J1B - SoW_NFsNC_Roads MATOC_11.22.23.docx

DESCRIPTON/STATEMENT OF WORK/SPECIFICATIONS

NATIONAL FOREST’S IN NORTH CAROLINA

ROAD MAINTENANCE & CONSTRUCTION MATOC – 2024 - 2029

C.1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT:

The USDA, USFS, Southern Region (R8), National Forests in North Carolina (NFsNC) intends to solicit a 5-year Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) for road maintenance, road construction, and minor engineering services for the Forest Service roads on all National Forests in the state of North Carolina. This contract will focus on the National Forests in North Carolina, but also include surrounding Ranger Districts in adjacent states of Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, and South Carolina. This solicitation will result in multi-awards Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ), maintenance and construction contracts for each of the four (4) Forest Zones.

Offerors are required to submit a separate quotation package for each Forest Zone they wish to be considered for an award of a task order seed project. The resultant contracts will consist of the four Forest Zones listed below having a separate multi-award IDIQ group of Contractors who will be submitting price proposals for Task Orders that will be issued for the 5-year duration of the contract.

The resultant contract will consist of four (4) separate multi-award IDIQ contracts for each of these Forest Zones.

1. Nantahala Zone:

a. North Carolina - Nantahala, Cheoah, and Tusquitee Ranger Districts.

b. South Carolina - Andrew Pickens Ranger District.

c. Georgia - Chattooga River, and Blue Ridge Ranger Districts.

d. Tennessee - Ocoee and Tellico Ranger Districts.

2. Pisgah Zone:

a. North Carolina - Pisgah, Appalachian, and Grandfather Ranger Districts.

b. Virginia - Clinch Ranger District, and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.

c. Tennessee – Watauga and Unaka Ranger Districts.

3. Uwharrie Zone:

a. North Carolina - Uwharrie Ranger District.

b. South Carolina - Enoree Ranger District.

4. Croatan Zone:

a. North Carolina - Croatan Ranger District.

b. South Carolina - Francis Marion Ranger District.

The minimum order amount for each Task Order is $10K, with a Guaranteed minimum of $2,000. The maximum Task Order award amount is $2.5 million. If a task order is estimated to be over $2.5 million, offerors may submit proposals, but are not required to.

To be considered for selection, offerors must bid on at least one of the five task order seed projects.

a. Contracting Officer may select 3-7 contractors per zone.

b. Offerors must bid on the task order seed project for the zone where they wish to be considered.

c. Offerors may bid on multiple zones.

d. Offerors must identify zones, type of work, and bonding amount for projects that they will be bidding on for the duration of the MATOC.

e. Pre-Bid Site visits will be held by Contracting Officer, CO Representative, and technical specialists for each task order seed project on separate days.

On-boarding and off-boarding of contractors will be allowed under this contract. If a selected contractor fails to bid on any task order that falls within their pre-selected requirements within the span of a year, the CO may initiate the off-boarding of that contractor. Within the life of the contract, the CO may onboard new contractors to any Forest zone given that it is determined by CO, COR and/or technical specialists that they meet the requirements established at that given time.

All task order project packages will be accompanied by a Cover Letter Attachment #4 with the pertinent summary information for the task order.

The estimated start date is March 2024.

C.1.2 DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Road Maintenance work will consist of a variety of road maintenance tasks which will be itemized, described, quantified and or specified on individual task orders. Attachment #1 “Performance Based Contract Specifications for Road Maintenance” contains a list of possible maintenance items that may be ordered by task orders in addition to the Performance Evaluation Factors.

Road Construction work and related services may include, but not be limited to the following types of work:

a) Road repair/reconstruction & construction: Work includes repair and construction of native surface, gravel or paved roads; and road repair and reconstruction due to damage from human or natural causes.

b) Road decommissioning: Work includes de-compaction, partial or full re-contour to restore the roadway to a hydrological stable condition; removal of drainage structures and associated fill to restore site to natural contour; work may include excavation of stream channels without drainage structures; installation of gradient control devices in channels or sediment basins; seeding, fertilizing and mulching; and the construction of road drainage structures.

c) Bridge: Work includes repair and construction of steel, concrete, and timber road bridges; reconstruction of approaches; and related stream work within the project area.

d) Trail bridges located at trailheads readily accessible by conventional road building equipment. Work includes construction or reconstruction of bridge. Site will be accessible from National Forest system or other public roads.

e) Culverts, Aquatic Passage Structures, and Ancillary Structures: Work includes road structures for aquatic passages, bottomless arches, small bridges, retaining walls, and cattle guards that are part of National Forest roads.

f) Other Related work also includes signs; guardrails; closure devices such as gates, cattle guards, fences; stream grade; alignment control; and scour protection.

g) Maintenance, stream work, or campground work that is associated with but secondary to the primary work is included. Examples are maintaining roads in the project area to prevent rutting, dust control, maintaining drain structures, road and spur improvements in campground, and restoring stream channel within the project area.

h) Parking Lots including, but not limited to grading, asphalt paving, tree removal, stripping, parking stops, signage replacement and installation.

Engineering Services limited to engineering studies, testing, surveys and analysis:

a) Geotechnical Services: Subsurface site analysis is accomplished by collecting soil (or rock) samples via soil borings, test pits, or hand auger and performing a field analysis or even potential lab testing of soil properties.

b) Surveying Services: These services can include a preliminary site reconnaissance, noting important landmarks and potential challenges, followed by a topographic survey using appropriate land surveying equipment.

c) Materials Services: Materials used in existing structures, such as bridges, or materials to be used in road construction will need to be assessed and tested to ensure that the appropriate quality of material was or will be used.

d) Transportation Services: The movement of people that will need access to the road under maintenance or construction will need to be facilitated. This is accomplished by creating alternative routes through implementing appropriate signage or may require the implementation of temporary routes or bridges/structures. Data collection of vehicular traffic such as Average Daily Traffic in a given road or roads and the delivery of the data.

e) Structural Services: This typically involves the evaluation of the structural stability of existing structures, such as bridges, and how the surrounding environment can potentially threaten/impact the existing structure. Structures to be implemented also will need to be evaluated during and after construction to ensure there are no structural deficiencies and provide recommendations if there are.

f) Environmental Services: Services could include water quality monitoring/sampling of nearby or onsite streams, investigate/implement ways to mitigate stormwater pollution, and ensure environmental standards are being met and upheld.

Additional construction clauses will apply, and bonding may also be required for the task orders that contain construction work. Also, submission of payroll, in accordance with the Davis Bacon requirements, will be required for construction and service task orders.

Applicable Department of Labor Wage Rates for service and construction work are found in Attachment #2.

C.2 LOCATION OF CONTRACT PERFORMANCE

Each task order will identify a specific project location, work may be performed at any of the 4 locations (National Forests) stated in C.1.

There are 8 Ranger Districts located within the National Forests in NC and an additional 11 Ranger Districts located in surrounding states. Below is a table listing information about each ranger district and what National Forest (Zone) they are located within.

New Bern, NC 28560

Craven, Carteret & Jones

Huger, SC 29450 Charleston, Berkeley & Georgetown

Troy, NC 27371

Montgomery, Randolph & Davidson

Whitmire, SC 29178 Newberry, Union, Chester, Laurens & Fairfield

Nebo, NC 28761

McDowell, Burke, Caldwell & Watauga

Mars Hill, NC 28754

Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Haywood & Yancey

Pisgah Forest, NC 28768

Transylvania, Buncombe & Haywood

Norton, VA 24273 Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Letcher (KY) & Pike (KY)

National Recreational Area 3714 Highway 16 Marion, VA 24354 Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington & Wythe

Greeneville, TN 37743 Cocke, Greene, Unicoi & Washington

Unicoi, TN 37692 Carter, Johnson, Sullivan & Unicoi

Franklin, NC 28734

Macon, Jackson & Swain

Robbinsville, NC 28771

Graham & Swain

Murphy, NC 28906 Cherokee & Clay

Mt. Rest, SC 29664 Oconee

Benton, TN 37307 Polk, McMinn & Monroe

Tellico Plains, TN 37385 Monroe

Lakemont, GA 30552 Banks, Stephens, Habersham, Rabun, Towns & White

Blairsville, GA 30512 Union, Lumpkin, Gilmer, Fannin & Dawson

A Forest zones vicinity map is shown on Attachment #3.

A project location/vicinity map and/or project site map will also be attached with each task order.

C.3 PROJECT MAGNITUDE

The maximum award amount for this contract, to include all orders issued under it, shall be $50,000,000.00 over five (5) years.

Price ranges shall be established for each individual task order as they are issued.

C.4 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The use of Government-furnished property shall be stated in each individual task order as applicable.

C.4.1 ACCESS

In most cases, roads are open continuously. The Government will supply a key to the Contractor for roads closed by Forest Service gates. It is the contractor’s responsibility to obtain all keys for closed roads from the District Ranger Office prior to start of work and must be returned when the work included in the Task Order is completed.

C.4.2 PHSYSICAL SECURITY

Key Control. The contractor shall establish and implement methods of ensuring that all keys issued to the contractor by the Government are not lost or misplaced and are not used by unauthorized persons. No keys issued to the contractor by the Government shall be duplicated. The contractor shall develop procedures covering key control that shall be included in the quality control plan. ALL keys issued by the Government are to be returned prior to final payment request.

C.5 GENERAL ROAD MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATIONS

C.5.1 SCHEDULE OF WORK

Task orders may be placed throughout the contract period. A Road Maintenance Schedule will be delivered to the Contractor after award. The Road Maintenance Schedule, Exhibit ‘B’, specifies the road number, required maintenance activity, general sequence and frequency of performance and other pertinent information or special instructions necessary for planning and executing the work. Adjustments to these schedules may be made in accordance with CHANGES (FAR 52.243-1) PART II-SECTION I.25. Any such adjustments require prior written documentation from the Contracting Officer (CO).

The Contractor shall inform the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) of his proposed operating schedule on a weekly basis to facilitate timely inspections. Normal grading time shall be Monday through Friday. Any grading done on the weekend shall be coordinated with and approved by COR. Contractor shall notify of the COR or inspector of location every two (2) days minimum.

The Contractor shall complete all maintenance required for one road before starting another road. Contractor shall inform the COR of each road completed.

If Contractor elects to use more than one motor-grader on the project, the Contractor shall coordinate with the COR/Inspector as to location and time graders are working.

C.5.2 PERIODS OF OPERATION

Task orders may be issued at any time. Actual grading periods are subject to temperature and moisture content restraints as specified in Attachment 1, Division 200.

C.5.3 OBLIGATON OF THE CONTRACTOR

Contractor shall furnish all supplies, materials, tools, equipment, labor, supervision and transportation to do the required work. Each week, unless otherwise approved, the Contractor shall report his location and progress of work in writing to the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) to permit timely inspection and acceptance of completed work by the Government. If construction work is included in the task order, the Contractor shall forward to the COTR each week the payrolls, including the WH-347, for the prior week in accordance with the Department of Labor Davis Bacon requirements.

C.5.4 SUPERIENDENCE BY THE CONTRACTOR

At all times during the performance of the contract and until the work is completed and accepted, the Contractor shall directly supervise the work or assign and have on the work site a competent superintendent who is satisfactory to the CO and has authority to act for the Contractor. The superintendent shall be designated in writing to the CO prior to the commencement of work on the first task order.

C.5.5 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

All equipment proposed to be used for performance of the work shall be of the size, type, number and in such condition to properly pursue the requirements of this contract. Grading equipment must be capable of cutting, crowning and shaping operations necessary to meet the requirements of Activity Codes applicable in the technical (performance standards) requirements and Typical Section Drawings. All equipment shall conform to the requirements of Section 240 – Supplemental Specifications.

The Contractor's proposed equipment shall be made available for inspection prior to award of the contract. If at any time during this contract the equipment is deemed unsatisfactory, the CO may order removal and may require a satisfactory replacement, at Contractor's expense. Replacement equipment, if ordered, is to be onsite and working within 48 hours.

Any movement or transportation of equipment to or from work areas required to pursue the work on designated roads, to repair or replace equipment, or for the Contractor's convenience shall be at the Contractor's expense.

C.5.6 ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORTS

The Contractor shall maintain records of accomplishments using the Daily Accomplishment Report. These records are to be delivered to the COR on a weekly basis, or other time interval agreed upon by the Contractor and COR, with an invoice for the services rendered that month and shall become the property of the Government. No payment will be made prior to receipt of these records and acceptance of the work performed.

C.5.7 QUALITY CONTORL PLAN

The Contractor shall submit to the CO, a Quality Control Plan (QCP) as part of their technical proposal that will detail the methods the Contractor will use to perform self-inspection to ensure the requirements of this contract are performed in accordance with the contract documents. The QCP shall at a minimum record the reference pay item, location, frequency, type of test and resulting outcome. QCPs shall be submitted with the Accomplishment Report and no payment will be made prior to receipt of these records and acceptance of the work performed.

C.5.8 PLAN CONTENTS

1) Inspection System. An inspection system must cover all the services listed in the “description” column of the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS). The inspection system need only cover items included in the task orders. It must specify the work items to be inspected on either a scheduled or unscheduled basis, how often inspections will be accomplished, and the title of the individual(s) who will perform the inspection. The inspection system must provide for a written record of inspections and results.

2) Methods. Identify the proposed methods for identifying and preventing defects before the level of performance becomes unacceptable.

3) Records. The contractor shall maintain on-site records of all inspections and necessary corrective action(s) taken. This documentation shall be furnished at the time payment is requested, or when requested by the Contracting Officer’s Representative during the term of the contract. Project inspectors reserve the right to check contractor’s Quality Control Inspections at any time during the life of a task order.

C.5.9 GOVERNMENT’S QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA)

The Government will monitor progress to ensure that the Contractor is providing the quality promised in their QC Plan and that work meets performance standards. Visual observation may be used. The Government reserves the right, if deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the contract, to make periodic or 100% full inspections of the work. Each road will be inspected separately, and the results will not be averaged.

Government inspections will be documented on Daily Diaries and placed in the contract file. If work in part of an area does not meet the Acceptable Quality Level given above, a Notice of Non Compliance will be issued to the Contractor (see section E). The CO may issue other cure notices if work is not being performed in a timely manner or does not comply with contract specifications.

Upon completion of a road or an area and notification by the Contractor, the COTR or designated Inspector shall make an overall inspection of that/those roads. If a need for remedial work prior to acceptance is reflected by the COTR/Inspector`s inspection, such remedial work will be performed before the Contractor moves to the next area. If the inspection results in acceptance of the area, the Contractor may immediately proceed with work on the next area.

Government inspections are for the sole benefit of the Government and do not-

1) Relieve the Contractor of responsibility for providing adequate quality control measures;

2) Relieve the Contractor of responsibility for damage to or loss of the material before acceptance;

3) Constitute or imply acceptance; or

4) Affect the continuing rights of the Government after acceptance of the completed work.

C.5.10 DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDS

The contractor shall maintain records of accomplishment. Reports are to be updated Daily; COR/Inspector reserves the right to view these documents at any time during inspection visits. These reports shall be verified and signed by the Project Inspector and submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative along with the contractor’s invoice for payment and shall be become the property of the Government. No payment or acceptance shall be made prior to receipt of these records.

All documentation, records and schedules as described in the SoW that are the responsibility of the contractor, are the property of the Government and shall be turned over to the Government upon completion or termination of the contract. All records are subject to the Freedom of Information and/or Privacy Acts and any requests for release of any records shall be handled accordingly.

C.6 TECHNICAL ROAD MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATIONS (PERFORMANCE BASED)

“Performance Based Contract Specifications for Road Maintenance” are included in this solicitation as Attachment #1. Performance base is five (5) years.

C.7 STANDARD ROAD CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS

“Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects” (FP-14) are included in this solicitation by reference only. The requirements contained in these Specifications are hereby made a part of this solicitation and any resultant contract.

Copies are available electronically on the U.S. DEPARMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highways Administration website at: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/specs/fp-14/fp14.pdf.

C.8 FOREST SERVICE SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS (FSSS) – ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Forest Service Supplemental Specifications for construction projects shall be provided with each individual task order solicitation.

C.9 DRAWINGS/PLANS

Road Maintenance and Construction Drawings applicable to individual task orders shall be provided with the task order solicitation.

C.10 MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

U.S. Customary Units of measure are used in conjunction with these specifications.

The methods of measurement and computation will be those necessary to accurately determine the quantities of materials furnished and work performed.

All items, which are measured by the foot, will be measured along its longitudinal centerline, unless otherwise shown on the drawings.

A station when used as a definition of term or measurement will be one hundred feet, or a precise location along a survey line.

Miles will, in the absence of known distances from existing plans or surveys, be determined by the Government using a calibrated survey odometer or equal substitute operated on the traveled way at or parallel to road centerline.

The term "ton" means 2000 pounds. Trucks used to haul material measured by truck weight shall bear a plainly legible identification mark. Weight tickets furnished by the Contractor from certified scales will be used to determine weight measurements.

Materials measured by the cubic yard in the hauling vehicle shall be measured therein at the point of delivery. Vehicles may be of any legal size or type, provided that the box is of such shape that the actual volume may be readily and accurately determined.

Measurement by the acre will use the length and width treated. Measurement will be along the ground surface. Measurement of width will approximate significant slope breaks but will not include minor deviations along the slopes.

Measure square yard along longitudinal and traverse slopes on transverse slopes steeper than 2:1.

The term "lump sum" when used in the Bid Schedule means the complete unit as required by or described in the contract.

Measurement will be made of each item or unit of work, as shown in the Bid Schedule, completed and accepted in accordance with the contract provisions, specifications, and drawings.

C.10.1 PAYMENT PROCEDURES

The Government may make progress payments as the work proceeds per the Contractor’s request. The Contractor shall make this request by submitting the following to the COR:

1. Invoice that denotes summary information of the contract and reflects the schedule of items.

2. Submittals of specified materials in the contract if any.

3. Stone weight tickets that reflect amount on invoice if any.

4. Delivered any reports for minor engineering services given if any.

C.11 SAFETY

Contractor Safety Responsibilities. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to assure that proper techniques and procedures are followed, and precautions taken to prevent injury to any person or property as a result of work performed under this specification. The Contractor shall be solely responsible for the repair of, or payment for, any damage or injury to government property and their property caused by his representatives, materials, or equipment. All work areas shall be left in a safe and clean condition equal to that in which they were found.

The Contractor and the Contractor’s employees shall adhere to all safety regulations and guidelines applicable to this type of work. These include but are not limited to safety requirements provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (29 CFR 1910-1926, www.osha.gov). It is the contractor’s responsibility to know what safety regulations and guidelines are applicable to this type of work.

The Contractor shall exercise caution and care while pursuing the work to prevent unnecessary conflict with, or potential hazards to, road users or others within the work area.

The Contractor is to pursue all work on site in accordance with all Federal, State and Local laws governing the transportation and work being performed.

The Contractor will post warning signs on each end of the section of road being worked. Signs are to be of the size, quantity, and colors as required in the current edition of the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices", (MUTCD). A copy of MUTCD is located at the District Rangers Office and may be made available to the Contractor for in office reference on request. These signs shall be moved as needed to properly delineate and identify the section of the road being maintained. At no time shall these signs be more than two miles from operating equipment and shall be in place only when road equipment or persons are performing operations. All slow-moving equipment is to have a reflectorized "slow moving" vehicle emblem properly attached.

All work is to be scheduled so that at the end of a working day, the road is passable for the type of traffic normally using the road. If for any reason traffic hazards (segments of unfinished work which may present a hazard to road users, such as rolls of surface material, berms on the shoulder, etc.) are left in or adjacent to the road after normal working hours, the work is to be properly signed as hazardous and visibly illuminated at night.

C.12 SCHEDULING WORK

Delivery of materials and equipment shall be made with a minimum of interference to Government operations and personnel. All deliveries shall be coordinated with the COTR , ahead of the delivery date.

The work shall, so far as practicable, be done in definite sections or divisions and confined to limited areas which shall be completed before work in other sections, or division is begun. Work sequencing shall be coordinated with the COTR, so as to have minimal impact on Government operations and personnel.

C.13 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor is required to adhere to all requirements listed in the contract and to Adhere to all Standard Specifications, Special Specification, and Drawings for each project.

The Contractor is to communicate with the CO and COR as to progress, location, and completion of items and to adhere to all requirements of the National Forests of North Carolina Fire Protection Requirements.

C.14 WORKING HOURS

Work hours are generally limited to weekdays between dawn and dusk. Work outside of those times requires approval by the COR or Project Inspector. Work on federal holidays requires prior written approval from the Contracting Officer. Approval of the COR is required prior to work done on weekends.

C.15 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The contractor shall instruct employees in environmental protection practices. The contractor shall be responsible for operating under conditions which preclude the waste of fuel or spoiling the environment which shall include:

Disposal of Refuse: Contractor shall be required to remove all refuse from each respective work site every day work is performed and shall dispose of the refuse off Government property.

Fuel for equipment, trucks and vehicles shall not be wasted. Extended engine idling shall not be permitted.

Machine fluids (fuel, oils, coolants, etc.) shall not be drained on the ground or allowed to enter any watercourse. Inadvertent spills shall be contained immediately, and the District Ranger, Project Inspector, and local authorities shall be notified immediately. Promptly remediate the spill unless otherwise directed by authorities.

The Contractor shall provide protective barriers to prevent soil erosion on all projects requiring excavation. Also, included will be environmental protection to prevent sedimentation drainage of silts into storm drains. All protective barriers will be continually maintained on the project until the project is completed and accepted by the Government.

C.16 FIRE PROTECTION

The Contractor shall comply with all policies and rules of the National Forests of North Carolina to prevent forest fires. The Forest Service Health and Safety Code Handbook (FSH 6709.11), National Wildfire Coordination Group Fireline Handbook, and Forest and District policies describe procedures to avoid the unintentional ignition and spread of wildfire. These include, but are not limited to:

1) Use spark arrestors on fuel powered vehicles and machinery.

2) Have onsite access to a fire extinguisher and/or other firefighting tools, such as shovels or rakes.

3) Ensure proper storage and handling of flammable liquids.

4) Ensure positive extinguishing of any open flames or burning materials, such as tobacco.

5) Obtain COTR and District approval for any open fires.

6) Completely extinguish all approved fires before departing worksite.

C.17 NOISE CONTROL

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable local laws, regulations, and ordinances relative to noise control.

C.18 LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

1. Attachment 1 – Performance Based Contract Specifications for Road Maintenance

2. Attachment 2 – Applicable Wage Rates – Service or Davis Bacon

3. Attachment 3 – Forest Zones Vicinity Map

4. Attachment 4 – Task Order Cover Letter

NFsNC Road Maint. & Const. MATOC November 2023