SOW_Caltrans_Botanical_Project_052213_Final.pdf

Scope of Work:

Invasive Plant Management in the Caltrans Highway 101 Right of Way

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Marin Headlands) Solicitation No. P13PS00791

Overview The NPS and the State of California have entered into an agreement to remove or treat invasive species and install NPS approved native plants at locations within easements held by the State on NPS lands along US Highway 101 from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge to the Rodeo Ave exit. The contractor will provide invasive plant species removal or treatment and install California native plant species on lands along the CalTrans Highway 101 Right of Way (ROW). Contractor will provide all labor and equipment for the control of up to approximately 50 combined infested acres. All activities under this project will emphasize minimal impact upon the land and its natural and cultural resources.

Contractor will provide all necessary traffic control plans and measures as mandated by the State of California in order to complete work.

Scope of Work General Conditions The Contractor shall perform the work of this contract for the NPS as described below and in the attached Attachments. The Contractor is to perform the following tasks: prepare for the project; provide safety and other necessary training; provide all labor, tools, and equipment (with the exception of herbicides noted below in Section C) needed to complete the project; maintain communication with the Contract Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) and NPS Project manager; document hours worked, chemicals applied, area treated, location, and number of plants treated; and make brief recommendations to the COTR and/or NPS Project manager for each site.

The Contractor will treat plants using manual and/or chemical treatment. Treatment method will vary between sites due to site conditions or proximity to valued resources, and will be specified in the site descriptions below. The Contractor will follow all prescriptions as described below.

Herbicide Use: CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROPER APPLICATION OF HERBICIDES AND FOR PREPARING AND FILING ALL HERBICIDE USE REPORTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW AND LABELING REQUIREMENTS. All herbicide application must be supervised by a qualified and licensed herbicide applicator. The designated COTR, prior to application, must approve herbicide application treatments. All herbicide application will be conducted in accordance with National Park Service Integrated Pest Management policies, under supervision of the designated NPS representative, and will be applied immediately after plants are cut, where applicable. Contractor is responsible adhering to NPS 2013 Pesticide Recommendations and “Go-or-No-Go Checklist”.

Tree Removal: Felling and removal of trees must be done in a manner that minimizes disturbance to existing roads, trails, cultural resources and native plant habitat. All trees to be removed shall be flush cut with the contour of the surrounding area and shall not exceed 3 inches above grade. This may require cutting the stumps at an angle to ensure that the final product matches the site topography.

All eucalyptus and Acacia stumps must be treated with herbicide within 10 minutes of cutting.

Contractor shall place a small amount of duff or adjacent soil material on top of the cut stump to mask it from public view. Depending on the site, cut trees may either be bucked and stashed on site, chipped and spread on site or removed from site. Details as to which trees need to be removed are included in the site descriptions below. For trees that are designated to be stashed on site, vegetative materials will be cut into small pieces/rounds and then carefully placed in coastal scrub habitat so as to reduce the public’s ability to view materials and to prevent any impacts to mission blue butterfly habitat.

Contractor will scatter wood and brush into nearby coastal scrub habitat. Tree limbs and branches must be cut into sections no more than 5-6 feet in length and then placed below the canopy of the coastal scrub habitat. Material must be gently pushed under the canopy and not stacked greater than 4’ in height. Cut material may not be placed on top of coastal scrub plants. Contractor is not authorized to stack cut material on grassland habitat unless otherwise directly by the Project Manager. Cut material shall be placed out of public view. All trunk material shall be placed so that it will not be displaced and move down slope during storm events. Prior to leaving a removal site, the Project Manager shall review the placement of all cut material. Contractor will be required to remove any material that is placed incorrectly at the Contractor’s expense.

Disposal of non-tree vegetative material: Material that does not have seeds or flowers may be stashed on site in shrub and forested areas only. In grasslands, materials must be stashed in surrounded scrub or hauled off. Material must be gently pushed under the shrub canopy so that is out of public view and not stacked greater than 4’ in height. Cut material may not be placed on top of coastal scrub plants. For material that has flowers or seeds, the following measures apply:

• Echium – Cut and bag seed heads and haul off.

• Broom – Pile in as few locations as possible in order to compost and not distribute seeds. Each pile should be no greater than 4’.

• Pampas grass – Cut and bag seed heads and haul off.

Bird Nesting Requirements: All vegetation removal within the current project boundaries must occur between August 1 and February 28. Planned tree removal shall occur from August 1 –December 31 to avoid the raptor nesting season from January 1 – July 31. Broom, Echium, Thoroughwort, herbaceous vegetation and grasses may be removed during nesting season provided the contract inspects for bird nests prior to vegetation removal. If nests are found, work must stop. All vegetation removal planned for during bird nesting season also requires approval from the NPS project manager.

Work Conditions: The Contractor is advised that some or all of these sites may occur on steep hillsides covered with dense brush, and poison oak does occur in some or all of these sites. There may also be other unknown or not identified hazards in these areas.

Record Keeping: The Contractor will report to the Project Manager on a daily basis using the forms in Appendix 2. Reporting will include the number of each species planted, estimated percent cover, the number and species of plants that are removed/treated, number of laborers and hours worked, location of treatment and herbicide use information, such as amount of herbicide used and the concentration.

The submission of the completed forms is required for payment.

Staging, Parking and Access: Selection of staging location for Contractor equipment will be determined by the National Park Service at the start of the project. All logs and vegetative materials identified for removal off-park shall NOT be staged during weekend hours and must be removed from the Park by 5pm each Friday, unless otherwise approved by the Project Manager. Additional staging area needs must be requested and approved by the Project Manager prior to use. Access details are described by site below. No trail closures are authorized under this scope of work.

Clean-up: At the end of each day, all plant material originating from project activities must be removed from the trails surrounding the removal sites; all project-related garbage shall be removed and properly disposed off Park lands.

Erosion Control: Following the completion of invasive removal, the Contractor will cover all bare soil areas created or disturbed by project activities with certified weed free rice straw mulch or erosion control fabric provided from a source approved by the NPS Project Manager. The Contractor will purchase erosion control materials. Rice straw mulch should be spread in an even, light cover, 3 inches in thickness over specified areas at a rate of 87 bales per acre. Erosion control fabric must be approved in advance by the NPS Project Manager.

Transport of Invasive Weeds: All equipment shall be cleaned of dirt and vegetative material prior to entering the work site each day and at the end of each work day. In addition, the Contractor is advised that Cape ivy (Delaria odorata) is present within the tree removal areas. Contractor shall ensure that equipment is free of cape ivy during all transportation from one location to the next during the work day and during ingress and egress of the project area.

Coordination, Project management and On-Site Supervision: The Contractor shall coordinate with the Project Manager to conduct a mandatory pre-project implementation meeting on to review the work schedule, work plan, lines of communication, designated work areas, staging areas and access routes, refueling requirements, and any other logistical information necessary. The Contractor’s field staff working on the Project shall participate in a mandatory kick-off meeting on the morning of the first day of work (prior to commencement of any work) to review final logistics and to complete a mandatory worker education program provided by the NPS. NPS staff will be present on-site during removal work if the NPS determines that such oversight is necessary.

Safety: Contractor shall ensure crews are working in a safe manner at all times, giving special consideration to steep slopes, rappel work and working near traffic. Contractor shall provide Project Manager with a Safety Plan prior to initiating work.

Working Hours and schedule: The Contractor acknowledges that the designated Treatment Area is within a highly used area of public land. Invasive non-native plant removal activities will therefore require careful consideration of public safety, and management of visitor access. Normal working hours will be Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Contractor and the NPS Project Manager. Work will not occur on weekends or holidays unless specifically approved by the project manager. The Contractor is advised that the Pest Recommendation for this project requires that all herbicide application ceases with 6 hours of sunset, unless otherwise determined by the NPS Project Manager. Work conducted along the HW101 will require strict adherence to work hours and dates of treatment that have been agreed upon by the Contractor and the NPS Project Manager during the pre-project meeting. The contractor must provide a proposed schedule for the entire contract period at least two weeks prior to the start of work. This schedule must be approved by the NPS project manager.

Traffic Control: For work along Highway 101, submit a proposed traffic control plan and checklist for approval prior to construction. Review and maintain all traffic handling measures to ensure that adequate provisions are in place for the safety of the public and workers. Furnish, install, maintain, relocate, and remove traffic control devices in accordance with the plans and Specifications. All traffic control devices furnished by the Contractor will remain the property of the Contractor, unless otherwise specified in the contract. Install traffic control devices before construction operations begin and during the proper phase of construction. Maintain and relocate traffic control devices during the time they are in use. Several locations for the CalTrans 101 ROW portion of the project will require work within 4.6 m (15 ft) or less from the edge of the traveled way of CA Highway 1, or in locations where work may distract drivers due to the nature of the work, and the Contractor will require temporary traffic control (lane or shoulder closures) in order to complete the prescribed work. All traffic control must comply with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and be coordinated with Caltrans and the Park.

Site Access: Contractor will coordinate with NPS Project Manager for gate codes and keys.

Follow Best Management Practices outlined in Appendix 3.

Quality Control/Quality Assurance:

The Contractor shall provide all supervision, administrative and technical support, labor, subcontractors, tools, transportation, materials, supplies and equipment (except as otherwise stated in this scope of work), and shall plan, schedule, coordinate and assure effective completion of all services described herein.

The Contractor must demonstrate (extensive, sufficient, appropriate) experience in:

• Knowledge of safe limbing, felling and chipping of trees in sensitive areas. This includes the ability to fell trees near roadways, sensitive plant areas, while conducting minimal soil disturbance. Safe and effective use of power tools, Bobcat and chipper machinery to remove exotic tree species.

• Successful completion of projects without adversely impacting the environment where sensitive species and/or Environmentally Sensitive Areas were present in close proximity to the work area.

Herbicides will be applied by licensed and registered Qualified Applicators (holders of current and valid Qualified Applicators Certificate (QAC), with a Landscape Maintenance and Right-of-Way Category, issued by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)) only.

Tree work will be performed by an ISA Certified Arborist with current and valid certification.

Criteria for Success and Payment Schedule The NPS Project Manager, COTR and/or other authorized Natural Resources staff will inspect all treatment areas during pre- and post-treatment site visits. Treatment will be considered completed when at least 97% of visible target plants within area indicated by the NPS staff overseeing the fieldwork have been treated and no more than 5% of adjacent non-target plants have been sprayed. The COTR will make an assessment of treatment completion within ten (10) days after completion of on-site work by the contractor. Payment will be on a lump sum basis upon completion.

Performance Period: The period of performance shall be from the date of award until work is completed but not beyond September 30, 2014.

Project Details The Contractor will complete treatment of the infestations listed below and shown on maps in Appendix

1. These sites are distributed across approximately 47.4 gross infested acres along the CA HW101 right of way. The target invasive species to be removed in the CalTrans ROW portion of the project are:

• Acacia trees: Blackwood acacia (Acacia melanoxylon), Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata)

• Blue gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globules)

• Broom plants: French broom (Genista monspessulana), Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)

• Capy Ivy (Delairea odorata)

• Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.)

• English ivy (Hedera helix)

• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

• Harding grass (Phalaris aquatic)

• Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor)

• Jubata grass (Cortaderia jubata)

• Monterey pine (Pinus radiata)

• Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana)

• Panic Veldt Grass (Ehrharta erecta)

• Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)

• Thoroughwort (Eupatorium) (Ageratina adenofera)

• Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)

Several work locations are located on steep slopes inaccessible by normal means, and will require the Contractor to access them by rappelling from locations above the work location. The Contractor will manage all of the logistics necessary to ensure safe and secure rappelling. This will include, but is not limited to, working with the designated NPS representative to determine access routes to key rappelling areas, staging of all rappelling equipment, training of Contractor crews, development of a safety plan and photo documentation of all rappelling activities. All rappelling actions and herbicide application shall be coordinated with the designated NPS representative.

Site Descriptions are as follows (See Appendix 1 for Maps):

Area A – Vista Point to Alexander Exit The Contractor will treat Pampas grass, French broom and Thoroughwort dispersed over 4.7 acres.

French broom will be pulled by hand or using a weed wrench. Pampas grass and thoroughwort will be treated with herbicide.

Location slope between Vista Pt and Alexander Exit will be treated for Pampas grass, French broom and Thoroughwort.

Contractor may stage from the Golden Gate Vista Point parking lot and from Bunker Road East roadside, Total site area is 3.3 acres.

Area B – Alexander Exit Vicinity The Contractor will pull French broom intermixed with 1.8 acres of Coastal scrub on the hillside west of 101.

The Contractor will access road cut on west side 101 by rappelling and will treat (foliar application of herbicide) Pampas grass and Thoroughwort on rock face.

Broom plants on east side of 101 will be pulled. Work at this location may require safety harness system.

Activities at road cut locations will require temporary traffic control measures.

Total site area is 7.2 acres.

Area C – Baker Terrace and South Waldo Tunnel Portal The Contractor will treat Acacia trees (stump cut/pile), Monterey pines (haul off site), Broom (mechanical, foliar, stump cut/pile), Cotoneaster (foliar, stump cut/pile), Fennel (foliar), Harding grass

(foliar), Pampas grass (foliar), Panic Veldt Grass (foliar), Pride of Madeira (foliar, stump cut/pile), Thoroughwort (Eupatorium) (mechanical, foliar) found on site, and install native plants at location indicated by NPS Contact. Monterey pine removal will require lane closures on 101 and need to be coordinated with NPS project manager and CalTrans.

Total site area is 12.6 acres.

Areas D, E, & F – South Pullouts The Contractor will treat Acacia trees (stump cut/pile), Broom (mechanical, foliar, stump cut/pile), Cotoneaster (foliar, stump cut/pile), Fennel (foliar), Harding grass (foliar), Pampas grass (foliar), Panic Veldt Grass (foliar), Pride of Madeira (foliar, stump cut/pile), Thoroughwort (Eupatorium) (mechanical, foliar) found on site, and install xx native plants at location indicated my NPS Contact.

Total site area is 3.1 acres.

Area G –North Waldo Tunnel Portal Access to the trees in Area G shall be by foot. Foot access to reach trees to be removed shall be approved and flagged by the Project Manager prior to going off the designated Trail access route.

The Contractor will treat up to 150 (stump cut/buck/stash) Blue gum eucalyptus under 8 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) within 0.9 acre of eucalyptus grove (see Tree Removal section on ‘stashing’ requirements).

The Contractor will pull Broom plants (mechanical, foliar, stump cut/pile), and treat Thoroughwort (mechanical, foliar) scattered within the project site.

Total site area is 2.5 acres.

Area H – SB HW101 Roadside The Contractor will access road cut on west side 101 by rappelling and will treat (foliar herbicide) Pampas grass and Thoroughwort on rock face. Activities at road cut locations will require temporary traffic control measures.

Total site area is undetermined (estimated 2.4 acres).

Area I – Morning Sun Trail Access to the trees in Area I shall be by foot. Foot access to reach trees to be removed shall be approved and flagged by the Project Manager prior to going off the designated Trail access route. The Contractor will treat 160 Blue gum eucalyptus (stump cut/buck/stash) and Monterey pine (cut/buck/stash) under 8 inches DBH within 1.5 acre of eucalyptus grove (see Tree Removal section on ‘stashing’ requirements).

The Contractor will treat of Broom plants (mechanical, foliar and stump cut /pile) within the project site.

Total site area is 1.6 acres.

Area J – North Pullout The Contractor will treat Acacia trees, Blue gum eucalyptus (stump cut/pile/stash), Broom (mechanical, foliar, stump cut/pile), Cape Ivy (foliar), Cotoneaster (foliar, stump cut/pile), English ivy (foliar), Fennel (foliar), Harding grass (foliar), Himalayan blackberry (stump cut/pile), Monterey pine, Pampas grass (foliar), Panic Veldt Grass (foliar), Pride of Madeira (foliar, stump cut/pile), Thoroughwort (foliar), and Yellow Starthistle (foliar) invasive species found on site Total site area is 2.2 acres.

Area K – Rodeo Ave. Exit

Access to the trees in Area K shall be by foot or truck. The Contractor will treat 6 Acacia trees (stump cut/chip) located along the Rodeo Ave Trail.

Total site area is 10.7 acres.

Appendix 1. Maps

Appendix 2. Data Sheets

Appendix 3. Best Management Practices

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

1. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILLS -- The Contractor shall adhere to Best Management Practices (mowing, fueling vehicles, driving) during work operations.

The Contractor shall take reasonable precautions to prevent spills of vehicle fuels. Contractor is responsible for documenting any hazardous material spills observed, and any damage to natural resources or property observed by the Engineer or Contractor. Loss of any petroleum fluid of ten (10) gallons or more shall be reported to 911 emergency systems immediately upon discovery to initiate emergency response actions. Damages shall be reported to the NPS and repaired by the Contractor at no cost to the NPS, and to the satisfaction of the NPS. The Contractor in accordance with state regulations shall complete hazardous materials cleanup.

2. SITE REHABILITATION. -- Contractor shall ensure that all work areas, including staging areas and access roads are returned to pre-project conditions. Site rehabilitation shall be concurrent with, or closely follow removal operations.

3. FIRE PRECAUTIONS -- During periods of very high and extreme fire danger, specific equipment and fire precautionary measures are applicable as follows:

• FIRE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT-- Contractor shall meet minimum requirements of Section 4427 and 4428 of the California Public Resources Code (CPRC). Fire tools kept at each restoration site shall be sufficient to equip all employees present. Trucks, tractors, and other vehicles shall be equipped with and carry at all times a size 0 or larger shovel with an overall length of not less than 46 inches and 2 ½ pound (boy’s) axe or larger with an overall length or larger with an overall length of not less than 28 inches.

• FIRE EXTINGUISHERS-- The Contractor shall keep onsite, and equip each internal combustion vehicle with fire extinguishers for oil and grease fires (Class 4-B, C, or larger).

• SPARK ARRESTORS. -- Contractor shall equip all internal combustion engines and other equipment with a spark arrestor, except for motor vehicles equipped with a maintained muffler as defined by CPRC Section 4442 or tractors with exhaust-operated turbochargers. Spark arrestors shall be a model-tested and approved under Forest Service Standard 5100-1a (April 1970) and shall be maintained in good operating condition.

• POWER SAWS -- Each power saw shall be equipped with a spark arrestor approved according to CPRC Sections 4442 and 4443, which shall be maintained in effective working order. One fire extinguisher meeting specifications of CPRC Section 4431 shall be kept with each operating power saw. A size 0 or larger shovel with an overall length of not less than 38 inches shall be kept with each gas can, but not less than 300 feet from each power saw when used off cleared areas.

• RED FLAG DAYS. There will be no power tool use or vehicle traffic off paved roads when there is a red flag day warning in effect in Marin County. Determination of red flag days is obtained by calling the Woodacre Fire Department (415) 499-6717 after 5 PM on the previous day.

Contractor shall be granted an additional work day for each designated red flag day.

4. OIL FILTERS AND GLASS JUGS. -- Contractor shall remove all used oil filters from the work area and NPS lands and shall prohibit use of glass bottles and jugs in Contractor operations.

5. SMOKING. -- Contractor shall ensure that smoking is prohibited in the work area, or contained within a designated smoking area. Designated smoking areas shall be cleared of debris and vegetation.

Cigarettes shall be properly extinguished and disposed of offsite.

6. REPORTING FIRES. -- As soon as possible after initial control actions area taken, Contractor shall notify the NPS of any fires in the Project areas or along roads used by the Contractor.

7. COMMUNICATIONS. -- Contractor shall possess a serviceable telephone, radio-telephone, or radio system connecting the restoration sites with the NPS Natural Resource Office. The communication system shall be in good operating conditions, sufficient to provide prompt and reliable communications between the Contractor and the District. This communication system shall be operable during Contractor work operations.

8. SPEED LIMITS. Contractor’s vehicles traveling on the unpaved access roads shall be restricted to a maximum of 15 miles per hour. Contractor is responsible for enforcement and full compliance with this vehicular speed limit.