Attachment_1_-_SOW_FY15_Roller_Drum_Chopping_23_June_2015.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW)

2015 Roller-Drum Chopping

23 June 2015

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK: The work covered by this Statement of Work consists of furnishing brush chopping equipment/materials and performing all operations necessary for roller drum chopping. Areas requiring two complete chopping passes shall receive a 60-day waiting period between the first and second chop. The work shall be completed in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

2. LOCATION OF WORK: The work is located in Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa counties on Eglin AFB, Florida. A map, titled “2015 Eglin Chopping Map”, showing the locations of the tentative areas to be chopped will be provided to the contractor upon start of work.

3. EQUIPMENT: Chopping equipment shall consist of either crawler/dozer or rubber tired tractors pulling single or tandem drum type brush choppers. For purposes of the contract, one unit of brush chopping equipment shall equal one dozer/tractor and one set of single or tandem brush choppers.

a. Each dozer/tractor shall be equipped with either an angled blade or a bar positioned on the front and the full width of the machine that will push or throw standing trees and brush toward the unchopped side of the area. Dozers with only a "C" frame on the front are not acceptable under this contract. Each dozer/tractor must be capable of pulling the chopper at an average speed of three miles per hour. All dozers/tractors must be equipped with protective canopies and fire extinguishers.

b. Chopper Specifications

1. Single Drum Specifications: May be no less than 7’ in width, 43” in diameter, 8” blades or equivalent, and no larger than 10’ in width. All choppers must be capable of chopping 3” diameter (at breast height) brush in a single pass. A single drum chopper or choppers lined up side by side will be acceptable.

2. Tandem Drum Specifications: The brush choppers must perform chops that are

7', 8', or 10' wide. The minimum weights for sets of brush choppers under operating conditions are as follows: 7' wide, 24,000 pounds; 8' wide, 27,000 pounds; 10' wide, 34,000 pounds. The front chopper angle shall be set by drawbar chain lengths prescribed by the manufacturer's recommendations. The rear chopper angle (offset) shall be set by a spacer bar length of 12 inches, and provide an offset angle of 100 degrees from the direction of travel of the front chopper, unless otherwise permitted by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

Only a fixed spacer bar which keeps the rear chopper offset at the necessary angle at all times is acceptable--cables or chains are not acceptable.

c. The blade arrangement of the chopper shall consist of alternating hi/lo blades, with double-beveled cutting edges. When measured between the cutting edge and the drum, Hi blades will measure 11” and Lo blades will measure 8”. When worn, hi blades shall be no less than 9.5”, and Lo blades will be no less than 6.5”. These measurements allow approximately 1.5” of wear from the time a new blade is placed on a chopper until it needs to be replaced. The blade wear measurements will be made by the Technical

Specialist at the narrowest part between the drum and cutting edge.

d. Brush chopper blades that are deeply chipped, broken, loose, or have misfitting brackets are not acceptable for use under this contract. After blades become chipped, broken or loose, equipment will be shut down and corrective repairs made before commencing work by that particular unit. Acreage chopped by equipment with unsatisfactory chopper blades shall not be considered satisfactorily completed and shall be reaccomplished by the contractor as directed by the Contracting Officer Representative

(COR) at no additional expense to the Government. Chopper blades shall be mounted on chopper drums in the same manner as originally mounted by the manufacturer, with the beveled side of the blade toward the front of the chopper when the blade is in contact with the ground.

4. INSPECTIONS: Each unit of brush chopping equipment used under this contract will be inspected by the Contracting Officer or his designated representative as follows:

a. Prior to operations, each brush-chopping unit shall be made available for inspection no later than one workday prior to commencement of work. All brush chopping units shall be operational at time of inspection. The contractor shall furnish weight tickets verifying the actual weight of each set of brush choppers to be used under this contract prior to the start of chopping. If it becomes necessary to fill the brush chopper drums with water to meet minimum weight requirements, this may be done after unloading the brush choppers at the job site. Operating weight of each set of brush choppers used shall be determined as follows: Certified weight of each set of brush choppers plus weight of water equals the operating weight of the brush choppers. Any brush chopping unit not meeting the approval of the Contracting Officer shall be repaired, replaced or modified in a manner which meets the specifications of the contract before any work by that unit commences.

b. During operations, the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will make frequent unscheduled inspections of brush chopping equipment and performance during the period of the contract to ensure that equipment specifications and performance requirements under the contract are maintained.

5. METHOD OF CHOPPING: A waiting period of 60 days is required between the completion of the first chop and the beginning of the second chop on areas receiving two complete chopping passes unless waived by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). On both the first and second chop, each row of chopping will overlap the preceding row by a minimum of 12” to ensure that area is completely chopped. Chopping shall be done with the contour of the land to minimize erosion potential.

6. LEAVE TREES AND CLUMPS: All longleaf pines will be left standing and undamaged.

Hardwood trees larger than 9" in diameter measured 36" from the ground will be left standing and undamaged. A minimum separation of 150' in all directions shall be maintained between all leave clumps. Clumps containing favorable wildlife plant or tree species may be marked for exclusion. In addition, trees of aesthetic or wildlife value, such as live oak, holly, blueberry, chinquapin, and magnolia may be identified by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) as leave trees.

Snags are dead trees. Standing longleaf pine snags and standing hardwood snags over 8” in diameter at 36” above the ground will be left to provide wildlife habitat.

7. ACREAGE MEASUREMENT: Acreage will be determined using a global positioning system (GPS). Acreage could change as areas may be removed, added or changed at the convenience or need of the Government. However chopping will not exceed the acres approved unless previously authorized via a modification to the contract and accompanying funding document.

BRUSH CHOPPING AREAS: All areas to be chopped are located in sand hill communities and not adversely affected by wet weather. Area boundaries are identified on the ground by the

Contracting Officer Representative (COR) using pink flagging tape. Fire lines, natural boundaries, or roads do not always coincide with unit boundaries. The Contractor should contact the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) prior to beginning work for clarification if there are problems locating area boundaries. If any areas are needed for operations by the Government, other similar areas may be substituted, as needed, by the Contracting Officer Representative

(COR) to meet the acreage estimates in the contract.

9. WARNING - HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AT SITE:

a. Notice to Contractor: The site, entrance routes or adjacent areas to the site at which you, your employees, and your subcontractors will be working have been used by the Air

Force as an ammunition testing range. There exists a possible danger to person and property from unexploded weapons in and on the ground. Live bombs, missiles, and other ordnance material may be embedded or partially embedded in the trees or soil. In no event should you or your employees, or your subcontractors or their employees, attempt to remove or otherwise tamper with such material or objects. Removal of such items from the site by unauthorized persons is considered misappropriation of

Government property, and may be subject to penalties under law. However, more important is the potential serious or fatal injury to the individual.

b. Agreement: The contractor agrees that if, during the performance of work under this contract, his employees or subcontractors or their employees should encounter any of these munitions, or other unidentifiable objects which resemble ordnance material, he will stop work in the immediate area, report such encounter to the Government Inspector by the most expeditious method, advising him of the exact location and description of the object, and proceed as directed. The contractor further agrees to cause this warning to be brought to the attention of each one of his employees, and to each subcontractor and his employees who will be working at the site.

c. Procedures for Assuring Safety:

1. A poster describing the various items discussed above will be furnished to the contractor at the pre-performance briefing. The contractor will display this poster in a prominent place at the performance site, readily available for inspection of all personnel.

2. At the conclusion of the pre-performance briefing, the contractor will be required to signify on an appropriate form the existence or possible existence of hazardous munitions items has been discussed and that he agrees to brief his employees or any subcontractors on the contents of this clause.

3. For the contractor's safety, the Contracting Officer or his designated representative may restrict operations due to military mission requirements.

10. ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION (Red Cockaded Woodpecker): Red cockaded woodpecker cavity trees, whether unmarked or marked with white bands at eye level, shall not be damaged. Violation of this prohibition may render the contractor liable for damages under provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. All unmarked red cockaded woodpecker cavity trees on reforestation areas located by the contractor, his personnel, or subcontractor personnel, shall be reported to the Natural Resources Branch, telephone 850-883-

1127 as soon as possible. A picture detailing the habitat of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker will be provided upon commencement of the contract.

10.1 Red Cockaded Woodpecker Cavity Tree - Any living species of pine, except sand pine, 65 years or older, in which a cavity has been completed or is being constructed by a Red

Cockaded Woodpecker, which may or may not have open resin wells. Trees shall not be cut, removed or otherwise disturbed within 200 feet of Red Cockaded Woodpecker cavity tree unless first coordinating with the Natural Resources Branch. Additionally, the contractor shall ensure that a representative of the Natural Resource Branch is present during performance within 200 feet of any Red Cockaded Woodpecker cavity tree.

11. CULTURAL/RECREATIONAL SITE PROTECTION: Cultural/Recreational sites, such as abandoned home places, cemeteries and Native American camp sites, and items of antiquity associated with them, shall not be disturbed by the Contractor or his personnel. These sites will be clearly identified by the Government and indicated by the Contracting Officer's representative at the on-site briefing.

12. DEFINITIONS

Closed Areas - Areas where tests and missions are scheduled or conducted and access is restricted to authorized individuals.

Endangered Species - Any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range and designated as such by the United States Fish and Wildlife

Service.

First Chop - A piece of equipment pulling choppers over a designated area, which has not been chopped within the previous 24 months.

Second Chop - A piece of equipment pulling choppers over a designated area, which has had a first chop within the previous 24 months.

13. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: At all times during site preparation operations, the contractor shall have a project manager readily available in the area of such operations, who shall be authorized to receive notices and instructions from the Contracting Officer on behalf of the contractor with regard to equipment and performance under the contract.

a. The contractor shall keep available on each work area the necessary tools for removing filler or inspection plugs on any brush chopper requiring water to meet minimum weight requirements.

b. Fires shall not be made by the contractor or his employees while on the Eglin reservation.

c. Dumping, disposing, storing, or littering of any form (garbage, refuse, oil cans, tires, equipment, etc.) is prohibited on the Eglin reservation.

d. The Government may direct the sequential order in which areas to be cleared will be chopped.

e. Existing roads, bridges, fords, culverts, fences, and other improvements damaged by operations of the contractor shall be repaired or replaced as directed by the Contracting

Officer or his designated representative, at the expense of the contractor. Repaired or replaced items shall be in as good condition as existing items were prior to start of the work.

f. Contractor shall keep reforestation area roads clear of brush and trees during chopping operations. All roads shall be cleared for travel at the end of each workday.

g. Contractor shall load his equipment when moving across paved roads, bridges, and railroad tracks.

h. Established roads traversing certain areas that will be designated by Contracting

Officer or his designated representative shall not be chopped.

i. Contractor will be required to pull choppers either adjacent to existing Eglin

Reservation roads or in the actual roadway itself when moving equipment from one area to another. The Contractor will meet with the Government's designated representative prior to moving equipment to determine the approved route from one area to another and which roads require pulling adjacent to existing roads or in the actual road.

14. CLEARANCE INTO CLOSED AREAS:

a. The contractor shall call Joint Test and Training Operations Control Center

(JTTOCC), telephone (850) 882-4548, to obtain a "Z" clearance before entering any closed areas.

b. Upon receiving “Z” clearance, the contractor may encounter closed red range gates while accessing work area. The contractor must get authorization from

JTTOCC before proceeding thru closed red range gates.

c. The contractor may have to cross test ranges to access work areas. The contractor will get authorization from JTTOCC or designated Range chief prior to crossing any test ranges. Range chief phone numbers will be provided to contractor by the designated contract inspector.

d. The contractor will ensure prompt cancellation of “Z” clearance thru JTTOCC after completely exiting closed areas.