C04a_PWS.pdf

Performance Work Statement Service Contract – Hazard Tree Removal

Fullerton Lake Recreation Area Calcasieu Ranger District, Vernon Unit

Kisatchie National Forest June 15, 2026

1. General Requirements

The Contractor shall supply all material, labor, tools, equipment, cranes, vehicles, supplies, incidentals, supervision, and safety measures necessary to complete the project in accordance with this Performance Work Statement (PWS).

All work shall be performed in accordance with applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and the requirements outlined in this document.

The Forest Service may supply, upon request:

Specialized measurement tools (e.g., survey-grade GPS, total stations, auto-levels) for field verification

A tablet and/or laptop for contractor reporting purposes

The Forest Service shall provide all necessary administrative documents required for contract execution and compliance, including but not limited to:

Contract Daily Diaries Notices of Non-Compliance Other required contract documentation

2. Scope of Work

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, and incidentals necessary to identify, fell, remove, and dispose of designated hazard trees within approximately 75 acres of the Fullerton Lake Recreation Area. All work shall be performed in conformance with the most recent version of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z133 – Pruning, Trimming, Repairing, Maintaining, and Removing Trees, and Cutting Brush – Safety Requirements.

Hazard trees include:

Downed dead trees 6 inches in diameter or larger Standing dead trees 6 inches in diameter or larger Structurally compromised live trees identified as hazards Any marked sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) near the campground area

All delineated hazard trees within the developed recreation footprint—including campgrounds, parking areas, road corridors, trails, and day-use areas—shall be mitigated to restore safe public access and administrative functionality following storm damage.

Work includes:

Felling and removal of hazard trees Limbing, bucking, and site cleanup Hauling and disposal of woody debris to a designated gravel pit located approximately 10.3 miles from the site Stump grinding within the footprint of the campground Mastication within the designated mastication area

The intent of this contract is to eliminate known hazardous conditions. Upon completion, the site shall be safe for public use and free of hazard trees within the defined project area.

3. Location

Work will occur at the Fullerton Lake Recreation Area on the Calcasieu Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest near state route LA-399.

Project boundaries will be identified by maps and/or flagging provided by the Forest Service. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will verify work limits prior to commencement.

4. Hours of Work and Site Conditions

Work shall be performed between the hours of 0630 and 1730, Monday through Friday, unless otherwise approved by the COR.

Site conditions include:

No potable water available No toilet facilities available No electrical power available

The Contractor is responsible for providing all necessary support to safely perform the work under these conditions.

5. Technical Requirements

5.1 Hazard Tree Removal

5.1.1 Description of work

Cut and remove hazard trees to eliminate hazards to the public. Cut and remove identified hazard trees from roadways and designated areas shown on the attached project map. For the purposes of this contract, hazards will defined as follows:

Hazard trees are defined as any tree over 6 inches diameter with a major defect within the designated contract area and roadways.

Major defects include:

Dead-standing snags Significant dead stems, leaders, or scaffolds (that are too large to mitigate by pruning-out) Heavy, unnatural lean towards or parallel to target Open Hollows, cankers, or other areas of dead cambium or rot on trunk flare or bole of tree that encompasses over 30% of diameter at the site of defect.

Obvious internal hollows at trunk flare that account for over 66% basal area of tree.

Horizontal or vertical cracking on trunk flare, bole, or major scaffold.

Root lifting near base of tree.

Damage to, or exposure of, over 30% of major anchoring roots Significant recent canopy dieback on over 50% of crown.

5.2 Downed Log Removal

5.2.1 Description of work

Remove any downed woody material 4 inches or great in diameter Haul removed material to disposal site.

5.3 Mastication

5.3.1 Description of work

Mastication is allowed in the indicated mastication area shown on the attached map.

Piles of chipped or ground materials shall not be greater than 3 inches high as measured to the surrounding area, and chips shall be evenly spread across the area of disposal.

5.4 Stump Grinding

5.4.1 Description of work

Stumps designated for treatment will be marked or otherwise identified by the

Forest Service.

All stumps within the developed recreation footprint shall be ground to flush with grade (not to exceed 2 inches above surrounding ground surface).

Grindings shall be spread, removed, or otherwise treated as directed by the COR.

Final conditions shall not present tripping hazards or impede site usability.

Piles of chipped or ground materials shall not be greater than 3 inches high as measured to the surrounding area, and chips shall be evenly spread across the area of disposal.

No woody material shall be left in open grass areas.

5.5 Hauling and Disposal

5.5.1 Description of work

All woody material shall be transported to and disposed of at a designated gravel pit located approximately 10 miles(see attached map) from the project site.

Material shall be disposed of in a manner that does not create additional hazards or environmental damage.

No debris shall be left within the recreation site unless approved by the COR.

6. Safety Requirements

6.1 Worker Safety

The Contractor shall take all necessary precautions for the safety of, and shall provide the necessary protection to prevent damage, injury or loss to all Contractor or Sub-contractor employees on the job. Safety requirements are governed by OSHA regulations. Contractor shall provide employees with the proper personal protection equipment such as hard hats, goggles, chaps, leather gloves, hearing protection and high top leather work boots with lugged soles.

Each worksite should have readily available a first aid kit, a bee sting kit, two-way radios or cellular phones for communications in the remote areas of the parkway and a vehicle available for emergency transportation to a medical facility.

Sawyers shall be trained and currently certified in first aid and CPR as per OSHA requirements.

Establish and maintain safe work zones and exclusion areas Conduct daily Job Hazard Analyses (JHA) Contractor shall provide a copy of Company Safety Plan that addresses all safety topics including work hazards associated with this project and accident and spill response.

6.2 Fire Prevention

Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to prevent fire during this contract work. Internal combustion equipment shall be located by the contractor so that exhausts discharge well away from combustible materials. The contractor shall provide a minimum of one fire extinguisher per vehicle/equipment at each separate job site that is appropriate for each type of fire that could occur on the job. Contractor shall notify COR as soon as possible of any fire starts regardless of size and whether or not fire is/was contained.

6.3 Hazardous Material Spill

Immediately contain and clean-up the release or spill of hazardous materials (e.g.

vehicle and equipment oil and fluids) in conformance with Hazardous Waste containment and clean-up requirements and immediately report the incident to the

COR.

6.4 Accident Reporting

Report all accidents on the jobsite to the District Ranger and COR or area Project

Inspector.

7. Special Project Requirements

7.1 Protection of Recreation Area Infrastructure

Protect asphalt pavement in a manner that felling operations, dragging, outriggers, equipment, tracks, etc. will not damage asphalt. Small patches will not be allowed on any sections of roadway that have been paved or overlaid within 3 years. Mill and overlay full lane width per FHWA special contract requirements will be required on newly paved sections of road damaged by the Contractor during contract operations.

Any asphalt, grounds, guardrail, signs, or other park amenities damaged due to construction activities will be repaired at the expense of the contractor.

7.2 Protection of Trees and Vegetation

All pruning and felling shall be performed to industry standards based on ANSI Z133 and ANSI A300:Part 1. Pruning shall be performed from a bucket truck, aerial lift, or with a trained tree climber with appropriate rope techniques. Pruning non-removal trees via spiking/gaffing is not allowed in this contract.

Care should be taken to limit damage to non-target trees during felling operations.

If non-hazard trees are struck and damaged through felling operations, the contractor is responsible for mitigating any new hazards (e.g., pruning out large broken branches if they present a hazard, felling trees that have been compromised).

Woody material shall not be piled next to non-hazard trees, even temporarily, due to risk of damage to tree base and roots.

The contractor must stop work immediately and immediately notify the COR if any cultural resources are encountered.

7.3 Environmental Protections

Operations shall minimize disturbance to soil, water, and residual vegetation.

Equipment shall remain within designated work areas unless otherwise approved.

The Contractor shall prevent and control spills of fuel, oil, or hazardous materials and report any incidents immediately.

All work shall comply with applicable environmental regulations and Forest

Service direction.

7.4 Certified Arborist

The contractor shall provide an ISA Certified and Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry licensed arborist who shall be required to be on-site at all times that any tree work is taking place. Provide alternate certified arborist whenever primary arborist must be off site

8. Performance Standards

All designated hazard trees shall be removed or mitigated.

No hazard trees shall remain within striking distance of developed infrastructure or use areas.

The recreation site shall be left in a clean, safe, and usable condition.

No avoidable damage shall occur to roads, campsites, utilities, or other improvements.

Repair any direct or indirect damage to Government property caused by the

Contractor’s personnel or equipment and restore such property to its condition prior to sustaining such damage.

All work shall meet applicable safety and technical requirements.

9. Required Contractor Documents

Contractors will be required to submit the following before beginning work:

Certificate of Insurance Safety Plan SF 1413s for All subcontractors First Aid and CPR Certification of all Sawyers Certification/Licensure of Certified Arborists

10. Inspection and Acceptance

The COR will monitor work progress and compliance.

The Contractor shall coordinate with the COR for required inspections.

Final acceptance will occur when:

o All hazard trees have been removed o Debris has been treated as specified o The site meets safety and usability standards

11. Measurement and Payment

Payment will be made as a single lump sum for completion of all work described in this contract.

The lump sum price shall include all costs for:

Labor Equipment Supervision Felling, limbing, and processing

Hauling and disposal Stump grinding Site cleanup All incidentals necessary to complete the work

No separate payment will be made for any individual component of the work.

12. Period of Performance

Work shall be completed within 60 calendar days from Notice to Proceed (NTP), or as otherwise specified in the contract.

13. Products

Government-Furnished Property/Products: None Contractor-Furnished Property/Products: None

14. Locations

Fullerton Lake Campground 125 LA-399(Google Maps) Pitkin, LA 70656

15. Authorities and References

Forest Service Manual (FSM 2330 – Recreation Management) Forest Service Manual (FSM 6700 – Safety and Health Program) 29 CFR 1910 – Occupational Safety and Health Standards 29 CFR 1910.266 – Logging Operations 36 CFR 261.3 – Prohibitions

These authorities require the identification and mitigation of hazards within developed recreation sites to ensure safe conditions for public use and reduce agency liability.

16. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

The COR will be designated by the Contracting Officer and is responsible for technical oversight, inspection, and acceptance of work. The COR does not have authority to modify contract terms.

17. Special Considerations

Work may occur in areas open to the public; the Contractor shall ensure public safety at all times.

Temporary closures or traffic control may be required.

Emergency access shall be maintained unless otherwise approved.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

Project Name: Fullerton Lake Recreation Area Hazard Tree Mitigation Location: Calcasieu Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest (LA-399) Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price / Single Lump Sum

1. Purpose and Authority This QASP provides a systematic method for the Forest Service to monitor and evaluate contractor performance. It ensures the contractor delivers services meeting the standards defined in the SOW.

• Authority: Issued by the Contracting Officer (CO) under the authority of FAR Part 46 (Quality Assurance).

• Role of the COR: The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will conduct inspections, document performance, and recommend acceptance or rejection of work.

The COR cannot modify contract terms or pricing.

2. Roles and Responsibilities

• Contracting Officer (CO): Alone has the authority to change the contract, issue cure notices, withhold payments, or terminate the contract.

• Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): Responsible for daily surveillance, technical oversight, issuing Contract Daily Diaries, and reviewing contractor deliverables.

• Contractor: Responsible for quality control (QC), executing work safely per ANSI/OSHA standards, and maintaining required on-site personnel.

3. Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) Matrix The matrix below maps SOW requirements to specific performance standards, surveillance methods, and consequences for non-compliance.

SOW

Ref

Performance Objective

Performance Standard

Acceptable Quality Level

(AQL)

Surveillance Method

Remedy for Non- Compliance

5.1 Hazard Tree

Removal

All designated hazard trees (≥6" DBH, dead, structurally compromised, or marked Sweet Gums) felled and removed from the footprint.

100% compliance.

Zero hazard trees left within striking distance.

100% Inspection / Field Verification.

Re-perform work at Contractor’s expense prior to final payment.

5.2 Downed Log

Removal

All downed woody material ≥4" diameter removed and hauled to the gravel pit.

100% removal in developed footprint.

Periodic Inspection / Visual Walkthrough.

Re-perform work.

Corrective action within 24 hours.

5.3 & 5.4

Mastication & Stump Grinding

Stumps ground flush (≤2" above grade). Mulch/chip piles ≤3" high and evenly spread. No woody debris left in open grass.

100% compliance.

Zero tripping hazards.

Visual and physical measurement.

Rework required.

No payment until ground flush and spread.

5.5 Hauling &

Disposal

All debris hauled to the designated gravel pit (~10.3 miles away). No debris left on site.

100% clean site condition.

Zero illegal dumping.

Periodic monitoring at the gravel pit & site inspection.

Stop work.

Mandatory cleanup at Contractor's expense.

6.1 & 7.4

Safety & Key Personnel

ISA/LA Licensed Arborist on-site 100% of work time.

Crew wearing full OSHA PPE. Daily JHA performed.

100% compliance.

Zero tolerance for uncertified operations.

Direct Observation / Daily Audits.

Immediate Stop Work Order until certified arborist or proper PPE is on site.

7.1 & 7.2

Infrastructure & Resource Protection

No avoidable damage to asphalt, signs, or non-target trees. No gaffs/spikes on live non-removal trees.

Zero avoidable damage.

Visual Inspection / Post-work review.

Repair/replace to original condition.

Mill & overlay full lane width if new asphalt is damaged.

4. Surveillance Methods and Procedures

4.1 100% Inspection This method applies to critical safety deliverables. The COR will physically inspect 100% of the developed footprint (campgrounds, parking lots, trails, road corridors) to verify that every designated hazard tree has been safely mitigated and stumps are ground to standard.

4.2 Periodic Inspections

The COR will make unannounced site visits during the approved hours (0630–1730) to check:

• Pile heights for chipped or masticated materials (≤3 inches).

• Haul routes and the gravel pit disposal area to ensure orderly stacking/dumping.

• Protection measures for asphalt surfaces (use of mats or pads for outriggers/tracks).

4.3 Direct Observation (Safety and Personnel Audits)

The COR will perform daily or random safety audits to ensure:

• The ISA Certified and Louisiana licensed arborist (or approved alternate) is physically present during all tree operations.

• All sawyers are using required OSHA PPE (chaps, hard hats, eye protection, lugged boots).

• Daily Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) are actively documented.

5. Deliverables Checklist (Pre-Work Requirement) The Contractor cannot receive a Notice to Proceed (NTP) until the COR and CO verify, log, and approve the following documents:

• Certificate of Insurance (valid for the duration of the 60-day PoP)

• Company Safety Plan (including accident and hazardous spill response protocols)

• SF 1413s (Subcontractor clear disclosure forms, if applicable)

• First Aid & CPR Certifications (current and OSHA-compliant for all sawyers)

• ISA Certification & Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry License (for primary and alternate arborists)

6. Documentation and Reporting

6.1 Contract Daily Diaries

The COR will maintain a Contract Daily Diary for every day the contractor is active on-site.

These diaries will log weather, equipment, headcount, arborist presence, work completed, and any minor verbal warnings.

6.2 Government-Furnished Property Log

If the contractor requests the use of Forest Service specialized measurement tools (survey-grade GPS, total stations) or a reporting tablet/laptop, the COR will execute a signed hand-receipt log.

All equipment must be returned in original condition prior to final acceptance.

6.3 Non-Compliance Procedures

If performance falls below contract standards, the COR will take the following steps:

1. Verbal Warning: For minor issues resolved instantly (e.g., missed PPE item). Logged in Daily Diary.

2. Notice of Non-Compliance: Issued in writing for uncorrected or major issues (e.g., arborist missing from site, chip piles too deep, damage to non-target trees). The contractor must immediately address the deficiency.

3. Cure Notice Referral: If the contractor fails to correct deficiencies within the timeframe specified in the Non-Compliance notice, the COR will refer the matter to the CO for formal contract action.

7. Acceptance and Payment

7.1 Final Acceptance Criteria

Final acceptance will be processed in a single lump-sum event upon completion of the 60-day period of performance. Acceptance requires 100% completion of the following items:

1. Field Inspection Cleared: Zero hazard trees remaining in target zones; all designated stumps ground flush (≤2 inches).

2. Debris Clearance: All woody material ≥4 inches hauled to the designated gravel pit. Site left clean, safe, and usable for the public.

3. Property Restoration: Any damage to asphalt, signs, guardrails, or non-target trees repaired, replaced, or mitigated to the COR’s satisfaction.

4. Property Return: All government-furnished tools or tablets returned undamaged.

7.2 Sign-off

Upon verification of the above, the COR will sign off on the final inspection report and authorize the single lump-sum invoice for payment processing.