Attachment 1 Performance Work Statement.pdf

Spruce Beetle Mechanical Thinning Performance Work Statement

General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose: This is a non-personal services contract for spruce bark beetle mitigation including mechanical timber harvest and slash treatment for up to 58 acres of the Seward Ranger District, Chugach National Forest, Alaska. The Government will not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract 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, fuels, facilities, transportation, and other items necessary to provide the services outlined below and described in this Performance Work Statement (PWS).

1.2 Project Locations: The project is located within and adjacent to the Seward Ranger District, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

• Russian River Entrance Station – Seward Meridian

1.3 Background: Vegetation treatments will provide for public health and safety by removing dead, dying and beetle infested trees and reducing fuel loading. Implementation of this treatment will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires being started or carried through these portions of the Chugach National Forest. Additionally, forest products generated from the project will be utilized for either commercial or personal uses.

1.4 Type of Contract: This is a Firm Fixed Price contract.

1.5 Period of Performance: Base and Option Items: Date of Award – 02/01/2024. Work will be expected to begin in the first campground shortly after contract award to take advantage of frozen ground. Contractor must have availability to begin work soon after award as the work requires frozen ground.

1.5.1 Work Schedule: Contractor shall provide a finalized work schedule to the CO and COR 5 working days prior to commencement of work. Any contractor induced changes to the work schedule shall be coordinated with the COR prior to implementation. The government will notify the contractor within 3 days of any changes.

1.6 Time frame of Contract Work Performance: Work should be completed before the campgrounds open in early March. Ideally work for any sites will be completed prior to March 1st to reduce overlap with campground use; however, work may occur concurrently if authorized by the COR.

1.7 Description of Services: Mechanical timber harvest and slash treatment for up to 58 acres at the Russian River Entrance Station of the Seward Ranger District, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

1.8 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.

1.9 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

1.1 Performance Restrictions: services can only be performed after the campground is seasonally closed, September 15th through March 1st, of each calendar year. If services can be performed while the campgrounds are open, the COR will notify the contractor 15 days prior to opening the performance restriction window.

1.2 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 (3) 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.

1.3 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. A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled within 10 days after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at teleconference. 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.

1.4 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. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

1.5 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.

1.6 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.

Contractor Requirements 2 Technical Requirements / Tasks: General Requirements and Mitigation Measures–

Applicable to All Tasks:

2.1.1 Mechanical timber harvest will be accomplished through a designation per task as outlined below in section 2 of this PWS. All designated trees within the unit will be cut, skid, and decked at approved landings except required retention trees. Slash from cutting will be piled in the units. Specifications for these work activities are listed below.

2.1.2 It is notable that work will occur along the Sterling Highway and powerline corridors. It is the contractors’ responsibility to ensure public safety and coordinate with relevant agencies (AKDOT/Utilities) while working in these areas.

2.1.3 Unit boundaries are not delineated on the ground. Most boundaries are roads, powerline corridors, water bodies or marked Forest Service property lines, see attached map. The contractor will be supplied an electronic file of unit maps. Questions pertaining to project area boundaries should be directed to the COR for clarification. Additionally, items to be avoided including firepit rings, water spigots, well heads and septic vents are marked with wooden stakes and flagging.

2.1.4 Prior to entering the National Forest, ensure all equipment and tools are clean and all dirt and plant materials are removed. All equipment and tools will be cleaned prior to leaving the units.

2.1.5 Any identified sensitive plant areas will be flagged on the ground by the COR and the contractor will be notified.

2.1.6 When work is in progress, the Contractor shall post adequate warning of hazardous conditions associated with operations.

2.1.7 Skidding and log transport shall be restricted to existing disturbed areas, such as existing or old roads, powerline corridors, etc. to reduce new area ground disturbance, soil displacement or compaction wherever possible. New trails will be designated before development and will avoid trail locations on side slopes or slopes greater than 35%.

2.1.8 When not using existing disturbed areas, operate equipment to avoid excessive soil displacement and compaction.

2.1.9 Mechanical treatments shall occur on frozen ground, or durable surfaces, unless otherwise agreed to with the COR.

2.1.10 All access routes developed during project implementation will be closed and rehabilitated to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized motorized recreation use. Closure will consist of existing gate. All skid trails will be rehabilitated by “fluffing” slash as equipment leaves the Contract Unit Boundary.

2.1.11 Do not place burn piles in streams, wetlands, or any other water body.

2.2 TASK 1: MECHANICAL TIMBER HARVEST

2.2.1 All spruce trees greater than or equal to 5 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH), 4 ft 6 inches, shall be cut.

2.2.2 No activities shall occur within 1/8 mile of any active Northern goshawk nests from March 1st through July 15th. No nests are currently identified. If a nest is found in the vicinity of the project, the contractor will be notified, and the location provided.

2.2.3 Live trees meeting harvest specifications not to be harvested will be marked by the Forest Service with orange paint or flagging.

2.2.4 A merchantable tree is any cut tree that is 6 inches in diameter at breast height or larger and is at least 1/3 sound.

2.2.5 All merchantable trees cut within the Contract Unit Boundary will be cut to a 5-inch top, limbed, skidded to an approved landing and decked. Unsalvageable trees (those greater than 6” in diameter at breast height and less than 1/3 sound) shall be cut, limbed and left in place.

2.2.6 Preapproved decking locations are shown on unit map, attachment 3, with the expectation to completely fill these areas before other sites will be approved.

2.2.7 Any trees within the unit less than 5 inches in diameter at breast height may be cut for operational purposes but are considered slash and shall be piled or left in place as described in the TASK 2 Slash Treatment.

2.2.8 Stumps shall not be greater than 6 inches in height on the side adjacent to the highest ground.

2.3 TASK 2: SLASH TREATMENT

2.3.1 Pile Material:

2.3.2 All limbs, tops, and sound non-merchantable material less than 6 inches in diameter shall be machine piled.

2.3.3 Piles shall be constructed in a pyramid or conical shape and be reasonably free of dirt and rotten material. All piles shall be placed a minimum of 15 ft. from residual trees to prevent damage.

2.3.4 All piles shall be located within the cutting unit boundary. Piles may be constructed on approved landings.

2.3.5 Piles must be a minimum of 100 feet from streams or standing water and 50 feet from hardened surfaces. Hardened surfaces include roads, parking areas and campsites. If these requirements cannot be met within a unit, alternate pile locations will be agreed to with the

COR.

2.3.6 Maximum pile size is 20 feet in diameter and 15 feet tall.

3.0 Deliverable / Schedule

3.1 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

1 Work Schedule Finalize Draft Work Schedule. Para 1.5.1

5 working days prior to commencement of work

2 Project Manager Designate a Project Manager IAW paragraph 1.11

At the pre-work meeting.

4.0 Government Furnished

Access to campgrounds will be via locked gates. The contractor will be supplied a key/code to unlock gates. Contractor will also be furnished with digital map files delineating unit boundaries.

5.0 Travel

Work performance under this requirement requires access to campground via highway. The government will not be responsible for travel to or from the site location. The Contractor shall be responsible for all travel to and from the work site location.

6.0 Security Requirements

Only the contractor and their employees are allowed access into work areas. Gates will be closed and locked at all times.

7.0 Performance Requirement Measures

Required Service

Performance Standard

PWS

Paragraph

Acceptable Performance

Deviation

Method of Surveillance

/Measurement

Remedy or Corrective

Action Mechanical timber harvest including skidding and decking of merchantable logs

Cut, limb, skid to approved landings and deck all merchantable designated spruce trees.

Cut and treat non-merchantable designated trees as slash

2.2 100% of designated trees are cut and treated

Zero (0)% deviation

Visual inspection by

COR

All linear and area measurements required under this contract will be measured on the horizontal plane.

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

Pile all designated

Pile all slash generated from timber harvest

2.3 90% or more of slash meeting specifications piled

Visual inspection by

COR

Contractor shall correct and slash for burning including tops, limbs and sound non-merchantable material in approved locations All linear and area measurements required under this contract will be measured on the horizontal plane.

deficiencies prior to any payment for performance

8.0 Definitions and Acronyms

AKDOT: Alaska Department of Transportation

CG: Campground

Contractor: A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

Contracting Officer (CO): a person with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings. The term includes certain authorized representatives of the contracting officer acting within the limits of their authority as delegated by the contracting officer. "Administrative contracting officer (ACO)" refers to a contracting officer who is administering contracts. "Termination contracting officer (TCO)" refers to a contracting officer who is settling terminated contracts. A single contracting officer may be responsible for duties in any or all of these areas. Reference in this regulation (48 CFR chapter 1) to administrative contracting officer or termination contracting officer does not-

Require that a duty be performed at a particular office or activity; or Restrict in any way a contracting officer in the performance of any duty properly assigned.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): means an individual, including a contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR), designated and authorized in writing by the contracting officer to perform specific technical or administrative functions.

Defective Service: A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

Deliverable: Anything that can be physically delivered, but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

Equipment: A tangible item that is functionally complete for its intended purpose, durable, nonexpendable, and needed for the performance of a contract. Equipment is not intended for sale, and does not ordinarily lose its identity or become a component part of another article when put into use. Equipment does not include material, real property, special test equipment or special tooling.

Government Furnished Property: Property in the possession of, or directly acquired by, the Government and subsequently furnished to the contractor for performance of a contract.

Government-furnished property includes, but is not limited to, spares and property furnished for repair, maintenance, overhaul, or modification. Government-furnished property also includes contractor-acquired property if the contractor-acquired property is a deliverable under a cost contract when accepted by the Government for continued use under the contract.

Merchantable Tree. A merchantable tree is any cut tree that is 6 inches in diameter at breast height or larger and is at least 1/3 sound.

Non-Personal Services: The personnel rendering the services are not subject, either by the contract’s terms or by the manner of its administration, to the supervision and control usually prevailing in relationships between the government and its employees. Non personal service contracts are authorized by the government in accordance with FAR 37.012, under general contracting authority, and do not require specific statutory authorization.

Quality Assurance: The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan: An organized document written by the government specifying the surveillance methodology used for surveillance of contractor performance.

Workday: The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

Work Week: Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.