Attachment_2-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

NC-POR FY24 Shore Drive Fire Breaks Performance of Work Statement

(PWS)

INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND:

The Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NC-POR) is pursuing a service contract for the mastication of five (5) fire breaks along Shore Drive. See included map for location. All acreages and boundaries were estimated via Geographic Information System (GIS).

Historically, the largest wildfires in NC history have occurred on Pocosin Lakes typically beginning on adjacent properties and spreading onto the refuge. Unique local challenges to firefighters include large tracks of dense volatile fuels, the potential for fast-moving wildfires, and very wet soils with severe equipment limitations. As such, the costs of suppressing these large fires are exorbitantly high potentially ranging into the tens of millions of dollars or more.

Fuel breaks are one of the primary means of mitigating these challenges. They provide areas of lighter fuels and moderated fire behavior from which firefighters can more safely and effectively fight the fire. They provide additional tactical suppression options for firefighters while supporting fuel mitigation through prescribed fire use. The breaks entailed in this document are particularly important as they will provide protection to the private homes and property located on the north side of the refuge.

Figure-1: Fire Breaks needed at Pocosin Lakes NWR

FUEL

BREAK

LENGTH 1WIDTH AREA

(feet) (miles) (feet) (acres)

F-2 Rd. to Allen Rd. 4,600 1.15 400 42.24 Allen Rd. to Boerema Rd. 5,400 0.98 400 49.59

Boerema Rd. to Clayton Rd. 5,400 0.98 400 49.59 Clayton Rd. to DeHoag Rd. 5,300 1.00 400 48.67 DeHoag Rd. to Evans Rd. 5,200 1.02 400 47.75

TOTAL: 25,900 5.11 - 237.83

1Fuel break width is measured from the nearside ditch edge (waterline) when present.

Current Vegetation: Current vegetation consists mostly of a low stocking of pond pine overstory mixed with sweet bay, red maple, and some sweetgum. The largest trees present range up to 30-50-feet in height with diameters rarely ranging up to 6-8-inches at breast height (measured 4.5-ft from ground level).

The understory is typically very dense – 10-20 ft. high on average – and consists of waxmyrtle, sweetbay, red bay, groundsel tree, gallberry, and switch cane. Green brier and other vines are quite abundant in areas.

SOILS & EQUIPMENT TRAFFICABILITY:

The predominant underlying soil type is a Pungo muck which is organic/peat in composition. It is very poorly drained with severe equipment limitations. The water table is at or near the surface - within 6” in the driest areas - and large areas often flooded. As such, an amphibious pontoon excavator will be needed for most of the project. Wheeled equipment cannot operate on these sites and rubber tracked LGP machinery will have only limited capability.

***Due to the unique equipment challenges, a site visit is recommended for bidders who are unfamiliar with the terrain, topography, and vegetation of the area. ***

STATEMENT OF WORK / SPECIFICATIONS:

Utilize equipment with a Fecon-style or similar mulching/masticating head to cut fuel breaks according to the dimensions in Figure-1 above. Due to the wet nature of the area, the entire project will likely require an amphibious machine on pontoons. It should preferably be medium/mid-sized and comparable to a Caterpillar 320 or 325 with a 32-36-inch minimum mulching head.

Fuel break width shall be measured from the nearside waterline edge of the canal/ditch (when present) to include mastication of the ditch bank &/or spoil piles. All vegetation, logs, stumps, cypress knees, etc. within the footprint of the fire break shall be masticated (mulched or grinded) to ground-level to enable future mowing. Debris and chip piles shall be kept to 6-inches in height or less. Trees too large to entirely masticate must be felled and put on the ground with the stumps mulched to the aforementioned specifications. Contact the Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) point-of-contact (POC) in the event trees exceeding equipment capability are encountered. This should be very rare. The contractor shall receive a briefing and instructions from the FWS POC before beginning operations.

It is the contractor’s responsibility to maintain the appropriate width and location of the treated area for the duration of the project. Should the boundaries of the treatment area become unclear, the contractor will immediately contact the FWS POC for guidance on how to proceed. In existing fuel breaks, the footprint from previous operations should be readily visible and some new breaks will even follow canals for part or all of the project. In certain areas the contractor may have to utilize mapping apps (ex. Avenza) and/or other navigational methods to accurately install the break as mapped. Notify the FWS POC if you need a georeferenced PDF map for use with Avenza.

***The contractor will be responsible for recovery/extrication if/when heavy equipment and vehicles get stuck or become immobilized. FWS personnel and equipment will not be available for equipment and vehicle recovery. The contractor shall have additional equipment available on sight, as appropriate, for this purpose. ***

Vegetation may be removed from the firebreak and taken off refuge to be sold for biomass.

For any materials sold as biomass, the contractor will inform the POC of the approximate amount (by weight) sold.

Transportation & Access: The contractor shall provide all equipment, operators and support personnel, transportation, parts, fluids, fuel, etc. It is the contractor’s daily responsibility to transport the equipment to and from the site and to provide for the transportation of personnel, fuel, parts, fluids, etc. Personal vehicles are not to be left on Refuge property overnight. Regardless of time-of-day, vehicles, equipment, etc. shall not block gates, roads, and other access points. At the end of shift, the contractor shall lock all gates on the way out unless otherwise advised by the POC.

Invasive Species Mitigation: All equipment used by the contractor will be clean of dirt, mud, and plant material, within tracks and undercarriage, prior to entering the Refuge. If equipment leaves the work site for any reason it will be cleaned prior to re-entering the Refuge. This requirement is to limit the potential for spread of exotic and invasive plants onto the Refuge.

Protection of Trees: The Contractor shall take every precaution necessary to prevent damage to trees and vegetation outside of the treatment area.

Spill Containment & Trash Pick-up: The contractor shall have the necessary equipment and supplies required to mitigate any fuel or fluid spills. All spills are to be reported to the FWS POC as soon as they occur. All trash from operations including but not limited to hydraulic fluid and oil containers, water bottles, food wrappers and containers, etc. shall not be left on site.

Erosion Control: Contractor shall take reasonable care to minimize soil impacts. Vehicles will not be operated on Refuge roads, power line rights-of-way, road shoulders, or permanent fire lines when soil moisture conditions are such that excessive rutting or soil movement will occur.

Repair of Damages: The contractor shall repair any damages they cause to roads, road shoulders, culverts, water control structures, or other infrastructure.

Smoking: Smoking by Contractor personnel is permitted only in cleared areas designated by the Site Rep/Government such as permanent fire lines or utility rights-of-way. Smoking materials shall not be left on Refuge lands. The Contractor may be held liable for any wildland fire that is started by their personnel from negligence.

Work Hours: All activity will be performed during posted business hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. (Note: any deviation needs prior approval from on-site representative).

Supervision: To ensure performance and accomplishment of the work as outlined herein, the Contractor shall provide adequate and competent onsite supervision (with the ability to effectively communicate in English), for all work to be accomplished by the Contractor’s employees. When contract work is in progress, supervisory personnel shall be available at all times to receive notices, reports, or requests from the Site Representative or his authorized representative. NOTE: At no time shall Government representatives direct or supervise the activities of the Contractor’s employees.

PROJECT LOCATION:

This project is located on the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near Creswell in Washington County, NC. See the included map for specific fire break locations. Physical addresses do not exist for the project areas but a general lat/long is included on the map.

Conman's Store (located across Shore Drive from the treatment area) 6693 Shore Dr.

Creswell, NC 27928 35° 44.795' 76° 29.631'

PLNWR Pungo Maintenance Shop 601 Refuge Rd.

Pantego, NC 27860 252-935-5373

QUOTE PROPOSAL:

Prospective contractors shall submit quotes on a cost-per-acre basis by type of equipment (amphibious vs. LGP) and as a total project cost. If funds are insufficient to cover the total project cost, the contract will be awarded on a cost-per-acre price by equipment type with no award granted until a project size matching available funds is reached. Quotes should include a description of equipment to be used so that evaluators may determine the adequacy and efficacy of proposed machinery.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The anticipated period of performance shall be August 01, 2024 through April 15, 2025.

Work may begin as soon as all appropriate environmental compliance measures are in place, which should occur well before this contract is awarded. The FWS POC will confirm environmental compliance and boundary surveying (if necessary) upon the awarding of this contract and will notify the awarded entity that operations may begin.

Extended wet or severe weather or high fire danger could potentially delay or prolong operations. Significantly wet conditions could impede equipment use in the LGP areas but should have minimal impact on amphibious operations unless erosion potential were to be an issue. Conversely, operations could be temporarily suspended if there were significant potential for wildfires from machine use.

TECHNICAL POINTS OF CONTACT (POC):

Caleb Jones Fire Mgt. Officer (FMO) 252-394-0234 caleb_jones@fws.gov

Derrick Moore Prescribed Fire & Fuels Specialist (PFFS) 252-394-0595 derrick_moore@fws.gov

Enclosed: Project Map mailto:caleb_jones@fws.gov mailto:derrick_moore@fws.gov

C-3 Northside Fire Road

Ev an s Ro ad

F2 Ro ad (H

C Ac ce ss

D e

H oo g Ro ad

Al le n Ro ad (H

C Ac ce ss

A-7 Northside Fire Road

Harvester Road

County Line Public

Access Road

Cl ay to n

Ro ad

F2 Cut-Across Road

Ev an s Ad m in is tr at iv e Ro ad

NorthBoundary Road (Pungo)

Bo er em a

Ro ad

A-3 Northside Fire Road

A-5 Northside Fire Road

D-4 Northside Fire Road

B-4 Northside Fire Road

North Lake Drive

Fire Road

HIDDEN

LAKE DR N

H

ER

O N

D R

HIDDENLAKEDR S

SHORE DR

Maxar

Lake Phelps

FWS

Conman's Store 6693 Shore Dr.

Creswell, NC 27928 35° 44.795' 76° 29.631'

42-ac

50-ac

49-ac

48-ac

50-ac

Pocosin Lakes FY24 Amphibious Mastication

237.8-acres Total

FWS_Boundary

Roads

Treatment Areas

400-ft. width

To Cresw ell

0 1 20.5 Miles

FWS

Shore Drive_Fuel Breaks_Map