Attachment_1_Statement_of_Work.pdf

Statement of Work: Seeding

Shivwits Plateau Landscape Restoration Project – Agway Wash, Agway Valley East, Agway Valley Southwest Units Seed Application

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument

Arizona Strip District Bureau of Land Management

I. STATEMENT OF WORK INFORMATION

Introduction:

This contract is for seeding on three units of the Shivwits Plateau Landscape Restoration Project

– Agway Wash, Agway Valley East, Agway Valley Southwest (SPLRP – Agway) on the Grand

Canyon-Parashant National Monument (GCPNM) to introduce seed in these areas before mastication work begins. The three units include the Agway Wash mastication unit consisting of

194 acres, the Agway Valley East mastication unit consisting of 102 acres, and the Agway

Valley Southwest mastication unit consisting of 65 acres for a total of 361 acres (see maps in

Appendix B). The three mastication/seeding units are in the same vicinity, see map B.1.

Background:

The SPLRP – Agway project will masticate approximately 361 acres of Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) administered land within the GCPNM. The mastication work will be done in areas that no longer have an understory/seed source due to the encroachment of pinyon pine, Utah juniper trees, and sagebrush. The GCPNM will seed BLM-administered lands prior to the mastication work. Seeding in combination with mastication will help move the project area toward desired resource conditions by improving vegetative species diversity by seeding native plants to enhance wildlife habitat, improve rangeland health, vegetation community composition, diversity, structure and function.

Site Locations:

The work under this contract is located on BLM lands of the GCPNM in Mohave County, Arizona as shown on the attached maps in Appendix B. Work under this contract is in the Red

Pond Allotment, Agway Valley area of Mohave County approximately 55 miles south of St.

George, Utah. This area is remote and there are no services outside of the neighboring town of

St. George, Utah. Cell phone coverage is intermittent to non-existent. Satellite communication device is recommended for emergency contact in these areas.

Agway Wash Unit

Gila & Salt River Meridian, Mohave County, Arizona.

T. 33 N., R. 11 W., Section: 5;

T. 34 N., R. 11 W., Sections: 32 and 33.

Agway Valley East Unit

T. 33 N., R. 11 W., Section: 6.

Agway Valley Southwest Unit

T. 33 N., R. 11 W., Sections: 6 and 7;

T. 33 N., R. 12 W., Sections: 1 and 12.

Elevations range from 5,500 to 5,700 feet within the project site. Slopes range from flat to 30% with much of the project being less than 10%, thus it is mostly flat or rolling. Trees are mature pinyon pine and juniper with little ground coverage.

Access to the site: Access onto the project site is provided by a combination of paved highways, Mohave County dirt roads, BLM dirt roads, and BLM jeep trails. Roads to the site are dirt and not improved and 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicles are required to access the project area.

Four (4) wheel drive vehicles are required in and around the project area. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to get the equipment to the work site.

Period of Performance:

August 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024. Work shall not begin before the receipt of a Notice to

Proceed. This contract requires close coordination with a mastication contract. The seed mix must be applied on all units prior to mastication.

CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS AND SCOPE OF WORK

Contractor shall furnish all management, supervision, equipment, labor, supplies, and materials not provided by the Government but required to complete the job. The Contractor shall be responsible for the service and repair of equipment as necessary to continuously maintain satisfactory work progress. Designated areas shall be seeded in conformance with these specifications and this Statement of Work with BLM provided seed at the rate specified below.

Seed: Seed will be furnished by the Government at the Arizona Strip District Office, located in

St. George, UT. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to transport seed to their chosen staging area. The contractor will then apply the seed within 5 days of acquiring the seed (weather permitting). Once acquired, the Contractor shall be responsible to protect seed from loss or damage. Seed damaged or lost while in the custody of the Contractor shall be replaced by the

Contractor at no additional expense to the Government. The seed mix is listed in Appendix A.

Seed Application: No ground disturbance will be allowed. The Contractor must be able to evenly distribute the designated seed at the rates specified in this Statement of Work. Equipment that cannot perform the specified work shall be modified or replaced by the Contractor within two calendar days. Application equipment shall be equipped for carrying seed with distribution mechanism including release, shutoff, and spreading device which can be calibrated for spreading seed at the prescribed rate in an acceptable manner and uniform pattern. Seed application equipment shall include physical measures to prevent seed from blowing out. All seed (government furnished) for the project will be transported to the Contractor’s designated staging area by the contractor and coordinated between the Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR) and the Contractor.

Seed Application & Rate: Seed application rate is approximately 13.3 lbs. per acre. Apply mixed seed at a uniform rate per horizontal acre, minimizing over-seeding outside of treatment boundaries. Seed strips shall be distributed in such a manner as to secure a high uniformity of seed distribution. Such distribution shall not vary more than 10 percent above or below the average distribution of seed per unit of surface specified for the particular area concerned.

Application equipment shall be equipped for carrying seed with distribution mechanism including release, shutoff, and spreading device which can be calibrated for spreading seed at the prescribed rate in an acceptable manner and uniform pattern. Seed application equipment shall include lids/covers which fasten securely to prevent seed from blowing out. Electronic mapping data shall be provided and displayed to the COR on request.

Seeder Calibration: The Contractor shall calibrate seeding equipment prior to application on the project. The Government will supply seed for calibration. Seed not used for calibration shall be recovered for use on the project.

Monitoring Equipment: The Contractor shall furnish equipment to monitor and ensure evenly spaced, straight, regular, and complete coverage of all areas included in the seeding job.

Work Crew: All Crew for operation of equipment and seed handling and loading shall be furnished by the Contractor.

Seeding Operation Safety Hazards: Any hazards that would pose a danger to Contractor, Contractor’s personnel or operating equipment shall be identified, mitigated and/or avoided by the Contractor and brought to the Government representative’s attention.

Application Conditions: Seed shall not be applied when the wind speed exceeds ten miles per hour.

Dust Abatement: The contractor shall furnish water for dust abatement at the staging area.

Coverage: The entire surface within the designated boundaries of the job area shall receive uniform coverage with the seed. Seeding strips shall be patterned in such a manner as to secure as high a uniformity of seed distribution. Such distribution shall not vary more than 10 percent above or below the average distribution of seed per unit of surface specified for the particular area concerned. Inspection will be made as operations progress to determine uniformity of application. Any areas missed by the Contractor or seeded to less than the concentration specified shall be reseeded and brought up to standard, or by suitable deduction from contract price, at the option of the Government. No additional cost to the Government will be incurred.

Seed openings of the distribution mechanism shall be inspected at sufficient intervals to ensure proper functioning and even distribution of seed. If at any time inspection of equipment reveals that seed openings are not properly operating or that feeders are blocked, the COR may require reseeding of that portion of the area or areas, that the Government determines it was not properly seeded, at no additional cost to the Government.

Tests for Uniformity and Rate of Application: The Government will conduct tests as operations progress to determine uniformity of seeding. Standards of performance will be determined by adequate weight records of seed for each particular seeding trip covered, and ground recovery of samples of seed actually distributed. All work of weight recording, and ground recovery will be done by the Government at no cost to the Contractor. Should the

Contractor wish to object in any way to the weight recording and/or ground recovery sampling done at any particular time by the Government, the Contractor shall be present in person or by authorized representative to voice said objections when said weight recording and/or ground recovery samplings are done, and to agree upon new records and/or samples at the time, where after the weight recording and ground recovery sampling done by the Government shall be final and binding in the settlement of contract.

Work Stoppages & Delays: The contractor is expected to complete all contract performance in a timely manner, regardless of the contractor or subcontractor's other workload, including any work being performed. A delay or failure to perform may be considered excusable when the delay or failure arises from causes beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the

Contractor or subcontractor. Examples of these causes are (1) acts of God or of the public enemy, (2) acts of the BLM in either its sovereign or contractual capacity, (3) fires, (4) floods,

(5) epidemics, (6) quarantine restrictions, (7) strikes, (8) freight embargoes, and (9) unusually severe weather. In each instance, the failure to perform must be beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the Contractor or subcontractor.

Upon request of the Contractor, the Contracting Officer shall ascertain the facts and extent of the failure. If the Contracting Officer determines that any failure to perform results from one or more of the causes above, the delivery schedule may be revised, subject to the BLM’s contract termination rights under the contract.

Note: “Unusually severe weather” means weather that is outside the normal weather patterns for a specific area at a specific time of the year. For example, strong wind and snowstorms in fall and winter, or strong wind, rain or hailstorms in spring and summer are not considered unusually severe. An unusually severe snow, wind or rainstorm is one that is worse than even the harshest normal conditions during a season.

Wind exceeding 10 mph may cause a stop/suspend work order to be issued. Stoppage/suspension shall continue until seeding operations are again authorized by the Government. No monetary compensation will be given to the Contractor for this type of work stoppage/suspension.

Completion of Contract: The contract will be considered complete, and payment due when all seed furnished to the Contractor by the Government has been seeded to the standards specified above; or when all areas designated under the contract have been seeded to specifications; or if performance under the contract is ordered to be terminated by the Government; and when the

Contractor has furnished the Government with the Shapefiles and Printouts.

II. EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

a. Base of Operation: The Contractor shall provide such operational facilities as may be required for competent performance of the contract. Use of any operation area shall be arranged by and at the discretion and risk of the Contractor, and the Government shall not be held responsible for any loss, mishap, or accident due to conditions of any operating facility used.

b. Staging Area: Staging area(s) for operations, seed loading, and equipment storage will be submitted by the Contractor prior to the pre-work meeting and approved by the COR.

The contractor is responsible for securing permission to use any property or facilities from the appropriate landowner or manager.

c. Seeding: Satisfactorily seed the designated areas in the time specified as required in this

Statement of Work. Contractor shall be capable of distributing seed at the rate and width specified in this Statement of Work over varying ground elevation, steep terrain, tight canyons. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and Local regulations.

d. GPS/GIS (Esri or Compatible) Compatible Navigation System:

i. Application Equipment: Shall be equipped with a GPS Guidance/Tracking system capable of accepting and utilizing Esri Shapefiles (.shp) and of directly supplying

Shapefiles (.shp) of treatment coverage to the Government in UTM projection North

America Datum 1983 upon completion of each treated area or as required by the

Contracting Officer.

ii. Navigation: Differentially Corrected Global Positioning System (DGPS). DGPS is required for tracking and data collection. The Contractor shall provide all guidance equipment, GPS equipment, materials, computers, printers, personnel, and services required for the system to be used. The system shall be sufficiently sensitive to provide immediate deviation indications in real time. The DGPS system must be capable of determining a differentially corrected location with an error of no more than one to two meters in the horizontal plane. The guidance system shall be capable of updating current position at a rate of a minimum of one time per second.

Differential correction must cover the complete operational area. During operation, differentially corrected signal must be accurately recorded at least 90% of the operational time. Differential correction may be provided by a portable differential station, FM radio fixed towers, or satellite.

iii. Software: Software provided with DGPS must be designed for parallel offset in increments equal to the assigned swath width of the application equipment.

iv. Project Log: Must be capable of a minimum rate of one-second logging intervals.

Full record includes position, time, speed, track, application system on/off, job name/number, and differential correction status. The computer program must be capable of calculating and showing total acres treated during the application and also capable of downloading to a computer for analysis and review. The project log must show and differentiate between seed drop-on and seed drop-off when viewed on a computer monitor or printer. Export files of each project log shall be provided and must be compatible with Esri GIS system on a standard USB memory stick. The

Contractor may provide software that is compatible, and which will enable the files to convert into viewable files for Esri GIS. The contractor must, upon request by the

COR or Project Inspector, be able to supply project log data on a USB memory drive for review at any time during the contract. The DGPS system must be capable of zooming in on any portion of the treatment to view a specific area with greater detail.

e. Visual Display Monitor and Control Keypad:

i. Capable of displaying swath width over project path.

ii. Mounted in a location that will allow the applicator to view the screen.

iii. Have a method to display nested polygons to indicate sensitive or no-seed areas within or adjacent treatment blocks.

iv. Have a feature that allows the applicator to return to the exact location of application shutdown and complete application without omitted or doubled treated areas.

v. Be able to input reference waypoints (A-B line).

vi. Have a feature which alerts applicator when they are about to enter or exit a specific treatment block or an exclusion area within a block.

f. Memory: Contractor must be capable of storing up to 10 hours of continuous project log data.

SPLRP – Agway Design Features:

The Contractor agrees to insert these design features into all subcontracts.

Hazardous Materials and Trash

• Use of Hazardous Materials and/or petroleum products requires that all appropriate

State and Federal Regulations be complied with including, but not limited to, Materials

Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on hand and use of necessary Personal Protective Clothing

(PPE).

• On-site disposal of Hazardous Materials or Waste including hydrocarbons is not authorized. On-site disposal will subject the contractor to at least the cost of reclamation and the appropriate disposal of contaminated soil.

• At no time will vehicle or equipment fluids (including motor oil and lubricants) be dumped on public lands. All accidental spills shall be reported to the authorized officer and be cleaned up immediately and disposed of in an authorized disposal site, using best available practices required by law. All spills of federally or state listed hazardous materials which exceed the reportable quantities shall be promptly reported to the appropriate agency and the authorized officer.

• The project sites shall be cleaned up at the end of each workday (e.g. trash removed, scrap materials picked up), and all refuse removed or otherwise disposed of by the

Contractor. “Waste” means all discarded matter including, but not limited to, human waste, trash, garbage, refuse, oil drums, petroleum products, oil, grease, chemicals, discarded equipment or parts. The Contractor shall be responsible for disposal of materials in a manner consistent with State, Federal and local laws and for all expenses incurred with disposal. Disposal shall be in a manner that will prevent their entry into any water source in or near Contractor’s operations.

Work Camps

• Camping may be permitted on federal lands provided that “leave no trace” principles are applied. If camping is expected to last more than 14 days, prior written authorization must be obtained through the COR. These camps will be placed in either previously disturbed locations or within the treatment area. Camps and associated equipment will follow the relevant SPLRP – Agway Design Features listed above.

III. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT, DATA, & MATERIALS

Government Furnished GPS Coordinates: Unit boundaries will be provided in electronic shape files. Boundaries will not be marked on the ground. After the contract is awarded more detailed maps can be provided. Some options are:

• Geo-referenced maps at a scale of 1:24k or larger (if more detail is needed) that can be used with the Avenza app.

• Geospatial data formats the data can be provided in: GPX file (can be used on a Garmin

GPS) or KML file shapefile geodatabase

• Collector web map - the contractor could get an account through the ArcGIS Online

Geoplatform organization and we could share a web map for use in the Esri Collector app.

Government Furnished Materials: Seed

Government Furnished Equipment: None

IV. DELIVERABLES

1. The Contractor will provide project log data at the end of each day’s application. The

Contract will not be considered complete until the data have been reviewed and deemed complete with no skips in the treatment areas.

2. Must be capable of calculating and showing total acres treated and differentiate between seed drop-on and seed drop-off. A color printout and Export files of each shall be provided on a standard removable drive or other appropriate media approved by the

Contracting Officer and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument at the end of the contract and must be compatible with Esri GIS. Shapefiles are the preferred file format.

V. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

See Attachment 4 – Instructions to offerors for proposal submittal instructions and evaluation criteria.

Quality assurance

A. Codes and Standards: The work shall comply with codes and standards applicable to each type of work and as listed in the individual sections of these specifications.

B. Conflict: Where conflict occurs between reference documents and project specifications, the project specifications shall govern.

Sequencing and scheduling

Work Schedule: When requested by the CO/COR, the Contractor shall submit an updated schedule within 1 calendar day to the CO, with a copy to the COR.

PROJECT MEETINGS

Meeting Schedule: When requested, the Contractor shall submit an updated schedule within 1 calendar day.

Pre-Work Conference: A pre-work conference will be held prior to the start of work. The

Contractor will be notified in advance of meeting time, date, and place. The purpose will be to review required work, Work Location Maps and specifications, schedules, payments, and administrative provisions of the Contract.

Attendance: The Contractor, any subcontractors and the persons responsible for coordination of the work shall be present at the meeting.

Presentation: At this meeting the Contractor shall be prepared to summarize and explain procedures planned for the projects.

Progress Meetings: Meetings shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the CO/COR.

Notification: Meetings may be called by either the CO/COR or the Contractor. Request shall state who should attend and include an agenda.

Final Inspection: This meeting shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the

CO/COR. The Contractor and the COR shall be present during this inspection.

Payment: Measurement for payment for seeding will be actual area, in acres, within the designated boundaries satisfactorily seeded in conformance with these specifications.

Measurements will be made from Shapefiles and Printouts. Payment will be made at the unit price per acres specified in the Bid Schedule which is made a part hereof and shall include the cost of all work described in this paragraph and the Work Data Sheets.

Government-furnished property

Property: The Government will furnish all seed at a centralized storage facility. The contractor will be responsible for obtaining the seed from the seed storage facility and transporting seed to work sites. BLM may choose to move the seed as opposed to having the vendor move it. This will be decided at the time of award.

Return of Property: Excess seed will be returned to the Bureau of Land Management’s storage facility upon notification by the contractor unless otherwise determined.

Inspection and acceptance

Inspection: The COR/ PI will make periodic inspections as a basis for payments and recommendations for adjustments in work quality. The Contractor is encouraged to observe inspection while they are being made and have a supervisor on site to confer with the COR/ PI.

Shapefiles will be viewed and/or given to the COR/ PI on a daily basis. The determination of acres completed shall be agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR/ PI on a daily basis.

Final acceptance

Work Performed: According to the specifications, the treatment will be considered acceptable for payment if all deliverable services are complete.

Final Payment: Shall be made upon final acceptance of services, Government receipt of

Shapefile Printouts from Contractor, return of Government-furnished property (if any) and receipt of a proper invoice through IPP.gov. Payment will be made by “acre”. All acres identified in the mapped work-area shall be completed and accepted by the Government in order to receive 100% payment.

General information

Location: The government furnished property will be provided by the Bureau of Land

Management, Arizona Strip District Office, Saint George, UT 84790. The seed for seeding will also be located at the district office. The contractor may collect the seed directly from the District

Office. Notice of two business days will be given (call 435-231-9580, text is best) so that a representative can meet the contractor at the seed storage facility for seed pick up. A forklift will be available at the seed storage facility. BLM may choose to move the seed as opposed to having the vendor move it. This will be decided at the time of award. Advanced notice of 10 business days notice would be required, from the contractor, if the BLM moves the seed. The Contractor will apply the seed within 5 days of receiving it (weather permitting). Once the seed is in the

Contractor’s possession, the Contractor shall be responsible to protect seed from loss or damage.

Time: Seed will be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM or as needed and approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative Jannice Cutler, jcutler@blm.gov, (435)

688-3312. Advanced notice will be needed so that a representative can meet to access the seed.

Return of property: Excess seed will be returned to the Bureau of Land Management unless otherwise determined. Empty seed bags will be either disposed of by the contractor or reclaimed by the Bureau at the Bureau’s discretion.

Loading-off loading: The contractor will be responsible for providing necessary equipment and personnel to unload and load seed. All seed will be premixed in 50 lb. sacks.

APPENDIX A

SPLRP – Agway Units Seeding Desired Seed Mix (361 acres):

Species Pounds

GRAMA, BLUE, BOGR2,

GRASS, GALLETA, PLJA

SQUIRRELTAIL,

BOTTLEBRUSH, ELEL5,

RICEGRASS, INDIAN,

ACHY,

DROPSEED, SAND, SPCR,

WHEATGRASS, WESTERN,

PASM,

GLOBEMALLOW 50

EPHEDRA, GREEN, EPVI

Total 4800

Seed rate approximately 13.3 lbs./acre.

APPENDIX B

B.1: Seeding Units Overview Map.

B.2: Seeding Units Overview Ortho Map.

B.3: Seeding - Agway Wash Unit Map.

B.4: Seeding - Agway Valley East and Agway Valley Southwest Units Map.

Hazardous Materials and Trash