Attachment_1-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

Fuel Reduction Thinning Treatment, Ninigret NWR Performance Work Statement

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 Scope

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will be contracting services to create fire breaks and modify/enhance habitat for several regionally declining species associated with pitch pine/oak ecosystems, and to reduce hazardous fuel loads on the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, located in Charlestown, RI.

The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, training, operating supplies, and services to implement fire break construction and habitat management prescriptions to create and modify canopy and shrub level vegetation density to enhance prescribed burning operations and the conservation of pitch pine/oak savannah habitats.

The Contractor will use tracked, mechanized equipment (refer to Equipment Specifications in Section 9.0) to mow/mulch designated trees within the prescribed treatment areas and trees and shrubs within defined fire breaks. Work to be performed will be a minimum of 50 to 60 acres but could be as high as 100 acres of tree thinning/mulching.

All work is contingent upon fund availability, permitting, and other logistical and timing constraints to be determined by FWS, consequently total contract amount may not encompass entire acreage described.

Contractor is to submit a per acre bid price.

These tasks are to be accomplished within the limits of the quantities awarded under the contract. The contractor shall perform to the standards in the contract Clauses, Provisions and this SOW. The quantities of work authorized are listed in the contract Line Items. Quantities are not to be exceeded without prior approval and funding by the Contracting Officer. Government is not obligated to pay for quantities performed that exceed the authorized amounts.

1.2 Location

Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge 50 Bend Road Charlestown, RI 02813 Jobsite: Lewis Trail/Route 2 41.401257, -71.644128 https://maps.app.goo.gl/k49S4KUFCkVdi7VcA

1.3 Contractor Personnel

1.3.1 Contract Manager. The contractor shall provide an onsite contract manager who shall be fully responsible for the performance of the work under the requirements and specifications of this contract. The name of this individual (and an alternate person who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent), shall be designated in writing to the Project https://maps.app.goo.gl/k49S4KUFCkVdi7VcA

Coordinator and the Contracting Officer (CO).

1.3.2 Authority. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract.

1.3.3 Availability. The contract manager or any alternates shall be available at the work site during normal work hours to meet with the Project Coordinator to discuss any progress status or current concerns.

1.3.4 Language. The contract manager and any alternates must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English fluently.

1.4 Hours of Operation

1.4.1 Normal Hours: All work on this contract shall be conducted Monday through Friday, from 0700-1700. No work is to be performed by the contractor outside of normal work hours, unless it has been requested and agreed to by the Project Coordinator.

1.5 Quality Control

1.5.1 Establish & Maintain. The contractor shall establish and maintain a complete Quality Control Plan (QCP), to ensure the requirements of the contract are provided as specified. The QCP shall comply with the requirements of FAR Clause 52-246-4, Inspection of Services - Fixed Price. One copy of the contractor’s Quality Control Plan shall be provided to the Contracting Officer not later than the pre-performance conference. An updated copy must be provided to the CO on the contract start work date, and as changes occur.

1.5.2 Inspection System. An inspection system covering all of the services specified in this (SOW). It must specify the areas to be inspected on either a scheduled or unscheduled basis (Random), how often inspections will be accomplished and the title of the individual(s) who will perform the inspections.

1.5.3 Identification and Prevention. The methods for identifying and preventing defects in the quality of service performed before performance becomes unacceptable.

1.5.4 Records. On-site records of all inspections conducted by the contractor, and necessary corrective action taken shall be made available to the Project Coordinator & CO during the term of the contract.

1.5.5 Government Review. The Contractor QCP shall be submitted to the CO for approval. If the plan is not adequate as submitted, then the deficiencies will be identified to the contractor in writing. The contractor shall correct all identified deficiencies and submit a corrected Contractor QCP within ten days or contract start work date, whichever is sooner.

1.6 Quality Assurance

1.6.1 Quality Assurance Evaluators. The Project Coordinator or a designated inspector shall monitor contractor performance, and inspect and accept or reject the services performed, as required by the contract. The name and telephone number of the Project Coordinator and/or inspector will be furnished to the contractor in writing by the CO.

1.6.2 Government Evaluation. The Project Coordinator or designated inspector will evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract using a visual inspection (Random or Scheduled). If the inspection reveals that any contract provision has not been met the Project Coordinator will inform the contract manager (or alternate) of the discrepancies. The contract manager will then inform the Project Coordinator of when the discrepancies will be corrected and available for re-inspection by the Government.

1.7 Documentation & Records

1.7.1 All documentation, records and schedules, as described in this

Performance Work Statement (SOW) that are the responsibility of the contractor, are the property of the Government and shall be turned over to the Government upon completion or termination of this contract. All records are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and to the Privacy Act and any such requests for release of any records shall be handled accordingly.

2.0 STANDARD DEFINITIONS

2.1.1 Contracting Officer (CO): A Government person that has been delegated authority to enter into, administer, and terminate contracts and make determinations and findings on behalf of the Government.

2.1.2 Project Coordinator: A Government person appointed by the Contracting Officer (CO), to help the contracting officer with contract administration.

This person may also be responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.3 Defective Service: A unit of service which contains one or more defects, or nonconformance with the specified requirements.

2.1.4 Quality Assurance (QA): Those actions taken by the Government to assure that services meet the specifications and requirements of the (SOW), such as Random Inspection and Final Inspection methods.

2.1.5 Quality Control (QC): Those actions that are taken by the contractor to control the performance of the services so that they meet the requirements of the (SOW).

3.0 ACRONYMS:

3.1.1 CO Contracting Officer

3.1.2 OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

3.1.3 QA Quality Assurance

3.1.4 QAE Quality Assurance Evaluator

3.1.5 QC Quality Control

3.1.6 QCP Quality Control Plan

3.1.7 SOW Statement of Work

4.0 DETAILED REQUIREMENTS & SPECIFICATIONS

4.1.1 General. The contractor is solely responsible for familiarizing themselves with the work locations, as well as the nature and scope of the tasks.

4.1.2 Site Visit. A site visit will be scheduled prior to the initiation of work, 200 yards west on Lewis Trail from the junction of Narrow Lane and Route 2, Charlestown, RI. The POC for the site visit is Nick Ernst 401- 519-8138.

4.1.3 Period of Performance. Tree thinning and fire break clearing may commence on November 1, 2026, and must be completed no later than March 31, 2027. See Section 4.1.6 for time of year restrictions for the work/service. The contractor will be required to review the work areas and develop a schedule of work to be submitted to the Project Coordinator for their review and approval before any work begins. The project areas in greatest need of treatment shall be based on priority. This priority will be based on mutual agreement between the contractor and the Project Coordinator.

4.1.4 Weather Considerations. Certain weather conditions may require work restrictions. Rain events of over one inch rainfall usually make refuge roads un-passable due to the soils of the region. No vehicles will be allowed to operate on unpaved refuge roads or trails under these conditions. The Project Coordinator will determine when such conditions exist and require these restrictions. Usually if the rain event is followed by one or more full days of dry weather the vehicle restriction can be lifted. Extreme fire danger in the project area may require work shutdowns or reduced hours of operation (i.e. no saws or forest cutting machinery after 1 p.m.). The New England Zone Fire Mgmt. Officer (or his acting) will determine when such conditions exist and will notify the Project Coordinator the day prior to the restrictions going into effect.

The Contractor will be informed by the Project Coordinator when these restrictions are in effect.

4.1.5 Conflicts with Other Government Use. The contractor acknowledges that this project is on a National Wildlife Refuge and agrees to move their personnel, equipment and operations at their expense if the area that tasks are being performed is needed for other Government use. In the event of interference due to such requirements, the Government shall grant additional time to complete the tasks not completed, based on a day for day basis.

4.1.6 Endangered Wildlife. Unplanned contact with or disturbance of threatened or endangered wildlife or plant species within a work area may require suspension of work in that area. Contractor shall inform the Project Coordinator immediately if such contact is suspected (the Government may provide a substitute area for the contractor to work in if one is available within the same magnitude of task). Heavy machinery will be restricted from April 1 through October 31 to protect endangered species.

5.0 SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

5.1.1 Work Requirements. The contractor shall perform work in a safe manner and is responsible to be in full compliance with all Federal (including OSHA), State and local policies, rules, regulations and requirements pertinent to the work/tasks being performed under this contract.

5.1.2 Equipment Condition. All equipment shall be maintained in good operating condition. All safety precautions and requirements shall be implemented and complied with when using equipment. All safety devices shall be in place on-site and function properly on all equipment being used. All operations shall be conducted in compliance with all Federal, State and local occupational health and safety laws and regulations, including OSHA.

5.1.3 General Housekeeping and Sanitation. The contractor shall be responsible for proper handling and disposal of all waste including (but not limited to) general trash/waste, human waste, hazardous materials and hazardous waste (i.e. oily rags, discarded oil or fuel). All trash is to be picked up and removed daily. The Contractor is responsible for cleaning up all camp and worksites before leaving the area. No government facilities (i.e. restrooms or trash receptacles) are available at the work sites.

5.1.4 Fire Starts. Any fire starts that are caused by the contractor shall be quickly extinguished or a 911 call be made to the Charlestown EOC for immediate fire response, followed up by a call to the COR. Each vehicle used on the contract shall have a five pound, ABC rated fire extinguisher mounted in the vehicle. Fire extinguishers shall be readily available for any fire starts. All fire extinguishers shall be inspected and certified for use (with inspection tag attached) prior to starting this contract.

6.0 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES

6.1.1 General. The contractor shall furnish and provide all labor, trained crew personnel, appropriate equipment (in good working condition), facilities, materials, trained equipment operators, supervision, training, supplies, tools, transportation and any other items and services needed to perform the work as described herein.

6.1.2 Security of Materials. The Contractor may leave its equipment at the work site. The Contractor shall be responsible for their equipment if it should be lost, stolen or damaged.

6.1.3 The contractor is responsible to furnish personal protective equipment to crew members respective of the type of work being completed (i.e. hard hat, eye and hearing protection, leather gloves, hard hat, leather gloves).

7.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY AND FACILITIES

7.1.1 No materials or operating supplies are Government furnished. All property and materials required for performing the contract tasks shall be provided by the Contractor.

7.1.2 The Government will provide an agency representative to acquaint the contractor with the work area(s) to be completed.

7.1.3 Adequate maps for orientation of contractor personnel working on this contract will be available.

7.1.4 There are no Government-furnished facilities available under the terms and specifications of the contract.

8.0 GENERAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

8.1.1 All machinery must operate from upland areas, no mechanized entry into wetland resource areas is permissible; wetland boundaries will be flagged prior to the start of operations.

8.1.2 Road access to the contract site and specific access locations where equipment may enter will be assigned by FWS Project Coordinator in consultation with Contractor. Contractor shall furnish a minimum of 2 – DOT approved 3x3 foot warning signs, warning of potential flying debris, to be placed roadside.

8.1.3 Public or private access roads damaged by the Contractor shall be restored, at his expense, to the same condition they were in at the commencement of work. All roads used by the Contractor to access the site must be restored to their pre-treatment condition at the conclusion of the operation in coordination with and to the satisfaction of FWS Project Coordinator. Any ruts that are made within the treatment areas must be graded promptly as conditions permit.

8.1.4 All equipment and support vehicles will be required to be washed and cleaned of all foreign material prior to moving onto and off the job site to eliminate the spread of invasive plants.

8.1.5 Mechanical equipment will use tracked excavator -style bases (see section 9.0 for preferred equipment specifications)

8.1.6 Contractor will be required to show past experience with mulching/chipping trees and shrubs for hazardous fuel reduction and fire break creation in New England.

9.0 EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS (required specifications)

9.1.1 20-ton excavator

9.1.2 Fecon head (BH 80 tree mulcher)

9.1.3 56 inch cutting width

9.1.4 150 gallons per minute hydraulic flow

9.1.5 6000 psi of hydraulic pressure

9.1.6 350 HP powerpack

9.1.7 28-foot reach

9.1.8 Low ground pressure equipment tracked equipment (ground pressure of 5 psi)

9.1.9 Mulcher ability to run combination of 4 different styles of teeth for desired product

9.1.10 Capable of mulching any size tree standing or felled

9.1.11 Capable of mulching any size stump

9.1.12 Full machine cage and guarding for safety

10.0 TASK REQUIREMENTS

10.1 Line Item 0001- Mechanical Hazardous Fuel Reduction to consist of Tree

Thinning, Firebreak Clearing, and Stump Grinding

10.1.1 Tree Thinning

In the tree thinning areas, the Contractor will be required to mow selected trees or groups of trees as determined by the refuge manager or biologist prior to contract implementation. Mowing/cutting criteria may be based on a certain diameter threshold, basal area/acre, or general spacing and will be communicated to the Contractor prior to cutting. Treatment blocks and fire breaks will be mowed to the standards addressed below. All white pine will be targeted for mulching, topping or girdling. Hardwoods and pitch pine that are suppressed, weak or leaning, or show current or past sign of insect infestation will also be targeted for mulching, topping or girdling. Downed woody fuels and herbaceous vegetation will be mechanically mowed to reduce excessive fuel accumulations that are greater than 70% and reduce the continuity of surface fuels to 25-50% random coverage. Other specific trees and or shrub clusters may be flagged in advance of the mowing operation for retention. To the extent possible, retain a minimum of three live cavity trees and/or snag trees per acre, with one exceeding 18 inches DBH and two exceeding 12 inches DBH. When lacking such cavity trees, retain live trees of these diameters with defects likely to lead to cavity formation in the future. Snags or living cavity trees that are unsound, and occur within 100 feet of a fire break, should be removed.

The tree thinning is divided into two areas – shaded fuel break and savannah.

The shaded fuel break area is approximately 30 acres. The goal in this area is to reduce the density of trees from approximately 235 trees per acre to approximately 125 trees per acre. Tree diameters range from 5-18 inches (measured 4.5 feet from the ground) but average 9 inches. The current distribution of trees is variable, and we expect the residual distribution to also be variable ranging from 80-150 trees per acre with 10 to 45 foot spacing. The residual stand should average about 70 square feet of basal area with approximately 60% canopy cover. This is about a 46% reduction in trees.

The savannah area is approximately 48 acres. The goal in this area is to reduce the density of trees from 160 trees per acre to approximately 65 trees per acre. Tree diameters range from 5 – 16 inches (measured 4.5 feet from the ground) but average 9.3 inches. The current distribution of trees is variable, and we expect the residual distribution to also be variable ranging from 20-75 trees per acre with 10 to 45 foot spacing. The residual stand should average about 30 square feet of basal area with approximately 20-60% canopy cover. This is about a 60% reduction in trees.

10.1.2 Firebreak Clearing

Mowing of perennial and annual grasses and/or brush by mechanical method.

Beating or chopping is also included of brushy vegetation up to three inches in diameter at the base and three feet in height.

Within fire breaks, all trees < 8 inches DBH will be mulched, and all shrubs will be mowed/mulched to the ground. Firebreaks will be 15-20 feet wide, or otherwise minimally a 100-foot-wide shaded fuel break (includes tree and shrub mowing), with a main path void of trees that is wide enough for a 10-foot-wide pickup truck with service body to easily navigate with towing mirrors extended.

Fire break placement shall be determined by Project Coordinator prior to contract implementation and constructed somewhat meandering to not create a straight visual corridor effect through the forest stand, unless immediately adjacent to a property line. Fire breaks may require several large tree boles to be placed across the breaks within 50 feet from paved or dirt roads upon completion, as designated by the Project Coordinator, to limit vehicular access.

10.1.3 Quality Standard Firebreak

Stumps from cut trees and shrubs must be less than 2 inches in height after cutting. Project Coordinator may allow some taller stump heights if specific conditions dictate.