Performance_Work_Statement_-Forest_Thinning_Services.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

1. GENERAL INFORMATION: This is a non-personal services contract to sever brush and trees.

The project area is in the town of Lewis, Essex County, Vermont and is accessible by Stone Dam Road, Canal

Road, Eagle’s Nest Road, Lewis Pond Road, and Four Mile Road off VT Route 105. The project boundary encompasses approximately 300 acres; trees will be cut on approximately 215 acres. All potential bidders shall review the following attachment showing work locations with both vicinity and unit specific maps (Technical

Exhibit 3).

Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform the thinning as defined in this Performance Work Statement except for those items specified as government furnished property and services. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 Background: The Nulhegan Basin Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is thinning young spruce-fir stands as part of a climate resilience study. Treatment units are timber sales harvested approximately 25 years ago. They are predominately sapling to pole-sized softwood-dominated stands that were harvested between 1995 and 2000. These are lowland spruce-fir forests characterized by wet soils and flat ground. Harvest activities included clearcut and overstory removal.

Treatment unit boundaries are identified with pink “Timber Harvest Boundary” flagging with knots facing into the unit. Within a treatment unit, areas to be skipped are identified with a horizontal slash of blue tree marking paint at breast height.

1.3 Objectives:

The Contractor shall use brush saws and/or chainsaws to cut and drop non-commercial trees within a lowland spruce-fir forest across approximately 215 acres, leaving reserve trees spaced approximately 8 ft apart. There are so-called reserve areas within each treatment unit where no trees will be cut. The

Contractor must identify and ‘skip’ the reserve areas designated within a treatment unit.

1.4 Scope:

Unit/ Prescription

Mollie Beattie Thin Unit

Thin tree species less than 5 inches DBH to 8’ spacing.

Leave/skip reserve areas within a treatment unit.

Mollie Beattie Thin

The Contractor shall adhere to the following specifications for all projects involving tree felling unless there are specific supplemental specifications:

• All trees cut will be left on site.

• No trees outside designated unit boundary shall be cut

• No trees exceeding 5.0 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) shall be cut unless specified otherwise.

• Northern white cedar, Eastern hemlock, and Eastern white pine, if present, shall not be cut.

• No boundary trees marked with paint or flagging shall be cut.

• All snags shall be left unless required to fall for safety concerns.

• Trees that cannot be felled safely should be girdled and left standing.

• All treated stumps shall not exceed 12 inches in height above ground and shall be cut below the lowest live limb unless obstructed by natural obstacles. If stem is obstructed by natural obstacles, then stumps shall be cut to a maximum of 4 inches above these obstacles.

• Trees in sprouts (multiple stems) will be cut as close to the ground as possible.

• Trees required to be cut shall be completely severed from the stump.

• The cut angle of stumps shall be cut level (not to exceed 20 percent from horizontal).

• No cut trees shall be suspended above the ground. No tops shall be left hanging in standing trees.

• Cut trees that are hung up above ground shall be cut or pulled down. NO CUT TREES

THAT ARE HUNG UP WILL BE ACCEPTED. ALL CUT TREES MUST BE ON THE

GROUND REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF BUCKING/LIMBING REQUIRED.

• Annuals such as grasses, sedges, ferns, are not required to be cut.

• Trees for cutting will be felled with chainsaw or brush saw.

• Contractor will exercise caution and care in all operations to minimize damage to reserve trees.

• Contractor shall not cut any trees that have bird nests in them.

Slash requirements:

• Slash created by the contractor’s operation shall be removed from road surfaces and ditches, trails, power lines, and culverts.

• No slash may be left hanging in trees. All cut trees must be on the ground regardless of how much bucking/limbing must occur.

Selection of Leave Trees:

Leave trees are reserve trees and shall not be cut. Leave trees will be trees that:

• Are relatively straight-stemmed,

• Have well developed crowns (evenly distributed around the circumference, live crown ratios exceeding 30% (Technical Exhibit 4 - Exhibit D)

• Have no low forks or heavy branching within the bottom 10 feet

• Be healthy and vigorous with no disease or decay visible. Minimal defect that has healed or is healing is acceptable

• And will be a codominant or intermediate tree crown (Technical Exhibit 4 – Exhibit C).

• Tree species preference is as follows (trees are listed in order of higher preference): red spruce, white pine, northern white cedar, paper birch, balsam fir, tamarack, hardwood species (yellow birch, red maple)

• Greater than 5” DBH and therefore do not meet the criteria for a cut-tree.

Selection of Cut Trees:

• All trees required for removal in order to leave an 8 ft x 8 ft residual spacing of reserve trees.

• 1-5” DBH (diameter at breast height)

Supplemental Specifications

• The Contractor shall identify and leave/skip reserve areas within a treatment unit

(denoted in the field by a blue horizontal slash at breast height).

• The contractor shall designate one English speaking supervisor for each crew. No more than twelve persons are to be supervised by one supervisor. Supervisors shall be identified at the pre-work conference. Any changes in supervisory designations must be submitted in writing to the COR at least 24 hours prior to the change taking effect. At the pre-work conference, the Contractor shall provide a work schedule which must be acceptable to the Government.

1.5 Period of Performance: The period of performance of this contract is from August 1st, 2025 through

December 15th 2025. Work may only be conducted between August 1st and December 15th.

***NOTE***

The Nulhegan Basin experiences snowfall beginning in November. Vehicle access to the project site is not guaranteed in the event of snowfall; take precautions with safety plan.

1.6 General Information

1.6.1 Contractor Qualifications: The Contractor’s onsite representative shall be fully conversant in the

English language, spoken and written, sufficient to read and understand the project design and contract, and to communicate effectively with the COR. The Contractor’s employees performing felling shall be able to identify commercial and non-commercial conifer and hardwood species, common diseases and decay present in softwood stands, and be able to identify suitable reserve trees per the species hierarchy in this contract.

1.6.2 The contractor shall furnish all tools, labor, equipment, and supervision unless otherwise provided herein. In the event of emergencies, Contractor shall provide their contact information to the COR prior to beginning work.

1.6.3 Quality Control: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means by which he assures himself that his work complies with the requirement of the contract.

Quality Control Plan

Contractors must develop and follow a quality control plan to monitor and document the performance of their own work. Measures monitored and documented in the quality control plan should follow the performance requirement measures and all special requirements. Quality Control Plan monitoring documentation shall be made available to the COR at the request of the COR.

1.6.4 Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) found at Technical Exhibit

1. The PRS lays out the Performance Objectives, and the corresponding standards, performance thresholds and method of surveillance.

1.6.5 Recognized Holidays: The Federal Government observes the following holidays. No work shall be completed on a federally recognized holiday.

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day

Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day

Juneteenth Christmas Day

Independence Day

1.6.6 Hours of Operation: Not applicable. Contractor may work from sunrise to sunset, seven days week.

1.6.7 Place of Performance: 5396 Vermont Route 105 Brunswick VT 05905-9581.

1.6.8 Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm-Fixed-Price contract.

1.6.9 Special Requirements:

Access – Access to treatment units will be granted during the period of performance from sunrise to sunset.

There is no vehicular access from Vermont Route 105 to the southern end of the Lewis Pond Road. The

Contractor and their employees shall access the treatment units via the Stone Dam Road and/or the Henshaw

Road.

Signage – Signs shall be used where crews are working near a road, trail, or other feature in which the public may be present. Signs should read “TREE WORK AHEAD” or equivalent and be 36” x 36” in size.

Nests – Should a nest be found in any unit of the contract items, at any time during the contract term, the contractor shall flag the tree and write “nest” on the flagging and shall not cut the tree. Additionally, if the nest exceeds 1 foot in diameter or a raptor is observed using the nest the contractor shall immediately stop work in the unit, take a GPS point at the location of the nest or where the raptor was observed and notify the COR.

Notification – Contractor is required to notify the COR in writing 5 business days prior to starting work on any item. The contractor shall also notify the Contracting Officer at least monthly of the progress being attained on this project. This notification must be written.

Safety Equipment and Operations – Contractors must comply with all OSHA standards related to contract work and specific to chainsaw and/or brush-saw use. Failure to provide proper personal safety equipment or non-compliance with safe operating procedures, as outlined by OSHA, will result in a work stoppage.

Road Use and Maintenance – All roads leading into the project area are kept open and free of any debris that may occur as a result of the work. All existing roads used by the Contractor shall be left in the same condition, or better, as when operations started. Prior to the start of work, the Contractor and COR will review and document existing road conditions to provide a basis for maintenance needs.

1.6.9.1 Physical Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information, and property provided for contractor use.

1.6.9.2 Key Control. Not applicable

1.6.9.3 Lock Combinations. Not Applicable

1.6.10 Special Qualifications: Not Applicable

1.6.11 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: A pre-work meeting shall be conducted with the inspector and contractor. At the meeting, maps will be provided that will identify boundary lines, work sites, and areas of concern. The Conte Refuge will provide an inspector who will visit the site routinely to assure the standards of the contract are being met. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the

Government.

1.6.12 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The (COR) will be identified by separate letter. The

COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract: perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance:

maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract: issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications: monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property, and provide site entry of

Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.13 Key Personnel: Not Applicable

1.6.14 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings, answering

Government telephones, and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed. Contractor personnel will not be required to obtain and wear badges in the performance of this service.

1.6.15 Organizational Conflict of Interest: Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications, or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent

Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. The Contractor shall notify the

Contracting Officer immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the Contracting Officer to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The Contractor’s mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the Contracting Officer and in the event the Contracting Officer unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may affect other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

2. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.3. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S.

Government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.4. DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.5. DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.6. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the

PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.7. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.8. QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.9. QUALITY ASSURANCE Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.10. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.11. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.12. WORK DAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.12. WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

2.1.13. THIN. Completely sever from the stump conifers less than 8 inches diameter in the stand.

Leave trees should be approximately 16 feet apart throughout the unit when completed.

2.2. ACRONYMS:

COR Contracting Officer Representative COTR Contracting Officer's Technical Representative

COTS Commercial-Off-the-Shelf CO Contracting Officer FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation

NPS National Park Service NRA National Recreation Area OCI Organizational Conflict of Interest

POC Point of Contact PRS Performance Requirements Summary PWS Performance Work Statement

QA Quality Assurance QAP Quality Assurance Program QASP Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

QC Quality Control QCP Quality Control Program TE Technical Exhibit

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1. Services : The Government will provide reference maps showing boundaries lines, work sites and areas of concern

3.2 Facilities: Not applicable

3.3 Utilities: Not applicable

3.4 Equipment: Not applicable

3.5 Materials: Not applicable

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work.

Prospective Quoter’s Notes:

Note 1: Contractor must be registered in www.sam.gov in order to submit an offer on this project.

Obtaining a Unique Entity ID number and registering in SAM is free. The SAM website is www.sam.gov.

Note 2: A site visit is not scheduled for this project, prospective quoters are “strongly encouraged” to view the sites themselves to make their own estimate on the amount of work needed. Additional technical information or assistance with locating the specific project areas may be obtained by con-tacting the Contracting Officer in writing.

Note 3: All employees working on this contract shall have the ability to identify trees and shrubs common to the area of work.

4.2 Work Progress Schedule: Upon contract award, the Contractor shall be required to present a written plan of work providing for the orderly and timely completion of the contract requirements. This plan is subject to the approval of the Government. The plan should present when the Contractor intends to start and complete the bid items on the Division and how many crews will be working at one time. The schedule may be modified during the course of the contract when conditions warrant if approved by the Government. If the work progress falls behind schedule, the Contractor shall take such action as necessary to ensure that the timely completion of the contract is not jeopardized. In addition, the Contracting Officer may require the Contractor to submit a revised plan of work showing how they intend to complete the project on time and in compliance with all contract requirements.

4.3 Secret Facility Clearance: Not applicable

4.4 Materials: Not Applicable

4.5 Equipment: Not Applicale

5. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS (CURRENT EDITIONS)

5.1 The Contractor must abide by all applicable local and state laws and regulations, publications, local policies and procedures.

6. ATTACHMENT/TECHNICAL EXHIBIT LISTING

6.1 Attachment 1/Technical Exhibit 1 – Performance Requirements Summary

6.2 Attachment 2/Technical Exhibit 2 – Deliverables Schedule

6.3 Attachment 3/Technical Exhibit 3 – Area Maps

6.4 Attachment 4/Technical Exhibit 4 – Crown ratios/Crown position Diagram

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 1

Performance Requirements Summary

The Contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the minimum acceptable levels of service required for each requirement. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

Performance Objective

Performance Threshold Method of

Surveillance

PRS # 1.

The Contractor shall use gas powered

(hand held) chainsaws or brushsaws to cut tree species in the specified size range sufficient to leave a residual spacing of 8ft x 8ft.

The Contractor shall cut 90% or better of the identified size class of tree species in the identified unit to provide a residual spacing of 8ft x 8ft.

A designated project inspector will conduct site visits during the project and at the completion to ensure objectives are met.

PRS #2

All reserve areas within a treatment unit are identified and skipped, so that their stem density remains unchanged.

The Contractor shall identify and leave unchanged 100% of the reserve areas within a treatment unit.

A designated project inspector will conduct site visits during the project and at the completion to ensure objectives are met.

PRS # 3

All trees cut down shall be cleared from roads, trails, ditches, and culverts.

The Contractor shall remove 90% all slash greater than ½” in diameter and less than 12” diameter that has been cut from any road, trail, culvert, and ditch.

This includes branches, tops, and boles of felled trees.

A designated project inspector will conduct site visits during the project and at the completion to ensure objectives are met.

PRS # 4

Trees shall be pruned to no greater than 12” above the ground.

The contractor shall fell all cut-trees within

12” of the ground or lower.

A designated project inspector will conduct site visits during the project and at the completion to ensure objectives are met.

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 2

DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

All deliverables shall meet professional standards and meet the requirement set forth in contractual documentation.

The contractor shall provide all deliverable electronically, and other than requested software, in Microsoft Office

(Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, etc.) formats pursuant to the following schedule. The Contractor shall provide:

Deliverable Frequency # of Copies Medium/Format Submit To

A written plan of work providing for the orderly and timely completion of the contract requirements.

Once

One

Microsoft Word or hardcopy

Attn: Jeremy Goetz jeremy_goetz@fws.gov

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 3

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 3

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 4