PWS_E2A-PA_KO-Approved_5-12-2025.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

AMERICAN RIVER COMMON FEATURES 2016

LOWER AMERICAN RIVER EROSION PROTECTION PROJECT

Site E2A-PA Plant Acquisition

May 12, 2025

1. INTRODUCTION:

This contract is for the acquisition of 8,054 containerized mitigation plants. Contractor to acquire needed seed and stock material to grow containers as described here in. Contractor.

2. GENERAL INFORMATION:

Habitats being mitigated for are Elderberry associate plantings and Shaded Riparian Aquatic with pollinator habitats. This is a plant acquisition and propagation contract for impacts to the American River Common Features 2016, Lower American River Erosion Protection Project 3B. The major work elements described herein includes; propagation, plant maintenance, and plant delivery from the nursery to the project site. Propagation tasks, includes, acquiring required seed, sowing, watering, weeding, and maintaining overall seedling health to foster proper development into viable container sized saplings ready to plant.

The overall responsibility of the Contractor is to plan, coordinate, organize, manage, and perform the activities described herein.

The purposed of this contract is to supply 8,054 plants to the project site as specified in Section 4 below and in Table B TARGET PROJECT SCHEDULE.

3. BACKGROUND, SITE LOCATION, AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA:

a. Background & Location: This site is located at Rossmoor Bar along the American River, east of Watt Avenue. Access to the site is from Rossmoor Dr.

b. Acceptance Criteria:

• All plant material must be in the amount, proper species, container size, and to the heights specified in the Plant Growth Standards in Attachment A Section 32 93 15 PLANT

ACQUISITION.

• Each container must be labeled. Label must be water proof, UV resistant and state plant species botanical and common name.

• All plant material must be disease and pest free.

• Plant material rootball must be well developed with rootlets and the soil bond within the rootball must remain intact when it is removed from its container.

• Letter of authenticity must be provided by the Contractor to the COR at time of plant delivery stating all plant materials were collected within 45 miles of project site within the American River watershed. If unable to source within watershed, contractor to request variance and provide sourcing option to COR and KO prior to acquisition of plant materials.

4. PROJECT SCHEDULE:

The Contractor must develop a schedule and submit to the Contracting Officer for approval. The schedule must be submitted at the pre-work meeting or 30 calendar days from award of contract, whichever occurs first. The calendar days are the expected durations for each task, the Start – Completion Dates are just place holders, which shall be updated via the contractor based on actual award date.

Table B Target Project Schedule

Task Calendar Days Contract Award 1 Plant seed/material sourcing 365 Propagation 546 Deliver Plants to Rossmoor West Site 150

Option 1 - Seedling Maintenance 90 Option 2 - Seedling Maintenance 90 Option 3 - Seedling Maintenance 90 Option 4 - Seedling Maintenance 90

5. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLY:

Provide all specific plants required to the standards of American Standard for Nursery Stock, quantity of 8,054 container various container size, to the specific project site at Rossmoor West. See below tables PA-1, for Elderberry Associated sapling requirements and PA-2 for Pollinator Sapling Requirements.

Table PA-1, Elderberry Associate Container Sapling Requirements

Table PA-2, Pollinator Container Sapling Requirements

6. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

a. Advanced notification by contractor detailing date, time, and location of required seed sources to support the plant acquisition of this contract. Identify the seedling nursery location and infrastructure locations along with propagule harvest, storage practices, and timeline for growth through planting ready. Collection shall be within the American River watershed, not more than 45 miles from project location, unless approved by the COR in advance.

b. Collect Propagules: Collect propagules shall be from within 45 miles of project site watershed, unless approved by the COR in advance. For propagules collected on public lands, verify with the maintaining agency prior to collection of any propagules and acquire permissions. Collection must occur by a qualified California Native Plant Specialist and must be collected when particular species propagule is available and viable.

i. Propagating Seedlings: Seedlings must be separated into groups by species and individually labeled.

All seedling containers must be 90% weed free at delivery. See Attachment A Section 32 93 15 PLANT ACQUISITION for detailed requirements.

ii. Plant Delivery: See project schedule for delivery times. Deliver seedlings to the project site in the required sized nursery container where indicated herein. Delivery must be coordinated between the nursery, installation Contractor, and the Government.

8.1 SUSTAINABILITY

a. EPA Designated: Under the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates products that are or can be made with recovered materials, and recommends practices for buying these products. Any designated product that is being offered or supplied under this contract shall meet the minimum recommended content levels as identified under the CPG program. Visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/cpg/products for a complete list of designated products and the associated recommended content levels. Offerors must be able to demonstrate that each offered product meets minimum content levels upon request.

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/cpg/products

b. Biobased: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designates certain biobased products for Federal procurement and specifies minimum biobased content levels for those products.

Any designated product that is being offered or supplied under this contract shall meet USDA BioPreferred’s minimum biobased content level. Refer to the BioPreferred web site:

(http://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/ProductCategories.xhtml) for the complete list of designated products and the associated minimum biobased content level requirements.

7. CONTRACT OBJECTIVES:

• Propagule collection: identify areas where propagules are to be collected (harvested) from and then execute the propagule collection plan.

• Seedling development: Final seedlings container size when plants are delivered to the site must be as specified, container size and as per Attachment A Section 32 93 15 PLANT ACQUISITION. Label, water, and maintain to foster healthy growth.

• Plant Delivery: Deliver all seedlings to Rossmoor West mitigation site, Rancho Cordova, CA within the window of time specified. Time and exactly location on the site to be specified by the COR.

• Plant Survival Requirements: Contractor must meet 100% of plants, 8,054 containers, container size as required, and 100% based on Attachment A Section 32 93 15 PLANT ACQUISITION.

8. INSPECTIONS:

a. The COR will inspect the growing propagules monthly at the Contractor’s nursery, through the life of the contract.

b. Bimonthly 30-minute meeting via phone to discuss plant progress, status, and any issues and concerns between contractor and COR. Contractor to provide call-in number and coordinate the dates and times with the COR.

9. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS:

The Contractor must pre-screen Candidates using the E-verify Program (http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify) website to meet the established employment eligibility requirements. The Vendor must ensure that the Candidate has two valid forms of Government issued identification prior to enrollment to ensure the correct information is entered into the E-verify system. An initial list of verified/eligible Candidates must be provided to the COR no later than 3 business days after the initial contract award.

When contracts are with individuals, the individuals will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with the designated Government representative. This Form will be provided to the Contracting Officer and shall become part of the official contract file.

10. AUTHORITIES/TECHNICAL DIRECTION:

The Contractor must take no direction from any Government employee or any other person other than the Government Contracting Officer that changes the terms and conditions of this contract action, the scope, or any change that impacts the cost, price or schedule. Changes authorized by the Contracting Officer will be in the form of a written, official, signed modification to the contract action received by the Contractor before the Contractor will act upon those changes. The Contractor will comply with the Changes clause of this contract when the contractor believes direction has been given from persons other than the Government Contracting Officer that equate to a change by notifying the Contractor Officer as directed by the clause. Any direction given by any Government employee or any other person outside their authority must be reported to the Contracting Officer. Contracting Officer’s Representatives are limited to the authorities stated in the COR appointment letters

11. PAYMENT AND INVOICES

http://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/ProductCategories.xhtml

Invoices must be submitted no more often than quarterly. Each line item on an invoice must give a detailed description of the contract line item number (clin). Upon receipt, the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) will certify that the requested earnings are appropriate before payment will be made. Invoices must include all necessary information, including any necessary supporting documentation required as part of this Performance Work Statement. All invoices must reflect the contract number W91238-25-P-XXXX, see Blank 2 of the Standard Form 1449. The final invoice must be marked “FINAL.” Copies of all invoices must be provided to the following:

• A “draft” invoice must be emailed to the COR prior to the original invoice is sent to Millington. This representative will inspect completed work as stated on the invoice and then submit to the Contractor a confirmation notice or temporary denial of payment until work is completed. After the Contractor has received the approval by the Contracting Officer’s Representative, the approved original invoice may then be mailed to the payment center in Millington, Tennessee.

• Original invoice only without additional information or supporting documentation must be submitted to:

USAED, FINANCE CENTER ATTN: CEFC-FP

5722 Integrity Drive

Millington, TN 38054-5005 CEFC-payments@usace.army.mil

• Electronic copy of each invoice with all required information including any necessary supporting documentation:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Electronic copy only

Send to COR Name and email to be provided at time of award

Each invoice must be provided with a date, a unique invoice number, contract number, company name, USACE Project Name, as well as, CLIN number, task description, and amount being billed against. It also must include a billing summary history of all preceding invoices billed.

Attachment A

Section 32 93 15

PLANT ACQUISITION

Table of Contents

Part 1 – GENERAL

1.1 Description

1.2 Definitions

1.3 Minimum Qualifications

1.4 Performance

1.5 Quality Control

1.6 Inspections

1.7 Times and Conditions

1.8 Measurement and Payment

Part 2 – PRODUCTS mailto:CEFC-payments@usace.army.mil

2.1 Plant Material

2.2 Growing Containers

Part 3 – EXECUTION

3.1 Examination

3.2 Collection

3.3 Nursery Operations

3.4 Handling and Storage

3.5 Shipment and Delivery

3.6 Disposal of Undelivered Plant Material

Table

Table B-1 Container Top Growth Standard

Section 32 93 15

PLANT ACQUISITION

Part 1 - GENERAL

1.1 DESCRIPTION

Furnish all labor, material, equipment, and services necessary to provide complete collection, propagation, maintenance, storage, and delivery of plant material, according to this PWS and as directed by the Contracting Officer.

1.1.1 Project Site

The project site is located at: This site is separated into two locations, first is located along the American River in Sacramento County, CA, from the Rossmoor Dr., American River Parkway access.

1.1.2 Collection Zone

Collect propagules from within 45 miles of the Rossmoor West mitigation Site and the American River watershed. The Contractor is responsible for identifying collection sites or source for approval by the Contracting Officer before the start for any additional material collection beyond acorns the Government is providing. The Contractor is responsible for obtaining approval from property owners before accessing their land for plant collection purposes. The Contractor must perform in conformance to all rules and regulations of governing agencies and private parties having authority over the collection areas.

1.2 DEFINITIONS

The following terms referenced herein are defined as follows:

1.2.1 Contractor: The nursery contractor awarded herein.

1.2.2 Installation Contractor: A contractor independent of this contract that will receive and install the plants grown by the nursery contractor.

1.2.3 Nursery: The nursery contractor’s location where the plants will be grown and stored.

1.2.4 Project Site: The location where the plants will be installed by the installation contactor.

1.2.5 COR: The Contracting Officer’s Representative.

1.2.6 Government: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District.

1.2.7 Delivery: The act of transporting the plant material to the project site and placing it in the appropriate delivery area, as coordinated with the installation contractor. Delivery is not complete until the hardening-off requirements have been satisfied.

1.3 PERFORMANCE

1.3.1 Declaration of Material Availability

The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that the propagules, for the plant species required which is 8,200 Quercus lobata (Valley Oak), are available for collection, propagation and delivery within the time required. The Contractor must declare in writing, in his/her proposal to the Government, the unavailability of any viable propagule for the indicated species and its resulting impact to on-time delivery. The Government reserves the right to disqualify any proposal based on the Contractor’s declaration of the unavailability of plant source material at the time of award.

1.3.2 Warranty

All container grown plants must be guaranteed to be healthy, without insects or disease, and in a vigorous growing condition at the time of delivery.

1.3.3 Plant Growth Standards

The container plants top growth must be in proportion to its root development. The plant must exhibit proper form for each species and meet all the branching standards as indicated herein. Plants that do not meet all the minimum requirements will be rejected by the Government and must be the responsibility of the Contractor to secure acceptable material at no additional cost to the Government.

• Species Form and Top Growth: Tree species must be grown with a single, non-headed leader.

The plants top growth must be sufficiently large enough for the specified container it is being grown in.

The nursery must time the germination and propagation of the propagule so that it is at the proper size at the indicated delivery time. See Table B-1 CONTAINER TOP GROWTH STANDARD for specific container/species seedling top growth standards. The COR may reject undersized and oversized material.

The plant must have a main leader with caliper, development and growth so that it is not spindly and is able to support itself in an upright position. The plant must be in a healthy condition without signs of stress, disease, pest or mechanical damage.

• Top Growth Standards: plant species must have top growth as indicated herein for the following container sizes:

Table B-1: Container Top Growth Standard

Botanical Name Common Name Container Size Top Growth

TREEPOT4

Fraxinus latifolia oregon ash Treepot4 10-18” Cephalanthus occidentalis Button Bush Treepot4 10-18” Acer Negundo Box Elder Treepot4 10-18” Platanus racemosa Sycamore Treepot4 10-18” Populus Fremontii Cottonwood Treepot4 10-18” Quercus Lobata Valley Oak Treepot4 10-18” Quercus Douglasii Blue Oak Treepot4 10-18” Quercus Wislizenii Interior Live Oak Treepot4 10-18” Baccharis Salicifolia Mule-fat Treepot4 8-16” Ericameria nauseosa Rubber rabbitbrush Treepot4 8-16” Solidago Sp. Goldenrod Treepot4 8-16” Verbena lasiostachys Western vervain Treepot4 6-14”

DEEPOT40

Baccharis pilularis Coyote Brush Deepot40 8-24” Rhamnus californica Coffeeberry Deepot40 8-24” Rubus ursinus Blackberry Deepot40 6-16” Sambucus mexicana Elderberry Deepot40 5-16” Rosa californica California Wild Rose Deepot40 6-16” Clematis lingustifolia Clematis Deepot40 6-14” Vitis californica Grape Deepot40 6-16” Asclepias cordifolia Heartleaf milkweed Deepot40 6-16” Asclepias fascicularis Narrowleaf milkweed Deepot40 6-16” Asclepias speciosa Showy milkweed Deepot40 6-16” Bidens Cernua Modding beggartick Deepot40 6-16” Ceanothus ‘Skylark’ Skylark Ceanothus Deepot40 10-22” Epilobium canum California Fuchsia Deepot40 8-20” Eriogonum grande rubescens Red Buckwheat Deepot40 6-18”

Euthamia occidentalis Western Goldentop Deepot40 6-16” Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’ Russian sage Deepot40 8-20” Symphyotrichum chilense Pacific Aster(CA Aster ok) Deepot40 6-12”

TREEBAND

None.

1 Gallon Mimulus aurantiacus Sticky Monkeyflower 1-GA 10-22”

1 Gallon Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry 3-GA 14-30”

5 Gallon Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud 5-GA 24-40” – Multi-stem Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon 5-GA 24-36” – Multi-stem

• Root Development: The plants root system must have a main root that is unkinked and free from swirling. Secondary roots must be well developed and be capable of binding the root and soil mass together and retaining its shape when removed from its container.

1.4 QUALITY CONTROL

1.5.1 Supervision

The Contractor is responsible for direct supervision and actions of the Contractor's personnel and the personnel of any subcontractors. The Contractor must provide all quality control for the deliverables.

1.5.2 Removal of Unacceptable Plant Material

Plant material not meeting the COR’s approval must immediately be removed from the project site at the Contractor's expense. The Contractor must incur any additional expenses required because of material not meeting the requirements of this Scope of Work.

1.6 INSPECTIONS

1.6.1 Nursery Observations

The COR will conduct visits (at their option) to the nursery to observe the progress of the plants growth and general nursery operations. Additional, informal, visits to the nursery may occur at other times and may be unannounced.

1.6.2 Planting Site Inspection

Immediately after plant material delivery to the project site, the COR, Contractor and the installation contractor must inspect the plant material for injury, disease, and insect infestation. At the Contractor's expense, all plant material problems must be corrected, within 5 working days of the date of the initial delivery.

1.6.3 Plant Approvals

Final approval of all plant material by the COR will be reserved until time of delivery at the delivery site.

Plants that are substandard in the opinion of the COR will not be accepted. The actual number of plants grown will allow for a small amount of destructive sampling for each species at this observation.

1.7 TIMES AND CONDITIONS

The Contractor's strict conformance to the project schedule is essential for the success of this project. The Contractor is responsible for coordinating and scheduling the collection, propagation, maintenance, storage and delivery of material necessary to complete the work and for ensuring that subcontractors do the same as quickly and efficiently as possible in conformance with the project schedule. The project schedule must be as follows, unless otherwise directed by the COR:

1.7.1 Collection Period

The Contractor must collect the material in coordination with the delivery schedule so as to ensure the plants are at the required size and not rootbound at delivery. Plant material must be collected at the first opportunity after contract award when good results can be obtained.

1.7.2 Growing Period

The Contractor must time the plants propagation to ensure the plants are at the required size at delivery.

Each species growth rate and required container size at delivery must be considered when the propagule is germinated and/or transplanted to final container sizes.

1.8 PAYMENT

See Supply Work Statement, paragraph 12 Payment and Invoices.

Part 2 – PRODUCTS

2.1 PLANT MATERIAL

2.1.1 Plant Species and Quantities

The Contractor is responsible for providing each of the following species at the quantities and in the container sizes as indicated in PWS.

2.1.2 Substitutions

Substitutions will not be allowed, unless, approval is given in writing by the COR. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to document why they were not able to secure the required amount of plants and/or species and submit to the COR. The Contractor must make recommendations of substitute species to be used and where they can be secured.

2.2 GROWING CONTAINERS

Provide, grow and deliver plants in commercially available containers made of durable plastic fabrication and designed to create a deep root system. Containers must have interior vertical ribs that train roots downward and guard against swirling. The bottom of the containers must be have a bottom with large open space for air-pruning. Substitution of container type and size are subject to approval by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Container sizes referenced herein must be as follows:

2.2.1 Treepot4s

Treepot4s must have a capacity of 173 cu.in, and be 4" sq x 14" depth.

2.2.2 Deepot40s

Deepot40s (D40) must have a capacity of 40 cu.in, and be 2.5” dia. and 10” depth.

2.2.3 Treebands

Tree Bands must have a capacity of 20 cu. in., and be 2.25" sq x 5" depth.

2.2.3 1 Gallon

1 Gallons must have a capacity of .75 gallon., and be 6.0" sq x 6.875" depth.

2.2.3 3 Gallon

3 Gallons must have a capacity of 2.5 gallon., and be 10.25" sq x 9.0" depth.

2.2.3 5 Gallon

5 Gallons must have a capacity of 6.5 gallons., and be 12.0" sq x 14.125" depth.

Part 3 – EXECUTION

3.1 EXAMINATION

3.1.1 Verification of Collection Site Conditions

Determine and verify collection site conditions before the start of collection for any material above what Government is providing. Adjustments necessary to accommodate or to minimize impacts on these conditions must be made at the Contractor's expense.

3.2 COLLECTION

3.2.1 Site Access Approval and Permits

The Contractor is responsible for obtaining and paying all fees for site access and any plant collection permits required for this project.

3.2.2 Collection Procedures and Methods

Contractor is required to precure and collect the necessary amount of seed and plant material to propagate the minimum container saplings required as part of the PWS. Contractor to propagate according to standard collection, propagation, and nursery standards. Plants must be nursery grown of healthy, vigorous stock free of insects and disease. At the time of collection, cutting material must be marked and bundled by species, to differentiate plant species at the time of planting.

3.2.3 Material Sources

The Contractor is responsible for additional collection of required plant material if quantities above Government furnished acorns are deemed necessary. Propagules must be collected from multiple representative material sources to ensure the genetic diversity and viability of the material. The Contractor must select appropriate material for propagation of the required plants. Diseased and unhealthy donor material must be avoided. The Contractor’s collection efforts must leave minimum impacts to source sites. At no time must material sources be denuded of plants or stripped of all seed. If the timing is not right for viable seed collection, the Contractor must coordinate and get permission with the COR prior to any cutting collection.

3.2.4 Collection Site Cleanup

The Contractor must clean up all areas of debris that was caused by their plant material collection operations or disturbed as a result of their presence. Upon completion of their operations, the Contractor must remove any debris, excess material and dirt, and extraneous equipment resulting or used during their operations.

3.2.5 Dust Control

The Contractor must perform a good faith effort to minimize the creation of dust at all times during collection operations. At no time must vehicles or equipment exceed a speed that causes dust disturbances to the adjacent properties.

3.3 NURSERY OPERATIONS

3.3.1 Growing Conditions

The Contractor must provide all housing, equipment, materials, nutrients, water, propagule and care to ensure each plant develops properly. The plants must be grown in a nursery environment, which has proper housing and shade structures for propagating each required plant material. Plants must be grown in such a manner to allow air pruning of roots emerging from container bottoms.

3.3.2 Insects and Disease

All plant material must be free of insects and disease. If a target species is prone to disease, extra effort in surface cleansing during preparation may be requested to retard infection. Routine surface cleaning of collected material is expected.

3.4 HANDLING AND STORAGE

3.4.1 Handling Material

At all times, the Contractor must handle all material professionally to ensure that the plants and planting supplies are not damaged during storage, handling, and shipping.

3.4.2 Nursery Storage

Before delivery, all plants must be stored in such a manner to prevent damage from sunlight; moisture, or contact with vehicles, equipment and tools. Shade, frost, and wind protection must be used if necessary to protect the health of the plants. Plants must be maintained and kept in healthy condition at all times.

3.5 SHIPMENT AND DELIVERY

3.5.1 Delivery Responsibility

Deliver the plants to the project site. Upon delivery to the project site, all plant material will be observed by the COR to prevent the acceptance of damaged or otherwise unsuitable plant material. Plants must be delivered in the containers sizes indicated in Attachment A. Unacceptable plant material must be replaced with plants of similar size and species within 5 working days at the Contractor's expense.

Anticipate multiple deliveries spaced every two weeks between 1 April 2026 and 1 October 2026.

Coordinate specific delivery time and location with the COR 14 days prior to start of delivery. Delivery adjustments may be needed during the delivery window.

3.5.2 Delivery Vehicles

Delivery vehicles must have closed beds to minimize windburn to plant material during transport.

3.5.3 Hardening-off Plant Material

Before delivery of the plant material, all plant material must be hardened-off for a minimum of 2 weeks to project site conditions/temperatures. This includes plants grown in shade houses or greenhouses to prevent leaf or stem burn from occurring after delivery.

3.6 DISPOSAL OF UNDELIVERED PLANT MATERIAL

It is the Contractor’s responsibility to dispose of all rejected, surplus or unused plants at no cost to the Government. The Contractor must coordinate with the Government prior to taking disposal action.

Attachment B Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

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 Standard Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)

Method and Frequency of Inspection)

Remedy

Grow the required containerized plants to meet contract requirements

Contractor is growing sufficient numbers of the required species to assure that the quantity and quality requirements of the contract are met

Random inspections Develop a plan for recovery and submit required plans within 5 working days of discovery. Continuous review until performance is satisfactory.

Maintain the required seedlings in healthy condition

The seedlings are in good health at the nursery, form and root development meet contract requirements

Random inspections Develop a plan for recovery and submit required plans within 5 working days of discovery. Continuous review until performance is satisfactory.

Deliver the required seedlings in healthy conditions to the sites listed in paragraph 5

The required number of each species has been delivered to the site in healthy condition.

Inspection at delivery Develop a plan for recovery and submit required plans within 5 working days of discovery. Continuous review until performance is satisfactory.