B08_Attachment_1_PWS.pdf

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

PWS Page 1

Grasshopper, Woods, Fleming, Big Spring Juniper Reduction Project

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

EXHIBIT 1: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

EXHIBIT 2: Old Growth Identification ……………………………………………………

EXHIBIT 3: Maps …………………………………………………………………………………

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PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement

This 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 a total of 2979 acres of public land administered by the Eagle Lake Field Office (ELFO) in Lassen County, California. The project area is located within the Phase I Juniper Removal Habitat Restoration and Fuels Reduction Project (DOI-BLM-CA-N050-2014-19-EA) area within the Buffalo-Skedaddle greater sage-grouse Population Management Unit (PMU). The 985 acres of the project area is within area designated as General Habitat Management Areas (GHMA) for greater sage-grouse, and 1,994 acres of the project area are within areas designated as Priority Habitat Management Areas (PHMA) for greater sage-grouse as identified in the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment (DOI BLM, 2015).

Work to be done is the hand cutting removal of invasive Phase-1 juniper trees within the designated cutting area(s) of project work site. This effect will help to restore the habitat of sagebrush stepp-species including greater sage-grouse (GRSG). Additional benefits include the reduction of hazardous fuels that promote unplanned wildfire and improve hydrological conditions.

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

The cutting and removal of Phase-1 juniper trees, except for old-growth, within the project area.

Services include cutting western juniper with chainsaws on 2,979 acres within the project areas. Treatment method would consist of cutting, lopping, and scattering all junipers that are up to 8-feet in height with a trunk basal diameter of 7-inches. Trees with multiple stems will be removed if they measure up to 7-inches but, no stem greater than 7-inches may be removed.

The Contractor shall accomplish cutting, lopping, and scattering of western juniper trees, both live and dead, using chainsaws, battery-powered reciprocating saws (sawzalls), brush cutters, or large shears. The trees will be cut and left on site. Trees will be lopped and scattered, and no piling will take place.

Trees would be cut into approximately 18–24-inch lengths and spread out, preferably in areas lacking fuels, to reduce fuel loading and visual impacts. Trees will not be dragged on the ground after cutting. Prior to cutting, trees identified to be cut will be considered in terms of cutting strategy, felling direction, and placement of discarded segments.

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Flagging will be used to designate cutting areas and avoidance areas. Avoidance areas may contain archeological, botanical and wildlife values, no cutting will occur on avoidance areas.

Place of Performance:

The services under this contract will be performed at four locations in Lassen County, California. The four treatment areas are located north of Susanville, California on public lands administered by the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office (see attached maps). The project areas are located within Sections (or parts of Sections) of the following Township

(T) and Range (R) identifiers:

Grasshopper: T34N R11E Sections 1, 9, 10, 12, 14, 22, 23; and T34N R12E Sections 5, 6, 7, and 18

Woods: T32N R13E Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, and 17; and T33N R13E Section 31

Fleming: T33N R14E Sections 10, 15, and 22

Big Spring: T33N R16E Sections 10, 11, 14, 15

Driving Directions to Grasshopper Unit Traveling from Susanville, California drive north on Highway 139 for approximately 33 miles. Turn right onto South Grasshopper Rd. and continue travel in an easterly direction for approximately 1 mile. Project area is on north side of road. There are 5 separate project units along South Grasshopper Rd. and Termo-Grasshopper Rd.

Driving Directions to Woods Unit Traveling from Susanville, California drive north on Highway 139 for approximately 13 miles. Turn right onto Horse Lake Rd. and continue travel in a northeasterly direction for approximately 10 miles. Project area is on either side of road.

Driving Directions to Fleming Unit Traveling from Susanville, California drive north on Highway 139 for approximately 13 miles. Turn right onto Horse Lake Rd. and continue travel in a northeasterly direction for approximately 12.5 miles. Turn right to stay on Horse Lake road and continue for approximately 7 miles. Project area is on left side of road.

Driving Directions to Big Spring Unit Traveling from Susanville, California drive north on Highway 395 for approximately 42 miles. Turn right onto Ramhorn Road and travel in a northeasterly direction for approximately 10 miles. Project area is located on the left side of the road.

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The project is within the Buffalo-Skedaddle Sage-Grouse Population Management Unit as defined in the Phase 1 Juniper Removal Habitat Restoration and Fuels Reduction Project Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Phase 1 Assessment) analysis area.

Period of performance:

The base-year period of performance shall be for twenty-four (24) months. The Period of Performance reads as follows:

Base year: October 1st, 2024 to April 30, 2025

Treatment will begin Oct 2024 and conclude after work has been evaluated by resource staff. All activities will occur within the period of performance mentioned below.

Base year:

October 1st 2024 – April 30th 2025: Big Springs Unit (220 acres), Fleming Unit (1,015 acres) Total Base Year Acres – 1,235

Option year:

October 1st 2025 – April 30th 2026: Woods Unit (759 acres), Grasshopper Unit (985 acres) Total Option Year Acres – 1,744

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 2,979 acres in Lassen County, California on public lands managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office.

A site visit is recommended for this contract and will be offered on 04/10/2024. We will meet at the BLM’s Eagle Lake Field Office at 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA at 09:00 AM. Prior to the field tour, prospective bidders need to contact Rob Winkler at 530-276-3189 to confirm if they intend to participate in the pre-bid tour or not no later than 48 hours prior to the date and time in which the pre-bid tour is scheduled to occur.

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PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks

Task 1:

Cut, lop, and scatter of juniper on 2,979 acres within the project treatment area.

For juniper cutting treatment services, the following prescriptions apply:

● All juniper trees up to 8-feet in height with a trunk basal diameter of 7-inches, with the exception of old growth juniper, trees with cavity nests and/or stick nests, or trees with fencing wire attached, must be severed. Trees with multiple stems shall be removed if they measure up to 7-inches but, no stem greater than 7-inches shall be removed. Stems must be removed individually to prevent overcutting into adjacent stems.

● 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. The Contractor shall pay a rate of $250.00 per tree for inadvertent cutting or willful damage of old growth juniper.

● Trees will be cut using either chainsaws, battery-powered reciprocating saws (sawzalls), brush cutters, or large shears.

● Designated trees within the project boundary shall be completely severed from the stump(s). No live or dead limbs, or any green vegetation shall be left attached to the stump of cut trees.

● Trees should be cut flush to the ground or as close to the ground as possible.

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

● Prior to cutting, trees identified to be cut shall be considered in terms of cutting strategy, felling direction, and placement of discarded segments. 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 shall be cut into approximately 18–24-inch lengths and spread out, preferably in areas lacking fuels, to reduce fuel loading and visual impacts. All material shall be left on site; no piling will take place.

● Central tree bole, after felling, shall lay flat on the ground and length shall not exceed two (2) feet.

● Slash will not be dragged on the ground after cutting.

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● 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.

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

● Cut flagged trees along the boundary that meet the thinning prescription specifications.

● Known leave trees within a unit for wildlife, cultural, and other resources are marked with pink and black stripped flagging. DO NOT CUT NO WORK may be completed between May 1 to September 30 of any given year of project work. All operations would occur annually between October 1 to April 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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PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

The Contractor shall accomplish cutting, lopping, and scattering western juniper of moderate density (50-100 stems/acre) on 220 acres of the Big Spring unit, and 1015 acres of the Fleming during BASE YEAR operations. The contractor shall accomplish cutting, lopping, and scattering of western juniper of high density (>100 stems/acre) on 759 acres of the Woods Unit, and 985 acres of the Grasshopper Unit during OPTION YEAR operations. The work to be performed under this contract is located in 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

Facilities N/A

Utilities N/A Applicable Publications (Current Editions)

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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:

● a natural disaster occurs which impacts upon the Contractor's ability to perform

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

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

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

● other unforeseen circumstances

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.

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.

There should be minimal to no delays in notifying agency if an emergency situation occurs.

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.

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.

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.

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No camp, quarry, borrow pit, storage or service area other than shown on drawings is opened or operated on without specific permission by an authorized BLM official or COR. 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 May 1 to September 30 of any given year of project work. All operations would occur annually between October 1 to April 30. No work under this contract is permitted outside of the above listed date/time range, unless authorized by the COR.

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.

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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 may be identified and these locations, if any, 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 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.

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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 ensure 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.

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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:

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

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

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

4. Large trunk diameter relative to tree height

5. Twisted trunks or branches

6. Decay and/or hollow areas on main trunk

7. Dead branches and spike tops

8. Large horizontal lower limbs

9. Branches covered with abundant yellow or light green lichen

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

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Technical Exhibits:

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

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EXHIBIT 1 : QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

Work Tasks to be Performed

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

Moderate Density (BASE Year) 50-100 stems per acre High Density (Option Year) >100 stems per acre Task 1: Cut, lop, and scatter of moderate juniper density (50- 100 stems per acre) on 1,235 acres, and high juniper density (>100 stems per acre) on 1,744 acres

All juniper trees up to 8-feet in height with a trunk basal diameter of 7-inches, with the exception of old growth juniper, trees with cavity nests and/or stick nests, or trees with fencing wire attached

Designated trees within the project boundary shall be completely severed from the stump(s). No live or dead limbs, or any green vegetation shall be left attached to the stump of cut trees

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

Trees shall be cut into approximately 18–24-inch lengths and spread out preferably in areas lacking fuels.

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. If old growth juniper is found to be cut by mistake or willfully cut by the Contractor, the Contractor will be subject to liquidated damages. The Contractor shall pay a rate of $250.00 per tree for inadvertent cutting or willfully damaging of old growth juniper.

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

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All junipers felled and ensuing slash will be lopped to within one (1) foot of the ground.

Central tree bole, after felling, shall lay flat on the ground and length shall not exceed two (2) feet.

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.

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).

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

0 1.50.75 Km

0 0.80.4 Mi

Coordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 10N

California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USFWS, California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, SafeGraph, GeoTechnologies, Inc, METI/NASA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USDA, USFWS, Esri, USGS

Eagle Lake Fuels - Woods Unit

Shoals C reek

Horse Lake

Craemer Reservoir

H o rs e L a k e R d

756 acres

0 21

0 10.5 Mi

Coordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 10N

California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USFWS, California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, SafeGraph, GeoTechnologies, Inc, METI/NASA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USDA, USFWS, Esri, USGS

Eagle Lake Fuels - Grasshopper Unit

S ta te

H ig h w a y

Term o G rasshopper R d

B a ile y C re e k

Bailey Reservoir

Termo Grasshopper R

982 acres

0 0.60.3

0 0.30.15 Mi

Coordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 10N

Esri Community Maps Contributors, California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, SafeGraph, GeoTechnologies, Inc, METI/NASA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, US Census Bureau, USDA, USFWS, California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USFWS, Esri, USGS

Eagle Lake Fuels - Big Springs Unit

Rye Patch Rd

R ye

P atc h R

220 acres

0 10.5

0 0.70.35 Mi

Coordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 10N

California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, SafeGraph, GeoTechnologies, Inc, METI/NASA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, US Census Bureau, USDA, USFWS, California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USFWS, Esri, USGS

Eagle Lake Fuels - Fleming Unit

Snow storm

Cre ek

H o rs e L a k e R d

Crest

Snowstorm Creek

N H orse M ounta in Rd

1015 acres