PWS- Basin Road Repair 5_1_25.pdf

Performance Work Statement

Road Repair Services

Basin Mining Area, Operable Unit 5 (OU5) and Operable Unit 6 (OU6)

Basin, MT EPA ID No. MTD982572562

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Omaha District has been designated as the service center to provide road repair services in preparation for Remedial Action Construction (RA-C) activities for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This Performance Work Statement (PWS) defines requirements to perform road repair services at Basin Mining Area, Operable Unit 5 (OU5) and Operable Unit 6 (OU6), in Basin, Montana.

BACKGROUND

Mining-waste related contamination in the Basin Watershed and in the Town of Basin resulted in the listing of the Basin Mining Area (Site) on the National Priorities List (NPL) on October 22, 1999. The Basin Mining Area NPL site is divided into the following relevant Operable Units (OUs): the Town of Basin OU1, Basin Watershed OU2, Luttrell Repository OU3, Buckeye/Enterprise Mine OU4, Crystal Mine OU5, and Bullion Mine OU6. Approximately 300 abandoned hard rock mines exist within the Basin Watershed OU2, which encompasses OU5 and OU6.

The Crystal Mine is located between 7,640 to 8,100 feet (ft) above mean sea level (amsl) at the head of Uncle Sam Gulch (T7N, R5W, Sections 18,19, 20) within the Cataract Creek Drainage, about 8 miles north of the Town of Basin. The mine resides on mining claims encompassing approximately 40 acres, 22 of which are disturbed from mining activities. The Site is located adjacent to Uncle Sam Gulch (USG) Creek, a small tributary to Cataract Creek, which drains to the south and undercuts waste rock piles while forming the eastern edge of the Site.

The Bullion Mine is located between 7,100 to 7,800 ft amsl in the upper part of the Jill Creek subbasin (T7N, R6W, Sections 13 and 14) within the Jack Creek drainage, approximately 6 miles north of the Town of Basin (9 miles by road) and resides on mining claims encompassing approximately 40 acres.

The main transportation artery through the town is US Interstate 15 (I-15), which joins Helena to the northeast, and Butte to the southwest. The Site is surrounded by Beavercreek-Deerlodge National Forest.

The Site itself is a remote, high elevation, mountainous location with limited cell service and is not accessible by 4WD vehicle. The terrain consists of predominantly steep slopes and narrow valleys.

Access throughout the Site is limited to existing, unpaved, secondary roads maintained by Jefferson County. The roads are snow covered and typically impassible from late fall to early summer (NRCS, 2009). In recent years the haul road, which allows access to OU5 and OU6 has eroded and requires improvement to implement future RA-C. Future design and RA-C work will require safe access to the Site.

On Attachment C - Basin Mining Area Road Survey Screen Shot, the road area circled in red is accessible by normal 4WD vehicle. Attachment D - Approximate Pull Off Location for Parking can be viewed in Google Earth and shows where vehicles can pull off to park. From the parking area, the Site can be accessed by ATV/UTV, pack animal, or by hiking (an approximate 8-mile round trip hike).

Alternatively, ATV/UTV trailers can be parked at the intersection at the bottom of the road area circled in red.

SCOPE OF WORK

The contractor shall complete road repair activities to repair and stabilize an existing dirt road that has experienced significant erosion, hindering operational access. The work will involve restoring the road surface sufficiently to allow for safe and reliable access of four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles and track-mounted drill rigs to access OU5 and OU6. Site maps of the required repair areas are included in Attachment A – Road Maintenance Map, and site erosion photos from 2023 are included in Attachment B – Erosion Examples October 2023.

The period of performance (PoP) for this project will be six (6) months.

The contractor shall perform road improvements on areas of significant damage along approximately four linear miles of roadway, as identified in Attachment A - Road Maintenance Map. Road repair activities may include filling in areas of erosion along road shoulders and embankments; repairing potholes and erosion channels on road surfaces; and blading and filling road surfaces to ensure reasonably safe driving conditions for 4WD vehicles.

ROAD REPAIR SERVICES

The contractor shall repair approximately four linear miles of roadway to stabilize the significantly eroded Jill Creek and Jack Creek Roads up to the base of the Crystal Mine, OU5 (Attachment A). Road repair activities may include filling in areas of erosion along road shoulders and embankments; repairing potholes and erosion channels on road surfaces; and blading and filling road surfaces to ensure reasonably safe driving conditions by 4WD vehicle.

Site Preparation Prior to commencing repair activities, the contractor shall pull road repair permits through Jefferson County and undertake the necessary preparations to ensure effective road repair. This may involve clearing debris, grading the surface, and identifying a materials and equipment staging area, if needed.

All necessary materials shall be identified, procured, and stored as needed by the contractor. Soil from road shoulders and embankments on Site shall be utilized to conduct the repairs. The contractor shall take care not to take borrow material from areas that would exacerbate existing erosion and shall maintain vegetative cover in erosion-prone areas to the maximum extent possible. Materials shall be appropriate to the area and work required, as determined through a review of available local- and Site-specific information. The contractor shall verify that utilities will not be impacted prior to initiation of Site activities.

Consent for access to repair county and private roads has been obtained by EPA. Throughout the execution of this work, the contractor shall identify themselves as contractors to USACE on behalf of

EPA.

Repair Activities Once the work area has been properly prepared and secured, the contractor shall initiate roadwork in accordance with the approved Maintenance Work Plan. Assume the level of effort requires a minimum of two personnel utilizing a skid-steer or similar-type equipment fitted with the appropriate attachments.

Repair activities shall include:

Identify and assess areas of significant erosion along the designated roadways.

Place signage for safety purposes for public traffic during work hours. While public traffic is expected to be minimal, access shall still be allowed throughout the duration of the work.

Identify the appropriate materials for the repair work at the Site. All fill material shall be obtained from roadside embankments or other appropriate locations for borrow material on Site and shall not exacerbate existing erosion.

Fill eroded sections with native materials existing on and adjacent to roadways to restore the original grade and prevent further deterioration.

Compact repaired areas with equipment used to perform the repair work to ensure stability and durability under traffic loads.

Perform road blading (grading) to smooth uneven surfaces and remove ruts, washboards, potholes, or other significant irregularities that would impede 4WD traffic.

Remove and dispose of excess debris and waste materials in compliance with local regulations.

The contractor shall remedy any defects identified within 30 days of project completion at no additional cost to the Government. Repair work shall be considered complete and acceptable when:

All potholes, erosion, and significant surface irregularities identified in the project area are repaired to the specified standards.

The final report and documentation are submitted and approved by USACE and EPA.

A final inspection confirms compliance with this PWS.

A Work Completion Report shall be prepared to summarize all inspection, maintenance, and repair work completed. The report shall include a photographic log showing the before and after conditions of the road to document completion. A draft report shall be submitted to the USACE PM and the EPA RPM to allow for Government review and comment prior to the completion of a final version.

Public and Environmental Safety The contractor shall identify and implement continuous safety measures throughout the duration of road maintenance activities. This shall include the proper installation of temporary signage, barriers, and other necessary safety devices to safeguard roadway users in accordance with the most recent Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/) and Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) requirements (https://www.mdt.mt.gov/).

The contractor shall incorporate environmental safeguards that minimize the impact of road maintenance activities on the surrounding environment. This includes establishing and adhering to best practices for material handling, disposal, and ensuring compliance with the applicable environmental conservation laws.

Planning Documents Before commencing field work, the contractor shall perform a comprehensive Site survey to assess and document the current extent of damage to the road. This assessment shall be utilized to develop a Maintenance Work Plan that clearly identifies repair priorities, resource requirements, and proposes methods for repair to satisfy the requirements of this PWS.

The contractor shall review all available Site information to incorporate into the Maintenance Work Plan in accordance with all the requirements specified in this PWS and its attachments, and local, state, and Federal regulations. The Maintenance Work Plan shall describe the specific work proposed to meet the performance objectives and requirements for the road repair services. The Work Plan shall include an abbreviated APP (Attachment E - ENG 6293 APP Worksheet 2023_08), relevant Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs), and any Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) applicable to the required repair work for submittal to USACE PM and COR for acceptance.

The Maintenance Work Plan shall include a working schedule that facilitates the management of the project work and provides the capability for project performance tracking and early identification of potential schedule impacts. The schedule shall identify mobilization dates, task durations, project closeout timeline, and any other relevant schedule projections. The schedule shall be maintained and updated when project planning requires to accurately reflect progress and provide reasonable forecast projections. The schedule shall be submitted in Excel or PDF formats. The USACE PM or COR may require corrections or modifications to the schedule throughout the PoP.

Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) The contractor shall prepare the AHA in accordance with Section 01.A.12 of the EM 385-1-1.

Note: Contractors and other individual employer’s typically use Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), or similar Risk Management assessment tools. The government considers equivalent to, and acceptable substitutes for, the USACE’s AHA provided the data collected is the same as that required by the AHA, commensurate with the type of services the contractor is performing.

Abbreviated Accident Prevention Plan (APP) EM 385-1-1 in its entirety may be too complex for the type of work performed under these contracts;

contractors may reference EM 385 1-1 Appendix A for the abbreviated APP, provided in this PWS as Attachment E. The contractor shall only need to submit items in Appendix A that are pertinent to the contract. The contractor shall use a qualified person to prepare the Site-specific abbreviated APP. The contractor shall sign and submit the APP for approval prior to the start of work onsite.

MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The contractor's primary point of contact for any contract-related inquiry shall be the USACE PM. The contractor is expected to direct all communications through the designated USACE PM to maintain clarity and consistency in project oversight. Email shall be the primary means of formal communication.

For urgent issues requiring immediate attention, verbal communication shall be utilized and followed up with a written summary via email to ensure proper documentation and clarity of any decisions or actions agreed upon.

Project Planning and Management The contractor shall perform project management and planning functions, including the preparation of planning documentation, meeting coordination, resource coordination and tasking, project cost controls, and invoicing. All documents shall be submitted electronically.

The contractor shall execute efficient management of the purchase order including the submission of accurate, on-time, quality contract deliverables, and timely identification and solution of impediments to successful project execution. The Government will rely on the contractor’s expertise in recognizing and addressing problematic issues for the successful execution of this purchase order.

The contractor shall function as an integral team member in support of the EPA mission, to include the sharing of information with other USACE and EPA contractors and EPA personnel, and cooperation with communities, regulators, and other government entities.

Kickoff Meeting The contractor shall coordinate a post-award kick-off meeting via teleconference within 15 calendar days of award that shall include the USACE Contracting Officer (KO), USACE PM and COR, EPA RPM, Jefferson County and other stakeholders as identified by EPA to review project requirements and expectations. During the kickoff meeting, the contractor will address the expectations of this contract, their assessment of current conditions, how they plan to conduct the repairs and the anticipated schedule for completion.

Notification Requirements The contractor is required to notify the Government of critical issues that may affect performance. For issues that affect human health, safety, and the environment, the contractor shall verbally notify the Government immediately and follow-up with email notification no later than eight hours after occurrence.

Based on issue severity, the KO, USACE PM/COR, or EPA may require the contractor to “pause” work activities until more information is gathered. A work “pause” is not an official “stop-work,” but is a suspension of activities that may exacerbate the issue.

WORK HOURS AND WORK LIMITS

The contractor is responsible for conducting business during daylight hours, except Recognized Federal Holidays. A workday is recognized as 8-hours a day, 40-hours a week. The contractor may work longer than 8-hours a day, but may not exceed 10-hours a day for more than four consecutive days, 12-hours a day for more than three consecutive days, or more than 50-hours in a 7-day work week. Equipment operators must not be permitted to exceed 12-hours of duty time in any 24-hour period, including time worked at another occupation.

FACILITIES

There are no available public restroom facilities at the project location. The contractor shall be responsible for providing restroom facilities to their personnel.

SUBMITTALS

Prior to commencement of work, the contractor shall submit the following documents to the USACE PM and COR for review and approval:

A Road Maintenance Work Plan outlining the pre-repair condition of the roadway and the approach for completing the repairs in accordance with specifications outlined in this PWS. The Work Plan shall include AHAs and abbreviated APP.

Upon completion of the road repair work, A Work Completion Report shall be submitted to the USACE

PM and COR for review and approval within 15 business days of road repair completion, The report shall include:

o A summary of repair work completed.

o Before-and-after photos of repaired areas.

o Certification that all work complies with applicable standards and contract requirements.

Additional submittals requirements are provided below in Table 1. Quality assurance surveillance and acceptance will be performed in accordance with Table 2.

Table 1 – Submittals

DELIVERABLE DESCRIPTION DELIVERY

Contract Kickoff Meeting Minutes

Documentation summarizing the kickoff meeting objectives, agreements, and plan of action moving forward.

Kickoff meeting to be held within 15 days of contract award. Meeting minutes to be submitted in electronic form to USACE PM and EPA RPM within seven days of meeting.

Road Maintenance Work Plan

A Work Plan, including AHAs and an APP, outlining approaches and timelines for road repair and stabilization activities.

Draft within 30 days of contract award.

Final to be submitted within seven days of receipt of Government review and approval of comment resolution.

Work Completion Report

A summary report documenting the work performed, final conditions of the road, and before and after photographic documentation.

Draft to be submitted to USACE PM and EPA RPM within 15 days of road maintenance completion. Final to be submitted within seven days of receipt of Government review and approval of comment resolution.

Table 2 – Performance Requirements Summary

Performance Objective

Performance Standard

Acceptable Quality Level

Performance Measure Method of Surveillance

Task 1: Road Repair Services

Subtask 1:

Project Planning and Management

Complete requirements in accordance with the PWS.

Government review and approval of document submittals.

Completeness of the deliverables in accordance with the PWS.

Project management conducted in a manner resulting in efficient execution PWS requirements. Timely notification of potential issues and problems.

100% Inspection by

USACE PM/COR.

Subtask 2:

Erosion Repair

Complete requirements in accordance with the PWS.

Government approval of road repair services and documentation.

Completeness of the deliverables in accordance with the PWS.

Project management for efficient execution.

Timely notification of potential issues and problems.

Periodic Inspections, Customer Feedback, 100% Inspection of Roads, and Periodic Meetings.

REFERENCE DRAWINGS

Figures included in the Attachments are provided for reference only and do not reflect current Site conditions. Site conditions may have changed since photos were taken in 2023, and it is the contractor’s responsibility to conduct due diligence. Therefore, the contractor shall conduct a Site visit to determine actual conditions for an accurate cost proposal.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The contractor shall be responsible for inspecting and ensuring that the materials available for use are appropriate and in line with the approved Work Plan. The contractor shall be responsible for obtaining and maintaining all registrations, certifications, licenses, permits, warrants, or other credentials or permissions required by the various Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies to perform the required tasks.

USACE and EPA reserve the right to visit and inspect the Site at any time to verify the appropriateness of construction activities. This may include review of maintenance procedures and submittals (Table 1).

USACE will manage stakeholder coordination with EPA Region 8 and Jefferson County, Montana throughout the PoP.

PROJECT COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

The contractor shall collaborate with the Government on development of a discrete, measurable basis for verifying completion of each task through project completion as documented in the Work Plan. This basis will be used to acquire Government concurrence that the task completion has occurred and contractual obligations have been satisfied. At the completion of work, the contractor shall submit project documentation and final invoicing as directed by the KO. Project completion forms shall be sent to the KO no later than four months after completion of all work or the expiration of the PoP.

STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

The contractor shall perform to the standards in the contract and comply with all applicable Federal, state, and local regulations, which may include EPA instructions, manuals, handbooks, regulations, guidance, and policy letters, as well as any applicable Executive Orders (EOs), during the services performed. The contractor is responsible for ascertaining the extent to which the regulations affect the operations resulting from this contract. It is the contractor’s responsibility to identify and comply with all applicable requirements. Applicable regulations include, but are not limited to the following:

Engineering Manual (EM) 385-1-1 (USACE Safety and Health Requirements Manual), dated March

15, 2024; https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/Portals/76/EM%20385-1-

1%20_EFFECTIVE%2015March2024.pdf Occupational Safety and Health Standards (29 CFR 1910) Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/) Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) requirements (https://www.mdt.mt.gov/)

Where conflicts appear to occur between the PWS and applicable regulations, the contractor shall abide by the stricter of the requirements, and when in doubt, shall be responsible for contacting USACE for clarity.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A - Road Maintenance Map Attachment B – Erosion Examples October 2023 Attachment C – Basin Mining Area Road Survey Screen Shot Attachment D – Approximate Pull Off Location for Parking .kmz Attachment E – ENG 6293 APP Worksheet 2023_08