B08_Attachment_1_PWS.pdf

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

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CDD 2023 Fuels Management

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 X: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

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PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement

This requirement is for fuels (vegetation) management on various projects within the

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California Desert District (CDD) boundary, ranging from Otay Mesa to Jacumba along the U.S.-Mexican border in San Diego County north to the Amargosa River area near Shoshone in Inyo County.

In support of BLM’s mission, the primary focus of this contract is fuels management.

Fuels are described as vegetation available to burn in a wildfire. The BLM is planning fuels management projects within the CDD to manage vegetation to reach a variety of goals. Vegetation or fuels would be modified to reduce the unwanted effects of wildfires on targeted areas and resources. Vegetation would also be managed to improve wildlife habitat and to remove non-native vegetation.

PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work

Fuels (vegetation) management services are required.

The contractor shall use chainsaws, brush cutters, string trimmers, rakes, and/or hand tools to cut targeted vegetation within identified treatment areas to remove fuels to maintain sites in a less hazardous or other desired state. Fuels would be cut then chipped; piled; lopped and scattered; or hauled offsite depending on the strategy identified for each site.

The contractor shall use chippers or masticators to grind chaparral, dead and down trees, and other fuels to rearrange the fuel structure within specific treatment areas. A tracked chipper may be used in some areas, others would require the chipper to remain on a road so a tow-behind chipper would be used.

The contractor shall use BLM-approved herbicides to spray freshly cut shrub stumps and non-native species.

The contractor shall pull, by hand, and remove specific species from a variety of sites depending on the location and situation.

The contractor shall use a variety of other tools such as trucks and Global Positioning System (GPS) units to implement the site-specific vegetation management requirements.

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Place of Performance:

The work shall take place within the CDD boundary, ranging from south to north at the U.S.-Mexican border in San Diego County north to the Cottonwood Canyon area near the California-Nevada stateline in Inyo County.

LOCATION COUNTY TASK

Otay Mountain San Diego Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Dulzura San Diego Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Campo San Diego Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Potrero San Diego Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Tecate San Diego Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Julian San Diego Cut and remove

Warner Springs San Diego Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Lake Mathews Riverside Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Canyon Lake Riverside Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Perris Riverside Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Whitewater Riverside Cut, lop and scatter, hand pull, herbicide

Mission Creek Riverside Cut, lop and scatter, hand pull, herbicide

Morongo Riverside Cut, lop and scatter, hand pull, herbicide

Poppet Flats/Banning Riverside Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Anza/Aguanga Riverside Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Palm Desert Riverside Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Dos Palmas/Mecca Riverside Cut and pile, hand pull, herbicide

Morongo Riverside/SB Cut, lop and scatter, hand pull, herbicide

El Centro Imperial Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Brawley Imperial Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Mineral Springs Imperial Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Ocotillo Imperial Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Redlands/Highland San Bernardino Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Afton Canyon San Bernardino Cut and pile, herbicide

Amargosa River San Bernardino Cut and pile, herbicide

Hesperia San Bernardino Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Inyo-Kern Kern Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Ridgecrest Kern Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

Cottonwood Canyon Inyo Cut and remove*, hand pull, herbicide

* Remove shall include a combination of chip, pile, lop and scatter, and haul offsite

Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be for five (5) years inclusive of treatments with optional acreage. The Period of Performance reads as follows:

9/4/2023-9/3/2028

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PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s)

The objective of this work is to manage vegetation while promoting healthy plant communities in order to reduce fire hazards to resources and neighboring values.

Vegetation will be removed and/or manipulated to achieve conditions which would result in a change in fire behavior and intensity should the site burn in a wildfire.

PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks

Project sites include areas of chaparral, sage scrub, desert scrub, riparian, and grasslands. Vegetation ranges from non-native grasses and tamarisk (salt cedar) to sage scrub and chaparral species such as brittlebush, chamise, manzanita, and scrub oak to large oak trees.

The contractor will be responsible for the following tasks:

• The Contractor shall provide personnel capable of performing work to include:

o Using chainsaws, brush cutters, string trimmers, rakes, and/or hand tools to cut targeted vegetation or fuels within pre-identified treatment areas to maintain those fuels in a less hazardous or other desired state.

Fuels would be cut and chipped; cut and piled; cut and scattered; or cut and hauled offsite depending on the strategy identified for each site.

o Using chippers or masticators to grind chaparral, dead and down trees, and other fuels to rearrange the fuel structure within the treatment areas. A tracked chipper may be used in some areas, others would require the chipper to remain on a road so a tow-behind chipper would be used.

o Using chainsaws to fell hazardous trees and chippers to chip those trees to less than three-inch chips.

o Using BLM-approved herbicides delivered via back-pack sprayers to spray shrub stumps and non-native grass once cut to minimize regrowth.

o Using a variety of other tools such as trucks and Global Positioning System (GPS) units to implement the site-specific vegetation management requirements.

• The Contractor, after receiving project-specific information, shall coordinate with the BLM Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to accomplish the work.

Contractor will be responsible for:

o Assembling tools and equipment and transporting the items to the job site.

o Navigating to and within the job site.

o GPSing accomplished work and submitting those data to the BLM COR.

For example, GPSing completed treatment areas, GPSing an area of

PWS Page 5 shrubs that were cut and chipped, or GPSing pile points.

o Submitting a Pesticide Application Report.

o Safely completing the work, which includes completing crew safety briefings to identify task-specific and site-specific hazards.

Task 1: Whitewater/Mission Creek/Morongo – cut and spray tamarisk, fountain grass, tree tobacco, and other invasive species as identified by the COR. The overall project area is 4,879 acres. The species to be treated are scattered throughout, but not dense.

There are some seedlings and smaller plants that would be hand pulled. Cut stumps shall be sprayed with herbicide within five minutes of cutting. Smaller shrubs with stems less than one inch in diameter may have a foliar application of herbicide. Cut stump versus foliar applications may also be determined based on adjacent species and the potential for drift or overspray as specified by the COR. Cut or pulled material shall be scattered outside of the riparian area on dry ground to minimize instances of regrowth.

Task 2: Beauty Mountain - cut and chip chaparral along the road system up to approximately 150 feet on both sides of roads from an area totaling approximately 700 acres. Cut material shall be chipped on site, piled, or hauled off site depending on the location and site-specific conditions. Shrubs shall be sprayed after cutting to minimize regrowth. A cut stump application of herbicide shall be implemented. Where permitted cut material shall be chipped on site and spread to a depth of less than three inches. If piled, piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area. In other locations, cut material will be hauled off site.

Task 3: Afton Canyon - cut and spray tamarisk. The species to be treated are scattered throughout the 867-acre project. There are some dense stands in the eastern end with large shrubs but the majority of the treatment is retreating previously cut regrowth.

There are some seedlings and smaller plants that would be hand pulled. Cut stumps shall be sprayed with herbicide within five minutes of cutting. Smaller shrubs with stems less than one inch in diameter may have a foliar application of herbicide. Cut stump versus foliar applications may also be determined based on adjacent species and the potential for drift or overspray as specified by the COR. Cut or pulled material shall be piled. Piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area.

Task 4: Amargosa River - cut and spray tamarisk and consolidate previously cut material into piles over a 120-acre area. There are some seedlings and smaller plants that would be hand pulled. Cut stumps shall be sprayed with herbicide within five minutes of cutting. Smaller shrubs with stems less than one inch in diameter may have a foliar application of herbicide. Cut stump versus foliar applications may also be determined based on adjacent species and the potential for drift or overspray as specified by the COR. Cut or pulled material shall be piled. Previously cut material shall be consolidated

PWS Page 6 and piled within the treatment area. Piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area.

Task 5: Border Road Brushing in the Campo, Dulzura, and Tecate areas) – cut and chip chaparral along various roads up to 100 feet on both sides of roads from an area totaling approximately 275 acres. Cut material shall be chipped on site, piled, or hauled off site depending on the location and site-specific conditions. Shrubs shall be sprayed after cutting to minimize regrowth. A cut stump application of herbicide shall be implemented. Where permitted cut material shall be chipped on site and spread to a depth of less than three inches. If piled, piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area. In other locations, cut material will be hauled off site. If piling is permitted, piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area. In other locations, cut material will be hauled off site.

Task 6: Border 32 Fire - cut and spray non-native species in the 1,834-acre area burned during the Border 32 Fire of August 2022. Tamarisk and giant reed would be cut and sprayed in riparian areas. In upland areas, non-native species including, but not limited to, mustard species, non-native grasses There are some seedlings and smaller plants that would be hand pulled. Cut stumps shall be sprayed with herbicide within five minutes of cutting. Smaller shrubs with stems less than one inch in diameter may have a foliar application of herbicide. Cut stump versus foliar applications may also be determined based on adjacent species and the potential for drift or overspray as specified by the COR. Cut or pulled material shall be piled. Piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area. Previously cut material shall be consolidated and piled within the treatment area.

Task 7: El Centro - cut and spray tamarisk. There are some seedlings and smaller plants that would be hand pulled. Cut stumps shall be sprayed with herbicide within five minutes of cutting. Smaller shrubs with stems less than one inch in diameter may have a foliar application of herbicide. Cut stump versus foliar applications may also be determined based on adjacent species and the potential for drift or overspray as specified by the COR. Cut or pulled material shall be piled. Piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area. Previously cut material shall be consolidated and piled within the treatment area.

OPTIONAL TASKS

Task 8: Border Road - cut and chip chaparral along various roads up to 100 feet on both sides of roads from an area totaling approximately 100 acres. Cut material shall be chipped on site, piled, or hauled off site depending on the location and site-specific conditions. Shrubs shall be sprayed after cutting to minimize regrowth. A cut stump

PWS Page 7 application of herbicide shall be implemented. Where permitted cut material shall be chipped on site and spread to a depth of less than three inches. If piling is permitted, piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area. In other locations, cut material will be hauled off site.

Task 9: Otay Mountain - cutting and chipping of 200 acres of chaparral along the fuel break system on the mountain. The fuel break mainly follows the road with only slight deviations from the road system and will require carrying material approximately 100 to 150 feet to be chipped or hauled off site for disposal. The contractor will need to locate a facility that will take the material. Plants shall be cut using chainsaws within the approximately 300-foot fuel break. The fuel break generally follows the road where fuels will be cut and chipped along the road up to approximately 150 feet on both sides.

There are chipping avoidance areas where material shall not be chipped into. These are generally small areas of sensitive habitat. Material will be moved away from these sites and chipped nearby or hauled offsite.

Task 10: Santa Rosa National Monument - cut and spray tamarisk, fountain grass, date palms, and other invasive species as identified by the COR. The overall project area is 1,758 acres. The species to be treated are scattered throughout with some dense areas and others with no non-native targeted species, but the project area is not dense overall. There are some seedlings and smaller plants that would be hand pulled. Cut stumps shall be sprayed with herbicide within five minutes of cutting. Smaller shrubs with stems less than one inch in diameter may have a foliar application of herbicide. Cut stump versus foliar applications may also be determined based on adjacent species and the potential for drift or overspray as specified by the COR. Cut or pulled material shall be scattered outside of the riparian area on dry ground to minimize instances of regrowth.

Task 11: Dos Palmas Preserve - cut and spray tamarisk on approximately 1,260 acres.

There are some seedlings and smaller plants that would be hand pulled. Cut stumps shall be sprayed with herbicide within five minutes of cutting. Smaller shrubs with stems less than one inch in diameter may have a foliar application of herbicide. Cut stump versus foliar applications may also be determined based on adjacent species and the potential for drift or overspray as specified by the COR. Cut or pulled material shall be piled. Piles shall be placed a minimum of 25 feet from leave specimens and 25 feet from the outside edge of the treatment area.

Task 12: Ridgecrest - cutting and chipping of approximately 250 acres of shrubs along various roads. The treatment follows the road system and will require carrying cut material up to approximately 100 to 150 feet to be chipped or hauled off site for disposal. The contractor will need to locate a facility that will take the material. Plants shall be cut using chainsaws within the approximately 150-foot roadside area. There are chipping avoidance areas where material shall not be chipped into. These are generally

PWS Page 8 small areas of sensitive habitat. Material will be moved away from these sites and chipped nearby or hauled offsite.

Task 13: Barstow - cutting and chipping of 300 acres of shrubs, may be both native and non-native species. Plants shall be cut within the specified areas. Treatments may include a fuel break where fuels will be cut and chipped or piled. Other sites may include a cut stump method. Specific treatment details will be specified in potential modifications.

PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

The contractor must complete fuels management treatments including the chipping, removal, piling, etc. as specified by the end of the period of performance according to the following table.

Funded Projects

Item # Item Location/Description Qty Unit of

Measure

Period of Performance

00010 Whitewater/Mission Creek/Morongo – cut, spray, hand pull, then lop and scatter cut material

4,879 acre 9/4/2023 – 12/29/2023

00020 Beauty Mountain – cut and spray, pile, 700 acre 1/2/2024 – 3/29/2024

00030 Afton Canyon – cut and spray, pile 867 acre 10/1/2023 – 12/29/2023

00040 Amargosa River – cut and spray, pile, pile previously cut material 120 acre 10/1/2023 – 12/29/2023

00050 Border – Cut and haul off site 65 acre 1/2/2024 – 6/28/2024

00060 Border 32 Fire invasive species removal/control – cut and spray, haul offsite 1,834 acre 9/4/2023 – 6/28/2024

00070 El Centro Carrizo/San Sebastian – cut and spray, then lop and scatter cut material

900 acre 10/1/2023 – 12/29/2023

OPTIONAL PROJECTS

00080 Border Road Otay Mesa to Marron Valley – cut and haul offsite 275 acre 10/1/2023– 9/30/2026 00090 Otay Mountain Unit 1 – cut and haul offsite 312 acre 10/1/2023– 9/30/2026 00100 Santa Rosa National Monument – cut and spray, then lop and scatter cut material 1,758 acre 10/1/2023– 9/30/2027

00110 Dos Palmas Preserve – cut and spray, then pile cut material 1,260 acre 10/1/2023– 9/30/2028 00120 Ridgecrest – cut and spray, chip, haul offsite, and/or pile 250 acre 10/1/2023– 9/30/2028 00130 Barstow – cut and spray, chip, haul offsite, and/or pile 300 acre 10/1/2023– 9/30/2028

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.

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The Government will provide keys to gates to access work site. The Government will provide GIS data identifying project boundaries. No other property, materials, or services will be provided by the Government.

PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters

Close coordination with Customs and Border Protection (Border Patrol) will be required to include notifications of when and where the Contractor will be working.

Regular Work Hours:

The performance period established for this contract is based upon all work being conducted during regular working hours between 7:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays. If the Contractor desires to carry on work outside regular hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and government holidays, a request must be submitted to the COR 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 Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

Fire Danger 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. Work may be postponed during periods of high fire danger.

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.

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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 Exhibits:

EX 1: Map of overall project locations (specific GIS data will be provided) EX 2: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

Exhibit 1

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EXHIBIT 2: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

Work Tasks to be

Performed

Acceptable Quality

Level

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

Task 1 Inspect treatment areas for the amount of vegetation removed.

No more than 1 unsatisfactory inspection result per week.

The COR or Project

Inspector will inspect the work as implementation is underway and upon completion of each task.

For 1 unsatisfactory inspection, the COR will document this and inform the Contractor what must be improved.

For 2 unsatisfactory inspections, a 5% deduction from the invoice for that Period of Performance.

For 3 unsatisfactory inspections, a 10% deduction.

Task 2 Inspect sites for species removed or non-target species negatively impacts.

Sufficient numbers of each targeted species are treated. No non-target species are negatively impacted.

The COR or Project

Inspector will inspect the sites.

For 1 unsatisfactory inspection, the COR will document this and inform the Contractor what must be improved.

For 2 unsatisfactory inspections, a 5% deduction from the invoice for that Period of Performance.

For 3 unsatisfactory inspections, a 10% deduction.

Task 3 Inspect work locations for negative impacts to sensitive habitat or other avoidance areas.

No more than 1 unsatisfactory inspection result per month.

The COR or Project

Inspector will inspect the sites.

For 1 unsatisfactory inspection, the COR will document this and inform the Contractor what must be improved.

For 2 unsatisfactory inspections, a 5% deduction from the invoice for that Period of Performance.

For 3 unsatisfactory inspections, a 10% deduction.