D1. SPECIFICATIONS_DoloFY21CSE.pdf

CSE SPECIFICATIONS

San Juan National Forest Dolores RD FY21 Common Stand Exam (CSE)

13 August 2021

C.1 CONTRACTOR WORK REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS

C.1.1. General Specifications.

C.1.1.1 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.1.1.2 Resource Protection Conditions. Contractors are expected to respond to sensitive resource conditions, i.e.

walk to plots where road conditions are poor/wet.

C.1.1.3 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 B.4. The Contractor shall provide a general plan with the technical proposal.

C.1.1.4 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.1.1.5 The Contractor may update the work plan when work is in progress and submit for approval to the Contracting Officer.

C.2 PERFORMANCE WORK REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

See attachment D.12 - C.2.1 Performance Requirements Summary Table

C.3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

C.3.1. Locating Plots

C.3.1.1 Plot Location Determination. An electronic file that include the latitude and longitude UTMs of the plot locations for each stand is 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.

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

2. The COR may authorize moving plot locations in the field as appropriate (e.g. 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.

C.3.1.2 Maps. Sample plot locations to be measured within each stand will be marked on one of the provided topographical maps. Plot numbers will be pre-assigned for each plot in each stand. Electronic files of plot locations and polygons will be provided to the contractor.

C.3.1.3 Locating Plot Center. Upon arrival at the specified coordinates, the Contractor shall check the map or electronic file 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 re-measurement, the Contractor shall locate the plot center monument or relocate the exact plot center using a combination of GPS and bearing trees, then re-monument.

C.3.1.4 Non-functioning GPS. 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.

C.3.2. Plot Center Identification/Flagging For standard data collection, the Contractor shall identify sample plot centers with a marker that can be either a wire flag, wooden stake, or other marker as agreed upon at the pre-work conference. 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 04”.

To facilitate relocation of plots a piece of colored flagging at least 12” 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. If the marker is not a wire flag, flagging shall be tied to the marker so that it is visible above the plot center.

Latitude and longitude of plot center needs to be recorded in the PDR in the Exams PDR program. It is preferable if the PDR has GPS capabilities to take the GPS coordinates on site. If not, then the data collector needs to input the latitude and longitude in degrees, minutes, seconds (decimal seconds) in the appropriate lat and long fields in the plot form.

C.3.3. 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 in Exhibit 3. 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.

C.3.4. Recording Requirements The data fields to be collected and recorded are enumerated in sections C3.8 – C3.12 herein.

• 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 program for recording and entering the setting level R2 FSVeg Spatial Polygon Attribute (Walkthrough) Form (FV) data. Runs on computers with DOS or Windows operating systems

• The contractor is responsible for providing the computer hardware necessary for running the software program/s and for installing, maintaining and troubleshooting the most recent version of the required software.

C.3.5. 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:

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.

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 handheld compass, data recorders, pacing, GPS equipment and map measurements.

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

e. Ability to complete vegetation attribute and composition forms.

f. Knowledge of rating tree defects and parasitic plants.

g. Knowledge of common forest insect pests and diseases.

h. Familiar with habitat typing.

i. Proficient in the use of forest measurement equipment.

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

k. Experience with data entry and using PC Exams

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.

C.3.6. Work Plan and Progress Schedule.

Contractor shall prepare a work plan and progress schedule that demonstrates that work will be completed within the performance period. The Contractor shall provide a plan with the technical proposal 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 for each within the performance period. The minimum acceptable rate of progress will be calculated by dividing the total units of work for each item by performance 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. The Contracting Officer may accept the updated work plan.

C.3.7. 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, Regional Supplements to the CSE User Guide (i.e. R2 Supplement to the FSVeg User Guide) and Appendices (see Government Furnished Property). If the following contract specifications differ from the provided Common Stand Exam User Guide and Appendices, the contract specifications shall have precedent.

C.3.8. Setting Form 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. Project name (Field 1) will be supplied by the government.

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:

Field Number

Field Description

Required Data Source

Comments

1 Project Name YES Government Assigned during pre-work conference

2 Region YES Government Always “02”

Field Description

Required Data Source

Comments

3 Proclaimed Forest

YES Government “San Juan”

4 District YES Government Provided at pre-work conference

5 Location/Waters hed Alias

YES Site List Provided at pre-work conference

6 Stand YES Site List Provided at pre-work conference

7 Owner YES Government Always “USFS” 8 State YES Government “CO”

9 County YES Government Provided at pre-work conference

10 Admin Forest YES Government “San Juan”

11 Admin Region YES Government Always “02” 12 Date YES Contractor Format is MM/DD/YYYY 13 Photo ID NO Contractor Not Collected 14 Exam Level YES Government “Extensive”

15 Exam Purpose YES Government “Stand Exam”

16 Stratum N/A Not collected 17 Existing

Vegetation Optional Contractor SAF

18 Potential Veg Ref

Optional Contractor Provided at pre-work conference

19 Potential Vegetation

Optional Contractor

20 Structure Contractor 21 Capable Grow

Area NO Not collected

22 Fuel Model Optional Contractor 23 Elevation Optional Government 24 Aspect Optional Contractor Not collected 25 Slope Optional Contractor Not collected 26 Slope Position Optional Contractor Not collected 27 Acres Optional Government Provided at pre-work conference

Field Description

Required Data Source

Comments

28 Radial Growth Interval

Optional Government Always “10”

29 Radial Growth Interval 2

N/A Not collected

30 Height Growth Interval

Optional Government Always “5”

31 Fuel Photo Reference

Optional Contractor GTR-INT-122and RMRS-

GTR-153

32 Precision Protocol

Optional Government “CSE_E”

33 Examiner Optional Contractor First and Last Name 34 Remarks Optional Contractor 35 Damage

Category YES Contractor

36 Damage Agent NO Contractor 37 Damage

Severity NO Contractor

38 Species of Management Interest

NO Government Species of Management Interest

39 User Code NO If specified 40 Sketch Map Optional if needed Contractor If GPS errors arise

41 Traverse Notes Optional if needed Contractor If GPS-related errors arise

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.

C.3.9. Sample Design Form Sample Designs specifications will be provided and Site List. One sample design method (Fixed Plot or Variable Plot) will be used to sample large trees (live or dead) on all stands within the contract. Fixed area plots shall be used to sample small trees.

Unless specified in the contract, the Contractor shall determine the size of the fixed plot or which Basal Area Factor (BAF) to use to sample the large trees. To determine the BAF or fixed plot size, a minimum of 5 trees per plot (greater than 5.0 inches DBH/DRC) average must be obtained on the plots in the stand. Unless otherwise specified, allowable factors are 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, or 60. If a BAF of 10 or a 1/5th fixed plot is used, the 5 trees per plot average will be waived.

Unless specified in the contract, the Contractor shall determine the fixed plot size for small trees. A minimum of 5.0 trees per plot (less than 5.0 inches DBH/DRC) average must be obtained on the plots in the stand. If a 1/50 acre plots is used, the minimum of 5 small trees per plot average will be waived.

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. The contractor shall use the Sample Design form for all plots.

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

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 2 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.

Num

Field Description

Required

Data Source

Comments

Region YES Government Proclaimed Forest YES Government District YES Government Location/Watershed Alias YES Site List Stand Number YES Site List

1 Sample Selection Method YES Government Sample Design Form 2 Sample Expansion Factor YES Contractor or

Government Survey Stand List/Field

3 Starting Azimuth Optional Only used for Transect Line

4 Sub-pop Filter YES Government Sample Design Form 5 Selection Criteria Number YES Government Sample Design Form 6 Sub-pop Variable YES Government Sample Design Form 7 Sub-pop Minimum Value YES Government Sample Design Form 8 Sub-pop Maximum Value YES Government Sample Design Form 9 Remarks YES Contractor If specified

C.3.10. Plot Form 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 the exhibits. Fields not specifically required by this contract are to be skipped on the form.

The Plot Number field in PC Exams shall correspond to the assigned plot number for any given plot location.

Num

Field Description Required for all Plots

Required for Intensive

Exam Only

Data Source

Comments

Region YES Government Always “02” Proclaimed Forest YES Government Provided at pre-work conference

District YES Government Provided at pre-work conference Location/Watershed

Alias YES Site List Provided at pre-work conference

Stand Number YES Site List Provided at pre-work conference 1 Plot Number YES Site List Provided at pre-work conference 2 Latitude Optional YES Contractor GPS - format dd mm ss.s 3 Longitude Optional YES Contractor GPS - format dd mm ss.s 4 Capable Grow Area Optional YES Contractor Measured on a 1/10 ac plot 5 Aspect Optional Contractor Optional 6 Slope Optional Contractor Optional 7 Slope Position Optional YES Contractor Optional 8 Slope Horz Shape N/A Not collected 9 Slope Vert Shape N/A Not collected 10 Elevation Optional Contractor Optional 11 Existing Vegetation N/A Not collected 12 Potential Vegetation Optional YES Contractor Guide for determining provided at pre-work Conference 13 Structure Optional Contractor See Chapter 4 Table 11 14 Fuel Model Optional Derived from GTR INT-122 15 Residual Description

Code Optional Contractor Discussed at pre-work conference 16 Dist Seed Wall Optional Discussed at pre-work conference 17 History Optional Contractor Discussed at pre-work conference 18 History Date Optional Contractor Discussed at pre-work conference 19 User Code Optional Discussed at pre-work conference 20 Plot Remarks YES Contractor Borderline tree DBH Limiting

Distance

C.3.11. Tree Form 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:

a. Live Trees and Dead Standing trees located on the variable radius plot or large fixed radius plot.

b. Small Live Trees trees located on the fixed radius plot.

c. Site trees that are located off plot.

Unless otherwise specified in the task order, 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.

Diameter Class Contains trees with DBH of: Comments 0 0 Only for trees shorter than 4.5’

0.5 0.01 – 0.99 2 1.00 – 2.99 4 3.00 – 4.99

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

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 Douglas Fir. 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 tree data fields that may be collected for each type of exam.

Unless otherwise specified in individual task orders 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 the exhibits. 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 Description

Required by Exam Level Data Source

Required for: Intensive Extensive Quick

Location/Watershed Alias

X X X Site List

Stand Number X X X Site List 1 Plot Number X X X Government 2 Tag ID X X Contractor 3 Tree Status X X X Contractor

4 Tree Class Contractor 5 Site/GST Site &

Growth Site trees Contractor

6 Species X X X Contractor 7 Tree Count X X X Contractor 8 DRC Number

Stems X X X Contractor DRC species only

9 DBH/DRC X X X Contractor Trees > 4.5’ tall.

10 Height X X X Contractor All trees 11 Height to Crown X X Contractor All live trees > than 4.5’ in height

12 Radial Growth X Contractor Growth sample trees >3+inches DBH or DRC

13 Radial Grow 2 N/A N/A N/A Not collected 14 Height Growth X Contractor Growth sample trees < 3 inches DBH/DRC or

< 4.5’ in height 15 Age Site &

Growth Site Trees Contractor Site & growth sample trees

16 Crown Ratio X X Contractor All live trees > than 4.5’ in height

17 Crown Class X Contractor All live trees > than 4.5’ in height

18 Crown Width X Contractor All live trees > than 4.5’ in height

19 Wildlife Use X X Contractor All trees 20 Log/Snag Decay X Standing Dead

Only Contractor Task order requires standing and/or down dead 21 Cone Serotiny X Contractor Lodgepole pine trees 1+ inches DBH

22 Damage Category X X Contractor All trees with damage.

Record 3 most severe.

23 Damage Agent X Contractor Required if damage category is not blank

24 Damage Part X Contractor 25 Damage Severity X X Contractor Required if damage category is not blank

26 Tree Remarks X Contractor When applicable 27 User Determined X X Contractor If specified in Task Order

C.3.12. R2 FSVEG Spatial Polygon Vegetation Attributes Form This form shall be completed for each stand that is included in the contract unless otherwise noted in the task order. 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.

Item Description Required Data Source Comments

POLYGON INFORMATION

Region, Forest, District code YES Government See Exhibit 1- Survey Stand List in task order

Location YES Government See Exhibit 1- Survey Stand List in task order

Polygon ID YES Government See Exhibit 1- Survey Stand List in task order

Species Survey Method YES Government Always use CANOPY method

Sample Recorder YES Contractor First, MI, Last

Sample Date YES Contractor MM/DD/YYYY

Stocking Flag Yes if Applicable

Contractor A ‘YES’ flag indicates the polygon has been restocked with trees after a man-made or natural disturbance, such as a harvest, burn, beetle epidemic, or other natural event. ‘NO’ is indicated by a null/blank value.

Regen EV Code/Previous Cover Type (*required when Stocking Flag = ‘YES’ – optional when ‘previously treed’ but non-stocked)

Yes if Applicable

Contractor If the polygon does not currently have a total of 25% crown cover of trees, and the Stocking Flag = ‘YES’, code the species of the regenerating tree type.

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 burn, enter the expected regenerating cover type or the previous cover type:

Horizontal Diversity YES Contractor Enter ‘P’ or ‘C’

(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.

Crown Condition (Trees) YES Contractor Enter ‘A’, ‘P’, ‘D’, or ‘S’

(Refer to code list definitions)

Habitat Structural Stage NO Government Calculated from the data collected

Tree Canopy Closure YES Contractor Used for the CANOPY survey method only. Record the total crown cover of LIVE trees within the polygon on one plane looking down, corrected for overlap. Codes 1-100.

Change Category Yes if applicable

Record the primary reason for the significant vegetation change:

H – Harvest

F – Fire

W – Wind

I – Insect and Disease

O – Other

Change Date Optional Per Task Order

Contractor or government

The date of the significant change in vegetation as recorded in the Change Category

Photo Project Contractor

Date Contractor

Lifeform/GSC YES Contractor Refer to code list definitions

Layer YES Contractor 0, 1, 2, 3 (Refer to code list definitions)

Species Symbol YES Contractor National Plants Database plant codes http://plants.usda.gov/java/

Plant Cover % (Live) YES Contractor Record the % live cover based on the cover method used – 1-100

Tree and Shrub Size Class YES Contractor Record the size of tree and shrub lifeforms (Refer to code list definitions)

Tree Dead % (Standing Dead) YES if applicable

Contractor Record the % of live cover lost to dead

– 1-100

C.3.14. Field Protocol for Digital Images – Plot Photos

Plot Photos - Five photographic images shall be taken at each plot center. The photos shall be taken in the following order:

1- A legible image of the GPS screen showing the GPS coordinates 2- An image facing North (0/360 degrees) 3- An image facing East (90 degrees) 4- An image facing South (180 degrees) 5- An image facing West (270 degrees) Each image shall be taken at the widest camera angle setting and at a minimum resolution of 1280x960 pixels per inch. The camera settings must be adjusted for weather conditions (e.g. glare, poor lighting) to provide a correctly exposed image. Photos shall be in focus and may not diverge by more than 20 degrees from each magnetically corrected cardinal direction. If tree limbs or boles obscure greater than 30% of the image, the Contractor shall move up to 6 feet to the left or right to obtain an unobstructed view.

Photographs shall be labeled by stand ID, plot number and cardinal direction. For Example:

PIEDXX2336_pl1(N)

C.3.15. Data Format Data recorded on paper forms shall not be accepted (except stand sketches and traverse notes where applicable). Data shall be provided to the Government in electronic files on CD-R disks, DVD-R disks, a portable USB flash drive, portable flash memory card or via contractor provided FTP site. An email with a zipped attached file will also be acceptable. The file shall be zipped to help avoid data corruption. With any electronic media, data must be readable by the Government’s computers (Windows 7/10 operating system).

Adjustments shall not be made for software or hardware errors that result in data error or loss of data.

Unless otherwise specified, the R2 FSVEG Spatial Polygon Vegetation Attributes Form data shall be submitted in the .TRU file format for each stand. Specific electronic file naming conventions shall be outlined during the pre-work conference. A listing of all settings and plots contained in each submitted data file shall also be provided.

C.3.16. Standards Each task order shall specify the version of the Common Stand Exam User’s Guide and appendices that 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 will be used.

C.4 QUALITY CONTROL

The Contractor shall prepare a Quality Control Plan to ensure quality performance and accurate results.

The Plan shall describe methods for quality Control as identified in B.6. The Contractor shall inspect the work in accordance with the accepted Quality Control Plan. Contractor inspection records shall be provided upon submission of plots for payment.

C.5 OTHER

C.5.1. 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 http://www.biopreferred.gov/ProductCategories.aspx

C.6 SUBMITTALS

1. Quality Control Plan

2. Safety Plan

3. Work Plan

C.7 DELIVERABLES

Electronic Data (Including all shapefiles, database file, and photos) http://www.biopreferred.gov/ProductCategories.aspx