Attachment 3 SOW and maps.docx

12444121R0050 Attachment 3 SOW

STATEMENT OF WORK

SPECIFICATIONS

400 ACRES OF CROP TREE RELEASE ACTIVITIES & 50.5 ACRES OF TREE PLANTING

The contractor shall furnish all equipment, materials, supervision, transportation, labor, and supplies in order to complete the specified work on National Forest land. No materials, labor, or equipment will be furnished by the Government unless specifically identified in the Government Furnished Property clause in Clause 130.

SPECIFICATIONS – CROP TREE RELEASE

The specifications for this contract include crop tree release activities across 16 timber sale units on 400 acres on the Nantahala National Forest in Western North Carolina. Crop trees will be selected on a minimum 25’ x 25’ spacing according to specifications in Clause 211 of this contract. Release activities will occur at least 6’ around selected crop trees as outlined in Clause 212 of this contract. Activities will include the following treatments on each contract unit as identified below.

· Basal-bark application of chemical on undesirable stump sprouts, and trees up to 3”, and vines up to 8”

· Cut stump and application of chemical on undesirable stump sprouts, trees, and vines from 3” to 8” unless larger trees are specified by the COR in the field

6’ treatment around crop trees

Basal bark application on all undesirable stems/trees <3" DBH and Vines <8" DBH

Cut and immediately spray stump on all undesirable trees >3" and <8" DBH Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Foot/UTV

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Foot/UTV

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Access by Truck

Herbicide handling and application shall be performed under direct supervision of a licensed North Carolina Applicator. The contractor is required to employ crew members with sufficient knowledge to accurately identify vegetation species named for treatment and any species added to the list by the COR. The contractor will be responsible for the necessary training for crew members to accurately perform their duties.

The contractor must attach a copy of their valid North Carolina Applicator’s License in the bid package.

Release work must be completed within 1 year of issuance of this contract.

SPECIFICATIONS –TREE PLANTING

The specifications for this contract include tree planting activities of containerized shortleaf pine across 2 timber sale units on 50.5 acres. The contract areas are scheduled for site prep burning before planting in early 2022. Burn results can be expected to be mixed across the units and various levels of residual logging material should be expected across the planting area. The planting areas include leave groups which have not been harvested and will not require planting. Total harvest area includes 56 acres with 50.5 acres suitable for planting. All efforts should be made to plant within the areas which have been harvested.

Planting will be done on an average of 290 TPA (approx. 15 x10 spacing). The COR will direct planting crews on appropriate locations for an increase or reduction in TPA spacing. For example, ridges with less logging debris may be planted on a tighter spacing while drainages or areas with heavy logging debris may receive wider planting spacing. Contractually the average spacing across the unit will be 290 TPA.

The contract areas are in Cherokee County, NC.

Planting work must be completed within 3 weeks from the day in which seedlings become available at the District office. At the time of issuance of this contract, seedlings are expected to arrive at the storage facility in January 2022. They will be immediately available for planting upon arrival. The COR will continually communicate with the contractor as shipping dates are determined.

Activities will include the following treatments on each contract unit as identified below.

Access by Truck

DIVISION 100: GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

100 Scope of Contract The contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, materials, transportation, supervision, and all other necessary items to perform specified work on National Forest Land. The work may consist of strenuous walking on rough terrain greater than 50% slope.

**The Forest Service reserves the right to specify the order in which areas will be treated** 120 Description and Location The contract area is located on the Nantahala National Forest, Cheoah-Tusquitee Ranger District, North Carolina. (See attached maps) 130 Government Furnished Property The Government shall deliver to the contractor the following listed materials, supplies, and property, here-in-after referred to as “Government furnished property”, at the place and time specified below. The contractor shall be liable for all damage or loss of such delivered Government furnished property, until completion and final acceptance of work required under this contract. If the Government fails to make timely delivery of Government furnished property suitable for its intended use, and upon written request by the contractor, the Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment of contract delivery performance dates, contract price, or both, pursuant to the “Changes” clause of the General Provisions of this contract.

The Forest Service will furnish the chemical mixture selected for each project area in 15-gallon plastic containers or other suitable containers. The contractor will be responsible for transporting this mixture from the Cheoah Ranger District Work Center to the work sites. The contractor will also be responsible for security of the material until the contract is completed and accepted. The contractor will return all unused chemical and containers to the pickup point at the Ranger District daily. Herbicide shall be considered delivered by the Government upon contractor’s loading onto their vehicle for transporting to the contract area. No herbicide mixture or containers will be left in the woods overnight.

The Contractor will give the COR a minimum of 48-hour notice before chemical is needed to complete work.

Anticipated chemical mixtures include:

Basal bark application: 20% Garlon4, oil, dye Spray stump application: 50% Garlon3, water Seedlings will be furnished by the Forest Service to the Contractor in sealed bags or bundles. The Contractor shall be responsible for loading and transporting seedings from the storage site location at 123 Woodland Dr., Murphy, NC to the contract work areas. Seedlings may be picked up or returned Monday – Sunday at a time mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and COR. Not more than one day’s supply of seedlings will be picked up on any one day. Unused seedlings should be returned to the storage site at the end of each workday. Seedlings will be considered delivered to the Contractor upon Contractor's loading on his/her vehicle for transportation to planting sites.

DIVISION 200: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210 Treatment Methods For all areas, the contractor shall visually select crop trees and chemically or manually release these selected crop trees in accordance with Clauses 211 and 212. The contractor will then slash or spray vines competing with the crop trees as per Clause 215.

211 - Crop Tree Selection A crop tree shall be selected on a minimum 25' x 25' spacing (approximately 70 crop trees per acre) according to the following priority order and released in accordance with Clause 212 of the contract. In addition, the contractor may choose and release additional crop trees above the required minimum number according to stand conditions, which will dictate optimal spacing and stocking above the minimum number specified here. The contractor will be required to use his/her best judgment in leaving and releasing additional crop trees. All vines competing with additionally selected crop trees will also be treated as specified in Clause 215.

PRIORITY FOR CROP TREES:

1 - Northern Red Oak - White Oak 2 - Black Cherry - Sugar Maple - Ash 3 - Black Oak - Chestnut Oak - Hickory 4 - Scarlet Oak 5 - Yellow Poplar - Cucumber - Basswood 6 - Buckeye - Red Maple - Birch

In addition to selection by species, crop trees will be selected from the best quality, most vigorous stems; these will generally occupy the dominant and co-dominant classes. Trees in a high intermediate position, where crown is in the main canopy but overtopped by one or more less desirable species, may be selected as crop trees if in the top 3 species priority classes. All crop tree selections will possess good form, without excessive lean (>25 degrees from vertical), obvious sweep, crook, disease, or large forks. Stump sprouts selected as crop trees must be of low origin (origin point no more than 4" above ground line) and, if on steep slopes, be located on the uphill side of the stump.

Black locust, chestnut, silverbell, black gum, dogwood, sourwood, sassafras, hemlock, fire cherry, and striped maple will never be selected as crop trees. If no other suitable species are available in any particular spot that would satisfy the spacing guidelines other than one of these, no crop tree will be selected. Suppressed trees (those with crown entirely below the main canopy) will never be selected as crop trees, regardless of species, with the exception that suppressed sugar maple trees may be selected as crop trees if no other suitable species are available.

212 - Crop Tree Release Requirements All trees adjacent to the crop tree shall be cut if:

1) Their crowns touch the crown of the crop tree, OR

2) Their crowns are above or immediately below the edge of the crop tree crown.

All crop trees will have at least a 6-foot release zone around the perimeter of the crop tree crown, considering competing crowns and not stem origin. If a competing tree is a sprout clump, the clump will be thinned to one-two remaining dominant stems, as long as the required 6-foot release zone adjacent to the crop tree can be achieved. All grapevines and smokevines with any part of their stems within 6’ of the crop trees will be cut except for established vine slicks of 0.5 acre or larger. All stems cut must be felled away from crop trees and shall not be left hanging in or lodged in crop tree crowns or against crop tree boles. If a competing tree cannot be cut without becoming hung up or damaging a crop tree, it will be girdled instead of cut.

When a crop tree is selected from a clump of sprouts, all stems in the clump will be cut away from the crop tree except:

1) Stems with obvious close tissue connections to the crop tree, OR

2) Stems that cannot be cut in a reasonable manner without damaging the crop tree with the cutting tool.

213 - Vegetation not to be cut

1. Snags.

2. Individual large trees or clumps of large trees which were obviously intentionally left as wildlife den trees or food producing trees.

3. Hollow trees, and shellbark, shagbark, and bitternut hickories.

4. Standing trees larger than 3” DBH which have exfoliating (separated from the cambium) bark along 25% or more of the main stem.

5. Trees marked with paint or ribbons that designate property lines and corner witness trees.

6. Any other trees designated not to be cut by the COR.

214 - Cutting Methods Cutting shall be done with any hand cutting tools such as brush hooks, sandviks, brush axes, or chainsaws. All vegetation to be cut shall be severed completely from the root system at a point on the stem no more than 12 inches from ground level on the uphill side of the stump.

Contractor shall always use controlled felling methods. "Stump-Jumping" will not be allowed. "Stump-Jumping" is defined as severing a stem completely from the stump before stem has sufficient lean to control direction of fall and is also defined as not leaving a hinge of wood to control kickback of the butt.

215 – Grape and Smoke Vine Control Treatment All grape and smoke vines except those in established slicks of 0.5 acre or larger will be slashed completely in two. Vines will be cut so as to not leave the cut surface of the vine touching the ground or within one foot of the ground.

220 Care and Handlings of Seedlings The Contractor must protect the seedlings and take precautions to prevent damage to them from the time they are received by the Contractor until they are planted. This shall include, but is not limited to:

Protection from Sun, Wind, and Adverse Temperatures

Seedlings must be handled, stored and transported in a manner to protect them from sun and wind and to maintain the air temperature of bags/bundles between 32 and 70 degres fahrenheit. Bags/bundles will not be left exposed to direct sunlight.Only one bag/bundle of seedlings per crew shall be opened at one time. If seedlings are furnished in bags, bags of seedlings shall be kept sealed prior to planting of the seedlings. Partially used bags will be kept closed to prevent exposure of the seedling roots to air. If any bag is torn, separated or otherwise opened, Contractor shall immediately patch or otherwise reseal it.If seedlings are furnished in bundles, bundles shall be kept intact prior to planting. Partially used bundles will be kept rolled and tied to prevent exposure of roots to air.

Keeping Seedling Roots Moist

Roots of seedlings must be kept moist from Contractor's taking possession until seedlings are planted.

Protection from Contamination

Seedlings shall be protected from contamination by materials such as gasoline, diesel fuel, oils, or chemicals which may damage the seedlings

Protection from Abuse

Bags/bundles of seedlings must not be thrown, stepped on, crushed, sat on or otherwise abused.

Disposal of Debris

All seedling bags, bale wrappers, binding straps and debris generated by Contractor's operations shall be returned to the Forest Service Work Center for disposal.

230 Pruning of Tree Seedlings Tree seedling roots shall not be pruned or cut by the Contractor. If in the Contractor's judgement any seedlings are not plantable due to long roots or damage, they will be returned to the COR for pruning or disposal. Seedlings to be returned to the COR shall be kept moist and in good condition.

240 Planting Instructions Tree seedlings shall be planted following standard industry standards and procedures, and will be in accordance with the following instructions:

1.Plant one tree seedling in a trash-free hole or trench.

2.Each seedling shall be planted so that the root collar is from 0-1 inches below mineral soil. This may require scalping of the ground prior to making a planting hole where organic matter is deep.

3. Planting will be done on an average of 290 TPA (appox. 10 x15 spacing). The COR will direct planting crews on appropriate locations for an increase or reduction in TPA spacing. For example, ridges with less logging debris may be planted on a tighter spacing while drainages or areas with heavy logging debris may receive wider planting spacing. Contractually the average spacing will be 290 TPA.

4.Plant tree seedlings in a manner so as to prevent "U" roots, "L" roots, exposed roots, and twisted or balled roots.

5.Soil will be firmly packed around each planted seedling. Planting hole will be closed at the bottom as well as the top.

6.Seedlings shall not be planted if the ground is frozen or air temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or if the air temperature is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Planting under the conditions stated above may proceed with the advance approval of the COR.

7.All areas in logging debris, and adjacent to windrows and rocks will be planted. All log landings and skid trails will be planted, except as designated by COR.

8.Only the human hand may be used to maneuver seedling roots into the planting hole or trench.

9.Seedlings shall be removed from a planting bag one at a time and shall not be fanned or snapped.

10.Planting bags will be loosely packed with seedlings so as to prevent stripping of seedlings being extracted.

11.Planting tool shall be a dibble, mattock, hodad, etc. Tool should be adequate for planting 1-0 and 2-0 seedlings with roots up to 9 inches in length. Penetrating portion of blade shall not be less than 9-1/2 inches long and 2-3/4 inches wide.

245 Crew Organization The Contractor shall provide a competent foreman or superintendent for each crew. Crews will not exceed 10 people. The foreman or superintendent shall be with the crews at all times while they are working. Each crew will perform work as an individual working unit and during normal daily work operations crews will not be separated or divided into smaller working units, unless prior consent is received from the Inspector or the COR. This consent will be most applicable to finishing small areas where normal crew size (10 people) would be impractical; in other work circumstances crew members will perform together as a working unit.

Contractor shall furnish a 7 day notice prior to a significant change in crew size (+ or - 10 tree planters) in order for the Forest Service to provide sufficient seedlings.

250 Resource Protection During the handling, transporting, and use of the herbicide, the contractor will use every precaution necessary to prevent herbicide pollution of any streams, lakes, and reservoirs. No stems will be treated within 30 feet, horizontal distance, of any live stream, lake, or reservoir. Under no circumstances will sprayers, containers, or other contaminated materials be washed in any stream, lake, or reservoir.

252 Spill Protection Contractor shall use every precaution necessary to prevent herbicide spillage in loading, transporting, pouring, and applying the herbicide. Contractor will provide a spill kit containing 25 pounds of cat litter, two large polyethylene garbage bags with ties and a square point shovel for each vehicle transporting herbicide. If a spill occurs, contractor will immediately contain the spill, using the cat litter to absorb it, and seal the material in the polyethylene bags. Contractor will notify the COR of any spill more than one gallon, as soon as possible, after following the above procedures. Contractor will not transport more than a two-day supply of herbicide, at one time.

253 Access The contractor shall have approval to access gated Forest Service roads as is necessary for the project area. The contractor is required to protect all roads, ditches, fences, and other improvements in the project area. Roads and trails shall be kept free of logs, slash, and debris caused by the contractor. Forest Service gates shall remain locked at all times.

The Contractor will give the COR a minimum of 48-hour notice before access is needed to complete work.

254 Protection of Trees The contractor will use every precaution necessary to prevent herbicide from drifting onto species not identified as target species.

255 Final Cleanup Before final acceptance, all trash, rubbish, and debris generated by the contractor’s operation will be removed from National Forest Land.

256 Protection of Archaeological and Historical Resources The contractor will cease work upon discovery of suspected archaeological or historical materials and immediately notify the COR.

257 Protection of Workers Each crew member should be properly clothed including leather boots or shoes, eye protection, long sleeve shirts, long pants, and gloves. Fresh water for washing should always be kept with the crew. The contractor or his representative will be responsible for the health and safety of his crew members.

DIVISION 300: INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

310 Inspection Procedures Inspection of the work performed under this contract shall be made by the Contracting Officer’s Representative or the designated inspector as the work progresses at such intervals as are necessary to ensure compliance with the contract specifications and provisions.

Upon completion of work on an area, the contractor shall notify the COR that work on the area is completed. If the work completed is accepted, the contractor shall proceed with work on the next area. If the work is not accepted by the COR, the contractor shall complete any remedial work required for acceptance prior to commencing work on the next area.

320 Performance Requirements – Crop Tree Release

Below 85%, rework shall be completed at no cost to the Government.

Positive performance rating

Below 85%, rework shall be completed at no cost to the Government.

Positive performance rating

321 Performance Requirements – Planting

Below 85%, rework shall be completed at no cost to the Government.

Positive performance rating

Unused trees are returned at the end of each workday.

100% of seedlings are protected.

100% of seedlings provided to the Contractor are planted or returned each workday.

DIVISION 400: MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

410 Method of Measurement The acreage of each area has been determined by GPS unit system for purposes of this contract is considered actual acreage and not an estimate.

420 Basis of Payment Payment will be made at the unit price bid for the total number of acres completed and accepted.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

RFP CONTRACT FOR 400 ACRES CROP TREE RELEASE & 50.5 ACRE PLANTING

This Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) has been developed pursuant to the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS) in the Contract for 400 acres of crop tree release and 50.5 acres of pine planting work. This plan sets forth procedures and guidelines that will be used in evaluating the technical performance of the contractor.

1. Purpose of the QASP:

1.1 The QASP is intended to accomplish the following:

a. Define the roles and responsibilities of participating government officials and the contractor

b. Define the types of work to be performed

c. Describe the evaluation methods that will be employed by the contractor and the government in assessing the contractor’s inspection program and performance of the tasks

d. Provide copies of the contractor’s inspection records and Government quality assurance monitoring forms that will be used by the government in documenting and evaluating the contractor’s performance

e. Describe the process of performance documentation

1.2 The contractor is responsible for performing inspection services pursuant to the inspection clause and for providing and maintaining the inspection forms approved by the government to perform the contractor’s inspection services. The prescribed standards are in the statement of work.

2. Types of Work to be Performed and Schedule of Inspections This contract calls for the contractor to perform the following tasks and subtasks and to perform inspections at the completion of the tasks/subtasks as a minimum and or for intermediate inspections as determined at contract award by the COR/CO.

Release:

Below 85%, rework shall be completed at no cost to the Government.

Positive performance rating

Below 85%, rework shall be completed at no cost to the Government.

Positive performance rating

Planting:

Below 85%, rework shall be completed at no cost to the Government.

Positive performance rating

Unused trees are returned at the end of each workday.

100% of seedlings are protected.

100% of seedlings provided to the Contractor are planted or returned each workday.

3. Methods of Surveillance

3.1 The Government, through its COR, will be monitoring the contractor’s performance on a continuous basis. The method the Government will use is 100% inspection of the contractor’s inspection results. The government COR will perform periodic independent inspections after the contractor has performed their inspection, if questions develop regarding the results of the contractor’s inspections. Results of the independent inspections that differ from the results noted by the contractor on their inspections the costs thereof for the reinspection costs will be assessed against the contractor. The contractor shall be required to rework the effort until the performance standard is achieved. And the added costs of reinspection charged to the contractor.

3.2 Inspections will be performed to the schedule submitted by the contractor and approved by the government. Variances from the schedule must be preapproved by the CO.

4. Quality Assurance Forms and Report

1. The COR will use one quality assurance monitoring form to document and evaluate the contractor’s performance under the contract. The form when completed will document the COR’s understanding of what the contractor was supposed to do, what was actually done, and the impact or consequences of what was done.

2. The COR will judge each event in accordance with the performance standards and performance requirements stated in the Quality/Performance Requirements within the contract.

3. The COR must substantiate all tasks which he judges to be indicative of “unacceptable” performance. Performance at the “acceptable” level is expected and need not be substantiated.

4. The contractor shall furnish to the COR copies of all inspection forms generated witnessing inspections performed. The COR will forward copies of all completed QA monitoring forms to the CO and contractor inspection records by close of business on the day the forms were prepared. The contractor is required to respond in writing to any negative QA monitoring form(s) within 5 working days after receipt of the form(s).

A show-me will be by appointment The trip will leave from the Tusquitee Ranger District office at 123 Woodlawn Drive, Murphy NC 28906.

Please contact COR Chris Griggs at 828-735-4797 or 828-479-6431 ext. 4107 for more information image4.jpg image5.jpg image6.jpg image7.jpg image1.jpg image2.jpg image3.jpg