Woven_Wire_Fence_Installation_3-30-15 1 .docx

Woven Wire Fence Installation New River Gorge National River Statement of Work

1. Objective:

Install fences around closed canopy forests to keep deer out, prevent tree seedlings from being browsed, and use prescribed fire to promote oak regeneration.

2. Scope:

The purpose of the this contract to install eight woven wire fences (7 to 8 foot high with up to 1 foot overlap on the ground) in forested areas on the New River Gorge National River in accordance with the technical specifications (pages 5-9).

The Contractor is responsible for furnishing all supervision, labor, equipment, tools, materials, and incidentals necessary to complete work.

3. Location and Description of Fence Installation Areas:

Refer Attached Maps for each area

A. Backus Mountain area: Approximately 4 kilometers driving distance south east of the community of Backus. Fence site is on the southwest side of CR 22-1.

B. Grandview area: In the areas surrounding the Big Buck Trail and the Woodland Loop Trail in Grandview Day Use area, located off CR-9.

4. Contractor Representative:

Before work starts the Contractor shall designate a person in writing knowledgeable of contract requirements to act for them in their absence. The contractor or authorized representative shall be at the job site whenever work is in progress. In the absence of the contractor, the authorized Contracting Officer Representative (COR) may receive instruction from the Contracting Officer (CO).

The contractor shall manage the total work effort in accordance with effective and efficient management principles and safe working practices to ensure on-time completion of this contract.

5. Safety & Environmental Compliance:

Contractor will ensure that they and all employees use appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment. Appropriate clothing shall be based on the type and characteristics of the task anticipated.

It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the work environment is safe for themselves as well as their employees. If the contractor feels that a requirement of this contract would place them or their employees in an unsafe environment, then work should stop on the area of work and the contractor should contact the COR. Work on other areas of the contract that the contractor does not view as unsafe should continue.

The contractor shall immediately report to the CO and COR all accidents resulting in employee injury or death or damage to property while performing this contract.

6. Insurance:

The contractor shall be insured in accordance with State of West Virginia insurance regulations. The Government is not responsible for damage to Contractor’s equipment, vehicles, tools, or materials or their employees and the personal property brought onsite. The Government will not accept any liability due to contractor employee negligence.

· Workers Compensation: The contractor shall furnish proof of workers compensation insurance to the CO for those employees performing work related to the contract and shall comply with the Workman’s Compensation Laws of the State of West Virginia.

· Liability: The Contractor shall maintain a level of insurance that will protect the contractor and the Government from any claims as a result of bodily injury (including death) and property damage which may arise from and during the performance of this contract, and shall submit proof of insurance to the CO.

7. Motor Vehicle &Traffic Regulations:

Contractor employees operating motor vehicles shall possess a valid driver’s license. Driver licenses, registrations and proof of insurance shall be maintained in the vehicle at all times and made available upon request upon request. Contractor employees shall comply with federal vehicle motor law requiring seat belts be worn at all times. Contractor employees shall adhere to the posted speed limits.

8. Contractor Furnished Property:

9. Government Furnished Property:

Site maps (included within the contract package) and fence signs.

10. Work Schedule:

The Contractor will notify the COR two days in advance of where and when work will start. National Park Service personnel will be available to answer questions. The contractor will complete on-site work during normal business hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Holidays. Any work outside of normal business hours shall be pre-approved by the CO and COR. Contractor may accompany the National Park Service inspector when conducting final inspections for acceptance and payment.

New River Gorge Managers may set the order in which the fences are constructed.

11. Quality Control:

The contractor shall establish and maintain quality control measures to ensure the work performed conforms to the contract requirements.

12. Quality Assurance:

The COR will monitor the contractor’s performance under this contract to ensure reliable and continued operation by precluding unnecessary complaints and unacceptable performance. The government quality assurance will include:

· Random inspection of the contractors work

· Communicating customer complaints

· Progress meetings with the contractor

The implementation of this does not relieve the contractor of its responsibility to provide acceptable performance of all required services listed herein. At the CO’s discretion, the contractor may incur a payment deduction for lack of compliance.

13. Clean-up:

The Contractor shall remove all trash and debris generated in performance of this contract.

14. Inspection:

The Government will conduct inspection upon completion of required services. Final payment will be processed upon confirming that all noted contractor performance deficiencies have been satisfactorily corrected. Fence will be completely accepted and paid for after a satisfactory final inspection by New River Gorge National River Managers.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

INSTALL WOVEN WIRE FENCE

1. Project Description:

a. Boundary:

The corners designating the fence lines have been marked with orange or pink flagging. The Contractor may elect to make slight changes in the location of the fence, however these changes must be approved by the National Park Service prior to erecting the fence.

b. Hazard Tree Felling:

A park representative will designate by flagging any hazard trees which are to be felled at the time of implementation of the project. Hazard trees are dead or dying trees, split trees heavily leaning trees, or root sprung trees that have a high likelihood to fall across the fence location. Qualified NPS employees will remove any identified hazard tree.

c. Fence Row Clearing:

It is not the intent of the National Park Service to have straight fence lines. The contractor will locate line in areas free of stumps, even topography and void of large rocks. The Contractor may clear heavy brush, and stumps. Ground disturbance will be prohibited. The Contractor may use UTV’s to move supplies and equipment however UTV’s must stay on designated trails or roads. The Contractor shall be responsible for, and may be charged for, damage to standing trees.

d. Fence Supports:

The Contractor shall erect the fence by fasteing the fence to posts or trees. Trees will be used for support where available along the flagged location. All trees will be protected by placing a 2x4 board of sufficient length between the fence and the tree, and stapling the fence to the board. Trees under 5” DBH are not to be used to support the fence. Boards will be fastened to trees with no more than 2 galvanized steel nails. Maximum distance between fence supports (i.e., trees, steel posts, or wooden posts) will be no greater than 30 feet. Posts will be used where tree support not available within the 30’ maximum span. Posts that are not in line (corners for example) will be 3/16” x 2” bar stock and braced or supported in place. In-line posts may be the same as steel post that weigh 2 lbs/ft. All posts will be at least 10 feet long set at least 2 feet in the ground. Corner posts will be braced and/or guy wired to withstand the pull of the fence without bending or pulling out of the ground. Guy wire should be secured by posts and not by nearby trees. All bracing or guy wires outside the fenced area must be clearly marked to prevent a safety hazard to any and all persons.

e. Fence Stretching:

The fence will be at least 7 feet high with up to a one foot overlap on the ground pulled to the outside of the fence. The fence will be stretched so that the wire is pulled against a tree, or post. The contractor will stretch the fence either on the inside or the outside of supports so the fence tension is against the support not pulling away from the support. The lowest 4”x6” square on the upper section and the top 4”x6” square on the lower section of fence should be overlapped in the center of the fence.

The top and bottom rolls of fence will be fastened to each other at least every 3 feet by hog rings or heavy duty ring fasteners. The hog rings should be alternated from top to bottom of the overlap for more strength. Where a post is used, the fence must be secured to the post a minimum of four places, with one being the top wire of the top section of the fence.

f. Securing the Fence Bottom:

The fence must be constructed so the deer will be unable to crawl under the fence. This can be achieved by leaving a one foot overlap on the ground to the outside of the fence which is anchored to the ground with stakes or stapled to sound wood chunks, a minimum of every 10’. An alternative method is to bring the fence to the surface of the ground and fill the gaps between the ground and fence that are over 3 inches high and 6 inches long with pieces of sound wood stapled to the fence bottom. No part should of the fence should be loosely laying on the ground, the entire bottom perimeter should be tight.

g. Deer Drive:

Prior to closing up each fence area, the Contractor shall conduct a deer drive to chase out any deer within the fence area. An adequate number of personnel should be used to drive out any deer that are inside the fence prior to closing the fence. The Contractor may need to leave multiple holes in order to get the deer out and shall time the drive so that the fence is closed a short time after the drive is completed. (e.g. the same day).

h. Access:

Walkthrough gates will be installed for each study site. See site maps included with this contract package for the approximate locations of walk through gates. There will be two gates installed for each study site that will be burned and one gate installed for each study area that will not be burned. Example photograph and specifications for walkthrough gates are shown below.

2. Fence Material:

a. Fence:

The fence will be 8 foot high using two, 47” rolls of galvanized steel woven wire fencing. Fence will have no more than 6” between stay wires, at least 10 graduated line wires, 12 ½ gauge top and bottom wires, and 14 gauge line & stay wires.

b. Fasteners:

Fence staples will be galvanized steel of 1 ¼ to 1 ½ length. No staples will be driven into trees. Nails used to secure the 2x4 boards should be no larger than 16d. Where a post is used, the top wire of the top roll must be secured to the post. Each roll of fence will be fastened in three places; top middle, and bottom. Ties to secure the fence to metal poles will be 14 gauge stainless ties. Hog rings may be used to fasten the top fence to the bottom fence. No aluminum wire, hog ring, etc. will be used in the construction of the fence due to potential damage by animals

3. Vehicle Operation:

UTV’s may be operated on existing trails and National Park Service road. Vehicles will not be operated down the fence line. UTV’s may not cross the interior of the area. UTV’s shall not be operated when ground conditions are such that excessive damage will result. The contractor shall be required to fill in areas which may become excessively rutted during work along trails or National Park Service roads.

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