Attachment_2-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

Mastication, Shore Drive- Pocosin Lakes NWR, NC

Performance Work Statement

INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND: The Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NC-POR) is pursuing a service contract for the mastication of six (6) fire breaks. See the enclosed maps (2) for location information.

All polygon acreages and boundaries were estimated via Geographic Information System (GIS).

Historically, the largest wildfires in NC history have occurred on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula and have included the Pocosin Lakes Refuge. Oftentimes, fires begin on adjacent properties and spread onto the Refuge. Unique local challenges to firefighters include large tracts of dense, volatile fuels with the potential for fast-moving wildfires. Additionally, the soil is very wet and mucky 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 private homes and property located on the north side of the Refuge.

Figure-1: Fire Breaks needed at Pocosin Lakes NWR

FUEL BREAK

LENGTH WIDTH

(ft) ACRES

(ft) (mi)

F2 Rd to Allen Rd 4,526.5 0.9 350 37 Allen Rd to Boerema Rd 5,343.2 1.0 350 43 Boerema Rd to Clayton Rd 5,317.1 1.0 350 43 Clayton Rd to DeHoag Rd 5,286.4 1.0 350 43 DeHoag Rd to Evans Rd 5,238.2 1.0 350 42 Western Rd 10,534.9 2.0 100 25

TOTAL: 36,246.3 6.9 1,850 233

1Fuel break width is measured from the road shoulder inside mow line or the ditch edge (waterline).

CURRENT VEGETATION: In the Shore Dr units (Map 1), the current vegetation consists of a very low stocking of pond pine overstory mixed with some small-diameter sweet bay, red maple, sweetgum, etc. The largest trees present range up to 30-50-feet in height with diameters occasionally 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 wax myrtle, sweet bay, red bay, groundsel tree, gallberry, switch cane, etc. Green briar and other vines are very heavy throughout. The Western Rd unit (Map 2) is wooded containing much larger trees. It has an overstory of mixed hardwoods ranging approximately 70-90 feet in height and 18-22 inches in diameter. It also has a heavy shrub and vine understory.

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 are 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 very limited capability. Additionally, the Shore Drive units have north-south cross ditches approximately every 330 feet. Individually they are approximately 10 feet wide.

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

STATEMENT OF WORK / SPECIFICATIONS: Utilize mastication equipment to cut fuel breaks according to the dimensions in Figure-1 above. Due to the very wet nature of the area, the project will require a medium- or large-sized amphibious excavator on pontoons. Fuel break width shall be measured from the inside road shoulder mow line or the nearside waterline canal/ditch edge. All vegetation, logs, stumps, etc. within the footprint of the fire break shall be masticated (mulched or ground) 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 masticate must be felled and moved outside of the break area, with the stumps cut to 6” or less. In some cases, and with approval, larger trees may be treated around and left as shaded fuel break. Contact the project point-of-contact (POC) for guidance in any area with larger trees. The contractor shall receive a briefing and instructions from the 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 POC for guidance on how to proceed. 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 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 site, 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 necessary precaution 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 be removed from the project 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 is responsible for any damage 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/POC 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 throu Friday. Any deviation needs prior approval from on-site representative/POC.

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. 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 enclosed maps for specific fire break locations. Physical addresses do not exist for the project areas but a general lat/long is included below and on Map 1.

Conman's Store (located across Shore Dr from the treatment area – at the north end of Boerema Rd) 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

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION: Prospective contractors shall submit quotes on a cost-per-acre basis 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 with no award granted until a project size matching available funds is reached. Proposals should include a description of equipment to be used so that evaluators may determine the adequacy and efficiency of proposed machinery.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE & WORK SCHEDULE: Work should begin no earlier than July 16, 2026. It is estimated that this project should reasonably conclude by December 15, 2026 (5 months) if not sooner, assuming no weather-related or other delays. Extended severe weather or high fire danger could potentially delay or prolong operations. To protect roosting bats, any work past December 15 would have significant additional constraints to include diameter limit restrictions based upon air temperature. As such, this work should be concluded by December 15, 2026.

TECHNICAL POINTS OF CONTACT (POC):

Caleb Jones East Zone Fuels Coordinator 252-394-0234 caleb_jones@fws.gov

John Cook East Zone Fire Management Officer (FMO) 252-553-0671 john_c_cook@fws.gov

Enclosed: 2 Project Maps mailto:caleb_jones@fws.gov mailto:shawn_turner@fws.gov

43 ac

43 ac

43 ac

42 ac

37 ac

C-3 Northside Fire RoadCl ay to n

Ro ad

Ev an s Ro ad

Harvester Road

D e

H oo g Ro ad

Al le n Ro ad

Bo er em a

Ro ad

North Lake Road

North Boundary Road

F2 Cut-Across Road

A-3 Northside Fire Road

A-5 Northside Fire Road

D-4 Northside Fire Road

B-4 Northside Fire Road

F2 R oa d

NC CGIA, Vantor

4,526.5' x 350'

5,343.2' x 350'

5,317.1' x 350'

5,286.4' x 350'

5,238.2' x 350'

Lake Phelps

Shore Dr

To Western Rd (~6 miles) →

NC-POR FY26 Shore Drive Fire Breaks Map 1 of 2 ~208 acres

0 1 20.5 Miles

FWS Boundary

Roads

Mastication Areas

Scale: 1:36,000 Datum: NCCGIA/Vantor; 01182024 By: C. Jones Drawn: 03272026

To Creswell (~13 miles)

Conman's Store 6693 Shore Dr Creswell, NC 27928 35° 44.795' 76° 29.631'

25 ac

Dun ba r

Roa d

Western Road

NC CGIA, Vantor

10,535' x 100'

New Lake

No Outlet

NC-POR FY26 Shore Drive Fire Breaks Map 2 of 2 ~25 acres

0 1 20.5 Miles

FWS Boundary

Roads

Mastication Area

Scale: 1:23,000 Datum: NCCGIA/Vantor; 01182024 By: C. Jones Drawn: 03272026

To Harvester Rd (~3 miles)