B08_Performance_Work_Statement_Hogback_Creek.docx

Performance Work Statement For BIFO FY23 Hogback Fuel breaks

Purpose

To secure the services of mowing and shrub cutting utilizing small low ground pressure (<10psi) mechanical equipment and hand crew treatments and chipping as terrain and vegetation allow. Total area to be treated is approximately 52 acres. Treatment schedule will be determined by BLM based on limited operating periods for protection of sensitive resources.

Location

· Hogback Road near Lone Pine, CA - 11 subunits, all located along the Hogback Road and Hogback Creek on BLM managed public lands approximately 5.5-9 miles direct distance or approximately 10-15 miles by road northwest of Lone Pine, California. See Map 1 – Vicinity.

Description

Vegetation in all units is typical of the southwestern Great Basin, and consists of a diverse mix of sagebrush, bitterbrush, rabbitbrush, black brush, grasses, and forbs. One unit is typical Owens valley willow and water birch riparian vegetation. Slope ranges from 0 to less than 30%. Elevations range from approximately 5,000 to 6,500 feet. The units are located on alluvial fans at the base of the Sierra escarpment and contain frequent rocky outcrops and scattered boulders throughout the units. These units have never been treated previously. Portions of some units are immediately adjacent to private land (owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) and Forest Service jurisdiction.

Boundaries

Treatment unit boundaries will be identified by georeferenced maps for use in handheld devices. The contractor will be expected to use these maps to ensure that treatment stays within the unit boundaries. In certain sensitive locations the exterior boundary of the units or the boundary of exclusion areas may be marked by the BLM with brightly colored flagging.

Accessibility

Most of the project areas may be reached by dirt roads that are accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles during the normal operating season. All cross country access to units will be across BLM jurisdiction. No cross-country travel across private ownerships is allowed (Map 1: Vicinity).

Work Schedule, Progress of Work, Restrictions on Work

Prior to start of and during the period of the contract, the Contracting Officer may specify priority areas to be treated. In general, treatment will occur in the fall or winter when fire danger is lower (see attached fire plan) but with approval by the BLM work can occur any time during the year. BLM must approve contract operations in advance in order to ensure that sensitive wildlife are not in the project area including breeding birds, mule deer, and Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep. Operations may not be allowed or may be limited if those resources are present.

The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the contract time.

Work hours- Due to the popularity of dispersed recreation in this area, work is restricted between the hours of 7:30 am and 7:00 pm Monday-Friday and 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday. No work will occur on Sundays to allow for quiet time for campers nearby.

Specifications

1. Upland shrub removal by mowing and hand cutting in Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11H Contractor shall cut shrubs above the ground in all areas within each unit using allowed methods (mowing or hand cutting) except 20-40% of the area which is to be left as irregularly sized islands of untreated vegetation. These islands of uncut vegetation included but are not limited to flagged or mapped exclusion areas as specified by unit. Unit edges shall be wavy (not straight line) to improve visual appearance while staying within the mapped unit boundaries. The islands of vegetation shall be left within the treatment units to improve visual appearances and maintain some wildlife habitat. Islands of untreated vegetation within the units shall be of variable size and have irregular shapes. A minimum of 20 foot wide strip of shrubs shall be left along the edge of roads that cross or form the boundary of units to limit access by off road vehicles but should vary in width to prevent having a straight line boundary. The outer boundaries of the units should also be wavy and not straight-line. Areas inside the units adjacent to the outside boundary may be left uncut to avoid creating a straight line but areas outside the unit boundaries shall not be cut.

1.1 Shrub Mowing in Parts of Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 Where allowed, mowing shall be done with small, low ground pressure, rubber tracked or rubber tired equipment (such as an ASV or Bobcat) equipped with a mowing head capable of mowing brush up to 4 feet tall. No metal tracked equipment or large equipment such as excavators will be allowed due to the rocky terrain. Mower head shall be set to leave a stubble height of approximately 4 to 8 inches to avoid soil disturbance. The Contractors operations shall be conducted to carefully minimize soil disturbance by the equipment. On slopes exceeding 20%, or where features (such as rocks, fences, etc.) do not allow for mower use, hand cutting is required (see hand cutting specifications below).

All vehicles and equipment other than the mowing equipment must stay on existing roads.

1.2 Hand cutting shrubs (as needed in all units and exclusively in unit 11H) Hand cutting shall be done with equipment such as chainsaws or heavy duty weed whackers where terrain, rocks or sensitive resources prevent mowing with equipment. All material generated from the contractor’s hand cutting operations and any preexisting dead and down material shall be chipped on site. Chips may be blown back into the units as long as the chips do not reach depths greater than 2 inches. Chippers and other vehicles other than the mower must stay on existing roads.

In units that allow for mowing equipment, the hand cut material may alternatively be hand yarded into the mowing areas and masticated with the mower.

2. Hand cutting dead and down riparian vegetation: Unit 6R Contractor shall use hand operated tools (chainsaws or hand saws, loppers etc) to cut dead and down riparian vegetation. Some live vegetation may be cut in order to access the dead material. Staubs shall be cut as low as possible or as flush to stem/trunk of the living tree. All material generated from the contractor’s hand cutting operations and any preexisting dead and down material shall be hand yarded out of the unit and chipped on site and blown back into the adjacent upland units (Units 5 and 7). Chips may be blown back into the units should not reach depths greater than 2 inches. No chips may be blown into the riparian vegetation of Unit 6R. Alternatively the contractor may choose to haul the material off site to a landfill or to a location approved by BLM.

Chippers and all other vehicles and equipment must remain on existing roads in this unit.

Exclusion Areas

Exclusion areas may be designated by the Government for exclusion from certain types of treatment. These areas may be identified on the maps or be flagged with orange and white striped flagging.

All cactus species are to be avoided and not cut by either hand operations or the mowing equipment. The BLM will flag existing cactus to the extent possible, but the contractor should be looking for cactus and avoid them when found whether they are flagged or not.

Fire Suppression

The BLM-Bishop Field Office operates an interagency vegetation and fire management organization with the Inyo National Forest. The attached Forest Service Fire Plan for Construction and Service Contracts (using the Inyo National Forest South Project Activity Level (PAL) system or the next generation of PAL once it is implemented) will govern the fire precautions required on this contract, including partial or full shutdown days due to fire danger conditions.

FIRE PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE CONTRACTS

6-14-2006 (Ref: FSH 6309.32 and 6309.11)

1. SCOPE:

The provisions set forth below outline the responsibility for fire prevention and suppression activities and establish a suppression plan for fires within the contract area. The contract area is delineated by map in the contract. The provisions set forth below also specify conditions under which contract activities will be curtailed or shut down.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Contractor

(1) Shall abide by the requirements of this Fire Plan.

(2) Shall take all steps necessary to prevent his/her employees, subcontractors and their employees from setting fires not required in completion of the contract, shall be responsible for preventing the escape of fires set directly or indirectly as a result of contract operations, and shall extinguish all such fires which may escape.

(3) Shall permit and assist in periodic testing and inspection of required fire equipment. Contractor shall certify compliance with specific fire precautionary measures in the fire plan, before beginning operations during Fire Precautionary Period and shall update such certification when operations change.

(4) Shall designate in the fire plan and furnish on Contract Area during operating hours a qualified fire supervisor authorized to act on behalf of Contractor in fire prevention and suppression matters.

Shall complete the Contractor's Plan Regarding Personnel and shall furnish the Contracting Officer (CO) with a copy prior to commencing work at the site. Shall currently advise the CO of any changes in personnel as the changes occur. Shall revise Section 6.B to reflect current activities upon request of the CO.

B. BLM

The BLM may conduct one or more inspections for compliance with the fire plan. The number, timing, and scope of such inspections will be at the discretion of agency employees responsible for contract administration. Such inspections do not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for correcting violations of the fire plan or for fire safety in general, as outlined in paragraph 2.A above.

3. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

A. The Contractor shall comply with the following requirements during the fire precautionary period as defined by unit administering contracts unless waived in writing:

The Fire Precautionary Period is May 1st to November 15.

Contractor shall equip each operating tractor and any other internal combustion engine with a spark arrester, except for motor vehicles equipped with a maintained muffler as defined in C.P.R.C. Section 4442 or tractors with exhaust-operated turbochargers. Spark Arresters shall be a model tested and approved under Forest Service Standard 5100-1a as shown in the. National Wildlife Coordinating Group Spark Arrester Guide, Volumes 1 and 2, and shall be maintained in good operating condition.

Contractor shall meet minimum requirements of Sections 4427 and 4428 of the California Public Resources Code (C.P.R.C.). Fire tools kept at each operating landing shall be sufficient to equip all employees in the felling, yarding, loading, chipping, and material processing operations associated with each landing. Fire equipment shall include two tractor headlights for each tractor dozer used in Contractor's Operations. Tractor headlights shall be attachable to each tractor and served by an adequate power source.

Where cable yarding is used, Contractor shall provide a size 0 or larger shovel with an overall length of not less than 46 inches and a filled backpack can (4 or 5 gallon) with hand pump within 10 feet of each tail and corner block.

Trucks, tractors, pickups and other similar mobile equipment shall be equipped with and carry at all times a size 0 or larger shovel with an overall length of not less than 46 inches and a 2-1/2 pound axe or larger with an overall length of not less than 28 inches.

Contractor shall equip each internal combustion yarder, fuel truck, and loader with a fire extinguisher for oil and grease fires (4-A:60-B:C).

Contractor shall equip each mechanized harvesting machine with hydraulic systems, powered by an internal combustion engine (chipper, feller/buncher, harvester, forwarder, hot saws, stroke delimber, etc), except tractors and skidders, with at least two 4-A:60-B:C fire extinguishers or equivalent. In addition, concentrations of wood dust and debris shall be removed from such equipment daily. Additional extinguishers and sizes may be required at landings in accordance with Section 5.

Each power saw shall be equipped with a spark arrester approved according to C.P.R.C. Section 4442 or 4443 and shall be maintained in effective working order. One fire extinguisher meeting specifications of C.P.R.C. Section 4431 shall be kept with each operating power saw. A size 0 or larger shovel with an overall length of not less than 38 inches shall be kept with each gas can but not more than 300 feet from each power saw when used off cleared landing areas.

Contractor shall meet minimum requirements of Section 4430 of the California Public Resources Code (C.P.R.C.). Contractor shall provide a water tank truck or trailer on or in proximity to Contract Area during Contractor's Operations hereunder during Fire Precautionary Period unless otherwise agreed. When Project Activity Level B or higher is in effect, a tank truck or trailer shall be on or immediately adjacent to each active landing unless otherwise excepted when hot saw technology is being used. See Section 5 for specific contract requirements.

The tank shall contain at least 300 gallons of water available for fire suppression. A water sprinkling tank truck will meet this requirement if provision is made to insure that the minimum of 300 gallons is available for fire suppression at all times. Ample power and hitch shall be readily available for promptly and safely moving tank over roads serving Contract Area. Tank truck or trailer shall be equipped with following:

(1) Pump, which at sea level, can deliver 23 gallons per minute at 175 pounds per square inch measured at the pump outlet. Pumps shall be tested on Contract Area using a 5/16 inch orifice in the Forester One Inch In-Line Gauge test kit. Pump shall meet or exceed the pressure value in the following table for nearest temperature and elevation:

Temp

Sea Level

1000 Feet

2000 Feet

3000 Feet

4000 Feet

5000 Feet

6000 Feet

7000 Feet

8000 Feet

9000 Feet

10000 Feet

The pump outlet shall be equipped with 1-1/2 inch National Standard Fire Hose thread. A bypass or pressure relief valve shall be provided for other than centrifugal pumps.

(2) 300 feet of 3/4-inch inside diameter rubber-covered high-pressure hose mounted on live reel attached to pump with no segments longer than approximately 50 feet, when measured to the extreme ends of the couplings. Hose shall have reusable compression wedge type 1-inch brass or lightweight couplings (aluminum or plastic). One end of hose shall be equipped with a coupling female section and the other end with a coupling male section. The hose shall, with the nozzle closed, be capable of withstanding 200 PSI pump pressure without leaking, distortions, slipping of couplings, or other failures.

(3) A shut-off combination nozzle that meets the following minimum performance standards when measured at 100 P.S.I. at the nozzle:

(4) Sufficient fuel to run pump at least 2 hours and necessary service accessories to facilitate efficient operation of the pump.

When Contractor is using Hot Saw Technology, an additional 500 feet of not less than one (1) inch outside diameter serviceable hard rubber poly or rubber lined or fiber jacket rubber lined (FJRL) hose shall be immediately available for use and be capable of connecting to the 300 feet of hose and appurturances in (2) and (3) above. Synthetic hose may be used by agreement.

4. GENERAL

A. State Law. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws of the State of California. In particular, see California Public Resource Codes.

B. Permits Required. The Contractor must secure a special written permit from the Field Manager or designated representative before engaging in any of the activities listed below. The terms and conditions of any of the permits required for this contract are as shown on copies attached to the Fire Plan.

(1) Blasting and Storage of Explosives and Detonators. (Explosives Permit required by California Health & Safety Code, Section 12101.)

(2) Burning.

(3) Air Pollution. (Issued by local State or County Air Pollution Control Districts, as applicable.)

(4) Camp, Lunch and Warming Fires.

(5) Welding and Cutting.

C. Regulations for Burning. Before setting any fires whatsoever, the Contractor shall notify the CO of his/her intentions. Special care shall be taken to prevent scorching or causing any damage to adjacent structures, trees, and shrubbery. Piles of material to be burned shall be of such size and so placed that during burning no damage shall result to adjacent objects.

D. Smoking and Fire Rules. Smoking shall not be permitted during fire season, except in a barren area or in an area cleared to mineral soil at least three feet in diameter (CPRC 4423.4). In areas closed to smoking, the CO may approve special areas to be used for smoking. The Contractor shall sign designated smoking areas. Contractor shall post signs regarding smoking and fire rules in conspicuous places for all employees to see. Contractor's supervisory personnel shall require compliance with these rules. Under no circumstances shall smoking be permitted during fire season while employees are operating light or heavy equipment, or walking or working in grass and woodlands.

E. Storage and Parking Areas. Equipment service areas, parking areas, and gas and oil storage areas shall be cleared of all flammable material for a radius of at least 10 feet unless otherwise specified by local administrative unit. Small mobile or stationary internal combustion engine sites shall be cleared of flammable material for a slope distance of at least 10 feet from such engine. The COR shall approve such sites in writing.

F. Welding. Contractor shall confine welding activity to cleared areas having a minimum radius of ten feet measured from place of welding.

G. Blasting. Contractor shall use electric caps only unless otherwise agreed in writing. When blasting is necessary in slash areas, a watchperson equipped with a size 0 or larger shovel with an overall length of not less than 46 inches and a filled backpack can (4 or 5 gallon) with hand pump shall remain in the immediate area for an hour after blasting has been completed.

H. Oil Filter and Glass Jugs. Contractor shall remove from Public Lands oily rags and used oil filters and shall prohibit use of glass bottles and jugs in Contractor's Operations.

I. Reporting Fires. As soon as feasible but no later than 15 minutes after initial discovery, Contractor shall notify BLM of any fires on Contract Area or along roads used by Contractor.

J. Communications. Contractor shall furnish a serviceable telephone, radio-telephone or radio system connecting each operating side with Contractor's headquarters. When such headquarters is at a location which makes communication to it clearly impractical, BLM may accept a reasonable alternative location. The communication system shall provide prompt and reliable communications between Contractor's headquarters (or agreed to alternative) and BLM via commercial or BLM telephone. The communications system shall be operable during Contractor's Operations in Fire Precautionary Period described in Section 3 and during the time fire patrolperson service is required. A radio-equipped fire patrolperson vehicle will satisfy this requirement if in operation during the time required except during PAL levels “D” and “Ev”. See Section 5 for other communication requirements when operating on “D” and “Ev” days with hot saw technology. A CB is not acceptable communication because FCC Regulations prohibit commercial use.

K. Fire Patrol Person. Contractor shall furnish a qualified fire patrolperson each operating day when Project Activity Level B or higher is in effect. When on duty, sole responsibility of patrolperson shall be to patrol the operation for prevention and detection of fires, take suppression action where necessary and notify the BLM as required by Section 5.

By agreement, one patrolperson may provide patrol on this and adjacent projects or sales. No patrolperson shall be required on Specified Road construction jobs except during clearing operations unless otherwise specified.

5. EMERGENCY MEASURES

The table set forth below establishes work restrictions and fire precautions that the Contractor must observe at each activity level. The restrictions are cumulative at each level.

The BLM, in its sole discretion, may change the predicted activity level if the current fire suppression situation, weather and vegetation conditions warrant additional restriction of activities. Contractor shall obtain the predicted Project Activity Level by calling the following phone number 760-873-2555 before starting work each day. If practicable, BLM will determine the following day’s activity level by 6:00 PM local time. If predictions made after 6:00 PM are significantly different than originally estimated, BLM will inform Contractor when changes in restrictions or industrial precautions are indicated.

The following definitions shall apply to these Project Activity Levels:

Cable Yarding Systems: A yarding system that takes logs from the stump area to a landing using an overhead system of winch-driven cables to which logs are attached with chokers or grapples.

Hot Saw Technology: A harvesting system that employs a high-speed (>1100 rpm) rotation felling heads (i.e., full rotation lateral tilt head).

Sunset: The time that sunset is reported in the local newspaper for that day.

Except for Project Activity Level days “Ev after 1:00 PM local time” and “E”, BLM may issue substitute precautions(s) of the requirements below. Such agreements shall prescribe measures to be taken by Contractor to reduce risk of ignition and/or spread of fire.

BLM may change the Project Activity Levels to other values upon revision of the National Fire Danger Rating System and may change the specific Project Activity Levels and/or requirements when such changes are necessary for the protection of the Public Lands. When sent to Contractor, the revised Project Activity Levels will supersede the levels below.

PROJECT ACTIVITY LEVEL –EMERGENCY PRECAUTIONS

Table version 6/13/2006

PROJECT ACTIVITY LEVEL

1. PAL levels are cumulative, Ev level would include all preceding PAL requirements.

2. Tank truck or trailer shall be on or adjacent to each active landing.

3. When hot saw technology is being used, the tank truck or trailer (B2 above) may serve dual purpose as active landing tank truck provided it shall be kept readily available for use as follows:

a.Within one quarter mile of the operating hot saw technology; and b.Within 10 minutes of the active landing; and

c. Effective communications exist between hot saw technology and active landing.

Otherwise, there shall be a tank truck or trailer at both the active landing and within one quarter mile of the operating hot saw technology.

4. (Additional restrictions specified by the forest.)

local time:

a. Blasting

2. Operations using hot saw technology are prohibited between 1:00 PM and sunset local time. Hot saw technology operations may continue if Contractor provides a portable fire suppression system capable of extinguishing a 20-foot by 20-foot wild land fire within five (5) minutes of discovery. The following equipment will meet the requirements above:

a. Compressed Air Foam System with minimum requirements of 20 gallons stored energy, 100 feet of 1 inch hose and adjustable 1 inch nozzle, minimum discharge range of 60 feet and 1 spare air cylinder; or

b. All terrain tank truck or equivalent capable of traveling throughout the cutting unit, containing not less than 300 gallons of water and complies with all tank truck requirements of Section 3. All terrain tank truck or equivalent may serve dual purpose as active landing tank truck provided:

1) Tank truck or equivalent shall be kept readily available to extinguish a fire within 5 minutes of discovery of the operating hot saw technology,

2) Tank truck or equivalent shall be no further than 10 minutes travel time to the active landing,

3) A 4-A:80-B:C extinguisher is maintained at the landing fire tool box and,

4) Effective communications exist between the hot saw technology, active landing and all terrain tank truck or equivalent.

Otherwise there shall be a tank truck at the active landing and an all terrain tank truck or equivalent with the hot saw technology.

3. (Additional restrictions specified by the forest.)

a. No blasting after 10:00 AM

b. Welding or cutting of metal only by special permit

c. No Burning without a permit

2. The following activities may not operate after 1:00 PM local time unless fire patrolperson(s) walks all areas operated that day once per hour until sunset local time and has the capability of notifying the designated BLM Dispatch Center within fifteen (15) minutes of discovery of a fire:

a. Track-laying equipment

b. Chipping outside of landings and roadbeds

c. Equipment using Hot Saw Technology

d. Chainsaw operations outside of landings and roadbeds

e. Tree felling operations

f. Ripping roads and landings

g. Mastication

h. Cable-yarding employing motorized carriages.

3. (Additional restrictions specified by the forest.)

a. Blasting

b. Welding or cutting metal

c. Burning

2. Following activities may operate when fire patrolperson walks from 9:00 AM until local sunset all areas once per hour that were mechanically operated that day.

A. Activities that may operate all day:

1. Hauling and loading of logs decked at approved landings.

2. Hauling and loading of chips piled at approved landings.

3. Equipment servicing at approved sites.

4. Roads: Dust abatement or rock aggregate installation (does not include pit or quarry development)

5. Chainsaw or stroke delimber operation associated with loading at approved landing sites.

B. All other Operations are permitted until 1:00 PM local time subject to the following:

1. When hot saw technology is being used a tractor or other equipment with blade capable of constructing fire line, shall be on standby and immediately available. Tractor will have effective communications with hot saw technology and be within one quarter mile of hot saw technology to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start.

C. (Additional restrictions specified by the forest.)

1. Hauling and loading of logs decked at approved landings.

2. Hauling and loading of chips piled at approved landings.

3. Equipment at approved sites may be serviced.

4 Roads: Dust abatement or rock aggregate installation (does not include pit development).

5. Chainsaw operation associated with loading at approved landings.

6. REPORTING ALL WILD FIRES

A. Contractor's employees shall report all fires as soon as possible but no later than 15 minutes after initial discovery to any of the following BLM facilities and/or personnel listed below, but not necessarily in the order shown (table will be filled out when contract operations start to ensure all contacts are up to date):

Inspector

COR

Field Manager

F. M. Designated Rep

B. Contractor's Plan Regarding Personnel. The Contractor shall, prior to commencing work, furnish the following information relating to key personnel

Fire Supervisor

Fire Patrolperson