b. PWS_1284LL25Q0061.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Performance Work Statement

Contents Project Title General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

2.0 Definitions

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Deliverable / Schedule

5.0 Travel

6.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

7.0 Performance Requirement Measures

Project Title 2025 Central Zone Road Maintenance

General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

The Government is in need of road maintenance services that will result in the proper mix of aggregates and fines to maintain aggregates on the roadway, the elimination of ruts and potholes, maintenance and functionality of ditch lines and water diversion structures, and removal of rocks, limbs and other debris from the road prism while maintaining vegetation that serves to prevent or moderate erosion from runoff. The services covered in this contract include the furnishing of all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals necessary to perform road maintenance on roads specified herein, in compliance with the terms, specifications, conditions, and provisions of this solicitation. This requirement includes road grading, selective clearing, and other related work necessary to meet the objectives.

2.0 Definitions

• Contracting Officer Representative (COR). The COR is the Contracting Officer’s (CO) representative on-site who will ensure that the Government’s technical objectives are met. To this end, the COR will provide necessary information, direction, coordination, monitor, and recommend the necessary actions to the CO within the contractual work description. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of this contract regarding money, time, and/or scope of the contract.

• Government Technical Monitor (GTM). The GTM is the designated representative to ensure technical objectives are met and asset the COR and Contracting Officer (CO) as an inspector to monitor Contractor performance. The GTM is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of this contract regarding money, time, and/or scope of the contract.

• Contracting Officer (CO). The CO is the contract authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings. Only the CO has the authority regarding time, money, or changes to the contract. The term includes certain authorized representatives of the contracting officer (i.e. COR and GTM) acting within the limits of their authority as delegated by the CO.

• Contractor. The individual or legal entity contracting with the Government for performance of prescribed work.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, materials, facilities, supervision, management, and transportation necessary to fulfill the requirement of this Performance Work Statement (PWS) in accordance with the regulatory, references, and information sources provided within this PWS and any subsequent regulatory or policy changes.

3.1 Grading and Shaping: Performance of Road Maintenance includes grading and shaping the roadbed, including shoulders and turnouts and removing ruts, washes, slough, and other irregularities that prevent normal runoff from the road surface. Where equipment is used to remove excessive, large, or deleterious (damaging) material from the shaped road template, material to be wasted shall not be placed in a drainage or within 300 feet of a live stream.

The end-result shall be the restoration and maintenance of the original cross section, grade and drainage of the road. The following standard industry practices will be reviewed during inspections to determine if the results will be met.

3.1.1 Grading to restore surface without loss of aggregate/gravel surfacing or disturbance or loss of road base material. Performance on gravel surfaced road shall be accomplished so the base is not disturbed and no surface material is lost in ditches or over the road shoulders. Grading of unsurfaced roads shall be performed so no base material is lost. Surface material shall be bladed from one edge of the road to the other in a berm to eliminate any segregation prior to spreading. Sections having segregated materials after spreading shall be reprocessed and spread. Oversized material exceeding 4 inches in size removed by equipment shall be disposed of by side casting over the fill slope except within 100 feet each side of culverts, other stream crossings or within 300’ of a perennial stream that is inhabited by fish, 150’ from a perennial steam not inhabited by fish and 100’ from any intermittent stream. If work operations produce excess material, feather it out or haul it away. Avoid side casting in locations where erosion will carry materials into streams. Avoid leaving a berm that channels water down the road unless it is routed into an effective vegetation filter which removes sediment.

3.1.2 Elimination of ruts, potholes, and washes. These defects shall be repaired by scarifying or cutting to the bottom of such defects to provide for uniform compaction of roadbed material. Large rock or organic material removed from drainage facilities during cleaning process shall not be used as fill. High grading, or any method which merely fills depressions with loose material, does not eliminate the defect or provide for uniform compaction and is therefore not acceptable.

3.1.3 Repair of Settlement sections shall be performed where possible by cutting from the roadbed on each end of the settled area and filling into the settled area to provide smooth transitions to adjacent road grades. If this will not accomplish the objective, the COR shall be informed.

3.1.4 Grading and shaping operations shall not undercut road backslopes.

3.1.5 Sections of roads without a roadside ditch shall be uniformly in-sloped or out-sloped the entire width of the roadbed. The in-slope or out-slope grade shall be a minimum of 2 percent and a maximum of 4 percent unless staked otherwise on the ground. A crowned cross-section may be acceptable in some locations without a roadside ditch with prior authorization from the COR.

3.1.6 Existing drainage dips shall be cleaned and the out-slope grade restored to equal or exceed the gradient of the road.

3.1.7 Sections of roads constructed with a roadside ditch shall be bladed and reshaped to maintain crown at centerline of the roadbed, or in sloped except on curves where crown is omitted. Road cross-section shall slope uniformly both ways from crown apex to shoulders at a minimum blade of 2 percent and a maximum blade of 4 percent.

3.1.8 At the conclusion of the grading and shaping operations the roadbed shall be smoothed and dressed to produce a uniform grade and cross section and a surface free of hollows, depressions, and projections above the adjacent roadbed surface. No berm or ridge or any material shall be left along either shoulder of the roadbed unless directed by the COR.

3.2 Compacting: Operate rollers and compact as specified: Compact each layer full width. Roll from the sides to the center, parallel to the centerline of the road. When moisture levels are not suitable for compaction, a water truck may be required to meet compaction specifications. Adjust the moisture content of the material to obtain a mass that will not visibly deflect under the load of the hauling and spreading equipment. Operate compaction equipment over the full width of each layer until visible deformation of the layer ceases. Make at least three complete passes.

3.3 Drainage Facilities-Cleaning and Repair

3.3.1 Wood, rocks, and other debris shall be removed from roadside drainage ditches to provide unobstructed flow of water and disposed of on the jobsite as directed by the COR. The backslope of the ditch shall not be undercut by ditch cleaning operations; and the slope to road shoulder shall be maintained at an approximate ratio of 1V:2H from the bottom of the ditch to the edge of the roadbed. Roadside ditches shall not be excavated to a depth of greater than 2 feet below roadbed grade. Typical depth of roadside drainage ditches below roadbed is one foot. Existing ditch dikes shall be restored, reshaped, and compacted as needed for effective drainage through culverts.

3.3.2 On aggregate-surfaced roads, material may be bladed across the road provided it is not deposited in ruts, washes, or chuckholes in the road surface. Such material shall be side cast on stable fill slopes or natural ground out of streambeds, streams, or other waterways. No side casting will be permitted on roads paralleling streams where the ground slope from the outside road shoulder to the stream edge is steeper than 1V:2H. On roads without aggregate surfacing, surface soil with rocks less than 3 inches in greatest dimension may be spread evenly over the adjacent roadbed.

3.3.3 Remove from bridge decks all rock and other material that would create a hazard to traffic or is otherwise detrimental to the traveled surface. Cattleguards shall be left clean between the bottom of the rails and ground beneath. No additional material may be deposited within cattleguards.

3.4 Removal of Obstructions: All fallen trees, limbs, brush, small slides or debris in the travel way or road ditch line shall be removed and scattered outside the travel way and ditch line.

3.5 Damage to Structures: The Contractor shall be held liable and is responsible for any damage caused by his/her personnel or equipment to any existing traffic loops, cattle guards, culverts, signs, and riprap protecting culvert inlets or fill-slopes. Repair to these structures shall be at the Contractor's expense. Traffic loops will be marked on the ground with lath and fluorescent pink ribbon.

3.6 Soil Moisture – Retention of Fines: Contractor is responsible to ensure that performance does not reduce the level of fines in the road surface. Therefore, operations may be suspended when soil moisture conditions are not favorable for obtaining a satisfactory result. Suitable moisture conditions are determined to be in excess of five (5) percent and less than 25 percent by weight unless otherwise authorized by the COR.

3.7 Vegetation Management. Performance of Vegetation Management includes removal of all vegetative material within clearing limits shown on the Plans – Typical Clearing Details. This area includes turnouts and curve widening.

Vegetative material (alive or dead) includes grass, weeds, residual brush, live brush, and trees. The end-result will be the restoration of sight distance and clear limits of the road.

3.7.1 - Cut all trees, without exception, 6 inches diameter at stump height, brush and vegetative material within the clearing limit as shown on the Plans. Cut material to within 6 inches above the ground or obstructions and remove from the clearing limits. Remove ALL downed trees from the clearing limits shown in the Plans. Cut limbs (up to a height of 14’ above the road surface) which obtrude into the clearing limits as close to the tree trunk as practical on trees that remain standing. Maximum stump/cut heights may only increase while transitioning over obstacles and only for a maximum distance equal to the length of the mower head before and after the obstacle.

3.7.2 – Disposal: Slash with a length greater than 36 inches (diameter less than 2 inches) or with a length greater than 24 inches (diameter greater than 2 inches), is to be scattered or chipped (treatment is defined in the Plans) so as not to produce concentrations and shall not be deposited in watercourses. All slash shall be removed at the end of each workday. Cut logs shall be rolled off the road and out of ditches in such a way that they will not roll back into the road or ditch.

3.7.3 – Hazard removal shall include bucking and removing downed trees impinging on road ditches, driving surface and shoulders. All limbs and debris shall be removed from road as well.

3.8 Pollution and Erosion Control: During all operations under this contract, the Contractor shall exercise reasonable measures to direct surface runoff water to stabilized waterways and to keep the drainage systems functioning effectively to prevent or minimize soil erosion and pollution of water and other resources. All refuse, including garbage, rubbish, and solid or liquid wastes from the Contractor's operations, including camps, parking areas, and equipment maintenance areas shall be stored and collected in a sanitary manner and disposed of in a State approved sanitary landfill. Oil from crankcases or gear boxes, equipment waste or spilled or excess fuel shall be placed in containers and removed from the work site and disposed of as approved and required by Federal, State and Local laws. Equipment uses for operations near streams or bodies of water will be required to meet more stringent requirements regarding seals and fittings that prevent the leaking of hydraulic fluids, lubricants and fuels.

Failure to comply will result in immediate rejection of equipment.

3.9 Landscape Preservation: The Contractor shall confine operations to within the clearing limits or other areas designated in contract documents, and prevent the depositing of rocks, excavated materials, stumps, or other debris outside of these limits. Material, which falls outside of these limits, shall be retrieved, disposed of, or incorporated in the work as directed by the Contracting Officer. Operations shall be scheduled and conducted to minimize erosion of soils and to prevent silting and muddying of streams, rivers, irrigation systems, and impoundments (lakes, reservoirs, etc.). Pollutants such as fuels, lubricants, bitumen’s, raw sewage, and other harmful materials shall not be discharged into or near rivers, streams, and impoundments or into natural or manmade channels leading thereto. Wash water or wastewater from concrete or aggregate operations shall not be allowed to enter live streams prior to treatment by filtration, settling, or other means sufficient to reduce the sediment content to not more than that of the stream into which it is discharged. Mechanized equipment shall not be operated in live streams without written approval by the Contracting Officer.

3.10 Maintenance of Traffic and Use of Warning Devices: The Contractor shall provide, erect, and maintain all necessary traffic control and devices for the protection of the work and public safety. The traffic control includes areas where operations may interfere with the use of the road or trail by traffic and at all intermediate points where the new work crosses or coincides with an existing road or trail. All traffic control methods and devices shall conform with the current edition of the Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD), published by the Federal Highway Administration and applicable safety codes.

3.11 Safety: Contractors shall comply with OSHA regulations and provide employees a work environment that is sanitary and not hazardous, which includes providing personal protective equipment. Contractors must maintain a health and safety plan and an accident prevention program, which includes frequent and regular inspections of the project site, materials, and equipment. Contractors are responsible for risk management regarding contractor/employee and public safety, which include experience of operator to handle road and terrain conditions, getting to the worksite, traffic control, and coordination with other users.

3.12 Equipment Requirements: Contractor shall provide quality equipment capable of safely performing the work under the terms of the contract. All repairs are the total responsibility of the Contractor. Contractor shall make equipment available for inspection and approval before use. To prevent the potential spread of noxious weeds into the project area, the Contractor shall be required to furnish the Contracting Officer with proof of weed-free equipment. The following is considered proof of weed-free equipment: The Contractor will be required to clean all equipment prior to entry on the project area. This cleaning shall remove all dirt and plant parts and material that may carry noxious weed seeds into the project area. Only equipment inspected by the Contracting Officer will be allowed to operate within the project area. All subsequent move-ins of equipment shall be treated the same as the initial move-in. Prior to initial move-in of all equipment, and all subsequent move-ins, the Contractor shall make equipment available for inspection at an agreed time and location. Contractor shall provide at least three business days’ advance notice of request for equipment inspection. The Contractor must satisfy all applicable OSHA and DOT requirements or certifications for the operation of offered equipment. The Contractor shall maintain a Heavy Equipment Operator throughout the period of performance of the contract. There will be no obligation to make payment for any equipment delivered that does not meet the Technical Specifications. All equipment provided to conduct work shall be capable of accomplishing desired end-results. Recommended equipment for clearing is a tractor with a side-mounted rotary mower with a blade approximately 5.5’.

4.0 Deliverable / Schedule

Roads can be completed in any order, but Contractor shall coordinate with the Contracting Officer’s Representative. All road work shall be completed no later than October 9, 2026.

5.0 Travel

All travel required for the completion of this project including any mobilization, de-mobilization, and re-mobilization will be covered under the mobilization line item. No additional costs associated with travel will be paid to the Contractor beyond the pricing indicated in the Contractor’s accepted quote and resultant contract.

6.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

The equipment operator(s) is/are considered key to successful performance of the contract. Contractor shall identify equipment operator(s) as part of their technical proposal and list any qualifications, experience, etc. pertinent to their role in any resultant contract. Contractor shall notify the Government of any plans to substitute key personnel identified as part of their quote at least 15 days prior to doing so. Substituted key personnel’s qualifications and experience shall be equal to or greater than the original key personnel proposed.

7.0 Performance Requirement Measures

Work will be paid based on the quantities stated in the Schedule of Items and shall include only those roads or road portions which are ordered under the contract and completed to satisfactorily meet the contract objectives. NOTE: Parking areas, turnouts, and approach road connections are considered as incidental to the main roads and shall not be measured separately. Mileage measurement includes all work on both sides of the road, regardless of the number of passes made to accomplish the work.

Performance Objective

Required Task or Deliverable

Performance Standard Method of Surveillance

Negative Incentive for NOT meeting the Task

Selective Clearing, Type Roadside, Disposal Method (f) (Scattering)

The end-result shall be the restoration of sight distance and clear limits of the road.

Cut all trees, without exception, 6-inch diameter at stump height, brush and vegetative material within the clearing limit. Slash with a length greater than 36 inches (diameter less than 2 inches) or with a length greater than 24 inches (diameter greater than 2 inches), shall be scattered or chipped (treatment is defined in the Plans) so as not to produce concentrations and shall not be deposited in watercourses.

Hazards on road surface or within clearing limits shall be removed. Acceptance is based on visual inspection of the work for compliance with the specific contract requirements.

When inspection indicates the performance objectives were not met, the work will be deemed unacceptable, and payment will not be made until the Contractor has corrected the deficiencies. Inspections after rework will be made in the same manner as the first inspection. The Contractor may be charged for actual costs incurred by the Government for inspection of rework.

Selective Clearing, Type Roadside, Disposal Method (g) (Chipping)

Roadbed Reconditioning, Compaction Placement Method 2

The end-result shall be the restoration and maintenance of the original cross section, grade and drainage of the road.

Grading to restore surface without loss of aggregate/gravel surfacing or disturbance or loss of road base material. Elimination of ruts, potholes, and washes. Repair of Settlement sections. Existing drainage dips shall be cleaned and the out-slope grade restored to equal or exceed the gradient of the road.

Sections of roads constructed with a roadside ditch shall be bladed and reshaped. Roadbed shall be smoothed and dressed to produce a uniform grade and cross section and a surface free of hollows, depressions, and projections above the adjacent roadbed surface.

Compaction.