c. Contractor Requirements.pdf

FY25 GAOA Trail Maintenance; NPCNF Contractor Requirements Page 1

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

General guidance and specifications are outlined in the “STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TRAILS AND TRAIL BRIDGES ON FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS” The document may be found at:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/trail-specifications.pdf

Below are supplemental specifications which supersede specifications outlined above.

3.1 Brush Cutting (912.20)

This work consists of removing brush, trees less than 4 inches in diameter, and shrubs within the clearing limits.

• Remove all limbs of shrubs and trees that extend across or into the clearing limits as SHOWN ON THE PLANS.

Saw or cut limbs flush with the tree trunk. Make cuts in a manner that will not tear or strip bark from the trees.

• Cut and remove from the clearing limits all woody plants exceeding ½ inch in stem diameter or 12 inches in height. The maximum size material to be cut under this specification is 4 inches in diameter when measured at a height of 6 inches above the ground on the uphill side of the stump.

• Cut all brush and small, woody plants as near flush to the ground surface as possible. When impractical to cut plants flush, the maximum stem length shall be 2 inches.

• Remove all woody material for a minimum of 3 inches below the trail tread surface. Fill holes in the trail tread caused by removing woody material with suitable material.

• Scatter the clearing debris removed from the clearing limits outside and below the clearing limits. Do not place materials in stream channels, drainage ways, ditches, culvert inlets, or other locations where they would prevent the free flow of water away from the trailbed.

3.2 Logging Out (912.30)

This work consists of removing brush, logs, and down trees from the clearing limits.

• Cut and remove all logs that extend across or into the clearing limits. The portions of cut logs that remain on the upper side of the trail shall be either firmly anchored to prevent sliding or rolling onto the trailway or moved across the trail to the lower side and scattered outside the clearing limits.

• Fell all trees over 4 inches in diameter that are leaning into the clearing limits and that are within 10 feet above the trailbed. Stump height of leaning trees that are cut outside the clearing limits shall not exceed 12 inches as measured on the uphill side of the stump. Disposal and payment for the leaning trees described above will be the same as for down logs and trees.

• Remove roots and stumps from trees within the trailway that have been uprooted.

• Rerouting the trail around windfalls, uprooted trees, and other obstacles will not be permitted. Ramp or reroute sections of the trail tread that have been damaged by uprooted stumps as necessary to provide safe passage on the trail. Payment for such work will be incidental to the specified work item, and no extra payment will be made.

• Remove sticks or wood chunks exceeding 2 inches in diameter and 12 inches in length that have fallen onto the trailbed.

• Scatter the down trees on the lower side of the trailway outside the clearing limits. Do not place such materials in stream channels, drainage ways, ditches, culvert catch basins or other locations where they would prevent the free flow of water away from the trailbed.

3.3 Maintain Drainage Structures (920)

This work consists of maintaining existing drainage structures, including excavation and backfill, selecting and hauling of log and rock materials, and reconstructing catch basins, and headwalls. Maintenance of drainage structures may be covered by one or all of the following: Culvert maintenance, waterbar maintenance, ditch maintenance, drain dip maintenance, and check dam maintenance.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/trail-specifications.pdf

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• Where trail drainage facilities have been plugged and the water has been diverted from the intended channel, remove the debris causing the diversion and return the drainage to the channel. Divert water off and away from the trailbed. If washing or ponding of water has been or is occurring, dig a shallow ditch sloped 2 percent to 5 percent to the downstream side of the trail and 3 inches minimum deep and 12 inches minimum wide across the trail at the point where water enters the trail.

• Clean ditches to permit the free flow of water into culverts and/or away from the trail.

• Scatter all unusable or unneeded material that is cleared from the drainage structures 3 feet or more beyond and below the trail or drainage facility and out of water courses.

3.3.1 Culvert Maintenance (921.70)

This work consists of maintenance of culverts, including excavation and backfill, selecting and hauling of log and rock materials, and constructing catch basins, and headwalls.

• Remove debris and soil from catch basins and inlet and outlet ditches and inside culverts to permit the unobstructed flow of water into, through and away from the culvert. Fill and compact with suitable material all disturbed areas in the trail tread over or adjacent to culverts.

3.3.2 Waterbar Maintenance (922.40)

This work consists of maintenance of waterbars, including excavation and backfill, selecting and hauling of log and rock materials, and constructing catch basins, and headwalls. Clean the upgrade side of all existing waterbars and maintain them as SHOWN ON THE PLANS. Remove material accumulated against rubber belting waterbars. Use and compact suitable material removed from the upgrade side of all waterbars to bring the trail tread flush with the top of those waterbars on the downgrade side. Remove all debris from the lead-off area of all waterbars that restricts the free flow of water away from the trail.

3.3.3 Ditch Maintenance (925.30)

This work consists of maintenance of leadoff ditches, including excavation and backfill.

• Where ditches have been plugged and the water has been diverted from the intended ditch, remove the debris causing the diversion and return the drainage to the ditch. Clean deposited material and restore ditches as SHOWN ON THE PLANS. Remove all debris from the lead-off ditches that restricts the free flow of water away from the trail.

• Clean ditches to permit the free flow of water into culverts and away from the trail.

• Scatter all unusable or unneeded material that is cleared from the drainage structures 3 feet or more beyond and below the trail or drainage facility and out of water courses.

3.3.4 Drain Dip Maintenance (927.20)

This work consists of maintenance of drain dips, including excavation and backfill, selecting and hauling of log and rock materials, and constructing catch basins, and headwalls.

• Clean deposited material and restore drainage dips as SHOWN ON THE PLANS. Remove all debris from the lead-off area of dips that restricts the free flow of water away from the trail. Use suitable material obtained by cleaning dips for fill on the downgrade side, removing rock more than 3 inches at its greatest dimension. Compact all material placed in the trail tread.

3.3.5 Check Dam Maintenance (928.20)

This work consists of maintenance of check dams, including excavation and backfill and obtaining and installing rocks.

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• Clean deposited material and restore check dams as SHOWN ON THE PLANS. Remove all debris from the lead-off area of dips that restricts the free flow of water away from the trail. Use suitable material obtained by cleaning dips for fill on the downgrade side, removing rock more than 3 inches at its greatest dimension. Compact all material placed in the trail tread.

3.4 Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Inspection, and Acceptance

3.4.1 Contractor Quality Control

The Contractor is responsible for the management and Quality Control (QC) of their work to meet the requirements of the contract. The role of the Government is Quality Assurance (QA) to ensure the contract standards (technical specifications, clearing limits, etc.) are met by the Contractor to a satisfactory level of performance for acceptance. The Contractor shall provide their Quality Control Plan (QCP) prior to starting work to describe how the Contractor will meet the contract requirements. The QCP shall include, but is not limited to the following factors:

• Description of how the tasks/work items will be performed by the Contractor to meet the contract specifications.

• Key Personnel and any special qualifications

• Crew Size

• Rate of Progress

• Estimated Start and Completion Dates of each Contract Line Item

3.4.2 Government Quality Assurance

The Government will perform contract quality assurance as necessary to determine compliance with specifications and to provide the basis for computing the rate of payment. Any inspection by the Government shall be conducted in a manner consistent with trail maintenance technical specifications. The CO/COR reserves the right to reject or require correction of any deficiencies found in the deliverables that are contrary to the information contained in this contract. The Government may conduct quality assurance for its benefit and has the right to refuse acceptance of nonconforming services. Quality issues with services tendered for acceptance or rejected by the Government shall be resolved in accordance with clause 52.212-4(a) and any addenda.

3.4.3 Inspection and Acceptance

The Contractor shall provide notification in writing to the CO, COR, and GTM at least 5 days prior to initiating work on any Item. Thereafter the Contractor shall provide written progress updates, every 7 days to the CO, COR and GTM including, at a minimum: Date Range, Trail Name, Trail Number, Start Work location, End Work location, miles completed, Work Items completed, and plan for ongoing work. Based on these progress reports, the COR or GTM will conduct unannounced spot inspections to verify work. Given the distances and remoteness of some of the trails, complete inspections of an item are unlikely.

• Inspection Procedure. The Government may conduct visual observations and/or sample measurements to determine compliance with the contract technical specifications. The Contractor shall notify the Government (COR) when each trail or portion of the trail is completed and ready for inspection. The Government will conduct inspections within a reasonable time once notified by the Contractor in writing of the completion of a work item that is ready for inspection. In the event of a rejected deliverable, the Contractor will be notified by the CO/COR of the specific reasons for rejection. The Contractor will have five (5) business days to correct the rejected deliverable and return it per delivery instructions.

• Reinspection/Rework. If the original inspection results are unacceptable to the contract standard and a rework and reinspection is required, the inspection procedures will be the same as the first inspection.

Requests for reinspection must be made to the COR in writing upon completion. An equitable price reduction may be applied to the Contractors invoice for the time and costs incurred to the government to perform reinspection. The price reduction will be based on the Governments hourly wages to reinspect the contractor’s rework items (e.g., travel time, wages, etc.). The Contractor will be notified in writing by the Government of any price reductions due to the Government reinspection costs; price reductions shall reflect on the Contractor invoice attached in IPP.

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• Price Reductions. The Government may apply price reductions for services nonconforming or found unsatisfactory to meet the contact technical specifications. Price reductions will apply to the Contractor invoice; the total reduction amount will be based on the number of deficiencies, severity, and any reinspection costs to the Government for nonconforming or unsatisfactory work items that do not meet the requirement. The contractor may be given the opportunity to rework and correct the nonconforming work items within a reasonable amount of time. All trails or portions of the trails that require rework for work items found unsatisfactory shall not exceed the contract time without prior approval by the CO.

3.5 Minimum Impact Camping Guidelines

The Contractor shall comply with the attached minimum impact camping guidelines. Additional limitations are listed below.

• No improvements of a permanent nature shall be constructed without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

• Livestock will not be permitted without written approval from the COR or the District Office.

• Vegetation shall be undisturbed to the maximum extent possible.

• Storage of petroleum products in excess of 50 gallons at the campsite will require the approval of the COR. All petroleum spills shall be immediately cleaned up. All spills shall be reported immediately to the COR or CO.

Spills over 25 gallons or that cause a sheen on surface water shall be reported to the Idaho State Department of Environmental Quality. No waste disposal of petroleum product will be permitted on National Forest land.

• Chemical toilets are preferred for all campsites, however, the Contractor may be permitted to construct a slit trench when conditions warrant. Any slit trench constructed shall not be located closer than 200 feet to any live stream and is subject to approval of the COR. The trench shall be covered and the area restored to as natural a condition as possible when the camp is closed.

• Refuse including waste materials, garbage, and rubbish of all kinds, shall be disposed of in the following manner, and shall guard the purity of streams and living waters.

• No waste or by-products shall be discharged if it contains any substances in concentrations which will result in substantial harm to fish and wildlife, or to human water supplies.

• Storage facilities for materials capable of causing water pollution, if accidentally discharged, shall be located so as to prevent any spillage into waters, or channels leading into water, that would result in substantial harm to fish and wildlife or to human water supplies.

3.6 Motorized Equipment and Vehicles

It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure that motorized equipment and/or transport use is commensurate with the management directions for the areas in which the trails are located. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for the Clearwater N.F. and Forest Access guide for the Nez Perce N.F. provide information on roads and trails with motorized use restrictions. These guides are available from Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Supervisors and Ranger District Offices. All areas outside of the Wilderness provide for the use of chainsaws.

• Access and Equipment Drops in Wilderness. Use of motor vehicles (including trail motorcycles, ATVs) and motorized/mechanized equipment (such as chainsaws, generators, or bicycles, etc.) are prohibited in designated Wilderness Areas.

• Use of helicopters for equipment/supply drops or for ferrying personnel into a Wilderness area will not be allowed.

• In general, storing equipment, personal property, or supplies at one cache site for more than 14 consecutive days within a 45-day period is prohibited in Wilderness areas, subject to specific Wilderness stay limits.

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3.7 Noxious Weed Closure Order.

The Contractor shall comply with the Special Order issued for all National Forest System Lands within the State of Idaho which prohibits the possession or storage of hay, straw or mulch that is not certified by an authorized official as being Noxious weed or Noxious Weed Seed Free. A Contractor possessing hay, straw or mulch in the National Forest shall present the weed free certificate upon request.

3.8 Fire Control

1. Contractor's Responsibility for Contractor-Caused Fires. The Contractor, whether or not directed by the Forest

Service, shall immediately extinguish, without expense to the Government, all fires on or in the vicinity of the project which are caused by Contractor's employees, whether set directly or indirectly as a result of Contractor operations.

The Contractor may be held liable for all damages and costs of additional labor, subsistence, equipment, supplies, and transportation resulting from fires set or caused by the Contractor's employees or resulting from contract operations.

2. Other Fires. For the purpose of fighting forest fires on or in the vicinity of the project which are not caused by the Contractor or his employees, the Contractor when requested by the Contracting Officer shall place his employees and equipment temporarily at the disposal of the Forest Service. Payment for such services will be made by the Government at not less than the current rate for fire-fighting services established by the Forest Service in the area concerned.

3. Any employees and equipment furnished will be relieved from fire fighting as soon as the Forest Service finds that it is practicable to employ other labor and equipment adequate for the protection of the area.

4. An equitable adjustment in contract time may be made for this period, if applicable.

5. Fire Protection Requirements - Fire Plan. At all times during closed fire season period, as specified by State law, the

Contractor shall comply with each of the following provisions to the extent applicable to his operation under the contract.

a. Fire Tools. The Contractor will provide for each employee in the contract area at least one approved handtool of a type appropriate in the contract area, such as a shovel, pulaski, or ax. Tools required and furnished under

(2) and (4) below, shall count toward fulfillment of the above requirement. Where additional tools, beyond those required under (2) and (4) below, are to be provided, the Contractor shall seal such tools in one or more boxes painted red and marked "Tools for Fire Only." All tools required herein shall be kept sharp and in good serviceable condition and maintained at locations to be designated by the Forest Service.

b. Fire Extinguishers and Tools on Mobile or Stationary Equipment. Each unit of powered equipment used in connection with this contract, including automobiles, trucks, tractors, etc., shall be equipped with serviceable tools and fire extinguishers as follows:

i. One - fire extinguisher, dry chemical type of not less than 2-1/2 pound capacity with a 4 BC or higher rating.

ii. One - shovel, round point #0 lady or equal.

iii. One - ax, 2 pounds or over, 26-inch minimum length, or one pulaski.

iv. One - water container (at least 1-gallon capacity), not required with stationary equipment.

c. Spark Arresters. Each internal combustion engine shall be provided with a spark arrester or spark arresting device approved by the Forest Service. Exceptions where the Forest Service may approve mufflers, or other equipment in lieu of spark arresters qualified and rated under Forest Service Standard 5100-1a are: (a) small multiposition engines, such as chain saws, shall meet Society of Automotive Engineers J335b standards; (b) passenger-carrying vehicles and light trucks may have baffle-type mufflers with tailpipe; (c) heavy-duty trucks may have a vertical stack exhaust system and muffler, provided the exhaust stack extends above the cab of the vehicle. An exhaust-driven turbocharger is considered to be a satisfactory spark arrester. Internal combustion engine exhaust systems, arresters, and other devices must be properly installed and maintained.

d. Power saws (if applicable). For each power saw used in connection with this contract, the following will be provided:

i. One - shovel, round point #0 lady or equal. Shovel must be immediately available for use.

ii. One - Fire extinguisher, containing not less than 8 ounces of extinguisher fluid, or a dry chemical powder type of not less than 1-pound capacity. The extinguisher must be immediately accessible to the saw operator at all times.

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iii. Any fueling or refueling of a power saw shall only be done in an area which has first been cleared or is free of all material capable of carrying fire; power saw shall be moved at least 10 feet from the place of fueling before starting.

e. Smoking. Smoking shall not be permitted within the contract area except on surfaced or dirt roads, at landings, within closed vehicles, in camps, or at other posted places, and shall never be allowed while working or traveling on foot.

f. Storage of Petroleum and Other Highly Flammable Products. Gasoline, oil, grease, or other highly flammable material will be stored either in a separate building used exclusively for such storage or at a site when all combustible debris and vegetation is cleared away within a radius of 25 feet. Fire extinguishers and/or sand barrels may be required at such locations specified by the Forest Service when unusually hazardous conditions exist.

g. Debris Burning and Warming Fires. Burning permits will be required for all debris-burning fires. Lunch and warming fires may be allowed in fireproofed areas during periods of low fire danger if and as specified in the fire plan. Such fires must not be left burning unattended.

h. Precautions for Stoves. Stovepipes on all temporary buildings, trailers, and tents using wood-burning stoves, will be equipped with roof jacks and serviceable spark arresters of mesh with openings no larger than 5/8 inch. All stovepipes, inside and out, will not be closer than 2 feet from any wood or other flammable material or 1 foot if the combustible material is protected by a metal or asbestos shield.

i. Fire Plan. Prior to initiating work on the contract area, during the closed fire season period, a fire prevention and suppression plan may be prepared upon request from the CO. Such plan shall include a detailed list of men and equipment at the Contractor's disposal for implementing the plan. The fire plan shall also specify additional measures and/or special requirements, such as Hoot Owl restrictions, necessary during periods of critical fire weather conditions.

i. When Hoot Owl restrictions are invoked, the Forest Service may curtail or shut down all or portions of a Contractor's operations. The following requirements may be imposed:

ii. All high fire risk operations could be terminated at 1300 local time.

iii. All burning could be stopped, including debris burning fires.

iv. Patrolman may be required for a period of 2 hours after high fire risk operations and 1 hour after the end of a work shift. The Contractor shall provide the patrolman unless the contract is for equipment rental, in which case the Government will provide the patrolman.

j. Burning. Before starting any open burning, the Contractor shall comply with the following:

i. Submit a burning plan, subject to approval by the Contracting Officer, designed to minimize the impact on air quality and to lessen any fire damage.

ii. Submit a burning permit from the District Ranger.

iii. Use weather forecasts as far as possible in scheduling burning for more favorable dispersal of smoke.

iv. Fuel shall be reasonably free of dirt and piled to facilitate rapid and complete combustion. Piles shall be tended during burning operations to maintain combustion and to eliminate unnecessary smudges.

Piles shall be patrolled during off-work hours to avoid wildfires.

v. Unless fire season controls dictate otherwise, burning shall be scheduled, as far as practicable, for the most favorable conditions during the burning period.

vi. Under certain atmospheric conditions, smoke accumulations may become excessive and in these cases, the Regional Forester may, at his discretion, prohibit all open burning for definite periods within specific areas of the National Forest.