B08_Attachment__1_-_PWS_HazTree_with_Exhibits.pdf

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

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PROJECT TITLE: French and Peak Fire: Hazard Tree Removal

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 Bakersfield Field Office was impacted by multiple wildfires during the 2021 summer season. The French fire near the town of Wofford Heights, CA in the Lake Isabella area and the Peak fire was near Walker Basin, CA. Both fires burned over several established open motorized routes. The French fire occurred within established French Gulch Recreation Management Zones within the Keysville Travel Management Area, while the Peak fire occurred outside any special recreation area, but within an Extensive Travel Management area. As a result, there is a need, as a part of our Emergency Stabilization and Burned Area Recovery efforts, for ensure safety of visitors and proper access to public lands within the Bakersfield Field Office. Without proactive efforts to ensure safety of visitors, access may be unnecessarily restricted and potential for injury could occur as dead and dying trees weaken over time. This reduction of hazard trees would ensure the safety of recreational users using the areas, continue to provide opportunities for visitors to engage in dispersed camping and OHV recreation (RVS-D-1, Bakersfield Field Office ARMP, 2014), and maintain a diversity of recreation opportunities promoting a multiple use philosophy (RVS-G-1, Bakersfield Field Office ARMP, 2014).

This project also further informs BLM management actions fulfill its multiple-use mission and sustain the diverse uses including, but not exclusive to, recreation, grazing, invasive weeds, and sensitive species.

PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work

The BLM seeks a contractor(s) to provide the expertise necessary to supply manual services that include hand felling with power saws marked hazard trees along established roads within the perimeters of the French and Peak Fires (see Task 1). The contractor would also manually buck up downed trees near road margins for public use as firewood and smaller woody material would be left as wildlife habitat (see Task2). Hazard trees are defined as trees that are moderately to highly likely to fail and cause injury to either people or property. Considering up to a 150-foot corridor along BLM open public motorized access, the French fire encompasses 97 acres (2.6 miles) of low-density gray pine/oak scrub habitat (see EX_1) and the Peak Fire encompasses 49 acres (1.25 miles) of moderate-density pinyon/gray pine habitat (see EX_2) to be trees treated.

The contractor shall accomplish the hazard tree reduction along identified motorized routes, create opportunities for community to utilize potential firewood resources produced, create habitat for local wildlife, and help ensure safety of visitors’ recreating along the road system within the perimeters of French and Peak Fires.

Place of Performance:

The work under this contract will be performed for the BLM Bakersfield Field Office, at 35126 McMurtrey Avenue, Bakersfield California. The proposed project sites are publicly accessible and located in Kern County, California. French Fire is west southwest of the Wofford Heights, CA located on T26S, R32E, Sec10,11,12,14,15,22 and T25S, R32E, Sec25,35,26. The Peak fire is east of Walker Basin, CA located at T29S, R33E, PWS Page 3

Sec10 and 11. Both fires are located in the Mount Diablo Principal Meridian. Tasks to be completed within the French Fire perimeter include Task 1. Tasks to be completed within the Peak Fire perimeter include Task 3.

Driving Directions to access French Fire Project Area:

From Bakersfield CA, drive east on Highway 178 for approximately 41 miles, take Lake Isabella exit (Kernville Road). For Sawmill Road portion: From Kernville Road exit, turn left onto Highway 155 (Kernville Road) and travel north for 4.5 miles to Sawmill Road, turn left. Continue west on Sawmill road for approximately 2.6 miles to burn perimeter. Road corridor beginning and ending GPS locations: 35.67541; -118.50173 to 35.66768; -118.53167. For Old State Road portion: From Kernville Road exit, turn left onto Highway 155 (Kernville Road) and travel north for 6.4 miles to Old State road, turn left. Continue west on Old state road for approximately 6.2 miles to access burn area.

Road corridor beginning and ending GPS locations: 35.71411, -118.51492 to 35.71456, - 118.51991.

Driving Directions to access Peak Fire Project Area:

From Bakersfield CA, drive east on Highway 178 for approximately 40 miles, take Bodfish Exit (Elizabeth Norris Road), at stop sigh turn right and head south for 0.5 miles.

Turn right onto Lake Isabella Blvd, continue on Lake Isabella Blvd for 16 miles (this will take you over the pass and into Walker Basin). At stop sign, turn left onto Wasler Road.

You will come to a series of 90° turns, there will be 4 (take caution). Continue on the paved road for 8.6 miles (road becomes Walker Basin Road). Turn left onto Piute Mnt road. Caution, turn is on blind hill with curve and you cross traffic. Proceed on Piute Mountain road for approximately 2.5 miles to access burn area. Road corridor beginning and ending GPS locations: 35.41245, -118.41403 to 35.42388, -118.4208.

Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be for one (1) Base Year of 12 months and one (1) 12-month option season. The Period of Performance reads as follows:

Base Year: Oct 1 (or contract award date), 2022 to Jan 31, 2023

Option Year I Oct 1, 2023 to Jan 31, 2024

PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s)

The objective of this work is to accomplish hazard tree reduction along open motorized routes, create opportunities for community to utilize potential firewood resources produced, create habitat for local wildlife, and help ensure safety of visitors’ recreating along the road system within the perimeters of French and Peak Fires.

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PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks

Task 1: Cut and Buck Hazard Trees – French Fire (see EX-1 Area Pics & EX-3 Map)

• Cut and lop marked (blue hash) hazard trees on impacted open motorized routes on approximately 2.6 miles (97 acres) of very-low density gray pine/Scrub oak woodlands. Shrubs are to be left as is.

Task 2: Cut and Buck Hazard Trees – Peak Fire (see EX-2 Area Pics & EX-4 Map)

• Cut and lop marked (blue hash) hazard trees on impacted open motorized routes on approximately 1.25 miles (49 acres) of low-density pinion/juniper woodlands.

Shrubs are to be left as is.

Task Specifications for hazard tree treatment services, the following stipulations apply:

• Felled tree trunks shall be bucked up to firewood size rounds and left on-site for free community use. Remainder of the tree shall be limbed off and left as wildlife habitat.

• Rounds shall be stacked or placed adjacent to road and as to not imped traffic along the road surface.

• Removal will follow the established road corridor.

• Stumps shall be flush cut, contoured to the slope, three to six (3-6) inches above the ground.

• No trees shall be felled across fences. 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.

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

• The project area roads shall not be degraded or rutted by the Contractor’s activities. All project area roads shall be kept free of slash.

• Existing roads and routes of travel authorized as open or administrative use only will be used to the maximum extent possible. Cross-country travel by vehicles is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the BLM for the project or as required during an emergency response. No new or temporary roads are authorized.

• To minimize adverse effects to breeding migratory birds and flowering periods of sensitive plant species, the work shall occur outside of these critical periods.

Acceptable work months include the time period from October 1st to January 31st.

• Trash and food items, including wrappers, cans, bottles, and food scraps, will be contained in closed, wildlife proof containers and removed weekly or more frequently.

• To minimize the introduction and spread noxious weeds, all equipment including soil disrupting machinery and transportation vehicles (trucks, lowboys, trailers, dozers, etc.) shall be cleaned or pressure washed before entry into the project area

PWS Page 5 to remove soil and materials that could transport weed seed or other propagative fragments. Equipment and supplies are prohibited from being cleaned on BLM public lands.

• The BLM botanists will inform contractor of any areas of high-priority weed infestations within the project area so appropriate prevention measures can be implemented and/or treatments can be coordinated.

• All releases of potentially hazardous materials, including produced fluids, will be contained closest to the source site as possible. The released materials will be cleaned up immediately and disposed of properly. The BLM will be notified of the release of potentially hazardous materials and the remedial action taken by the operator as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours after the release occurs or is discovered.

• Cultural Resources - BLM staff will coordinate with the contractor to ensure that impacts to cultural resources are avoided along road corridors within the French and Peak fire perimeters. Coordination may include a pre-work meeting with the crew and/or crew leader(s) to outline avoidance areas and notification protocol regarding an inadvertent discovery or unanticipated impact.

• Cultural Resources - In the event of an inadvertent discovery or impacts to cultural resources during approved activities, the crew lead shall immediately contact the BLM Archaeologist. All access and use shall immediately cease within 200 feet of the discovery and all other activity which may damage the discovery shall also cease. Access and use of the area can proceed with written approval from the Field Manager once the appropriate level of review has been determined and completed.

• Cultural Resources - If human remains are discovered during approved activities, all activity will immediately cease surrounding the unanticipated discovery. The crew leader will ensure that the discovery is secured and protected and will immediately notify the BLM Archaeologist. The BLM will adhere to current regulations regarding the treatment of human remains (see BLM California Information Bulletin No. CAIB-2016-012). Access and use of the area can proceed with written approval from the Field Manager once the appropriate level of review has been determined and completed.

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PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

Contractor shall deliver services to fell and buck identified dead and dying trees along a 150’ corridor along identified open motorized routes, as shown on EX-3 and EX-4 within the fire perimeters of both the French and Peak fires. Contractor shall also deliver the service of 1) providing community free access to firewood resources produced by cutting firewood sized rounds from felled trees; and, 2) providing wildlife habitat leaving limbs on site and within the perimeters of both the French and Peak fires.

The Contractor shall deliver services outside critical breeding bird months and critical flower period of sensitive plants. The services shall occur in the season between the months of October 1 – January 31, 2022, with an option to extend an additional season between October 1, 2023 – January 31, 2024.

The Contractor must perform all tasks on BLM lands within the fire perimeters of the French Fire (Task 1) and Peak Fire (Task 2). All identified routes have open public access, therefore can be freely accessed. Directions are provided above. Maps have been provided to show applicable open motorized routes to removed hazard trees from BLM lands within the fire perimeters of the French Fire (EX-3) and Peak Fire (EX-4).

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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: The Government will provide Maps of the area, guidelines for hazed tree reduction, and ensure access to areas to be treated. If necessary, the Government will also provide a BLM wildlife biologist or botanist to serve as monitoring biologist.

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PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters

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 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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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:

(Under this section define all key terms and acronyms and provide important definitions that relate to this work.)

BLM: Bureau of Land Management

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Technical Exhibits:

(Under this section list all attachments and technical exhibits, including a PRS, that will be useful for the contractor to submit an appropriate proposal.)

EX 1: French Fire Area Pictures EX 2: Peak Fire Area Pictures EX 3: Map 1: French Fire: Hazard Tree Road Corridor Treatment EX 4: Map 2: Peak Fire: Hazard Tree Road Corridor Treatment EX 5: Project Specific Provisions

EX 6: QASP

Exhibit 1 - French Fire Photos

Exhibit 2 - Peak Fire Photos

Exhibit 3:

French Fire Treatment Corridor

S I E R

R A

NE

VA

DA

T E M B L O R R A N G E

S A

N J

O A

Q U

I N

V A

L L

E Y

S I

E R

R A

N E

V A

D A

T E H A C H A P I M O U N T A I N S

Rosamond New Cuyama

Tehachapi

Bakersfield

Lake Isabella Ridgecrest Delano

Avenal Porterville

No warranty is made by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for use of the data for purposes not intended by BLM. The BLM assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. No warranty is made by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability, relevancy, timeliness, utility, or completeness of these data, maps, geographic location for individual use or aggregate use with other data; nor shall the act of distribution to contractors, partners, or beyond, constitute any such warranty for individual or aggregate data use with other data.

Date Revised: 8/19/2022

LEGEND

Roads Road Buffer - 150 ft French Fire

Land Status Bureau of Land Management Forest Service

Department of Defense Local Government 0 0.55 1.10.275

Miles

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management

California Bakersfield Field Office

F r e n c h F i r e H a z a r d T r e e s M a p

Exhibit 4:

Peak Fire Treatment Corridor

16 14 13

T29S, R33.5E

MDM

T29S, R34E

MDM

T29S, R33E

MDM

S I E R

R A

NE

VA

DA

T E M B L O R R A N G E

S A

N J

O A

Q U

I N

V A

L L

E Y

S I

E R

R A

N E

V A

D A

T E H A C H A P I M O U N T A I N S

Rosamond New Cuyama

Tehachapi

Bakersfield

Lake Isabella Ridgecrest Delano

Avenal Porterville

No warranty is made by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for use of the data for purposes not intended by BLM. The BLM assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. No warranty is made by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability, relevancy, timeliness, utility, or completeness of these data, maps, geographic location for individual use or aggregate use with other data; nor shall the act of distribution to contractors, partners, or beyond, constitute any such warranty for individual or aggregate data use with other data.

Date Revised: 8/17/2022

LEGEND

Roads Road Buffer - 150 ft

Fire Perimeter Land Status

Bureau of Land Management Forest Service

0 0.2 0.40.1 Miles

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management

California Bakersfield Field Office

P e a k F i r e H a z a r d T r e e M a p

Project Specific Provisions – French and Peak Fire: Hazard Tree Removal page 1 of 2

Exhibit 5:

Project Specific Stipulations

Cultural Resources Contractor will coordinate with the COR or BLM staff to ensure that impacts to cultural resources are avoided along road corridors within the French and Peak fire perimeters. Coordination includes a pre-work meeting with the crew and/or crew leader(s) to outline avoidance areas and notification protocol regarding an inadvertent discovery or unanticipated impact.

In the event of an inadvertent discovery or impacts to cultural resources during approved activities, the crew lead shall immediately contact the COR or BLM staff. All access and use shall immediately cease within 200 feet of the discovery and all other activity which may damage the discovery shall also cease. Access and use of the area can proceed with written approval from the Field Manager once the appropriate level of review has been determined and completed.

If human remains are discovered during approved activities, all activity will immediately cease surrounding the unanticipated discovery. The crew leader will ensure that the discovery is secured and protected and will immediately notify the COR or BLM staff. The BLM will adhere to current regulations regarding the treatment of human remains (see BLM California Information Bulletin No. CAIB-2016-012). Access and use of the area can proceed with written approval from the Field Manager once the appropriate level of review has been determined and completed.

Biological Resources

To minimize the introduction and spread of non-native and noxious weeds, all contractor personnel, materials, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, and other items shall be free of weeds and seed before conducting services. The contractor shall wash vehicles and equipment coming from other areas and prohibit equipment and supplies from being cleaned on BLM public lands.

To minimize adverse effects to breeding migratory birds and flowering periods of sensitive plant species, the work shall occur outside of these critical periods. Acceptable work months include the time period from October 1st to January 31st.

Existing roads and routes of travel authorized as open or administrative use only will be used to the maximum extent possible. Cross-country travel by vehicles is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the BLM for the project or as required during an emergency response. Off Highway Recreational Vehicles (OHRV) are permitted along established roads.

In order to minimize wildlife casualties, the daytime speed limit on unpaved roads not maintained by the county will be a maximum of 20 MPH.

Nightime actions by the contractor are not permitted on project sites.

Trash and food items, including wrappers, cans, bottles, and food scraps, will be contained in closed, wildlife proof containers and removed weekly or more frequently.

Firearms will be prohibited from project sites.

All pets will not be permitted on project sites.

All releases of potentially hazardous materials, including produced fluids, will be contained closest to the source site as possible. The released materials will be cleaned up immediately and disposed of properly. The BLM will be notified of the release of potentially hazardous materials and the remedial action taken by the operator as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours after the release occurs or is discovered.

Project Specific Provisions – French and Peak Fire: Hazard Tree Removal page 2 of 2

If the above guidance cannot be followed, the BLM will be contacted for further instruction. If new guidance becomes available, the BLM will notify company representatives.

Exhibit 6:

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

Work Tasks to be Performed Acceptable Quality Level Method of Surveillance Consequences, Remedies, and/or

Deduction(s)

Task(s) 1: Felling ID’d Hazard Trees along Road Corridor

Fell all identified dead and dying trees (denoted by Blue slash) with cut stumps being no higher than 5 inches above ground level.

The COR or BLM staff will inspect corridors before completion of Task 1.

• The COR or BLM staff will advise contractor to corridor that has unacceptable felling and/or cut stump dimensions and specify measures to achieve an acceptable level of removal, with no additional charge to the government.

Task(s) 2: Bucking Felled Trees

• Felled tree trunks are bucked into firewood sized rounds and left on site.

• Open Motorized routes or pull-outs are not blocked by firewood or slash.

• Limbed tree limbs are left on-site and off of the road surface

The COR or BLM staff will inspect corridors and roads before completion of Task 2.

• The COR or BLM staff will advise contractor to parts of the corridor that have unacceptable bucking and specify measures to achieve an acceptable level of removal.

• BLM staff will advise contractor where the unacceptable road blockages are and specify measures to achieve an acceptable level if quality, with no additional charge to the government.