Attachment A- SOW.pdf

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 3 FY25 Holow Tree and Sandberg Plantations Weed Control/Site Preparation j

FY25 HOLLOW TREE AND SANDBERG PLANTATIONS CHEMICAL WEED CONTROL

AND SITE PREPRATION PROJECT

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK/DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT

Description of Work: The intent of this contract is to secure services for the glyphosate (Roundup) herbicide application to non-native invasive weeds within designated areas planted within the Hollow Tree and Sandberg Plantations contract area on Forest Service land in the County of Los Angeles within the Angeles National Forest. It is estimated only 80% of the 60 acres of plantations or 48 acres need treatment.

Contractor Responsibility: The Contractor shall provide everything—including, but not limited to, all equipment, supplies, transportation, labor and supervision—necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government.

Before work may begin the Contractor shall designate, in writing, at least one person on site with authority to act in case of the Contractor’s absence from the work site. The Contractor will shall list the extent of authority this representative will have on the job. The Contractor or authorized representative shall be on the project area whenever work is in progress and shall act as a non-working supervisor. In absence of the Contractor, this authorized representative shall receive and orders and instruction from the Contracting Officer and shall take action as is required to keep the job in progress under the terms of the contract. The Contractor and authorized representative(s) shall have an oral command of both the English language and the language common to the crew(s).

C.2 PROJECT LOACTION AND DESCRIPTION

Location: The project is located on the Angels National, Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District north of the city of Santa Clarita along the Old Ridge Route FS RD 8N04 near the USFS boundary and along the Bouquet Canyon Road below the Bouquet Reservoir along FS RD 5N41on units designated for site preparation and planting within Sandberg and Hollow Tree Plantations. . The legal description of the project is T 7 N R 17 W Sections 5 and 6 SBBM and T5N R15W Section 1 SBBM.

Description: A total of 48 acres have been selected for treatment within Hollow Tree and Sandberg Plantations designated for planting in FY25. Areas to be treated will marked on the ground by the Forest Service prior to beginning spraying. The Contractor will be given a list and description of non-native invasive weeds to be treated. The contractor will need to identify the target plants and treat them with the herbicide. Only non- native invasive species are to be treated.

Exclusions (non-work areas): See C.9-2.7 for areas of avoidance by Contractor. Protected Areas (non-work areas) will be designated within the boundaries of the contract area. Protected (non-work areas) areas will be designated by the Contracting Officers personnel. They may be designated by description, by contract map, by flagging on the ground or combination thereof. If flagged on the ground, orange

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 4 flagging will be used. No treatment shall occur within these protected areas. Contractor personnel are prohibited from entering protected areas.

Accessibility: All units are easily accessible from paved or dirt roads. Terrain is relatively flat and units are accessible.

Any prospective contractor desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc. must request in writing from the Contracting Officer soon enough to allow a reply to reach all prospective contractors before the solicitation closing date. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding.

C.3 MAPS

Maps showing the general vicinity and or specific work areas are in Attachments C & D.

C.4 ESTIMATED START DATE and CONTRACT TIME

Start: March 17, 2025

Time: 5 Calendar days

Contract time includes delays for weather; project activity level restrictions; all applicable wildlife limited operating periods; locating and transporting supplies and materials; and final cleanup. Ideal spraying period is early February thru March for lower elevation sites (at or below 5,000 ft) and through April – May for higher elevation sites (above 5,000 feet). Some species could be sprayed through mid-June. Ideal spraying effectiveness is emergence to before seed set.

C.5 ACCESS

Access route include Los Angeles County Bouquet Canyon Road and Pine Canyon Road, FS RD 8N04 and FS RD 5N41.

C.6 RESTRICTIONS ON WORK

Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as outlined here. Nothing in this part shall be construed to take away the Governments rights under Suspension of Work Clauses FAR 52,242-14). Restriction are as follows:

1. In accordance with the fire plan, included in Attachments.

2. When the Contracting Officer (or designated representative) determines that adverse weather has made access too dangerous or that continued vehicular traffic would cause unacceptable road or site damage.

3. In accordance with all stipulations prescribed in C.9-2.7 and other parts of this contract.

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4. Within protected (non-work) areas flagged with orange flagging.

5. Work shall be performed Monday thru Friday between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Work will be allowed on Saturdays by exception approved by the Contracting Officer or his/her designee in advance.

6. Work shall be performed only when the Contracting Officer determines that target vegetation is in an appropriate stage of growth for the herbicide application to be effective.

7. The Contracting Officer will determine the sequence in which each unit will be treated. Each unit shall be completed prior to starting work on the next unit.

C.7 LICENSES AND INSURANCE

The contractor shall obtain the insurance and licenses listed here:

MSPA Card (Form WH510): This contract [ X ] does [ ] does not require the contractor to be registered with the US Department of Labor as Farm Labor Contractor. The Contractor shall provide a current WH510 or legible copy.

Other: Current California Pesticide Use Applicator License and Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture Commissioner/Weights and Measures registration and reporting. These will be obtained and current before starting work and though the contract performance period.

C.8 CAMPING AND HOUSING

Camping is not permitted in USDA Forest Service campgrounds. Contractor [ ] will [ X ]will not be permitted to camp elsewhere on USDA Forest Service land. Camping on Forest Service land is not a right; permission may be revoked for failure to comply with the terms of the permit.

C.9 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

C.9-1 Definitions

• See Attachment E Glossary.

C.9-2 Specifications

C.9-2.1 General Requirements

• Glyphosate must be applied by a state-licensed pesticide applicator. Contractor shall provide a copy of license to the Forest Service prior to or at the pre-work meeting.

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• A Forest Service government technical monitor will be on-site at all times, including during mixing and cleaning operations to ensure all contract requirements are met.

• The Contractor must comply with all federal, state, and local pesticide laws and regulations regarding pesticide application during project implementation.

C.9-2.2 Chemical Formulation

• The herbicide shall be a concentrated liquid formulation of glyphosate isopropyl amine salt which is registered for forestry application in California, and which does not contain polyoxethyleneamine (POEA) additives. Examples of suitable products include Roundup Custom©, Makaze©, and Glyphosate 5.4©. The chemical to be used shall be registered for forestry use, weed control and primarily formulated, following label directions. Application rate of 2 pounds AE (acid equivalent) which corresponds to 2 quarts product per acre for Roundup Custom or equivalent product. After performing the calibration, calculate the resulting volume/volume percent of herbicide product in the final spray mix and ensure that it is in the range 0.5 – 5% and preferably 1-5%. If it will be outside that range, readjust spraying technique (e.g. speed) or equipment parameters (e.g. nozzle opening or pressure) and recalibrate in order to achieve a spray mix tin the optimal range. Unless otherwise specified on the product label, the spray will contain 0.5% of a high quality non-ionic surfactant (NIS), or as specified on the product label. Selected product must contain at least 70% active ingredient. Do not use products containing polyoxyethyleneamine (POEA). Do not use methylated seed oil (MSO) with glyphosate. Examples of suitable products are Liberate and Activator 90. . A spray indicator dye (purple colored) will be used in the spray solution. The contractor is responsible for reporting in writing to the Contracting Officer the precise spray mix used, including each product name its EPA and/or California registration number, and the concentration used, and to provide daily reports of the volume of spray used on each project unit.

C.9-2.3 Mixing

• The water used for mixing shall be visibly clear, so as to insure that it is free of soil or clay particles that could inhibit the performance of the herbicide.

• Mixing and loading of herbicide shall be done in areas where accidental spills would be not contaminate streams or other water sources and in compliance with applicable design features in the NEPA Design Features document (Attachment H). The area will be approved by the COR.

C-9.2.4 Application Procedure

• Herbicide will be spot sprayed directly on target plants or larger areas of weeds and assiduously avoiding plantings (planted seedlings or natural trees). At least 70% of the foliage of each target plant shall be covered to the point of wetness but without causing runoff.

• Applicators should utilize shields or other protection devices to ensure that spray does not contact the plantings.

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• No glyphosate spraying will occur within 300 feet of perennial streams or wetland areas and 100 feet of intermittent streams.

• To minimize drift of spray droplets, spraying will be done only when wind is 0-5 mph.

• The Contractor will follow the Forest Services “Best Management Practices (BMP’s) during project implementation and the Design Features detailed in the NEPA Design Features document (Attachment H).

• The Contractor shall not exceed the maximum use rate for the product(s) used, as specified on the label.

• The Contracting Officer will determine the sequence in which unit shall be treated. Each unit will be completed prior to moving on to the next unit. The Contractor shall flag a line with pink flagging to delineate the sprayed portion of any partially completed unit at the end of each day.

• The Contractor shall keep their crew organized so that treatment units are covered systematically without skipped areas. The Contractor shall not scatter their crew over different parts of the unit.

• The Contractor shall be responsible for training his employees in the proper techniques to be used during application of herbicides and safety procedures to be followed when handling herbicides.

• The Contractor shall keep equipment in good operating condition maintaining flow rate and nozzle pressure. Application of herbicide mixture shall be made with a nozzle pressure of 15 psi.

• The Contractor shall be responsible for washing and cleaning out all equipment at the end of each work day. The exact location for cleanup will be selected by the Contracting Officer.

• The Contractor shall use soft material such as bristle to clean nozzles. Wire shall not be used.

Under no circumstances shall sprayers, containers, clothing, personnel or other contaminated materials be washed in any stream, lake, reservoir, or other surface water.

• Contractor shall do batching of herbicide mix and conform to label instructions and safety requirements, a graduated container of at least one-half gallon in size shall be used to measure chemicals and surfactants during batching operation. All batching of herbicide mix will be done in the presence of the Contracting Officer or their representative at the work site. The batching location will be designated by the Contracting Officer. When drafting water into the clean tank, the batch tank and any containers of herbicide concentrate shall remain at the approved batching location. The Contractor will only use water sources approved by the Contracting Officer.

Batching sequence is as follows:

1. One half of the water for the mix shall be put in the batch tank.

2. The herbicide(s) and colorants, if used, shall be put in the batch tank next.

3. Begin agitation.

4. Add the remaining water in the batch tank while continuing agitation.

5. The last ingredient to be added to the tank will be the surfactant, if used.

The herbicide mix shall be under constant agitation in the batch tank to prevent separation. All

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 8 mix shall be sprayed out. The mix shall not sit overnight in the batch tank or other equipment unless permitted by the Contracting Officer.

• All unattended herbicide concentrate shall be stored under lock and key in its original container.

• The Contractor shall work with the Contracting Officer to insure a minimal amount of herbicide is moved between treatment units.

• The Contractor shall have a current State of California Agriculture Pest Control Operator License including Category “E” (Forest), and Pest Control Business License, prior to the award of the contract. The Contractor shall register this State License with the appropriate County Agriculture Commissioner(s) prior to beginning work. The Contractor shall be required to provide the following:

1. Required permits.

2. Complete and file all reports, with a copy to the Contracting Officer.

3. Complete any other incidental requirements.

• The Contractor authorized representative(s) on site, at a minimum, be a State of California Certified Pesticide Applicator.

• The Contractor shall comply with the State of California Safety Orders under the California

Administrative Code and with the requirements of the Federal Worker protection Standards (40 CFR, part 170). For further information contact the California Department of Pesticide Regulations at (916) 445-4038, or online at www.cdpr.ca.gov.

C.9-2.5 Daily Herbicide Treatment Reporting, Georeferenced Data, and Weekly Activity Summary

• The Contractor shall prepare a daily activity report of herbicide treatment, for each contract unit, using the Invasive Plant Treatment Form (Attachment I) and the Herbicide Application Data Form (Attachment J) or equivalent. At a minimum the daily activity report shall contain the following information:

o Date of herbicide treatment o Name and affiliation of person preparing report o Contract name and unit number o Licensed Applicator name and license number o Herbicide Used:

Product name EPA registration number % solution o Adjuvant(s):

Product name EPA registration number % solution o Number of gallons of spray solution applied o Acres sprayed o Name(s) of invasive plant(s) sprayed http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 9 o Type of equipment used (e.g. backpack sprayer) o Unique identifier (name) from the treatment area to key it to GIS/GPS data provided o Notes and comments detailing any problems encountered

• The Contractor shall provide the daily activity report to the COR or his/her representative on site at the end of the day of each work day.

• The Contractor shall provide geographic location data for each treatment area corresponding to the data report above and defining the actual area treated. The unique identifier (name use) used in the daily activity report shall be used for the location data in order to tie the two together. The location data may be in an electronic form of the Contractor’s choosing ~ for example, a GPS track outlining the area treated, a GIS object (polygon) or a georeferenced pdf map. Alternatively, the data may be provided in a spreadsheet form by providing the coordinates (latitude and longitude) of each corner of a polygon surrounding the treated area.

• The Contractor shall submit electronically to the COR a weekly summary report containing the following information for that week’s activities:

o Project units treated o Total acreage treated o Total herbicide product (concentrate) used o Any problems encountered

C.9-2.6 Timing of Spray Operations

• Spraying must occur between March 1 2025 and May 1 of 2025. Coordination between the Contractor and the COR will be necessary to determine the proper time for spray operations to begin due to restrictions on weather conditions. Spring (March thru May) is the best time for spraying before the target plant species are flowering and seed.

• Certain conditions must be met prior to pesticide application, including: wind speed, direction of wind, humidity, rainfall, and temperature. The COR will determine if these conditions are present. If these conditions are not present, then spraying will be stopped until those conditions are present and are likely to remain present. These items are outlined in the hydrologist’s mitigation measures (read below).

• The Contractor will cooperate with the Government in deciding a schedule that satisfies notification requirements of posting signs to notify the permittee and the public of the Governments intentions, and signs will be provided and posted by the Government 1 week prior to application and remain in place after spraying is complete.

• Contractor will follow label directions for minimizing impacts to honey bees if bees are foraging in the area. This includes early morning or late evening applications. The contractor will work with the COR to determine if honey bee impact minimization practices need to be followed at each site.

C.9-2.7 The Contractor shall adhere to all “Design Features“ (Attachment H) recommended by the Forest Hydrologist and other Specialists in the Environmental Assessment titled “ Angeles National

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Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Plan for Invasive Plants” dated 12/2/15 stated below:

• Do not apply spray when rain is likely (70% or greater chance of precipitation) within 24 hours, or as required by the label. A weather report can be found at www.nsla.noaa.gov Conditions on site indicate that precipitation is likely within 4 hours. Target vegetation is wet with precipitation, dew, or other moisture. The Contractor shall be responsible for monitoring weather conditions.

• Do not apply spray when the wind is greater than 0-5 miles per hour (at eye height) or according to the product label, whichever is stricter. (BMP Practice 5-13; Controlling Pesticide Drift during Spray Application) (BMP Practice 5.8 Pesticide Application According to label Directions and Applicable Legal Requirements)

• Do not dispose of spray, wash equipment or release spray to open water (BMP Practices 5-12;

Streamside Wet Area Protection During Pesticide Spraying) and (BMP Practices 5-11; Cleaning and Disposal of Pesticide Containers and Equipment)

• Do not apply spray within 100 feet of any open water. (BMP Practice 5-12; Streamside Wet Area Protection During Pesticide Spraying) according to label directions, whichever is stricter (BMP Practice 5-8; Pesticide Application According to Label Directions and Applicable Legal Requirements).

• If surface water is present and flowing, pesticide application will not occur within 100 feet of waters edge, this line will be flagged and labeled by the Contractor so that it is clearly visible to applicators.

• Restrictions are stricter in the case of sensitive plants or habitat for sensitive wildlife species per NEPA requirement, any such areas will be flagged by ANF staff.

• Do not apply spray to trees across any flowing channels. (BMP Practice 5-12; Streamside Wets Area Protection During

• Spray preparation will occur at designated sites that is more than 300 feet from any perennial, intermittent or ephemeral channel. An impervious membrane will be placed under the truck, mixing equipment and loading equipment so that spills maybe contained. An absorbent will be available to pick up spills. (BMP Practice 5-11; Cleaning and Disposal of Pesticide Containers and Equipment). Adhere to all labeled instructions including legal requirements for use.

• All empty and used spray containers and spent absorbent will be disposed in a properly designed waste container. All spent absorbent along with other waste materials will be disposed of at an approved landfill (BMP Practice 5-11; Cleaning and Disposal of Pesticide Containers and Equipment)

• A Pesticide Spill Contingency Plan will be prepared by the Contractor, approved by the CO and the Forest Pesticide Coordinator. This plan will be available to the spray applicators and a copy will be on site at all times. (BMP Practice 5-10; Pesticide Spill Contingency Planning) http://www.nsla.noaa.gov/

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• Heavy equipment is not permitted in designated Riparian Conservation Areas (RCA). For perennial streams the RCA distance from bank is 300 feet each side of stream. For intermittent streams it is 100 feet from each side of the steam. RCA zones if found in the treatment area will be defined on a map and flagged with orange flagging.

• Motorized equipment will not be used for implementation within 100 feet of channel edge in designated RCA’s.

• Equipment or treatments may not disturb soil or soil cover within 25 feet of any ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streams or springs.

• Equipment work may not enter within 15 feet of the channel banks.

• Steam or channel crossing is to be done at a single location. If armored banks are unavailable a location will be determined by the COR.

• Project equipment will not go off road during rain events. Equipment will be staged outside of RCAs during rain events.

• Limit surface disturbance activities on slopes greater than 30%. On treated areas less than 30% spread slash parallel with contour to create sediment catchments and decrease velocity of surface run-off. Preserve a layer of duff to enhance infiltration and maintain water holding capacity of soils.

• Stake down protective tarps on ephemeral stream banks and in channel, if within 25 feet of treated areas. Tarp material should be of sufficient strength to withstand walking by sprayers during spraying operations without being punctured. Do not reuse tarps dispose of contaminated tarps per labeled instructions. Tarp material will be disposed of off-forest in appropriate land fill as hazardous material. Do not walk or drive on tarps after unit has been sprayed. No vehicles are to be driven over tarped areas beneath the canopy of treated units or near stream banks (25 feet or less). Leave tarps in place after spraying until solution has settled and dried (12-24 hours

• Contractor will place survey flags/flagging around the areas where spraying has occurred.

• A monitoring plan will be prepared by the Contractor using qualified personnel prior to beginning spraying operations. This will be sent to the COR prior to the Pre-Work Meeting for approval by the COR. No spraying operation swill occur until the monitoring plan has been approved by the Government. If spraying is planned to occur outside identified treatment window, the District ranger must be notified for his/her concurrence.

• Risk Assessment Worksheets and FS-2100-2 (Pesticide Use Proposal) will be prepared by the District and approved by the District Ranger prior to commencing spraying operations.

• If equipment is to be fueled or serviced on site the refueling and servicing will be at designated 300 feet from any perennial and intermittent channel. An impervious membrane will be placed

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 12 under the equipment when they are serviced (BMP Practice 2-12 Servicing and Refueling Equipment).

• Following the label direction the recreational/administrative site will be closed for at least one day.

Label direction permits restricted entry (REI) of 12 hours for agricultural workers. For non-agricultural use people “Keep unprotected persons out of treated areas until spray has dried.”

(BMP Practice 7-7 Management by Closure to Use)(BMP Practice 5-8; Pesticide Application According to label Directions and Applicable Legal Requirements).

• Do not move or disturb significant soil without prior consent of the COR. Disturbance of soil beyond stabilizer arm pads and waddle installation will require prior approval by the COR.

Maintain natural drainage pattern of area wherever practical. Operate equipment when soil compaction, displacement, erosion and sediment runoff would be minimized (dry). Schedule and conduct operations at least critical periods (dry periods). Avoid ground equipment operations on unstable, wet, or easily compacted soils.

• Herbicide Spills:

If a spill occurs, the contractor shall:

1. Take action immediately to contain the spill.

2. Notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative or designee on site.

3. Be under the control of the Contracting Officer during the spill cleanup.

4. Be liable for all costs of damages, clean-up and decontamination

C.9-2 Government Furnished Property

The Government will deliver to the Contractor the following Government furnished property in accordance with FAR clause 52.245-4:

• Maps of the units where herbicide spraying will occur.

• GPS layer of Spraying Unit boundaries. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to find and stay within the unit boundaries on the ground.

• GPS layer of Avoidance/Exclusion areas within the Spraying Unit boundaries. Sites of historical significance, areas containing rare and sensitive plants, and Riparian Conservation Areas that exist within the Spraying Unit boundaries. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to identify and avoid these areas using their GPS.

• Risk Assessment Worksheets.

• Form FS-2100-2 (v09-2012) Pesticide Use Proposal.

C.9-3 Contractor Furnished Property and Equipment

• The Contractor shall furnish all tools, hand washing facilities, personal protective equipment, drinking water, other equipment, materials, supplies, labor and supervision to accomplish the spraying.

• GPS units with sufficient software to identify unit boundaries on the ground, one per crew.

Contractors may call Zvard Davidson at 661-269-2803 to check the adequacy of their GPS units.

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• The Contractor shall provide the herbicide, surfactants and dye. All herbicides and adjuvants shall be provide in factory sealed containers. Proposed equivalent herbicides, adjuvants and dye may be substituted only as approved by the Contracting Officer. Contractor will provide clean water for the wash down packs.

• The glyphosate herbicide product must be new, or one that has been properly stored (according to label specifications) for no more than 3 months prior from date of purchase. Herbicide that is greater than 3 months from date of purchase, but less than 1 year old may be used if approved by the CO. Approval will be based on written proof of proper storage and care of product as directed by label specifications and receipt of purchase.

• Backpack sprayers with adjustable nozzles. Shall have adjustable pressure regulators or a pressure gauge mounted on the spray wand. All sprayers shall be equipped with a “Tee Jet” XR80-04VS spray tip or equivalent, with a 50 mesh scree. Plastic, brass or aluminum spray tip nozzles shall not be used.

• Batch tank – shall be a mixing tank equipped with a constant agitator, as sight level in good condition to measure tank volume, and a leveling gauge which will be adequate for leveling the tank in all directions, The filler hose from the batch tank shall be equipped with self-closing nozzle. The batch tank shall be in good condition, meeting all state requirement. The batch tank shall be mounted such that it can be moved and operated separately from the clean tank; for example, mounted on a separate vehicle from the clean water tank, or mounted on a trailer.

• Clean water tank – shall be a tank exclusively for clean water, having a back flow prevention device or proper air gap filling apparatus. The water tank and all drafting equipment must be free of pesticide and dye residue. Pesticides and dyes shall not be stored or transported in the same vehicle used to transport the clean water.

• Locked storage area for herbicide and containers.

• Contractor shall provide all other supplies and incidentals necessary to accomplish the required work while complying with herbicide label directions, pesticide application license requirements, and worker safety protection standards.

• Prior to and during work the Contracting Officer reserves the right to inspect, test, and approve equipment. For example, the Contracting officer will check for cracked hoses, worn seals, and leaks.

• Prior to and during work the Contracting Officer reserves the right to test and inspect the herbicide concentrate and mixture. Prior to and during work the Contracting Officer reserves the right to test and inspect the herbicide concentrate and mixture.

• Prior to and during work the Contractor shall be required to calibrate his equipment in the presence of the Contracting Officer.

• Safety for this operation must meet all Federal, State and local requirements for herbicide applications. As part of the safety protocols, it is the Contractor’s responsibility to adhere to those requirements with the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as stated on the chemical

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 14 label and material safety data sheets MSDS). The Contractor will provide a Safety Plan prior to at the pre-work conference to ensure safety protocols are met and they have provided for the public and employees safety during spraying operations.

• Contractor shall have at their immediate disposal a spill cleanup kit available with each spray vehicle. The spill cleanup kit will include the following: shovel, rubber boots, rubber gloves, protective rain suit or coveralls, safety goggles, buckets, 4 mil minimum polyethylene plastic bags, and 10-20 pounds of absorbent material. A Pesticide Spill Contingency Plan will be prepared by the Contractor, approved by the COR, and available on site while spraying operations are going on.

• Key contract personnel performing spraying operations must provide documentation of all certifications, licenses, permits, etc. as required by Federal, State and local governments. This documentation will be available on site while spraying operations are going on.

C.9-4 Public Safety

• A safety plan will be prepared by the Contractor upon award and may vary on complexity and proximity to high use areas and permittee facilities.

• Project areas are located along roads, and near popular recreation areas. Therefore, warning signs, flaggers, and/or other safety precautions, depending on operations, shall be employed by the contractor to ensure public and employee safety. Warning signs must meet standards set forth in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

C.9-5 Road and Trail Maintenance

• Road and trail maintenance is not required. All roads and trails shall remain open, unobstructed, and free of trees and/or slash at all times during the Contractor’s operations. Any damage caused by contractor’s activities to gates, drainage structures or deleterious road bed reshaping shall be repaired at the Contractor’s expense under the direction of the Contracting Officer.

SECTION D – SPECIAL TASK ORDER PROVISIONS

D.1 Quality Control

• The Contractor shall conduct inspections in accordance with the Quality Control Plan provided to the Contracting Officer. The Quality Control Plan shall be approved by the Contracting Officer prior to the start of work. The Contracting Officer may implement quality control measures in additional to those provided by the Contractor.

D.2 Acceptance

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• The Contracting Officer will accept only completed work for evaluation. When notified by the Contractor of completed of work, such work will be evaluated for quality against the specification of this contract. The evaluation will include, but is not limited to a review of the quality control measures performed by the Contractor. Additional measures may be implemented by the Contracting Officer including, but not limited to, a 2 percent sample of the completed work using either a plot or transect sampling system. Only work described by the Contractor as completed will be evaluated.

• Work is deemed acceptable when final Contracting Officer inspection indicates at least 90% quality achievement of the task order specifications described Section C and all tagged trees have been treated with insecticide.

D.3 Transportation

• Use of any roads, routes or temporary roads by the Contractor under the terms of this contract shall be subject to approval by the Contracting Officer; such approval shall be obtained by the Contractor prior to opening and/or use. When Contractor operations occur adjacent to or on roads and trails open to public travel, a project specific Traffic Control Plan shall be agreed to by the Contractor and the Contracting Officer prior to commencing operations.

• All roads and trails will be kept clear from slash, trees, bucked pieces, chips, slash piles and debris. The roads and trails will be cleared of this material before contract personnel leave the project area each day.

D.4 Resource Protection Standards

• Resource protection measures shall be implemented by the Contractor to protect soils from impacts of erosion, compaction and loss of productivity. Existing soil cover shall be left intact whenever possible; disturbance to the duff layer shall be minimized. As determined by the Contracting Officer, equipment shall not operate when ground conditions are such that excessive soil damage will occur. The Contractor’s activities shall be conducted in a manner to retain the natural ground contour; any mounding of soil material shall be returned to the natural contour. A minimum of 80% of the activity area shall be left in a non-compacted, non-puddled, and/or nondisplaced condition.

• All landings, skid trails and temporary roads shall be approved by the Contracting Officer prior to installation and/or use. After use, unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer, all landings, skid trails and temporary roads shall be sub-soiled; water barred and covered with vegetative material including but not limited to slash, chips, cut brush and logs; and closed to vehicle access.

• Contractor operations shall be conducted in a manner to prevent debris entering stream courses.

The Contractor shall remove debris caused to enter a stream courses that may adversely affect the natural stream flow, water quality, or fishery resource as determined by the Contracting Officer as soon as practicable, but not to exceed 48 hours, in a manner determined by the Contracting Officer. The locations and method of all equipment water course crossing shall require prior approval by the Contracting Officer. Wheeled and /or track laying equipment shall not be operate

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 16 in water courses except at locations and for reasons approved by the Contracting Officer. National Forest water sources may only be used if approved by the Contracting Officer.

• Erosion control measures shall be implemented on all roads, skid trails, landings and temporary roads as directed by the Contracting Officer. Measures shall include but are not limited water barring, placement of slash and/or chips, re-contouring, out-sloping and effectively blocking vehicle access. Erosion control measures shall be in place before seasonal periods of precipitation, run-off and prior to all National Weather Service predicted storm events with a greater than 30% chance of precipitation. Water bar size, configuration and locations shall be specified by the Contracting Officer.

• The Contractor shall conduct all contract related activities a manner to prevent damage to other resources which includes but is not limited to the following:

Land survey monuments bearing trees, utility poles and lines and underground facilities, water lines, gas lines, ditches, fences, research equipment, gates, traffic counters and animal traps.

The locations of protected and sensitive plant and animal species and their habitat which is located on the task order maps or which may be discovered after contract award.

Historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects or properties located on task order maps or discovered after contract award.

Riparian Conservation Areas (RCA’s).

The Contractor may be required to repair damage to any roads and or trails used without the consent of the Contracting Officer.

• Control (non-activity) areas located on the contract maps and/or flagged with orange flagging indicate areas with specific treatment limitations, generally equipment shall be excluded and/or contract activities modified. Discovery of any area or object of a suspected control resource shall be immediately reported to the Contracting Officer.

D.5 Invasive Weeds

• The spread of invasive weeds will be controlled by the Contractor in the following manner:

• The Contractor shall ensure that all off-road equipment, tools and workers, clothing and boots are free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter or other debris that could contain of hold plant seeds.

• The Contractor shall certify in writing to the Contracting Officer that off-road equipment, vegetation removal tools, and equipment (including handheld) is free of noxious weeds prior to each start-up of operations and for subsequent moves of equipment to the project area.

• The Contractor shall clean off-road equipment, vegetation removal tools, and hand held equipment and ensure that workers shake off clothing and clean boots prior to moving between units on this project.

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 17

• The Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure that off-road equipment is free of invasive weeds. This cleaning will be done off National Forest lands.

Equipment will be considered free of soil, seeds and other such debris when a visual inspection discloses no such material. Washing of tools, equipment and vehicles will be done in a manner that will effectively remove seeds and propagules and would not further enhance the spread of invasive plants through proper disposal of rinse water. Washing of equipment and vehicles must include tires/tracks, wheel wells, bumpers, fuel/skid pans and undercarriages. Personnel transport vehicles are exempt from this requirement as long as they have not engaged in off-road travel.

• The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer at least 5 days prior to moving each piece of off-road equipment into the project area; notification shall include the most recent location of the equipment to be moved. The Contractor’s equipment shall be presented for inspection before being placed in service at the contract site. Written verification of equipment cleaning prior to any equipment being used at the contract site will be provided to the COR prior to equipment being off loaded or used on the contract sites. This verification must be signed and dated. An example of the documentation to be used is provide in the Attachments to this contract.

• New infestations of invasive weeds shall be promptly reported to the Contracting Officer.

• If removal of invasive plants is required within the contract area, the FS botanist will identify the appropriate removal and disposal method. This may include placement of plants in 3mm garbage bags and disposal off Forest at a site approved to accept such material. This will be the responsibility of the Contractor unless agreed upon by the Contracting Officer for the Forest Service to be responsible for removal.

• Wildlife encountered during the course of project implementation should be given the opportunity to evacuate the site. All Contractor personnel will be reminded that harassment, handling or removal of wildlife from the site is not permitted. If wildlife and non-target invertebrates are observed in the treatment area of the contract, spraying will be conducted in a manner that avoids the direct application of spray on individuals.

D.6 Pollution Control

• The Contractor shall prepare and implement a Spill Prevention and Countermeasures (SPCP) Plan.

The SPCP shall meet applicable EPA and State requirements and be certified by a registered professional engineer. The Contractor shall immediately take action to contain and cleanup, without expense to the Government, all petroleum products and insecticide spills caused directly or indirectly by the Contractor or Contractor’s employees. The Contractor shall be liable for all damages and costs deemed necessary by the Government for the spill containment and cleanup.

• The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer of any hazardous substances used on the project area and shall have Material Safety Data Sheets available for those materials. All such materials shall be labeled in accordance with Federal and State regulations. The Contractor shall maintain a Hazardous Substance Plan. The plan shall include, but is not limited to, hazardous substances to be used in the project area and the identification of the Contractor Representative responsible for supervising initial containment action for releases and subsequent cleanup.

Solicitation: 127EAT25S0000 Page 18

• The Contractor shall notify appropriate agencies, including the Contracting Officer of all spills, leaks or other releases of hazardous materials including petroleum products on or in the vicinity of National Forest land caused directly or indirectly by the Contractor or Contractor’s employees.

• The Contractor shall maintain all equipment operating on the project area in good repair and free of leakage of lubricants, fuel, coolant and hydraulic fluid. The Contractor shall properly transport and dispose of all contaminated soil, vegetation, debris, oil filters, oily rags and waste oil in accordance with local, State and Federal regulations. Disposal of any such contaminated material on the National Forest is prohibited. The Contractor shall take effective measures to prevent all leaking or spilled petroleum based products from stationary equipment and equipment being serviced.

• Trash and food shall be stored in closed containers and properly disposed of off Forest on a daily basis. Littering of trash and food waste is prohibited.

ATTACHMENT E: GLOSSARY

1. BEST MANAGEMNT PRACTICE (BMP) – A practice or combination of practices (as described in Water Quality Management for Forest System Lands in California, Best Management Practices, September 200) determined to be the most effective, practical means of preventing or reducing pollution from no-point sources to a level compatible with water quality goals.

2. CLEAN WATER – Water having low turbidity (less than 5.0 NTU) low to moderate hardness (less than 150 ppm CACO3) and an acid PH (less than 7.0). It must be visibly clear and free of all foreign material, soil particles and organic matter including but not limited to silt, sand, sediment, algae, and vegetative debris.

3. CONIFER – A live tree with needle shapes or scaled leaves.

4. COMPETING VEGETATION – All plants that are competing with planted or natural trees for water, nutrients and space. Includes herbaceous, wood plants and non-native invasive plants. Does not include sensitive, threatened and endangered plants.

5. CONTRCATOR’S FOREMAN/SAFETY OFFICER/INSPECTOR – These roles may be done by one or more individuals. The Foreman is responsible for contract compliance. The Safety Officer will scout ahead and warn the crew of hazards and serve as a lookout for unsafe weather conditions. The Safety Officer shall also, at a minimum, measure wind speed every two hours or more often during periods of increasing wind activity and record these measurements for the Government’s inspection. The Contractor’s Foreman/Inspectors shall follow a systematic sampling process developed by the Contractor that is acceptable to the Government that tests the Contractor’s work against the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan and the Governments Quality Assurance Plan.

6. DRIP LINE - The line where moisture dripping from the extremities of a living tree's crown strikes the ground.

7. EXCULSION AREAS – Designated areas within or adjacent to treatment units where no planting will occur.

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8. EXCESS TREE - Seedlings that are planted in excess of the maximum allowable seedlings per plot.

Contractor shall correct as necessary.

9. GRUBBING – The cutting of specified vegetation below the ground at a specified distance below the surface within a specific distance from the planted and natural conifers.

10. GRUB CIRCLE – A circle with a specified radius that is centered on planted and natural conifers from which all vegetation shall be grubbed except the selected leave tree(s).

11. HERBACEOUS VEGETATION – Any plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue above ground, i.e., grasses, forbs, ferns, mountain rose, snowberry, and poodle brush for example. Sensitive plants, identified at the Post Award Conference are not considered to be herbaceous vegetation for this contract.

12. HERBICIDE – The concentrate before mixing occurs.

13. HERBICIDE MIXTURE – The mixed herbicide, water, surfactant, and dye.

14. INVASIVE WEEDS – Those plants identified by the Forest Service as non-native and invasive.

15. JOB HAZRD ANALYSIS – A summary of the hazards within the project and the limits when work will be suspended for various hazardous conditions.

16. MINERAL SOIL - The state of soil where humus and large organic matter are not present.

17. PAY ITEM – A planting Item in which inspection plots are averaged together for the purpose of determining planting quality.

18. PLANTABLE SPOT - An area from which vegetation, ash, duff, snow, and debris have been or can be removed to moist mineral soil, and a tree seedling can be planted according to specifications.

19. ROOT COLLAR - The portion of the seedling stem where the cotyledon scar is located.

20. ROOT CROWN – The transition zone between stem and root usually located at or just below the ground surface.

21.

22. SATISFACTORILY PLANTED SEEDLING - A seedling planted in full accordance with all planting specifications set forth in this contract.

23. SCALP – A cleared area within a plantable spot in which a planting hole is created. All chips, bark, snow, ash, duff, sod, dry soil, crowns of living plants, roots and other material shall be removed to expose moist mineral soil.

24. SHADE ANCHORING – Shade material placed uphill from a planted seedling shall be anchored to prevent damage to seedling. Anchoring include blocking material from rolling, orient material placement to prevent rolling, propping material against the shade material to prevent movement, and/or partially burying shade material to prevent movement.

25. SUITABLE EXISTING TREE - A Jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Coulter pine, grey pine, ponderosa pine, big cone Douglas-fir or incense cedar without any visible defects or damage, and a height of 6 inches or greater; any oak 3 feet or greater in height.

26. TOP - That portion of the seedling exposed above normal ground line.

27. UNIT BOUNDARY - The perimeter of the planting unit as indicated on the Forest Service GPS file.

28. UNPLANTABLE SPOT - An area within the specified limits in which it is not possible to plant a seedling according to the specifications.

29. UNSATISFACTORILY PLANTED SEEDLING - A planted seedling, which does not meet one or more of the specifications in this contract.

30. WASTED SEEDLING - Seedlings which are lost, damaged, destroyed, or handled contrary to the specifications for care of seedlings.

31. WOODY VEGETATION – Vegetation over 1 inch in height that has stems and branches that are composed of a hard, fibrous substance.

32. WOODY STUMP SPROUTS – Woody vegetation which consists of dead stems that have sprouted new vegetation from the plant’s stump or original roots system.

33. UNIT – A polygon on the map that has a distinct number or letter designation.