A04_-_Statement_of_Work_1.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Hurricane Helene Storm Debris Removal and Hazard Tree Mitigation Cumberland Gap National Historical Park | PMIS 344858 | PEPC 133738 SERVICE CONTRACT — STATEMENT OF WORK | 27 October 2026 | CONTRACTING OFFICER ISSUANCE VERSION This SOW incorporates the signed PEPC categorical exclusion and compliance letter, the approved 2026 Wilderness Minimum Requirements Analysis (MRA), and the 280-feature GIS shapefile. This document states the required tasks, locations, materials, methods, deliverables and acceptance criteria for the proposed service contract.

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall furnish all necessary labor, supervision, contractor-furnished ISA Certified Arborist services, access, equipment, transportation, safety controls, supplies, field documentation and quality control to selectively treat remaining storm-generated woody debris and authorized hazard trees on four designated trails. The purpose is to maintain safe trail function and drainage while minimizing wilderness, ecological, cultural, soil and visual impacts.

The Contractor shall not interpret the 40-foot trail corridor as requiring blanket vegetation clearing. Only qualifying debris, documented hazards and locations impairing trail function/drainage shall be treated in the wilderness in accordance with MRA Alternative 4. Work on other trails must remain within the approved PEPC action and be coordinated with Park resource staff.

2. SERVICE LOCATIONS AND ACCESS

Park may coordinate vehicular access to Hensley Settlement via Shillalah Creek Road as referenced in the original SOW; this is not approval for off-tread equipment operations.

3. EXISTING CORRIDOR AND SELECTIVE WORK REQUIREMENTS

Typical corridor is 40 feet wide centered on trail: trail tread 6 feet; mow zone 3 feet on each side; brush-free zone 14 feet on each side. These dimensions define treatment zones, not continuous clearing quantities.

3.1 Ridge Trail and Gibson Gap Trail — approved wilderness Alternative 4 Trail tread (6 ft): clear woody debris that obstructs safe passage; keep existing drainage functional and avoid widening the tread.

Mow zones (3 ft each side): selectively address branches, logs, root balls and other debris that interfere with water bars, drainage ditches, grade dips, or documented trail hazards. Do not require blanket clearing of stable debris.

Brush-free zones (14 ft each side): selectively disperse material under 6 inches from large/concentrated brush piles outside the brush-free zone. Buck and lay flat larger logs where necessary; retain stable coarse woody debris elsewhere.

Address hazard trees only when they present a documented risk of falling into the trail tread or mow zones. Prefer removing hazardous limbs rather than felling an otherwise healthy tree when safe and appropriate.

Minimize handling of stable debris, ground disturbance, machine time and overall wilderness impacts.

3.2 White Rocks Connector and Ewing Trail — non-MRA trail segments Remove woody debris from the tread and mow zones; remove debris under 6 inches from the brush-free zone; material over 6 inches may remain if bucked into manageable lengths and laid flat outside the tread. Apply the CE’s overall selective maintenance purpose and any Park-specific direction. Do not remove healthy vegetation or stable debris without a documented need.

Definition — Stable debris: woody material resting securely on the ground, outside the trail tread and drainage features, not under tension or likely to roll, slide or fall into the tread/mow zone, and not forming a concentrated debris pile requiring selective treatment. Stable debris shall remain undisturbed unless specifically authorized.

3.3 Woody debris and root-ball treatment

All woody debris shall remain on site. Scatter material in a naturally appearing arrangement outside required clearance areas; no piles, windrows, off-site hauling or stacking without express authorization.

Cut limbs/brush into hand-manageable pieces; where possible face cut ends away from trail; camouflage flush-cut stumps and scatter sawdust and shavings.

No root pulling, stump grinding, excavation or disturbance of archaeological deposits. Existing root balls may be cut, stabilized or repositioned only by Park-approved methods that do not violate these restrictions.

Compact tracked equipment may be used only on existing Ridge Trail tread, for specifically authorized handling of unstable root balls/stumps without prohibited ground disturbance; obtain prior Park review of any unusual condition.

Do not place material in waterways, sensitive plant buffers, archaeological areas, drainage structures or trail tread.

4. HAZARD TREE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT

Before any hazard-tree removal, an ISA Certified Arborist shall inspect each proposed tree and document condition, likelihood of failure, risk to tread/mow zone or users, tree ID, location, diameter, recommended treatment, and whether limb removal is sufficient.

The Contractor shall submit the assessment to the COR for Government review/authorization before removal. No GIS observation alone constitutes authorization to fell a tree.

Hazard tree characteristics include dead, diseased, dying, leaning, uprooting, structurally unsound or otherwise defective trees that present a credible risk to trail users or project infrastructure.

Classify and record approved standing hazard-tree removals as small 6–12 in DBH, medium >12–24 in DBH and large >24 in DBH; measure DBH at 4.5 feet above ground where feasible.

Classify downed/complex trees separately by approximate stem diameter and complexity; distinguish from hanging limb treatment and from site-level debris pile clearing to avoid duplicate payment.

Provide pre-/post-treatment photographs and as-completed inventory. Maintain control of visitors and adjacent resources during felling, rigging and bucking.

5. ACCESS, TOOLS, MOTOR EQUIPMENT AND WILDERNESS

Ridge Trail only: UTV and compact track loader may be used where safe and approved, only on established trail tread. UTVs shall operate slowly; no cross-country travel. Minimize machine-use days and remove tire/track markings.

Gibson Gap Trail: foot access only; no UTV or compact track loader. Authorized chainsaws/pole saws are motorized tools and their use shall be recorded.

Ewing and White Rocks are outside the MRA wilderness limits. Park reports chainsaws and compact tracked equipment are authorized on Ewing and equipment use is authorized on White Rocks. All equipment operations remain subject to PEPC compliance, approved existing routes/staging, resource protection, and CO-approved scope. Off-trail vehicle movement is prohibited absent prior written clearance and any required compliance/contract action.

Within wilderness, use traditional hand tools for woody debris under 4 inches where appropriate; chainsaws for logs greater than 4 inches as described in selected MRA Alternative 4. Use qualified operators and appropriate tension/bind controls.

Before any proposed off-tread equipment operation, obtain Resource Management and Park Archaeologist review and the necessary written authorization; any contract changes require CO action.

Track days of motorized equipment use on Ridge and Gibson Gap, distinguishing UTV, compact tracked equipment and chainsaws/pole saws. Submit summary for Park Wilderness Committee.

Use only approved access routes and staging areas. Protect sensitive plant buffer zones and avoid creating new tracks or trail widening.

6. REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL COMPLIANCE — PEPC 133738

6.1 Preconstruction, notifications and visitor protection

Conduct mandatory preconstruction meeting with all contractor personnel and subcontractors to review NPS regulations, the CE, MRA, access, resource buffers, wildlife restrictions, safety and reporting.

Notify Park Environmental Protection Specialist of project start and completion dates, unexpected problems and implementation changes.

Coordinate adverse weather/soil conditions daily as necessary with COR; cease affected work when ground conditions are unacceptable.

Coordinate visitor noise and temporary closures with COR and Visitor Center; maintain signs, barriers, spotters and safe separation; close only affected trail sections as approved.

Any field decision increasing impacts beyond the approved action requires further Park environmental review before proceeding. CO retains authority for contractual changes.

6.2 Bats, birds, falcons and sensitive plants

Trees/limbs greater than 3 inches diameter may be removed only November 15–March 31 unless Resource Management approves in advance; additional bat habitat review and USFWS consultation may require up to 45 days.

Maintain original SOW field work window November 16–March 31 unless revised by CO and resource staff.

For planning, the peregrine falcon noise restriction is associated with the Ridge Trail segment east of the White Rocks Connector intersection. NPS shall identify and flag the affected segment before work; the contractor shall not conduct restricted noisy work in that area outside the approved window. Schedule noisy work in that affected segment before February 15 during the winter work window, subject to Park resource staff confirmation and PEPC conditions.

Comply with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and visual nest inspections as appropriate; observe Virginia March 15–August 15 nesting restriction noted in PEPC and protect nests or occupied habitat.

Do not disturb bats or other wildlife roosting, nesting, hibernating or otherwise present in or near work areas.

Protect state-listed and rare plants on Ridge Trail; Park shall supply available rare-plant buffer maps before any proposed off-trail equipment activity; obey flagged buffers and equipment limits. Consult Resource Management before any off-trail work.

Off-trail vehicle request: Contractor shall provide at least five working days’ advance written notice of proposed off-trail vehicle operations, including location, route, equipment and ground protection. This notice is for review only and is NOT authorization. No such work shall proceed without required NPS resource/archaeological clearance and CO approval of any contractual change.

6.3 Archaeology, historic resources and discoveries

NPS Archaeologist shall flag sensitive areas before work and provide targeted monitoring as necessary; vegetation in those areas shall be hand cleared. Contractor shall submit staging proposals for archaeological review before use. Required archaeological monitoring and strategy must be established before affected work.

All motorized vehicles and tracked equipment shall remain on existing tread unless reviewed/authorized as above; staging areas must avoid archaeological resources and be coordinated with Park Archaeologist.

Non-hazard tree removal within the Civil War/Cumberland Gap Historic District requires prior review/approval by Section 106 specialists and consultation with Park Cultural Resource Program Manager/Archaeologist.

Flush-cut stumps; no root pulling or stump grinding. Do not collect artifacts. Turn over discovered cultural materials immediately and brief crews on legal penalties for collecting/damaging resources.

Upon discovery of unanticipated cultural resources, stop affected work immediately, notify Park Archaeologist/Cultural Resources Manager and do not resume until archaeologist authorizes.

If human remains are found, stop all project work and immediately contact Park Archaeologist; follow legal coroner-first notification and NAGPRA procedures.

6.4 Water, invasive species, spill and fire prevention

No in-stream work and no felling hazard trees into streams.

Before entering backcountry, check boots, backpacks and tools for weed seeds, soil and plant parts.

Pressure-wash UTV/compact tracked equipment before Park entry; obtain Park Environmental Protection Specialist inspection before entry.

Keep spill containment kits and fire extinguishers on site at all times; position spill containment pads before any refueling.

Prevent spills, soil compaction and avoidable damage to vegetation, trail drainage, archaeological areas and water resources.

7. CONTRACTOR SAFETY, STAFFING AND QUALITY CONTROL

Furnish qualified chainsaw/felling and rigging crews, remote-access emergency communications, PPE, first aid and equipment safety measures; comply with applicable occupational safety requirements.

Submit a site-specific safety and emergency response plan and a contractor Quality Control Plan before work.

Keep daily field logs showing crew/equipment, work locations, treated items and quantities, arborist approvals, weather, trail closures, equipment-use days, photographs and resource concerns.

Immediately report accidents, spills, wildlife/cultural discoveries and other unanticipated impacts to COR and Park staff as required.

8. WORK REQUIREMENTS, MEASUREMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

Measurement: Each approved standing tree, downed tree and hanger shall be recorded as a discrete EA with location and size. SITE debris treatment is one approved, geographically bounded concentration/drainage location, identified by photo and limits; it excludes separately priced trees unless specifically stated. The COR and CO shall approve unit definitions and anti-duplication rules before solicitation.

Measurement control: Each SITE shall be individually identified by the Government on a location-specific work authorization before treatment. The authorization shall include a map or GPS reference, photographs, approximate boundaries, debris description, and required treatment. A SITE is a single discrete debris concentration or drainage obstruction; a second concentration is a separate SITE. Contractor shall not begin or bill unapproved SITE work.

9. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND WORK SEQUENCING

The contract period of performance shall be specified by the Contracting Officer in the solicitation and award. The original field season is November 16–March 31. Work at White Rocks requiring noise restrictions shall be scheduled before February 15 during that season. Allow time for arborist assessment, archaeology monitoring, equipment inspection and Park approvals before starting treatment.

10. GOVERNMENT AND CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Contractor: personnel, supervision, hand tools, approved motorized equipment, safety/visitor controls, cleaning, spill kits, fire extinguishers, ISA Certified Arborist (contractor-furnished), reporting, QC and all incidentals.

Government/Park: designated contract trail limits, available maps/GIS, sensitive plant buffers, archaeological flagging and targeted NPS monitoring, cultural-resource and wildlife review, trail closures and work authorizations. COR coordinates technical matters; only the Contracting Officer may change the contract.

11. PRELIMINARY ITEMIZED QUANTITIES — FOUR TRAILS

The following are estimated unit-price solicitation quantities for bidding and evaluation. They are not guaranteed actual quantities or authorization to remove specific trees. Actual services require individual work identification, compliance approvals and acceptance under the awarded contract.

Standing hazard tree subtotal: Ridge 47; Gibson Gap 19; Ewing 12; White Rocks 3 blended = 81. The three White Rocks trees are priced under a blended standing-tree item; the contractor shall record actual diameter for each authorized treatment. Downed/complex tree treatments total 101; hangers total 33; discrete debris/drainage treatment locations total 70.

The 90 arborist assessments are an estimated bid quantity. Contractor shall assess each proposed standing hazard tree before removal; additional inspections are payable only under applicable contract terms and CO authorization.

11.1 Ridge Trail — 16 miles (planning quantities)

11.2 Gibson Gap Trail — 4.6 miles (planning quantities)

11.3 Ewing Trail — 3.8 miles (planning quantities)

11.4 White Rocks Connector — 0.3 miles (planning quantities)

12. GIS OBSERVATIONS — EVIDENCE AND LIMITATIONS

The uploaded shapefile contains 280 geospatial point features. Its latitude/longitude attribute columns are empty, but geometry coordinates exist in the SHP file. No official trail centerline is provided. The notes are free text, and no standardized numeric DBH field exists in the shapefile.

The previously supplied GIS spreadsheet analysis recorded 234 numeric DBH observations and 46 missing DBH, with approximate size groupings: <6 in 18, 6–12 in 72, >12–24 in 107, >24 in 37. These are observational diameter entries, not a verified count of standing hazard trees or remaining contract work.

Some shapefile records carry August 2024 creation/edit dates, preceding the September 27, 2024 Hurricane Helene event. The dataset therefore cannot be assumed to consist exclusively of post-Helene, untreated storm damage. It may include earlier observations, previously cleared trees, or multiple trees per feature.

GIS points are reference observations only. The Government will identify approved work locations during administration; actual quantities are subject to the contract measurement and payment provisions.

13. DELIVERABLES AND GOVERNMENT HOLD POINTS

Contract limits: 16.0 mi Ridge + 4.6 mi Gibson Gap + 3.8 mi Ewing + 0.3 mi White Rocks Connector = 24.7 total miles. Contract work is limited to Government-designated locations within these trail segments. All proposed off-trail motorized equipment operations require prior written Park review and any necessary CO authorization; advance notice alone does not authorize entry.

15. SOURCE DOCUMENTS AND ORDER OF INTERPRETATION

SOW: CUGA 344858 Final SOW.pdf — original trail lengths, corridor, access and field season.

PEPC 133738: Categorical Exclusion Documentation Form and Letter of Compliance Completion dated July 30, 2026, signed August 5, 2026 — mandatory mitigations.

Approved Wilderness MRA: Trail Corridor Maintenance Following Hurricane Helene 2024, PMIS 344858 / PEPC 133738 — selected Alternative 4, Ridge and Gibson Gap only.

CUGA_HeleneTreeGIS_DATA.zip — 280 point features; preliminary historical observations, not verified payable quantities.

Government Independent Government Estimate — separate internal acquisition document, not a contractor reference.

Contract administration note: All work shall conform to the approved compliance conditions. Any conflict shall be brought to the CO before the affected work proceeds. Neither this SOW nor an informal COR instruction may enlarge the approved PEPC action or modify contractual obligations without appropriate review and Contracting Officer action.

APPENDIX A — TRAIL CORRIDOR DIAGRAM

Original SOW trail corridor cross-section (reproduced from Park-provided diagram).

Diagram interpretation: 14 ft brush-free zone + 3 ft mow zone + 6 ft trail tread + 3 ft mow zone + 14 ft brush-free zone = 40 ft total corridor.

Compliance note: The diagram defines the corridor zones only. It does not authorize continuous clearing of the full corridor. Ridge and Gibson Gap shall receive selective treatments consistent with the approved Wilderness MRA Alternative 4, with all applicable PEPC mitigations.

CUGA 344858 | SERVICE SOW | PEPC 133738

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