B08(a)_-_Attachment_1_PWS_CATO_FY22_Tree_Pkg_1_5-16-23_1251.docx

CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK

FY23 Cyclic Tree Services Pkg 1 Road 5/16/23

Performance Work Statement

1.0 GENERAL

Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO) in Thurmont, MD is soliciting arboreal services to perform cyclic tree maintenance in targeted areas of the park. These services will include felling, removing, and pruning trees identified along the Lewis Property parking lot and along three roads: Park Central Road, Manahan Road, and Quirauk School Road. Considering the park is a second growth forest, and the recreational utilization of the park’s amenities is increasing, there is a need to continue maintaining public safety via cyclic tree maintenance. For the past several years, the park has identified, felled, removed, and pruned trees that have posed a threat to life, neighbor’s property, and Government property. In addition to the base requirement, this requirement also has several options, all of which are subject to available funds.

The northern long eared bat is on the endangered species list. The contractor shall tap the tree before felling to allow any bats that may be in the tree to flush. If any bats are injured during tree work, the contractor will not touch the bat and will notify the COR within 15 minutes of the observation.

Park Central Road and Manahan Road will be closed to traffic between December 1, 2023 – March 1, 2024, therefore flagging operations will not be required during that time on Park Central Road and Manahan Road. Tag numbers 177, 178, and 179 are not in this closed area so flaggers will be needed for those 3 trees.

2.0 TASKS

The contractor shall:

2.1 BASE 1- Remove – one hundred three (102) total trees along Lewis Property, Manahan Road, Park Central Road, and Quirauk School Road as identified in Exhibits 1 & 2.

· Logs and brush must be either removed from the park boundaries, placed in the ballfield, or chipped and broadcast onto the natural forest floor only.

· Logs and brush under twelve (12) inches in diameter may be chipped.

· Logs greater than eighteen (18) inches in diameter shall be removed from the park boundaries.

· Logs between twelve (12) and eighteen (18) inches in diameter that are fairly straight shall not be chipped or removed from the park boundaries. They shall be stacked in the ballfield. The park will use these logs for firewood.

· Logs between twelve (12) and eighteen (18) inches in diameter that are not fairly straight shall be removed from the park boundaries.

· The staging area known as the ballfield may be used for temporary log storage until the logs can be removed from the park by the contractor.

· Chipped materials

· Can be broadcast onto the natural forest floor only; however, broadcasted chips shall not exceed three (3) inches in depth in any one location.

· Shall not be dispersed in areas that impact managed public use such as streams, trails, picnic areas, and campsites.

· Eight (8) dump truck loads of chips total, for all tasks, shall be piled at a designated area known as the Ballfield, which is adjacent to Park Central Road. This does not mean (8) loads per task, only (8) loads total for this project. This pile is not required to be removed by the contractor, however, written authorization from the COR is required to deliver more than eight (8) dump truck loads of chips to this location. If the COR does not authorize additional chips to be stored at the Ballfield, then the contractor SHALL remove them from the park at no additional cost to the Government, and disposed of in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

· Cut all stumps flush with grade – stumps shall not exceed three inches above grade. The top of the remaining stump shall be flat, no holding wood left protruding.

· Ruts will be prevented proactively. Trucks will not be driven off roads, only mini-excavators with rubber treads, not tires, may be driven off road.

· Repair all ground damage incurred during the performance of operations to the satisfaction of the COR (i.e. ruts, holes, etc.) by raking the soil smooth. Seeding and straw shall only be used in turf areas, not in the natural forest.

· If any of the 102 trees becomes an emergency tree according to the COR, the contractor will flatten those trees within 24 – 48 hours at no additional cost to the government. If those trees were marked for removal, removing them can occur later in the POP as long as they are not blocking facilities access.

2.2 BASE 2- Prune – three (3) total trees along Park Central Road, as identified in Exhibits 1 & 2.

· Cut deadwood three (3) inches in diameter and larger from trees.

· Logs and brush under twelve (12) inches in diameter may be chipped.

· Logs greater than eighteen (18) inches in diameter shall be removed from the park boundaries.

· Logs between twelve (12) and eighteen (18) inches in diameter shall not be chipped or removed from the park boundaries. They shall be stacked in the ballfield. The park will use these logs for firewood.

· The staging area known as the ballfield may be used for temporary log storage until the logs can be removed from the park by the contractor.

· Chipped materials

· Can be broadcast onto the natural forest floor only; however, broadcasted chips shall not exceed three (3) inches in depth in any one location.

· Shall not be dispersed in areas that impact managed public use such as streams, trails, picnic areas, and campsites.

· Eight (8) dump truck loads of chips total, for all tasks, shall be piled at a designated area known as the Ballfield, which is adjacent to Park Central Road. This does not mean (8) loads per task, only (8) loads total for this project. This pile is not required to be removed by the contractor, however, written authorization from the COR is required to deliver more than eight (8) dump truck loads of chips to this location. If the COR does not authorize additional chips to be stored at the Ballfield, then the contractor SHALL remove them from the park at no additional cost to the Government, and disposed of in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

· Ruts will be prevented proactively. Trucks will not be driven off roads, only mini-excavators with rubber treads, not tires, may be driven off road.

· Repair all ground damage incurred during the performance of operations to the satisfaction of the COR (i.e. ruts, holes, etc.) by raking the soil smooth. Seeding and straw shall only be used in turf areas, not in the natural forest.

· If any of the 3 trees becomes an emergency tree according to the COR, the contractor will flatten those trees within 24 – 48 hours at no additional cost to the government.

2.3 BASE 3- Flatten two (2) trees along Park Central Road, as identified in Exhibits 1 & 2.

· Trees flattened require no debris chipping nor removal, but limbs are required to be severed from the flattened trees so that the entire length of tree is in contact with the ground.

· Cut all stumps flush with grade – stumps shall not exceed three inches above grade. The top of the remaining stump shall be flat, no holding wood left protruding.

· Ruts will be prevented proactively. Trucks will not be driven off roads, only mini-excavators with rubber treads, not tires, may be driven off road.

· Repair all ground damage incurred during the performance of operations to the satisfaction of the COR (i.e. ruts, holes, etc.) by raking the soil smooth. Seeding and straw shall only be used in turf areas, not in the natural forest.

· If any of the 2 trees becomes an emergency tree according to the COR, the contractor will flatten those trees within 24 – 48 hours at no additional cost to the government.

2.4 BASE 4– Respond to emergency tree request to flatten up to 5 trees that are not listed on exhibits 1 and 2, within 24-48 hours. One unit for bidding purposes equals no more than one 8-hour day of work and up to 5 trees. Trees may be along roads, near facilities, or along trails.

· Trees flattened require no debris chipping nor removal, but limbs are required to be severed from the flattened trees so that the entire length of tree is in contact with the ground.

· Cut all stumps flush with grade – stumps shall not exceed three inches above grade. The top of the remaining stump shall be flat, no holding wood left protruding.

· Ruts will be prevented proactively. Trucks will not be driven off roads, only mini-excavators with rubber treads, not tires, may be driven off road.

· Repair all ground damage incurred during the performance of operations to the satisfaction of the COR (i.e. ruts, holes, etc.) by raking the soil smooth. Seeding and straw shall only be used in turf areas, not in the natural forest.

· Logs and debris from the emergency tree must not lay on facilities including landscaped areas, trails, and roads and must be greater than 10 feet from road edges.

2.5 BASE 5– Flatten and pile 95 total trees within a 12 acre clearing as identified in Exhibits 1 & 2. Background : in 2022, 12 acres of forest understory consisting of Japanese barberry and other invasive shrubs was mowed down to the surface of the soil using a masticator, creating an open area that will be planted with trees in the future. There are a few small pockets of barberry left. The 12 acres is accessible to a mini-excavator and because the shrubs have been cleared, there is a lot of room to maneuver the mini-excavator. The tree canopy is primarily dead ash with a few living poplar, cherry, and maple.

· Trees listed in Exhibit 1 and 2 will be felled with a chainsaw, not pushed over by a machine.

· Trees flattened require no debris chipping, but limbs less than six (6) inches in diameter are required to be severed from the flattened trees so that the entire length of tree is in contact with the ground.

· All logs from felled trees greater than six (6) inches in diameter will be stacked into up to 5 piles (exact location determined by the COR) within the 12 acre clearing or placed along the edge of the clearing.

· Cut all stumps flush with grade – stumps shall not exceed three inches above grade.

· Ruts will be prevented proactively. Only mini-excavators with rubber treads, not tires, may be used within the 12 acres. No equipment will be permitted within the 12 acres during wet conditions. Equipment will only be permitted within the 12 acres during dry or frozen conditions to prevent soil disturbance. The COR will monitor soil conditions and will stop work if soil disturbance is occurring.

· Repair all ground damage incurred during the performance of operations to the satisfaction of the COR (i.e. ruts, holes, etc.) by raking only, no seeding.

· Damage to non-tagged trees is not permitted.

2.6 BASE 6– Pile already downed trees that fell naturally within a 12 acre clearing. These trees were not felled by the contractor.

· No debris chipping is required, but limbs less than six (6) inches in diameter are required to be severed from the downed trees so that the entire length of tree is in contact with the ground.

· All logs from downed trees greater than six (6) inches in diameter will be stacked into up to 5 piles (exact location determined by the COR) within the 12 acre clearing or placed along the edge of the clearing.

· Ruts will be prevented proactively. Only mini-excavators with rubber treads, not tires, may be used within the 12 acres. No equipment will be permitted within the 12 acres during wet conditions. Equipment will only be permitted within the 12 acres during dry or frozen conditions to prevent soil disturbance. The COR will monitor soil conditions and will stop work if soil disturbance is occurring.

· Repair all ground damage incurred during the performance of operations to the satisfaction of the COR (i.e. ruts, holes, etc.).

Options (Subject to Availability of Funds)

2.7 OPTION 1 – Respond to emergency tree request to flatten up to 5 trees that are not listed on exhibits 1 and 2, within 24-48 hours. One unit for bidding purposes equals no more than one 8-hour day of work and up to 5 trees. Trees may be along roads, near facilities, or along trails.

· Trees flattened require no debris chipping nor removal, but limbs are required to be severed from the flattened trees so that the entire length of tree is in contact with the ground.

· Cut all stumps flush with grade – stumps shall not exceed three inches above grade. The top of the remaining stump shall be flat, no holding wood left protruding.

· Ruts will be prevented proactively. Trucks will not be driven off roads, only mini-excavators with rubber treads, not tires, may be driven off road.

· Repair all ground damage incurred during the performance of operations to the satisfaction of the COR (i.e. ruts, holes, etc.).

· Logs and debris from the emergency tree must not lay on facilities including landscaped areas, trails, and roads and must be greater than 10 feet from road edges.

2.8 OPTION 2 – Respond to emergency tree request to flatten up to 5 trees that are not listed on exhibits 1 and 2, within 24-48 hours. One unit for bidding purposes equals no more than one 8-hour day of work and up to 5 trees. Trees may be along roads, near facilities, or along trails.

· Trees flattened require no debris chipping nor removal, but limbs are required to be severed from the flattened trees so that the entire length of tree is in contact with the ground.

· Cut all stumps flush with grade – stumps shall not exceed three inches above grade. The top of the remaining stump shall be flat, no holding wood left protruding.

· Ruts will be prevented proactively. Trucks will not be driven off roads, only mini-excavators with rubber treads, not tires, may be driven off road.

· Repair all ground damage incurred during the performance of operations to the satisfaction of the COR (i.e. ruts, holes, etc.).

· Logs and debris from the emergency tree must not lay on facilities including landscaped areas, trails, and roads and must be greater than 10 feet from road edges.

2.9 OPTION 3 – Chip logs and branches along one mile of park roadway to be determined.

· Within 25’ of roadway edges, on both sides of road, all dead and downed between 1-8” shall be cut and chipped on site to include dead and downed wood on slopes of road cuts and ditches. All wood greater than 8” shall be cut and flattened. All dead and downed shall be cleared from the area within 10 feet of roadway edges. There shall be no dead and downed left in drainage ditches. Wood shall not be stockpiled. Large debris piles from storm damage that is within 10 feet of roadway shall be scattered to the forest interior but if there is no way to do so without stockpiling, wood shall be removed from park boundary.

· Chips can be broadcast onto the natural forest floor only; however, broadcasted chips shall not exceed three (3) inches in depth in any one location.

· Chips shall not be dispersed in areas that impact managed public use such as streams, trails, picnic areas, and campsites.

· Quality Assurance

3.2 The Park may provide if available:

· Space for the storage of materials or a staging area for temporary debris storage. If space is not available, the contractor MUST be prepared to transit the entire operational footprint daily.

· All labor, supervision, materials, tools, supplies, signs, transportation, license, certificates, permits, personal protection equipment, and equipment incidental to and necessary to perform tree removal, pruning, flattening, chipping, and felling services at Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, MD.

· All permits and renewal of any licenses and certificates that are necessary to fulfill this requirement.

· A current ISA Certified Arborist and/or Licensed Maryland Tree Expert must always be on the job site when services are performed. The contractor SHALL provide the arborist’s certification ID or Maryland tree expert license information for verification with their quote and any time there is a change in the onsite arborist. Certification and currency will be subject to verification by the Government utilizing the ISA and Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) databases.

· Work along roadways shall include traffic control measures that conform to US Department of Transportation (US DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), CFR 29, and state/local requirements. Flaggers are required to be Maryland SHA approved flagger training certified. Furthermore, all traffic control plans, and deployed devices shall conform to specifications in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). It is the sole responsibility of the contractor to take any and all necessary actions to ensure the safety of all personnel, especially the visiting public, during the execution of operations. Park Central Road and Manahan Road will be closed to traffic between December 1, 2023 - March 1, 2024 only, therefore flagging operations will not be required during that time, except for tags 177 – 179, which are not in the closed area. Flagging will be required at all other times along Park Central and Manahan Roads.

· All heavy equipment SHALL be washed to remove noxious weeds and seeds prior to arrival at the project site. Afterwards, if the equipment is removed from the site, for any reasons, it SHALL be washed prior to arriving back on site. These measures are for the prevention of introducing exotic invasive plants and seeds into the sensitive environment that is within park boundaries. This is a primary mission of the National Park Service that cannot be overlooked by the contractor.

· All safety control measures that will secure the worksite and notify the public of any potential hazards. Examples include but are not limited to caution tape, cones, and barricades. Worksites must not obstruct or imped any roadways, trails, emergency vehicle access points, or emergency infrastructure such as fire hydrants.

· In the event of an emergency the contractor SHALL first call 911 and then immediately call the parks 24-hour dispatch emergency number – 1-866-677-6677. The dispatch will immediately send out information to all on-duty Rangers.

· Provide written supervisor designation within two weeks after award: A supervisor designation is required for all on-site during all operations to direct contract personnel and maintain operations. The on-site supervisor MUST:

· Be fluent in the English language to effectively communicate with the contractor’s employees and/or subcontractors as well as the COR and other Government personnel.

· If the on-site supervisor is not present or absent due to illness or other reasons, the contractor shall provide an alternate supervisor to manage and direct all task order personnel and operations. The alternate supervisor shall possess the same qualifications as the on-site supervisor.

· The on-site supervisor shall have means of direct communication available such as phone or personal electronic device. The supervisor shall be able to respond to communications relayed through the contractor’s management channels.

· The contractor is required to establish a primary point of contact for communication with the COR. The point of contact shall be responsible for coordinating with the COR and shall possess the managerial authority to make decisions and act on behalf of the contractor. The primary point of contact shall be reasonably available during business hours to field calls and correspondence form the COR and shall be responsive. The primary point of contact is not required to be on – site during work execution.

4.2 Written Plans, Documents, Certifications Required

· ISA Certified Arborist ID or Maryland Tree Expert Licenses: Due with quote.

· Maryland State Highway Administration approved flagger training certificate for all employees that will be flagging within ten (10) days of intended start date.

· Work Schedule: Due within ten (10) days of intended start date

· Safety Plan: Due two (2) weeks post award

· Quality Control Plan: Due two (2) weeks post award

· Superintendent and Alt written designation: Due two (2) weeks post award

· Work/treatment log denoting the work performed by specimen: Due prior to end of period of performance.

4.3 Contractor Employee Conduct

· Professionalism: The contractor’s employees SHALL, always, while on the job site, whether on or off duty, conduct themselves in a professional, orderly, and safe manner. Rudeness, fighting, being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs or bringing and/or consuming alcohol and/or drugs, gambling, soliciting, stealing, and any immoral or otherwise undesirable conduct shall not be permitted on the job site and shall result in immediate and permanent removal from the job site of any employee engaging in such conduct.

· All contract employees SHALL display professionalism in all interactions with the public and Government employees. The Contracting Officer may require the contractor to remove, from the job site, any employee working under this requirement for reasons of misconduct and security, or if found to be (or suspected to be) under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other incapacitating agent(s).

· A contractor’s employee SHALL be subject to removal from the premises upon determination by the Contracting Officer that such action is in the best interests of the Government. Such removal from the job site or dismissal from the premises SHALL not relieve the contractor of the requirement to provide sufficient personnel to perform the service as specified.

· All areas used by the contractor within park boundaries SHALL be kept neat and organized. All equipment MUST be properly maintained and secured at the end of each day. Any fluid leaks from equipment or vehicles that leave stains or renders damage will be cleaned or repaired by the contractor to the satisfaction of the COR/POC at no additional cost to the Government. The contractor SHALL not leave any tools, parts and/or supplies unattended in at any time while performing services.

· Contractor employees shall not loiter in any working or patron area. Upon completion of their assigned work, employees shall promptly depart from the public areas.

· All inquiries from the public or press SHALL be immediately directed to the COR/POC.

4.4 Responsibility and Liability

The contractor SHALL be responsible:

· For all damages and liability for any loss or damage to Government property caused by his/her operations and SHALL assume full responsibility for any and all damages or claims for damage resulting from injury to persons, property or equipment which might result from any service performed under this contract.

· Ensuring that proper safety and health precautions are in place to protect the work, the workers, the public and the property of others at all times in performance of this contract.

· For the repair or replacement of all damaged Government property caused by his/her operations.

· All losses and/or damages shall be reported to the CO, COR and/or POC in writing, within two (2) hours of any loss and/or damage being determined. The documentation must include at least:

· Time and Date of occurrence

· Type of Loss or Damage

· Name (s) and Number of People involved

· Impact to park operation and/or assets effected by incident

· Any details leading up to and after the incident

· For all identified losses and/or damages

· The contractor SHALL take any immediate actions necessary to prevent further damage.

· Is responsible for all costs associated with reported damages and/or losses to persons or property that occur as a result of the contractor’s negligence

· The Government, at its sole direction, may elect to repair and/or replace the damaged property.

5.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE & Delivery Date

The Delivery Date for BASE 5 and BASE 6 is: August 1, 2023 – Nov 1, 2023.

The Delivery Date for Lewis Property is: August 1, 2023 – October 1, 2023 The Delivery Date for Park Central Road, Manahan Road, and Quirauk School Road is: August 1, 2023 - April 1, 2024.

The Period of Performance is: August 1, 2023 – April 1, 2024– All work is due by the Delivery Date – The Period of Performance is for billing purposes only.

6.0 HOURS OF OPERATION

Tree services shall be conducted between the hours of 6:00 am – 7:30 PM ET, Monday – Friday except when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closing, or similar Government directed facility closings. The contractor will not be reimbursed when the Government facility is closed for the above reasons unless emergency services are requested.

No Work shall take place on the following Federal Holidays:

New Year’s Day – January 1st Martin Luther King Junior’s Birthday – Third Monday in January President’s Day – Third Monday in February Memorial Day – Last Monday in May Juneteenth – June 19th Independence Day – July 4th Labor Day – First Monday in September Columbus Day – Second Monday in October Veteran’s Day – November 11th Thanksgiving Day – Fourth Thursday in November Christmas Day – December 25th

· Superintendent’s Compendium

· OSHA Regulations

· CFR29 Requirements

· ANSI A300

· ANSI Z133

8.0 DEFINITIONS

ANSI: American National Standards Institute

Chipping: Reducing wood and wood debris up to twelve (12) inches in diameter into chips by running it through a woodchipper.

Contracting Officer (CO): The person executing this contract on behalf of the Government, including any duly appointed successor and authorized representatives of the Contracting Officer acting within the limits of his/her authority.

Contracting Officer's Representative (COR): The on-site contract administrator for the Contracting Officer. The duties and responsibilities of the Contracting Officer’s Representatives are defined below in this Section or in a letter of designation issued by the Contracting Officer.

Contractor: The individual, partnership, joint venture, or corporation undertaking the execution of work under the terms of the contract and acting directly or through their agent, employees, or subcontractors.

CS: Contract Specialist

Flatten: Fell a tree and sever all branches that is keeping the tree from touching the ground along its entire length. When flattening is completed, the entire length of the tree will be completely in contact with the ground – the stump will be cut flush. Chipping debris generate by flattening a tree is not required!

Flush: No more than three inches above grade

Prune: Cut deadwood three (3) inches in diameter and larger from trees

PWS: Performance Work Statement

QC: Quality Control: Actions taken by a contractor to carry out a written Quality Control Plan to ensure the performance of contracted services meet the PWS requirements Quality Control Plan: A written document created by the contractor outlining the specific actions the contractor will take to ensure the performance of contracted services meet the requirements contained within the PWS.

Quality Assurance: Actions taken by the Government to assure contracted services meet PWS requirements.

Remove: Cut down and or transport outside of park boundaries.

Safety Plan: A written document that takes into consideration the risk assessment of the requirement and develops reasonable measures, concepts, behaviors, and disciplines to mitigate the assessed risk.

9.0 PERSONAL SERVICES

The Government has determined that use of an Agreement to satisfy this requirement is in the best interest of the Government, economic and other factors considered, and this Contract is not being used to procure personal services prohibited by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 37.104 titled “Personal Services Contract”.

To counter the circumstances that infer personal services and to preserve the non-personal nature of the Agreement, the contractor shall adhere to the following guidelines in the performance of the Contract:

· Contractor provides for direct supervision of all contract employees assigned to the task.

· Refrain from discussing the issues such as skill levels and hours, salaries, cost, and funding data, or administrative and personnel matters affecting contractor employees with the client.

· Ensure close communication/coordination with the CO and COR/POC, reporting problems to the COR/POC and CO as they occur.

· Do not permit Government officials to interview potential contractor employees, discuss individual performance, approve leave or work scheduling of contractor employees, terminate contractor employees, assist contractor employees in doing their jobs or obtain assistance from the contractor in doing Government job.

· Do not assign contractor personnel to work under direct Government supervision.

· Maintain a professional distance from Government employees.

· Provide contractor employees with badges, if appropriate, identifying them as contractors.

· Ensure proper communications with the Government (technical discussion and government surveillance is okay, but the Government cannot tell the contractor how to do the job).

· The Government has the right to reject the finished product or result and this does not constitute personal services.

10.0 THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

· Contracting Officer: The Contracting Officer (CO) has the overall responsibility for the administration of this contract. The CO, is authorized to amend, modify, or deviate from the contract.

· Contracting Officer's Representative (COR): The COR will be designated in writing at the time of award to assist the CO/PA in the day-to-day on-site administration of the contract requirements. The responsibilities of the COR include, but are not limited to;

(1) Determining the compliance and adequacy of performance by the contractor in accordance with the terms and conditions of this contract;

(2) Requesting removal of unsuitable contractor employees;

(3) Ensuring adequacy of schedule and Quality Control Plan, including changes;

(4) Ordering re-performance of unacceptable work or performance by other mean, etc.

· Point-of-Contact (POC): The POC will be used if an official COR cannot be designated at the time of award. The POC will not be designated in writing and will assist the CO/COR in the day- to-day on-site administration of the contract requirements.

11.0 DESIGNATION OF CONTRACTING OFFICERS REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

· The Contracting Officer may designate a certified FAC-COR as the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) at time of award. The COR will receive a designated COR Appointment Letter.

· The COR is responsible for administering the performance of work under this contract. In no event, however, will any understanding, agreement, modification, change order, or other matter deviating from the terms of this contract be effective or binding upon the Government unless formalized by a proper contractual document executed by the Contracting Officer prior to completion of the contract.

· The Contracting Officer should be informed as soon as possible of any actions or inactions by the contractor or the Government which will change the required delivery or completion times stated in the contract, and the contract will be modified accordingly. (This does not apply to individual assignments which were issued by the Contracting Officer’s Representative provided they do not affect the delivery schedule or performance period stated in the contract.)

· On all matters that pertain to the contract terms the contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer. Whenever, in the opinion of the contractor, the Contracting Officer’s Representative requests effort outside the scope of the contract, the contractor should so advise the Contracting Officer’s Representative. If the Contracting Officer’s Representative persists and there still exists a disagreement as to proper contractual coverage, the Contracting Officer should be notified immediately, preferably in writing if time permits. Proceeding with work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment or necessitate submittal of a contract claim.

· The COR is delegated full authority under this contract except for the following actions which are reserved for the Contracting Officer:

1. Approve Change Orders and Modifications

2. Take action to terminate the contract for default or Government convenience.

3. Make contract adjustments under the Differing Site Conditions clause.

4. Grant extensions of contract time.

5. Approve assignment of claims.

6. Make final decisions under the Disputes clause.

7. Make final acceptance under the contract.

8. Make final decisions under the Suspension of Work clause.

9. Make equitable adjustments.

10. Authorize change in amount of Payment Retention.

11. Approve subcontractors.

12. Approve payments with deductions or final payment.

13. Approve use and possession prior to completion.

14. Enforce the warranty provisions.

15. Issue any direction that would result in a possible change to contract requirements.

12.0 POINT OF CONTACT (POC)

The POC will be the official COR:

Lindsey Donaldson Lindsey_Donaldson@nps.gov 301-712-6761 Catoctin Mountain Park 6602 Foxville Road Thurmont, MD 21788

The POC for Contracting will be:

Christina M. Gingras christina_gingras@nps.gov

· The COR POC is responsible for administering the performance of work under this contract. In no event, however, will any understanding, agreement, modification, change order, or other matter deviating from the terms of this contract be effective or binding upon the Government unless formalized by a proper contractual document(s) executed by the CO prior to completion of the contract.

· The CO should be informed as soon as possible of any actions or inactions by the contractor or the Government which will change the required delivery or completion times stated in the contract, and the contract will be modified accordingly. (This does not apply to individual assignments which were issued by the CO provided they do not affect the delivery schedule or performance period stated in the contract.)

· On all matters that pertain to the contract terms the contractor must communicate with the CO. Whenever, in the opinion of the contractor, the POC requests effort outside the scope of the contract, the contractor should so advise the CO. If the COR POC persists and there still exists a disagreement as to proper contractual coverage, the CO should be notified immediately, preferably in writing if time permits. Proceeding with work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment or necessitate submittal of a contract claim.

· The COR POC has limited authority under this contract and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

1. Determining the compliance and adequacy of performance by the contractor in accordance with the terms and conditions of this contract;

2. Requesting removal of unsuitable contractor employees;

3. Ensuring adequacy of schedule and Quality Control Plan, including changes;

4. Ordering re-performance of unacceptable work or performance by other means, etc.

5. Approval of invoices and submitted reports

6. Requesting any of the work contained within contract

13.0 INVOICING SUBMITTAL PROCEDURES

The "Submit Invoice to" address for DOI orders is the Department of Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). All invoices are to be submitted online via the electronic Invoice Processing Platform. This is a mandatory requirement initiated by the U.S. Department of Treasury and one can find more information at this website https://www.ipp.gov/index.htm.

One’s company must register at https://www.ipp.gov/vendors/enrollment-vendors.htm to establish an account in order to submit an invoice on this project. Benefits of registering with IPP include the ability to create invoices directly from a contract award and submit them electronically, as well as:

· email notification when invoice(s) are paid

· online payment history

· email notification when one is awarded a new contract

The email notification of payment is sent when a payment is distributed to one’s bank account and will include all pertinent payment information. For all questions related to IPP registration and issues with submitting invoices, please contact IPP Customer Support at 1 (866) 973-3131.

14.0 ATTACHMENTS