Attachment 1 Statement of Work Pauline-Skeleton Site Prep.pdf

2023 Pauline-Skeleton Site Preparation Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison NF

SECTION C - Statement of Work

C.1 DESCRIPTION OF WORK

C.1.1. SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The solicitation is for crawler tractor work on the Gunnison Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals to perform all work necessary on the areas specified in the contract.

All aspects of the work program shall be performed in an organized, systematic manner to ensure services are performed over the entire project areas.

Miles of the Road Closure miles was determined using ArcGIS. Count and location of ash pits was by determined from field reconnaissance and GPS waypoints, cross checked against aerial photographic imagery taken in 2021. All slash piles are reported to have been burned by January, 2023.

No forest products shall be removed from the project area.

C.1.1.1. This contract is a Performance Based, firm-fixed price contract.

C.1.1.2. The performance period will be from approximately September 5, 2023 to October 12, 2023 depending upon the running of contract time and snow cover. Twenty-two (22) consecutive days are allowed for Schedule Items 1 and 2 in combination. See F.1.1. – Contract Time.

C.1.2. LOCATION, ACCESS, AND DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

2023 Pauline-Skeleton Site Preparation – The contracted work will be in two locations on the Gunnison Ranger District. The two locations are shown on Map 1 - Vicinity Map in Exhibit 1 - Maps. Map 2 is a vicinity map of the Pauline Salvage sale. Map 3 is of the Skeleton Salvage sale. Maps 4 and 5 are more detailed orthophoto maps of treatment units and landing pile ash pits within Pauline Salvage. Maps 6 and 7 are orthophoto maps of the Skeleton Salvage area with treatment units, ash pit locations and road closures.

Pauline Salvage is along NFSR 790 and 794, approximately 28 air miles south of Gunnison, Colorado. Treatment areas are on roads tributary to the main roads listed above. NFSR 790.1F transits the Pauline Salvage area from northeast to southwest. NFSR 790.1F in Sorro Park is iffy for four-wheel drive vehicles due to wet, boggy conditions. The legal description is Sections 2 to 4 of T.44N, R.1E; and Sections 23 to 27, and 33 to 35 of T.45N, R.1E, NMPM, Saguache County, Colorado.

To access the Pauline Salvage project area, head east from Gunnison, Colorado on US Highway 50 for 8 miles. Travel south on Highway 114 for approximately 20 miles and then make a right at County Road NN-14. Follow NN-14 for approximately 7 miles and then make a right at County Road 15-GG at Dome Lakes State Wildlife Area. County Road 15-GG becomes NFSR

794. Cold Spring near the project area at the intersection with NFSR 790.1F is eight miles from Dome Lakes.

NFSR 794 continues southwest through part of the project area eight miles to the intersection with NFSR 794.2B. NFSR 794.2B from 794 to 790 at Big Meadows in four miles.

To access Pauline Salvage from the southwest, follow NN-14 for approximately 4 miles and then make a right at County Road KK-14. KK-14 will transition to NFSR 788 after approximately 6 miles at Old Agency. Follow NFSR 788 southwest about an additional 3 miles to the east junction of NFSR 788 and NFSR 790. Make a left onto NFSR 790, proceed 7 miles south to the first drop at the intersection of NFSR 790.1F.

NFSR 790 continues southwest through the sale area five miles to the intersection with NFSR 794.2B at Big Meadows.

Skeleton Salvage is along the NFSR 874 road system, approximately 25 air miles southeast of Gunnison, Colorado. Treatment areas are on roads tributary to NFSR 874. The legal description is Sections 1, 2, 11 and 12 of T.46N, R.3E; and Sections 35 and 36 of T.47N, R.3E, NMPM, Saguache County, Colorado.

To access the Skeleton project area, head east from Gunnison, Colorado on US Highway 50 for 8 miles. Travel south on Highway 114 for approximately 26 miles, and then make a left onto NFSR 874. There is a good tractor truck/lowboy drop point and camp site 0.4 miles up from Hwy 114. The project area is a further 2.6 miles up NFSR 874. NFSR 874 from the lower drop point and the project area is a narrow, steep 9% grade with few pull-outs. The road has had considerable log truck traffic in the past. Hauling a dozer up the steep grade is at the discretion of the driver.

Work To Be Completed By Treatment Unit

Sale Area

Number of Ash

Pits

Length of Road

Closures (Feet)

Optional Spot

Machine Piling of Logging

Slash (Acres)

Equipment Moves

Between Sale Areas

Pauline Salvage 158 3,200 ---- ---- Skeleton Salvage

267 ---- 91 1

425 3,200 91

Specifications or Tactics Planned for Use in the 2023 Pauline-Skeleton Site Preparation Contract

Specification or Tactic Planned for

Use?

Schedule Item(s)

C.4.2.1.1 Machine Site Preparation for Tree Planting --- --- C.4.2.1.2 Machine Scarification of Seedbeds for Natural Regeneration

C.4.2.1.3 Rehabilitation of Burned Slash Pile Ash Pits Yes 1 C.4.2.1.4 Reworking Slash Piles --- --- C.4.2.1.5 Slash Piling of Excess Amounts of Woody Debris Optional 3 C.4.2.1.6 Crushing Slash and Trampling Cull Trees --- ---

C.4.2.2.1 Road Opening/Clearing --- 2 C.4.2.2.2 Waterbars and Rolling Dips Yes 2 C.4.2.2.3 Roadbed Ripping Yes 2 C.4.2.2.4 Road Slashing Yes 2 C.4.2.2.5 Road Tank Traps or Earth Berms Yes 2 C.4.2.2.6 Roadbed Re-contouring --- --- C.4.2.2.7 Road Mogals --- ---

C.4.2.3 Fence Line Right-of-Way Clearing --- ---

C.4.2.4 Snow Removal --- ---

C.4.2.5 Other Minor “Finesse” Work Optional 4

C.2 DEFINITION OF TERMS

These definitions are given for clarification. Addition definitions and method descriptions are located in the Technical Requirements section.

Ash Pits – The footprint and area surrounding burned slash piles which includes ash, partially burned log ends, and shoulders of unburned or partially burned woody debris, and surrounding woody debris mats. The ash pit itself is usually a depression in the ground. See Images 1 to 9 in Exhibit 2 Photo Examples.

Crushing - Process of breaking up, spreading, and compacting slash to reduce slash height, and spreading concentrations of slash out over a larger area by mechanical means.

Trampling - Process of knocking down cull and undesired trees, brush, and deep slash, spreading and compacting slash to reduce slash height, and spreading concentrations of slash out over a larger area by mechanical means. Trees which are trampled shall have their root systems either grubbed out of the soil, or be so damaged as to eliminate the tree’s potential for survival.

Scarification - Process by which mineral soil is exposed and disturbed (but not displaced) by mechanical means to create an acceptable seed bed for trees. Soil is disturbed by turning on the tracks, ripping the soil with the brush rake teeth or rippers, by rocking the blade, or by moving woody debris across the ground.

Slash - All existing woody debris, including but not limited to cull logs, chunks, branches, tops, stumps from push-outs or windthrows, and broken understory trees or brush resulting from natural accumulation, timber felling, logging, thinning, and clearing. Trees severely damaged by the Contractor shall be treated as slash. Tree stumps imbedded naturally in the soil are not considered slash.

Heavy Slash Concentrations - Areas where accumulated larger-diameter slash results in piles or windrows which equal or exceed the following dimensions: average depth of three (3) feet and cover a ground surface of 100 square feet.

Slash Mats – Areas of deep, compacted, organic material generated during timber harvest operations. Slash mats include cull logs, tops, branches, bark, foliage, and other finely ground organic material, mixed with soil. Untreated slash mats are not suitable seed beds for trees, and are not practical to plant trees in. See Images 1, 4 and 5 for examples.

Slash Piling - The concentrating and compacting of excess amounts of woody debris and slash such that piles may be consumed by burning. Piles must be reasonably dirt-free, compacted, and piled sufficiently tight to facilitate complete burning. Piles in some areas may be left unburned to provide habitat for wildlife. See Images 10 and 11 for examples.

Road Closure – Treatment to road ways to make them unusable by motorized or mechanized traffic. The road bed is capable of vegetation production. Drainage is adequate to minimize soil erosion and sedimentation. See Images 12 to 14 for examples.

Road Obliteration – Treatment to road beds to make them no longer strongly evidence as a travel way, and capable of natural vegetation production. The road prism is usually recontoured back to natural slope.

Snow Removal – Removing snow from road ways to allow more rapid snow melt and drainage.

Removal is normally not down to the road surface in order to protect road surface material from erosion.

C.3 GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

C.3.1. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

There is no Government-furnished property for this project.

C.3.2. OTHER GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED SERVICES

Erosion control seed and seed application will be provided by the Government.

C.3.3. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

All work under this contract shall be performed in a skillful and workmanlike manner. The Contracting Officer may require the Contractor to replace any employee whom the Contracting Officer determines to be incompetent, careless, or otherwise objectionable.

C.3.4. PROGRESSION OF WORK

Contractor shall perform the work in a progressive, orderly manner. All road closure, site preparation, brush piling and/or crushing work on one unit shall be completed before work is started on another unit, unless wet ground conditions halts work, or if more than one piece of equipment is on the job.

Past experience in this type of site preparation and road closure work has provided insight into the expected production rates (varying some for terrain, ground condition, and needed treatments). Failure to meet expected production rates could be cause for the Contracting Officer to direct the replacement of operators or pieces of equipment, changes in methodologies, or stopping work on the contract.

C.3.5. PROTECTION OF IMPROVEMENTS AND RESOURCES

The Contractor will protect all structural improvements such as cattle guards, gates, fences, ponds, ditches, signs, and roads. The Contractor will restore any improvements damaged by the operation in a timely fashion. Improvements will be restored to pre-operation condition at the expense of the Contractor. Equipment will not cross meadows, live streams, springs, primary roads, or any other non-work areas except as designated by the Contracting Officers Representative. Movement of equipment between work areas will only be allowed on open designated roads. Cross country travel is not allowed to prevent establishment of new OHV routes.

C.3.6. ROAD DAMAGE

Vehicles shall not be operated on roads in the contract area if ground or weather conditions during operation causes lateral displacement or flowing of soil and deep rutting. Such conditions usually develop where frozen ground is thawing, when snow is melting, and during or immediately following rain storms.

C.3.7. USE OF ROADS BY THE CONTRACTOR

In addition to wet weather operating restrictions, it is the intent of this contract that the work be performed with the present system of existing roads. An existing road is one with a distinguishable roadbed that permits vehicle travel without major improvements to the road.

Distinguishable roadbeds that are now reforested (have at least 300 stems/acres) with trees at least 3-feet tall, or that would require major earth work to permit vehicle travel are not considered existing roads for the purpose of this contract. Limited improvement of existing roads is permitted to allow for safe vehicle access (e.g., filling or smoothing ruts, removing roadside trees or obstacles, and removing trees less than 3-feet tall or obstacles from the roadbed).

Upon written approval of the Forest Service, the Contractor may open closed roads to access a work area. Any closed roads opened by the Contractor will be returned to the closed condition in which it was found (e.g., replacing rocks, stumps or logs/slash previously scattered on the roadbed and restoring drainage or barrier structures removed or altered to permit vehicle travel).

Where road closure gates are closed to limit public motorized traffic, the Contractor will be required to close and lock the gate after passing through.

C.3.8. CLEANING OF EQUIPMENT

In order to reduce the spread of noxious weeds to the project area and other public lands, crawler tractors and other equipment will be cleaned by the Contractor prior to moving the equipment onto public lands and the project area. Equipment will be cleaned of mud, dirt, and accumulations of organic material which may harbor seed or plant parts of noxious weeds.

Steam cleaning is an acceptable method of reducing the import of noxious weeds. Belly pans must be cleaned prior moving in. Fluid leaks shall be repaired prior to moving onto site.

C.3.9. TRANSPORTATION OF EQUIPMENT

Equipment must be moved between work sites in such a manner as not to damage permanent road surfaces. A lowboy trailer is considered an acceptable method. Any other method must be approved in writing by the Contracting Officer. Maximum gross vehicle weight and vehicle width allowed is 82,500 lbs. and 10 feet. Equipment on a trailer may be wider, but will need to be flagged and placarded with “Over Size Load” signs per State laws. The minimum road or bridge width to be encountered on this project is twelve feet six inches. The Contractor is responsible for transporting Government furnished property or Contractor furnished property to, between, and from all work sites.

The Contractor is responsible for obtaining all necessary permits, licenses, etc., for operating and transporting equipment.

C.3.10. LEAVE TREES

In cutting units, all live trees shall be left standing to the maximum extent possible. Standing dead lodgepole pine and aspen (live or dead) 8-inches dbh and larger, and standing dead Douglas-fir and Engelmann spruce 10-inches dbh and larger, will be protected.

C.3.11. SLASH DISPOSAL

Slash resulting from work on this contract shall be removed from streams, drainages, power lines, telephone right-of-ways, private land, and from within 10-feet of property corners. Slash may be left in road ways which are to be closed. Slash falling upon cut and fill slopes along permanent open roads in the work area shall be removed from cut and fill slopes and scattered into the units in a manner so as to not form piles or windrows. Remaining slash shall be treated to lie within twenty-four (24) inches of the ground.

C.3.12. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

The Contractor shall train workers in the safe operation and use of equipment that the worker may use before the worker begins using such equipment.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) including hard hats, eye protection, hearing protection, dust masks, gloves, and sturdy work boots should be worn during equipment operations. Personal protective equipment shall be maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition. Defective or damaged personal protective equipment shall not be used.

In any area where the worker is exposed to the potential for flying or falling objects, the Contractor shall provide a hard hat, at no cost to the employee, and the Contractor shall assure that the employee wears the hard hat. The hard hat must meet the minimum requirements of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z89.1-1997.

The Contractor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, eye protection where there is potential for eye injury due to flying objects. This eye protection must meet the minimum requirements of ANSI standard Z87.1-2003.

The Contractor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, hearing protection where there is a potential for hearing loss due to high intensity noise for example, chainsaw operation.

Dust or particle masks should be worn during ash pit rehabilitation operations to minimize the inhalation of wood ash.

Refer to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations at 29 CFR 1910.266(d) Logging Operations and 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I (1910.132, 133, 135, 136, and 138).

C.3.13. CAMPING PERMITS

Work camp locations will be approved in advance by the Contracting Officers Representative with a District Ranger approved camping permit. Contractors will be required to maintain the camp site in clean, orderly, sanitary condition. Leakage of fuel and oil will be cleaned up and disposed of.

C.4 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

C.4.1. EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS

Past experience has shown that a D-4 to D-5 class dozer is effective for completing the required work. Other types of heavy equipment maybe substituted for the requested type after approval by the Contracting Officer. As a minimum, other types of heavy equipment must meet the standards outlined below for crawler tractors.

Crawler Tractors

Crawler tractors must be equipped with operable Forest Service approved spark arrestor or turbo charger. As a minimum, the tractor(s) shall be equipped with an open canopy, roll-over protective structure (ROPS), logging type, including brush deflector, overhead canopy and rear screen in accordance with SAEJ-395. The tractor will also be equipped with an operable standard brush rake and track grousers (minimum of two inches high). Experience has shown that crawler tractors should be equipped with belly pan and track guards.

Engine size may range from 90 to 120 net engine H.P. Equipment smaller than 90 H.P. may not be powerful enough to complete work in a timely fashion, or be able to move through stands without getting hung-up. Lighter equipment may not be able to crush woody debris, or be able to pile slash as required (push and lift slash). Smaller equipment is generally more maneuverable between stumps and residual trees. Experience has shown that a crawler tractor in the Caterpillar D-4 to D-5 size class (or equivalent size in other manufacturer lines) works best in this type operation.

The crawler tractor must be equipped with a brush rake – clearing blade (with teeth) or brush rake. Heavy duty rock rakes with top guards to permit high piling are satisfactory. Tooth spacing shall be a maximum of 18-inches and a minimum of 12-inches between teeth. This tooth spacing is necessary to allow debris, rocks, pine cones, and dirt to filter through and not be pushed into the piles. Straight blades are not acceptable.

The dozer must be equipped with rear mounted, hydraulically lifted ripping teeth.

Other Equipment Required

a. Spark arrestor or turbo charger meeting either (I) USDA - Forest Service Standard 5100-1a: or (II) the 80 efficiency level determined according to the appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices J335 and J350.

b. Fire Extinguishers and Tools on Equipment - while in use, each internal combustion engine including tractors, trucks, yarders, loaders, welder, stationary engines, or comparable heavy equipment shall be provided with at least the following:

One chemical fire extinguisher meeting one of the following specifications:

1. Two and one-half pound or larger size of the dry chemical type, minimum 10: BC rating.

2. Five pound or larger size of the carbon dioxide type, minimum 10: BC rating.

One shovel, sharp, size 0 or larger, round-pointed with the handle at least 36 inches long.

One axe, sharp, double-bit 3-1/2#, or one sharp Pulaski.

Extinguishers, shovels and axes shall be mounted so as to be readily available from the ground.

All tools shall be maintained in a serviceable condition.

c. Hobbs Meter.

d. Fluid Leaks – the equipment shall be free of leaking hydraulic fluid or oils. Minor leakage of fluid within normal limits may be accepted by the Contracting Officers Representative. When leakage becomes severe, the Contractor will stop operations and repair the leak. Severe leakage is where fluid reaches the ground, creating pools or stained soil. The Contractor will be responsible for cleaning up and removing fluid spills.

C.4.2. WORK SPECIFICATIONS

For the rehabilitation of burned slash pile ash pits, the treatment area is the ash pit footprint, and the area surrounding the ash pit covered by compacted woody debris (slash mats) and logging slash. The treatment of the surrounding area may extend 30 to 100-feet out from the ash pit.

The outer boundaries of the cutting units are marked in orange or pink tree marking paint.

Georeferenced PDF versions of unit maps are available upon request for operations.

The specific type of treatment in a cutting unit or along a road segment will be determined by the Contracting Officers Representative based on site-specific conditions. More than one treatment method may be used in a single cutting unit or along a single road segment as site conditions dictate. Due to adverse ground conditions and desirable regeneration, some areas for non-treatment will be designated by the Contracting Officers Representative.

Not all of the different treatment sections below will be utilized during this contract. They are included to describe scenarios where a different tactic maybe employed to gain the desired result. The variety of tactics are included so that where additional “finesse” type work is encountered, the matching treatment tactic can be utilized.

C.4.2.1. Methods of Site Preparation for Reforestation and Fuels Treatment

C.4.2.1.1 Machine Site Preparation for Tree Planting

This is a treatment where spots of bare soil are created which will be free of competing vegetation, and suitable for hand planting of tree seedlings. The hand planting may be by planting tools such as the “hoedad”, planting tool, shovel, or powered auger. Trees are planted at a spacing of six to fourteen-feet depending on the availability of good planting spots with acceptable microsites, tree species, aspect and slope of the ground.

Mechanized treatment will be necessary in areas covered by deep, dense sod, sedge, grass, and forb cover, or areas covered by slash mats and logging slash. Planting spots will need to be at least 18 to 24-inches across. Planting spots will need to be spaced out at six to fourteen-foot intervals. Potential planting spots occupied by living tree seedlings and saplings do not need to be treated. Where the soil and vegetation has been well disturbed during timber harvest operations, and planting spots are available, site preparation is not necessary.

In areas where slash mats are present, the organic material will be spread out and spots of mineral soil exposed for reforestation requirements. Some mounding of organic material is acceptable when necessary to expose mineral soil. Do not allow organic material from slash mats to be incorporated into slash piles to be burned. Where slash mats are adjacent to roads to be closed, the fine organic material can be spread across the road. The road bed should be ripped prior or during slash mat spread to reduce soil compaction in the road bed and help work fine organic material into the soil. Be wary of short logs and high stumps hidden in the slash mat.

Planting beds for seedlings may be created by disturbing the soil surface by turning on the tracks, ripping the soil with the brush rake or rippers, digging and scalping with the blade, by rocking/dipping the blade, by digging or dragging an excavator bucket across the ground, or by moving woody debris across the ground. See Images in Exhibit 2 – Photo Examples.

C.4.2.1.2 Machine Scarification of Seedbeds for Natural Regeneration

For most conifer tree species, bare mineral soil is necessary for natural tree seed to land on in order for consistent, adequate seed germination and seedling establishment. Scarification is the process by which mineral soil is exposed and disturbed (but not displaced) by mechanical means to create an acceptable seed bed for trees. Soil is disturbed by turning on the tracks, ripping the soil with the brush rake teeth or rippers, by digging or dragging an excavator bucket across the ground, by rocking/dipping the blade, or by moving woody debris across the ground.

In areas of treatment units unoccupied by desirable trees, it is desired that a minimum of forty

(40) percent of the ground be in exposed and disturbed mineral soil seedbeds. Where slope exceeds thirty (30) percent and scarification is directed, the area to be treated is twenty-five (25) percent of the ground surface. Soil is to be disturbed, but not displaced. The scarification is to be scattered across the entire treatment area. Where desirable trees are close together, do not treat those areas. Do not scarify the soil under the drip line of the crowns of desirable overstory trees (usually within ten-feet of overstory tree boles) to avoid damage to root systems.

At the discretion of the Contracting Officers Representative, treatment of specific steep areas will not be conducted to protect resources. Areas with considerable surface rock which are not conducive to machine scarification, and areas which were sufficiently scarified during logging, will be identified by the Forest Service for non-treatment.

In partial cut stands, most of the residual trees are desired for retention. Protect advanced regeneration and desirable trees but do grub out or machine trample cull trees. Areas of desirable dense seedlings and saplings will be identified by the Contracting Officers Representative to be avoided. In general, lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, spruce, fir, and aspen trees should be protected.

In areas where slash mats are present, the organic material will be spread out and spots of mineral soil exposed for reforestation requirements. Some mounding of organic material is acceptable when necessary to expose mineral soil. Do not allow organic material from slash mats to be incorporated into slash piles to be burned. Where slash mats are adjacent to roads to be closed, the fine organic material can be spread across the road. The roadbed should be ripped prior or during slash mat spread to reduce soil compaction in the road bed and help work fine organic material into the soil. Be wary of short logs and high stumps hidden in the slash mat.

Where roads are identified for closure under this contract, logs and slash mat material may be scattered across the roadway to aid in closure.

C.4.2.1.3 Rehabilitation of Burned Slash Pile Ash Pits

In areas where slash piles have been burned in recent years, ash pits exist which will not naturally vegetate for a prolonged period of time. These untreated ash pits do tend to be preferred by several species of undesirable noxious weeds to become established in an area. The ripping and mixing of the ash pit is intended to break-up and mix heat-sterilized soil such that desirable vegetation will become established. The established desirable vegetation will deter noxious weed establishment.

For the rehabilitation of burned slash pile ash pits, the treatment area is the ash pit footprint, and the area surrounding the ash pit covered by compacted woody debris (slash mats) and logging slash. The treatment of the surrounding area may extend 30 to 100-feet out from the ash pit.

The Contractor will rip the charcoal bed and soil below, break up surrounding woody debris slash mats, stir and mix the ash, soil, and woody debris, smooth out humps and piles of dirt and ash, scatter remaining logs and poorly burned log ends across the burned area, and scatter/crush remaining fuels in the area. See Images in Exhibit 2 – Photo Examples.

C.4.2.1.4 Reworking Slash Piles

Slash piles which have been ignited, but burned poorly, or did not ignite at all, will benefit from being reworked or repiled. Some slash piles and cull log decks were not well compacted during timber harvest operations. These cull log decks are to be burned to reduce the volume of woody debris in the area. There are uneven log ends on the cull log decks which will not burn well and will become burned log ends or chunks.

The Contractor will pile the cull logs into or onto slash piles with the heavy equipment. Slash piles will be compacted and pushed up to improve consumption of the debris. The Forest Service may provide chainsaw support to break-up the length of cull logs to facilitate piling.

Logging slash piles commonly have a deep slash mat apron around the pile. Fine organic material in slash piles will smolder for a prolonged period of time, which could create air pollution issues later on. Woody debris in slash mats has been observed to smolder and “charcoal” for months, creating the potential for an escaped fire. Use the blade/rake to work the fine organic material back away from the slash pile. Do not push the fine organic material into the pile.

C.4.2.1.5 Slash Piling of Excess Amounts of Woody Debris

Slash piling is the concentrating and compacting of excess amounts of slash or woody debris such that the piles may be consumed by burning. Piles must be reasonably dirt-free, compacted, and piled sufficiently tight to facilitate complete burning. Piles in certain areas may be left unburned to provide habitat for wildlife. It is not desired that 100% of woody debris be piled.

Light or scattered amounts of woody debris is okay to be left unpiled on site as long as the debris is within twenty-four (24) inches of the ground.

Where specified by the Forest Service, the Contractor shall uniformly pile sixty (60) to eighty

(80) percent of existing larger-sized slash. Logs larger than 6-inches in diameter, measured at the large end, shall be piled for burning, except that up to 20 logs per acre may be left unpiled provided they are well-scattered, touch the ground for their full length and are not attached to a root wad. Excess slash and logs, including cull standing timber and snags except designated leave trees, shall be moved into piles. It is desired that much of the needles, small twigs and branches, cones, litter, and duff be left on site, unpiled, for nutrient cycling, erosion control, and for a seed source (cones). Undesired live trees will be grubbed out of the ground and piled for disposal, or have their root systems so damaged that the potential for survival is nil. All remaining slash shall be treated to lie within twenty-four (24) inches of the ground. At least forty (40) percent of the ground surface shall be scarified, that is, the soil is to be disturbed, but not displaced.

In areas with slopes greater than thirty (30) percent, the Contractor may have the option of either crushing or piling the steeper ground. All remaining slash shall be treated to lie within twenty-four (24) inches of the ground and leave twenty-five (25) percent of the ground surface scarified, that is, the soil is to be disturbed, but not displaced. At the discretion of the Contracting Officers Representative, treatment of specific steep areas will not be conducted to protect resources.

Piles to be burned shall be a minimum of 8-feet wide by 6-feet high and 8 and 20-feet long.

When it can be done safely, slash shall be piled on the contour rather than parallel to the slope of steep ground to avoid erosion of the soil. Piles must be reasonably dirt-free, compacted, and piled sufficiently tight, steep-sided, and pushed as tall as the equipment will allow in order to facilitate complete burning. Fine organic material from slash mats will not be incorporated into slash piles. If necessary, slash piles will be reworked to reduce the amount of dirt and fine-organic material included in the pile.

Stumps shall not be grubbed out of the ground and incorporated into slash piles due to the amount of dirt. Root wads from down trees will not be included in piles unless old and dirt-free.

Smaller piles of debris may be built and/or left as directed by the Contracting Officers Representative for wildlife habitat.

Piles of slash to be burned shall be located so that burning operations will not damage desirable standing live trees. Piles shall not be constructed within a 100-foot of the edge of units, or within 100 feet of drainage ditches, or within high water marks of live and intermittent streams. All units will be piled in such a manner that after treatment, heavy slash concentrations shall not exist unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officers Representative.

Experience has shown that treatment of slash mats normally turns up a number of short logs which if in excessive amounts will need to be piled for disposal. The logs will need to be separated from the fine organic debris and dirt during piling to provide for cleaner burning, dirt-free piles. There also tends to be high stumps hidden under slash mats which the operator will need to be careful to avoid for high centering or damaging the equipment.

C.4.2.1.6 Crushing Slash and Trampling Cull Trees

Crushing is the process of breaking up, spreading, and compacting slash to reduce slash height, and spreading concentrations of slash out over a larger area by mechanical means.

Trampling is the process of knocking down standing cull and undesired trees, brush, and deep slash; spreading and compacting slash to reduce slash height and spreading concentrations of slash out over a larger area by mechanical means. Trees which are trampled shall have their root systems either grubbed out of the soil, or be so damaged as to eliminate the tree’s potential for survival.

Crushing and trampling of woody debris may be used where heavy slash concentrations do not exist, and most of the slash is comprised of debris less than 6-inches diameter at the large end.

Slash shall be treated to lie within twenty-four (24) inches of the ground. Where crushing and trampling is used, areas will be treated in such a manner that after treatment, heavy slash concentrations shall not exist, unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officers Representative. Small piles of debris may be built and/or left as directed by the Contractor Officers Representative for wildlife habitat.

C.4.2.2 Methods and Features for Road Maintenance, Road Closure and Road Obliteration

Road closure locations and methods may be designated on the ground by the Forest Service using pin flags or plastic flagging, or as directed by the Contracting Officers Representative.

Ripping and slashing are commonly used together in road closure work. Ripping the roadbed is intended to reduce soil compaction, rehabilitate the soil to a vegetative productive condition, and to make the soil surface receptive to grass and tree seed. Slashing is intended to eliminate the use of the roadbed by motorized and mechanized traffic. Waterbars are installed or maintained during the process for erosion control.

Drainage crossings will be treated to provide for water flow with minimized erosion and sedimentation.

Roads which will be left open to public motorized and mechanized use will be maintained to reduce soil erosion. In general, maintenance will be by installing or improving waterbars, rolling dips, and drainage ditches. The size and shape of drainage facilities will be such to remain effective for an extended period of time, while allowing passage by normal high clearance highway vehicles operated by prudent drivers. A minimal amount of road surface blading may be conducted as necessary and practical considering the type of heavy equipment used in the contract work, such as a dozer back blading with a swing brush rake.

The Forest Service may provide chainsaw support for the Contractor during closure operations and apply erosion control seed as needed.

C.4.2.2.1 Road Opening/Clearing

Level road closure berms or tank traps, move obstructing slash, stumps, logs, rocks and other debris off to the side to allow full-sized motor vehicles to safely operate on the roadway.

Waterbars and rolling dips will be cleared and made functional. A minimum of road surface blading will be conducted only as needed to facilitate traffic. Otherwise leave “grassed over” road surfaces alone, and use the equipment tracks to “smooth” the road surface. Road slashing materials should be conserved at the side of the road for future reuse in closing the roadway.

C.4.2.2.2 Waterbars and Rolling Dips

Water bars are earthen berms installed in a road way or exposed area with the intention of deflecting moving water off to the side of the road and into vegetated areas, thus minimizing soil movement and erosion. The road way may or may not be closed to motorized and mechanized travel. The berm is usually installed at a 30o to 45o angle to the slope. Where waterbars exist, the Contractor will clean out the dip and outlet to maintain functionality. On open roads, the equipment operator will compact the berm by running over it several times during construction to firm the feature up to motor vehicle passage.

While waterbars may be somewhat short and abrupt, rolling dips are longer (often 20 to 40 feet) to allow vehicles towing trailers to cross, or facilitate higher speeds. Same principle, just longer and larger.

See “Exhibit 3 - Waterbar” for a display of the waterbars and rolling dips.

Location and spacing of waterbars will depend on the soil type and grade of the road. It best to divert water early before it has an opportunity to flow, increase in volume, and increase in speed.

Often a waterbar near the top of a grade are more efficient than waterbars further down the slope.

C.4.2.2.3 Roadbed Ripping

Rip the roadbed with rippers or brush rake teeth to break-up soil compaction and roughen the road surface. The ripped road surface will be more receptive to grass and tree seed establishment. Surface water flow is disrupted on the road surface, reducing the soil erosion potential. The intent is to return the roadbed to vegetative production and assist in preventing motorized or mechanized use. The road closure may be for a short number of years, or a permanent closure. Ripping is commonly applied along the entire length of the road segment, except where the road surface is already revegetated, or is too rocky to rip. Pulling up rocks helps in discouraging vehicle traffic. Ripping should be as deep as the equipment will allow.

Short of full road re-contouring, during the ripping process, as much of the fill material on the downhill side of the road is to be pulled back up onto the roadbed. Realistically, the amount of fill to be drifted back up will be dependent on the type of heavy equipment in use, and whether or not a brush rake or straight dozer blade is installed. An excavator is an excellent piece of equipment for pulling fill material back up onto the roadbed. It is not necessary that drifted fill material be spread and smoothed. Mounds and windrows of soil will be acceptable as long as water flow or erosion control is not compromised. Woody debris and rocks maybe mixed into the drifted material.

Waterbars will be installed or maintained to minimize water flowing across the disturbed surface for erosion control. Waterbar frequency or spacing will be dependent on soil type, cross slope, and road grade. Steeper slopes and road grades will necessitate closer waterbar spacing to divert water from the disturbed area.

C.4.2.2.4 Road Slashing

Placement of logs, slash, stumps, and rocks on a roadbed to prevent motorized and mechanized use. The roadbed prism may or may not be left intact for future reopening and use. Felling or pushing over nearby trees often provides the woody debris necessary to close the roadway to use.

Caution is required to avoid creating a situation where Off-Road Vehicles are able to pioneer new travel ways adjacent to closed routes because all the obstructing materials are placed in the closed road. Commonly the entire length of road segment to be closed will be treated as needed to prevent use and avoid erosion.

C.4.2.2.5 Road Tank Traps or Earth Berms

Large, tall, abrupt, and steep-sided earthen berms installed with the intention of closing road ways to motorized and mechanized use. Placement of rocks, logs, stumps and slash enhance the road closure effectiveness. The roughened surface will be receptive to grass and tree seed for revegetation. Earth Berms also act as waterbars for erosion control. Tank traps are usually one of several road closure features utilized on a road segment. See “Exhibit 3 - Earth Berms” for an illustration.

C.4.2.2.6 Roadbed Re-contouring

Restoring an excavated roadbed prism back to full vegetative productivity by pulling road fill material up on to the roadbed and cut slope, thus returning the ground line back to the natural contour. Prior to re-contouring, the roadbed will be ripped to reduce soil compaction. Logs, slash, stumps, and rocks are placed on the roadbed to further discourage and prevent motorized and mechanized use. An excavator is a better type of equipment for re-contouring.

C.4.2.2.7 Road Mogals

A random pattern of divits and soil mounds along a roadway segment produced by an excavator or backhoe with the intention of physically closing a roadbed to motorized and mechanized use.

Slash, logs, stumps, and rocks are placed in the roadway to further discourage vehicular use. The mogal road surface will be more receptive to grass and tree seed establishment. Surface water flow is disrupted on the road surface, reducing the soil erosion potential. See “Exhibit 3 - Mogals” for an illustration of mogal Installation.

C.4.2.3 Fence Line Right-of-Way Clearing

Clearing woody debris off of an eight-foot (8-foot) wide right-of-way for livestock allotment fence repair or extensions. The right-of-way will need to be wide enough to allow an UTV to transport fence materials along the fence line. The clearing is not intended to be a smooth road surface. The clearing maybe rough as long as a loaded UTV can operate on it. The Forest Service will provide chainsaw support to break up longer logs and trees overhanging the right-of-way.

C.4.2.4 Snow Removal

Snow removal is to allow more rapid snow melt and drainage, such that the roadbed will firm-up earlier to normal vehicle traffic. It is assumed that normal vehicles will not be using the roadway immediately.

Blade overburden snow from roadways to the downhill side of the road. Removal is normally not to the road surface in order to protect road surface material from erosion. Usually blading to within four to six inches of the road surface is adequate. Commonly, at that depth is an ice lens, which protects the surface that can be left to melt naturally.

Snow berms will be broken at intervals to facilitate drain water getting off the roadway. Make berm breaks at culvert inlet/outlets, in rolling dips, and low natural drain points.

Where snow depth is shallow and drifted snow is not present, simply running the equipment on the snow blade up will break-up the snow pack and accelerate melting.

C.4.2.5 Other Minor “Finesse” Work

Other minor amounts of unspecified equipment work may be requested by the Contracting Officers Representative while the equipment is in the project area, if contract time allows, and if the minor work is agreed to by the Contractor. Minor “finesse” work could include, but is not limited to, items such as installing or maintaining erosion control facilities away from roads and cutting units, cleaning up other slash concentrations, or closing jeep trails. The ash beds of burned slash piles in previously site prepared cutting units (not included in this solicitation) may be ripped and spread out as time allows.

Minor finesse work will be paid for at the contracted hourly rate of Optional Schedule Item 4.

C.5 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (2023 Pauline-Skeleton Site Preparation)

PERFORMANCE

WORK

STATEMENT

PERFORMANCE

STANDARD (Acceptable

Quality Level)

MONITORING

METHODS

EFFECT OF

NOT MEETING

PERFORMANCE

STANDARD

Rehabilitation of Ash Pits C.4.2.1.3 C.4.2.1.4

The ash and charcoal bed has been ripped and mixed with mineral soil, the site smoothed, and surrounding residual woody debris mats scattered, spread, or broken-up. If necessary, poorly burned or unburned slash piles will be re-piled for burning.

Visual inspection by Government Inspector.

Rework the area at no additional cost to the Government.

Slash Piling of

Excess Amounts of Woody Debris

C.4.2.1.5

60% to 80% of larger diameter slash is piled in essentially dirt-free piles. Piles are a minimum of 8-feet wide by 6-feet high.

Visual inspection by Government Inspector.

Rework the area at

Methods and

Features for Road Maintenance, Road Closure and Road Obliteration

C.4.2.2

The road bed has been ripped and compaction eliminated to provide a vegetative productive state, Vehicle access has been blocked by scattering, rocks, slash and debris on the road way, and erosion control features have been

Visual inspection by Government Inspector.

Rework the area at implemented in a manner that protects soil from erosion.

SECTION D - Packaging and Marking

{There are NO clauses in this Section}

SECTION E - Inspection and Acceptance

E.1 INSPECTION

E.1.1. Inspection of Equipment

Each unit of equipment will be inspected at the time it is delivered to the job site. Equipment that does not meet contract specifications and requirements will be rejected. Equipment must be clean to minimize the import of noxious weed seed into the project area.

At the end of the contract or when equipment is removed from the job site, the equipment will be inspected again to document damage which may have occurred during the contract operations.

E.1.2. Quality Inspection

Periodic inspections may be performed by the Government while work is in progress.

Inspections may include observations, ocular estimations, or formal sample plots as the situation dictates. Inspection for payment and acceptance may be conducted by the Government as work progresses. Customarily, inspection on mechanized site preparation contracts is done through ocular estimations.

E.1.2.1. Inspection With Snow Cover

Inspection will not be done when Inspector cannot see the ground surface due to snow cover.

E.1.3. Inspection Time

Inspection for payment will be made within five working days after the date on which the Contractor requests in writing an inspection on a completed unit.

E.2. ACCEPTANCE

E.2.1. Acceptance

A treatment will be considered satifactory if the Performance Standard in the C.5 Performance Requirement Summary table have been met.

E.2.2. Deficiencies

Specific deficiencies detected as a result of Government inspection shall be corrected so that the work complies with the contract specifications.

SECTION F - Deliveries or Performance

F. 1. DELIVERIES

F.1.1. Contract Time. The Contractor shall start work promptly after receipt of a Notice to Proceed. The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the stated contract time. The contract time will generally not exceed a required rate of progress exceeding that determined from the accepted work plan. If more than one area is available for treatment, the Government may prescribe the treatment sequence.

Items Estimated Complete Date Contract Time 1 and 2 October 12, 2023 22 days

The Forest Service will issue a Notice to Proceed as soon as weather and ground conditions are favorable for rehabilitation of the ash pits on one or more of the areas. Contract time will start whichever is sooner: (1) on the date specified on the Notice to Proceed, if the notice is hand-delivered; or (2) on the third-day after the post office has issued a Notice of Certified Mail to the Contractor. Failure of the Contractor to pick-up Certified Mail will not be considered excusable.

F.1.2. Unsuitable Conditions. Whenever it is determined that environmental or physical conditions become unsuitable for successful mechanical treatment, or when extreme weather conditions create the potential for blow down, the Contractor shall move to another area identified by the Contractor and agreed to by the Contracting Officer or take other mitigating actions to improve the situation agreed to by the Contracting Officer. When there is no acceptable mitigating practice and no other area is available, the Contracting Officer shall suspend work and stop the contract time. When conditions are again suitable, the Contracting Officer will issue an oral Resume Work Order and confirm that order in writing. The count of contract time will resume on the day indicated by the Contracting Officer. If the Contractor fails to keep in contact with the Contracting Officer, a written Resume Work Order will be mailed and the count of days of contract time will resume on the date specified in that order.

F.1.3. Work Completed After The Performance Period. Whenever the Contractor fails to complete work within the performance period, and is allowed to work beyond that period, the Contractor will be assessed the actual damages. Items to be included in the actual damage includes but is not limited to: wages of the COR and Government Inspector(s) for quality assurance after the performance period, costs of vehicles, meals and lodging that are incurred while administering the contract after the performance period.

SECTION G - Contract Administration Data

G.1 INVOICES

The "Submit Invoice-to" address for USDA orders is the Department of Treasury's electronic Invoice Processing Platform (IPP); all invoices shall be submitted via IPP. This is a mandatory requirement initiated by the U.S. Department of Treasury and you can find more information at https://www.ipp.gov/index.htm.

The successful offeror must register at https://www.ipp.gov/vendors/enrollment-vendors.htm upon contract award if an IPP account has not previously been established.

G.2 FOREST SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES:

A Contracting Officer Representative shall be appointed for this contract upon award. His/her delegated authority, responsibilities and contact information shall be defined on a delegation letter after contract award.

G.3 PAYMENT PROCEDURES

Payment will be made by Item when the Item is inspected and accepted by the Government at the contracted price submitted by the Contractor.

Minor additional work items requested by the Forest Service will be paid for at the appropriate hourly Optional Schedule Item Two rate for the equipment used as measured by Hobbs Meter and…