Attachment A- PWS_QASP_Blue Creek_Debris Removal.docx

Blue Creek Debris Clearing Contract

Introduction/Background Blue Creek resides in Martin County, approximately a 15-minute drive south of Shoals Indiana. Tornado blow down has caused several severe stream blockages approximately along a 1-mile reach of Blue Creek. Backwater blockages are likely to cause exacerbated flooding on Forest and private land, erode the flood plain, destabilize streambanks, and impede aquatic organism passageway. To date, 21 blockages have been identified that may require partial or full removal. Although the project reach spans a mile only these select blockages will be totally or partially removed based on the projects lead’s discretion.

General Clearing Specifications Woody debris blockages needing removed will be identified by project manager or communicated on what kind of debris needs removed. Not all debris needs to be removed if it does not block majority of flows. Woody debris makes great aquatic habitat. The clearing should be done during dry conditions so that rutting and disturbing stream banks do not occur. All removal should be done with a tracked excavator with a thumb or similar equipment to retrieve debris out of the stream. The equipment should remain out of the stream channel and stay on the streambank for most of the removal. Pulled stream debris can be placed within the floodplain outside of the stream channel and decided by the COR or project lead on placement location. A tracked skid steer will more than likely be needed to push debris out of the way for bank access and debris transfer. All equipment should be tracked and not wheeled to avoid rutting within the floodplain. Blown down debris may have to be cut up with chainsaws and moved within the floodplain to gain access with the equipment for removal and to make room for channel debris placement. Some debris will need to be cut with chainsaws before it can be removed out of the channel. Access to enter the stream channel may be a last utilized option at very low flow to no flow with approval from COR and designated access routes as a better route to limit disturbances. Primary access route to cross the stream will be a utility right-away access point on Forest Service land.

If excessive stream bank disturbance does occur such as rutting, squashing of stream banks, stripping banks of vegetation to bare soils, bank rehabilitation may be needed such as: seeding, mulch, stake and blanketing with erosion control jute netting or similar product, etc. Stream banks are defined as the sloping area down to the stream not the flat floodplain. Flat floodplain areas should be cautiously disturbed as needed but only minimal needed disturbance should occur. Disturbance should be mainly caused from the tracks of the equipment driving over the terrain. Excavating of soils should be avoided within the floodplain or the area will need to be remediated with seed and mulch. The floodplain is defined by the equipment work area outside of the stream channel. All equipment work will take place within the floodplain.

The Contractor shall provide all expertise, labor, supervision, services, equipment, tools, supplies, transportation, licenses, permits, worker personal protective equipment (PPE), and incidentals necessary to perform the required work, for which the desired outcome is in strict accordance with the standards in the contract. The Contractor shall perform and accomplish the work in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances. The Scope of Work will list any additional necessary requirements.

(refer to Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan and attached maps).

The Contractor shall progressively accomplish the work at a rate that will result in completion of the work within the time specified as determined by the final accepted work schedule for the awarded contract.

Forest Service COR or Contract Inspectors may conduct visual inspection of work on site to check on their progression to ensure the Contractor is following the specified requirements of the contract. At the discretion of the COR, the Forest Service will accept work based on visual inspection, to confirm work is being done appropriately. Work can start as soon as the contract is let no earlier than May 1st and continuing through September 30th, 2024 when stream is at working dry/low water conditions.

Equipment Cleanliness

Prior to starting work, the Contractor must clean all equipment (excavator/skid steer, etc) used in debris removal activities before entering the treatment areas. Project COR will inspect equipment on-site and may require further cleaning before moving to another treatment area as needed. Equipment is to be inspected by the COR before work can begin. Equipment inspections must be scheduled with the COR a minimum of three business days prior to the requested date of inspection.

Cultural/Heritage Resources Heritage has done preliminary surveys, but supplemental surveys will be done as work is completed. Consultation with Heritage/Project lead should be done daily or as needed based on heritage/project lead approval. These areas need cultural resource survey clearance as work progresses due to tornado debris scattered and is currently inaccessible by survey team. Surveys will have to be done progressively as access is created by the equipment. The contractor is guaranteed to get an 8-hour shift done in a day, but the shift start, and end time will be determined by archeological surveys needed. More than one day of work can also be permitted ahead of time if the survey team clears enough area to work. If artifacts are found work may cease until another alternative found. Timelines can be extended if surveys cause a longer and less efficient plan to complete the work.

Inspections

The Contractor shall complete the work according to the approved Work Schedule then request an inspection by the COR

Invoicing

Invoicing is tied to successful inspection of work. The Contractor may only invoice after the COR has inspected the completed line item(s) and the work is determined to have met the AQL.

Definitions:

1. Contracting Officer: A Forest Service employee with the authority to: enter into, administer, and terminate contracts, as well as issue determinations regarding such matters as claims.

2. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): A Forest Service employee that is appointed and officially designated by the Contracting Officer to assist the Contracting Officer with the technical matters related to contract administration. The COR will assist the Contracting Officer with surveillance of contractor performance.

3. Forest Service Inspector: A Forest Service employee designated by the Contracting Officer or COR to perform surveillance of contractor performance.

4. Acceptable Quality Level (AQL): A suitable level of conformance based on visual inspection.

5. Quality Assurance: Those actions taken by the Forest Service to assure services meet specified requirements.

6. Quality Control: Those actions taken by a Contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the specified requirements.

7. Performance-Based Service Contract (PBSC): A contract which incorporates a results-oriented statement of work, describing the overall work to be accomplished (outcome/result), rather than explicitly describing how the tasks should be performed, to accomplish the work.

Attachment A

Performance Work Statement and Quality Assurance Plan:

Contract Line Item No. – Work Requirement

AQL determinations are made by the COR/Technical lead upon inspection of the work.

These determinations are unilateral and not protestable

Schedule (non-Line Item)

AQL determinations are made by the COR upon inspection of the work.

These determinations are unilateral and not protestable

*Meeting the AQL for Line Item , Not meeting 100% of designated debris removal will result in the Contractor(s) not meeting all elements of the AQL values and not receiving payment. Contractor(s) must remove debris that should have been removed initially at their expense upon failure to meet AQL values at the final inspection for each contract line item where the work performed failed to reach the acceptable debris removal levels.

Project Specifications for Blue Creek Removal:

Requirements:

The initial draft specific Work Plan and Schedule will indicate how the Contractor intends to meet the required Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) values, as well as the contract specifications, within the time allotted. The Work Schedule will provide dates of work for each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) addressed, to include completion of all work before the required final date specified. The Contractor shall inform the COR of completion of the contract line item.

Line Items:

Blue Creek Debris Removal, Blue Creek Debris Removal Description and Contract Line Item Number (CLIN)

Blue Creek Debris Removal (Base Line Item)– Debris Removal from Stream Reach

CONTRACTOR INVOICES: Invoices shall be submitted in arrears, no advance payments will be authorized. Unless otherwise noted, contractors shall submit invoices for payment as follows:

A. If the work performance period cited in the individual contract is 30 days or less, the contractor shall submit an invoice to the government at the end of the performance period. No partial payments are authorized.

B. If the work performance period cited in the individual contract is greater than 30 days partial payments may be authorized on a monthly basis and upon acceptance of the work.

AWARD DETERMINATION:

In response to this solicitation, the Forest Service intends to award based on best value to the government. All evaluation criteria will be weighted evenly.

An offeror must price all line items.