B08_ATT_1__SOW_SBNWR_Grubbing_FY23_Redacted.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

Mesquite Clearing Project on the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge

Part 1 General Information

1. GENERAL: This is a non-personnel services contract to provide land clearing for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform mechanical mesquite clearing of approximately 97 acres base award (approximately 42 acres for new grubbing areas and approximately 55 acres for re-grubbing areas) and 95 acres option task/period, on the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). For the approximate 55 acres of re-grubbing areas, the contractor must clear mesquite 5ft or taller in three previously cleared sections of land (see Figure 1) as defined in this statement of work, except for those items specified as government furnished property and services. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 Background: The San Bernardino NWR seeks to mechanically clear portions of land that currently contain mature mesquite, and to remove mesquite 5ft or taller in 3 areas that have previously been cleared. The overall goals are to return the areas to open grassland reducing the risk of wildfire and resulting damage to habitat, mitigate safety risks to FWS staff and Border Patrol personnel, and to improve access, visibility, and safety for Border Patrol operations. KMZ files of the units will be provided at the time of award.

1.3 Objectives:

• Base award: Mechanically remove all mesquite on approximately 42 acres on the Refuge. These acres are shaded in red on the attached map (Figure 1) and in the KMZ files to be provided at the time of award. Mechanically remove mesquite 5ft or taller within the 3 designated previously grubbed areas on approximately 55 acres shaded in yellow on the base KMZ files and map (Figure 1).

o Removal/grubbing will involve digging up enough of the tree to remove the root mass/ball to prevent regrowth.

• Push/stack mesquite into slash piles for future burning.

• Fill in or smooth over large holes created from grubbing.

• Option task/period: Mechanically remove all mesquite on up to 95 acres on the Refuge shaded polygons on the option task award map (Figure 2) and

KMZ file to be provided at the time of approval for exercising the option task. The 95 acres is to be cleared in 3 stages, over 3 seasons (Oct-Mar), spanning three years. Approximately 31 acres will be grubbed the first season, approximately 34 acres the second season, and approximately 26 acres the third season. Stages are depicted in the map below and in pending KMZ files. Approval for the option task to be exercised will be determined by 03/31/2024 and will be dependent on project needs and funding availability.

• The contractor should access the area only during dry times and/or during times preapproved by refuge staff. This preapproval will occur via open weekly phone, email, or in-person communication between the contractor and refuge staff. If the areas are too wet, they will not be able to work on the project areas, to minimize the damage to the refuge.

1.4 Period of Performance:

The period of performance for woody debris removal by heavy equipment may start October 2023. Grubbing may only occur from October 1- March 31 of each year and should be fully complete by March 31, 2027.

1.5 General Information: Refuge access roads provide for one-way travel, and most are surfaced with base coarse material to provide vehicle access during all-weather conditions. No road construction will be needed. All equipment storage and environmental concerns will be addressed during project meetings.

1.6 Recognized Holidays: The Contractor is not required to perform work on these holidays.

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Independence Day Christmas Day

1.6.1 Hours of Operation: The contractor is responsible for conducting business between the hours of sunrise to sunset Sunday thru Saturday except Federal holidays at the Contractor’s option. The Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is not closed for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.6.2 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at San Bernardino NWR. Job site is approximately 16 miles east of Douglas, Arizona, on a graded dirt road. The nearest facilities are located in Douglas. The refuge lies in a remote area immediately adjacent to the international border of Mexico and the United States, and is fenced on all sides by barbed wire fence. Sierra Vista, Arizona is 65 miles west of the refuge and Tucson, Arizona, is 100 miles northwest of the refuge.

1.6.3 Gate Locks: Vehicle access onto the refuge is restricted to refuge personnel, and contractors will be provided a key to the refuge padlock to allow access for this project only. Initial access to the site will be arranged by refuge personnel.

1.6.4 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the Contracting Officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

1.6.5 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The (COR) will be . The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract; perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance; maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract; issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications; monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property; and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.6 Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered key personnel by the government: Contract Manager and Site Project Leader. The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons.

1.6.7 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed.

1.6.8 Contractor Travel: Contractor will be responsible for all travel cost and scheduling of travel.

1.6.9 Other Direct Costs: At the contractor’s option, partial payments can be made to cover the cost of equipment and materials obtained by the contractor for this project. Final payment will be made upon Refuge acceptance following total completion of the project by the contractor.

Upon completion and acceptance of all work and receipt of a proper invoice, the contractor will be paid the balance of the firm fixed-price of the contract.

PART 2 DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

2. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

2.1. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.3. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S. Government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.4. DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.5. DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered, but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.6. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.7. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.8. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.9. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.10. WORK DAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.11. WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1. Utilities: The Government will not provide any utilities for this contract.

3.2. Equipment: The Government will not provide any equipment for this contract

3.3. Materials: The Government will not provide materials for this contract

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS.

4.1.1 Equipment: The Contractor shall furnish all equipment to adequately preform the requested job and is responsible for fueling tanks.

PART 5 SPECIFIC TASKS

5. Specific Tasks:

The contractor will conduct an initial site visit with refuge staff for access arrangements and to ensure proper identification of each area to be grubbed.

Contractor will then mobilize their heavy equipment (i.e.: excavators, backhoes, dozers) to dig up enough of the trees to remove the root mass/ball, in order to minimize potential regrowth. Once the trees have been grubbed they are to be pushed/stacked into slash piles for burning at a later date. Stacking will occur in conjunction with grubbing.

Slash pile sizes should be approximately piled in 50ftx50ft squares if possible, exact details can be determined on site between contractor and refuge staff.

Slash piles will also be placed within recently cleared areas, approximately 20 yards from standing trees in any direction, to allow for a fire break during pile burning.

Soil and ground disturbance is expected due to the nature of removing the root mass/ball, however the contractor should make attempts to fill in, or smooth over the cleared areas to minimize large holes being left behind.

PART 6

APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

6. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS (CURRENT EDITIONS)

6.1. The Contractor must abide by all applicable Federal and State regulations and laws applicable to this project.

PART 7

ATTACHMENT/TECHNICAL EXHIBIT LISTING

Figure 1. Base award areas. Red = mesquite clearing areas; Yellow = previously grubbed areas

Figure 2. Option Task: 95 acres broken into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year