Draft_Performance_Work_Statement.docx

PROJECT TITLE:

APPLEGATE BLM

PRESCRIBED FIRE SUPPORT MODULE

PILE BURNING

Contents PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s) PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule PWS 6.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters PWS 8.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions

EXHIBIT X: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement

Bureau of Land Management Applegate Field Office is requesting a Prescribed Fire Support Module up to 15 days per year to implement hand or machine pile ignitions, unit or pile preparation, prescribed fire holding functions, and prescribed fire unit mop-up. Applegate BLM field office has conducted extensive fuels reduction work which has created a backlog of machine and hand piles within BLM administered public land. Piles within multiple fuels reduction units would be burned under the direction and supervision of BLM Prescribed Fire Burn Boss and/ or Contracting Office Representative.

PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work

Prescribed Fire Module provided upon request of Applegate BLM to implement hand or machine pile prescribed burning. Services required in the implementation of prescribed pile burning include:

· pile unit preparation using chainsaws and/ or handtools to cut and prune piles, construct handline or pull back around hand piles, limb reserve trees, trim resprouting vegetation near piles;

· hand or machine pile ignition using handheld drip torches or fussees;

· holding prescribed fire units during initial burn-down to ensure burning piles do not spread outside of established prescribed fire unit or control lines;

· chunking of or re-piling of burnt or burning material to promote complete combustion;

· mop-up of hand or machine pile units using chainsaws and handtools to cut and/ or dig to extinguish smoking or smoldering pile material;

· and to suppress fire spread outside of prescribed fire units or controls lines using chainsaws or handtools to cut or dig control lines to stop undesired fire spread.

The contractor shall provide 15 days of Prescribed Fire Support Module to prep, ignite, hold, and mop-up hand or machine piles upon request from Applegate BLM Field Office, under the supervision and direction of assigned BLM Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, to burn and consume through burning pre-built hazard fuels reduction piles within multiple separate units.

Place of Performance:

All prescribed burning operations will occur on Bureau of Land Management administered public lands managed by the Applegate BLM Field Office in Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou or Shasta Counties California, and Washoe County Nevada. Many established fuels reduction units requiring hand or machine pile ignitions exist within the Applegate BLM Field Office. General project areas include:

· Vya pile units, Washoe County, NV

· Bull Creek/Duck Flat pile units, Washoe County, NV

· Applegate WUI pile units, Modoc & Siskiyou Counties, CA

Each location will require all identified tasks to accomplish hand or machine pile prescribed burning. Each activation period of Prescribed Fire Support Module will begin with a briefing at the Applegate BLM Field Office where a designated module foreman will receive an in-depth operational briefing from BLM Contracting Officer’s Representative and/ or BLM Prescribed Fire Burn Boss. At the briefing, the Government will provide the Contractor with the following:

A. Briefing on Prescribed Fire Plan and Objectives, Standards, and Assignments for preparation, ignition and holding assistance for prescribed fire operations.

B. Module Daily Shift Plan Objectives, Standards, and Assignments for patrol and mop-up assistance.

C. Communications instructions and chain of command.

D. Identification of any priorities or special considerations.

E. Safety concerns and issues.

F. Target Completion Time, anticipated length of activation.

Access to most fuels reduction units require off-road travel with four wheel drive capability, especially during winter months or adverse weather conditions. Ordering officials may request PFSM be equipped with Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) and trailer to be utilized in prescribed burning operations. Cross country foot travel up to one hour may also be required to access fuels reduction units, some units may also be located in steep or rugged terrain making cross county foot travel arduous. Navigation utilizing paper or digital maps during vehicle or foot travel is of critical importance to make access to project areas and during implementation of prescribed burning operations.

Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be for one (1) Base Year of 6-months and four (4) 6-month option years. The Period of Performance reads as follows:

Base Year:

November 1st 2023 through April 30th 2024

Option Year I:

November 1st 2024 though April 30th 2025

Option Year II November 1st 2025 through April 30th 2026

Option Year III:

November 1st 2026 through April 30th 2027

Option Year IV:

November 1st 2027 through April 30th 2028

PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s)

The objective of this work is to provide Prescribed Fire Support Module for 15 days each year to implement hand or machine pile prescribed burning tasks under the direction and supervision of BLM Prescribed Fire Burn Boss in multiple separate fuels reduction units.

PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks

Task 1: Preparation of hand or machine piles using chainsaws and handtools to cut and prune piles, construct handline or pull back around hand piles, limb reserve trees, trim resprouting vegetation near piles, or cut fallen dead vegetation to reduce the threat of prescribed burn escape.

Preparation for prescribed pile burning as directed by BLM Prescribed Fire Burn Boss –

· Cut and Prune using chainsaws pre-built fuels reduction piles to promote pile consumption and efficient burning.

· Construct handline using handtools around hand or machine piles to limit fire spread away from pre-built piles planned for immediate burning.

· Limb using chainsaws reserve trees adjacent to hand or machine piles to limit reserve tree mortality during burn operations.

· Trim using chainsaws or handtools resprouting vegetation adjacent to hand or machine piles to reduce risk of fire spread away from burn piles planned for immediate ignitions.

· Cut using chainsaws fallen dead and downed vegetation to limit fire spread from piles into adjacent reserve/ downed heavy logs.

Preparation operations will occur in each fuels reduction unit for approximately one day prior to prescribed fire implementation. No activation period of Prescribed Fire Support Module will be used primarily for burn unit preparation.

Task 2: Ignition of hand or machine piles using handheld firing devices such as Drip Torches or Fussees within identified prescribed pile burn units.

Ignition operations, under the direction and supervision of BLM Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, will occur –

· After safety and operational briefing has been given to all assigned resources to communicate operational assignments, communication methods, work location, safety considerations, and emergency procedures.

· In a method and pace to ensure prescribed fire objectives are met and with a limited risk of prescribed fire escape.

· In coordination with other assigned resources including ignition personnel, engine crews, resource advisors, and firing or holding bosses.

· Overall goal to ignite 90% or greater of piles within targeted prescribed burn units

· Overall consumption goal of 80% or greater of piled material within ignited piles

Ignition operations will occur only when Prescribed fire burn plan environmental parameters are met – Temperature, wind speed/ direction, humidity, fuel moisture, and smoke dispersal. Ignition operations will be stopped under the direction of BLM Prescribed Fire Burn boss as burn plan objectives are not met or within allowable ranges. Ignition personnel will immediately transition to holding or mop up tasks as directed by BLM Burn Boss.

Task 3: Holding of prescribed fire piles or units during initial burn down phase

Holding operations may include:

· Monitoring pile consumption and communicating spread outside of holding lines or prescribed burn units

· Chunking or re-piling burning or partially burnt material to promote complete consumption. PFSM chunking/ re-piling goal is to ensure 80% or greater consumption of total piled material and reduce the risk of fire spread from outside of pile perimeters.

· Patrolling unit boundaries or holding features for spot fires or fire growth outside of unit boundaries

· Done in coordination with other assigned resources such as ignition crews, engines or handcrews, resource advisors, and holding bosses.

· The use of handheld radios or other devices to communicate with prescribed burn overhead or leadership.

Task 4: Mop-up operations, under the direction of BLM prescribed fire burn boss, will occur after initial burn down phase of prescribed burns and be used to limit unwanted fire growth, reduce smoke from burning material, limit impacts to non-piled standing or fallen reserve vegetation.

Mop-up tasks include the use of Chainsaws, handtools, and water delivery equipment to cut, dig, chop, and extinguish burning or smoldering piled or immediately adjacent to piled material.

Mop-up can occur for one or more days following prescribed burn ignition operations. Mop-up will occur in each prescribed burn unit under the direction and discretion of BLM Prescribed Burn Boss. Prescribed Fire Support Modules will receive daily operational briefings during mop-up operations which communicate operational objectives, safety concerns, special considerations or specifications, and emergency procedures.

PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

Prescribed Fire Support Module Configuration The following are the descriptions of requirements for personnel, specialized equipment, minimum crew transportation, optioned Utility Terrain vehicle (UTV) standards.

Five Person Crew Module

1. Five (5) persons

2. Transportation - 1 or 2 vehicles, each with four-wheel drive capability

3. Equipment Pulaski - 3 Shovel - 2 Backpack water pump/ Bladder Bag - 5 Chainsaws -2 Saw gas/ oil and supplies for up to a 12-hour shift.

Programmable handheld radio or other agreed upon communication device - 1

Ten Person Crew Module

1. Ten (10) persons

2. Transportation – 2 or more vehicles, each with four-wheel drive capability

3. Equipment Pulaski - 6 Shovel - 4 Backpack water pump/ Bladder Bag - 10 Chainsaws -4 Saw gas/ oil and supplies for up to a 12-hour shift.

Programmable handheld radio or other agreed upon communication device - 2

Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) – 1

· UTV option will be at the discretion of the ordering GOV agent/ COR and communicated at the time of PFSM activation.

· UTV will be capable of transporting five (5) module members and crew equipment.

· All UTV passengers must have Department of transportation (DOT) approved helmets

Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) – 2

· UTV option will be at the discretion of the ordering GOV agent/ COR and communicated at the time of PFSM activation.

· Each or two UTVs will be capable of transporting five (5) module members and crew equipment.

· All UTV passengers must have DOT approved helmets

** Maximum UTV option exercised by BLM official will not exceed two total UTVs or equivalent needed to transport two 5 person crew module members and equipment in configuration.

Ordering Prescribed Fire Support Modules BLM Contracting Officer Representative will contact the Contractor during the agreed upon activation period (November – April) of a given period of performance and request Prescribed Fire Module Support to the Applegate BLM Field Office. Requests will be placed a minimum of 48hrs before the desired reporting time to Applegate BLM Field Office, Modoc County, Alturas, CA. Activations of PFSM may be requested longer than 48hrs in advance of reporting time but not less.

Basic ordering information such as desired module configuration (ie: Five Person Module configuration or Ten Person Module configuration) and optioned equipment configuration of One or Two Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV).

The Contractor will confirm the availability of desired crew configuration and UTV optioned equipment, Basic Firefighter Training compliance of each activated crewmember, and communication method/ information for the primary crew leader for each Five Person module.

Reporting instructions at the time of activation will include date, time and place to report for initial operational briefing. Initial activation may also include digital reference documents such as Maps, Incident Action Plans (IAP)s, or other special operational information.

Upon arrival and making contact with BLM COR and/ or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss the PFSM will receive an in-depth operational briefing regarding the planned prescribed burn to be implemented. This briefing will include:

· Operational objectives,

· Safety concerns,

· Prep/ Ignition/ Holding/ and Mop-up standards,

· Other assigned operational personnel

· Communication procedures, expectations, and reporting standards

· Logistical support or concerns

· Special resource considerations,

· Area and unit maps, access, and reporting instructions,

· Emergency procedures

· Expected length of assignment/ activation period

Government supplied equipment may be transferred to the contractor at the initial briefing or at the prescribed burn unit – Drip torches and Five-gallon slash mix cans.

Minimum Activation Guarantee

Each PFSM activation will meet a minimum guaranteed duration regardless of continued burn operations. Minimum activation period will include:

· One day of full rate travel to reach the agreed upon reporting location (Alturas, CA)

· One day full rate Operational shift,

· One day of full rate return travel to home unit.

Scenarios in which the PFSM is activated but prescribed burn operations are not implemented based on conditions, smoke, resource concerns or other constraints the contractor/ PFSM will at a minimum be activated the identified three (3) full rate days.

Communication and Language requirements

As identified in PFSM Configuration and equipment section, each five person PFSM will have a minimum of One (1) handheld programmable radio or other agreed upon communication device. One PFSM module member is expected to operate the radio sufficiently to stay in communication with Prescribed Fire Burn Boss or other assigned Fireline Supervisor. BLM COR or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss will ensure common radio frequencies are communicated and programmed into the provided radio equipment.

One PFSM Module member must speak, read and sufficiently communicate in English as to receive instructions, communicate with other resources/ supervisors, and relay critical instructions to non-English speaking module members in order to meet prescribed burn objectives.

Minimum Fireline Qualification Requirement

Each PFSM crewmember must meet minimum qualification standards for Firefighter Type 2, as identified by National Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, https://www.nwcg.gov/positions/fft2/position-qualification-requirements.

Basic Firefighter Training:

ICS-100, Introduction to ICS L-180, Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service S-130, Firefighter Training S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Each PFSM activation requires documentation of participant crewmember Basic Firefighting Training.

Mapping

Unit boundaries may not be marked. A shapefile and PDF Map of each prescribed burn unit area for GPS/ Avenza will be provided at the time of activation or at the initial Operational Briefing. Area and transportation maps will also be provided in order to access Prescribed Burn Units. PFSM must be able to navigate using map products both digital and on paper to reach prescribed burn units and during Prescribed Burn operations in order to ensure objectives are met.

PWS 6.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services

General:

The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, materials, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform the work tasks defined in this Performance Work Statement, except for those items specified as government-furnished.

Materials:

The Contractor shall furnish all materials necessary to meet the requirement of this contract except for those items specified as government-furnished property and services.

Equipment:

The Government shall furnish the below Equipment to assist the Contractor in meeting the requirement of this contract, Handheld Firing devices such as Drip Torches or Fusees during ignition operations, Slash mix to be used in handheld drip torches while igniting burn piles.

PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters

Regular Work Hours:

The performance period established for this contract is based upon all work being conducted during work periods from 8 up to 12 hours in length (typically 0700-1900 hrs or less per operational shift) Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays. If Prescribed burning conditions require work outside regular hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and government holidays, an agreement will be documented between the Contractor and Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s representative that justifies the need for extended staffing or shifts outside of base workdays.

Federal Holidays:

The following Federal Legal Holidays are observed:

Fire Danger Season:

If the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) allows the Contractor to continue work during periods of declared fire danger or season, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable state laws relating to fire prevention and with all special conditions of work as directed by the COR.

PWS 8.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions

Standard Definitions:

Physical Condition The Physical appearance of Federal equipment or facilities that considers cracks, chips, dents, abrasions, rust, corrosion, general cleanliness, vibration, operating temperature, and discoloration and other items as identified by the COR.. Physical condition may be determined by visual as well as diagnostic means.

Contracting Officer (CO) The Secretary of the Interior or designated authorized representative who is the only agent capable of signing a federal award or obligating funds.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) The Contracting Officer’s designated representative as indicated in a delegation of authority letter.

Quality Assurance (QA) Surveillance of Contractor performance to determine performance requirements are met.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) (see Technical Exhibit below) The PRS identifies the key performance indicators of the Contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure Contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

Quality Control Those actions taken by the Contractor to control the production of goods or services so that they meet the requirements of the performance work statement.

Technical Definitions:

Prescribed Fire Support Module (PFSM) Utility Terrain vehicle (UTV) Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Technical Exhibits:

Example photos of piled units:

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

PWS Page 5

EXHIBIT X: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

Task(s) 1 – Preparation

2 – Ignition

3 – Holding

4 – Mop-up

1. PFSM prepares hand or machine piles using chainsaws and handtools to cut and prune piles, construct handline or pull back around hand piles, limb reserve trees, trim resprouting vegetation near piles, or cut fallen dead vegetation to reduce the threat of prescribed burn escape.

2. Ignition of hand or machine piles using handheld firing devices such as Drip Torches or Fussees within identified prescribed pile burn units at a pace and intensity that meets burn objectives, limits risk of fire escape, ignites 90% or greater of unit piles

3. Holding of prescribed fire piles or units during initial burn down phase, chunking or re-piling burning or partially burnt material to promote 80% or greater consumption of total piled material. Patrol and reporting/ communication standards are met.

4. Mop-up operations are used to limit unwanted fire growth, reduce smoke from burning material, limit impacts to non-piled standing or fallen reserve vegetation.

1. COR or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss inspects preparation work on each prescribed burn unit to ensure standards are met

2. COR or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss inspects ignition operations work on each prescribed burn unit to ensure standards are met.

3. COR or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss inspects Holding and Chunking/ Re-piling work on each prescribed burn unit to ensure standards are met.

4. COR or Prescribed Fire Burn inspects Mop-Up work on each prescribed burn unit to ensure standards are met.

For 1 or first deficiency the COR and/ or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss will communicate specific deficiencies and desired improvements to meet acceptable standards. Documentation of communicated deficiency and outcome. For standard configuration equipment or vehicle deficiencies 48hrs will be given to regain acceptable standards.

For 2 or second deficiency COR and Contractor will review written contract standards, briefing materials, and a 24hr timeline will be made to bring deficient activity or deliverable to acceptable standard. For standard configuration equipment or vehicle deficiencies 48hrs will be given to regain acceptable standards.

Incentives/Disincentives

1. Contractor will be required to rework the area at no additional cost to the Government

1. The Government will charge to the Contractor any additional cost of subsequent inspection of reworked area

1. Positive or negative Performance rating at the end of the contract image1.jpeg image2.jpeg image3.emf

P it R iv e r

Ash Creek

J Canal

Lava Beds National Monument

Modoc National Forest

Lower Klamath Nat'l Wildlife

Refuge

Tule Lake National Wildlife

Refuge

Old Co w Cr eek

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Goose Lake

XL Ranch Rancheria

Tulelake Dorris

Alturas

Macdoel

Mount Hebron

Tennant

Big Bend

Burney

Fall River Mills

McArthur

Montgomery

Round Mountain

Cassel

Bieber Nubieber

Lookout

Newell

Lake City

Fort Bidwell

California Pines

Adin

Cedarville

Canby

Likely

New Pine

Eagleville

Vya

California State Parks, Esri, HERE, Garmin, SafeGraph, FAO, METI/NASA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS

Applegate Pile Burn Vicinity Map 03-2023

¯ 0 10 205 Miles Bureau of Land Management

Applegate Field Office Alturas, CA 530-233-4666

Date: 3/1/2023

Applegate Pile Burn Project Areas

No warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual or aggregated use with other data. Original data was compiled from various sources. This information may not meet National Map Accuracy Standards.

This product was developed through digital means and may be updated without notice.