Mechanical Site Prep: Cherry West Item 1

Request For Proposal (RFP #RFP-2025-0153)

Tuolumne County

County Administration Office

Issued: Friday, October 16, 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP No. RFP-

2025-0153)

MECHANICAL SITE PREP: CHERRY WEST ITEM 1

Deadline for Submission of Proposals: Friday, November 13, RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/tuolumnecountyca

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Scope of Services

3. Minimum Qualifications

4. Pricing Proposal

5. Proposal Package Requirements

6. RFP Process

7. Evaluation of Proposals

8. Contract Information

Attachments:

D - Map

F - Unit List

G - FINAL_AppendixG_GuidelinesforOperations

H - Appendix_H_-Fire_Plan_for_Construction_and_Service_Agreements

I - STF_PAL_Zone_Map

J - RIM_BMP_Checklist

K - Spill_Prevention_and_Reporting_Procedures

L - Contract_RoadDiagram

M - Employment-Outcome-Reporting-Form

N - Stanislaus_FireInspectionForm_MSA

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

The County of Tuolumne is seeking proposals from qualified individuals to conduct fuels reduction and mechanical site preparation and associated treatments for reforestation as authorized in the Master Stewardship Agreement the County has with the USDA, Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest on behalf of the Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions (YSS) Collaborative.

The County intends to select Contractors that meet the specifications of this Solicitation based on best value.

The Cherry West Project consists of approximately 535.90 acres of mechanical site preparation, including mastication and piling. Specifications and treatment requirements are detailed in

Section 2, Scope of Services. The County intends for site preparation work in the priority units

(M014A and M014C) to begin no earlier than June 2027 and be completed no later than October

31, 2027. These units are scheduled for planting in Spring 2028.

All remaining units must be completed no later than October 31, 2028, and are scheduled for planting in Fall 2028.

The project is located at an approximate elevation of 6,000 feet and may be inaccessible during periods of snow cover. The Contractor shall plan and schedule work accordingly to meet the required completion deadlines.

1.2. Background

In December 2017, the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors approved a Master Stewardship

Agreement (MSA) with the USDA, Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest on behalf of the

Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions (YSS) Collaborative, giving the County authority over the next 10 years to work with the Forest Service to conduct landscape restoration activities on the Stanislaus

National Forest within the boundaries of Tuolumne County. It was executed in January of 2018.

The Supplemental Project Agreements (SPA) developed under the MSA are for the purpose of protecting, enhancing and restoring forest and watershed health and bringing economic opportunities to the local area. The County is using the collaborative group YSS and its sub-partners inside YSS to assist with Forest Health Projects.

It is the County's intent to subcontract out program administration and project management, this will include supervision of Contractors and oversee the work being done on this project.

1.3. Contact Information

Caitlin Henry

Senior Management Analyst

2 South Green Street

Sonora, CA 95370

Email: chenry@co.tuolumne.ca.us

Phone: (209) 533-5511 mailto:chenry@co.tuolumne.ca.us tel:(209)533-5511

Department:

County Administration Office

Department Head:

Roger Root

County Administrative Officer

1.4. Timeline

Release of published RFP October 16, 2026

Deadline for receiving all questions October 30, 2026, 5:00pm

Deadline for RFP responses to be received by County

November 13, 2026, 5:00pm

Notice of contract award (Tentative) November 20, 2026

Deadline for protests/appeals

(Tentative)

December 4, 2026

Contract executed (Tentative) December 7, 2026

2. Scope of Services

It is the intent of these specifications, terms, and conditions to describe the services Tuolumne

County is seeking. The County intends to award a contract(s) to the Proposer(s) who best meets the County’s needs based on information required from the Proposer(s).

This project lies in Stanislaus National Forest Lands in Tuolumne County. The County is implementing these projects under and in relation to its Master Stewardship Agreement #18-SA-

11051600-019 between the County ("Partner”) and the Forest Service. Contractors will perform fuels reduction work, including mastication, hand thinning, chipping, piling, and/or the creation of fuelbreaks. Specifications for project implementation and various treatment actions are detailed below.

Contractors are strongly encouraged to visit the project area prior to submitting a proposal to assess on-the-ground conditions and ensure a clear understanding of site access, terrain, and treatment requirements.

The County reserves the right to modify the scope of work, including the right to increase or decrease the quantity of any item or portion of the work, or to entirely delete any item or portion of any work, or to require extra work as deemed by the County, the Project Manager, or the

Forest Service to be necessary or advisable. Any such changes to increase the quantity of work will be set forth in a Contract Change Order, which will not become effective until approved by the County; decreases may be documented via MSA inspection reports or other written communication methods.

The County reserves the right to prioritize the order in which units are treated. The unit list can be referenced in Attachment F - Unit List.

Project Maps are available. Please see the project map in Attachment D, Map. The project lies entirely in PAL Zone High South, see Attachment I - STF_PAL_Zone_Map.

All operations shall be performed in an organized manner, with at least one foreman who speaks fluent English.

2.1. Introduction

The County of Tuolumne is seeking proposals from qualified individuals to conduct fuels reduction and mechanical site preparation and associated treatments for reforestation as authorized in the Master Stewardship Agreement the County has with the USDA, Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest on behalf of the Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions (YSS) Collaborative.

The County intends to select Contractors that meet the specifications of this Solicitation based on best value.

The Cherry West Project consists of approximately 535.90 acres of mechanical site preparation, including mastication and piling. Specifications and treatment requirements are detailed in

Section 2, Scope of Services. The County intends for site preparation work in the priority units

(M014A and M014C) to begin no earlier than June 2027 and be completed no later than October

31, 2027. These units are scheduled for planting in Spring 2028.

All remaining units must be completed no later than October 31, 2028, and are scheduled for planting in Fall 2028.

The project is located at an approximate elevation of 6,000 feet and may be inaccessible during periods of snow cover. The Contractor shall plan and schedule work accordingly to meet the required completion deadlines.

2.2. Beginning Work Operations

Contractor must attend an in-person pre-work kick off meeting with the County prior to beginning work. Contractor must notify project manager of start date of operations prior to commencement and Contractor must attend a pre-implementation field meeting.

2.3. Site Preparation Prescription

Masticate/Shred/Chip

• Masticate/Shred/Chip:

o All shrubs > 12 inches in height including, white thorn, manzanita, deer brush, buckbrush, and bear cover, except as described below:

▪ Shrubs growing within 6 inches of the bole of a residual tree.

▪ Riparian vegetation.

o Live hardwoods, except as described below:

▪ Retain all blue and valley oaks trees, as well as bigleaf maple.

▪ Retain the 5 largest oaks per acre that are ≥ 8 feet tall and 0.5-inch DBH.

o Conifers smaller than 10 inches DBH to a spacing of 12 feet x 12 feet and all conifers greater than 10 inches DBH to a spacing of 25 feet x 25 feet, as measured from the bole, except for the following:

▪ Retain all healthy sugar pine without evidence of white pine blister rust or bark beetle attack.

▪ Species preference for retention trees: sugar pine, Douglas-fir, giant sequoia, ponderosa pine/Jeffrey pine, incense cedar, and white fir.

▪ Favor cutting incense cedar and white fir.

o Retain obligate riparian species - resprouting trees such as alders, big leaf maples, dogwoods, cottonwoods and aspens, and shrubs such as willows.

• Masticate all existing piles and slash to contract specifications, where allowable.

• Brush, small dead trees, and slash shall not be pushed into retained trees and left untreated.

• Mastication shall occur on slopes up to 45%. On slopes 45%-55%, or if otherwise inoperable by mechanical equipment, cut slash and coarse woody debris ≤ 12 inches in diameter shall be cut and piled by hand (see Piling Specs section below). Contractor shall obtain approval of machine inoperable area designation from project manager. During pre-bid site visits, contractor should assess inoperable areas and factor machine inoperable cost. Project manager approval of an area as inoperable is not equivalent to a change in treatment prescription.

• All treated standing material shall be severed from the main stem to no more than 6 inches above the ground when hand felling and 3 inches when masticating on level surfaces. When cut vegetation occurs near natural obstacles such as rock, downed logs, or leave trees, leave stump no more than 8 inches heights.

• Debris created through mastication shall not exceed 3 feet in length and debris depth shall not exceed 12 inches or shall be piled for burning.

• Debris created through chipping shall not exceed 3 feet in length and depth of material shall not exceed 6 inches except when masticating piles. Debris exceeding 6 inches in depth shall be piled for burning.

• In areas where fuel densities prohibit the construction of piles, material shall be chipped and evenly dispersed.

Snag and Downed Log Removal and Retention

• Masticate, chip, or pile all standing snags and downed woody logs less than 12-inch

DBH, except as described below:

o Snag specifications within Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs):

▪ Remove whole dead trees from RCAs, perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral drainages given Exclusion Zone limitations.

• Trees that cannot be removed in their entirety shall be lopped off at the start of the Exclusion Zone and that material built into piles.

• All remaining parts of trees left in Exclusion Zones shall have branches lopped off at the bole and piled following all specifications on pile construction and placement.

• Within Exclusion Zones, hand pile all felled material ≤ 12 inches in diameter and > 6 feet in length, following all specifications on pile construction and placement.

o Retain all hardwood snags greater than or equal to 12 inches DBH.

o Except for the five largest per acre, fell all standing conifer snags and treat like downed woody logs.

▪ Retained snags shall be at least one tree length from roadways and/or other infrastructure.

o Leave the five largest downed woody logs greater than 12-inch DBH at the small end per acre, bucked into 20-ft. length making full contract with the ground.

o Limbs and tops less than 12-in. DBH shall be masticated or hand piled if machine operability is a constrain.

Road Barriers

• In sections along the road that are relatively flat and preexisting barriers do not exist to discourage breach, vegetation will be utilized to create a barrier.

o Preference for barrier material would be:

▪ Large, downed logs.

▪ Live conifers or hardwoods between 6 to 9 inches DBH spaced 6 feet apart at the bole.

▪ Shrubs (i.e. manzanitea, deer brush, bear clover, etc.) shall be used as a roadside barrier only if large, downed logs, live conifers, or live hardwoods are not present and/or if there is an operational or safety concern that prevents the use of the preferred barrier material.

▪ If live vegetation is used, the remaining material shall be no closer than 15-feet off the road so it will not grow into the road and will consist of a single row wide paralleling the road where the breach is likely to occur.

▪ See attached Roadside Barrier Diagram in Attachment L, Contract_Road

Diagram.

2.4. Pile Specifications

Machine Piles

• Where mechanical pile construction is preferred, slash, felled trees, snags, live vegetation, and existing down woody material less than 12-in. diameter- unless otherwise treated - shall be piled to the following specifications:

o Size and Location:

▪ Minimum size of 10 feet long x 10 feet wide x 10 feet high. Larger piles are preferred with a variable maximum size dictated by the proximity to the drip line of residual trees.

▪ All piles shall be made as compact as possible to facilitate burning.

▪ Piles shall be located to minimize damage to, or ignition of, residual trees (at least

25 feet from the dripline) and other retained features (natural regeneration, snags, downed logs) during burning operations.

▪ Piles shall be constructed at least 50 feet from ephemeral, intermittent or perennial stream courses.

▪ Do not build piles under powerlines or within 25 feet of infrastructure.

o Pile Material:

▪ Material shall be bucked into 10-foot lengths to facilitate production of piles that are tight and with minimal airspace.

▪ Material extending 3 feet or more outside the uniform edge of the pile shall be trimmed.

▪ Piles shall be neat, compact, and sufficiently free of dirt (<10% soil). If piles do not meet this requirement, they will need to be re-spread and rebuilt.

o Pile Fuel Break and Fire Line:

▪ An 8-foot-wide fuel break shall be cleared of all but fine material around each pile.

▪ A 24-inch-wide fire line shall be cleared to bare mineral soil around the outer ring of the pile fuel break.

▪ In areas where there is a potential for material to roll, material shall be piled parallel to the slope (perpendicular to the contour) to prevent it from rolling.

▪ In areas where there is potential for burning material to roll, fire lines shall be trenched on the downhill side of each pile to adequately prevent material from crossing fire lines.

o Coverings:

▪ All piles shall be covered on the top with a minimum of a 4 feet x 4 feet piece of durable waterproof (paper or plastic) material and covered with enough slash so that the material does not fly away. The purpose of this is to maintain a dry area in the pile to ease ignition operation in the future.

Hand Piles

• Where hand pile construction is preferred, slash, felled trees, snags, live vegetation, and existing down woody material less than 12-in. diameter - unless otherwise treated - shall be piled to the following specifications:

o Size and Location:

▪ Piles shall be a minimum of 10 feet long x 10 feet wide x 5 feet high. Fewer and larger piles are preferred as long as they can be safely consumed.

▪ All piles shall be made as compact as possible to facilitate burning.

▪ Piles shall be placed at least 25 feet away from the dripline of trees OR at such a distance from trees so that burning shall not result in damage to residual trees.

▪ Piles shall be constructed at least 50 feet from ephemeral, intermittent or perennial stream courses.

▪ Do not build piles under powerlines or within 25 feet of infrastructure such as roads.

o Pile Material:

▪ Pile light green fuels on the inside and heavy green fuels on the outside to allow the fuel to dry out so as to not attract bark beetles.

▪ Material extending 3 feet or more outside the uniform edge of the pile shall be trimmed.

▪ Any material greater than 12 inches in diameter is not required to be hand piled.

o Pile Fuel Break and Fire Line:

▪ An 8-foot-wide fuel break shall be cleared of all but fine material around each pile.

▪ An 18-inch-wide fire line shall be cleared down to bare mineral soil around the pile.

▪ In areas where there is a potential for material to roll, material shall be piled parallel to the slope (perpendicular to the contour) to prevent roll-out.

▪ In areas where there is potential for burning material to roll, fire lines shall be trenched on the downhill side of each pile to prevent material from crossing fire lines.

o Coverings:

▪ All piles shall be covered with, at a minimum, a 4-foot x 4-foot piece of durable waterproof (paper or plastic) material and weighted with enough slash so that the material does not fly away. The purpose of this is to maintain a dry area in the pile to ease ignition operation in the future.

2.5. Optional - Biomass Removal

If the Contractor has the capability or can develop a creative approach to haul material offsite for beneficial use rather than masticating it, this option will be preferred. Some roads allow for such removal, but it will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If the Contractor proposes removal of decked material or similar, they may pursue a direct sale agreement with the Forest

Service. Contractor would bear the cost required for road maintenance for this work. Where the

Contractor enters into a direct agreement with the Forest Service, the County will not provide additional payment for those costs or be a party to the agreement. The County or Contractor may, at its discretion, apply for transportation or subsidization grants to support these activities, but such funding is not assured. Funding for this approach is not guaranteed (see Section 8.2.

Funding Availability).

2.6. Prevailing Wage Applicability and Rates

The entire treatment area for the Mechanical Site Prep: Cherry West Item 1 project is subject to prevailing wage requirements as defined in the California Labor Code and Department of

Industrial Relations guidelines. The Contractor is required to pay prevailing wages for all treatment work performed within the project area.

A. Contractor shall comply with the State of California’s General Prevailing Wage Rate requirements in accordance with California Labor Code section 1770, and all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances applicable to the work.

B. This Contract is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of

Industrial Relations. Each contractor and subcontractor must furnish certified payroll records to the Labor Commissioner at least monthly. It is the Contractor’s sole responsibility to evaluate and pay the cost of complying with all labor compliance requirements under this contract and applicable law. Contractor and its subcontractors, of any tier, shall maintain active registration with DIR for the duration of this Agreement.

C. Any subcontract entered into as a result of this Agreement, if for more than $1,000 for public works, including the construction or for the alteration, demolition, repair, or maintenance of public works, shall contain all of the provisions of this Article.

D. The general prevailing wage rates which are determined by the Director of Industrial

Relations, for the county in which the work is to be done, are available at the County of

Tuolumne County Administrator’s Office and available from the California Department of

Industrial Relations’ Internet web site at http://www.dir.ca.gov. Changes, if any, to the general prevailing wage rates will be available at the County Administrator’s Office or on the DIR website as listed above. Contractor shall make travel and/or subsistence payments to each worker to execute the work in accord with Labor Code Sections 1773.1 and 1773.9

If future effective general prevailing wage rates have been predetermined, they are on file with the California Department of Industrial Relations and apply to this project; please see the

California Department of Industrial Relations’ Internet web site at http://www.dir.ca.gov for the current future effective general prevailing wage rates.

Pursuant to Section 1773.2 of the Labor Code, the Contractor shall post the general prevailing wage rates at a prominent place at the job site.

2.7. Definitions

Chips - The woody residue resulting from the mechanical shredding/chipping activity. Residue size is usually less than 2 inches, but occasionally is up 2 feet in length.

Chip size for mastication:

FINE TREATMENT

• 75% ≤ 6 inches (15.2 cm) in length

• 20% > 6 inches (15.2 cm) and < 2 feet (.6 m) in length

• 5% 2 feet (.6 m) through 3 feet (1.8 m) in length

• With accumulations ≤ 12 inches (45.7 cm) in depth

Conifer - A cone bearing tree with needles or leaf scales, including, but not limited to: ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), and bull pine

((Pinus sabiniana) also known as Gray pine); does not necessarily have cones at any given time.

Controlled Area - Area within contract boundaries designated to be protected from all contractor operations, these areas will be flagged on the ground and avoided during all operations.

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) - The diameter of the main trunk of a tree/shrub measured at

4.5 feet above ground level.

Downed Log - All or part of the trunk of a felled tree > 10 inches in diameter at the mid-point and ≥ 10 feet in length. This includes logs in all of the various stages of decomposition.

Ephemeral Streams – Streams that flow only during or shortly after rainfall or snowmelt.

http://www.dir.ca.gov/ http://www.dir.ca.gov/

Exclusion Zones - Areas of inoperability near watershed features including regulations around

Special Aquatic Features (SAFs), perennial, intermittent, ephemeral waterways.

Hardwood - A tree with broad, flat leaves including but not limited to oak, maple, willow, alder, cottonwood or dogwood.

High Ground Pressure Equipment – Equipment that exceeds 9 pounds per square inch (psi) on flat ground. Equipment types typically include: wheeled skidders, passenger vehicles and pickups, and fixed-track dozers.

Intermittent Streams – Streams that flow during the wet season, but dry by summer or fall.

Limited Operating Period (LOP) - A specified period of time during which certain activities are prohibited.

Low Ground Pressure Equipment – Equipment that exerts a maximum ground pressure of 9 psi on flat ground. Equipment types typically include: tracked masticators, excavators, skid steers, and feller bunchers.

Mastication - The physical process of cutting, shredding and/or chipping vegetation.

Mineral Soil - State of soil, generally below where humus and large organic matter is present marked by the absence of combustible material.

Perennial Streams – Streams that flow all year round.

Residual Tree or Retention Tree – Live tree(s) to be left standing and undamaged that comprise the forest following the contractor’s operations.

Shrubs – Live scrub vegetation, though some may be over 20 feet tall or woody plants such as manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), deer brush (Ceanothus spp.) and various other species. This does not include small conifers.

Slash – Debris consisting of portions of brush and /or trees created naturally, by work under this contract or debris created prior to this contract including all brush and cut trees, tops, trunks, branches, and previously made piles. Material > 1 inch in diameter and over 3 feet in length.

Snag - Standing dead tree with no green needles or leaves.

Special Aquatic Features (SAFs) – Lakes, meadows, bogs, fens, wetlands, vernal pools and springs.

Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs) – Near stream areas with specific management objectives and some limitations on activities.

Perennial streams and SAFs: 300 feet on each side of stream.

Intermittent and ephemeral streams: 150 feet on each side of stream.

2.8. Performance Requirement Summary

Slash piling: 95% or more of all slash designated for piling shall be piled.

Slash piles: Constructed piles shall be 90% or more soil free. 95% or more of all piles constructed shall be compact/ tight piles and shall meet size specifications. 99% or more of all piles constructed shall be covered with the required covering.

Fuel break/fire line: 95% or more of all piles constructed shall meet fuel break/ fire line requirements.

Dead tree/snag cutting: 95% or more of all dead standing trees that are designated for cutting shall be cut following the requirements specified above. This shall be counted on an individual stem basis. Each individual stem originating from the ground shall count as a single stem.

Mastication: 95% or more of all treatable material designated for mastication shall be masticated.

2.9. Equipment Specifications

Prior to award, Tuolumne County reserves the right to inspect the equipment to be furnished. If the equipment is found to be in such condition to indicate the need for frequent repairs and delays in performance, it shall be rejected. The decision of the Project Manager shall be final as to whether equipment is in suitable condition for acceptance.

All equipment shall comply with specifications in Attachment G -

FINAL_AppendixG_GuidelinesforOperations that provides fire precautions and control. Please see Attachment N, Stanislaus_FireInspectionForm_MSA for items contractors will be inspected on; this form may be updated.

Specific equipment to be furnished is as follows:

A. All equipment shall be furnished on a fully operational basis, of modern design, and in good operating condition, with a competent, fully qualified operator.

B. Prime Power Unit – The proposal must include at least one tracked carrier unit with a boom mounted masticating head capable of masticating dead standing snags up to 20 inches DBH and ten feet tall, and down material up to 20 inches in diameter. While not all equipment needs to meet these specifications, providing additional compliant units is encouraged, as it demonstrates the contractor’s capacity to operate at scale.

o Equipment shall be capable of working continuously on 0 to 45 percent slopes, and on pitches up to 50 percent.

o Contractor shall have at least one piece of equipment capable of mulching masticated material into the soil up to a depth of 6 inches.

o Equipment shall have an independently adjustable, mechanically, or hydraulically powered head and housing that controls the height and angle of mulching head. Must be able to raise/reach a minimum of 3 feet above grade, and 2 feet below grade.

C. All chainsaws or other motorized equipment shall be equipped with Forest Service approved spark arresters. Spark arresters are not required on equipment powered by exhaust-driven turbo-charged engines or motor vehicles equipped with a maintained muffler as defined in California

Public Resources Code, Section 4442 and 4443.

D. Equipment shall have a canopy approved by the State of California, Division of Industrial

Safety.

E. The Contractor shall provide all tools and equipment for self and employees.

F. All equipment must be in good running condition with no excessive fluid leaks or overheating.

G. All equipment shall be equipped with the tools and supplies necessary for making emergency and routine repairs and servicing.

H. All equipment and service/transport vehicles shall be equipped with the required fire tools.

See Attachment H - Appendix H -Fire Plan for Construction and Service Agreements.

I. Contractor shall adhere to the Forest Service level of industrial precaution each day.

J. Contractor shall be responsible for all fuel, lubrication, repair, and replacement for equipment.

K. Contractor must have the ability to clean all equipment with both air and water, and need to use the appropriate cleaning method during operations in areas that cleaning is required.

2.10. Equipment Operation

Soils

• Monitor ground-based operations occurring between October 15 and May 15 to prevent soil compaction. Project manager or delegated representative will assess soil conditions for traffic and operability prior to mechanical equipment off road operations after significant rainfall (> ¼ inch). Ground-based equipment will only operate on relatively dry soils of high soil strength or bearing capacity.

• Wet weather recommendations: Equipment may operate when soils are dry to a minimum of 4 inches. Low-ground pressure equipment may operate off designated skid trails when soils are dry to a minimum depth of 4 inches. High-ground pressure equipment may operate off designated skid trails when soils are dry to a depth of 8 inches.

• The contractor’s equipment shall not travel over the same tracks, except where designated by the project manager for access and service routes.

• Soil displacement shall be minimized by working the equipment in as straight a line as possible, parallel slopes, given the known limitations of residual trees and terrain.

• Rutting depth shall not exceed 4 inches over 90% of the unit. Rutting depth is measured from the top of the undisturbed litter/duff layer to the top of the duff in the rut (“duff-to duff”). Soils in the operating area must be dry enough to prevent rutting by a single pass of the equipment.

• Erosion work shall be required and kept current with contract work progress for unit or partial unit acceptance. Erosion control work shall include, but is not limited to, draining of puddles on roads or smoothing out berms created by the contractor moving equipment over areas that are too wet.

• Limit rubber-tired or fixed-track equipment to slopes < 35%; limit low ground pressure tracked equipment (e.g., traditional masticator or excavator) to < 45%.

• Limit dozer piling to slopes < 25% and mulching mastication treatments to < 35% slope.

Safety

• The contractor shall provide for public safety when operating equipment within 200 feet of structures and open roadways. The contractor shall be responsible for obtaining and following all safety procedures policies, laws and regulations required by the state, county, and private roadways for the safe operation of equipment necessary to complete the contract.

• The contractor shall abide by the Maintenance Operations Signing Standards provided in

Attachment G, Appendix G_Guidelines for Operations.

Protection of Improvements and Resources

• Exclusion Zones - The Exclusion Zone begins at the edge of the channel where slopes rise uniformly or at the edge of the stream bank, whichever is furthest from the stream.

• The Exclusion Zone for perennial/intermittent streams starts at:

o The edge of the active channel where slopes rise uniformly from the stream, or at the outer edge of the following features, whichever is the furthest from the stream.

o The first slope-break adjacent to the stream (e.g., stream bank, inner gorge).

o Flat or nearly flat ground adjacent to the channel (e.g., floodplain or terrace).

o Obligate riparian shrub and/or tree communities associated with any of the above.

• The Exclusion Zone for SAFs begins at:

o The outer edge of obligate trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants in wet meadows, bogs, fens and springs, or the high-water line of lakes and vernal pools.

o The top of the first slope-break immediately adjacent to the special aquatic feature if further than the obligate vegetation or high-water line.

• Equipment shall be operated such that shredded material stays within the treatment unit and is not distributed on lava caps, streams, roads, structures, private property, protected sites, improvements, telephone lines, established trails, stock driveways, fence lines, established land corners, or other improvements.

• Equipment shall be kept free of debris accumulations that may result in fire starts.

• Exclude equipment tracks within 50 feet of perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral streams.

Follow regulations around SAFs.

• Operate mechanical equipment on a straight-in and straight-out pattern and minimize operations and turning within the RCA.

• Equipment shall not damage streambanks.

• Do not exceed 2 stream crossings per mile along perennial or intermittent streams.

Stream crossings must be designated by the project manager after consultation with the

Forest Service Aquatic Biologist.

• Do not exceed 3 stream crossings per mile along ephemeral streams. Stream crossings must be designated by the project manager after consultation with the Forest Service

Aquatic Biologist.

• Equipment shall not be walked between units on paved or chip-sealed roads.

• The walking of equipment between units shall be worked out with the project manager, to avoid the possibility of Control Area or resource damage.

• Exit and entry of units will be confined to within unit boundaries unless otherwise stated by the project manager. Entry and exit points to the unit will be chosen in a manner as to reduce resource damage and soil erosion.

• See also Resource Protection Measures in Section 2.14 Project-Specific Requirements and the Best Management Practices (BMP) Checklist in Attachment J, RIM_BMP_Checklist.

2.11. Road Use Specifications

Safety

• The contractor shall furnish, install, and maintain all temporary traffic controls that provide the public with adequate warning of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions associated with operations occurring in the area. A specific traffic control plan for each individual contract work area shall be agreed to by contractor and project manager prior to commencing operations. Devices shall be appropriate to current conditions and shall be covered or removed when not needed. Refer to Attachment G, Appendix G_GuidelinesforOperations: Sign Standards.

Accessibility

• All work areas are accessible by standard pickup. Four-wheel drive vehicles may be beneficial in improving the access points of any given treatment unit. It is the contractor's responsibility to reach the work site when it is ready for treatment, including conducting any clearing of National Forest System roads.

• The project manager will determine the access routes to be used by vehicles. These routes may not necessarily be the shortest distance between units.

• Contractor shall be responsible to coordinate with the County to gain access to roads and/or gates as necessary.

• All roads leading into each project area are to be kept open and free of any debris that may occur as a result of the work.

Protection of Roads and Road Features

• The contractor shall keep all roads and trails needed for fire protection or other purposes and designated on the Map free of equipment and products, slash, and debris resulting from the contractor’s operations.

• The contractor is responsible for mitigating damage to system roads and restoring system roads damaged by the contract operations.

• Contractor shall clean ditches and drainage structure inlets as soon as practicable, but not to exceed 48 hours, to keep them functioning while working within the unit. Upon completion of a unit, the contractor shall clean ditches and drainage structures prior to unit acceptance. Prevent unnecessary or excessive vegetation disturbance and removal on features such as swales, ditches, shoulders, and cut and fill slopes.

• Maintain road surface drainage by removing berms, unless specifically designated otherwise.

• Rehabilitate temporary staging, parking, and refueling/servicing areas immediately following use.

Protection of Streamcourses

• If contractor maintains storage facilities for oil or oil products on Project Area, contractor shall take appropriate preventative measures to ensure that any spill of such oil or oil products does not enter any stream or other waters.

• Allow temporary refueling and servicing only at approved sites located outside of RCAs.

• Install temporary wash sites only in areas where the water and residue can be adequately collected and either filtered on site or conveyed to an appropriate wastewater treatment facility. Temporary wash sites shall be approved by the Project Manager prior to use.

• Refer to attached documents - Best Management Practices (BMP) Checklist (Attachment

J, RIM_BMP_Checklist and Attachment K, Spill_Prevention_and_Reporting_Procedures).

Dust Abatement

• Water shall be applied to unpaved road sections of any Forest Service road used to walk or haul equipment as necessary to control road surface loss, provide for road user safety, minimize damage to adjacent resources, and comply with dust abatement. Also conduct road watering for road maintenance and road surface protection using approved existing water source locations.

Non-System Roads

• Existing non-system roads in the project area may be used for access only. These non-system roads are considered temporary and may require rehabilitation/obliteration, including installation of barriers to prevent further access following project activities.

2.12. Ownership Delineation

• Work shall not commence until property boundaries are adequately identified on the ground according to Forest Service standards.

• The interface between Forest Service and Sierra Pacific Industries land may not be marked

• Global Positioning System (GPS) or Geographic Information System (GIS) arc View method was used to determine the gross size of work units in each item (refer to unit data tables in Section 4. Pricing Proposal and Attachment F, Unit List).

• The Contractor will be required to navigate unit boundaries using a Global Positioning

System (GPS) and a mobile electronic device with GPS capabilities (i.e. smart phone, tablets) and a program capable of reading a .pdf map for each piece of equipment and/or crew. Contractor shall be required to utilize a mapping software such as Avenza Maps to conduct all treatments. GPS units shall be capable of downloading unit location data from provided Geographic Information Systems, either in shapefile (.shp) or keyhole markup language (.kml). Contractor will be required to have a GPS enabled device on each piece of equipment capable of 30 ft. (9.1 meters) accuracy.

• Where GPS units and GIS generated maps conflict with the on-ground designation, the on-ground designation shall govern unless otherwise directed.

• If Right of Entry is needed to access units, the County will obtain this ROE.

• Land survey monuments must be protected. See “Protection of Land Survey Monuments” in the Section 2.14 Project-Specific Requirements – Resource Protection Measures.

2.13. Flagging Code

• For purposes of this project, restricted or limited treatments areas (Control Areas) will be identified on the ground by the Forest Service using flagging to delineate specified areas.

• It is the Contractor’s responsibility to know, understand, and adhere to the intent of all contract flagging. The presence or absence of any flagging does not relieve the contractor from the responsibility to comply with the restrictions set forth in this and other contract documents and by reference.

• Do not masticate or cut vegetation on which flagging is hung.

• Flags of colors other than those stated in Table 1 have no meaning in the contract unless agreed upon in writing between the contractor and the Government.

Table 1: Flagging Colors

Flagging Color Use

Blue-Black Candy Stripe/Orange-White (CA 1 and

2)

Unless otherwise agreed, no operations will be permitted within areas flagged with orange/white and blue/black candy-striped flagging and/or “Area Controlled” signs. Any operations (including the removal of products) within cultural management boundaries will require compliance with

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1996. Any slash or debris resulting from operations occurring within flagged perimeters is to be removed manually by the contractor after consultation with the Forest Service.

Orange-Black Candy Stripe (CA 5) Unless otherwise agreed, none of the contractor’s operations are permitted within areas flagged with orange and black candy-striped flagging. Any slash or debris resulting from the contractor’s operations occurring within this perimeter is to be removed manually be the contractor after consultation with the Forest Service.

Orange with NOXIOUS WEEDS lettering (Noxious

Weeds)

Unless otherwise directed by the project manager, none of the contractor’s operations are permitted within areas flagged with orange “Noxious Weeds” flagging.

Red flagging

Stakes with orange flagging

(Surveyed Private Land Boundary)

Red flagging and/or stakes with orange flagging indicates a private land boundary that has been officially surveyed.

Orange flagging

(Project Boundary/Acquiesced Land Boundary)

In some instances, private property owners and the Forest Service have agreed to an approximation of the boundary line without an official survey. These acquiesced lines are marked by just orange flagging.

Yellow with Red Polka Dots

(CA-6)

Unless otherwise agreed, none of the contractor’s operations will be permitted within areas flagged with yellow flagging with red polka dots. Any slash or debris resulting from the contractor’s operations occurring within this perimeter is to be removed manually by the contractor after consultation with the Forest Service.

Blue-White Candy Stripe

(Streamside Buffer)

Unless otherwise directed by project manager, no contractor operations are permitted within the flagged area except for those snag removal activities permitted in RCAs as outlined in this contract in Section 2.2 Site Preparation Prescription.

Yellow-Black Candy Stripe

(Hazard)

Hazards that may inhibit completion of work to contract specifications. This is the only flagging color listed that the contractor can hang themselves. Any hazard identified by the contractor shall be marked with yellow-black candy stripe flagging.

2.14. Project-Specific Requirements

Safety

• The Contractor shall remove all trash from the work site.

• The Contractor shall provide a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan on all projects as per the contract. Review and ensure spill plans are up to date.

Please see Attachment K, Spill_Prevention_and_Reporting_Procedures.

• The Contractor shall Report spills and initiate appropriate clean-up action in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations. The Forest Service hazardous materials coordinator’s name and phone number shall be available to Forest

Service personnel who administer or manage activities utilizing petroleum powered equipment. Please see Attachment K - Spill_Prevention_and_Reporting_Procedures.

• The Contractor shall remove contaminated soil and other material from NFS lands and dispose of this material in a manner according to controlling regulations.

Resource Protection Measures

Control Areas

Locations of known areas needing special measures for the protection of plants, animals, cultural resources, and/or cave resources are shown on the Contract Area Map (Table 2: Control Area

Restrictions) and/or identified on the ground (Table 1: Flagging Colors).

In addition to any special protection measures noted below, the Contractor has a general duty to protect all known and identified resources referenced in this subsection from damage or removal during the contractor’s operations. Discovery of additional areas, resources, or members of species needing special protection by either party shall be promptly reported to the other party, and operations shall be delayed or interrupted at that location, if project manager determines there is risk of damage to such areas, resources, or species from continued operations.

Wheeled or track-laying equipment shall not be operated in areas identified as needing special measures for the protection of cultural resources, except on roads, landings, tractor roads, or approved skid trails. Unless agreed otherwise, trees will not be felled into such areas. Contractor may be required to backblade skid trails and other ground disturbed by contractor’s operations within such areas in lieu of required cross ditching.

Contractor shall immediately notify the project manager if disturbance occurs to any area identified as needing special protection measures and shall immediately halt operations in the vicinity of the disturbance until the project manager – after consultation with the

Forest Service - authorizes the contractor to proceed. The contractor shall bear costs of resource evaluation and restoration to identified sites. Such payment shall not relieve the contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law.

The Forest Service has exercised due diligence and followed established protocols in identifying known areas needing special protection measures. Nevertheless, nothing in this provision shall be interpreted as creating any warranty that all locations and special measures for the protection of plants, animals, improvements, streamcourses, cultural resources, and cave resources have been described herein, elsewhere in the contract or designated on the ground.

Table 2: Control Area Restrictions

Label on Contract Area Map Restrictions

CA1 and CA2 Unless otherwise agreed, no operations will be permitted within these areas shown on the

Map. Any slash or debris resulting from operations occurring within flagged perimeters is to be removed manually by the contractor after consultation with the Forest Service.

CA3 (Limited Operating Period – LOP) Unless otherwise agreed, no operations (with the exception of road maintenance, road reconstruction, dust abatement, and the hauling of products) will be permitted within these areas shown on the Map between March 1 and August 31, of any year. No activity will be allowed during the LOP’s unless consultation with the Forest Service has occurred and the contractor is given a Notice to Proceed. Special control measures for the protection of wildlife resources area limitation of operation period listed under Special Provision

C6.315#.

CA4 (Limited Operating Period – LOP) Unless otherwise agreed, no operations (with the exception of road maintenance, road reconstruction, dust abatement & the hauling of products) will be permitted within these areas shown on the Map between February 15 and September 15, of any year. No activity will be allowed during the LOP’s unless consultation with the Forest Service has occurred and the contractor is given a Notice to Proceed. Special control measures for the protection of wildlife resources are a limitation of operating period as listed under Special Provision

C6.315#.

NOX Unless otherwise agreed, no operations will be permitted within these areas shown on the

Map. See section on “Containment of Noxious Weeds” below.

Additional Protections of CA 1 and 2

• The Forest Service may unilaterally modify or cancel all or portions of this agreement to protect an area, object of antiquity, artifact, or similar object which is or may be entitled to protection under the American Antiquities Act of 1906 (54 USC 320301-03 ), National

Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (54 USC 302101-303903 ), and implementing regulations (36 CFR 800), the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, and the

Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (PL 96-95 and 36 CFR 261.9, 296.1-

296.21) regardless of when the area, object or artifact is discovered or identified.

Discovery of such areas or objects by either party shall be promptly reported to the other party.

• The Contractor shall protect Control Areas 1 and 2 (CA-1 and CA-2) identified on the

Map by avoidance unless treatment is otherwise agreed to. Contractor shall protect all known and identified or discovered historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology and culture against destruction, obliteration, removal, or damage during the Contractor's operations.

• The Contractor shall immediately halt operations and notify the County if damage occurs to any CA-1 and CA-2 resources. Operations shall cease in the vicinity of the resource where damage occurred until the County - after consultation with the Forest Service -authorizes the Contractor to proceed.

• If damage is caused by the Contractor's operations, the Contractor shall bear costs of investigation and restoration in accordance with 36 CFR 296.14(c), provided that such payment shall not relieve the Contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law.

• Forest Service roads that are also CA-2 sites are not fully flagged. Ingress and egress locations shall be approved by the Project Manager after consultation with a Forest

Service archaeologist prior to use by Contractor.

• Equipment tracks shall be excluded within 20 feet of Forest Service roads that are also

CA-2 sites. Equipment working towards Forest Service roads that are also CA-2 sites shall stop no less than 20 feet from the edge of the roadbed and shall utilize a masticator attachment on an articulated arm to treat remaining roadside fuels.

• Equipment utilizing Forest Service roads that are also CA-2 sites shall drive down the road centerline to avoid impacts to road morphology. If traffic approaches, only pre-approved pullout locations can be utilized.

• Forest Service roads that are also CA-2 sites shall not be widened. If equipment is wider than the roadbed, Contractor shall work with the Project Manager to identify alternative access.

• Where flagging is unclear, Contractor shall contact the Project Manager who will consult with a Forest Service archaeologist to fix the flagging.

Lava Caps

• Lava caps shall be avoided and a physical barrier, such as shrubs, should be retained to protect sensitive lava cap plant species.

• Any slash or debris resulting from Contractor's operations distributed upon lava cap shall be removed manually by Contractor after consultation with Forest Service.

• The contractor must avoid tracking machinery on lava caps.

• Any damage created by the Contractor’s operations on lava caps shall be immediately reported to the Project Manager and restored to condition prior to damage at the

Contractor's expense and after consultation with the Project Manager and the Forest

Service.

Residual Trees

• The contractor’s operations shall not unnecessarily damage young growth or other trees to be reserved.

• Excessive residual stand damage may result in contract shut down and/or default. No more than four (4) damaged trees per acre will be permitted. If damage is in excess of four (4) trees, the contractor shall be required to alter their operations to prevent the occurrence of such damage. If more than four (4) damaged trees per acre exist, a cost of

$50.00 per tree will be charged.

Containment of Noxious Weeds

• Noxious weeds are known to exist…