Attch_1_Robertson_Draw_SOW.pdf

ROBERTSON DRAW ESR SAGEBRUSH

RECLAMATION

DOI-BLM-MT-C010

Billings Field Office

5001 Southgate Drive

Billings, MT 59101

Statement of Work

Table of Contents

1 Background

2 Scope

3 General

4 Equipment

5 Base of Operations

6 Seeding

7 Payment

8 Teleconferences and Correspondence

9 Appendix A: Map

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1 Background

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), manages public lands for multiple uses, including conservation, recreation, grazing, mining, and energy development. On June 13, 2021, the Robertson Draw fire started on the Custer Gallatin National Forest south of Red

Lodge, MT and east of the Absaroka Beartooth mountain range. By June 15, severe fire weather and behavior resulted in significant fire growth, from 2,000 acres to over 21,000 in a matter of hours, and eventually burned nearly 30,000 acres of BLM, Forest Service, State, and Private managed land. Vegetation on BLM land in the burned area consisted mostly of sagebrush/steppe, but also included areas of riparian stringers and Douglas fir/ponderosa pine forests.

Numerous big game species are dependent on this area for year-long habitat, including mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana), and winter habitat for Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus). Sagebrush cover types provide important habitat for sage-grouse, sage thrasher, Brewer’s sparrows, a diversity of neotropical migrants, and other species including ground-nesters, and tend to reestablish slowly following fire (USDA Forest Service 2003a). Sagebrush steppe habitats are critically imperiled throughout their range, making rehabilitation efforts on any scale vital to the success of sagebrush-obligate species. Increasing deep rooted, perennial, cool-season grasses and forbs, increasing sagebrush cover, and reducing annual grass cover will bolster both resistance and resilience to this site.

A no treatment action would cause a loss of the sagebrush vegetative components, resulting in a loss of ecosystem diversity, structure and function. The burned area consisted of Priority and

General Habitat Management for sage-grouse, and not doing sagebrush reclamation would result in a conversion to a habitat type unsuitable to support sage-grouse and big game.

2 Scope

Using contractor-furnished equipment, supplies, and materials, except for seed, to seed designated areas with BLM-supplied seed at the acreage, location, and rate specified below:

Approximate Acreage – 8,164 Acres

Location of worksite – Shown on map in Appendix A. Located in Carbon County, MT approximately 8 miles Southwest of Belfry, MT.

Requirements of Equipment to be supplied by the Contractor: Sufficient to meet specifications of the contract.

Loading Site: Contractor shall be responsible for access to the site.

Crew Requirements: Crew for handling seed and loading equipment shall be furnished by the

Contractor.

Location of Seed to be Furnished by the Government: Sundance BLM Administration Site, which is located at 2434 Thiel Road, Laurel, MT 59044. The Contractor shall be responsible for loading and hauling the Government owned seed from the warehouse to the work site. Seed will be available by appointment. Contact Shane Trautner at (406) 896-5154.

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Seed Type and Rate of Application:

Species Bulk Pounds # 40lb bags Rate (Lbs./A.)

Pre-Mixed

Black Sagebrush

16,080 Total Pounds

1.96 Wyoming Sagebrush

**Needs to be

Mixed On Site

By Contractor

Wyoming Sagebrush 1,900 Total Pounds 47.5 0.23

Silver sagebrush 1,408 Total Pounds 35.2 0.17

**Contractor can apply the pre-mixed seed at the same time as the seed they are to mix on-site.

Period of Performance –Application must be completed by 15 March 2024 when a minimum of

2” of snow is covering the project area.

Other Considerations: This application may coincide with snowfall and/or poor weather and site conditions. During the contract and application period, county, state and BLM jurisdiction roads and remote airstrips may not be suitable for staging areas due to muddy, wet or snow covered conditions. The use of any loading area shall be arranged by and at the discretion and risk of the

Contractor. If BLM jurisdiction lands are selected as staging and/or loading areas, the contractor shall apply for authorization from the authorized representative prior to use. The Government shall not be held responsible for any loss, mishap, or accident due to conditions of any site used.

The Contractor shall provide appropriate warning signs for traffic if roads are used as loading sites.

Sagebrush seed is extremely fluffy and may require special equipment to seed. It is the

Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the seeding equipment has suitable agitation and feeder mechanisms to evenly distribute the seed through application at the specified rate without damaging the seed.

3 General

Requirement

Contractor shall be required to utilize a Differentially Corrected Global Positioning

System (DGPS) for electronic Navigation. System must be capable of utilizing ArcMap or ARC-

INFO shape files created by the government and given to the Contractor on a USB Thumb Drive or by email.

If aircraft is being utilized ground flaggers and an auto-flagger system can supplement the DGPS system, but not substitute for it.

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Navigation

DGPS is required for tracking, and data collection. The Contractor shall provide all guidance equipment, materials, computers, printers, personnel, and services required for the system to be used. The system shall be sufficiently sensitive to provide immediate deviation indications (real-time).

The DGPS system must be capable of determining a differentially corrected location with an error of no more than one to two meters in the horizontal plane. The guidance system shall be capable of updating current position at a rate of a minimum of one time per second. Differential correction must cover the complete operational area. During operation, differentially corrected signal must be accurately recorded at least 90% of the operational time. Differential correction may be provided by a portable differential station, FM radio fixed towers, or satellite.

Software provided with DGPS must be designed for parallel offset in increments equal to the assigned swath width of the application equipment.

4 Equipment

General

The Contractor shall seed the designated area in conformance with these specifications and at the rate requested. Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor shall furnish all work site applicator(s), labor, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, supplies, and incidentals; and perform all work necessary to complete the application in accordance with these specifications.

The Contractor shall furnish properly outfitted equipment with applicators experienced in applying seed in varied and rough terrain. The Contractor shall service and repair their equipment as necessary to maintain satisfactory progress on work. Contractor is responsible for all costs incidental to equipment mobilization and demobilization associated with the project.

Software

Software provided with DGPS must be designed for parallel offset in increments equal to the assigned swath width of the application equipment.

Project Log

Must be capable of a minimum rate of one-second logging intervals. Full record includes position, time altitude, speed, track, application system on/off, job name/number, and differential correction status. The computer program must be capable of calculating and show total acres treated, and also, capable of downloading to a computer for analysis and review. The project log must show and differentiate between spray-on and spray-off when viewed on a computer monitor or printer. Export files of each project log shall be provided and must be compatible with ArcMap or ARC- INFO GIS system on a USB Thumb Drive. The Contractor shall provide software that is compatible and which will enable the files to convert into viewable files for

ArcMap or ARC-INFO GIS.

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The contractor must, upon request by the COR or Project Inspector, be able to supply project log data on a USB Thumb Drive for review at any time during the contract. The Contract will not be considered complete until the data has been reviewed and deemed complete with no skips in the seeded areas. The Contractor shall provide a map with project log data at the end of each day’s application.

The DGPS system must be capable of zooming in on any portion of the treatment to view a specific area with greater detail.

Hardware

1. Visual Display Monitor - (1) Capable of displaying swath width over project path; (2) mounted in a location that will allow the applicator to view the screen; (3) have a method to display nested polygons to indicate sensitive or no-spray areas within or adjacent to treatment blocks; (4) have a feature that allows the applicator to return to the exact location of application shutdown and complete application without omitted or doubled treated areas.

2. Control Keypad - The keypad must: (1) be able to input reference waypoints (A-B line): (2) have a feature which alerts the operator when they are about to enter or exit a specific treatment block or an exclusion area within a block: (3) have a method to display nested polygons to indicate sensitive or no-seeding areas within or adjacent to treatment blocks: (4) have a feature that allows the operator to return to the exact location of application shutdown and complete application without omitted or doubled treated areas.

3. Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) - The course deviation indicator or course deviation light must have the capability to display both cross-track error and intercept angle to desired heading. Cross-track error shall be adjustable down to one (1) foot.

4. Memory - Must be capable of storing up to 8 hours of continuous project log data.

5 Base of Operations

General

The Contractor shall provide such facilities as may be required for competent performance of contract. The use of any loading area shall be arranged by and at the discretion and risk of the

Contractor, and the Government shall not be held responsible for any loss, mishap, or accident due to conditions of any site used. The Contractor shall provide appropriate warning signs for traffic if roads are used as loading sites.

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6 Seeding

General

The Contractor shall seed designated areas in conformance with these specifications and the

Detailed Specifications. Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor shall furnish at work sites applicator(s) experienced in applying seed in rough, rocky or mountainous terrain, all equipment, labor, supplies, and materials required to complete the job. The Contractor shall service and repair his/her equipment as necessary to maintain satisfactory progress on work. The Contractor will have personnel on project site prior to commencing daily application, during application, and will notify COR or Project Inspector of changing weather conditions. The COR or Project

Inspector will allow Contractor to continue or stop application if weather factors dictate. The

COR or Project Inspector will give the permission to start, approximately one (1) hour from notification of conditions, depending on location of project from the Billings Field Office. The

Contractor will be allowed to work seven days per week.

Equipment

1. Equipment - The Contractor shall furnish sufficient equipment to satisfactorily seed the designated areas through application in the time specified as required in the Detailed

Specifications.

2. Communication - The Contractor shall furnish sufficient equipment to have communications with the Government either by using radio frequencies designated by the

Project Inspector or by providing a radio to the Project Inspector.

3. Seed Bucket(s) or Hopper(s) - Sagebrush seed presents unique problems due to bulkiness and tendency to bridge in the seed bucket or hopper. In addition, it is anticipated that some of the sagebrush seed will have a high moisture content which causes seed to compact, clump, and bridge even more severely. Therefore, seed bucket(s) or hopper(s) shall include a mechanical agitation system to prevent the seed from bridging in the bucket or hopper.

Equipment that cannot perform the specified work shall be modified or replaced by the

Contractor. Equipment shall be equipped for carrying seed with an approved distribution mechanism complete with release, shutoff, and spreading device, which can be calibrated for spreading seed at the prescribed rate in a satisfactory manner and uniform pattern. Seed bucket(s) or hopper(s) shall include lids, which fasten securely to prevent seed from blowing out.

4. Seeder Calibration - The Contractor shall calibrate seeding equipment prior to application on the project. The Government will supply seed for calibration. Seed used for calibration shall be recovered for use on the project.

Seed

Seed will be furnished by the Government at the location stated in the Detailed Specifications.

Contractor shall load and transport seed from the pickup point to the operational loading sites and shall be responsible for its protection from loss or damage due to weather, rodents, insects, theft, or any other hazard. Any seed damaged or lost, while in the custody of the Contractor, will be replaced (if available) by the Government, and actual cost to the Government for replacement

P a g e | 6 will be deducted from payments due the Contractor. All unused seed shall be returned to the pickup point by the Contractor or nearer destination, if so directed, upon completion of work or termination of the contract.

Seeding Operation

1. Rate of Seeding - Seed shall be distributed through application at the rate stated in Section

2: Scope, or as directed by the Contracting Officer.

2. Seeding Conditions - Seed shall not be applied when the wind speed exceeds ten miles per hour unless permission is given by the COR in writing. It is required that the ground be covered by a minimum of two inches of snow during seeding operations.

Therefore, seeding may be delayed if there is no snow on the ground and snow is expected in the weather forecast.

3. Coverage - The entire surface within the designated boundaries of the job area shall receive uniform coverage with the seed except for such areas as may be excluded by

Government. Areas excluded from seeding operations within the work site boundaries shall not be included in the acreage computed for payment. Such areas will be specified in advance of seeding operations on work maps. Seeding strips shall be patterned in such a manner as to secure as high a uniformity of seed distribution as practicable.

Such distribution shall not vary more than fifteen (15) percent above or below the average distribution of seed per unit of surface specified for the particular area concerned.

Application shall be made to obtain proper distribution and uniform coverage of seed.

Checks will be made as operations progress to determine uniformity of application. Any areas missed by the Contractor or seeded to less than the concentration specified shall be reapplied and brought up to standard, compensated by seeding additional acreage, or by suitable deduction from the contract price, at the option of the Government, and at no additional cost to the Government.

Seed openings of the distribution mechanism shall be checked at sufficient intervals to insure proper functioning and even distribution of seed at all times. If at any time inspection of equipment reveals that seed openings are not properly operating or that feeders are blocked by trash, the Contracting Officer may require re-seeding of that portion of the area that the Government determines was not properly seeded, at no additional cost to the Government.

4. Land Patterns - Project sites include varying land patterns. State and/or private land can be surrounded by BLM lands or BLM lands may be surrounded by private and state lands.

Contractor shall be capable of seeding small irregular shaped areas and avoiding lands not owned by the BLM that are not included in this contract.

5. Terrain - Some project sites are located in very rocky inaccessible terrain of differing elevations.

6. Ground Damage - Project sites may be muddy, frozen, or snow covered. Contractor cannot apply seed if seeding equipment will disturb project area in any way. Any wheel, track, or other marks will not be allowed.

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7. Tests for Uniformity and Rate of Application - The Government will make tests as operations progress to determine uniformity of seeding. Standards of performance will be determined by adequate weight records of seed applied on each individual seeding strip covered, and ground recovery will be done by the Government at no cost to the Contractor.

Should the Contractor wish to object in any way to the monitoring done at any particular time by the Government, the Contractor shall be present in person or by authorized representative to voice said objections when said monitoring samplings are done, and to agree upon new records and/or samples at the time, where after the monitoring sampling done by the Government shall be final and binding in the settlement of the contract.

Work Stoppages

The Government reserves the right to stop seeding operations at any time when seeding conditions are considered sufficiently unfavorable to warrant stoppage. Stoppage shall continue until seeding operations are again authorized by the Government. Because of the nature of the work, any time for which work is suspended by the Government because of unsuitable seeding conditions will not be counted against the contract completion time. However, no monetary compensation will be given to the Contractor by reason of such work suspension. Contractor agrees to work diligently to complete the seeding application.

Completion of Contract

The Contract will be considered completed and payment due when all seed furnished to the

Contractor by the Government has been seeded to the standards specified above; or when all areas designated under the contract have been seeded to the said standards; or if performance under the contract is ordered terminated by the Government.

Safety Hazards

Any ground or above ground hazards that would pose a danger to Contractor’s personnel or operating equipment must be identified and mitigated by the Contractor prior to commencing operations.

7 Payment

Measurement for payment for seeding will be the actual area, in acres, within the designated boundaries satisfactorily seeded in conformance with these specifications. Measurement will be made from the ArcGIS polygons provided by the government. Acreages will be computed from horizontal distances as shown on maps. Payment will be made at the unit price per acre specified in the Bid Schedule and shall include the cost of all work described in this paragraph and the

Detailed Specifications, including any re-seeding, if such work is required. Acreages will not be computed from DGPS acreages covered. Contractor must factor in additional seeding application time required for coverage of the polygons, complete seeding, and any contour application that may be required to properly cover the area.

8 Teleconferences and Correspondence

1. An initial pre-work teleconference will occur after award of the contract.

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2. Other “as-needed” teleconferences, phone calls, or email correspondence with BLM shall be conducted whenever requested by the COR or the contractor in which questions relating to the project need to be discussed.

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9 Appendix A: Map