Attachment 2 SOW.pdf

Statement of Work

Finger Lakes early successional habitat project

Part 1

General Information

1. GENERAL: This is a non-personnel services contract to provide mastication/Mulching/hand felling/chipping/stump grinding services. The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform mastication/Mulching/hand felling/chipping/stump grinding services as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS) except for those items specified as government furnished property and services. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract. All work will be completed with dry or frozen ground conditions.

1.2 Scope: Scope of work for the Mastication will involves mulching of all vegetation to a maximum height of 6 inches above ground level. Obstructions such as rocky outcrops, boulders and bluff lines can be avoided. All trees 6 inches or less in diameter are to be treated. Trees larger than 6 inches in diameter shall be left. Trees that are felled will need to be masticated so that no portions of the branches extend more than eight (8) inches above ground level. All stump heights should be masticated to a maximum height of 4 inches above ground level for all mastication work. Within the hand felling/shipping area, all stumps should be ground to ground level to ensure the Forest Service is able to complete mowing in the future on the hand felling unit.

1.3 Period of Performance:

Work may begin on the 1st of September and must conclude prior to the 1st of April.

The Period of Performance reads as follows:

September 1st 2023 through April 1st 2024

1.4 General Information

1.4.1 Quality Control: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means by which he assures himself that his work complies with the requirement of the contract. The contractor shall provide in writing within thirty

(30) days of the contract award date. After acceptance of the quality control plan the contractor shall receive the contracting officer’s acceptance in writing of any proposed change to his QC system.

1.4.2 Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

1.4.3 Recognized Holidays:

The contractor will not be required to perform services on the following listed holidays

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Independence Day Christmas Day

1.4.4 Hours of Operation: The contractor is responsible for conducting business, between the hours of

06:30 thru 18:30 CDT Monday through Sunday except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. For other than firm fixed price contracts, the contractor will not be reimbursed when the government facility is closed for the above reasons. The Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is not closed for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.4.5 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at a field location shown on attached maps. The work location will be on the Finger Lakes national Forest which is located between Seneca ana Cayuga Lakes in Seneca and Schuyler counties in New York state. Mastication would take place within pastures as well as within grasslands and shrublands on the Finger Lakes National Forest, units will not be flagged on the ground. Hand felling, chipping and stump grinding will take place within the Ahouse West grassland for wildlife in Lodi, Seneca County

NY.

1.4.6 Type of Contract: Award will be firm fixed price contract.

1.4.7 PHYSICAL Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information and property provided for contractor use. At the close of each work period the contractor shall be responsible for ensuring any gates or other points of entry are securely locked, barriers replaced, government facilities, equipment, and materials shall be secured.

1.6.7.2 Key Control: Not Applicable

1.6.8 Special Qualifications: the contractor is responsible for providing a trained equipment operators and that the operators have all necessary safety items with them during operations.

1.6.9 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

1.6.10 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The (COR) will be identified by separate letter. The

COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract: perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance: maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract: issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications: monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property, and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.11 Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered key personnel by the government: The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available between 09:30 and 16:00 EDT, Monday through Friday except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons. The contractor shall provide a qualified equipment operator and an alternate should shall act in the absence of the primary operator.

1.6.12 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings, answering

Government telephones, and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed.

1.6.12 Appearance of Contractor Employees: Contractor personnel shall present a neat appearance and be easily recognized. This may be accomplished by wearing clothing bearing the name of the company or by wearing an appropriate badge containing the company name and employee name.

1.6.13 Equipment cleanliness: mulching equipment shall be thoroughly cleaned to make it free of soil, noxious weed seeds, vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds prior to being delivered to the project site. Equipment shall be considered free of soil, noxious weed seeds and other such debris when a visual inspection by the C.O.R., prior to the equipment being delivered to the site, does not disclose such material present. Disassembly of equipment components is not required. The Contractor shall notify the Forest Service at least five (5) working days prior to moving each piece of soil moving equipment onto the project site, unless otherwise agreed.

The Contractor shall thoroughly clean all equipment prior to moving them off a project site or between work areas on a project site that are known to be infested with noxious weed species of concern and other work areas, if any, that are free of noxious weed species of concern. Areas known to be infested with specific noxious weed species of concern to the Forest Service shall be noted in the Schedule of Work. The Contractor and the Forest Service shall agree on the methods of cleaning, location for the cleaning and control of off-site impacts, if any.

When new areas of infestation of noxious weeds of concern to the Forest Service are identified on the project site by either the Forest Service or Contractor they shall be promptly reported to the other party

PART 2

DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

2. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

2.1. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. DBH. An abbreviation for a measurement of the diameter of a tree taken and “breast height” also defined as four feet above ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

2.1.2. MASTICATION. The Mechanical process of chewing up or mulching vegetation into smaller pieces.

2.1.3. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.4. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.5. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S. Government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.6. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS.

When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.7. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.8. QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.9. QUALITY ASSURANCE Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.10. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.11. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.12. WORK DAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.13. WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1 Services: Not Applicable

3.2 Facilities: Not Applicable

3.3 Utilities: Not Applicable

3.4 Equipment: Not Applicable

3.5 Materials: Not Applicable

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS.

4.2 Materials: the contractor shall furnish all materials required to perform the work under this contract that are not listed under section 3 of this PWS.

4.3 Equipment: The Contractor shall provide a variable head front mounted variable rotor mulching head that can be raised and lowered. The mulching unit may be track or tire driven.

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

5. Specific Tasks:

5.1. Basic Services.

Mastication (PRS 1, 2, 3 below)-The contractor shall provide services for Mastication of up to 15 Acres of National Forest land. All materials and equipment will be provided by the contractor and shall be removed from the project site within one week of the completion of work. (*Note mastication of these units will only be for vegetation up to 6 inches DBH, anything over 6 inches can be left standing*)

Hand felling, chipping, piling and stump grinding (15 acres total area)- Project will include mastication, cutting and chipping, cutting and piling and stump grinding. Within the project area all woody vegetation over 1”DBH will be removed by one of the methods above. All trees up to 15” can be chipped and anything over 15” DBH would be piled as habitat on the edge/outside of the unit as habitat. All stumped would be ground to the ground surface to ensure future mowing will not be impacted by stumps. (*Note This specific part of the project will include removal of all vegetation, regardless of size*).

Approximate areas with in the 15 acre project are:

~0.5 acre-13 walnut trees ~1.1 acre Aspen ~2.5 acre of various size white pine and cedar (~50 trees) ~15-various species singular standing trees

PART 6

APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

6. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS (CURRENT EDITIONS)

6.1. The Contractor must abide by all applicable regulations, publications, manuals, and local policies and procedures, including: Not Applicable

PART 7

ATTACHMENT/TECHNICAL EXHIBIT LISTING

7. Attachment/Technical Exhibit List:

7.1. Technical Exhibit 1 – Performance Requirements Summary

7.2. Technical Exhibit 3 – Estimated Workload Data

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 1

Performance Requirements Summary The contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the minimum acceptable levels of service required for each requirement. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

Performance Objective (The Service required—usually a shall statement)

Standard Performance Threshold (This is the maximum error rate. It could possibly be “Zero deviation from standard”)

Method of Surveillance

PRS # 1.

Mastication of all trees and brush 6 inches in diameter and less.

The contractor shall complete mastication or hand felling followed by mastication of all trees and brush six

(6) inches and less

No more than 5% of trees six inches or less be found untreated

A minimum of two site visits per week by the COR will be conducted. Spot checking of DBH of ten trees

PRS # 2

Cut stump heights lower than four

(4) inches above ground level

Contractor shall ensure that all cut stumps be cut at a height no greater than four inches above ground level on the uphill side of the stump

No more than 5% of stumps found to be over the four inch maximum

A minimum of two site visits by the COR per week will spot check 10 randomly selected stumps. They will be measured on the uphill side of the stump

PRS # 3

Residuals brush and felled trees be treated to height of not more than eight inches

The contractor shall ensure that all brush left on the ground from all operations be masticated so that no portion of the vegetation extend greater than 8 inches above ground level.

No more than 5% of site checks be found to have vegetation extending greater than 8 inches above ground level

Spot check will be completed by the COR during the operational period.

Upon completion of the contract ten randomly selected points for vegetation height will be selected and measured.

PRS #4

All stumps shall be ground to ground level

The contractor shall grind all stumps to ground level

Zero deviation from standard

A minimum of two site visits by the COR per week will spot check 10 randomly selected stumps.

PRS 5

All vegetation over 3 in DBH removed from project site

The contractor shall remove via chipping and removing or cutting and piling remove all vegetation from the site larger than 3” DBH

Zero deviation from standard

A minimum of two site visits by the COR per week will spot check project area.

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 3

ESTIMATED WORKLOAD DATA

ITEM

NAME

ESTIMATED QUANTITY

1 Equipment operator ____96___

Hours

2 Supervisor and field Crew 3 days