B08_Solicitation_Attachment_1_-_A04_SOW.pdf

SCOPE OF WORK

Sterling Barrens and Sunrise Campground Brush Removal Project St. Croix National Scenic Riverway

Location of Work Area This project consists of two work sites. Both sites are in Sterling Township in Polk County, 10 miles west of Cushing, WI. Project sites are approximately one mile apart and located adjacent to the St. Croix River. Total project size minus wetland acreage is approximately 43 acres.

Project Site #1: Sterling Barrens (T36N/R20W/Sec33) This work site is located east of Sunrise Ferry Landing, near the intersection of 330th St. and Ferry Drive. This site is approximately 39 acres total and is predominantly composed of mature oak forest with an understory of dense buckthorn. There is a wetland on site that is approximately 7 acres. Work will not occur within the wetland basin.

Project Site #2: Sunrise Campground (T36N/R20W/Sec32) This work site is located west of Sunrise Ferry Landing. near the intersection of 330th St. and Ferry Drive. This site is approximately 11 acres total and is predominantly composed of mature oak forest with an understory of dense buckthorn. There are two identified wetlands on site, both less than one acre in size.

Description of Work

• This work is subject to availability of funds. The Government has the right to award some or all this work based on funding. The Government requests individual pricing for each project site.

• The contractor shall not subcontract any work required by this contract without the express written approval of the Contracting Officer (CO).

Start and End Date Notifications

• Contractor will notify NPS of start date at least two weeks in advance so that appropriate outreach and notifications can be completed by the park.

• The contractor will notify NPS of a planned end date. NPS will conduct a final walk through of the project site before the contractor demobilizes equipment.

Safety

• The contractor shall submit a written safety plan submittal for review and approval by the government before work begins. This safety plan shall outline all safety precautions the contractor plans to implement before starting the project in an effort to prevent all accidents.

• All equipment must meet all federal OSHA, state and local safety requirements and must be properly licensed.

• If, at any time, the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) determines that the work is unsatisfactory or being conducted in an unsafe manner, the contractor will be notified and shall immediately cease all work activities.

Utilities

• Contractor will be responsible for conducting utility locates in adherence with state and local laws. The contractor will be held responsible for any damages to, and for maintenance and protection of existing utilities. The existence and location of underground utilities shall be investigated and verified in the field by the contractor before starting work.

Mobilization/Demobilization

• The Contractor shall require all personnel to practice proper sanitation procedures for all equipment and vehicles (including personal protective gear) to avoid unnecessary spreading of invasive and/or non-native plant species within and from each treatment site.

Cutting Guidelines

• All buckthorn, prickly ash and honeysuckle is to be cut or mulched to within 4” of the ground.

• All other woody stems less than 6” in diameter at breast height (DBH) may be cut as well when co-located with the target species, except oak trees. Oak trees of any size will not be cut without prior consent from NPS.

• Slash shall be mulched to within 6” of the ground.

• Except for oak trees, trees up to 6” DBH may be cut/mulched to provide access and maneuverability for equipment. Contractor must receive approval from NPS to cut any oak trees that may limit access and/or maneuverability for equipment.

• All trees greater than 6” DBH are not to be cut or damaged.

• Painted and/or flagged boundary trees are not to be cut.

Access to Work Area

• These project sites receive regular visitor use, in particular Sunrise due to the campground located at the site. This campground will be closed to the public for the duration of the project at this site.

• The Sunrise Campground site may be accessed from Ferry Drive. The Sterling Barrens site may be accessed from 330th St. Any issues with parking on public roads or shoulders are the responsibility of the contractor.

• Certain areas may be excluded from treatment by the contractor or COR due to steep slopes, wet soils, cultural artifacts, or lack of access due to cliffs, large trees, rocks, logs, or the presence of objects that may damage equipment.

• Contractor is responsible for all damage done to public roads.

• The site may contain old fencerows with steel “T” stakes and barbed wire, and rock piles which may damage equipment. It is the responsibility of the contractor to locate these and other potentially hazardous objects prior to treatment.

Security of Equipment and Project

• The Contractor may leave equipment at the work site. The Contactor shall be solely responsible for the equipment if it is lost, stolen or damaged.

• Contractor is not allowed to park equipment at Sunrise Ferry Landing.

Suspension of Work

• By issuance of a Suspend Work Order, Contractor may be directed to shut down any work that may potentially damage resources because of weather or vegetation and/or soil conditions. The Contractor will be given a Resume Work Order, which will document the date the work suspension ends. The Contractor will not be entitled to additional compensation for such suspensions regardless of duration.

Restrictions to Work

• Work is restricted to times when the ground is dry and/or frozen. NPS will determine when ground conditions are appropriate to proceed if ground is not frozen.

• In addition to dry and/or frozen ground conditions, the timing of the project must take place between September 30 and December 31.

• No Government equipment will be made available to the contractor.

• No activities are allowed outside the work zone.

• Steep slopes, perennial wet, and culturally significant areas will be identified in advance and excluded from the work zone.

• To the maximum extent possible, woody debris produced from the mastication process will be directed away from wetland areas.

• At no time shall any artifacts or any other material, not specifically identified in this contract, be removed.

• Ground disturbance shall be kept to a minimum. Ground disturbance deeper than 6” anywhere on the park is not acceptable. Contractor shall be responsible for rehabilitation at National Park Service standards if this occurs. If ground disturbance deeper than 6” occurs, work shall be immediately stopped and the COR shall be notified to assess the area.

Penalties

• Exercise extreme caution around trees that are not to be cut. If tree limbs, trunks, or roots of trees greater than 9” DBH are damaged, the penalty scale in the first instance is $250, the second instance is $500 and three or more instances will be $750 each.

Acceptance of Work

• Work will be billed on a per acre basis to the nearest acre.

• The area treated will be mapped by the COR or their delegate using GPS to determine the billable acreage.

• Untreated areas ¼ acre or greater will be subtracted from the billable acreage.

• The COR may request that certain untreated areas be treated prior to payment.

• Acceptance of Work is at the discretion of the COR or their delegate.

• Only work that has been performed or costs incurred may be invoiced for. Invoices may be submitted up to once per month or less often via https://www.ipp.gov/.

END OF SCOPE OF WORK