail specific information.

2.1.2.1 Spencer Glacier Trail (3.2 miles): Trail access is via the Alaska Railroad’s Glacier

Discovery Train (link), departing daily from Portage, AK. Trail starts at the Spencer Whistle Stop. All equipment and personnel will need to be transported to the site via railroad. The Contractor is responsible for arranging transportation and paying fees associated with transportation to and from the site on the Alaska Railroad. Contractor shall coordinate with the Forest Service in advance of train travel. Vegetative clearing will be for the entire length of trail (from the Spencer Whistle Stop to the end of trail by the toe of Spencer Glacier).

2.1.2.2 Spencer Bench Trail (3 miles): Trail access is via the Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train (link), departing daily from Portage, AK. Trail starts at a trail junction at mile 2.5 of Spencer Glacier Trail (above). All equipment and personnel will need to be transported to the site via railroad. The Contractor is responsible for arranging transportation and paying fees associated with transportation to and from the site on the Alaska Railroad. Contractor shall coordinate with the Forest Service in advance of train travel. Vegetative clearing will be for the entire length of trail (from the Spencer Glacier Trail to the end of trail at Spencer Bench Cabin).

2.1.2.3 Grandview Whistle Stop Trails (2.75 miles total): Trail access is via the Alaska

Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train (link), departing daily from Portage, AK. Trails start at the Grandview Whistle Stop. All equipment and personnel will need to be transported to the site via railroad. The Contractor is responsible for arranging transportation and paying fees associated with transportation to and from the site on the Alaska Railroad. Contractor shall coordinate with the Forest Service in advance of train travel. Work will be across three short, connected trails (Grandview Interpretive Trail, Glacier Discovery Trail, Bartlett Moraine Trail). Note that the 1-mile long Bartlett Moraine Trail reaches into the alpine and will have significantly less brushing need. Vegetative clearing will be for the entire length of all three trails (from the Grandview Whistle to the end of Bartlett Moraine Trail).

2.1.3 OPTION ITEM 1: INHT: Johnson Pass Trail, North Half (10 miles) Trail is located between

Turnagain Pass and Moose Pass, AK, accessed from trailheads at both MP 64 and MP 32.5 of the Seward Highway. Alternative access can be via floatplane to either Bench or Johnson Lakes, both positioned roughly in the middle of the trail. Vegetative clearing would be for the entire length of trail.

This option item is to brush the north half of the trail, from the trailhead at MP 64 of the Seward Highway, to the south end of Bench Lake, 10 trail miles to the south. GAOA funded work.

2.1.4 OPTION ITEM 2: INHT: Johnson Pass Trail, South Half (13 miles) Trail is located between

Turnagain Pass and Moose Pass, AK, accessed from trailheads at both MP 64 and MP 32.5 of the Seward Highway. Alternative access can be via floatplane to either Bench or Johnson Lakes, both positioned roughly in the middle of the trail. Vegetative clearing would be for the entire length of trail.

This option item is to brush the south half of the trail, from the trailhead at MP 32.5 of the Seward Highway, to the south end of Bench Lake, 13 trail miles to the north. GAOA funded work.

2.2 Tasks specific to the base and option items. The contractor shall perform the below tasks:

2.2.1 Contractor Shall provide a work schedule to the CO and COR five (5) business days prior to commencement of work. The contractor shall notify the CO and COR as soon as possible about any work schedule deviations.

2.2.2 Clearing Limits. See Attachment 1 for clearing limits. Six (6) feet each side of center line of all trails listed above, except the Trail of Blue Ice, which will be eight (8) feet off center line. Anticipate a mix of alders, willow, elderberry, devils club, salmon berry, and other woody herbaceous plants that will need to be brushed. Additionally, there will be periodic felling of small trees or limbing of larger trees within the clearing limits.

2.2.3 Remove all limbs of shrubs and trees that extend across or into the clearing limits as SHOWN ON THE

DRAWINGS. Saw or cut limbs flush with tree trunks. Make cuts in a manner that will not tear or strip bark from the trees.

https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/our-trains/glacier-discovery?gclid=Cj0KCQiAu62QBhC7ARIsALXijXQ-mqvFmYkJS4EZi3GKzJwiRNf2CuLzm3mRX1we4-ThJPxrqXuMlO8aAphhEALw_wcB https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/our-trains/glacier-discovery?gclid=Cj0KCQiAu62QBhC7ARIsALXijXQ-mqvFmYkJS4EZi3GKzJwiRNf2CuLzm3mRX1we4-ThJPxrqXuMlO8aAphhEALw_wcB https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/our-trains/glacier-discovery?gclid=Cj0KCQiAu62QBhC7ARIsALXijXQ-mqvFmYkJS4EZi3GKzJwiRNf2CuLzm3mRX1we4-ThJPxrqXuMlO8aAphhEALw_wcB

2.2.4 Cut and remove from the clearing limits all woody plants exceeding 1/2” in stem diameter or 12” in height. Maximum size materials to be cut under this specification are four (4”) in diameter when measured at a height of two in (2”) above the ground on the uphill side of the stump. Cut all brush and small, woody plants as near flush to the surface as possible. When impractical to cut the plants flush, the maximum stem length shall be three to five inches (3-5”).

2.2.5 Scatter debris removed from within clearing limits outside and below the clearing limits. Do not place materials in stream channels, drainageways, ditches, culverts, or other locations where they would prevent the free flow of water away from the trail bed or inhibit natural water flow for aquatic habitat.

2.2.6 Vegetation shall not be cut within 10 feet of a live flowing stream, except for the minimum necessary for crossing around stream bridges below. Brushing slash shall be considered to constitute all woody debris resulting from the cutting and trimming of woody material within the specified clearing limits.

Limbs and chunks in excess of three (3) inches in any dimension shall not remain on the traveled way.

Mechanical cutting equipment shall not be operated when there are non-contractor personnel, Forest Service employees other than contract administrators, or occupied vehicles within three hundred (300) feet of the immediate operating area. Any exceptions to the clearing requirements listed above will be designated on the ground or in writing by the CO and/or COR.

2.2.7 All trails shall be kept open and maintained in such a way to safely accommodate the public throughout the period of performance.

2.2.8 Temporary detours, approaches, crossings and intersections with trails shall be provided and maintained in a safe and passable condition.

2.2.9 Before any suspension of work all trailways shall be left in a condition suitable for traffic.

2.2.10 No work which interferes with traffic shall be performed until the contractor has submitted a plan for satisfactory handling of traffic outside of contractor working hours and approved by the CO and/or COR.

2.2.11 The contractor shall post warning signs on the trailheads for each trail to warn the public of work in progress, the times the work is being performed, and the trail status (open/closed) during working hours.

2.2.11.1 All signs shall conform to Section 6B-22 of the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control

Devices”.

2.2.12 Contractor Furnished Equipment: All contractor furnished equipment and vehicles to be used at the job site shall be cleaned and free of invasive species (noxious weeds), seeds, external grease and oil and shall be inspected prior to entrance onto Federal lands. The restriction shall include equipment and vehicles intended for off-road use, whether they are owned, leased, or borrowed by the Contractor or Subcontractor.

2.2.12.1 Provide a list of all equipment to be used two (2) days prior to the start of performance of work under this contract.

2.2.12.2 All protective plating and armoring shall be intact and properly functioning on the equipment to reduce the potential for damaging hydraulic hoses or the undercarriage.

2.2.12.3 Spill kit approved by OSHA for petroleum product leaks shall be on site at all times.

2.2.12.4 Vehicle Use of the Trail. ATVs <50” wide are considered trail construction equipment and can be utilized on the Trail of Blue Ice, Johnson Pass Trail, the first one (1) mile of Portage Pass Trail, and the first three (3) miles of Upper Winner Creek Trail, as coordinated with the COR. ATV use will not be permitted outside of the above defined areas. Note that with the exception of the Trail of Blue Ice, the remaining trails are often narrow in places and may prove challenging for ATV operations in some locations. Any other type of trail construction equipment shall not be permitted unless approved in writing by the COR.

2.2.12.4.1 Cross-country movement of equipment shall not be permitted unless approved in writing by the COR.

2.2.12.4.2 Equipment use will be authorized on a case-by-case basis as needed to perform the work. All damage to trail tread or water control structures caused by use of equipment will be repaired by the contractor

3.0 Deliverable / Schedule

The Contractor shall submit all deliverables for this PWS IAW within listed timelines outlined above. Below is a list of all deliverables outlining each objective and due date.

Key Deliverables

Item No. Deliverable Objective Due

2.2.1 Work Schedule To notify the government of when the contractor shall be on site performing work.

5 business days prior to commencement of work

2.2.12.1 Equipment List For government situational awareness and to ensure all equipment is inspected IAW with paragraph 2.2.12

2 business days prior to start of performance.

2.2.11 Traffic Control Plan To ensure trails and roadways remain open and that all personnel have reduced risk of traffic related injuries

1 business day prior to work in affected area.

4.0 Performance Requirement Measures

Performance Objective

PWS

Paragrap h

Measurement Method

Allowable Performance Deviation

Remedy Amount or Corrective Action

Clearing Limits Met, Limb Removal, Woody Plants

2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.4, 2.2.5

COR shall inspect trails for 100% compliance

One (1) % deviation along the 8.5 miles

Contractor shall complete all work that is not within compliance prior to invoice payment.

Water ways free of scattered debris from contractor performed work

2.2.6 COR shall inspect

affected streams/creeks for debris from performance.

Zero (0) deviation

Contractor shall remove all debris prior to any payment for performance.

Trails remain open to public

2.2.7 COR shall spot check

areas

2 closures without advan ced notificatio n

Re-open areas within 1 hour of notification from COR of deficiency. COR shall be notified as soon as possible of any closures.

Trail safety 2.2.8, 2.2.9

COR shall check trails for 100% compliance

Zero safety violations

Contractor shall immediately correct safety deficiencies.

Traffic Control Plan, Warning Signs

2.2.10, 2.2.11

Plan submitted to the COR, warning signs appropriately placed

Zero deviation Submit the plan prior to work start. If the work plan is not received prior to the start of performance a stop work and payment shall occur until plan is received. If signs are not posted, the contractor shall immediately correct the deficiency upon notification from COR.

Equipment listed is free of invasive species

2.2.12, 2.2.12.1

COR shall inspect equipment for 100% compliance

Zero deviation Contractor shall immediately remove the invasive species from the work site. A stop work shall be issued until violations are corrected.

Notes: Performance Standard: The Government will visually inspect the services for compliance prior to acceptance and issuing any payments. Inspections will consist of direct observations and measured in place quantities

5.0 Government Furnished

The Government will only be providing maps for location(s) of work to be performed. See attachments.

6.0 Travel

Work performance under this requirement requires vehicle travel along the Seward Highway and connecting roads. The government will not be responsible for travel to or form the site location. The Contractor shall be responsible for all travel to and from the work site locations.

Travel to and from the Whistle Stop trails is via the Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train (link), departing daily from Portage, AK. With prior coordination with the Forest Service selected contractor’s and their tools/equipment may be permitted train passage free of charge.

https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/our-trains/glacier-discovery?gclid=Cj0KCQiAu62QBhC7ARIsALXijXQ-mqvFmYkJS4EZi3GKzJwiRNf2CuLzm3mRX1we4-ThJPxrqXuMlO8aAphhEALw_wcB

7.0 Applicable Laws, Regulations, Specifications and Guidance

1. USDA Forest Service Standard Trail Plans and Specifications, available here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/trail-management-tools/trailplans

2. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD): https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/

3. The above is a list of major specifications applicable to this requirement. Other specifications referred to within these specifications (even though not specifically listed here) are also fully applicable.

8.0 Appendices

1. Clearing_Limits_Trees_Logs

2. Clearing_Limits_Brush_Shrubs

3. MAP_INHT_Brushing

4. MAP_WhistleStopTrailBrushing https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/trail-management-tools/trailplans https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/trail-management-tools/trailplans https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/