Event_13466_Fire_Management_Plan-Milan_SOW.pdf

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State Of Tennessee Sourcing Event 13466

Scope Of Work

Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plan Revision For Tennessee Army National Guard Volunteer Training Site Milan

1.0 INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND

The Tennessee Army National Guard (TNARNG), as an agent of the National Guard Bureau, is responsible for the prudent management of natural resources on all its properties. The largest of these properties, the Volunteer Training Sites (VTSs), are managed in accordance with Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans (INRMPs) which guide all activities that may impact natural resources on a site. Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plans (IWFMPs) that address both prescribed fire use and wildfire response are incorporated into the INRMPs for each VTS. Prescribed fire is a necessary tool used to reduce fuel loads, thus reducing the probability of wildfire occurrence and severity, its likelihood of moving off or onto the facility, and its threats to life and property. Prescribed fire is also used to open thickly vegetated land for training use, accomplish ecological land management objectives, and support objectives of the Forest Management Plan (FMP, also in INRMP).

Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plans require periodic (5-year) updates because training needs, physical conditions on the landscape, management objectives and approaches, and law and policy change over time. They may also be revised if significant changes to the land use, facility area, or management approach require it. VTS-Milan was recently expanded from approximately 2,448 ac. to approximately 18,581 ac. through a land reassignment. The wildland fire program on the facility is consequently managed under the IWFMPs from both the historic VTS-Milan and the previous landholder’s (Milan Army Ammunition Plant, MLAAP) IWFMP, both written in 2018, and due for update. Training conducted on the expanded facility will be increased and change from light to primarily heavy armored maneuver, increasing the risk of wildfire. VTS-Milan was authorized and is developing a fire department which will perform both structural and wildland firefighting duties, and will implement prescribed fire. These changes require a complete revision of the IWFMP for the expanded facility.

Additional examples of the current situations requiring revision of the plan, and that should be considered and incorporated into its revision, include the following. As a requirement of a US Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion, the training site will designate an approximate 3,300 ac. Bat Habitat Management Area that will be managed under a FMP specifically designed to improve habitat conditions for bats listed under the Endangered Species Act. This FMP will require conducting prescribed burns of the area to thin the understory vegetation on an approximate five year cycle. Prescribed fire will also be used as a valuable tool for achieving ecosystem management objectives that improve habitat and successional state distribution across the landscape, creating a more realistic training environment. Training site staff have expressed interest in using prescribed fire to aid in the maintenance of open conditions for training as row crop agriculture, hay, and grazing contracts are phased out over the next 10 years. Staff have also expressed an interest in using prescribed fire to thin understory vegetation to make forested areas more useful for training.

Forest clearing and thinning harvest areas to develop specific training conditions on the landscape will benefit from prescribed fire to remove slash and other harvest residues. In addition, many areas of the facility have large populations of Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and Kudzu (Pueraria montana), non-native invasive pest plant species. Prescribed fire may be a useful tool in controlling these species to open and improve the usefulness of training lands.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

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The objective of this project is to review, combine, and revise the existing IWFMPs for VTS-Milan and the Milan Army Ammunition Plant into a single document that incorporates all current needs and situations. The resulting IWFMP shaall address all requirements and objectives of their associated INRMPs and FMPs. It shall incorporate necessary modifications to accommodate all changes in relevant law and policy, National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) requirements and standards, training needs, land management objectives and approaches, and changes in installation land base. Burn unit boundaries will be evaluated and created or adjusted as needed. Controlled burn prescriptions will be updated or created to reflect changes in related scientific knowledge, management objectives, and desired fire effects. New wildfire notification and prescribed fire implementation protocols will be developed and incorporated. The IWFMP shall comply with all requirements of the following regulations, policy documents, and memorandums.

• Army Regulation (AR) 420-1, 02 Dec 08, Fire and Emergency Services

• AR 200-1, 13 Dec 2007, Environmental Protection and Enhancement

• DOD Instruction 6055.6, 21 Dec 06, DoD Fire and Emergency Services Program

• Army Memorandum, 15 March 2021, Army Wildland Fire Policy Guidance

• ARNG Policy Memorandum, 23 July 2024, Execution of Army National Guard (ARNG) Wildland Fire

Programs

• DA PAM 385-30, Army Risk Management Pamphlet

The following tasks shall be necessary to accomplish this scope of work:

1. Review the INRMPs and FMPs associated with VTS-Milan and MLAAP.

2. Review all new and existing law and policy from all pertinent agencies for changes that could influence fire management on these installations.

3. Meet with environmental, ITAM, training site staff, Base Operations Supervisor, and outside agencies to determine changes in management needs, objectives, approaches, plans, available resources, and desired effects.

4. Review changes in scientific knowledge.

5. Visit VTS-Milan to determine fuel characteristics and loading, stand densities, topography, practicality of existing burn unit boundaries, and other pertinent considerations/variables.

6. Determine any necessary adjustments to currently defined prescriptions and burn unit boundaries.

7. Revise the IWFMP and carry out the review and revision process with TNARNG environmental staff.

3.0 SITE

VTS-Milan (Caroll and Gibson Counties, TN): VTS-Milan is an 18,581.4-ac. TNARNG training site in west Tennessee, approximately 20 miles north of Jackson and immediately adjacent to the towns of Milan and Lavenia. It is approximately equally divided between Carroll and Gibson counties. Vegetation on the training site is a mosaic of forest (9,888 ac.), grasslands (1,715 ac.), hay and grazing allotments (3,872 ac.), crop agriculture (1,724 ac.), wetlands (617 ac.) and invasive plant dominated areas, heavily influenced by human activities. Although topographic relief is minimal and slopes are generally shallow, the types of soils common on site are extremely prone to erosion. Forested land on the site (9,888 ac.) is comprised of hardwood (6,919 ac.), conifer (913 ac.) and mixed forest (2,056 ac) types. The facility contains two perennial streams (Johns Creek and portions of Halls Branch), several intermittent streams (Wolf Creek, North Fork Wolf Creek, and Dry Creek), one lake (Walker Lake) and numerous ponds and other water bodies. Streams and surrounding land are prone to flooding in response to occasional extreme rain events. There are numerous listed and rare species of concern that do or have potential to occur on the facility. The endangered gray (Myotis grisescens) and Indiana (M. sodalis) bats are believed to utilize the facility

Event 34101-13447 Page 3 of 6 based on manually vetted likely detections recorded on site in recent years. The endangered northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis) may occur, based on possible detections recorded on site in recent years, as well as historic captures prior to the 2015 establishment of White Nose Syndrome in Tennessee. The proposed endangered tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) is known to occupy the installation based on recent captures. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus, candidate species) is known to occur on site based on a recent observation by a qualified entomologist. Populations of two state listed species, the compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) and willow-leaf aster (Symphyotrichum praealtum), also occur on site. VTS-Milan is bordered primarily by rural farm and forest land with some small rural residential areas on the south and east sides, commercial land of MLAAP to the north, and the town of Milan to the west.

4.0 MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

The following tasks shall be completed for the Contractor to successfully accomplish the work under this delivery order:

4.1 Task 1: Project Start-Up Meeting and Site Visit

The Contractor shall attend an on-site meeting with TNARNG representatives at VTS-Milan. At the meeting, the Contractor shall be furnished with the most recent environmental information and maps available for the training site. The TNARNG Point of Contact (POC) shall be responsible for copying documents in cases where the original cannot be distributed to the Contractor for use during the execution of this SOW. This information shall include the following:

• The current IWFMPs, INRMPs, FMPs, and forest inventories for VTS-Milan and the MLAAP.

• Vegetation community information.

• Landscape information relevant to fire management on the training site.

Whenever possible, this information shall be provided to the Contractor in electronic format. The Contractor shall be responsible for reviewing all provided data.

The Contractor shall have the opportunity to tour the site in conjunction with the meeting.

Deliverable: Meeting and Meeting minutes.

Performance Period: Meeting within 60 days of Notice to Proceed (NTP), Minutes within 15 days following startup meeting.

4.2 Task 2: Submission of Project Work Plan

The Contractor shall submit for review by the TNARNG POC a Project Work Plan detailing the scheduled stages of the project and the proposed methodology to be used in each phase. The work plan shall be completed within one month following the start-up meeting. The work plan shall be reviewed and approved by the TNARNG POC within one month of receipt. The work plan shall include information acquisition and review, site visitation to assess fuel loading and other important factors effecting fire, site visitation to meet with site staff and relevant outside agencies for coordination and planning, stages of writing and review, timelines, etc.

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The Contractor shall coordinate with the TNARNG GIS office to develop the appropriate data collection format and standards for this project prior to beginning any field work. The approved data collection format shall be included in the work plan. GPS data shall be collected with sub-meter accuracy in the UTM WGS 1984 projection. Files shall be compliant with current Corps of Engineers Spatial Data Standards (SDS/FIE), likely version 4.0.

Deliverable: Project Work Plan detailing scheduled stages of the project and proposed methodologies.

Performance Period: Work plan – 30 days following startup meeting.

4.3 Task 3: Preparation and Submission of IWFMP

The IWFMP for VTS-Milan shall be submitted to the TNARNG POC. While this is a complete revision of the IWFMP, it should follow the same format as the current VTS-Milan plan. At a minimum, the revised plan shall address all requirements and objectives of the INRMPs and FMPs.

It shall incorporate necessary modifications to accommodate all changes in related law and policy, NWCG requirements and standards, allowance of Tennessee State certifications, Army standards, training needs, land use, land management objectives and approaches, and changes in installation land base. Numerous meetings with interested and pertinent parties will be needed to include training site staff, VTS-Milan fire department, local fire departments, TNDA Forest Service, natural resources staff, etc. Prescriptions shall be updated or created to reflect changes in related scientific knowledge, management objectives, and desired fire effects. New wildfire notification and prescribed fire implementation protocols shall be developed and incorporated. Emergency contact lists shall be updated to include points of contact and backup points of contact to ensure rapid and knowledgeable response, and located in the front of the document.

The IWFMP will be reviewed and approved by the National Guard Bureau Wildland Fire Program Coordinator, VTS-Milan Fire Chief and other staff, TNARNG POC, and the natural resources POC to ensure all needed information is included. The drafts are due ninety days prior to contract completion. One hard copy and one electronic copy should be submitted.

The TNARNG POC will return comments within one month of receipt of draft IWFMP. The Contractor will prepare the final IWFMP incorporating the TNARNG POC’s comments within two months of receiving TNARNG comments. Three (3) hard copies and three (3) electronic copies (2 on CD/DVD, and 1 via DoD SAFE) of each final report will be submitted to the TNARNG POC.

Plans shall have dates of completion on their front covers.

Deliverable: Draft IWFMPs Final IWFMPs

Performance Period: Drafts due ninety (90) days prior to end of contract Final IWFMPs due by close of contract

5.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION OR MATERIAL

The TNARNG shall furnish access to all requested data relevant to this project. This will include topographic maps, GIS data files, and environmental data about the site. The TNARNG will provide access

Event 34101-13447 Page 5 of 6 to the installation for desired field work; however, the Contractor shall schedule access through the training site POC, and recognize that TNARNG training is given priority for access before all other uses.

6.0 CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The contract work shall be performed by a qualified professional with both wildland fire and forestry expertise. The qualified professional shall be qualified as a burn boss/incident commander at a minimum.

The qualified professional shall have experience designing prescribed fires to achieve ecological, forestry, and land management objectives. The Contractor shall furnish a detailed list of each worker’s qualifications for TNARNG review with their proposal.

The Contractor shall furnish, except as noted, all labor, equipment, research materials, transportation, communications, and supplies required to complete the work in accordance with project specifications, terms of the contract, and this Scope of Work.

The TNARNG POC shall serve as the liaison with the training site personnel concerning scheduling of meetings at the facilities and the initial site visits. However, it is the Contractor’s responsibility to coordinate all other access to the facility through the training site POCs. Access will be provided as necessary to accomplish field work; however, the Contractor shall understand that military training activities shall receive first priority with regards to scheduling access to training areas.

All information and data provided by TNARNG to the Contractor is for the purpose of fulfilling this contract. This information is to be protected by the Contractor; it is not to be distributed or utilized for any other purpose under penalty of law.

Upon completion of the Project, the Contractor shall protect and/or return to TNARNG all maps, photographs, studies, surveys, inventories, evaluations, plans, and project reports obtained or collected during the Contract work in accordance with all regulations, laws, and statutes. Copies of reports and applicable related materials will be furnished to the TNARNG upon completion of the Contract.

7.0 DELIVERABLES

All maps, historic documents and other items borrowed from the TNARNG or other contractors under contract to the TNARNG are the property of the TNARNG and shall be returned to the TNARNG upon completion of this contract.

The deliverables due in fulfillment of this Contract are summarized below. Payments will be made following receipt of deliverables according to the following approximate schedule (payment will not be delayed if a deliverable is provided ahead of schedule):

Time from Notice to Proceed

Deliverable Payment

60 days Start-up Meeting 5%

75 days Start-up Meeting Minutes 5%

90 days Project Work Plan 10%

Throughout Monthly Progress Reports 0%

90 days prior to contract completion

Draft Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plan (1 hardcopy and 1 electronic copy)

35%

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18 Months Final Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plan [3 hardcopy; 3 electronic (2 on CD/DVD and 1 via DoD

SAFE)]

And all data in electronic form meeting current SDS/FIE standards.

45%

8.0 MEETINGS AND REVIEWS

Meetings shall be conducted as necessary. At a minimum, this shall include:

1. Start-up meeting and site visit – on-site, in-person.

2. Review of Project Work Plan – may be conducted in person or via phone/email.

3. Coordination meetings with VTS-Milan Fire Chief and other site staff, natural resource points of contact, and relevant/interested outside agencies and fire departments.

4. Monthly progress report reviews – may be conducted in person or via phone/email.

5. Draft report reviews – may be conducted in person or via phone/email.

9.0 POINTS OF CONTACT

The VTS-Milan on-site POC for this project is CPT Brown at (731) 222-5304 (andrew.j.brown50.mil@army.mil). All visits to Milan by the Contractor should be coordinated through CPT Brown and the RFMSS Scheduler SSG Dustin Wallace (615) 426-5935 (dustin.b.wallace2.mil@army.mil).

The TNARNG Natural Resources POC is Brian Knapp, (615) 339-5814 (brian.e.knapp.nfg@army.mil), or Jenna Cox, (615) 636-4924 (jenna.e.garrett.nfg@army.mil).

The TNARNG GIS POC is James “Dave” Meadows at (615) 313-0837 (james.d.meadows.nfg@army.mil).

GIS/GPS requirements shall be coordinated in advance through Mr. Meadows.

All material submissions are to be sent to Jenna Cox, at the following address:

Tennessee Army National Guard ATTN: Jenna Cox

2280 Hwy 104 W, Suite 1 Milan, TN 38358

No TNARNG personnel, other than the Contracting Officer, shall have the authority to change or alter these requirements. The Technical Representative shall clarify technical points or supply relevant technical information, but no requirements in this statement of work or the scope of work may be altered as a sole result of such verbal clarification.

10.0 PERIOD OF SERVICE

The Period of service for this contract shall be eighteen (18) months from notice to proceed.

- END OF SCOPE OF WORK -

mailto:andrew.j.brown50.mil@army.mil mailto:SSG mailto:brian.e.knapp.nfg@army.mil mailto:jenna.e.garrett.nfg@army.mil mailto:james.d.meadows.nfg@army.mil