Attachment 3 Shadline_CTR_SOW.docx

SECTION C

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

PART I, SECTION C, DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

CROWN-TOUCHING RELEASE

C-1 DESCRIPTION OF WORK

(a) SCOPE OF CONTRACT

Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, transportation, materials, equipment, tools, and supplies, and perform all work required to perform slashdown with hand tools on National Forest land in accordance with the specifications and provisions contained herein.

(b) LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The areas to be treated are located within the boundaries of:

National Forest: Pisgah Ranger District: Appalachian County(ies): Madison State: North Carolina

See attached Vicinity and Site Maps for locations of and directions to project sites. All area boundaries are marked with flagging or paint on perimeter trees.

Stand

Total

All contract map locations are approximate; therefore, actual locations designated on the ground take precedence over the contract maps contained in section J. Area 7 – 9 are small patches that range from 0.5 acres to 2.0 acres.

Vegetation to be treated is described in section C-3. It consists of saplings and poletimber <8” dbh.

C-2 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY.

a) The Government will issue a key to any gated Forest Service roads needed for access by the Contractor. The Contractor shall be responsible if unauthorized entry to the facilities is gained by the use of the key. Issued key(s) shall be returned to the COR prior to final payment.

C-3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

a) Item 01 - Crown Touch Release by Handtools and Pruning of Oak Sprout Clumps

(a) TREES NOT TO BE TREATED -Trees within white painted boundaries (W/L incl.);

-Trees marked with orange or blue marking paint -Trees marked with red boundary paint;

-Trees larger than 8" dbh;

-Fruit bearing trees: Dogwood, Service Berry and American Holly -Other trees designated by COR.

(b) SELECTION OF CROP TREES All oak sprout clumps shall be pruned back to the best 1 or 2 sprouts using the following treatment criteria:

(1) Select low-origin sprouts near ground line, and never more than six inches above ground line;

(2) On steep slopes, favor sprouts on the uphill side of the stump;

(3) Select the best one or two sprouts per clump (preferably the tallest), and cut the rest. If two are selected, they should be widely spaced, and not have a V-shaped connection at the base.

In addition to pruning back all oak sprout clumps identify approximately 70 trees per acre to be selected as crop trees by locating them as near as possible on a 25' X 25' spacing. Selected crop trees shall meet the following criteria:

(1) Be at least as tall as the average tree height in the stand;

(2) Have relatively good form with no apparent damage;

(3) Have healthy crowns (no die back and no flat tops).

(4) Be a desirable species, i.e. a tree that is valuable for timber and/or wildlife. Species selection of crop trees will be according to the following priority:

If two good crop trees are located near each other, treat them as one tree.

If no good crop trees are found in a given spot, choose the best tree available such as red maple.

(c) TREES TO BE TREATED All competing stems that have crowns touching the crop tree AND are at least 50% the height of the crop tree will be cut.

(d) SLASHDOWN PROCEDURE Trees may be cut at any convenient height under 3 feet high.

Care must be taken to assure that the Contractor does not damage crop trees when cutting adjacent trees or sprouts. No cut and felled material shall be left in designated crop trees.

All trees or sprouts cut by the Contractor will be completely severed from the stump.

All felled material shall be removed at least five (5) feet from the top of cut road banks, trails and streamcourse banks. All cut and felled material within 30 feet of the top of the cutbank along roads shall be cut to lie within 4 feet of the ground. This may require double or triple slashing and or pulling stems back from the road bank.

C-4 AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL

The Contractor, during the course of work, shall not permit motorized vehicle entry behind closed gates by anyone other than the Contractor, his/her employees, and Government employees.

C-5 CONTRACTOR’S QUALITY CONTROL PLAN

The Contractor shall prepare a Quality Control Plan before starting work and provide it to the COR. The Plan will demonstrate how the Contractor - through organization, supervision, and self-inspection – will perform work at the Acceptable Quality Level (see C-6). Any proposed inspection system shall produce written data that can be provided in a timely manner to the Contracting Officer or his/her representative. Sampling shall be unbiased, shall represent all parts of the stands, and shall be verifiable (sample locations marked on the ground). The CO, COR, or Inspector may observe the Contractor’s inspection at any time.

Among the items to be included in the Quality Control Plan are species selected as crop trees, distance from the nearest crop tree to other closest crop trees in four quadrants, form and condition of crop trees, percentage of competing stems treated, percentage of crop trees completely severed, damage to crop trees caused by Contractor, documentation of safety discussions, and a proposed schedule of work, updated at least weekly.

C-6 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT METHODS

C-7 GOVERNMENT’S QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN

The Government will monitor progress to ensure that the Contractor is providing the quality promised in their Quality Control Plan and that work meets performance standards. Visual observation will be used. The Government reserves the right, if deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the contract, to take standard 1/50th acre inspection plots by random sample. Each contract Area will be inspected separately, and the results will not be averaged.

Government inspections will be documented on Daily Diaries and placed in the contract file. If work in part of an Area does not meet the Acceptable Quality Level given above, a Notice of Non-Compliance will be issued to the Contractor (see section E-1 (e) and (f)). The CO may issue other cure notices if work is not being performed in a timely manner or does not comply with contract specifications.

Upon completion of an Area and notification by the Contractor, the COR or designated Inspector shall make an overall inspection of that Area. If a need for remedial work prior to acceptance is reflected by the COR/Inspector`s overall inspection, or by plot sample results, such remedial work will be performed before the Contractor moves to the next Area. If the inspection results in acceptance of the Area, the Contractor may immediately proceed with work on the next area.

DOWNED FIREWOOD

Downed material within the boundaries of the area may be removed by the contractor during the life of the contract for personal use. This contract will serve as contractor's permit.

CAMPING PROVISIONS FOR LABOR INTENSIVE CONTRACTS

The following provisions apply to all camping on National Forest lands during performance of this contract:

1. These provisions are in addition to those contained in, or provided for, in the clause titled “Use of Premises”, in this contract.

2. Every structure used as shelter shall provide protection from the elements. Where heat adequate for weather conditions is not provided, other arrangements should be made to protect workers from the cold. Firewood may be cut only after obtaining a District Firewood Permit.

3. The campsite will not encroach beyond the boundaries designated by the Forest Service. The campsite shall be located so as to minimize impacts on streams, lakes, and other bodies of water. No camping shall be permitted within developed recreation sites or along primary recreation roads.

4. The campsite shall have a clean appearance at all times.

5. Upon abandonment of any campsite, or termination, revocation, or cancellation of camping privileges, the contractor shall remove, within 10 calendar days, all structures and improvements except those owned by the United States, and shall restore the site, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing or in the camping permit. If the contractor fails to remove all structures or improvements within the 10 calendar days, they shall become the property of the United States, but that will not relieve the contractor of liability for the cost of their removal and restoration of the site.

6. Unless otherwise designated by the Contracting Officer, the use of this area is not exclusive, and may be granted to other permittees, contractors, or recreating public. Disorderly conduct is not permitted.

7. Damaging or removing any natural feature or other property of the Forest Service is prohibited.

8. Servicing of equipment in the campsite is not permitted, unless the campsite is within the project area.

9. Sanitary facilities shall be provided for storing food. Ice chests or coolers, with ice supply made from potable water and replenished as necessary, shall be provided and sufficient for the storage of perishable food items.

10. An adequate and convenient potable water supply shall be provided in each camp for drinking and cooking purposes.

11. Toilet facilities adequate for the capacity of the camp shall be provided and supplied with adequate toilet paper. Such facilities shall be serviced and maintained in a sanitary condition.

12. Garbage shall be collected, stored, and disposed of in such a manner as to prevent scattering by the wind, minimize attraction of flies, and discourage access by rodents.

13. Basic first aid supplies shall be maintained, available and under the charge of a person trained to administer first aid. The supplies shall include:

a. Gauze pads (at least 4x4 inches)

b. Two large gauze pads (at least 8x10 inches)

c. Box adhesive bandages (band-aids)

d. One package of gauze roller bandage at least 2 inches wide

e. Two triangular bandages

f. Scissors

g. At least one blanket

h. Tweezers

i. Adhesive tape

j. Latex gloves

k. Resuscitation device such as resuscitation bag, airway, or pocket mask

14. Any washing of laundry shall be done in such a way as to provide for washing and rinsing without polluting lakes, streams, or other flowing water.

15. Waste water must be disposed of away from living and eating areas and in a fashion that minimizes pollution to lakes, streams, and other flowing water.

16. The contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent and suppress forest fires. No material shall be disposed of by burning in open fires during the closed season established by law or regulation without the written permission from the Forest Service.

17. The contractor shall comply with the following fire regulations during fire season:

a. A shovel, axe or pulaski, 10 quart pail which is full of water for immediate use and a fire extinguisher with an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) rating of at least 1:A 10:BC is required during the fire season.

b. All fire rings or outside fireplaces will be approved by the Forest Service representative. The area will be cleared down to mineral soil for a distance of 1 foot outside of the ring or fireplace and it will not have any overhanging material. Fire rings will be dismantled and material disposed prior to leaving the site.

c. All generators and other internal combustion engines will be equipped with USFS approved spark arrestors and/or factory designed muffler and exhaust system in good working order. They will be located in a cleared area with the same requirements as in (b).

d. All fuel will be stored in UL approved flammable storage containers and be located at least 50 feet from any open flame or other source of ignition.

18. Any violation of these conditions constitutes a breach of contract, and may result in revocation of camping approval.

19. The Forest Service reserves the right to terminate a camping permit at any time.