Performance Work Statement.docx

1. INTRODUCTION

The Contractor shall provide all road brushing requirements for Prince of Wales Island of the Tongass National Forest that adheres to the requirements of the contract, and other relevant Federal laws. This is a Firm-Fixed-Price Single Award Contract.

2. BACKGROUND

Established in 1905, the Forest Service is a federal agency that manages public lands in national forests and grasslands under a founding principle, "To provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run". The agency’s mission is to “sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations”. The Forest Service has the responsibility for stewardship of more than 193 million acres of the nation’s forests and grasslands; for developing and communicating scientific knowledge through research and development that leads to informed natural resource decision-making; for delivering technical assistance through state and private forestry programs; and for sharing knowledge and experience with others in the global community through international forestry.

3. OBJECTIVES

· Maintain the vegetation along roads in order to improve line-of-sight around road curves and bends and to provide a wildlife buffer from the high-speed travel corridor.

· The brushing activities are completed by December 30, 2020.

· Contractor efforts are closely coordinated with consistent and effective communication with the Forest Service to achieve desired quality and timeframes.

4. SCOPE

This solicitation, and any resulting contract, is for roadside brush cutting along Forest Service roads on the Tongass National Forest, Prince of Wales Island. Work includes furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies and incidentals necessary to perform vegetation removal on roadway surfaces and roadsides as stated in Performance Work Statement Tasks and specifications.

Location The Contractor shall only use rubber tire-wheeled equipment on paved road systems.

Craig / Thorne Bay – Located on Prince of Wales Island, this geographic area has a large road system accessed from multiple communities. It is expected that only one mobilization annually would be required to perform all work for both district offices. Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) which show all open and maintained road systems, and which are free to the public can be accessed here:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5430063

Performance Work Statement Tasks

The Contractor shall:

A. Adhere to performance, quality control and safety specifications for this project.

B. Remove vegetation, including trees, on roadway surfaces and roadsides.

C. Cut all brush within established road corridor and treatment area which is less than or equal to 6 inches in diameter measured 6 inches above the ground.

D. Cut all brush within established road corridor and treatment area to a maximum height of 6 inches or less measured above the ground or alongside rocks (if applicable).

E. Cut all brush within 5 feet of culvert inlets.

F. Cut brush to provide overhead clearance of 14 feet on road surface.

G. Remove debris from road surface, ditches, and cut slope above the road. Scatter to fill slopes below the road, no debris piles allowed at culvert outlets or inlets.

H. Clean culvert inlets and outlets of debris a minimum of 2 culvert diameters.

I. Cut brush to provide sufficient site distance on the inside of sharp curves to eliminate blind corners and intersections.

See Specification 842 in the attached Forest Service Supplemental Specifications for detailed information regarding Method A and Method B brushing requirements. Method C brushing requirements are described as follows:

Method C:

Clear all brush from within 3 feet from the outside edge of the shoulders of the road. Remove all brush up to 4” in diameter, measured 6” above the ground on the uphill side of the roadbed shoulders. Remove all brush that is taller than level with the roadbed shoulders on the downhill side. Brush larger than 4” in diameter is not required to be cut. Brush inside corners to obtain a minimum sight distance of 150 feet from a height of 4 feet above the road surface, unless sight distance is otherwise blocked by rock. The minimum clearing height is 14 feet. Remove debris from road surface.

Resources Provided by the Contractor

A. The Contractor shall assume all risk, loss, damage, or expense arising out of the prosecution of the work, except as otherwise provided in the contract.

B. Measurement and payment for contract work will be made only for those pay items included in the Schedule of Items.

C. The Contractor shall be responsible for furnishing warning devices and complying with the safety standards and traffic management procedures as specified.

Type & Timing of Services: Services include removal of roadside brush along forest roads. Work occurs from late spring throughout the summer and into late fall.

The project involves the following work:

1) Roadside brush cutting during the summer of 2020 as identified in the table below. Brushing shall be completed by December 30, 2020. The associated miles to be brushed are summarized below:

2020 POW Roadside Brushing

2) The road segments listed for brushing are subject to change depending on road conditions work will be staked on the ground, unless the BMP is 0.00.

Potential offeror’s are encouraged to examine the work sites prior to quoting on this project.

Contractor’s Quality Control Plan The Contractor shall provide a quality control plan, which is mutually agreed upon with the Contracting Officer. This plan shall describe the Contractor’s method for ensuring all work meets the contract requirements.

At minimum, the Quality Control Plan shall outline how the quality of work will be monitored, how the crew will be supervised, and who will perform the quality control function. Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer with documentation of quality control inspections.

The Contractor shall, within 5 days from receipt of a request from the Contracting Officer, submit a progress schedule to complete all work ordered within the time stated. If the Contractor falls behind schedule, the Contractor shall take such action as necessary to recover. The Contracting Officer may require the Contractor to submit a revised schedule and proposed plan of work to ensure completion of the work within the time stated in the Purchase Order.

Quantity Measurement Terms Measurement under the contract shall be according to the United States standard measure.

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

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.

Linear mile measurement will mean the sum of the road length parallel to the centerline.

Measurement will be made of each item or unit of work, as shown in the Schedule of Supplies/Services, completed and accepted in accordance with the contract.

Work Standards, Allowability, Surveillance, and Corrective Actions

Performance Standards For all tasks, the penalties for poor performance are:

(1) Contractor may be required to re-work the unacceptable portion of the work, at the Contractor’s expense;

(2) Contractor may receive a poor performance rating for this contract;

(3) Government may withhold partial, or full, compensation;

(4) Contractor may be required to replace lost, or damaged Government property; and

(5) Contract may be terminated for the contractor’s default.

For all tasks, the incentives for high quality performance are:

(1) Contractor will receive a superior performance rating; and

(2) The Government is more likely to select the Contractor for future Orders.

The Contractor shall: Effective communication and coordination from the Contractor to Government personnel ensures a seamless, coordinated effort.

Outcome:

Task Area 1: Initiate and Manage

1.1 Attend and participate in a Post-award Meeting. Contractor’s staff will participate in a post-award meeting via teleconference, or in Juneau, Alaska to be hosted by the Government.

Task Area 2: Transfer Data and Coordinate Outcome: Coordination, communication and data transfer supports an effective and efficient effort.

The Contractor shall:

2.1 Respond to Forest Service requests for information throughout the contract performance period in a manner that maintains the required delivery schedule of completion by December 30, 2020.

2.2 Ensure information is received by the Forest Service, and adequately conveys the understandable information requested in the requests for information.

Task Area 3: Conduct Road Brushing Activities Outcome: Brush will be cut to specification in order to maintain road visibility and safety buffer zones.

3.1. Perform road brushing activities on all road systems.

3.2. Maintain all equipment in a working condition to facilitate completion by December 30, 2020.

3.3. Proceed diligently by maintaining fire readiness in the event roadside brushing activities ignite dry brush material. Cease operations during times of extreme fire danger, as defined further in the Special Contract Requirements section.

Task Area 4: Inspection and Acceptance Outcome: The Government will be able to timely travel to inspect, and either accept or reject/require rework for all or segments of the road brushing activities

4.1 Prepare and submit invoices according to work completed to specification. First draft shall be submitted to the COR for initial review.

4.2 After COR review, submit invoices into Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

4.3 Prior to submission of the final invoice for the remaining dollar amount on the contract, submit a request to the COR for inspection and acceptance of the final work product. The COR will then coordinate final inspection and acceptance duties on behalf of the Government, and recommend final payment to the CO.

Any claims shall be made in writing to the CO within 10 business days after final inspection and acceptance, or the Contractor waives all rights to future claims potentially authorized by the Contract Disputes Act.

5. SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

Landscape Preservation (addendum to AGAR 452.236-74)

1) Waste motor oil, fuels, lubricants, bitumen, and/or other similar hydrocarbons shall be collected and returned to either the supplier or a recycling service licensed to collect these fluids/materials. They shall not be wasted, deposited, flushed, or let on the ground or buried.

2) The Contractor shall confine operations to within the clearing limits or other areas designated in the Contract and/or attachments as approved, and prevent the depositing of rocks, excavated materials, stumps, or other debris outside of these limits. Materials which fall outside of these limits shall be retrieved, disposed of, or incorporated into the work as directed by the CO.

3) Prevention of Oil Spills – If the Contractor maintains storage facilities for oil, oil products, or other hydrocarbon substances on or within the project area/site, appropriate preventative measures shall be taken to ensure that any spill of such oil, oil products, or other hydrocarbon substances does not enter any stream or other waters of the United States, or that of any of the individual States.

4) If the total oil, oil products, or other hydrocarbons storage exceeds 1320 gallons, or if any single container exceeds a capacity of 660 gallons, the Contractor shall prepare and submit to the CO a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan. Such plan shall meet the applicable Environmental Protection Agency requirements (40 CFR 112) including certification by a registered professional engineer.

Use of Premises (addendum to AGAR 452.236-72)

1) This area contains black and/or brown bear habitat, and is therefore, subject to frequent or infrequent travel and/or presence by these wild animals. They might be habituated to humans, and/or food-conditioned, which may pose a threat to Contractor personnel; it is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure any personnel are “bear aware” and able to minimize impacts to these animals by securing attractants out of reach or attainment by the animal(s).

2) Sanitary Facilities: Unless provided otherwise, the Contractor shall provide and maintain the following facilities (if applicable):

a) Potable water supplies for drinking, washing, and cooking that comply with State of Alaska drinking water regulations (18 AAC 80).

b) Wastewater systems for domestic sewage that comply with State of Alaska wastewater disposal regulations (18 AAC 72).

c) Design, operation, and maintenance of all solid waste systems on lands under Forest Service jurisdiction meet all Federal, State, and local requirements. This includes, but is not limited to:

i) Federal regulations 40 CFR 243, 40 CFR 245, 40 CFR 257, 40 CFR 258, and;

ii) State regulations 18 AAC 60.

iii) Removal of all solid wastes and/or residues, with proper disposal at/in approved commercial landfills.

d) Meet the requirements of 40 CFR 112 (Oil Pollution Prevention) for fuel storage, and the requirements of 33 CFR 150 and 33 CFR 154 for facilities involved with transferring oil or hazardous materials in bulk.

3) Do not begin any camp development at the project site/area, either land-based or water-based (floating), until a plan for development, occupation, and cleanup is submitted and approved by the CO. The plan shall include the following information at a minimum:

a) Location and size of the proposed camp development, including a map.

b) COVID-19 safety and prevention plan.

4) The CO will review the plan as submitted for completeness and applicability. Any necessary modifications to the Contractor’s plans will be discussed with the Contractor prior to approval. Any modifications agreed upon will be incorporated into a revised set of plans.

5) There are no known eagle nest trees in the vicinity of the project area, but if such trees are discovered, no disturbance will be allowed within 330 feet of the trees, and additional mitigation measures may be applied.

Disposal of Waste Material The Contractor shall remove all waste material from the project areas, and dispose offsite unless otherwise specified in the contract.

Emergency Control (addendum to AGAR 452.236-77)

1) Immediately extinguish, without expense to the Government, all fires on or in the vicinity of the project areas which are caused by the Contractor’s employees, equipment, or through prosecution of the work, whether set directly or indirectly as a result of construction operations, with or without direction by the Forest Service. The Contractor may be held liable for all damages and costs of additional labor, subsistence, equipment, supplies, and transportation deemed necessary by the Government resulting from fires set or caused by Contractor’s employees or resulting from construction operations.

2) Contractor’s Responsibility for Controlling Other Emergencies – When requested by the CO, allow the Forest Service to temporarily use employees and equipment for emergency control work. Payment will be made at not less than the current area rate established or adopted by the Forest Service through partnership with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

3) Firefighting equipment will be required during the fire season from May 10 through August 31, and during any other period of heightened fire danger designated by the CO.

4) The Contractor shall furnish rust-free fire tools to equip all workers employed in the Contractor’s operations at each separate work site. These tools shall be maintained in serviceable condition, and kept in one or more weather-tight fire tools boxes. These boxes shall be painted red, marked “Tools for Fire Only” with letters at least 3” high, and kept sealed. Post a list of the contents inside each fire tool box so as to be visible when opened. Minimum required quantities and types of tools are described here:

5) Equip each internal combustion engine with a spark arrester qualified and rated USDA-Forest Service Standard 5100-1, unless it is:

a) Equipped with a turbine-driven exhaust supercharger such as the turbocharger; there shall be no exhaust bypass;

b) A multi-position engine, such as on a chainsaw, which is equipped with a screen arrester, as described in the Forest Service Spark Arrester Guide;

c) A spark arrester, which does not meet the requirements in the guide may be approved upon submission of acceptable proof that the arrester is at least 80% efficient in retention, attrition, or destruction of carbon particles. Such arrester may be required to meet higher standards as improvements in design and efficiency are discovered;

d) A passenger-carrying vehicle or light truck intended primarily for use on roads, and equipped with a factory-designed muffler and exhaust system, or;

e) A heavy-duty truck, such as a dump or log truck, or other vehicle used for commercial hauling, used only on roads and equipped with a factory-designed muffler and with a vertical stack exhaust system extending above the cab.

Properly install and constantly maintain in serviceable condition all exhaust equipment described above, including spark arresters and mufflers.

6) Equip each unit of mobile or stationary power equipment, including trucks, with one shovel, and at least one fire extinguisher meeting one of the following specifications:

a) 2 ½ pound size or larger dry chemical type;

b) 4 pound size or larger carbon dioxide type.

Test or check each extinguisher for proper function prior to the beginning of fire precautionary periods, and provide each gasoline power saw with one chemical-pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8oz. capacity by weight. Maintain the extinguisher in good working order at all times.

7) Do not burn camp refuse, brush, slash, or debris such as that resulting from clearing around camps or on rights-of-way, without the written approval of the CO. Submit written requests for burning to the CO at least 48 hours in advance of intended burning. The CO will approve of routine camp refuse disposal incineration in the camp development plan described in H.4 above.

Contractor Responsibility to Notify the Government The Contractor must notify the COR when leaving the project area for 3 or more days, and within 24 hours before returning to the project area.

Designation of Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

1) The CO designates the COR. The COR is responsible for administering the performance of work under this contract. In no event, however, will any understanding, agreement, modification, change order, or other matter deviating from the terms and conditions of this contract be effective or binding upon the Government unless formalized by proper contractual documents executed by the CO prior to completion of the contract.

2) The CO should be informed as soon as possible of any actions or inactions by the Contractor or the Government which will change the required delivery or completion times stated in the contract, and the contract will be modified accordingly. (This does not apply to individual task assignments which were issued by the COR provided that they do not affect the delivery schedule or performance period stated in the contract).

3) On all matters that pertain to the contract terms and conditions, the contractor must communicate with the CO. Whenever, in the opinion of the Contractor, the COR requests effort outside the scope of the contract, the Contractor should so advise the COR. If the COR persists and there still exists a disagreement as to proper contractual coverage, the CO should be notified immediately, preferably in writing if time and circumstance permit. Proceeding with work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment or necessitate submittal of a contract claim IAW FAR 52.233-1 Disputes.

Contractor’s Designated Representative It is required that the Contractor have a designated representative available on the project during the entire project and that the representative will be able to understand, read, and speak the English language. When designating a representative, the Contractor shall furnish a copy of the designation in writing to the CO. Such a designation shall clearly indicate the name and limitation(s) (if any) of authority of the representative.

Worker’s Compensation Laws Alaska state law requires that most employers have Worker’s Compensation Insurance for their employees. The Forest Service furnishes contract award information to the Alaska Department of Labor. Failure to comply with the state worker’s compensation laws can be a felony offense in Alaska. For the definitions of “employer,” “employee,” and subcontractor,” rates of compensation, and other pertinent information, contact:

Alaska Department of Labor Workers Compensation Division Special Investigations Unit PO Box 115512 Juneau, AK 99802-5521

(907) 465-5875 1-888-372-8330 (toll free), (907) 465-2797 (FAX) image1.jpeg