Attachment_1_Statement_of_Work.pdf

Sutey Ranch Goat Vegetation Treatment Statement of Work

A. Introduction:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado River Valley Field Office (CRVFO) seeks to utilize grazing goats as a management tool to improve the diversity of forage for wildlife, reduce noxious weeds, improve soil conditions, and reduce fuel loads on approximately 32 acres at the Sutey Ranch.

B. Sutey Ranch Location:

The Sutey Ranch is located approximately 2 miles north of Carbondale, Colorado in Garfield County. Access is from Highway 82 via Cattle Creek Road (CR 113) and Crystal Springs Mountain Road (CR 112), which crosses the northeast corner of the parcels. See Appendix A for maps and photo of the 32-acre project area. In 2023, goats will graze the pastures labeled as 22 and 9, as well as an approximately 1-acre area around the historical ranch buildings between pastures 9, 6, and 31.

Driving directions from Glenwood Springs: Take SH 82 towards Carbondale/Aspen.

Turn left off 82 at Cattle Creek Rd (County Road 113) and head towards Cottonwood Pass.

Turn right on County Road 112 and proceed about 1.5 miles to the BLM parking. The trailhead is well marked but there is very little cell service in this area. Coordinate with BLM staff for logistical questions.

C. Description of Work and Goals for Sutey Ranch

Project Area

Sutey Ranch is currently being managed to balance seasonal protection for concentrations of wildlife with access for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hunting. The parcel provides important big game winter range, and the former agricultural fields provide important forage during spring and early summer. The Sutey Ranch is dominated by pinyon-juniper woodlands, which cover approximately 55 percent of the parcel. Sagebrush shrublands are also common, and in many areas the sagebrush has been cleared and seeded with smooth brome grass (Bromus inermis) to create dryland pastures. Over time, some sagebrush has re-established in most of the dryland pasture areas, but the understory continues to be dominated by a near monoculture of smooth brome. There are approximately 72 acres of irrigated pastures but only 32 acres will be targeted in 2023. In the northern portion of the ranch, the pastures are dominated by smooth brome and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristata). Disturbed areas surround existing ranch buildings and three seasonal stock ponds in the north-central part of the parcel. Gambel oak shrublands occur near the southern boundary of the ranch. A limited riparian/wetland area occurs in a roadside ditch that parallels County Road 112. Noxious weeds species found on the ranch include Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), Hoary cress (Cardaria draba), Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and Common burdock (Arctium minus). Hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana) is commonly found in the irrigated pastures. Grazing shall not occur on the Sutey Ranch until after July 15, and the project will need to be completed in 14 days.

Management goals for utilizing goats on former agricultural fields

• Increase organic matter in soil through inputs of goat feces and urine.

• Improve soil microbial content.

• Improve soil permeability and water retention by increasing the roughness of the surface.

• Improve soil water holding capacity by building organic matter in soil.

• Improve year-round forage quality for mule deer and elk by increasing palatable native perennial grass and forb abundance and diversity.

• Reduce fuel loads around ranch outbuildings and structures.

• Remove grasses and decadent forage on irrigated pastures to reduce fuels and improve irrigation efficiency.

• Control noxious weeds without utilizing herbicides.

D. Contractor Furnished Items

1. Contractor is responsible for the transport of goats to/from project area.

2. Contractor will provide a large enough herd of goats to achieve the desired management goals with a minimum amount of transport truck traffic in order to limit damage and soil compaction.

3. Contractor will manage grazing goats using a combination of working dogs, professional graziers, and temporary fencing.

4. Contractor will bring, maintain, and operate all equipment and supplies needed to treat 32 acres in Goat Rx Fields labeled 22 and 9 (see map Appendix A). Goats will graze around historical ranch buildings to reduce fine fuels. This is an area that is approximately 1 acre and is located between pastures 9, 6, and 31. This work shall not be initiated until after July 15 and must be completed within 14 days. This area receives heavy recreational use (hiking, trail running, dog walking, mountain biking, horseback riding), so working dogs must be adapted to the public and their animals.

5. Contractor will control and be responsible for the working or herding dogs during herding operations. During periods of rest (when dogs aren’t being utilized to move livestock), the contractor will control or secure their dogs to prevent unwanted interactions with the public, their dogs and/or horses, and wildlife.

6. Contractor will provide equipment (tanks) for watering livestock and be responsible for suppling and administering water to livestock, dogs, and graziers. The Government will provide access to water via a well at Sutey Ranch. However, the area is experiencing exceptional drought, which could impact the flow from the well.

If no well water is available, the contractor will have to haul water.

7. Contractor is authorized to utilize a UTV or other vehicle to conduct fence setting, water livestock, etc.

8. The contractor will provide transportation for equipment, operators, and fuel to and from the site. The contractor will be responsible for the appropriate security when equipment is left on site.

9. Contractor is not authorized to create new trails or routes within the project areas.

10. Contractor is responsible for pressure washing vehicles to remove mud and seed accumulations before entering the project areas.

11. Contractor will make reasonable efforts to keep goats away from roads and trails to reduce the risk of accidents between livestock and public land users.

12. Contractor will report escaped goats and/or working dogs or accidents to BLM Rangeland Management Specialist Kristy Wallner (970-366-1633) within 24 hours.

13. Contractor will have someone proficient in the English language present at all times when working.

14. Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Provisions: The government may require the contractor to curtail or cease operations should wildland fire danger approach critical levels. The contractor will be given 24 hours notice in the form of a suspend work order issued by the Contracting Officer.

15. Ignition of a wildland fire that threatens the project area may require the contractor to proceed with an emergency evacuation of the project area.

16. The contractor or their employees, upon documented permission from the CO/COR, may establish temporary work camps on public lands administered by the BLM.

Camps shall be kept clean and free of refuse. These camps may consist of mobile trailers, pickup campers, tent trailers, or tents. The contractor will be required to rehabilitate the camping area to the satisfaction of the CO/COR. Camps are subject to all fire restrictions placed by state, county or federal authorities.

17. The BLM must be informed of any objects or sites of cultural, paleontological, or scientific value such as historic or prehistoric resources, graves or grave markers, human remains, ruins, cabins, rock art, fossils, or artifacts. The objects shall not be damaged, destroyed, removed, moved, or disturbed. Any person who knowingly violates this may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment (Public Law 16-95; 16 U.S.C. 470).

18. Contractor must have the qualifications, experience, knowledge, capability and resources to manage a project of this size and scope within the requested timeframes and in the project areas.

19. Contractor must be able to identify the weeds on the Garfield County Noxious Weed List and have knowledge of their life cycles.

20. Contractor must provide proof of liability insurance with a minimum of 1 million dollars.

E. BLM Contributions/Guidelines

1. Pre-educate public land visitors about goat grazing project work using signs, press releases, and on-site presence speaking with public land visitors.

2. The BLM will provide a pre-work conference with the contractor awarded the job.

3. The BLM will provide maps and descriptions of the Project Areas and will accompany the operator around the boundaries.

4. Coordinate project partners to assist with monitoring.

5. The BLM will provide representatives from the BLM CRVFO to act as a liaison between the contractor and the BLM Contracting Officer to implement the project and to ensure that the resource objectives of the project area met. The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Project Inspector (PI) will provide regular on-site inspections.

a. COR: Hilary Boyd, cell: (970)366-1917.

b. PI: Kristy Wallner, Office: (970)876-9023, cell: (970)366-1633.

F. Contract Period

1. July 15th to October15, 2023.

2. Consideration will be given to delays caused by weather and poor road conditions.

G. Prebid Tour

A pre-bid conference call will be scheduled (if necessary) on a date to be determined by the BLM Contracting Officer for all bidders to learn more about the project and to provide clarification to the project and contracting process. The conference call number and access code will be provided upon a RSVP to the Contracting Officer. Email: rhall@blm.gov. At this time, we do not plan to have an organized or hosted physical site visit. However, you are encouraged and expected to visit the site to ascertain the conditions. The site is near town and easy to access. Call or email if you need additional information.

H. Invoicing and Payment:

Upon completion of the terms of this contract (as described in Section D) the contractor will submit an invoice with the following information:

• Company name

• Contract number

• Dates of contract performance

• Number of acres grazed and days worked

• Invoice must be submitted to www.ipp.gov and include an attachment mailto:rhall@blm.gov http://www.ipp.gov/

Appendix A: Sutey Ranch Project Area Maps and Photos Map 1: Sutey Ranch Project Area Map

Photo 1. Photo of 31-acre field located on the Sutey Ranch