Attachment_1-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Brandt Tract Seedlings & Planting

At Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

Woodruff County, Arkansas

PART 1

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. GENERAL: This is a non-personnel services contract to provide seedlings and handplanting on the Brandt Tract at Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. The Government shall 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 Description of Services/Introduction: The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, fuel, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide seedlings and hand planting at Cache River National Wildlife Refuge as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS) except for those items specified as government furnished property and services. The Contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract and assumes all liability for work operating in an area open to the public and near a public road right of way.

1.2 Background: This project will be one step in the process to restore bottomland hardwood forest to the open field portions the Brandt Tract on Cache River NWR. Follow up treatments are not a component of this contract proposal.

1.3 Objectives: The project will consist of providing 30,500 bare root seedling and the hand planting of the seedlings on 67 acres of open fields (identified in the color green on the attached map).

1.4 Scope: The contractor will provide and hand plant approximately 30,500 (1-0) bare root hardwood seedlings (see attached species list) on a 8 by 12 foot spacing (approximately 454 per acre). Seedlings are recommended to be attained from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Baucum Nursery. If an alternate source for seedlings is used they will need to be grown from a local seed source and must meet or exceed specifications of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture nursey (documentation may be required). Seedlings will need to be stored in a cooling/storage facility that meets the storage specifications defined as “ideal” in the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Seedling care and planting Guidelines handbook. Seedlings stored in a facility more than approximately 50 miles from the treatment area will need to be transported in a closed refrigerated vessel. Seedlings should not be stored outside of a cooling/storage facility overnight unless weather is conducive as defined in the previously mentioned handbook. Seedling care and planting should be done according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Seedling Care and Planting Guidelines. Site soil moisture conditions will be determined suitable by the Government Representative (GR). The treatment area is located on Cache NWR within Woodruff County (see attached map). U.S. Fish and Wildlife employees will assist in assuring seedlings are planted on the correct elevations within the treatment area. There planting site has access from public roadways.

PART 2

CONTRACT PERFROMANCE

2. CONTRACT PERFORMANCE:

2.1 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall begin on January 15, 2026 and end on March 1, 2026.

Work may be postponed due to inclement weather, high water, high wildfire danger or to prevent adverse impacts to the soils and access roads or for the convenience to the government. The government may allow an extension of the contract term if it is determined that the contractor could not complete the contract within the normal contract period due to excessive inclement weather or government caused delays that exceed a total of 21 days.

2.2 Quality Control: The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor must stay within the boundary of the treatment area as depicted on the attached map.

2.3 Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the Contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the Contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

2.4 Recognized Holidays: The Contractor may, but is not required to perform services on these holidays:

New Year’s Day Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Washington’s Birthday Memorial Day Juneteenth Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

2.5 Hours of Operation: The contractor should make the Government Representative aware of times scheduled to work at least 1 week in advance of arrival.

2.6 Place of Performance: The project area consists of 102 acres of open fields (identified in the color green on the attached map) on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. The area is located in Section 32 Township 6 North, Range 2 West in Woodruff County, Arkansas. The area is approximately 1.2 miles southeast of Howell, Arkansas.

The coordinates for the general area are 35.09985, -91.23051

2.7 Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm Fixed Price.

2.8 Security Requirements: Not applicable.

2.9 Special Qualifications: The Contractor shall, without additional expense to the Service, be responsible for obtaining any licenses and permits, and for complying with any applicable State and Federal laws, codes, and regulations in connection with execution of the work.

2.10 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 Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer, Government Representative (GR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the Contractor to review the Contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer or GR 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. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

2.11 Government Representative (GR): The (GR) will be identified by separate letter. The GR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The GR is 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 communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract: issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications: monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property, and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. The GR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

2.12 Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered key personnel by the government: Neil Lalonde (870) 503-0260 GR. The Contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work.

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1 Services: The project area is already mapped, using GIS. The Government can provide a GIS shapefile of the treatment area or flag boundaries of the treatment area in the field. The government will provide a FWS employee during all periods of implementation in order to direct species distribution on site.

3.2 Facilities: The Government will allow the contractor to unload and park equipment within the treatment area while the contract work is being performed. Any use of private property adjacent to the refuge for transporting, unloading or staging equipment is the responsibility of the contractor. The Government assumes no liability for any damages to equipment that may occur while parked on the refuge. The contractor will be liable for any damages that occur on the refuge during contract implementation or mobilizing/demobilizing of equipment.

3.3 Utilities: The Government will provide no utilities.

3.4 Equipment: The Government will provide no equipment.

3.5 Materials: The Government will provide paper and GIS maps of the project area. The Government will also provide either shapefiles of the treatment boundaries or physically flag the treatment boundaries.

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS.

4.2 Secret Facility Clearance: Not applicable.

4.3. Materials: The Contractor shall provide all materials required to accomplish these requirements outlined in this PWS, excluding those outlined in Part 3 as Government Provided Items.

4.4. Equipment: The Contractor shall provide all personnel and equipment necessary to furnish the requirements of this PWS, excluding those outlined in Part 3 as Government Provided Items. Contractor will provide personnel and equipment capable of completing the designated tasks listed in section 1.3 and 1.4. All personnel, equipment, equipment maintenance and repair, lodging, meals and equipment transportation are the responsibility of the contractor.

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

Provide 30,500 (1-0) seedlings and hand planting on a 8’x12’ spacing.

CACHE RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

DIXIE, ARKANSAS

CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO SEEDLINGS/ HAND PLANTING

1. A pre-entry conference between the Refuge Forester (GR) (or designee) and the contractor or representative will be required before beginning operations to insure understanding of the permit conditions and thus avoid serious conflicts.

2. Except where specifically authorized by a Special Use permit, all regulations governing activities on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in general and specific public use regulations for Cache River NWR (including littering, possession and use of firearms, and protection of wildlife) apply.

3. All activities will be within the designated boundaries and coordinated with the Refuge Forester

(Government Representative) or his designee.

4. 30,500 bare root hardwood seedlings will be handplanted on a 8’ by 12’ spacing, at a rate of 454 trees per acre (TPA). Seedlings are recommended to be attained from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Baucum Nursery. If an alternate source for seedlings is used they will need to be grown from a local seed source and to the same specifications as the Arkansas Department of Agriculture nursey (documentation may be required). Seedlings will need to be stored in a cooling/storage facility that meets the storage specifications defined as “ideal” in the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Seedling care and planting Guidelines handbook. Seedlings stored in a facility more than approximately 50 miles from the treatment area will need to be transported in a closed refrigerated vessel. Seedlings should not be stored outside of a cooling/storage facility overnight unless weather is conducive as defined in the previously mentioned handbook. Species adjustments to the attached seedling list may be made as long as both the Government Representative and the contractor agree.

5. The seedlings should be cared for and planted following the guidelines outlined by the Arkansas

Department of Agriculture “Seedling Care and Planting Guidelines” handbook. Seedling roots will not be pruned or cut by the contractor unless required for proper planting and approved by the refuge forester (GR) or his representative.

6. The contractor must give the refuge forester 2 weeks advance notice of when planting will commence.

7. Adequate soil moisture must be present but site should not be inundated for planting to take place, as determine by refuge forester (GR).

8. The normal operating season on this operation will be January 15 through March 1, 2026. Any operations outside the normal season must be approved in advance by the GR.

9. Contractor must avoid any disturbance to adjacent private lands.

10. The contractor and his/her employees will not start fires on the Refuge.

11. Littering in any manner is a violation of the Code of Federal Regulations. The entire work area shall be kept free of litter at all times.

12. The Refuge Manager and/or Forester shall have authority to temporarily close down the operation for any reason deemed necessary.

13. The U.S. Government accepts no responsibility to provide right-of-way over private lands for this contract.

14. Failure of the contractor to comply with any of these Special Conditions, with the State or Federal law, or special refuge regulations will be sufficient cause for refusal of future Special Use Permits being granted to the permitted party.

15. The Project Leader and/or Contracting Officer Representative or Government Representative shall have authority to temporarily close down all or any part of the operation during a period of high fire danger, wet ground conditions, or for any other reason deemed necessary. The government may allow an extension of the contract term if it is determined that the contractor could not complete the contract within the normal contract period due to excessive inclement weather or government caused delays that exceed a total of 21 days.

16. All work must be coordinated with the government representative.

17. All refuge regulations are in effect unless otherwise designated in writing.

18. No collection of plants, animals, rocks, or artifacts allowed.

19. No alcohol is permitted on the refuge.

20. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National Wildlife Refuges must comply with all provisions of state and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32).

21. Vehicle traffic is restricted to gravel roads designated as open except as marked on attached map of the project work area.

22. Contractor is responsible for daily cleanup of work area.

5.1. Basic Services: The contractor shall provide seedlings and hand planting services for approximately 30,500 hardwood seedlings on approximately 67 acres of open fields on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge located in Woodruff County Arkansas. Specifics must meet the standards described in sections 1.3, 1.4 and the special conditions section of this document.

5.1.1. FWS will map the treatment area to be treated using GPS and GIS. Paper and digital copies of these maps will be provided to the contractor on or before the application date. Electronic shapefiles and/or PDF maps may also be provided or the boundaries may be physically flagged.

5.1.2. A FWS employee will be on site during the periods of application to make sure the contractor meets and follows all requirements of the contract and assist with the ensuring species are planted within their designated portions of the field.

5.1.3. The Contractor will provide a crew to:

Deliver and hand plant approximately 30,500 (1-0) bare root hardwood seedlings (see attached species list) on a 8 by 12 foot spacing. Seedlings are recommended to be attained from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Baucum Nursery. If an alternate source for seedlings is used they will need to be grown from a local seed source and to the same specifications as the Arkansas Department of Agriculture nursey (documentation may be required). Seedlings will need to be stored in a cooling/storage facility that meets the storage specifications defined as “ideal” in the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Seedling care and planting Guidelines handbook. Seedlings stored in a facility more than approximately 50 miles from the treatment area will need to be transported in a closed refrigerated vessel. Seedlings should not be stored outside of a cooling/storage facility overnight unless weather is conducive as defined in the previously mentioned handbook. Seedling care and planting should be done according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Seedling Care and Planting Guidelines. Site soil moisture conditions will be determined suitable by the Government Representative (GR).

5.1.4. An assessment of the treatment area will be made immediately upon completion of the mechanical treatment to ensure the mapped area was treated according to the specification above. (see quality assurance plan)

5.2. Task Heading

5.2.1. The Contractor shall have the required licenses and certifications.

5.2.2. The Contractor may recommend adjustments to the treatment process but must be approved in writing by the Contracting Officer and Government Representative prior to implementation.

5.2.3. The Contractor shall coordinate with the USFWS GR to determine the best date(s) and time(s) of project to minimize impacts on other USFWS and public use activities.

5.2.4. The Contractor is responsible for cleaning up any spills (fluids, oils, fuels, etc) that may occur.

PART 6

APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

6. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS (CURRENT EDITIONS):

6.1. The Contractor must abide by all applicable regulations, publications, manuals, and local policies and procedures including Arkansas Best Management Practices for Forestry Manual available at website:

http://forestry.arkansas.gov/Services/ManageYourForests/Documents/bmpbookrevise.pdf

PART 7

ATTACHMENT/TECHNICAL EXHIBIT LISTING

7. Attachment/Technical Exhibit List:

7.1 Attachment 1 – Performance Requirements Summary

7.2. Attachment 2 – Deliverables Schedule

http://forestry.arkansas.gov/Services/ManageYourForests/Documents/bmpbookrevise.pdf

ATTACHMENT 2

DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

Deliverable Frequency # of Copies Medium/Format Submit To

Key Personnel Contact Information

Within 30 days of contract award 2 MS Word or PDF

Contracting Officer and Site

Representative Seedlings and

Planting of open field as per this PWS

Duration of Period of Performance n/a n/a Site Representative