B08_Attachment_1_PWS.pdf

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

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PROJECT TITLE:

North Horse Juniper Reduction Project 2023

Contents PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s) PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks

PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule PWS 6.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters PWS 8.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions

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PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement

The North Horse Juniper Reduction Project would implement restoration treatments to improve habitat for sagebrush-steppe species such as the greater sage-grouse (GRSG) and to reduce hazardous fuels on the landscape through the removal of juniper on 903 acres of public land administered by the Eagle Lake Field Office (ELFO) in Lassen County, California. The project area is located within the North Horse Stewardship and Fuels Reduction Project (DOI-BLM- CA-350-2007-15) area within the Buffalo-Skedaddle greater sage-grouse Population Management Unit (PMU). The project area is within an area designated as General Habitat Management Areas (GHMA) for greater sage-grouse as identified in the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment (DOI BLM, 2015).

PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work

Services include cutting western juniper with chainsaws on 903 acres within the North Horse Juniper Reduction Project treatment areas. Two treatment methods based on juniper canopy cover and tree spacing would be utilized: 1) juniper trees in units 23a (319 acres) and 23b (584 acres) would be cut, lopped, and piled, excluding old growth trees to create piles a minimum of 6ft x 6ft dimensions and 2) juniper trees in units 23a and 23b would be cut, lopped and scattered where material would be moved greater than 50ft to achieve minimum piling standards, scattered material would be dispersed to a height less than two feet.

The Contractor shall accomplish cutting, lopping, and piling or scattering of all western juniper, both live and dead, with no set limit on tree height or diameter, EXCEPT Old Growth, on 903 acres within identified units 23a and 23b of the North Horse project area.

Place of Performance:

The services under this contract will be performed at one location in Lassen County, California. The North Horse treatment area is located northeast of Susanville, California on public lands administered by the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office (see attached maps).

The project area is located within Sections (or parts of Sections) of the following Township (T) and Range (R) identifiers:

T33N R14E Sections 19, 20, 21, 28, and 29

Driving Directions to Project Area

Traveling from Susanville, California drive north on Highway 395 for approximately 46 miles. Turn left onto Horse Lake Road (about 4 miles past the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ravendale Fire Station along 395) and continue travel on Horse Lake Road in a southwestern direction for approximately 6 miles. Unit 23c borders Horse Lake rd. To access the upper end of 23a/ 23b units from Horse Lake rd, turn right onto North Horse Mountain Road. Continue on this road for approximately 1 mile, turn west to travel to the top of North Horse Mountain. Unit 23b is located on the left side of these road.

Access roads, trails, and parking areas are identified on units or area maps for North Horse Mountain Fuels Reduction.

Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be for one (1) Base Year with a 9-month active period and one (1) option year with a 9-month active period.

Base Year: Unit 23A, Hand Cut, Lop, Pile and Scatter – 319ac October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 Active Period: October 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024

Option Year I: Unit 23B, Hand Cut, Lop, Pile and Scatter – 584ac October 1, 2024 though September 30, 2025 Active Period: October 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025

Hours of Operations The Contractor will coordinate their hours of operation with BLM, but the Contractor is not restricted to operating during regular BLM office hours. Chainsaw work may not begin until 1/2hr after sunrise and must end 1/2hr after sunset on any given working day. Other hours of operation restrictions may be implemented during high fire danger or during previously scheduled events.

PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s) The objective of this work is to provide services for wildlife habitat, forest, and rangeland health improvement through the removal of western juniper on 903 acres in Lassen County, California on public lands managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office.

A site visit will not be hosted for by the BLM for this project. Potential contractors may access the site, all project areas are on public lands along accessible public roadways.

PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks

Task 1: Cut, lop, pile and scatter all western juniper excluding Old Growth on 319 acres within the North Horse treatment area, identified as unit 23A.

Task 2: Cut, lop pile and scatter western juniper excluding Old Growth on 584 acres within the North Horse treatment area, identified as unit 23B.

Access to all North Horse treatment units is difficult as the roads are not maintained. Portions of the units can be accessed via truck and crew van; however, other portions of the units will likely only be accessible via UTV or by overland foot travel (up to 1 mile).

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This is due to the roads not being maintained and in varying states of conditions (i.e.

portions that are rutted or overgrown with vegetation).

For juniper cutting treatment services, the following prescriptions apply:

• All juniper, with the exception of old growth juniper, trees with cavity nests and/or stick nests, or trees with fencing wire attached, must be severed.

• The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring their crew can identify old growth juniper to ensure it is not accidentally cut or damaged (Exhibit 2: Old Growth Identification). If old growth juniper are found to be cut by mistake or willfully cut by the Contractor, the Contractor will be subject to liquidated damages.

• Designated trees within the project boundary shall be completely severed from the stump(s). No live or dead limbs shall be left on the stump of cut trees.

• Stump height shall not exceed six (6) inches measured on the uphill side. Stump height may be four (4) inches over the top of rocks or other obstacles that would damage the cutting surface of the machine or tool doing the cutting.

• Central tree bole, after felling, shall lay flat on the ground and length shall not exceed eight (8) feet.

• All juniper over two (2) feet tall and not meeting old growth requirements must be severed.

• Trees shall be directionally felled to avoid damaging or interfering with any facility, such as fences, access routes, and roads and trails, as well as any leave trees. Any damage to fences resulting from this project shall be fixed by the Contractor, at the Contractor’s expense, on the same day that the damage occurred.

• Leave trees shall not be cut or damaged. Severed trees and/or slash lodged in or covering a leave tree shall be dislodged or removed.

• Trees in fence lines need to be cut unless the fence is attached to them.

• Motorized vehicles (including ATV or UTV) are permitted off designated roads or two tracks, except within identified exclusion areas.

• Designated roads are identified on access maps (see Attachment 3).

• Known leave trees within a unit for wildlife, cultural, and other resources are marked with pink and black stripped flagging. DO NOT CUT

For Task 1 - Cutting, Lopping, Piling, and Scattering treatment services on 319 acres, the following additional stipulations apply:

• All junipers, excluding Old Growth juniper, will be cut and piled or scattered regardless of height or diameter.

• Piles shall be a minimum of six (6) feet wide by six (6) feet tall and may be as large as fifteen (15) feet wide by fifteen (15) feet tall and constructed such that no piece of juniper extends more than two (2) feet from the concentration of the pile

• Burn piles will be compact, free of interior open spaces, free of dirt or other non-combustibles.

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• Burn piles will be trimmed of any material that protrudes beyond 2 feet from the outermost compacted edge of the burn piles footprint.

• Burn piles will be placed a minimum of 6 feet from leave trees, trails, fence lines, roadways, and unit boundaries.

• Burn piles will be placed a minimum of 6 feet from powerline drip lines.

• Burn piles will not be built within riparian areas, cultural exclusions, or buffers.

• At least 90% of the limbs from all felled juniper within the designated cut and pile acres will be piled.

• All roads and trails designated on the project map(s) shall be kept free of slash and piled material.

• Cut junipers and cut limbs that would require material to moved more than 50 feet for piling to minimum specifications (6x6ft) may be scattered.

• All scattered vegetation will be lopped to within two (2) foot from the ground at all points. All top limbs and all limbs that extend above two (2) foot from the ground must be severed flush to the bole of the cut trees.

• Slash shall not be left on top of any brush

• Slash shall be moved at least 2 feet away from the drip line of any conifer leave tree.

• All slash shall be moved at least ten (10) feet back from the edge of roads and property boundaries between government and private land daily, before the crew leaves the project area. Slash shall not be left along any roadway.

• All roads within and adjacent to the project area shall be kept free of slash.

For Task 2 - Cutting, Lopping, Piling, and Scattering treatment services on 584 acres, the following additional stipulations apply:

• All junipers, excluding Old Growth juniper, will be cut and piled or scattered regardless of height or diameter.

• Piles shall be a minimum of six (6) feet wide by six (6) feet tall and may be as large as fifteen (15) feet wide by fifteen (15) feet tall and constructed such that no piece of juniper extends more than two (2) feet from the concentration of the pile

• Burn piles will be compact, free of interior open spaces, free of dirt or other non-combustibles.

• Burn piles will be trimmed of any material that protrudes beyond 2 feet from the outermost compacted edge of the burn piles footprint.

• Burn piles will be placed a minimum of 6 feet from leave trees, trails, fence lines, roadways, and unit boundaries.

• Burn piles will be placed a minimum of 6 feet from powerline drip lines.

• Burn piles will not be built within riparian areas, cultural exclusions, or buffers.

• At least 90% of the limbs from all felled juniper within the designated cut and pile acres will be piled.

• All roads and trails designated on the project map(s) shall be kept free of slash and piled material.

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• Cut junipers and cut limbs that would require material to moved more than 50 feet for piling to minimum specifications (6ftx6ft) may be scattered.

• All scattered vegetation will be lopped to within two (2) foot from the ground at all points. All top limbs and all limbs that extend above two (2) foot from the ground must be severed flush to the bole of the cut trees.

• Slash shall not be left on top of any brush

• Slash shall be moved at least 2 feet away from the drip line of any conifer leave tree.

• All slash shall be moved at least ten (10) feet back from the edge of roads and property boundaries between government and private land daily, before the crew leaves the project area. Slash shall not be left along any roadway.

• All roads within and adjacent to the project area shall be kept free of slash.

PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

The Contractor shall accomplish cutting, lopping, piling and scattering of western juniper on 903 acres total, 319 acres identified as unit 23A and 584 acres identified as unit 23B.

The work is to be performed over a period of one base year and one option year. Annual periods of performance begin on October 1 and conclude on June 30. The work to be performed under this contract is located in central Lassen County, California on public lands managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office. There is no documentation or permits that need to be acquired by the Contractor. Access to the project area is through land managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office. The Contractor will adhere to the seasonal timing restrictions for greater sage-grouse.

PWS 6.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services

General:

The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, materials, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform the work tasks defined in this Performance Work Statement, except for those items specified as government-furnished.

Materials:

The Contractor shall furnish all materials necessary to meet the requirement of this contract except for those items specified as government-furnished property and services.

Equipment:

The Contractor shall furnish equipment necessary to meet the requirement of this contract except for those items specified as government-furnished property and services.

Services: N/A

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Facilities: N/A

Utilities: N/A

Applicable Publications (Current Editions): N/A

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PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters

Travel:

Vehicle use associated with this project would be restricted to existing roads.

Stay on designated routes and do not cross private lands unless the BLM has permission from the landowner(s). Respect private property boundaries. Do not access unit through private property unless approved by CO or COR.

Security:

The Contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all Government property provided for Contractor use or under their control, including securing all facilities the Contractor may access after normal business hours.

Contractor shall coordinate work schedule with Contracting Officers Representative to minimize public and employee ingress/egress to the building.

Safety:

The Contractor shall not require, or allow any employee, engaged in the performance of this Contract to work under conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to his/her health or safety, as determined under safety and health standards promulgated by the Secretary of Labor under Section 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 327 et seq.) as amended and other Federal, State and applicable local government safety standards.

Department of Labor Code of Federal Regulations Title 29 and other Federal, State and local government safety standards will apply in its entirety to the Contractor.

Examples of applicable safety standards are OSHA 29 CFR 1910, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, California Title 19, "Public Safety", California Title 8, "General Industry Safety Orders", and 41 CFR, Subpart B, "Public Contracts, General Safety and Health Standards."

The contractor shall also use the “BLM SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS” (The Yellow Book) for reference.

Should the contractor fail to comply with any of these standards and regulations, the contractor shall be found to have defaulted on the terms of the contract.

Contingency Plan:

Sudden or unusual events could result in a negative impact to the delivery / performance of these requirements.

As an aid to properly plan for such events, the Contractor shall prepare and submit for approval a Contingency Plan for each Place of Performance for these requirements.

The Contractor will outline in detail the method(s) that the Contractor shall use in meeting Contract requirements in the following circumstances:

• Medical Emergency response

• Wildfire Mitigation and Wildfire response

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• a labor strike occurs which impacts upon the Contractor's ability to perform.

• a hazardous materials spill which impacts the Contractor’s ability to perform or which may affects public safety

• an incident which causes major property damage which impacts the Contractor's ability to perform

In all cases, the Contractor will assume that government cannot provide supplemental forces, and continues to need the same or additional performance under the Contract, which the Contractor must meet.

This Contingency Plan shall be submitted as a part of the Contractor proposal.

Emergency Response:

Response to emergency service calls outside of the normal business hours shall not exceed four (4) hours regardless of the time during the day or night, weekends or holidays.

Response to emergency service during normal business hours shall not exceed two (2) hours.

Notification of emergency situations when observed by the Contractor will be relayed as immediately as possible to the COR or identified POC.

Response is defined as having all personnel and equipment required to correct an emergency at the site of the emergency or at a pre-approved staging area, ready, willing, and able to perform the emergency work. The Contractor will provide a draft emergency response plan prior to Contract start date.

Emergency Services:

On occasion, services may be required to support an activation or exercise of contingency plans outside the normal business hours described above. The Contractor's responsibilities for emergency support will be in accordance with the contingency plan.

Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Response:

The Contractor will conform to all Reclamation, Federal, State, and local regulations in the use and disposal of hazardous materials and hazardous waste. The Contractor will provide the appropriate response to any emergency involving hazardous materials at any of the facilities covered by this Contract. The Contractor will provide proof/certification of its personnel qualified to work with hazardous materials and wastes to Reclamation.

The Contractor will notify Reclamation immediately upon discovering a release of hazardous waste into the environment.

Public contact:

Contractor personnel may encounter adjacent landowners or members of the public during the performance of their work.

Contractor personnel will present a professional appearance and be able to provide appropriate identification, including display of proper identification by each employee.

All Contractor and subcontractor personnel shall comply with all Federal and State laws relative to citizenship.

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Contractor personnel shall inform any trespassers along the right of way of hazards and, as necessary and appropriate, ask trespassers to leave fenced off or restricted areas. If Contractor personnel may encounter emergency personnel, policemen, or firemen along the right of way, the Contractor personnel shall notify the On-Site Foreman. If Contractor personnel encounter the news media, they should refer all questions to the On-Site Foreman, who shall keep the COR informed of all news media contacts.

Government Observations:

Government personnel other than COR may from time to time observe, photograph, or otherwise record Contract operations. However, these personnel will not interfere with Contractor performance.

Regular Work Hours:

The Contractor will coordinate their hours of operation with BLM, but the Contractor is not restricted to operating during regular BLM office hours. Chainsaw work may not begin until 1/2hr after sunrise and must end 1/2hr after sunset on any given working day.

Other hours of operation restrictions may be implemented during high fire danger or during previously scheduled events. If the Contractor desires to carry on work outside regular hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and government holidays, a request must be submitted to the Contracting Officer in sufficient time to allow satisfactory arrangements to be made for access to the work site.

Communications:

“Time” for communications received after 3:00pm, after 12:00 pm locally on Fridays, or after 12:00 pm locally prior to a holiday will not start until the next business day. All times are local Pacific Standard Time.

Federal Holidays:

The following Federal Legal Holidays are observed:

New Year’s Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day President’s Day Memorial Day Juneteenth Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

Fire Danger Season:

If the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) allows the Contractor to continue work during periods of declared fire danger or season, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable state laws relating to fire prevention and with all special conditions of work as directed by the COR.

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Improvements The Contractor shall comply with the rules and regulations governing the operation of premises which are occupied and shall perform the contract in a manner that will not interrupt or interfere with the conduct of BLM business.

Before any camp, quarry, borrow pit, storage or service area other than shown on drawings is opened or operated on National Forest land or lands administered by the BLM, written permission shall be obtained through The BLM or Forest Service. A camp is interpreted to include the campsite or trailer parking area of any employee working on the project for Contractor. Such permission, if granted, shall be without charge to Contractor. Contractor must remove and dispose of all said improvements when no longer needed. Contractor must also clean up refuse and eliminate subsidized food sources for Greater sage-grouse (GRSG) predators.

Such temporary infrastructure must be located in areas that lack invasive plant populations.

Protection of Improvements The Contractor shall protect roads and other improvements (such as fences, roads, trails, telephone lines, and ditches) whether designated on the project area map or not.

Protection of Improvements Not Owned by the BLM The Contractor will notify all utility companies, or other parties affected, and plans for all necessary adjustments of the public utility fixtures, pipelines, and other appurtenances affected by Contractor’s operations.

When Contractor’s operations are adjacent to properties of railway, telegraph, telephone, or power companies, or other property, work shall not begin until all necessary arrangements to prevent damage have been made by the Contractor.

The Contractor will cooperate with all owners of above-mentioned property. In the event of interruption because of accidental breakage, the Contractor shall promptly notify the proper authority, and cooperate with that authority in the restoration of service.

Wildlife Resources:

The Contractor shall comply with the seasonal habitat restrictions outlined in Table 2-2 of the Northeastern California and Nevada Greater Sage-grouse Resource Plan Amendment (DOI BLM, 2015). Seasonal restrictions will be applied during the periods below to manage surface-disturbing activities that are disruptive to greater sage-grouse during seasonal life-cycle periods:

1. NO work may be completed between July 1 to September 30 of any given year of project work. All operations would occur annually between October 1 to June 30. No work under this contract is permitted outside of the above listed date/time range, unless authorized by the COR.

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Sensitive resource areas will be flagged and identified on maps provided at the pre-work meeting. However, if this protection measure proves inadequate, if other such areas are discovered, or if new concerns are identified the BLM may either cancel or unilaterally modify this contract to provide additional protection regardless of when such facts become known. Discovery of such areas by either party shall be promptly reported to the other party and operations will be suspended at that location until the significance or potential significance of the area is determined.

Prevention of Noxious Weeds and Invasive Plants Machinery working in the project area is required to be clean and free of soils, seeds, and plant parts before being moved into the project area and upon completion of the project.

Power wash all vehicles and equipment involved in land and resource management activities prior to entering the project area to minimize the introduction and spread of invasive plant species.

Protection of Land Survey Monuments The Contractor shall protect all known survey monuments, witness corners, reference monuments and bearing trees against any damage during Contractor’s operations.

Preservation of Historical and Archeological Data:

The Historic and Archeological Data Preservation Act of 1974, provides for the preservation of historical and archeological data that might otherwise be lost as the result of alterations to the terrain caused by a federal or federally licensed activity or program.

If, in connection with operations under this contract, the Contractor, subcontractors, or the employees of any of them, discovers, encounters or becomes aware of any possible historical or archeological data, objects or sites of cultural value on the project area, such as historical ruins, graves or grave markers, fossils, or artifacts, the Contractor shall immediately suspend all operations in the vicinity of the cultural value and shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing, giving the location and nature of the findings. No objects of cultural resource value may be removed. Where appropriate by reason of discovery, the Contracting Officer may order delays in the time of performance and/or changes in the work. If such delays and/or changes are ordered, the time of performance and contract price shall be adjusted in accordance with the Changes clause.

The Contractor will be responsible for protecting the cultural resources within the affected area from damage. In addition, the contractor will be liable for all damage to the identified cultural resources caused by their actions or the actions of their agents or representatives. The Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer or his representative if any damage occurs to any cultural resource and immediately suspend work in the area in which damage has occurred until authorized to proceed.

Avoidance areas within the project boundaries have been identified and these locations will be made known to the Contractor. In the absence of visible flagging, the Contractor is to reference mapped avoidance areas provided via PDF (Avenza) Map. These areas, including the trees and/or vegetation that defines the avoidance area boundary, are to be

PWS Page 13 excluded from project work and pedestrian access. In addition to the designated cultural resource avoidance areas, vegetation immediately outside or adjacent to the avoidance areas that is at risk of falling into the footprint of the avoidance area if cut will either be avoided (not cut) or directionally felled so as to prevent the disturbance of cultural resources. Directional felling and/or additional avoidance measures outside designated avoidance areas are to occur at the discretion of the personnel responsible for conducting vegetation removal.

The same juniper thinning prescription applies within Archeological sites that are not total avoidance areas as identified on the map provided. The following stipulation applies when working within and around these sites:

No dragging or scattering of slash in the No Drag Limb areas. Lop and then scatter slash outside of no drag archeological areas.

Sanitation and Servicing The Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent pollution of air, soil, and water by Contractor’s operations. If facilities for employees are established within the project area, they shall be operated in a sanitary manner. Contractor shall not service tractors, trucks or other equipment on BLM lands where servicing is likely to result in pollution to soil or water. Contractor shall remove from BLM lands all refuse resulting from use, servicing, repair, or abandonment of equipment. If the contractor’s operations or servicing of equipment result in pollution to soil or water, Contractor shall conduct cleanup to restore the polluted site to the satisfaction of the BLM.

Prevention of Oil Spills If the Contractor maintains storage facilities for oil or oil products within the project area, Contractor shall take appropriate preventive measures to insure that any spill of such oil or oil products does not enter any stream or other waters of the United States or any of the individual States. If the total oil or oil products storage exceeds 1,320 gallons or if any single container exceeds a capacity of 660 gallons, Contractor shall prepare a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan. Such plan shall meet applicable EPA requirements (40 CFR 112) including certification by a registered professional engineer.

In addition, oil spills or leaks including spills and leaks from equipment less than the above amounts are to be removed, including contaminated soil and vegetation, from the site and disposed of in accordance with state and federal laws. Equipment parked for a prolong period ten (10) days or more will need oil absorbing cloth or other spill deterrent authorized by the COR to mitigate equipment oil leaks.

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PWS 8.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions

Standard Definitions:

Physical Condition:

The Physical appearance of Federal equipment or facilities that considers cracks, chips, dents, abrasions, rust, corrosion, general cleanliness, vibration, operating temperature, and discoloration and other items as identified by the COR..

Physical condition may be determined by visual as well as diagnostic means.

Contracting Officer (CO):

The Secretary of the Interior or designated authorized representative who is the only agent capable of signing a federal award or obligating funds.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR):

The Contracting Officer’s designated representative as indicated in a delegation of authority letter.

Quality Assurance (QA):

Surveillance of Contractor performance to determine performance requirements are met.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) (see Technical Exhibit below):

The PRS identifies the key performance indicators of the Contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure Contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

Quality Control:

Those actions taken by the Contractor to control the production of goods or services so that they meet the requirements of the performance work statement.

Technical Definitions:

Old-growth Juniper:

Old-growth trees as being 150 years or older. The tree may also develop a combination of the following characteristics:

2. Do not have typical “cone” shape like younger trees. Instead, they have broad, non-symmetric tops that are often rounded or flat-topped

3. Bark with thick, fibrous, and well-developed vertical furrows

4. Trunks containing narrow strips of cambium (strip-bark) or missing bark completely

5. Large trunk diameter relative to tree height

6. Twisted trunks or branches

7. Decay and/or hollow areas on main trunk

8. Dead branches and spike tops

9. Large horizontal lower limbs

10. Branches covered with abundant yellow or light green lichen

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11. Leader growth in the upper one-fourth of the tree usually less than (<) one (1) inch

Technical Exhibits:

EX 1: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)/Performance Requirements Summary EX 2: Old Growth Identification EX 3: Maps EX 4: Piling

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EXHIBIT 1: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP) / Performance Requirements Summary (PRS)

Work Tasks to be Performed

Acceptable Quality Level Method of Surveillance Consequences, Remedies, and/or Deduction(s)

Task 1 and 2: Cut, lop, pile and scatter of western Juniper on 905 acres.

All juniper, with the exception of old growth, trees with cavity nests and/or stick nests, or trees with fencing wire attached, must be severed.

Designated trees within the project boundary shall be completely severed from the stump(s). No live or dead limbs shall be left on the stump of cut trees.

Stump height shall not exceed six (6) inches measured on the uphill side.

All junipers felled and ensuing slash will be lopped to within two (2) foot of the ground.

Central tree bole, after felling, shall lay flat on the ground and length shall not exceed eight (8) inches.

The COR and/or Project Inspector (PI) will conduct government inspections.

The Contractor (or designated representative) is encouraged to be present to observe inspections.

Summary results will be made available on request.

Government inspections will consist of:

a. Compliance Inspections:

Visual compliance inspections of juniper treatment work tasks will be made on a periodic basis across the project area. Such inspections are not final and do not constitute acceptance by the Government.

b. Final Inspections:

Final inspections for payment will be made on

The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring his or her crew can identify old growth juniper to ensure it is not accidentally cut or damaged.

The contractor will be made aware of the deficiencies and documented in the COR’s diary. Deficiencies will need to be corrected within 48 hours unless the BLM representative states otherwise.

Incentives/Disincentives

a. Contractor will be required to rework the area at no additional cost to the Government

b. The Government will charge to the Contractor any additional cost of subsequent inspection of reworked area

c. Positive or negative Performance rating at the end of the contract (this will have definitive impacts on the contractor receiving additional contracts with the BLM in the future).

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All slash shall be moved at least ten (10) feet back from the edge of roads and property boundaries between government and private land daily, before the crew leaves the project area.

the completed project unit unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. Contractor shall request a final inspection. Inspection requests shall be verbal and documented within the diary or in writing and pursuant to FAR 52.246-4, shall include results of Contractor’s quality inspections.

Inspections will be completed within ten (10) calendar days after the notice is received for each item. If a formal request for an item inspection is within the ten (10) working days since the previous request, the time will not start until the time for the previous inspection expires.

Disputed Inspection When formal inspection by the Government is accomplished through visual inspection, the Contractor may request re-inspection without rework if the results are unacceptable. Re-inspection must be requested in writing within 48 hours after receiving written notice of the inspection results. Re-inspection will be accomplished within ten days after receipt of the contractor's written request. The same inspection procedures will be used. The inspection pattern will be shifted so that new samples will not overlap previously inspected samples.

If re-inspection results are still unacceptable without re-work, the Contractor shall pay the actual costs incurred by the Government for the re-inspection. Actual costs will be determined by the use of detailed logs indicating time spent, transportation utilized, etc.

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EXHIBIT 2: Old Growth Identification

Old Growth Juniper Individual old growth trees in restoration areas would be identified using morphological characteristics (Miller et al. 2005) and preserved for their many social and ecological values. These characteristics would include:

• Rounded or unsymmetrical tops that may be sparse and contain dead limbs.

• Deeply furrowed, fibrous bark on the trunk that is reddish in color.

• Branches near the base of the tree that may be very large and covered with fruticose lichens.

• Limited terminal leader growth on branches in the upper 25 percent of the canopy.

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EXHIBIT 3: Maps

Exhibit 3A – North Horse Vicinity Map

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Exhibit 3B – North Horse Units map

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Exhibit 3C – North Horse Unit 23A

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Exhibit 3D – North Horse Unit 23B

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EXHIBIT 4: Piling

1) Pile all limbs with a wide base, stacking the limbs on top of one another in a perfect circle.

*think of a scoop of ice cream, flat on the bottom and rounded at the top, taller than it is wide*

2) Once all the limbs are stacked, go around the pile and cut all of the limbs that are sticking out so the pile is taller than it is wide. Once you go around trimming the pile, restack the excess material that you just cut putting it back onto the burn pile.

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3) This step is the most important part to get the pile to settle and compact. Take the chainsaw and bore into the middle of the pile to cut the center limbs making the pile fall onto itself. (If this step is forgotten the pile is likely to tip over in wind or have a lot of air gaps causing the pile to be very difficult to burn later on.) *** The more compact the pile is the cleaner the pile will consume***

4) The end product will be a burn pile that has no limbs sticking out and that once it’s time to burn, the pile will collapse onto itself burning all green material down to bare mineral soil. If built correctly there will be very minimal work stacking the material that didn’t burn during ignitions.