Blacktail_CSE_PWS.doc

Blacktail Common Stand Exam (CSE)

STAND EXAM DATA COLLECTION SERVICES

PERFORMANCE STATEMENT OF WORK (PWS)

Common Stand Exam (CSE)

Data Collection

C.1.

GENERAL

C.1.1. SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of the work provides for stand examination and related data collection activities on the Bearlodge Ranger District of the Black Hills National Forest. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, transportation, supervision, supplies (except those designated as Government-furnished), incidentals, and perform all work necessary to conduct stand examinations in compliance with terms, specifications, conditions, and provisions of this solicitation. Information shall be collected as outlined in (1) the attached Performance Work Statement, (2) Chapter 4 of the Government provided Common Stand Exam User Guide and (3) Region specific Appendices, unless specifically modified by the contents of this contract.

C.1.1.1. This contract is a Performance Based Contract.

C.1.1.2. Specific locations, maps, type of exam, number of plots per stand, and other site-specific information will be provided at the prework meeting.

C.1.1.3. The number of plots to be examined is 588. The performance period will be from May 1, 2024 to December 31,2024.

C.1.1.4.

Access: maps identifying access roads will be provided at the prework.

C. 2. DEFINITIONS

Biobased Products: A product determined by the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products or renewable domestic agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine materials) or forestry materials. Information on biobased/biopreferred products can be found at http://www.biopreferred.gov/. In addition to the biobased products designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the BioPreferred Program, the Contractor is encouraged to use other biobased products.

Borderline Tree: A tree that cannot be easily identified as being located inside or outside of a sample variable plot when measured with a wedge prism or angle gauge. When a borderline tree is encountered, the limiting distance of that tree must be calculated to determine the in/out status.

Calendar Days: Every day shown on the calendar, Sundays and holidays included.

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

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH): The outside bark diameter at 4.5 feet above the forest floor on the uphill side of a tree. See the Common Stand Exam User’s Guide for special situations where measurement methods may differ.

Diameter at Root Collar (DRC): The diameter measured at the root collar or at the natural ground line, whichever is higher, outside the bark. See the Common Stand Exam User’s Guide for special situations where measurement methods may differ.

Limiting Distance: The maximum distance that the center of a tree can be from plot center and still be within the variable plot. Limiting distance is a function of the actual DBH of the tree as measured by a diameter tape and the Plot Radius Factor (PRF).

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS): Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

Plot Radius Factor (PRF): An angle gauge constant calculated by dividing 8.696 by the square root of the Basal Area Factor (BAF) of the angle gauge.

Quality Assurance: The actions taken by the Government to assess the results to determine that they meet contract requirements. The methods for quality assurance are described in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

Quality Control: Those actions taken by a Contractor to control the production of outputs to ensure that they conform to the contract requirements. The methods for inspecting for quality control are described in the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan (QCP).

Quality Control Plan: A plan established and maintained by the Contractor and acceptable to the Government to ensure the requirements of the contract are provided as specified.

Work Plan: The Work Plan shall describe how the Contractor plans to perform the project, including methods, personnel, equipment, and proposed Schedule of Work.

C. 3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The property and services that will be provided by the Government are as follows:

Exams PC Can be downloaded from the internet site at

CSE PDR Installation (fs.fed.us) Available from internet site.

Form in Exhibit 3e

Use of Premises permits may be required for Contractor’s camp if it exceeds local occupation time limit of 14 days. All Government-furnished items shall be returned to the Government upon completion of the job or upon request of the Contracting Officer. Replacement cost for any lost, damaged, or unused Government property that is not returned shall be deducted from the Contractor’s final payment.

C. 4. CONTRACTOR WORK REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS

C.4.1.

General Specifications.

C.4.1.1.

Accessibility: The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary permission to gain access to sample locations. If the Contractor cannot obtain permission to access a sample location, the Contractor must notify the Government in writing.

Accessibility may be determined from maps and digital orthoquads which will be furnished by the Forest Service. Contractor shall be responsible for adhering to the USDA Forest Service travel management plan, including yearlong or seasonal closures to motor vehicles, unless authorization is obtained. Maps and photos may indicate that a road goes to the stand; however, vehicle access may be difficult or restricted. Stand locations may necessitate that Contractor walk to the stand or acquire some other means of travel.

Most roads are typically accessible between the months of May through October, though high clearance vehicles may be necessary on some roads. A four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle is recommended. The Government assumes no responsibility to maintain roads in a passable condition.

C.4.1.2. Resource Protection Conditions: Contractors are expected to respond to sensitive resource conditions, i.e. walk to plots where road conditions are poor/wet.

C.4.1.3 Work Plan and schedule: The Contractor shall prepare a work plan and schedule that demonstrates that work will be completed within the performance period described in Section F. The Contractor shall provide a general plan with the technical proposal. A supplementary plan and schedule shall be provided before work starts.

C.4.1.3.1 The Contractor shall advise the Contracting Officer of any periods that the Contractor will not be working, not specified in the accepted Work Plan.

C.4.1.3.2 The Contractor may update the work plan when work is in progress and submit for approval to the Contracting Officer.

C.4.1.4 Standards: The February 2014 Region 2 Common Stand Exam User’s Guide and appendices shall be used. The specified version shall dictate the standards of data collection except when specified otherwise in this contract. In addition, the R2 Supplement to the FSVEG Spatial User Guide shall be used.

C.4.2. Technical Specifications A. Locating Plots

1. Plot Location Determination. The UTMs of the plot locations for each stand will be provided. The contractor shall use a global position system (GPS) to locate the plots on the ground with datum and waypoint information provided by the government.

A. For standard data collection, a recreation grade GPS (e.g. Garmin, Magellan, etc…) is sufficient.

B. The COR may authorize moving plot locations in the field as appropriate (plot is in road or on a cliff). If plots are moved, the contractor will document and GPS the new location and provide new location to the COR.

2. Maps. Sample plot locations to be measured within each stand have been marked on one of the provided topographical maps. Plot numbers have been pre-assigned for each plot in each stand.

3. Locating Plot Center. Upon arrival at the specified coordinates, the Contractor shall check the map to confirm that he/she is at the correct sample plot location. Installing plots in the wrong stand shall result in rejection of data.

A. If this is the initial plot survey, the Contractor shall identify the sample plot location on the ground.

B. If this is a return visit for remeasurement, the Contractor shall locate the plot center monument or relocate the exact plot center using a combination of GPS and bearing trees, then remonument.

4. Non-functioning GPS.

A. For standard data collection, the contractor may elect to use traditional methods of plot location if the GPS is unable to acquire the necessary resolution to execute the traverse from waypoint data. In either case, the contractor must navigate to the location provided on the topo map.

B. Plot Center Identification/Flagging

For standard data collection, the Contractor shall identify sample plot centers with a hot pink 12-inch wire pin flag. Sample plot center markers shall be firmly driven into the ground.

The location, stand, and plot number shall be written legibly on the plot center markers using a waterproof marker. For example: "060609 Site 3 Pt 4.”

To facilitate relocation of plots a piece of colored flagging (to be determined at the prework meeting) at least 12 inches long shall be hung vertically at eye height as near as possible to plot center.

Upon inspection, the center point of the marker where it intersects the ground shall be used as plot center.

Variable Plot: the first tree to the North and the first (2) growth trees on each plot shall be identified by placing flagging at breast height, as well as any off-plot site trees.

Small Fixed Plot: the growth tree shall be identified with flagging.

C. Survey Technique

Plots shall be located using waypoint navigation with a GPS unit. During the initial establishment of the plot, the plot center monument may vary +/- 30 feet from the true plot location listed, unless otherwise specified. Recurring errors in the location of sample plots greater than the acceptable error shall make the stand survey unsatisfactory; relocation of sample plots and remeasurement shall be required.

In cases where government provided photo plot location differs from GPS location found on the ground, the GPS location will prevail.

D. Recording Requirements

The data fields to be collected and recorded are enumerated in sections C.4.3, a-f.

· ExamsCE program. The ExamsCE program runs on several types of PDR style computers with the Windows operating system.

· ExamsPC program. The ExamsPC data entry program runs on computers with Windows operating system. This may require data to be recorded on paper forms in the field and then entered into the ExamsPC program at a later time.

· Government provided VEGCOV DOS based PC program for recording and entering the setting level Field Verification Polygon Data (Walkthrough) Form (FV) data.

· The contractor is responsible for providing the computer hardware necessary for running the software programs and for installing, maintaining and troubleshooting the most recent version of required software.

E. Qualifications

The success of this field inventory is dependent primarily on the Contractor's professionalism and expertise. It is necessary that the Contractor's staff meet certain standards. A crew can consist of one or more individuals. Minimum technical qualifications are specifically defined as follows:

1. Each crew must have a crew leader with undergraduate courses in mensuration, tree identification, plant identification, silviculture, and ecology and three months prior experience collecting data for Forest inventory or vegetation classification.

2. Each crew leader must also have the additional following minimum qualifications:

a. Proficient in the interpretation of aerial photography and associated maps.

b. Ability to distinguish between stand types both in the field, on original or photocopied aerial photographs, and on DOQs.

c. Knowledge in the use of hand held compass, data recorders, pacing, GPS equipments and map measurements.

d. Ability to accurately identify necessary tree, shrub, forb, and grass species needed for identifying local habitat types.

e. Knowledge of rating tree defects and parasitic plants.

f. Knowledge of common forest insect pests and diseases.

g. Familiar with habitat typing.

h. Proficient in the use of forest measurement equipment.

i. Proficient in the use of GPS equipment and data recorders.

Specific technical experience may be substituted for a given educational requirement.

The Contractor shall designate crew leaders for each crew. The crew leader shall be the individual responsible for ensuring plot measurements are taken in accordance with the accuracy standards.

The Contractor, by signing an offer, agrees to use only personnel meeting these qualifications for performance of the work specified herein. The Government reserves the right to make determinations of employees' or subcontractor’s qualifications; any employee or subcontractor who does not meet the above described qualifications may be requested to leave the worksite with the Contractor responsible for the re-collection and resubmittal of any data supplied by that person. The Government may also request the removal of an employee or subcontractor with unsatisfactory past performance.

F. Work Plan and Progress Schedule The Contractor shall prepare a work plan and progress schedule that demonstrates that work will be completed within the performance period of the contract. The Contractor shall provide a plan with the technical proposal for the contract. The contract time shall not exceed the negotiated completion date. The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion and acceptance of work within the contract performance period. The minimum acceptable rate of progress will be calculated by dividing the total units of work for each item by time specified.

The Contractor shall advise the Contracting Officer of any periods that the Contractor will not be working that are not specified in the accepted Work Plan.

The Contractor shall provide a supplementary plan and schedule as needed to update the work plan when work is in progress.

C.4.3 Data Collection Specifications – Common Stand Exam (CSE) This section describes the data collection forms and the fields on each form to be completed.

Detailed information and lists of valid codes for each of the following data forms are found in the Common Stand Exam (CSE) User Guide and Appendices (see Government Furnished Property).

If the following contract specifications differ from the provided Common Stand Exam User Guide and Appendices listed in C.4.4 below, the contract specifications shall take precedence.

a. Setting Form (CSE)

A setting is normally a stand in which the stand exam is being done. Following is a list of data fields required for each setting.

The Contractor shall be responsible for collecting and filling out the Setting Form for all data items that are set to “YES” in the Required column. The Contractor shall use the Setting Form in Exhibit 3a as the template.

Source Comments

“USFS”

WY

“03”

Not collected

SAF

Not collected

Always “CSE”

**Stand/setting remarks shall include a general cover type, size classes (V, L, M, S) with Basal Area average for each, and Pine regen average size and density (trees per acre, clumpy/patchy). Issues with access to the stand or obvious logging restraints may be mentioned when applicable. Species of Management Concern should also be listed here, see Exhibit 8 for list of species to document.

***Sketch Maps will only be required for stands where there is an area within equaling 10 or more acres that does not resemble the rest of the stand. When this occurs the sketch map shall depict where the non-uniform area is and what neighboring stand it should be incorporated with, if any. The Contractor shall use the Sketch Map form in Exhibit 6 as the template for all sketches.

All Setting Form fields, whether required by this contract or not, are included on the setting form provided in the exhibits. Fields not specifically required by this contract are to be skipped on the form.

b. Sample Design Form (CSE)

The Sample Design will be Variable Plot to sample large trees (live or dead). Fixed area plots shall be used to sample small trees.

The Contractor shall determine which Basal Area Factor (BAF) to use to sample the large trees. To determine the BAF or variable plot size, a minimum of 5 trees per plot (greater than 5.0 inches DBH) average must be obtained on the plots in the stand. Allowable BAF factors are 10, 20, or 30. If a BAF of 10 or a 1/50th acre fixed plot is used, the 5 trees per plot average will be waived.

The same BAF and plot sizes must be used throughout the stand.

Three (3) site tree minimum per stand required.

The contractor shall be responsible for collecting and filling out the Sample Design Form for all data items that are set to “YES” in the “Required” column of the following table. The contractor shall use the Sample Design form in Exhibit 3b as the template for all plots. All sample design fields, whether required by this contract or not, are included on the design form provided in the exhibits. Fields not specifically required by this contract are to be skipped on the form.

Source Comments

c. Plot Form (CSE) The following items are required to be recorded at each plot on the Plot form. Detailed information and lists of valid codes for each data item are found in the Common Stand Exam Users Guide and Appendices (see Government Furnished Property). The Contractor shall be responsible for collecting and filling out the Plot Data Form for all data items that are set to “YES” in the “Required” column of the table below. All plot data fields, whether required by this contract or not, are included on the plot data form provided in Exhibit 3c. Fields not specifically required by this contract are to be skipped on the form.

Amend Common Stand Exam User Guide, Chapter 4, Plot Data with the following:

Capable Grow Area Percent. Based on a 1/10th acre plot, ocular estimate and record the percent of the area that can support tree growth. If the plot has no trees present and is not capable of supporting tree growth (nonstockable), record a 0 percent. If a portion of the plot is capable of supporting trees (stockable), record the percent of the plot area that is capable of supporting trees.

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

d. Tree Form (CSE)

Begin recording standing tree data on the Tree Form at azimuth 360 (North), progressing in a clockwise direction around plot center. Trees shall be recorded in the following order:

1) Growth Sample Trees located on the variable radius plot.

2) Live Trees located on the variable radius plot.

3) Growth Sample Trees located on the small fixed plot.

4) Small Live Trees and Dead Standing Trees located on the small fixed plot.

5) Dead standing trees on the ¼ acre large fixed plot (58.9 feet).

6) Site trees that are located off plot.

· Put directions for relocating off plot trees in tree remarks field.

During fixed plot survey, group small trees of the same species with DBH less than 5 inches into one of four diameter classes, as described in the table below. Enter an average height for the trees that fall into each category.

Amend Common Stand Exam User Guide, Chapter 4, Tree Data with the following:

Field 4: Site/Growth Trees. A minimum of 3 site trees will be sampled per stand. Site tree species selected will be representative of the species comprising the cover type of the stand.

Growth Sample Trees (GST): If only one tree species is expected to be present in the stand, two large (>5.0”DBH) GST and one small (<5.0”DBH) GST will be measured on each plot.

Aspen shall not be selected as a growth tree unless the species comprises 50 percent or greater of the number of large trees in the variable plot.

Measure the first two live standing trees (large) and first live standing tree (small), when moving clockwise from north.

· If the first tree (s) has a broken top or tree rot do not use it as a growth tree. Use the next healthy tree (s) for growth specimens.

· If there are no live trees it is a null plot.

If more than one tree species is expected to be present in the stand, two large (>5.0”DBH) and two small (<5.0”DBH) GST will be measured on each plot. The first live standing tree, both large and small, of each species encountered moving clockwise from north, will be measured until two trees of different species are assessed.

The increment bore samples shall be placed in such a manner as to allow preservation for later inspection. Increment bore shall not be left on the ground.

Field 8: DBH/DRC. For DRC species, standing dead and down dead trees that are grouped, the diameter breakdown will be 5.0”-6.9” = 5.0”, 7.0”-8.9”= 7.0”, 9.0”-10.9”=9.0”, etc. Saplings (trees that are greater than 4.5’ with a diameter of 0.1” – 4.9”) may be grouped into 1.0” diameter classes.

Field 9: Height. Heights will be required for all trees recorded. For saplings, DRC species, and standing dead trees that are grouped, heights can be averaged as long as averaged height is within 10% of actual height.

Field 21, 22, 24 : Damage. The presence or absence of Dwarf mistletoe will be checked on all pine species and White Spruce. Always record if present, regardless of what other damages have been recorded. For all other damages, record only those significant damages that are most affecting tree growth and/or longevity. For all trees, a maximum of 3 damages will be recorded. If a tree has no significant damage, record no damages for that tree.

The table below shows the maximum amount of tree data fields that shall be collected for the intensive exam. The contractor shall be responsible for collecting and filling out the Tree Data Form for all data items that are set to “X” in the “Required” column for the specified exam level as listed in the table below. See the Common Stand Exam Users Guide for accuracy standards for each type of exam. All tree data fields, whether required by this contract or not, are included on the Tree Data Form provided in Exhibit 3d. Fields not specifically required by this contract are to be skipped on the form.

Detailed information and lists of valid codes for each data field are found in the Common Stand Exam User Guide and Appendices (see Government Furnished Property).

Field

Number Field Description

Site List

Site List

Government

Contractor

Contractor

Contractor

Contractor

Contractor

Stems X

Not collected

Contractor

Record 3 most severe.

category is not blank

Contractor

e. Field Verification of Polygon Data (Walkthrough) Form (FV) This form shall be completed for each stand that is included in the contract. The field crew should walk through the entire stand before completing the form. Detailed information and lists of valid codes are in the R2 Supplement to the FSVEG Spatial User Guide.

The Contractor will be responsible for collecting and entering all provided and collected data into VEGCOV for each polygon listed in the contract and will complete all data items that are set to “YES” in the required column of the table below. All data will be submitted as .TRU files to the Government.

· No entry less than 10% given to any one species unless it is a tree (minimum of 5%). Increments of 5% after the initial 10%.

· Grass species can be combined to make up a component of 10%. The grass species comprising the majority being coded for.

· Forb species can be combined to make up a component of 10%. The forb species comprising the majority being coded for.

· Shrub species can be combined to make up a component of 10%. The shrub species comprising the majority being coded for.

· Remarks are not needed for the walkthrough.

All data fields, whether required by this contract or not, are included on the Spatial Field Data Collection Form provided in Exhibit 3e.

POLYGON INFORMATION

applicable

applicable

If the polygon does not currently have a total of 25% crown cover of trees, but was previously tree cover and is currently not stocked due to a recent harvest or burns, enter the expected regenerating cover type or the previous cover type:

TAA - Aspen

TBO - Bur Oak

TDF – Douglas Fir

TLP – Lodgepole Pine

TPB – Paper Birch

TPJ – Pinyon/Juniper

TPP – Ponderosa Pine

TRJ – Rocky Mountain Juniper

TWS – White Spruce

(Refer to code list definitions) If the patches make up at least 20 percent of the polygon, then the polygon is considered to be patchy and not continuous.

(Refer to code list definitions)

Tree Canopy Closure

H – Harvest

F – Fire

W – Wind

I – Insect and Disease

O – Other

Change Date

1 – Top Layer

2 - Middle Layer

3 – Bottom Layer

Minimum of 10% for grass, and forbs to be counted in the overall %.

f. Data Format Data recorded on paper forms shall not be accepted (except sketch maps, where applicable). Data shall be provided to the Government in electronic files. An email with a zipped attached file containing walk through .TRU files, the .cse data file, self inspection documentation for each data collector, a site list showing locations, sites and plots for each crew member, and the sketch maps is preferred to avoid data corruption. With any electronic media, data must be readable by the Government’s computers (Windows 10 operating system). Adjustments shall not be made for software or hardware errors that result in data error or loss of data.

R2 FSVEG Field Verification Polygon Data Form (Walkthrough) data shall be submitted in the .TRU file format for each stand in the contract. .TRU files shall be named using the last 5 digits of the location and 3 digit stand number. A listing of all settings and plots contained in each submitted data file shall also be provided.

C.4.4. Standards

The February 2014 Common Stand Exam User’s Guide and appendices shall be used. This version shall dictate the standards of data collection except when specified otherwise in this contract. In addition, the R2 Supplement to the FSVEG Spatial User Guide will be used.

C.5. Sustainable Procurement/Biobased products The Contractor shall make maximum use of biobased oils and lubricants that are designated by the United States Department of Agriculture unless the product cannot be acquired:

· Competitively within a time frame providing for compliance with the contract performance schedule;

· Meeting contract performance requirements; or

· At a reasonable price.

Information about this requirement and these products is available at http://www.biopreferred.gov/ The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires Contractors to report the purchase of biobased products under service and construction contracts during the previous Government fiscal year (October 1 thru September 30) and to submit this report no later than:

1. October 31 of each year during contract performance; and

2. At the end of contract performance.

Information about this requirement is available at https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/FARReporting.xhtml C5.1 Sustainable products identified for this solicitation:

C5.1.1 Transportation to the job site

The main category where you can find these products on the green purchasing website is “vehicles and vehicle products.” In that category, there are several products that could be used in this contract such as: Alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuels, engine coolants, engine crankcase oil and gasoline fuel additives etc.

The individual products available for use can be found under “Vehicles and Equipment Maintenance” and then under “Vehicle Maintenance.”

C5.1.2 Other products that may be needed or used in the execution of your needs include:

· Paper/printer ink – field forms

· Pens/pencils – field forms

· Batteries – GPS

· Other miscellaneous items

· Biodegradable flagging

All of these products can be found at BioPreferred|Catalog

C.6. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

C.6.1. Performance Requirements Summary Table

The following describes the major items in the contract with the incentives and deductions for the work described.

Deduction

Stand Exam Data Collection, and Polygon Vegetation Attributing

C.4.3 a-e

Quality meets or exceeds acceptable performance standard in C.4.3, Exhibits 4a-f. 90% Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) and or Pass/Fail.

· If Contractor achieves acceptable performance quality, the Contractor will receive unit price as incentive.

· If Contractor does not achieve at least acceptable performance quality, rework at no expense to the Government. If rework does not meet acceptable performance quality negative incentive would be reduced pay, termination for default, and/or adverse performance evaluation.

Quality Control

E.1

· Achieving acceptable quality control is necessary to receive full unit price as positive incentive.

· If Contractor does not achieve at least acceptable performance quality, rework at no expense to the Government. If rework does not meet acceptable performance quality negative incentive would be, reduced pay, termination for default, and/or adverse performance evaluation.

· The Government may charge for re-inspection of a block in accordance with E.1.

Work Plan and Schedule

F.2. and C.4.1.3

· Completing work on schedule is necessary to receive full unit price as positive incentive.

· Work not completed on schedule is subject to Default and may result in assessment of actual costs.

C.7. Required Documents: Submission during technical proposal

Section:

Due

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1.

Contractor Quality Control

The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Services include field inspection, documentation on plots surveyed, electronic data supplied, and material furnished or utilized in the performance of services. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government for six months after purchase order completion.

The Contractor shall update and follow a Quality Control Plan (QCP) and Schedule once the contract is issued. The QCP and Schedule will become a part of the awarded contract. Any changes to the submitted QCP and Schedule will be agreed to in advance by both the Government and the Contractor.

All Contractor inspection records shall be provided to the Government at the time a block of data is submitted for acceptance. All records shall be signed and dated by the person who conducted the inspection.

E.1.1.

Quality Control Plan (QCP)

The Contractor shall provide a general Quality Control Plan (QCP) with the technical proposal. The QCP must demonstrate how the Contractor will meet the requirements and specifications of the contract, and that work is progressing in compliance with specifications quality (for example, demonstrating survey intensity). The Contractor’s quality control inspection system shall be used in the administration of the requirements for all service work.

E.2. Government Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

The purpose of this plan is to provide quality surveillance for the tasks performed under this contract. This plan provides a basis for the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to evaluate the quality of the Contractor’s performance. The oversight provided for the contract and this plan will help to ensure that quality levels of Contractor’s service(s) reach the required levels of performance.

By monitoring the Contractor’s service work, the COR will determine whether the performance levels set forth in the contract have been attained. Quality standards for all tasks are specified in the Performance Requirements Summary Table in Section C.6.

The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract tasks in the contract, to the extent practicable at all times and places during the term of the contract. The Government will perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the Contractor(s) work.

If any of the services do not conform to contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the service again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by reworking, the Government may:

a. Require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and

b. Reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed (see Section G.2.2)

E.2.1. Government Inspection of Services

The Government will inspect service tasks completed by the Contractor (or Subcontractor) as a basis for acceptance and payments, and to provide recommendations to improve work quality while work is in progress. The Contractor is responsible for providing quality control to assure that work complies with requirements of contract specifications.

The Government will review the inspections performed by the Contractor as well as any required paper forms and electronic data or other work submitted to determine whether the quality is sufficient for inspection for acceptance. As an initial guide, the Government may inspect up to 10% of the stands in a block submitted for acceptance and up to 5% of the plots within those stands.

An inspection block, as established by the Government, will contain a minimum of 20 plots and a maximum of 150 plots and all blocks will consist of complete stands. The initial inspection may be done on less than 20 plots if requested by Contractor. The Government normally starts compliance inspection of each block of completed stands within 10 calendar days of receipt. Contractor will be informed if this timeframe cannot be met.

Upon written request from the Contractor, the Government will perform one demonstration inspection of one sample plot at no cost to the Contractor as an example of inspection procedures and demonstration of potential problems. The Contractor shall accompany the Government inspector on the inspection.

All work included in the contract specifications is subject to inspections by the Government at periodic intervals throughout the performance of this contract. Treatment inspections are for the sole benefit of the Government and shall not release the Contractor of the responsibility of providing quality control measures to assure that the work strictly complies with the contract requirements.

E.2.2. Inspection of Work

The completed work shall be submitted within ten calendar (10) days after completion of each block. The Government will inspect no more than 150 plots of submitted and completed work per week.

Completed work, consisting of any required paper forms, electronic data, and sketch maps will be turned in for inspection in blocks. Inspection will only be made on completed stands. When electronic data is provided, the inspection will be based on a printout of the electronic data and/or based on the .cse files, as applicable.

E.2.3.

Work Quality Percentage Work quality percentages are derived from inspection of submitted data using the formula found as a part of each individual inspection form which are found in Section J Exhibits 4 a-f of this solicitation.

E.2.4. Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all Specifications in Section C.4; refer to the Performance Requirements Summary in Section C.6. Work meeting the AQL described in the Requirements Summary Table will receive a satisfactory performance rating.

E.2.5.

Unsatisfactory Work

If work quality falls below the AQL described in the Requirements Summary Table, the COR will issue a work order or notice of noncompliance to the Contractor in writing. Unsatisfactory deliverables shall be reworked to obtain satisfactory work quality.

In the event that work is performed that is contrary to the requirements in the contract, the Government is not liable for costs incurred by the Contractor during negligent performance that is without the fault or negligence of the Government.

E.2.6.

Re-inspection

If the Pass/Fail or AQL is not being met, and a need for re-inspection of the Contractor’s services arises, the following procedures will be implemented:

· If the Contractor has not met the AQL described in the Performance Requirements Summary, Section C.6 of this contract, the Contractor will be required to go back and complete missed or unsatisfactory areas.

· The Contractor will be charged for any costs of inspection of services, for which the Contractor is requesting inspection, are not ready at the time specified by the Contractor.

No charge will be made for the initial inspection. One complimentary re-inspection on the contract will be made, if needed. Thereafter, any contract re-inspection required will be at the Contractor's expense. These charges will include vehicle mileage, COR’s time, and inspector’s time as identified in Section G.2.3. Time expended by the Forest Service identified as the “start up, learning curve” period is not considered here. The Government will inspect service tasks completed by the Contractor (or Subcontractor) as a basis for acceptance and payments, and to provide recommendations to improve work quality while work is in progress. The Contractor is responsible for providing quality control to assure that work complies with requirements of contract specifications.

All work included in the contract specifications is subject to inspections by the Government at periodic intervals throughout the performance of this contract. Treatment inspections are for the sole benefit of the Government and shall not release the Contractor of the responsibility of providing quality control measures to assure that the work strictly complies with the contract requirements.

E.2.7. Re-inspection upon Contractor Request

If the original inspection results are not acceptable to the Contractor, a re-inspection may be requested, in writing, up to seven (7) days after receiving notification of unacceptable work. If the original inspection results in failure due to an unacceptable Form Score or Total Score, but re-inspection results in a fully passing score, then the Government assumes the cost of re-inspection. However, if the original inspection results in failure due to an unacceptable Form Score or Total Score, and re-inspection does not result in a fully passing score, then the Contractor shall reimburse the Government for actual costs incurred for performing re-inspection.

E.3. Stop-Work Order.

(a) The Contracting Officer may, at any time, by written order to the Contractor, require the Contractor to stop all, or any part, of the work called for by this contract for a period of 90 days after the order is delivered to the Contractor, and for any further period to which the parties may agree. The order shall be specifically identified as a stop-work order issued under this clause.

Upon receipt of the order, the Contractor shall immediately comply with its terms and take all reasonable steps to minimize the incurrence of costs allocable to the work covered by the order during the period of work stoppage. Within a period of 90 days after a stop-work is delivered to the Contractor, or within any extension of that period to which the parties shall have agreed, the Contracting Officer shall either -

(1) Cancel the stop-work order; or

(2) Terminate the work covered by the order as provided in the Default, or the Termination for Convenience of the Government, clause of this contract.

(b) If a stop-work order issued under this clause is canceled or the period of the order or any extension thereof expires, the Contractor shall resume work. The Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment in the delivery schedule or contract price, or both, and the contract shall be modified, in writing, accordingly, if -

(1) The stop-work order results in an increase in the time required for, or in the Contractor's cost properly allocable to, the performance of any part of this contract; and

(2) The Contractor asserts its right to the…