ATTACHMENT B - PWS CPF WZ Planting Release ADC.pdf

Performance Work Statement Chippewa West Zone Tree Planting, Release, and Animal Damage Control

SCOPE OF WORK

The service work covered in this contract is for the furnishing of all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies and incidentals, and performs all work necessary to accomplish service work including seedling planting, individual crop tree release, and animal damage control in compliance with the provisions of this contract.

DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

All areas are located in Beltrami, Cass and Itasca Counties within the boundaries of the Chippewa National Forest in north central Minnesota.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SEEDLING PLANTING

One to two planting crews of adequate personnel will be provided to ensure the planting is completed in the timeframe specified in the line item Period of Performance. Planting will not exceed 8-10 hours per day. Contractor will contact COR

Contractor Furnished Property The contractor shall furnish all equipment and incidentals to accomplish tasks as spelled out on the task orders. Equipment must be approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) prior to use.

Shovels will be required for tree planting; the shovels must be capable of planting 8 inch roots. The COR will determine if the contractor’s shovels are adequate to use on the planting site. Hodads are not acceptable.

Government Furnished Property Trees to be used for planting will be furnished by the Forest Service and delivered to a site designated at the pre-work conference. This may be at the District tree cooler or a location near the job. During adverse conditions trees will be picked up daily. The number of trees in each bag/box will be plainly marked on the outside of the bag/box by the Forest Service. Materials used by the contractor to keep roots moist, and to shelter trees in their custody, must meet the approval of the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

Care of Trees The contractor is responsible for storing and hauling trees delivered to them by the Government. Trees shall be kept from drying, heating, smothering, freezing, and drowning as prescribed below:

The Government shall be reimbursed for any trees that are lost, damaged or destroyed due to negligence on the part of the contractor. Reimbursement cost to the Government shall be $200.00 per thousand trees.

The contractor shall return unused trees to the Contracting Officer’s Representative within one day after job is completed. Failure to do so will result in a $200.00 charge per thousand trees which are in unsatisfactory condition as determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

While in care of contractor:

1. Shade trees at all times.

2. Protect from drying wind.

3. During freezing weather provide protection such as tarps, mulch, etc. In case of frozen stock consult the Contracting Officer’s Representative for proper storage.

4. If needed, provide water and moisten trees as directed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

Partial containers of trees will be tightly closed to prevent drying of seedlings.

5. Open bags/boxes only to remove trees to be planted.

While being planted:

1. Trees to be carried for planting will be immediately placed in a planting bag or tray, neatly arranged for easy removal with roots protected from drying out with damp packaging material or other means. Seedlings will not be packed so tight in the bags as to make it impossible to remove seedlings without pulling a clump out with it.

2. At the planting spot, root exposure to drying conditions shall be kept to a minimum. After the planting hole has been prepared only one tree shall be removed from the bag or tray.

3. The contractor will not do root pruning, top pruning, or culling. If it should appear that any of these treatments are necessary, the condition should be reported to the Contracting Officer’s Representative to have the work done. If mold, dryness of roots or other injury is noticed at any time, it should immediately be called to the attention of the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

4. To coordinate the delivery of trees to planting sites, the contractor must notify the COR at least 24 hours in advance of need. This precaution is necessary for protection and proper handling of stock.

Weather Guidelines for Planting Bare Root Stock

Planting may be suspended as determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative when:

1. The ground is covered with snow more than two inches deep.

2. The soil is frozen more than one-half inch deep from the surface or it is not frost free for a total depth of eight inches.

3. The air temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity are not within acceptable ranges for any one or a combination of these items:

• Air temperatures less than 30 degrees or more than 80 degrees F.

• Wind velocity of 20 mph or greater.

• Relative humidity of less than 20%

Planting Guidelines

Conditions may require that planting will only be done some of the contract days or in early morning or late evening hours on other days, in which case the tree planting crew size may need to be increased to accomplish the work within the contracted period.

Spacing Tree spacing will vary from site to site; all spacing information is on each site-specific map provided after contract award, however typical spacing is 8’X 6’. Trees shall be planted in the best planting spots available within the spacing limits. For individual trees, the average spacing distance may be varied up to 25 percent. Trees shall be planted at least 5 feet from any conifer over 12” tall, unless otherwise directed by the COR.

Planting Spot Selection A satisfactory planting spot is an area in which a tree can be planted in accordance with the specification with reasonable effort and the expectation of satisfactory growth. In areas that have been furrowed or disc trenched, trees should be planted on the side of the furrow. Trees shall not be planted in unsatisfactory spots such as; rotten logs, stumps, standing water, areas of solid rock, dense live brush, and dense debris or road surfaces designated on planting area maps. Unless otherwise directed by the COR, swamp areas are also considered as unsatisfactory planting spots.

Preparing the Planting Hole The hole shall be opened deep enough and large enough to fully accommodate the tree root length and mass. The hole shall be perpendicular to the ground surface on flat ground and vertical on all sloping ground. The hole must be large enough to accommodate 8” roots.

Tree Placement The trees shall be suspended near the center of the hole with roots in a near natural arrangement and at a depth that after filling, packing and leveling, the soil comes to a point about midway between the top lateral roots and the lower needles or branches. No portion of the roots shall be exposed nor any needles or branches covered with soil. The roots shall not be doubled up, twisted, tangled or bunched. The crowns of trees will be left upright (vertical) and free to grow.

Firmness Moist mineral soil shall be filled in and compacted around the roots, particularly against the roots in the bottom of the hole. Soil compaction shall be such that the tree shall not pull loose by a tug strong enough to detach a group of needles.

Operating Season: See Period of Performance in the line item(s).

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Inspection Procedure The Government will inspect all services. The Government will also observe Contractor inspections. The Government will be provided with a copy of inspection summaries at the completion of each unit.

The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during and at the completion of each silviculture service unit and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

Each planting unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Units will not be averaged with other units for acceptance and payment. Areas inspected will consist of 1/100 acre random plots; the number of 1/100 acre plots will be determined by size of the planting unit.

Inspections will be made for compliance with the specifications listed below. Noncompliance with any one of these specifications will classify a tree as unsatisfactorily planted. No tree will be tallied more than once. That is, a tree failing to comply with two of these specifications will be tallied only once as unsatisfactorily planted.

I. Placement of roots II. Depth – high or low

III. Firmness IV. Position of stem (vertical) V. Spacing

VI. Planting spot (location)

If an inspection site falls in an area which, in the judgment of the Contracting Officer’s Representative, contains un-plantable ground, it shall be moved the minimum distance necessary to establish it on plantable ground.

A tolerance of 5% or 5 unsatisfactory trees per hundred planted will be allowed. Any quantity over 5% unsatisfactory will be applied as a reduction of the number of acres planted in each unit.

Unsatisfactory Planting All work not being 95% acceptable may result in a deduction of payment by the amount that it does not meet 95%. A 10 acre stand that is inspected and found to be 75% acceptable can result in a 2 acre deduction from the original payment of 10 acres as 20% of the work is not acceptable at the 95% standard. The contractor will be immediately notified in writing and he will be ordered to re-work the unit at their expense. If the quality of the re-work is not raised above 95% after receipt of the notice of unsatisfactory work, payment will be reduced or the contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the entire contract considered in default.

Re-examination of Replanted Areas

The same inspection procedure will be followed on re-worked areas; however, the inspection grid will be shifted so that the new plot lines and inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots.

Payment will be based on the results of the re-examination or the contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default if re-work is unacceptable.

TREE RELEASE

Remove vegetation around each preferred crop tree. Most stands range from 3-7 years old. Most stands have light to moderate competition of deciduous trees and brush including alder, hazel, aspen, willow, raspberry, blackberry, grasses.

Stump height shall be no more than four inches as measured from the highest adjacent point of ground.

All existing survey markers, bearing trees, etc., shall be protected.

No roads shown on the TSI area map will be blocked by slash or debris resulting from contractor’s operations.

Areas or trees to be left uncut within mapped areas will be marked or flagged indicating exterior boundary.

Contractor Furnished Property The contractor shall furnish all equipment and incidentals to accomplish tasks as spelled out on the task orders. Equipment must be approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative prior to use. Release will not be allowed without proper safety equipment such as chaps, safety goggles or glasses, and a hard hat.

Suggested equipment to be furnished by the contractor is a motor driven brush saw. The contractor will assume all cost of maintenance and operation of equipment including items such as fuel, oil, grease, repairs and miscellaneous operating supplies. Contractor shall assume all risk of loss or damage to their equipment for the duration of contract.

Care of crop trees If not specified, crop tree preference is white pine, red pine, jack pine, white spruce, black spruce, tamarack, balsam fir, oaks, cedar, birch, sugar maple, and basswood. If species preference changes, as determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative, it will be with site-specific instructions on individual stand maps.

No crop trees should be damaged while conducting release operations unless they are directly competing and then the less preferred crop tree shall be cut. Preferred crop tree species is determined by the COR.

No cut stems may end up on top of crop trees being released. All vegetation overtopping the crop tree shall be removed so the seedling will be free to grow.

Area and species to be released

Individual Tree Release will be as explained in the diagram below. Control all vegetation in a three-foot diameter around each preferred crop tree within the stand. A preferred crop tree is a well-formed seedling/sapling crop tree as defined by the COR.

Individual Tree Release Diagram

A: In an area 1.5 feet around each crop tree, cut all competing vegetation within four inches of the ground. This includes but it is not limited to all herbs, grasses, shrubs and non-crop trees. Avoid cutting blueberry.

B: In the area 1.5 feet to 3 feet around each crop tree, cut all aspen, hazel, blackberry and raspberry.

Avoid cutting oak, tamarack, birch, fruiting shrubs, maple, basswood and other conifers unless they are directly competing with the crop tree.

Multiple-stemmed (stump sprout) oak, birch, and basswood that have stems over 5 feet tall shall be thinned to 2 or 3 dominant, straight stems, which are well-spaced. Try to leave stems on opposite sides of the clump.

Area release will be completed on stands in preparation for planting. Most of the stands have moderate to heavy competition. It is possible that the stand has been previously planted with crop trees. No crop trees should be damaged while conducting release. Crop tree species and preference are white pine, red pine, jack pine, white spruce, black spruce, tamarack, balsam fir, oak, cedar and birch. If species preference changes, as determined by the Contracting Officer’s Representative, site-specific instructions will be provided. Cut all herbs, grasses, shrubs, and non-crop trees. Avoid cutting blueberry.

Operating Season: See Period of Performance in the line item(s).

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Inspection Procedure

The Government will inspect all services. The Government will also observe Contractor inspections. The Government will be provided with a copy of inspection summaries at the completion of each unit.

The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during and at the completion of each silviculture service unit and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

Each unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Units will not be averaged with other units for acceptance and payment. Areas inspected will consist of 1/100 acre random plots; the number of 1/100 acre plots will be determined by size of the unit.

A tolerance of 5% will be allowed. Any quantity over 5% unsatisfactory will be applied as a reduction of the number of acres released in each unit.

Unsatisfactory Work

All work not being 95% acceptable may result in a deduction of payment by the amount that it does not meet 95%. A 10 acre stand that is inspected and found to be 75% acceptable can result in a 2 acre deduction from the original payment of 10 acres as 20% of the work is not acceptable at the 95% standard. The contractor will be immediately notified in writing and he will be ordered to re-work the unit at their expense. If the quality of the re-work is not raised above 95% after receipt of the notice of unsatisfactory work, payment will be reduced or the contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the entire contract considered in default.

Re-Examination of Re-worked Areas

The same inspection procedure will be followed on re-worked areas; however, the inspection grid will be shifted so that the new plot lines and inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots.

Payment will be based on the results of the re-examination or the contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default if re-work is unacceptable.

ANIMAL DAMAGE CONTROL (BUD CAPPING)

Pine buds are a favorite food of deer and hare. As a result, they need protection to deter browsing. This can be done through the use of bud caps. A bud cap is a piece of paper wrapped and stapled around the terminal leader and bud of the tree. This protects the terminal bud yet allows the tree to grow up through the paper during the next growing season.

Bud capping should be done in the fall, after a hard frost but before snow covers the ground.

Lightweight paper cut into 4" x 6" pieces will by used.

Fold the paper in half around the leader to form a sleeve that covers the terminal bud. Staple the paper together using at least three staples and catching some needles to help hold the paper in place. No staples shale puncture or damage the stem or bud of the tree.

All crop trees that are under 4.5 feet tall and within the unit boundary will be bud capped. Crop tree species will be determined by the COR with site specific instructions but typically species will be white pine, Jack pine and red pine. In some stands tamarack and balsam fir will be bud capped. Typical crop tree spacing is 6X8 or 800 trees per acre. In areas within a stand that far exceed 800 trees per acre, the contractor can bud cap the dominant crop trees on a 6x6 spacing and disregard all other crop trees in that area.

Correct bud cap placement:

Contractor Furnished Property Bud caps, staples, and staplers to be used will be furnished by the Forest Service and delivered to a site designated at the pre-work conference. The contractor is responsible for storing and hauling government bud caps. To coordinate the delivery of supplies, the contractor must notify the COR at least 24 hours in advance of need.

Pre-cut paper bud caps must be kept dry and protected from damage. Boxes of pre-cut paper bud caps provided by the Government that are damaged or destroyed due to negligence on the part of the contractor will be assessed at $300.00 per carton (approx. 24,000 paper bud caps per carton). The contractor shall return unused bud caps, and staples, and staplers to the COR within one week after job is completed. Failure to do so will result in a $300.00 charge per carton of papers, $30.00 per stapler, and $100.00 per carton of staples.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Inspection Procedure

The Government will inspect all services. The Government will also observe Contractor inspections. The Government will be provided with a copy of inspection summaries at the completion of each unit.

The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during and at the completion of each silviculture service unit and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

Each unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Units will not be averaged with other units for acceptance and payment. Areas inspected will consist of 1/100 acre random plots; the number of 1/100 acre plots will be determined by size of the unit.

A tolerance of 5% will be allowed. Any quantity over 5% unsatisfactory will be applied as a reduction of the number of acres released in each unit.

Unsatisfactory Work

All work not being 95% acceptable may result in a deduction of payment by the amount that it does not meet 95%. A 10 acre stand that is inspected and found to be 75% acceptable can result in a 2 acre deduction from the original payment of 10 acres as 20% of the work is not acceptable at the 95% standard. The contractor will be immediately notified in writing and he will be ordered to re-work the unit at their expense. If the quality of the re-work is not raised above 95% after receipt of the notice of unsatisfactory work, payment will be reduced or the contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the entire contract considered in default.

Re-Examination of Re-worked Areas

The same inspection procedure will be followed on re-worked areas; however, the inspection grid will be shifted so that the new plot lines and inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots.

Payment will be based on the results of the re-examination or the contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default if re-work is unacceptable.

Operating Season: See Period of Performance in the line item(s).