B08-1_-_Fallen_Trees_Removal_-_ROMO_-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

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Performance Work Statement

Off Haul of Previously Fallen Trees

Colorado River District Road Corridor

Rocky Mountain National Park

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I. Overview

The Colorado River District of the Rocky Mountain National Park (Park) experienced heavy tree mortality due to the 2020 East Troublesome Fire. Fire killed and weakened trees presented the threat of falling and windthrow adjacent to road corridors. Work occurred in 2021 to fall hazard trees along this road corridor. A total of 45 log decks were constructed for future disposal. After one year, the decks do not have sufficient structural integrity where disposal by pile burning would be successful. This project would result in the offhaul of the biomass. After it is offsite, the Contractor can sell the biomass for their benefit.

Trail Ridge Road (US Highway 34) near the Green Mountain Trailhead is the central focus of this contract. The project area is within Grand County, Colorado and is located approximately 5 miles north of the Town of Grand Lake. Elevation of the project site is approximately 9000 ft. All work will be within Park boundaries. Local tree species include lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, blue spruce, and subalpine fir. Cut trees designated for removal range from 4 to 24 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) with some larger trees possible. Specific equipment used by the contractor will depend on the contractor’s desired end product.

The project area is adjacent to a public road which provides good accessibility but creates public safety concerns. Traffic control will be provided by the Contractor as specified.

Refer to the attached maps and images for preliminary information about the project area. An inventory of all the logs was NOT conducted; merchantable material may vary greatly at the discretion of the contractor. If an accurate count is desired, it is recommended that potential bidders conduct their own surveys. It is highly recommended that the contractor conducts their own assessment prior to bidding to understand the highly variable nature of the material.

Many decks are 70 to 90 feet long, 15 to 30 feet wide, and 4 to 8 feet tall. However, there are some decks that are much smaller. Photos in Appendix A show the range of log decks. The detail map in Appendix B includes the perimeter of all of the decks that were plotted using GPS with sub-meter accuracy.

II. General Specifications

• All woody material from the log decks that are greater than 4 inches in diameter must be removed from the site.

• In addition, at least 95% of stem and slash material less than 4 inches in diameter must be removed from the site. Up to 5% can be lopped and scattered to a depth no greater than 1 foot above ground and in a discontinuous layer so that no greater than 50% of the area will be covered with slash.

• Except at the Green Mountain Housing Area (see below), if more slash is desired to be left inside the project area and with written approval from the COR, then excess slash may be piled for burning in accordance with hand pile specifications prior to project completion in locations chosen by the COR.

• Slash that is scattered must be at least 5 feet from and not cause unnecessary damage to standing trees.

• Slash is defined as branches, limbs, and other woody material. In areas where Contractor-created slash is intermingled and inseparable from pre-existing dead and down woody material, slash disposal requirements shall apply to the pre-existing dead and down woody material as well as the Contractor-created slash.

• All slash material to be left on site (in accordance with disposal requirements) must be lopped to a depth no greater than 1 foot above the ground.

• Stem and slash material to be removed shall not be decked or piled on snow piles adjacent to the roadway in a way that would create movement during snow melt.

• Material must be cleared from the roadway immediately when the road is open for use to allow for passage of vehicular traffic.

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• Insofar as practicable, necessary rigging may be slung on stumps or trees.

• Location of landings and paths of equipment travel shall be agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR prior to use. No area shall be excavated or disturbed for the purposes of landing material.

• Digging is not permitted, and the Contractor shall ensure that utility transformers, utility lines (buried or otherwise), or pole boxes are not damaged.

• Contractor shall ensure that structures within the contract area are not damaged.

III. Operations

• The limits of disturbance for the work are shown on the drawings. Any significant changes to the location of work, must be approved by the CO and may require temporarily relocating work until the revised location is approved by required officials.

• Any ground disturbing activity, also including operation of heavy equipment off paved or gravel surfaces, must be conducted when the ground is frozen to prevent rutting.

• Work will be completed no more than eight weeks after commencing.

• Unless written authorization is provided by COR, no work is allowed after May 26, 2023, that will result in traffic control along Trail Ridge Road (US Highway 34).

• Contract operations will not be permitted on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays or on other days as designated by the COR. Contract operations shall not occur before sunrise or after sunset.

• If the National Park Service determines that the safety of recreation activity is endangered by the Contractor's operations, all or part of the Contractor's operations may be suspended or in lieu thereof, where agreement can be reached, precautions in addition to those set forth herein may be designated. The Green Mountain trail in this area will be closed during this operation.

• No temporary roads shall be created for any reason unless authorized in writing by the COR for this contracted work.

• Signpost installation or other digging activities must be approved by the COR to prevent damage to underground utility lines locations along the road corridor.

• No roadway snow removal is permitted by the contractor. Snow removal along Trail Ridge Road (US Highway 34) and the road in the Green Mountain Housing area will be performed by the Park.

• All equipment to be operated off the paved roadway shall be cleaned of mud, plant materials, and exotic plant seed prior to entering the park. Hauling vehicles shall meet the same requirement before their initial entrance into the park; subsequent entries will not require cleaning unless ordered by the COR.

• Turning areas for hauling vehicles shall be approved by the COR.

• No ATV usage is permitted inside Park boundaries. UTV may be allowed upon written approval from the COR.

A. Material Consolidation

• When decking material for removal, log decks must be removed by the Contractor within 14 days after the beginning of deck construction unless approved in writing by the COR.

• Ensure log decks are stacked and oriented so that material will not roll into the road.

• Log decks must be staged close enough to the road so that hauling equipment can load material while parked entirely on the roadway.

• Log decks shall be located no closer than 5 feet from the edge of the payment unless approved by the COR. If decked material is located closer than 5 feet from the Trail Ridge Road (US Highway 34), then appropriate traffic control, signage, or barriers must be utilized as required in accordance with traffic control specifications included in the contract.

• All woody material accumulated at landings shall be dispersed throughout the project are or removed as required in the material disposal specifications. A landing is considered a place where any logs or products are gathered for loading.

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B. Equipment Limitations

• Please specify in the bid proposal a description of the equipment that will be used. Rubber tired or rubber tracked vehicles are generally preferred. Other equipment may be approved for use, but the bid proposals should include mitigation measures to ensure resource protection. If metal tracked or chained equipment are used, the equipment must not come in direct contact with the paved road surface or shoulder area – e.g.

protective mats or plates - must be used.

• Products shall not be skidded against standing trees or groups of regeneration and equipment shall be equipped with a winch to facilitate skidding.

• No equipment shall be operated in culvert areas or wet areas.

• No equipment shall be used when rutting potential could exceed 2 inches. If equipment is operated and ruts in excess of 2 inches occur, the Contractor must suspend equipment operation and rehabilitate damage as soon as conditions permit.

• Areas utilized for parking equipment will be designated and agreed upon prior to project initiation. Parking areas must be located off of the roadway.

• No skidding will occur on any portion of the roadway or in adjacent ditches.

• No ground disturbance shall be created using a dozer-type blade unless written permission is obtained from the

COR for site rehabilitation. Equipment shall not be operated when conditions exceed allowable working conditions

• Other requirements may apply as specified in Soil / Site section of this contract.

C. Hand Piling of slash If the Contractor determines it is advantageous to hand pile slash instead of removing it, the following standards apply:

• Piles of slash and shall be constructed by hand in a teepee shape so they will collapse inward as they burn.

• All piles shall have a good base to prevent the pile from toppling.

• Piles shall have a minimum size of 10’ diameter and 6’ tall.

• Hand-built piles of slash shall be constructed reasonably compact and free of soil to facilitate burning. Slash shall be piled on the interior and stem wood stacked in a teepee fashion as described above.

• Piles must be stacked tight enough to prevent wind driven snow penetration into the core of the pile. Piles must be constructed with sufficient density to prevent the Contract Inspectors’ fist from penetrating more than 2.5 feet into the pile (this density is desired to prevent wind driven snow from entering the center of the pile). Piles in question of meeting this specification will be probed on all four sides at the most likely location and angel to allow penetration. Should the probe reach more than 2.5 feet in depth in more than 3 locations, the pile must be rebuilt. When stacking dead branch material, a saw is often required to chop up the pile as it is stacked to generate sufficient densities.

• Pile locations must be further than 10 feet from standing trees or designated underground utility locations.

• Pile locations must be further than 30 feet from road edges.

• Piles shall not be placed in roads, ditches, or wet areas.

• Piles shall not be stacked on slopes such that material may roll during the burning process. Flat ground is preferred.

• Contractor shall maintain a description of pile construction specifications onsite for reference by crew members.

• Contractor shall provide the COR with an accurate count of piles upon completion of the project area.

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D. Green Mountain Housing Area

• The former Green Mountain Housing Area is slated for future debris and utility removal. No hand piles of slash may be left in this area. Instead, material must be off hauled or chipped into mulch piles in locations designated by the COR that will allow future access to utility systems and buildings.

• Chain link construction fence has been placed around the area to keep visitors out of the burned structures.

Contractor is allowed to remove individual panels to facilitate operations. The fence must be closed at the end of the day.

• The road of the Green Mountain Housing Area is unpaved. It will be plowed as necessary by the Park.

• Most of the structures in the Green Mountain Housing area were completely burned, but some remnants remain standing. For safety, no personnel are allowed in the immediate areas around the burned structures.

• Operations in the Green Mountain Housing Area should be conducted to prevent destabilizing structures (e.g.

no skidding next to free-standing chimneys).

IV. Contractor Furnished Property and Services

• No work camps will be allowed within the Park for this project.

• The Contractor shall provide all labor, transportation, materials, and equipment necessary to perform the work as described herein.

• Security of materials - the Contractor may leave its equipment and any Government-furnished property (if provided) at the work site. The Contractor shall be responsible for the Contractor's equipment and government-furnished property if it may be lost, stolen, or damaged. If the Contractor is not actively working on the contracted project for any consecutive period longer than 14 calendar days, then the Contractor shall remove all equipment to outside the park boundary until work on the project will re-commence.

• Exotic Plants - Ensure that all equipment is cleaned off prior to entering the Park boundary. Remove all dirt, grease, and plant parts by using a pressure hose. Equipment will be inspected by Park staff prior to entering the project area. If not adequately clean, equipment will be turned away until cleaned. Hauling equipment will be inspected prior to the first entry into the project area; but if the equipment is used for another project, it will be inspected again prior to subsequent entry into the project area.

• A working (English literate) supervisor, who is knowledgeable and experienced in the required work and supervision, shall be provided for each crew, and is required to stay with the crew at all times while work is in progress.

• The Park recommends the use of a bar and chain oil made from natural oils rather than petroleum-based products.

V. Traffic Control

• Traffic control (e.g., flaggers, signs, etc.) must meet minimum Colorado Department of Transportation requirements.

• Traffic control must be utilized when operations are occurring on Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway 34) (e.g., loading) or adjacent to Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway 34) when the activity has the potential for impacting vehicle safety as determined by the COR.

• Traffic delays must be less than 30 minutes during weekdays. If work is authorized on a weekend or holiday, delays must be less than 15 minutes.

• Contractor shall, unless relieved in writing by the COR, provide appropriate traffic control including flaggers, post signs, erect and maintain barricades, guards, construction signs, and warning signs as necessary to always warn and protect the public from injury or damage because of the Contractor's operations.

• All flagging of traffic, all furnishing, placing, and maintaining of barricades, danger signs, detour signs, warning signs, and lighting devices shall conform to the requirements in the most recent version of the "Manual on

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Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways," U.S. Department of Commerce, Federal Highway Administration.

• If yarding is used, safety zones shall be established when yarding is in progress.

VI. Soil / Site Disturbance

• Contractor must ensure that proper Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans are prepared for the site and that all conditions are followed.

• If soil or site disturbance more than contract specifications occur, the Contractor will be responsible for restoring the site to previous conditions as determined by the COR. Rutting will be hand raked to the original grade as deemed necessary by the COR. Tire or track rutting is an example of site disturbance which must be rehabilitated and stabilized prior to completion and payment.

• Seeding of disturbed areas will NOT be conducted by the Contractor.

• Mechanical skidding within 100 feet of live streams shall not be permitted and in no event shall equipment be operated in live or intermittent stream courses. Runoff water shall be prevented from entering natural running or standing water.

• Prior to periods of accelerated water runoff, especially during the spring runoff and periods of heavy rainfall, the Contractor shall inspect, and open culverts and drainage structures located within or adjacent to the project area and take other reasonable measures needed to prevent soil erosion and siltation of streams.

• Temporary erosion control devices or methods shall be utilized to protect designated sensitive areas. Sensitive areas include but are not limited to lakes, stream corridors, drainages, riparian areas, and wetlands.

• Silt fence may be required in periods of high runoff or heavy rainfall as identified by the COR.

VII. Road Protection

• Hauling equipment must always remain on the road surface.

• Appropriate actions must be taken to ensure that road surfaces and edges are not damaged when moving cutting, skidding, or processing equipment on and off of the road surface for loading and travel to another site.

Damage shall be considered any gouges, breaks, or any undesired modification which creates a potential hazard to traffic.

• Cutting, skidding, or processing equipment will not be permitted that will damage the paved road surface unless mitigation steps are taken to protect the road surface from damage. Any metal tracked or chained equipment must not come in direct contact with the paved road surface or shoulder area.

• Any damage to the road surface must be repaired to its original state by the Contractor, as determined by the

COR.

VII. Resource Protection

• Material shall be removed from the contract area to the standard stated in the contract, prior to payment upon completion of work. Excess material may be left on site when leaving the incidental material is justified under existing conditions and written approval is received from the COR.

• Damage, cutting, and/or removal of undesignated woody material will be sufficient reason for termination of contract. If standing trees need to be removed to facilitate equipment, then written approval from the COR must be obtained prior to falling. If a standing tree poses a threat to injure contract employees, the public, or damage private or public property, the potential hazard should be mitigated as soon as possible, and written notice given to the COR.

• Any roadside ditches or culverts which are damaged during contract work or altered from their original state must be restored by the Contractor immediately.

• Furrows or ruts created in the skidding process shall be hand raked to the original grade as deemed necessary by the COR.

• Damage to structures, operable utility transformers, utility lines (buried or otherwise), or pole boxes shall be repaired by the Contractor prior to project completion.

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VII. Safety Measures / Equipment

• Successful bidder must submit a safety plan to the Contracting Officer.

• All employees must have adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – i.e.- chaps, hard hat, hearing protection, eye protection, proper footwear, and leather gloves. Contractor and operators must follow all OSHA regulations which apply to the work activities.

• OSHA Regulations for tree removal operations can be found at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9862

• Hazard spill and cleanup kit must be maintained on job site when mechanized equipment is on site.

• All Contractor or employee conduct is subject to park rules and regulations concerning: littering, wildlife harassment, collecting, resource damage and other topics as specified for the NPS in the Code of Federal Regulations title 36 (can be found at eCFR :: Title 36 of the CFR -- Parks, Forests, and Public Property).

• Contractor must visibly post fair wage rules, injury rules, and other applicable rules at the work site.

IX. Fire Precautions

• No open fires are allowed on the project site unless written approval is obtained from the COR.

• Smoking is prohibited except in developed recreation sites, vehicles, or while seated in an area of at least three feet in diameter that is barren of cleared of all flammable materials.

• The building of camp, lunch, warming, and other fires within National Park Service property is prohibited unless authorized in writing by the COR.

• Operating or using any internal combustion engine, on any timber, brush, or grass covered land, including trails and roads traversing such land, without a spark arrester, maintained in working order is prohibited. Passenger carrying vehicles, pickups, medium and large highway trucks (80,000 GVW) will be equipped with a factory designed muffler system which is specified for the make and model of the respective vehicle/truck or with a muffler system that is equivalent or that exceeds factory specifications. Exhaust systems shall be properly installed and continually maintained in serviceable condition.

• Fire Extinguishers and Tools on Equipment - While in use, each internal combustion engine including tractors, trucks, yarders, loaders, welders, generators, stationary engine, or comparable powered equipment shall be provided with at least the following: (a) One fire extinguisher, at least 5#ABC with an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) rating of 3A - 40BC, or greater. (b) One shovel, sharp, size O or larger, round-pointed with an overall length of at least 48 inches. (c) One axe, sharp, double bit 3-1/2#, or one sharp pulaski. Extinguishers, shovels, axes, and Pulaski’s shall be mounted to be readily available from the ground. All tools shall be maintained in a serviceable condition.

• Power Saws - Each gasoline engine power saw shall be provided with one chemical-pressurized fire extinguisher not less than 8-ounce capacity by weight, and one size O or larger, round-pointed shovel with an overall length of at least 48 inches. The extinguisher and shovel shall be maintained in good working order. The extinguisher shall be with the power saw operator and immediately available for use at all times. The extinguisher shall not be affixed to the saw. The shovel shall be always readily available to the operator of the saw. Having the shovel with the gas can used to refuel the saw shall be considered "readily available" if not more than 200 feet from the saw. During periods of critical fire danger, National Park Service may prescribe other precautionary measures.

Any fueling or refueling of a power saw shall be done in an area which has first been cleared of material which will carry fire. The power saw shall be moved at least 10 feet from the place of fueling or refueling before starting.

• Storage of Flammables - Gasoline, oil, grease, and other highly flammable material shall be stored at a site where all debris is cleared within a radius of 25 feet.

• Vehicle Refueling - All vehicles shall be refueled on an existing roadway or designated parking area which is cleared of any flammable material or debris.

X. Cultural Resources https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36

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• Should the Contractor's operations uncover, or employees find any archeological remains, the Contractor shall suspend operations at the site of discovery; notify the COR immediately of the findings; and continue operations in other areas.

• Cultural and/or natural resource voidance areas will be marked with flagging and/or signage. The Contractor shall not enter or conduct any work that may extend into avoidance area boundaries

• No rocks shall be moved during contract operations unless necessary and only after written approval by the

COR.

• If human remains are discovered, the contractor will cease all work, secure the area, and immediately notify the COR of the discovery. The NPS Cultural Resource Specialist will follow procedures outlined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) to protect the site.