Attachment B PWS.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

SCOPE OF WORK

The Government will place the initial order for timber stand improvement and animal browse protection services as early as October 15 for the next year, if any. Orders will contain the number of acres, type of timber stand improvement activities, number of tree protectors to remove and number of acres or seedlings to bud cap, and TSI Location Maps and/or Activity Lists.

The actual number of acres, or seedlings, and sites where the work will occur may vary depending upon funding, and priority.

LOCATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS

The Superior National Forest has five district offices. Work may be required on all or some of these districts each year.

Gunflint and Tofte Ranger Districts are sometimes referred to as the East Zone.

Laurentian, LaCroix, and Kawishiwi Ranger Districts are sometimes referred to as the West Zone.

Individual TSI Location Maps and/or Activity lists will show project location, access to area, plus other pertinent information. Vicinity maps will show all TSI Location Map Units on a district.

Most units have road access; however some locations may have limited access and foot travel or boat access may be the only means to get to the TSI location.

RESTRICTION ON WORK

Work may be performed at any time during the task order period of performance, except as outlined in this part. Restrictions are as follows:

a. Access is restricted by State or Forest Service Closure Order.

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

c. Work may be suspended by notice of a Stop Work Notice, or for non-compliance with requirements of a task order by written notification from the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officers Representative.

d. The Contractor shall plan on poor weather days when work can’t be done or will be slowed. The Government reserves the right to stop the Contractor’s work if it is determined that weather is unsuitable and quality cannot be assured (ex. snow depth results in stump heights greater than 6 inches).

WORK PROGRESS SCHEDULE ***

The Contractor shall present with their signed task order a written plan of work providing for the orderly and timely completion of the task order requirements. This plan is subject to the approval of the Contracting Officers Representative (COR). The plan should include:

1. When the Contractor intends to start and complete the bid items.

2. The number of crew(s) and number of people per crew.

3. Estimated daily production rate.

If the work progress falls behind schedule, the Contractor shall take such action as necessary to ensure that the timely completion of the task order is not jeopardized. In addition, the Contracting Officer may require the Contractor to submit a revised plan of work showing how he intends to complete the project on time and in compliance with all task order requirements.

SUPERINTENDENCE BY THE CONTRACTOR (FAR 56.236.6) (APR 1984) (DEVIATION)

At all times during performance of task orders and until work is completed and accepted, the Contractor shall directly superintend the work or assign and have on the worksite a competent superintendent who is satisfactory to the Contracting Officer and has the authority to act for the Contractor.

All work under this contract shall be performed in a skillful and workmanlike manner. The Contracting Officer may require in writing that the Contractor removes from the work any employee the Contracting Officer/ COR deems incompetent, careless, or otherwise objectionable.

The Contractor’s onsite representative shall be fully conversant in the English language, spoken and written, sufficient to read and understand the task order, and communicate effectively with COR.

TSI and animal browse protection work shall be performed in an organized manner.

KEY PERSONNEL

Key personnel are those personnel (Project Manager, on-site representative, supervisor overseeing work, quality control inspector etc.) considered essential for successful completion of this contract. All key personnel shall be identified in the Contractor’s Technical Proposal.

The Contractor agrees that assigned key personnel shall not be removed, substituted, or reassigned to another task without the written concurrence of the Contracting Officers Representative. The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed personnel change and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officers Representative. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. If the Contracting Officers Representative determines that suitable replacement of key personnel is not feasible or that the reduction of effort would be substantial enough as to impair the successful performance of the work, the Contractor may be subject to default action under the affected task order.

DEFINITIONS

TSI Location Maps and/or Activity Lists will specify the type of TSI or animal browse protection work, species, and acres or number of seedlings. The Contractor or designated foreman should discuss with the COR if further instruction is needed for site specific TSI prescriptions.

BRANCH COLLAR – A bulge formed at the base of a branch by the annual production of overlapping layers of branch and stem tissues.

BUD-CAPPING – A bud cap is simply a piece of paper wrapped and stapled around the terminal leader and bud of the tree.

CANKER – A spreading white pine blister rust infection.

CROP TREE – Desirable tree left in the stand after TSI activities. A crop tree is one that exhibits desirable characteristics that help meet management objectives, has the ability to respond to treatment and is likely to persist to the end of the stand rotation.

CUT AND PILE - To cut specified woody vegetation and slash, move and rearrange resulting slash concentrations into individual piles of specified shape and size required in the task order.

DBH (DIAMETER BREAST HEIGHT) – Diameter of the trunk of the tree measured at 4-1/2 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

DETERRENT – A product (e.g. Plantskydd) that is applied to seedlings to deter animal browsing of terminal buds and/or branches DRIP LINE (OF A TREE) – The line extending vertically from the exterior edge of a tree’s live crown to the ground.

LEAVE TREE – Any tree that is required to be left standing as provided in the specifications.

LOP AND SCATTER - To cut limbs from the trunks of cut trees and move and rearrange slash concentrations to achieve a slash depth required in the task order.

PATHOLOGICAL PRUNING - Pruning the lower limbs of young white pine trees to reduce the risk of blister rust infections.

POLE TIMBER PRUNING - The severing of all limbs, live or dead, from the bole of selected trees.

PRECOMMERCIAL THINNING – Thinning in young stands to improve growth, health, and vigor of the crop trees.

RELEASE – The act of freeing a young stand of desirable trees from competition of undesirable vegetation that suppresses or threatens to suppress them.

RELEASE (INDIVIDUAL TREE) – Release thinning of woody plants around individual crop trees for a specified distance around the crop trees.

RELEASE (AREA) – Release thinning which removes all competing vegetation in the stand except for crop and reserve trees.

RESERVE TREE – A tree designated to be left.

RESERVE VEGETATION – A specific non-tree plant species or group of species to be left. Sometimes specified in lieu of a crop tree that could respond favorably to treatment for ecosystem restoration purposes.

SEEDLING PROTECTION TUBE - Tubes or cones of various materials (hard plastic or mesh, etc) that are placed around individual seedlings to protect from animal browse. The protection tube or cone is removed once seedlings branches have grown above browse line.

SLASH – Limbs and trunks of downed trees.

SNAGS – Standing dead trees.

TREE CROWN - The living branches of a tree

TASKS AND CRITICAL SUB TASKS

This part of the SOW identifies the critical tasks and subtasks required. It also specifies the quality standard of each task and related subtask, as well as the acceptable quality level for each task and related subtask, the means of measuring the level of quality and any penalties or incentives associated with the level of quality.

For each crew or change of crew members at the job site immediately prior to the start of planting each day, by each crew, the Contractor or his designated foreman shall discuss the following specifications with all crew members:

· Work Methods

· Felling Specifications

· Technical Specifications

· Road Use and Maintenance

· Slash Treatment

· Special Considerations

WORK METHODS

Contractor's operations must proceed in an orderly manner to facilitate inspection. Unless approved otherwise by the COR, the Contractor will restrict operations to one map unit at a time. The Contractor must notify the COR 48 hours prior to moving the Contractor’s crew to work on another district.

The Contractor shall provide cutting tools and equipment that are suitable for the job.

All power tools shall be equipped with Forest Service approved spark arrestors and shall be in good operating condition.

FELLING SPECIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall adhere to the following specifications for all projects involving tree felling unless there are specific supplemental specifications:

All trees required to be cut shall be cut below the lowest live limb except when prevented by natural obstacles.

Trees required to be cut shall be completely severed from the stump and lie flat on the ground. No tops shall be left hanging in standing trees.

The stump height of cut trees shall not exceed 6 inches above the ground level on the high side of the stump, or 4 inches above natural obstacles.

The cut angle of such stumps shall not exceed 20 degrees measured from a horizontal plane extending from the stump at ground level.

No boundary trees marked with paint or flagging shall be cut.

All snags shall be left unless required to fall for safety concerns.

All reserve trees as defined in the supplemental specifications shall be left.

Quality Standard – Cut trees are severed completely and lying flat on ground. Reserve trees or crop trees are left uncut and undamaged and are free to grow.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall adhere to the following technical specifications for all projects unless there are specific supplemental specifications:

Tree Release: INDIVIDUAL TREE All woody vegetation (trees and shrubs) within a range of 3-10 feet from the base of a crop tree or reserve tree shall be cut or girdled. During release treatments girdling may be required to prevent damage to crop trees. However, unless specified in the task order, the Contractor may not girdle or cut trees that are 5 inches or greater DBH. See task order for actual distance in comments/remarks to contractor.

Annuals such as grasses, sedges, ferns, etc. are not required to be cut.

Crop trees and reserve trees will be defined in the project supplemental specifications. In some cases, reserve vegetation may be identified in lieu of a crop tree for specific restoration objectives (ex. blueberry, dwarf bilberry, or fruiting shrub species) and will be specified in the supplemental project instructions.

The cut tree shall not be on top of, or otherwise positioned, to impede the growth or form of the crop trees being released.

During release activities, woody vegetation will be cut below the lowest branch and not higher than 6 inches above the ground level unless otherwise specified in the TSI location map or task order.

Quality Standard – Crop trees are left uncut and undamaged and are free to grow. Woody vegetation is cleared within 3-10 feet from the base of the crop tree.

Tree Release: AREA All woody vegetation (trees and shrubs) that are not crop trees or reserve trees and are less than 5 inches DBH shall be cut or girdled. During release treatments girdling may be required to prevent damage to crop trees. However, unless specified in the task order, the Contractor may not girdle trees that are 5 inches or greater DBH.

Annuals such as grasses, sedges, ferns, etc. may have to be cut, weed whipped or hand pulled during an area release. This will be specified in supplemental specifications and/or directed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

Crop trees and reserve trees will be defined in the project supplemental specifications. In some cases, reserve vegetation may be identified in lieu of a crop tree for specific restoration objectives (ex. blueberry, dwarf bilberry, or fruiting shrub species) and will be specified in the supplemental project instructions.

The cut tree shall not be on top of, or otherwise positioned, to impede the growth or form of the crop trees or reserve vegetation being released.

During release activities, woody vegetation will be cut below the lowest branch and not higher than 6 inches above the ground level unless otherwise specified in the TSI location map or task order.

Quality Standard – Crop trees and reserve vegetation are left uncut and undamaged and are free to grow. All woody vegetation less than 5 inches DBH are cut or girdled. Non-woody vegetation is treated as specified in supplemental project specifications.

TSI: FUELS Reduction Cut hazardous fuels by hand with chainsaws or brush saws. Hazardous fuels include all live and dead balsam fir of any size and down and dead material exceeding three feet above forest floor. In most cases, trees to cut will be less than 6 inches at diameter breast height unless otherwise specified in the supplemental project specifications.

Boles of cut trees will be limbed and cut into lengths not to exceed four feet.

Slash will be scattered evenly throughout the unit to a height not to exceed three feet.

Cut stumps must be less than six inches in height and top of stump will be flat.

Direct felling of balsam fir located under the drip line of large white pine (greater 10 inches dbh) away from the bole and the boles of other large white pines.

Direct felling of hazardous fuels towards the interior of the unit along 15’ of the perimeter.

Quality Standard – All hazardous fuels are cut as defined above. Slash is scattered to a height not to exceed three feet. Hazardous fuels are felled toward the interior of the unit along 15’ of the perimeter.

TSI: FUELS Reduction (cut and pile) Cut hazardous fuels by hand with chainsaws or brush saws. Hazardous fuels include all live and dead balsam fir of any size and down and dead material exceeding three feet above forest floor. In most cases, trees to cut will be less than 6 inches at diameter breast height unless otherwise specified in the supplemental project specifications.

Boles of cut trees will be limbed and cut into lengths not to exceed four feet.

Dispose of slash and cut materials into piles as specified in task order under the supplemental project specifications.

Cut stumps must be less than six inches in height and top of stump will be flat.

Direct felling of balsam fir located under the drip line of large white pine (greater 10 inches dbh) away from the bole and the boles of other large white pines.

Quality Standard – All hazardous fuels are cut as defined above. Slash is disposed of in piles as specified in supplemental project specifications.

Pre-commercial Thinning Thin trees by chainsaws or brush saws.

Crop trees species will be stated in the supplemental specifications, in the task order.

The average spacing between crop trees will be stated in the supplemental specifications.

Spacing may be varied up to 50% of the optimum spacing between individual trees in order to select the best leave trees.

The Contractor shall select the crop trees to leave in the following order:

1. Free from insect, disease, or mechanical damage

2. Healthiest crown

3. Tallest tree

4. Straightest stem

5. Most desirable species (to be identified in the supplemental specifications) All deciduous and coniferous trees in the size classes as specified in the supplemental specifications shall be cut (shrubs do not need to be cut).

In row thinning the width of the cut strip and the width between cut strips will be stated in the supplemental specifications.

Quality Standard – Crop trees are left uncut and undamaged and are free to grow. All deciduous and coniferous trees in the size classes as specified in the supplemental specifications shall be cut (shrubs do not need to be cut).

Pruning: PATHOLOGICAL White pines trees could range from 2 feet to 30 feet tall but average 12ft or shorter on a typical unit. Units may have mixed heights and ages of trees. Pruning may not be more than 1/3 of the height of the tree and pruning cuts will not be more than 8 feet above the ground.

Pruning cuts shall be made immediately outside the branch collar (as shown in Figure 2, Section J).

Average spacing will be specified in the supplemental specifications.

Branches on the lower 1/3 of the selected white pine crop trees shall be removed (as shown in Figure 4 and 5, Section J).

Trees to be pruned will generally be those of the tallest height, largest crown, and straightest stems.

White pine with blister rust cankers on the main stem or within 4 inches of the main stem should not be pruned. Branches with cankers beyond 4 inches shall be removed, no matter where they occur in the tree crown.

White pine trees pruned to correct form may be up to 12 feet tall. In white pine with weevil damage, forked tops, or dead tops, the tree shall be pruned so as to make a single stemmed tree with a dominant leader. The dead terminal leader and all lateral branches except one shall be removed (as shown in Illustration No. 3 in Section J). If there are cankers or damage higher than 12 feet in the tree, corrective pruning will not be required as determined by COR.

All pruning shall be done with hand pruners, lopping shears, or pruning saws. Power saws will not be permitted. Contractor shall have all equipment available to treat the needs of each site Pathological pruning shall be limited to the dormant season or as specified in the supplemental specifications.

Quality Standard – White pine crop trees to be pruned are selected correctly. White pine crop trees are pruned correctly based on need. No more than 1/3 of the branches of the white pine crop tree is removed.

Pruning: TIMBER POLE Crop trees to be pruned will be generally greater than 20 feet in height and 4 inches in diameter.

Crop trees and average spacing will be specified in the supplemental specifications.

Pruning cuts will be made immediately outside the branch collar (as shown in Figure 2, Illustration A, Section J).

Larger branches will be pruned with multiple cuts (as shown in Figure 2, Illustration C).

Branches on the lower 1/3 of the selected crop trees shall be removed (as shown in Figure 5 Section J).

All pruning shall be done with pruning saws. Chainsaws will not be permitted.

Quality Standard – Crop trees to be pruned are selected correctly. No more than 1/3 of the branches on the crop tree are removed. Pruning of larger branches does not result in damage to the tree.

TSI: OTHER Treatments Descriptions of the work along with the specifications and quality standard will be included in the supplemental project specifications.

Specific prescriptions may be included which incorporate a variety of ecosystem, timber, recreation, aesthetics, or wildlife values. Some prescriptions may not follow standard silvicultural guides. Examples include moose management areas, oak-blueberry, riparian treatments and as a site preparation for future planting.

Task orders may include more than one type of treatment under this contract line item. Each TSI Other treatment type will be listed as a separate contract line items or identified to denote the difference between types. Each different TSI Other treatment type will list their specifications and quality standard separately.

Potential treatments may include but are not limited to:

1. Collecting GPS waypoints

2. Double-girdling trees greater than 6 inches in diameter

3. Felling trees and shrubs less than 6 inches in diameter

4. Lopping and scattering slash that is greater than 36” off of the ground

5. Non-fuels related tree release and piling slash Quality Standard – Will be identified in the task order and will be based on the type of other TSI treatments needed.

Price – Unlike the other task order line items which are priced based on the IDIQ priced Schedule of Items, prices for TSI: OTHER Treatments will be quoted as needed prior to the issuance of individual task orders. Price reasonableness for these line items will be made at the time.

Seedling Protection Tube: REMOVE Seedling protection tubes and/or cones will be removed from sites and/or trees designated in the task order.

Seedling protection tubes will be disposed of properly and a receipt given to the COR. If re-usable, tubes shall be returned to the Government.

Contractor shall use every precaution to prevent damage to trees that are to be protected. Excessive damage will be considered unacceptable and will result in no payment of site/unit.

Type(s) of seedling protection to be removed, seedling species, type and/or size, and average number or spacing by acre for the stand unit will be included in the supplemental project specifications.

Quality Standard – Browse protection materials properly removed with trees free to grow in natural configuration. Seedling buds are not damaged. Materials are disposed of properly and receipt submitted.

Animal Browse Protection: BUD CAPPING Paper bud caps should be folded around the terminal of the tree. Insert terminal bud in bud cap. The top of the terminal bud should be just below the upper edge of the paper. Folded paper should be stapled at least twice to secure the bud cap over the winter.

Care shall be taken not to damage the terminal or the lateral buds and the seedling as the bud cap is placed over or fastened to the seedling. A tree with skinned bark, broken leader, bud damage or any other type of damage to the seedling as a result of bud cap installation will be considered unsatisfactory.

Bud caps will be installed so as to allow the terminal leader to stand erect and free to grow within the bud cap (Figure 7). Bud caps improperly installed where the seedling terminal leaders are not erect and free to grow within the bud cap will be considered unsatisfactory.

Tree species to be bud capped and average spacing will be included in the supplemental specifications.

Quality Standard – Buds are not damaged and are free to grow. Bud cap is secure.

Animal Browse Protection: APPLY DETERRENT Deer/rabbit repellent/deterrent will be sprayed on designated tree seedlings. Seedlings will range in height from 1 to 5 feet.

Spraying will consist of wetting the leaves and stems of designated seedlings with Plantskydd (trade name), deer repellant, in accordance with the technical specification outlined below.

Notification of Work: The contractor will notify the COR of spray times so that inspections may be done while the seedlings are still discolored from the spray solution.

The contractor will be required to furnish all equipment necessary to complete task orders. Contractor shall assume all risk of loss or damage to his equipment for the duration of this contract. Equipment will include sprayer(s), water carriers, mixing containers, and mixing/stirring tools to make and maintain the proper suspension of soluble powder deer repellant according to specifications outlined below.

The Contractor shall keep a written log of the repellant application. The log shall include the date and hours of the day of the spray application.

Time period of work will be between September 15 and November 1 of the same year.

Tree species to be sprayed and average trees per acre will be provided in the supplemental project specifications in the task order.

Quality Standard – Deterrent is applied correctly. Log is complete. Equipment and leftover deterrent properly disposed of, and site is clean of debris.

ROAD USE AND MAINTENANCE

All roads leading into each project area to be worked are to be kept open and free of any debris that may occur as a result of the work.

All existing roads used by the Contractor shall be left in the same condition, or better, as when the operation started.

Prior to the start of work, the Contractor and COR will review and document existing road conditions to provide a basis for maintenance needs.

Quality Standard – Roads free of debris and in same or better condition as when the operation started.

SLASH TREATMENT

Slash may be arranged by scattering or piling depending on task order line item specification and supplemental project specifications.

All existing slash and slash resulting from the Contractor's operations shall be pulled back at least 10 feet from perennial and intermittent stream courses, lakes, ponds, vernal ponds, trails, culverts, and boundaries adjacent to private land.

Slash within 10 feet of the cleared edge of any numbered Forest Service road must be pulled back. Within a strip 50 feet wide, measured from the cleared edge of any numbered Forest Service road, all existing slash and slash resulting from Contractor’s operation shall be treated. Scattered slash shall not exceed 36 inches in depth unless otherwise specified in supplemental project specifications.

Quality Standard – Identified slash free zones are free of slash. Slash height is within specified limits or else stated in the supplemental project specifications. If slash is arranged in piles, piles are within proper dimensions stated in the supplemental project specifications.

WORKING AREA BOUNDARIES

The boundaries will be shown on the TSI location maps and discussed on the ground before the Contractor commences work.

RESOURCE PROTECTION

Protection of Streams, Lakes and Reservoirs The Contractor shall take every precaution to prevent pollution from fuels, oils, chemicals, silt or other harmful materials of any stream, lake or reservoir located in the Superior National Forest.

All streams shall be kept free of Contractor-generated debris.

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

Protection of Improvements The Contractor shall take every precaution to prevent damage to any improvement in Superior National Forest areas such as roads, trails, ditches, fences, etc.

All existing roads used by the Contractor shall be left in the same condition, or better, as when the operation started.

Protection of Land Survey Monuments The Contractor shall protect all known survey monuments, witness corners, reference monuments and bearing trees against avoidable destruction, obliterating or damage during Contractor's operations. These will be shown to the Contractor on the ground by the Contracting Officer's Representative or the Inspector.

Debris Disposal All gas and oil cans or other litter generated by the Contractor during this work performance shall be removed as work progresses.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Any special conditions will be noted on TSI location map and task order.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE/CONTRACTOR QUALITY CONTROL

COR INSPECTION

All equipment furnished by the Contractor will be inspected prior to start of work to ensure compliance with the specifications.

Upon completion of the work, the Contractor shall notify the COR that work on the area is completed. If the completed work is accepted, the Contractor shall proceed with work on the next area. If the work is not accepted, the Contractor shall complete any remedial work required for acceptance prior to commencing work on the next area. Multiple areas may be worked only under agreement with the COR.

The COR or inspector will make visual inspections to check for compliance with contract specifications. Inspection plots may be taken if the visual inspections indicate that the work quality may not be acceptable.

PLOT INSPECTION PROCEDURE

The inspector will mark on the ground a series of plots sufficient in number to sample at least one percent of the acres. Plot centers will be numbered and marked with flagging. A minimum of five plots will be established on each unit; units will not be combined for quality determination. Inspections will not occur until all activities, including slash treatment are complete.

The following actions will be considered as being in non-compliance. COR can suspend work for any of the reasons listed below.

Individual Tree Release Specifications

a) Specified trees and shrubs not cut that are within the specified distance of a crop tree.

b) Slash treatment not complete.

c) Stumps too high.

d) Cut trees that are interfering with crop trees.

e) Cutting of reserve or crop trees.

Area Release Specifications

a) Specified trees and shrubs and non-woody vegetation not cut.

b) Slash treatment not complete.

c) Stumps too high.

d) Cut trees that are interfering with crop trees

e) Cutting of reserve or crop trees Fuels Reduction Specifications

a) Specified balsam fir and other specified trees and shrubs not cut.

b) Slash treatment not complete.

c) Stumps too high.

d) Cut trees that are interfering with crop trees

e) Cutting of reserve or crop trees Fuels Reduction (cut and pile) Specifications

a) Specified balsam fir and other specified trees and shrubs not cut.

b) Slash piles are not correct in size or dimension specified in supplemental project information contained in task order.

c) Stumps too high.

d) Cut trees that are interfering with crop trees

e) Cutting of reserve or crop trees Precommercial Thinning Specifications

a) Improper spacing of crop trees

b) Improper selection of crop trees

c) Slash treatment not complete.

d) Stumps too high.

e) Cutting of reserve or crop trees Pathological and Pole Timber Pruning

a) Pruning above or below 1/3 of total height

b) Improper pruning techniques

c) Improper spacing of pruned trees

d) Corrective pruning not done, or not done correctly on forked and dead top trees Other TSI Treatments

a) As indicated on task order.

Bud Capping

a) Seedling damage (e.g.missing buds, cut/broken branches, exposed cambium tissue/fresh pitch).

b) Improperly fastened bud cap.

c) Specified trees not bud capped.

Seedling Protection Tube Removal (Visual Inspection Only)

a) Seedling damage (e.g.missing buds, cut/broken branches, exposed cambium tissue/fresh pitch).

b) Five or more tubes remaining on-site.

c) Improperly disposed tubes.

Apply Deer/Rabbit Deterrent

a) No evidence of spray mixture on the leaves

b) Less than top 18 inches of tree covered in spray

Inspection Plots for Individual Tree Release, Area Tree Release, Fuels Reduction, Precommercial Thinning and Other TSI Treatments (Reference the Sample – TSI Inspectors Report in Section J).

a) Each plot will be examined to record findings on the items listed below:

1. Number of stems that should have been cut but were not, or were improperly cut (missed stems)

2. Number of crop trees or reserve trees that were cut, but should not have been cut (leave trees cut)

3. Number of stems that should have been cut

b) The following formula will be used to calculate the quality of the work for all tree felling projects:

Inspection Plots for Fuels Reduction (cut and pile).

a) Each plot will be examined to record findings on the items listed below:

1. Number of stems that should have been cut but were not, or were improperly cut (missed stems)

2. Number of crop trees or reserve trees that were cut, but should not have been cut (leave trees cut)

3. Number of stems that should have been cut

4. Number of piles that are not of specified size or dimension.

b) The following formula will be used to calculate the quality of the work for all tree felling and piling projects:

Inspection Plots for Pathological and Pole Timber Pruning (Reference the Sample – TSI Inspectors Report in Section J).

a) Each plot will be examined to record findings on the items listed below:

1. Number of trees that should have been pruned but were not (missed trees)

2. Number of improperly pruned trees

3. Number of trees that should have been pruned

b) The following formula will be used to calculate the quality of the work for pathological or pole timber pruning:

Inspection Plots for Bud Capping and Seedling Protection Tubes (Reference the Sample – TSI Inspectors Report in Section J).

a) Each plot will be examined to record findings on the items listed below:

1. Number of trees that should have been protected but were not (missed trees)

2. Number of improperly protected trees

3. Number of trees that should have been protected

b) The following formula will be used to calculate the quality of the work for bud capping and seedling protection removal:

Inspection Plots for Apply Deer/Rabbit Deterrent Inspections will be made using a systematic grid system. If corrections in spraying are necessary, the Contractor will be made aware of them as soon as possible. At least one percent (1%) of the trees in the spraying area will be sampled. If the spraying quality falls below 90%, at least two percent (2%) of the trees in an area will be sampled.

REINSPECTION UPON CONTRACTORS REQUEST

If the inspection results are unacceptable to the Contractor, a re-examination may be requested.

Requests for re-inspection must be made in writing within 5 days after receipt of initial inspection results. The same inspection procedure will be used. New plots will be selected and an additional 1% of the crop trees will be sampled for total of at least 2% of the crop trees. The inspection pattern will be shifted so new inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots. Inspection results of the re-inspection will be used in determining the TSI work quality. The Contractor will bear the cost if the re-inspection results are equal to or lower than original results.

REWORK

The Government will permit the Contractor to rework an area only if the existing deficiencies can be corrected.

Any Government inspections needed due to the Contractor reworking an area, either at the Contractor's request or because of unacceptable work will be at the Contractor's expense. The Contractor may be assessed actual damages which may include but are not limited to wages of the COR and Government inspector(s) incurred due to the rework, the cost of additional government provided materials, and costs of vehicles that are incurred while administering the task orders during the rework. MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT Measurement Acreages shown in task orders may be estimated. If acreages are estimated, final determination of acreages included within the unit boundaries will be made using a GPS (Global Positioning System).

Re-measurement A contractor may at any time after award request re-measurement of any treatment area. The request must be made in writing. Re-measurement will be made by traversing the unit.

If re-measurement indicates a variance of 5% or less, the Contractor shall pay for the actual cost of the re-measurement and no adjustment will be made in acreage or task order price. Costs may include but are not limited to wages of the COR and Government inspector(s) incurred due to the re-measurement and costs of vehicles that are incurred while administering the task order during the re-measurement.

If re-measurement indicates a variance greater that 5%, payment will be based on the re-measured acreage and the Government will pay for the re-measurement. No increase in unit price will be allowed for the sub-item based solely on increased acreage as a result of re-measurement.

Payment Payment will be made by item as shown in the Schedule of Items in the task order.

Payment will be made upon completion by the Contractor and acceptance by the Contracting Officer of the entire item, unless otherwise agreed to by the Contracting Officer.

Once the work has been accepted, the Contractor shall submit an invoice to the COR requesting payment.

The Contractor’s work is considered acceptable and full payment will be made as determined by COR (90% or higher level of performance).

A 2% deduction by map unit will be made for each percentage point less than 90%.

No payment will be made for less than an 80% level of performance.

When inspection results are below 90%, the Contractor may rework the area to try to obtain full payment.

The COR may require the Contractor to rework an area where the work is not to specifications, even though the overall inspection for the unit may exceed 90%.

Example of Payment Schedule:

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will provide the following item(s) of Government property to the Contractor for use in the performance of this contract. This property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor in accordance with the provisions of the "Government Property" FAR clause contained elsewhere in the contract.

A. Browse Protection Material (Tubes, stakes, bamboo, ties, paper for bud caps) B. Dry powder deer repellant (Plantskydd). Product will be in 2.2lb packages unless otherwise noted in the task order. The contractor will be required to return all packages empty or full to the government.

C. Government supplied watercraft transportation with certified government operator. For access to some sites that only have access by waterbody. All passengers are required to follow USDA Forest Service safety standards in Job Hazard Analysis provided before departing in watercraft.

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Figure 1. Superior National Forest Vicinity Map

Figure 2, Illustrations A,B,C. Proper Pruning Techniques.

Figure 3. Illustrations D, E, and F. Examples of improper pruning practices

Figure 4. Picture of a properly pruned tree

Figure 5. Illustration G and H. Example of proper corrective pruning technique following weevil attack. Dead terminal leader is removed with all but one lateral. This lateral will straighten over a period of a few years.

Figure 6. Example of poor pruning job(left) and proper pruning job(right)

Figure 7. A properly installed paper bud cap on white pine seedling. Photo Credit, Rajala Woods Foundation

Figure 8. SAMPLE TSI INSPECTORS REPORT

SUPERIOR N.F - TSI INSPECTOR'S REPORT

CONTRACTOR:

DATE:

INSPECTOR:

PLOT SIZE:

Task Order # :

Site # :

Price/Acre :

Item #:

Soluble Powder Concentrate

2.2 lb. package (1kg) Full Material Safety Data Sheet available.TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - Mixing and Applying Repellant Spray for Deer and Rabbits

Treats approx. 800-1200 plants/seedlings when sprayed with solution.

TREATMENT:

· APPLY ON DRY PLANTS -

· Do Not Apply when rain is expected within 24 hours.

· For Deer - Spray mainly tops of plant — until wet but not dripping.

· For Rabbits - spray stem and lower leaves.

· Needles/leaves darken temporarily after treatment — original color returns in 18-36 hours.

· Apply at above freezing temperature.

· Treating Pine seedlings during bud flush is not recommended (OK before/after bud flush period).

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Wet container first to avid powder sticking to sides. Pour powder into mixing container.

2. Slowly stir equal parts of lukewarm water into powder to make a lump less paste/slurry (a paint mixer on a power drill is ideal).

3. Add rest of water. Stir gently to avoid foaming. Allow to stand for 20 minutes.

4. Pour solution through fine mesh filter or cheese cloth into pressure-type sprayer (diaphragm sprayers work best).

DILUTION RATES

SPRAYER: Use pressure-type — hand or backpack sprayer.

CAUTION:

· DO NOT ingest solution — wash hands after use.

· DO NOT apply directly onto edible parts of fruit, vegetables and other food crops. Wash fruit and vegetables before eating.

· If solution comes into contact with eyes or skin, wash/flush with water.

· Avoid spraying concrete and wood to avoid discoloration.

· Rinse sprayer, gloves and planting equipment after use.

· If sprayer clogs, rinse in hot water.

· Use mixed solution within a few days.

· Seal unused powder and store in a cool, dark, dry place for up to 2 years.

DISPOSAL:

Rinse empty container thoroughly. Recycle or dispose with household garbage.

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