Attachment 8 Seed Project No. 1 Combined SOW-SOI-Maps Alco Fuels Reduction and Ground Cover Restoration Chopping (1,105 Acres).pdf

Attachment 8, Seed Project# 1, SOW/SOI/MAPs Alco Fuels Reduction and Ground Cover Restoration Chopping (1,105 Acres)

Statement of Work Specifications

Alco Fuels Reduction and Ground Cover Restoration Chopping

Scope of Contract - This invitation is for the furnishing of equipment, materials, labor and supplies to Single Drum Chop 1,105 acres of National Forest lands.

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

The stands to be chopped are in the southeastern portion of the Ocala 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 reduce saw palmetto, titi, and fetterbush in the area, to improve conditions for native ground cover restoration.

Due to existing stem densities and vegetation, this project will be a single pass mosaic, incomplete, 'sloppy chop', using a single drum chopper.

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 - None

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

Equipment Requirements - All equipment which is proposed to be used on the work shall be of the proper type, sufficient size, operated at sufficient speed, and in such mechanical condition as to meet with the requirements of the work and produce a satisfactory quality of work. Contractor will be responsible to repair or replace any equipment that breaks down within THREE WORKING DAYS. Tractors must be equipped with protective canopies and appropriate fire extinguishers. Chopper blades will be mounted on chopper drums in the same manner as originally mounted by the manufacturer, that is, with the beveled side of the blade toward the front of the chopper when the blade is in contact with the ground. The COR may order the removal and require replacement of any unsatisfactory equipment.

The contractor will furnish sufficient personnel and equipment to treat an average of 23 acres per working day.

Single Drum Chopping Trees and Woody Brush (1,105 Acres), This work will be completed between September 12, 2022 and January 30, 2023.

This job consists of Single Drum chopping designated acres in the project area. The sites are in a variety of conditions. Many areas have fairly high density and are part of planned upcoming timber sales.

Ground conditions are generally dry or flatwoods, but there are some wetter areas including areas adjacent to wetlands.

Attachment 8, Seed Project# 1, SOW/SOI/MAPs Alco Fuels Reduction and Ground Cover Restoration Chopping (1,105 Acres)

The purpose of this project is to reduce palmetto and hardwood shrub competition, create a fuel bed for prescribed burning, and improve the site for native groundcover re-establishment.

In addition to all the above requirements, the following requirements apply:

All living merchantable pine trees (greater than 5" diameter at 4.5' above the ground level [breast height]) will be left standing as well as snags larger than 9” Diameter at breast height and taller than 10 feet. A buffer of up to 3 ft. may be left un-treated around these leave trees.

Chopper drums should be of sufficient weight to cut through saw palmetto woody trucks ('gator backs') but narrow enough to be maneuverable within denser forest areas. A single drum chopper between 6' – 8' in width is recommended. The minimum acceptable blade length is 8 inches. The cutting edge of the blades must be kept sharp and must not exceed 1/4 inch in thickness. Broken blades shall be replaced within 48 hours.

The drums may need to be filled with enough water to maintain enough weight to cut through palmetto trunks.

The chopper will need to be pulled with a crawler or rubber-tired tractor with sufficient power to work at an average speed of at least 3 miles per hour. Swamp crossings, and parts of some stands can be wet. Low ground pressure equipment is highly recommended.

Tractors must not cause excessive soil disturbance or rutting. Turning areas and swamp crossings must be kept to a minimum. Rutting in the stands will not be acceptable. Low ground pressure equipment is highly recommended.

Operator shall have a GPS enabled smart phone or tablet, capable of geolocation on a georeferenced pdf electronic map application, such as Avenza Maps.

COR may order a change in the configuration or off-set of the drum to achieve desired results. Changes in equipment configuration shall not affect the contract price for that area.

No work will be done within 25 ft. of active Gopher tortoise burrows. These may not all be marked prior to treatment.

Wetland areas, areas containing pitcher plants, or areas consisting primarily of wiregrass or other desirable groundcover should be avoided when possible.

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.

Attachment 8, Seed Project# 1, SOW/SOI/MAPs Alco Fuels Reduction and Ground Cover Restoration Chopping (1,105 Acres)

Protection of Archaeological/Historical Resources – The Contractor, upon the discovery of suspected archaeological or historical materials, shall cease work in the vicinity of such material and immediately notify the COR.

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.

Choppers may not be pulled over roads maintained by the State, County, or Forest Service. When approved by the COR, equipment is allowed to cross Forest Service roads or to use the back slope of road to gain access to a nearby area. If this is permitted, the COR may direct changes of any cutting attachment.

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 – The intended methodology of this project is a mosaic, incomplete, 'sloppy chop'. 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. Wetland areas and areas containing pitcher plants shall be avoided. Damaged merchantable pine stems will result in a penalty of $25.00 per damaged tree.

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.

Satisfactory Single Drum Chopping – The entire acreage has been chopped, with allowance for 3' buffer on standing merchantable stems (greater than 5" diameter at 4.5' above ground level). Palmetto 'gator backs' have been successfully severed. No limbs/ tops or branches are left more than 1 ft tall. Larger trees have been left undamaged. There has not been any rutting or other excessive soil disturbance. Reserve trees are undamaged.

Unsatisfactory Single Drum Chopping – Less than 85% of the available chopping area has been chopped (allowing for 3' buffer on standing merchantable stems). More than 10% of palmetto 'gator back' have not been cut all the way through. There has been rutting or excessive soil disturbance. Reserve trees have been

Attachment 8, Seed Project# 1, SOW/SOI/MAPs Alco Fuels Reduction and Ground Cover Restoration Chopping (1,105 Acres) damaged. Percentages will be calculated by used of random fixed area plots if the COR believes the work does not meet specification.

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 chopped 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 September 12 and September 30, 2022, 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.

Attachment 8, Seed Project# 1, SOW/SOI/MAPs Alco Fuels Reduction and Ground Cover Restoration Chopping (1,105 Acres)

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

Quote per unit for providing the services described herein.

Unit Number

Unit of Measure

Total Acres

Unit Price

Total

C0092

Acres

C0202

C0204

C236

Total All Items

Company Name: ____________________________________________

UV445

Compartment - 92 - 207 ac Compartment - 202 - 652 ac

207.166047

¬«40

Text

621.129887

■)73

31.458718

Source: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community

Legend

Compartments

FY22_Flatwoods_Chopping

Paved Roads

Surfaced Roads

Level 2 Roads - Open All Year

Alco Sale

Alco Sale - Deferred

Private Land

Compartment - 204 - 154 ac Compartment - 236 - 92 ac

■)73

154.978403 Text

VU445

41.063066

51.774566

■)18

Source: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community

Legend

Compartments

FY22_Flatwoods_Chopping

Paved Roads

Surfaced Roads

Level 2 Roads - Open All Year

Alco Sale

Alco Sale - Deferred

Private Land