Attachment 1 - Whiteface Campground Statement of Work.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Superior National Forest Whiteface Campground Mastication RFQ 12363N24Q4294

Contents Project General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

Project Whiteface Reservoir Campground Mastication

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

The primary purpose of this project is to enhance aesthetics and increase visitor safety at the Whiteface Reservoir Campground. Decades of fire suppression has allowed shade tolerant species such as balsam fir to establish and proliferate in the understory. Balsam fir is extremely susceptible to a spruce budworm outbreak which would defoliate and kill a majority of the existing fir in the campground. The result of a spruce budworm outbreak would be a significant amount of standing dead trees which would both be visually unappealing and could pose a safety risk to visitors.

Mastication would provide a tool to reduce the balsam fir and showcase the large diameter pines that campers are looking for in northern Minnesota. Secondarily, cutting balsam fir would reduce the wildfire risk for the campground and surrounding communities.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

Description: The unit has a mixture of mature aspen, birch, balsam fir, spruce, and pine. The treatment area has a moderate to heavy stocking of balsam fir in the midstory and understory. Most of the mastication work would be removing 1 to 6 inch DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) balsam fir that is typically less than 40 feet tall. Occasionally, balsam fir and other tree species greater than 6 inch DBH and 60 feet tall could be removed. There are scattered picnic tables, benches, wood fences, and fire rings throughout the treatment area that should be avoided. Many different types of equipment can be used to accomplish the objective. Generally, equipment shall be of large wheeled or tracked crawler type and be equipped with a masticating rotating tooth head or cutting blades. In some locations the preferred equipment would be an excavator with a masticating head and a 25’ reach. This would provide the best result along the roadside, and where larger stems would be cut.

Unit Boundaries: Most of the unit boundary follows Reservoir Road (Forest Road 417) and the shoreline. The rest of the unit boundary is in the forested area and is flagged with pink and/or blue colored flagging.

Meeting: A pre-work meeting with the COR (Contracting Officer Representative) will be required with the contractor before implementing the project. Work will not be accepted without prior approval from the COR to begin work.

Period of Performance: 10/01/2024 – 4/30/2025. Dry or frozen ground conditions are required for equipment to be operated within the unit boundary. Operations are only permitted when there is less than 1 foot of snow cover on the ground, unless otherwise specified by the COR.

Technical Requirements:

• Equipment will be inspected at the time it is delivered onto the job. Equipment that does not meet contract specifications and requirements will be rejected. The Contractor will within 48 hours after receipt of notice from the Contracting Officer, either correct the deficiencies or provide a replacement piece of equipment meeting specifications.

• Operating supplies, all fuel, lubricating and other maintenance work shall be the Contractor’s responsibility.

• Signage would be provided in areas where the public could be present while operating. This includes campgrounds, snowmobile trails, and roads.

• Operations shall not impede public traffic to lake access.

Fuels to be disposed of by mulching are defined as:

1. All live and dead balsam fir trees of any size.

2. All standing live and dead species under 5-inch DBH except for all pine species, spruce, cedar, and oak.

3. All dead and down material.

4. Hazardous trees pre-identified in orange flagging.

Tree species to avoid cutting and minimize damage to

• Trees 8” in diameter or greater of white pine, red pine, jack pine, tamarack, cedar, and oak.

Dispose of understory fuels to the following specifications

• Material will be mulched and scattered evenly throughout the unit to a height not to exceed a depth of 1 foot.

• Stumps from cut trees will not exceed 12” in height. Less than 1 foot of snow cover on the ground at the time of operation would make this more easily achievable.

Site Specific Specifications:

• Equipment should use road systems and masticate along the edges, reaching in as far as mechanically feasible.

• Chip piles shall not be left on campsite pads, roads, trails, picnic tables, fire rings, roadsides, posts, signs, or bathrooms. Any damage to campsite pads, roads, trails, picnic tables, fire grates, electric posts, fences, signs, or bathrooms shall be fixed and repaired immediately by contractor. Contractor would be responsible for removing chips from above areas.

• Minimize flying debris towards roads and any infrastructure by making the effort to process vegetation away from roads, campsites, picnic tables, bathrooms, and other infrastructure.

• Damage done by the Contractor to roads, campsites, and trails in the areas of work shall be repaired by the Contractor.

• Fueling and maintenance shall be done off the improved surfaces. Work with COR on acceptable places.

Other Specifications/Capabilities:

• Unworkable areas may include, but not limited to clumps of trees, rock outcrops, steep slopes and other areas not suited for equipment work. Unworkable areas may be left after agreement by the COR.

• Avoid mechanical damage to residual white pine, red pine, jack pine, cedar, and tamarack. Trees designated for mulching may be left if these trees are located next to the residual trees and the process of removing them would damage the residual trees. COR can shut down operations if damage can be considered excessive.

• Avoid working in areas with high tree density where bole damage is unavoidable.

• Non-cut tree species may need to be felled to access fir, work with COR.

• Avoid unnecessary damage to non-cut tree species.

• Operations will take place during frozen conditions or dry non-frozen conditions. COR will determine the appropriateness of site conditions prior to starting and during work.

• If operating during non-frozen conditions, avoid lowlands where soil damage may occur.

• Equipment shall not be operated when ground conditions are such that excessive damage will result.

• Cut material will not be left within trails, roads, or utility clearings.

• Contractor shall not remove any flagging that marks unit boundaries.

• Damage to roads, trails, gates, signs, utilities, and other improvements will be reported to the COR and corrected by the contractor.

• Supplies, equipment, fuel, and maintenance shall be the contractor’s responsibility.

• A pre-work meeting with the COR is required prior to starting work.

• Consult with COR if objectives cannot be met. An alternative will be agreed upon and objective specifications will be adjusted/documented to meet the project objective.

• Equipment shall not be operated when ground conditions are such that excessive damage will result. COR can shut down operations if excessive soil disturbance (rutting) is occurring.

• Fueling and maintenance cannot occur in campsites or within 100 feet of the water. Check with COR for appropriate fueling and maintenance locations.

• Avoid driving equipment over underground utilities identified by the COR.