Bedard_SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

WETLANDS RESTORATION

USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

1.0 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this purchase order is to obtain services in the State of Vermont (VT) for Wetlands Restoration for one property in the Town of Orange, VT. Description of services is listed below.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NRCS has authority to administer voluntary conservation easement programs. The property involved with this agreement is enrolled in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easement component (ACEP-WRE).

The Federal government has an in-perpetuity obligation to manage these lands as restored wetlands and wildlife habitat.

3.0 SCOPE

The Contractor shall follow the Statement of Work, engineering designs, applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations and permits, and NRCS conservation practice standards and specifications to provide Wetlands Restoration and related conservation practices for this easement property in the Town of Orange, VT. The services entail the following:

1. Wetlands Restoration (657) – restore wetlands hydrology and topography within targeted areas identified in NRCS designs, specifications, and maps.

2. Critical Area Planting (342) – seeding a conservation mix to disturbed soils after earth moving work is completed.

3. Mulching (484) – applying plant residues or other suitable material to facilitate seeded Critical Area Planting establishment.

4.0 STANDARDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contractor shall follow the Statement of Work, engineering designs, applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations and permits, and NRCS conservation practice standards and specifications to provide Wetlands Restoration and related conservation practices services.

The individual Conservation Practice Standards and Specifications can be found at https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/#/details. At this website link one needs to select the State of Vermont, then Section IV, then Conservation Practice Standards & Support Documents, then Old Section IV, then select the specific practice of interest. Other specifications specific to this contracted work are listed in Section 5., Description of Services of this Statement of Work.

Please see Attachment 2. General Location Map, for the property location. Please see Attachment 3.

Site Location Map, for specific property access and location. Please see Attachment 4. Wetland Restoration Map, for the size and location of targeted wetlands restoration practices for this property.

Please see Attachment 5. Construction Overview, for specific details concerning quantities of soil to be moved, woody debris additions, seeding, and mulching. Please see attachment 6. Wetlands Depression https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/#/details

& Hummock Design Specifications. Please see attachment 7. Army Corps Permit Application. Please see attachment 8 for related NRCS Construction Specifications.

The Contractor will carry out activities during appropriate weather conditions to avoid damaging the property.

The Contractor will not deviate from the engineering design without prior approval from the Contracting Officer or their designated Contracting Officer Representative. Additional cultural resources review will be required if the location, depth or extent of any practice changes, if access roads, borrow or spoil areas are needed, or if unexpected archeological deposits or human remains, including historic burials, are exposed during construction.

The Contractor will attend the pre-construction meetings with the NRCS representative(s). The discussions and decisions shall be documented by the NRCS and the Contractor.

The Contractor will effectively communicate to NRCS the status of the Wetlands Restoration Services, beginning with the start of the first practice and through to completion. The contractor must notify the NRCS Inspector at least 48 hours before proceeding with the wetlands restoration earthwork.

The Contractor will communicate scheduling conflicts ahead of time. Any changes or modifications to the wetlands restoration will be communicated to and approved by the Contracting Officer.

The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve changes in any of the requirements of this Contract.

The Contractor shall not comply with any order, directive or request that changes or modifies the requirements of this Contract, unless issued in writing and signed by the Contracting Officer.

In the event the Contractor effects any change at the discretion of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the Contract price to cover any cost increase incurred as a result thereof.

The Contractor acknowledges that it has taken steps reasonably necessary to ascertain the nature and location of the Work, and that it has investigated and satisfied itself as to the general and local conditions which can affect the Work or its cost, including but not limited to (1) conditions bearing upon transportation, disposal, handling, and storage of materials; (2) the availability of labor, water, electric power, and roads; (3) uncertainties of weather, river stages, tides, or similar physical conditions at the site; (4) the conformation and conditions of the ground; and (5) the character of equipment and facilities needed preliminary to and during the performance of the Work; and (6) all conditions related to site access, required permits, utilities coordination, and government requirements.

The Contractor also acknowledges that it has satisfied itself as to the character, quality, and quantity of surface and subsurface materials or obstacles to be encountered insofar as this information is reasonably ascertainable from an inspection of the site, including all exploratory work done by the government, as well as from the Drawings and Specifications made a part of the Contract. Any failure of the Contractor to take the actions described and acknowledged in this paragraph shall not relieve the Contractor from responsibility for estimating properly the difficulty and cost of successfully performing the Work, or for proceeding to successfully perform the Work without additional expense to the Government.

The Contractor is solely responsible for any conclusions or interpretations made by the Contractor based on the information made available by the “USDA.” The government assumes no responsibility for, and Contractor is solely responsible for, any understanding based upon, any representation made by any government officers or agents before the execution of the Contract, unless that understanding or representation is expressly stated in the Contract.

4.1 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION AND/OR SERVICES

The Government will stake and/or flag out locations and excavation depths for planned practices.

The Government will have an Inspector onsite periodically throughout construction to answer Contractor questions and inspect construction progress.

The Government will have an Inspector review completed construction work and determine if it meets the engineering designs and NRCS standards and specifications.

5.0 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

1. Wetlands Restoration (657)

Natural wetlands hydrology will be restored by restoring topography onsite, including filling in an old ditch, creating wetlands depressions and hummocks, and installing woody debris.

Conservation Practice Standard for Wetlands Restoration is found here:

https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/VT/VT657_(1Col).pdf

2. Critical Area Planting (342)

Establishing non-invasive herbaceous vegetation to stabilize excavated soils.

Conservation Practice Standard for Critical Area Planting is found here:

https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/VT/VT342.pdf

3. Mulching (484)

Mulch seed to increase germination and survivability rates of herbaceous vegetation.

Conservation Practice Standard for Critical Area Planting is found here:

https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/VT/VT-484-CPS-2019-02.pdf

5.1 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Final inspection and acceptance of all work performed will be performed at the project site by the COR or Inspector.

https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/VT/VT657_(1Col).pdf https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/VT/VT342.pdf https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/VT/VT-484-CPS-2019-02.pdf

6.0 PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES:

The time spent to perform these items shall vary depending on the complexity of the site. The contractor will have 365 days to complete this project.

7.0 DELIVERABLES

Item No.

Deliverable Description Frequency Delivery Format

Due By

1 Pre-construction meeting attendance

Contractor will attend meetings before commencing construction

Once, prior to constructio n beginning

In person

Before construction begins.

2 Communication with NRCS

The contractor must notify the NRCS Inspector at least 48 hours before beginning construction

Once, prior to constructio n beginning

Via text, phone call, or email to COR and

NRCS

Inspect or

At least 48 hours before proceeding with the construction

3 Wetlands Restoration

See above Per design and specificatio ns

On site Upon project completion

4 Critical Area Planting

See above Per design and specificatio ns

On site Upon project completion

5 Mulching See above Per design and specificatio ns

On site Upon project completion

6 Close Out Meeting

Contractor meets with Inspector or COR to review project

Once at completion of constructio n

In person

Upon project completion

8.0 CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered responsible, bidders must have the capability in all respects to perform fully the contract requirements; therefore, the apparent low bidder must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the government that it meets the requirements of this paragraph.

A. General Standards of Responsibility To be determined responsible, the apparent low bidder must demonstrate that it:

1. Has adequate financial resources, or the ability to obtain such resources, required to perform the contract;

2. Is able to comply with the required or proposed delivery or performance schedule, taking into consideration all existing commercial and government contract commitments;

3. Has a satisfactory performance record;

4. Has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics;

5. Has, or has the ability to obtain, the necessary organization, experience, accounting, and operational control, and technical skills;

6. Has an excavation and/or construction contracting business within 60 miles of the project location

9.0 CIVIL RIGHTS AND PROGRAM DELIVERY

By signing this contract the Contractor assures the USDA that the program or activities provided for under this agreement will be conducted in compliance with all applicable Federal civil rights laws, rules, regulations, and policies. Any and all information gained through this Statement of Work or in the process of carrying out the Wetlands Restoration project are to be held confidential between the Contractor, NRCS, other designated partners and the landowner unless released by the landowner.

Information gained may not be shared with others and are considered private to the landowner. The Contractor will protect the privacy of information collected during the technical assistance process according to the provisions of Section 1619 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

10.0 CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO)

The designated Contracting Agency for this Statement of Work is NRCS. All administrative matters regarding this Statement of Work shall be directed to the Contracting Specialist:

Contract Specialist

USDA FPAC

Phone:

Email:

Only the CO may authorize changes to this Statement of Work.