Attachment 8 Seed Project Combined SOW-SOI-Maps.pdf

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Statement of Work Specifications

Hurricane Michael Restoration Timber Sale Layout, Marking, and Cruising

Scope of Contract - This contract is for furnishing all labor, supplies, equipment, transportation, and supervision necessary to Layout 10 miles of boundary and Mark and Cruise perspective timber sales 438 acres of National Forest lands.

Description and Location - All areas are within the boundaries of the Apalachicola National Forest, Liberty County, Florida. (See attached maps.)

The stands for layout, marking, and cruising are in the western portion of the Apalachicola National Forest and are generally flatwoods sites that are prone to flooding and holding standing water for extended periods of time.

These sites have a variety of existing stem densities and some sites area scheduled for upcoming timber sales.

The purpose of this work is to restore ground conditions back from wind damage pertaining to Hurricane Michael and to improve conditions for native ground cover restoration.

Areas have not been marked or flagged on the ground. Areas maps will be provided to the contractor via a digital georeferenced pdf. Operator must have a GPS enabled smart phone or tablet with application capable of using georeferenced maps as a background map, such as Avenza maps.

Government –Furnished Property – Forest Service tracer paint and sub-meter GPS (Trimble) shall be government-furnished property. These items shall be accountable property and treated as such.

Contractor Furnished Items – The contractor will furnish all materials and equipment needed to complete the contract except as specified under Government-Furnished Property above.

Silvicultural Marking Guide - The Briar Patch – HMR Silvicultural Prescription will be used in conjunction with the scope of work.

A. Procedures of Layout

i. Sale Unit Boundary Designation

a. Sale Unit Boundary Trees – Unit boundary trees are marked with three (3) horizontal slash marks, the bottom slash being at eye-level, and a stump mark at ground level with the bole marks facing into the interior of the cutting unit. Distance between boundary trees can vary depending on brush level, but adjacent trees must be visible from the interior of the unit. Natural boundaries such as level three roads and powerlines are not marked.

b. Streamside Management Zones, Ponds, and Wetland Areas – Unit boundary will be designated at least 35ft from the edge of banks of a stream or large body of water, ponds, and wetland areas to exclude them from the unit. These areas are delineated on the contract map.

c. Where two units are common, both sides of designated boundary tree will be painted.

ii. GPS Sale Unit Boundary

a. Sub-meter GPS – A sub-meter GPS device will be used to record boundary location as a polygon in Pathfinder Office. The device user is to take GPS points within 2 feet of designated boundary tree on the interior side of the unit. If an unpainted, natural boundary is met, such as a road, the device user will GPS within 5ft of the exterior of woods line.

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iii. Placement of Unit Signs

a. Payment unit signs will be provided for placement on boundary trees nearest to the road, as designated on the contract map. Signs shall face the unit interior and be visible from the road.

B. Procedures for Marking/Cruising

i. Timber Designation

a. Cut Tree Marking – Units to be cut by this method will be marked with tracer paint.

Blue or Green tracer paint will be used to designate Cut Trees for removal. Two horizontal face marks will be placed on opposite sides of the tree at least six feet in height above ground. Face mark dimensions must be a minimum of 5-6 inches in length by two inches width. Proper placement of the paint mark on the stump is essential. Place stump marks so that sufficient paint gets into bark crevices and extends into the ground-line ensuring that paint will remain on the stump over time. Place stump marks on the downhill side of sloping ground. Place two (2) stump marks on Sawtimber size trees and one (1) on pulpwood size trees is required. Stump marks and eye level marks do not have to be on the same side of the tree.

b. Leave Tree Marking – Units to be clearcut with longleaf reserves (LTM) shall have ALL merchantable longleaf pine retained using the standards stated below. Orange tracer paint will be used to designate Leave Trees. Face mark dimensions must be a minimum of 5-6 inches in length by two inches width and must be wrapped around the tree so that the marks can be seen 360 degrees around the tree. Proper placement of the paint mark on the stump is essential. Place stump marks so that sufficient paint gets into bark crevices and extends into the ground-line ensuring that paint will remain on the stump over time. Place stump marks on the downhill side of sloping ground. Place two (2) stump marks on Sawtimber size trees and one (1) on pulpwood size trees is required.

ii. Special Instructions

a. Reserve Trees – These trees are marked with a white band of paint. DO NOT designate these trees for cutting. DO NOT mark trees within 3 feet of reserve trees for protection purposes.

iii. Paint Scheme Designation Primary Color Secondary Color Boundary Orange N/A Leave Tree Marking Orange N/A Cut Tree Marking Blue Green

Tracer Paint provided by the Forest Service is an accountable item and must be treated as such. Only Forest Service delegated paint custodians can distribute paint to users. All paint containers (empty, partial, and full) must be turned in to the Paint Custodian when requested.

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II. Product Merchantability/Utilization Standards (Minimum Standards)

Product Minimum DBH (inches)

Minimum Tree Length (feet)

Percent Sound

Top

DOB

(inches)

Pine Sawtimber 9.6 12.0 30% 7.0 Pine Pulpwood 4.6 10.0 30% Total

Height

A. DBH Class – All measure trees will be measured to 1/10th of an inch.

B. Height cutoff –

a. Pine Sawtimber: The last point on the stem that measures 7.0” DOB OR a point on the stem greater than 7.0” DOB where the tree is no longer usable as Sawtimber. This is often where the stem breaks up into a multiple-branched top, or where a whorl of 3 or more live branches arranged radially occurs in two or more faces within a 1-foot vertical section, the sum of whose diameters equals or exceeds the diameter of the tree at that point, UNLESS a useable 8’ piece occurs above that point.

b. Pine Pulpwood: measure total height.

C. Field Data Recorder Height Recording –

a. Height 1 = Merchantable height. Actual Sawtimber cutoff point (where a stem is no longer merchantable as SAWTIMBER)

b. Height 2 = Reference height- total height.

D. Products – Both primary and secondary products will be used.

III. Sample Method Analysis

A. Cruise Methods

i. PCM – Leave Tree Marking

ii. STR – Cut Tree Marking

B. Strata Codes

Rattler Timber Sale

Strata Method Unit

01 PCM 1, 2, 3, 4

02 STR 5

Indigo Timber Sale

Strata Method Unit

01 PCM 3, 7

02 STR 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

C. Sample Groups

Product Code Strata Pine Sawtimber PS ALL Pine Pulpwood ZP ALL

D. Species

Code Species Sample Groups 111 Slash Pine ALL

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121 Longleaf Pine ALL 131 Loblolly Pine ALL

IV. Sampling Method and Intensity

A. STRATA 01: Point Count Measure (PCM)

All longleaf pine will be leave tree marked and then a point count cruise will be performed with a 20 Basal Area Factor (BAF).

The first and second unmarked “CUT” sawtimber pine trees that are “IN” will be measured and recorded. The following sawtimber trees within the plot with be counted and recorded.

The first and second unmarked “CUT” pulpwood pines tree that are “IN” will be measured and recorded. The following pulpwood trees within the plot with be counted and recorded.

The walkthrough method will be used where portions of the plot extend outside the unit boundary.

Sample Group Species/Product (Unit) DBH Range Sample Interval

PS Sawtimber (01) 9.6”+ First and Second on Plot

ZP Pulpwood (02) 4.6” – 9.5” First and Second on Plot

Up to 130 plots will be collected.

B. STRATA 02: Sample Tree (STR)

Live Longleaf and Slash pine in good condition and have a DBH of 9.6” or higher are to be favored when selecting trees to remove.

*Desired conditions: 40-60 BA

Sample Group Species/Product (Unit) DBH Range Sample Interval

PS Sawtimber (01) 9.6”+ 1: 100

ZP Pulpwood (02) 4.6” – 9.5” 1: 150

A random start should be used for each sample group at the start of marking in each payment unit. Select a random interval that is less than the required sample interval for the first tally in each sample group, thereafter, sample at the specified sample interval.

Maintain an accurate tree count by payment unit for each sample group. Original field records used for tracking tree counts must be with the tally cards or data recorder sheets when each unit is completed.

*Do NOT mark any hardwoods on the forest.

Overview:

Rattler Timber Sale Payment Unit Boundary (mi) Approx. Acres Strata Treatment

1 2.7 121.6 01 – PCM CC w R (LTM+PCM) 2 0.8 25.3 01 - PCM CC w R (LTM+PCM) 3 2.0 72.2 01 – PCM CC w R (LTM+PCM) 4 2.3 103.9 01 – PCM CC w R (LTM+PCM) 5 2.3 114.8 02 – CTM Thinning (CTM)

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Personnel Requirements - The contractor will designate in writing a foreman conversant in the English language for each crew of workers. The designation shall indicate the limits of the foreman’s authority. When two or more people are designated as foreman, their written delegation shall indicate the priority of their designation so no more than one person shall be in charge of a crew at any one time. The foreman shall be with the crew at all times while the crew is working.

Contractor shall be responsible for providing the proper personal protective equipment for his/herself and crew.

Erosion Control - The Contractor's operation will be conducted so as to avoid unnecessary soil erosion. He will install and/or maintain drainage dips and water bars on skid trails and roads where designated by the COR.

He will perform the necessary erosion prevention work, including re-vegetation and/or out-sloping, and remove any temporary structures installed by him which are no longer necessary to his operation.

Protection of Lands, Streams, Lakes, and Reservoirs - The Contractor shall prevent pollution of streams, lakes, and reservoirs by fuels, oils, other chemicals, silt or other harmful materials. He shall schedule and conduct his operations so as to avoid siltation of streams, lakes, and reservoirs. All streams will be kept free of Contractor-generated debris. Contractor shall remove from National Forest land any trash cans, grease gun inserts, etc. deposited as a result of contracting operations.

Protection of Archaeological/Historical Resources – The Contractor upon discovery of suspected archeological or historical materials, shall cease work in the vicinity of such material and immediately notify the COR. Known significant archeological sites will be marked on the ground and discussed at the pre-work meeting. Sale preparation operations will not be al1owed in these areas.

Access - The Contractor shall protect all trails, roads, woods road, ditches and other improvements in the project area. Roads and trails shall be kept free of logs, slash, and debris. Any road or trail used by the Contractor that is damaged by his operations shall promptly be repaired by him. Unless ordered obliterated by COR, the woods roads designated on the area maps shall be left free of all logs, slash, and debris and shall be left smooth so that it is drivable by a two-wheel drive pickup truck when the road is no longer needed for equipment access.

Equipment will not enter, park, or move across cypress and bay ponds, domes, or stringers except on roads or crossings used during the previous logging operation. Access guidelines will be provided by the COR.

Protection of Private Lands - The contractor shall not push trees or other debris across Forest Service boundary lines onto private property. Any trees that fall onto private property as a result of contractors’ actions will be brought back onto National Forest land by whatever means necessary.

Protection of Leave Areas/ Trees – Contractor shall protect all merchantable pines (greater than 5" diameter at 4.5' above ground level) and shall protect non-merchantable pine (less than 5" diameter at 4.5' above ground level) when possible. Damaged merchantable pine stems will result in a penalty of $25.00 per damaged tree.

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Protection of Gopher Tortoises and their burrows - No work will be done within 25 ft. of active Gopher tortoise burrows. These may not all be marked prior to treatment. Contractor will avoid all Gopher Tortoise burrows including those flagged with blue and white ribbon or otherwise designated by COR or inspector.

Contractor will not harm Gopher Tortoises or other burrow inhabitants (including indigo and other snakes).

Inspection - Inspection of the work performed under this contract shall be made by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or by the designated Inspector as the work progresses. These inspections will be performed at such intervals as are necessary to ensure compliance with the contract specifications.

The contractor will inform the COR or Inspector once an area is completed so an inspection can be made.

Should remedial work be required it shall be done before moving to another area.

Method of Measurement - Acreage listed in the bid schedule was determined by GIS analysis; for the purposes of this contract, this is considered actual acreage and not an estimate. If any designated areas are not able to be included by the contractor, the areas will be GPS’ed and the acreage would be reduced from the total by a contract modification.

Basis of Payment - Payment will be made at the unit bid price for the acres satisfactorily single drum chopped minus deduction of $25.00 per damaged designated leave tree.

Contractor shall NOT receive payment for unsatisfactory work until unsatisfactory items have been corrected.

Time for completion of work:

Work is scheduled to begin between May 1 and June 1, 2023, but may be delayed by the COR due to the area being known to retain standing water for long periods of time. From the time of project initiation, 120 days will be given for completion.

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SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

Quote per unit for providing the services described herein.

Unit Number Unit of Measure Unit Price Total Acres Total

All Layout/Miles $ 10 $ 1,2,3,4 Plot/LTM $ 359 $

5 STR/CTM $ 115 $

Total All

Items

Contractor Name: ________________________________________________

The basis for award for the resultant BPA Call will be awarded as Lowest Price (since all awardees will be determined to be Technically Acceptable, to have received a BPA.)

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