Attachment A - Specifications - OTTNF_Wildlife Habitat Improvement IDIQ Contract.pdf

Attachment A – IDIQ Contract Specifications 12569R20Q0023

Ottawa National Forest Wildlife Habitat Improvement IDIQ Contract

This is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity type contract with a specified minimum ordering amount. Individual task orders will be placed for services as needed.

The Contractor will provide all services, facilities, materials, and supplies required for the performance and completion of the projects outlined in the specifications, maps and attachments.

The Contractor will follow the general contract requirements as stated herein, the specific specifications for the Forest within which the Contractor is working and the specifications of each Task Order. If there is a conflict among the specifications, the most specific area, the task order, will rule, then the Forest specifications, and the general specifications.

The Contractor shall utilize productions and materials that promote energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, use of recovered material, , that re environmentally preferable, with recycled content and that are recyclable, are made from biobased materials, and are energy efficient to the maximum extend possible without jeopardizing the intended end use or detracting from the overall l quality delivered.

Description/Statement of Work/Specifications

1. Scope of Contract: The scope of this IDIQ contract is to accomplish a number of different wildlife habitat improvement activities on the Ottawa National Forest including Wildlife openings maintenance, mowing Hunter Walking Trails, Wildlife tree and shrub release, alder shearing/regeneration, Wildlife and Rx Fire brushpile construction, and establishing control lines in areas maintained with Rx Fire. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals.

Bidders are encouraged to inspect the project sites prior to submission of a bid. It is impossible to describe fully the area, work problems, and other conditions that may be factors in submitting a bid. Only by physical inspection can the prospective bidder be assured of the existing conditions. Before any contract work is started, the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will arrange for a pre-work meeting to discuss contract provisions and specifications. At the meeting, the Contractor should provide approximate dates for project work, vehicle make, model, and license state. Vehicle information is needed in case of emergency and because the public may report the same vehicle being observed frequently in a given area to our Law Enforcement officers.

2. Performance Requirements and Statement of Work:

Site-specific specifications will be provided in submitted Task Orders. Projects may consist of the following activities:

A. Wildlife openings maintenance:

Maintain upland openings that have become encroached with trees and shrubs or that are due for their next rotational maintenance. We want most of the woody vegetation removed, to preserve the open, sunny character of these sites. Included are upland openings that can be maintained entirely via mechanical means. Portions of some of these sites may only be accessible on foot with hand-held chainsaws and/or rotary head brush saws, these areas will be flagged and/or identified on a final georeferenced field map. We expect operators to have all the necessary equipment to efficiently and effectively cut and fell or mow/mulch undesired woody vegetation encroaching on the sites. If larger cut material isn’t mulched sufficiently, then piling of the larger material may be necessary. The perimeter of each opening will be identified with flagging or paint and a georeferenced pdf map will be available for upload into programs such as Avenza. In some cases, the access routes to the openings will also need to be mechanically created. Within some openings there may be reserve trees and shrubs that will be identified to aid operators avoid cutting them. We expect operators to be proficient at identifying tree and shrub species common in the UP of Michigan, and our specifications require wildlife beneficial species not be cut during project implementation. Sensitive resources exist within some of the openings and need protection during project implementation and are either outside the opening perimeter or flagged with pink/black striped flag as a “Do Not Enter zone” within the opening boundary. If during implementation, additional archeological resources, listed plants or dens or nests of listed wildlife species are found and occupied, work will cease immediately and the Forest Service will be contacted to determine restrictions and next steps. We expect the work to be completed in one Standard Operating Season (July 1 to November 14). Due to clay soil conditions in some of the openings, there may be operating season restrictions to avoid rutting when the soil is saturated. There may be periods of 1-3 days when equipment operations would need to cease following heavy rains. If weather and/or soil conditions postpone work, a longer timeline can be negotiated. Forest Service will determine favorable site conditions and notify Contractor within 24 hours that work can begin. A second Normal Operating Season shall be reserved for completion of services unable to be completed during the first contract period due to causes beyond Contractor’s control including, but not limited to, extended rain events that result in saturated soil conditions precluding equipment operations, or high fire danger, etc. Mobilization of equipment to the site can be done earlier if it does not cause road rutting or other resource concerns. Roads and trails are to be reshaped and bladed, if needed, to restore road/trail surfaces to pre-contract conditions, unless mutually agreed to by both parties prior to onset of use. The option to use the second Normal Operating Season will not be granted due to Contractor’s lack of timeliness in capitalizing on favorable operating conditions.

B. Hunter Walking Trail mowing:

Mow segments of identified Hunter Walking Trails (HWT) ditch-line to ditch-line approximately 8’-12’ in width. Most HWTs have associated wildlife openings on the trail segments that also need to be mowed. The wildlife openings maintenance specifications will apply to the HWT openings as well, including avoidance of various trees and shrubs that are beneficial to wildlife. The vegetation should be no more than 6” in height after it is mowed. This work will occur in late summer, generally August 1 – September 14.

C. Wildlife Tree and Shrub Release:

Release various tree and shrub species from nearby competition. This type of work is generally accomplished with hand tools (chainsaw) to avoid excessive damage to nearby desirable trees and also a lack of access for mechanized equipment at most project sites. The release work is usually accomplished by felling or girdling (two cut method) trees away from nearby desirable species. Trees to be felled or girdled will be identified by Forest Service personnel. This work may occur during various seasons, depending on access and site conditions.

D. Alder shearing/regeneration:

Regenerate alder using mechanical shearing/mowing and/or hand cutting. The remaining alder stumps should be 4” – 6” in height to encourage adequate stump sprouting. Due to the generally wet conditions of most alder sites, work will either occur in winter during frozen ground conditions or during dry summer conditions when soil disturbance will be minimal.

E. Wildlife and Rx Fire brushpile construction:

Brushpiles will be constructed in wildlife openings using mechanized equipment.

Brushpile locations will be identified by Forest Service personnel, but will be at least 50’ from the edge of the opening. The brushpile dimensions will be approximately 8’ – 10’ at the base, by 6’ – 8’ in height. This work may occur during various seasons, depending on site conditions.

F. Establishing Rx Fire control lines:

Establish Rx Fire control lines using mechanized equipment. Personnel from the Ottawa’s Fire Program will be the primary contact for this activity and provide locations and specifications as task orders are submitted.

Location Project areas are in the Ottawa National Forest, Michigan.

Site Visit Potential contractors for specific projects are urged and expected to inspect the site where services are to be performed and to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the costs of contract performance, to the extent that the information is reasonably obtainable, In no event shall failure to inspect the site constitute grounds for a claim after contract award.

Potential contractors will be shown actual unit boundaries on aerial photo if requested.

Photocopies of aerial photos for specific projects can be obtained from the applicable Ranger District office.

Contractor Furnished Property The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, necessary personal protective equipment (including hard hats, saw chaps, hearing/eye protection, and first aid kit), supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals to complete the Work Items.

Commencement, Prosecution, and Completion of Work Generally the Contractor shall be required to commence work under this contract on or about July 1, 2020 and complete all work by November 14, 2020. However, some projects may require an earlier completion date depending site-specific conditions. Submitted Task Orders will contain the completion dates.

Inspection and Acceptance Periodic inspections will be conducted by the COR as work progresses to ensure compliance with contract terms, conditions, and specifications. The Contractor will notify the COR on progress of the work.

Any work not being properly performed will be brought to the immediate attention of the Contractor. The Contractor shall take prompt corrective action for any deficiencies or deviations that may occur under this contract.

Final inspections will be conducted on each project site once the Contractor informs the COR that work has been completed.

Contract Administration Data

DESIGNATION OF CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE

The Contracting Officer will designate Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs) at the time of award.

CORs are responsible for administering the performance of work under this contract. In no event, however, will any understanding, agreement, modification, change order, or other matter deviating from the terms of this contract be effective or binding upon the government unless formalized by proper contractual documents executed by the Contracting Officer prior to completion of the contract.

On all matters that pertain to the contract terms the Contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer. Whenever, in the opinion of the Contractor, the CORs request effort outside the scope of the contract, the Contractor should so advise the CORs. If the CORs persist and there still exists a disagreement as to proper contractual coverage, the Contracting Officer should be notified immediately, preferably in writing if time permits. Proceeding with work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment or necessitate submittal for a contract claim.

Payment Procedure Upon inspection and approval by the COR, payment will be rendered. Payments can be requested monthly.

Invoices must be entered into the IPP (Invoice Processing Platform) at https://www.ipp.gov

Post Award Meeting A post award meeting with the successful offeror(s) is required. The meeting will be held either at the Watersmeet-Iron River Ranger District office, or the Kenton Ranger District office.

***End of Document*** https://www.ipp.gov/