PWS Spearfish_Canyon.Final.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Performance Work Statement

Contents Project Title General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

2.0 Definitions

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Deliverable / Schedule

5.0 Government Furnished

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Survellance Methods

9.0 Performance Monitoring

10.0 Contractor Safety Plan

11.0 Fire Prevention

Project Title Spearfish Canyon Hazardous Fuels

General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

Furnish all necessary labor, supervision, transportation, equipment, materials, supplies, and incidentals necessary to provide service in accordance with the attached specifications, wage rates, terms and conditions.

This request is intended to secure services necessary to achieve hazardous fuels reduction and other resource management work on the National Forest System Lands managed by the Black Hills National Forest, herein called the Forest Service (FS). Favorable weather and site conditions are needed to conduct brush disposal work or execute other tasks.

Work is assigned at the project and inspected during and afterwards to verify achievement of the desired product. Often work is variable in amount and duration within each order, thus a FS employee will explain the Government’s desired end results with each project. The contractor must perform all assignments in a safe, productive manner that progressively moves towards achieving the desired result in a timely fashion. All equipment must be cleaned prior to use on the National Forest to minimize noxious weed infestations.

Location and Description

• The Forest Service, Northern Hills Ranger District is requesting an excavator with a thumb attachment for the 148 acres (w/ unit 2) of machine pile rehab, spreading of the previously burned material. The Contractor may choose to provide a different method of treatment to accomplish the objectives for the project. The total acreage for this Spearfish Canyon Haz Fuels project is 148 acres, with approximately 65-75 piles of needed pile rehab; however, steepness of the slope will determine the number of piles that are spread or re-piled, as well as the conditions of soil.

• Spearfish Canyon Hazardous Fuels is a combination of treatment needs, utilizing an excavator w/ thumb attached. The primary treatment will be spreading the already burned pile material out on the landscape, and the secondary treatment would be re-piling the heavier concentrated material, to be burned at a later date and time. Spreading of material/re-piling of material unit is located in:

Township and

Range Sections Meridian

T4N, R2E 9 Black Hills Meridian

• Use equipment (excavator w/ thumb attachment) to scatter burned slash residues into the forest; this is accomplished to clear burned area for seedbed preparation. Scattered slash may be followed up with crushing by walking machine over material when requested by FS. Equipment is then used to incorporate ashes into sub-surface of soil.

Excavator is required to have a thumb attachment built by factory or manufactured to accomplish task. Scattered material needs to be below 18” of fuel bed/slash depth.

2.0 Definitions

• Push Up previously FS Ignited Slash Piles –Equipment with operator works to reduce size of ignited slash piles by pushing in edges into smaller dimensions to facilitate better consumption of material. Usually executed same day pile is ignited and may be followed up with additional consolidation of pile by equipment operations. Movement within a project is usually by walking the equipment. Work is assigned and inspected by FS for compliance with

Government’s desired end result. Piles that need to be re-piled will be determined by the COR. And the COR will determine pile locations.

• Push Out or spread Burned Piles– Equipment with operator spreads burned and unburned material into specified areas to reduce concentrations of material. End result is suitable for reseeding by FS. Movement within a project is usually by walking the equipment. Work is assigned by FS and inspected for compliance with directed result. Utilization of Excavator with thumb attachment is required for this project.

• Standard Duty Day – For planning purposes, this is the usual number of work hours worked per day during which equipment may be operated. Generally the FS works an 8, 9, or 10 hour duty day on a recurring basis. This may be adjusted for special circumstances. An example would be if equipment could work one more hour the project would be completed, and the contractor is acceptable to that adjustment on-site.

• Shift Ticket – Optional Form 297 is used to document all hours worked, ordered standby, and compensable travel using an authorized unit of equipment.

• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) – Approved hardhat, safety glasses or goggles, non-slip 8” high leather work boot

• Maximum Individual Hours worked per Duty Day operating Heavy Equipment &

Transport – This is limited to 10 hours per person. This applies to equipment used for project work. The FS strives during basic work (non-fire suppression) that an individual operating equipment and transports do not exceed 10 hours total in a Duty Day. Rules for hours worked while in fire suppression operations are not covered within this contract.

• Clock Hour – For equipment timekeeping, this is the time of actual work, ordered staging, or compensable travel that has a specific start and ending time. Recorded in the nearest 15 minute increment, with seven minutes past rounded down and eight minutes past rounded up.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

Treatment Descriptions

• Scatter previously burned material.

Use equipment (excavator w/ thumb attachment) to scatter burned slash residues into the forest; this is accomplished to clear burned area for seedbed preparation. Scattered slash may be followed up with crushing by walking machine over material when requested by FS. Equipment is then used to incorporate ashes into sub-surface of soil. Excavator is required to have a thumb attachment built by factory or manufactured to accomplish task.

Scattered material needs to be below 18” of fuel bed/slash depth.

All excavatorst shall be equipped with rollover protection, safety canopy, approved spark arrester on all naturally aspirated engines; axe, pulaski or shovel; fire extinguisher – minimum 4: BC rating, headlights, back-up lights and backup alarm

• Mechanical Piling of previously burned material to be burned at a later date.

This performance work statement will also require the contractor to mechanically re-pile, where feasible and where the material is needed to be re-piled, to be burned at a later date. Contractor shall consider the following items when mechanically piling fuels:

o Piles shall be placed in openings and a minimum of 15 feet from any tree form vegetation to minimize tree mortality while burning o Piles shall be constructed to facilitate re-burning of material – COR will determine these locations.

o Re-Piles shall be compact, free of dirt with no protruding limbs and no material common between piles nor shall piles be created on top of stumps or slash greater than 3 inches in diameter.

• Due to certain species of wildlife that inhabit the area, this unit has a timing restriction from April 1 to

August 31.

• Soil and Hydrology Protections

See Resource Map for identification of hydrologic features and aquatic management zones o Minimize soil compaction by reducing off-road vehicle passes or by skidding on snow or when soils are frozen or dry. (Dry soil conditions: Soil cannot be rolled into 3-mm or larger threads without breaking or crumbling; soil is below the plastic limit. Frozen conditions: At least two inches of frozen soil or one foot of packed snow is present o Within 50 feet of streams, springs, wetlands, and the lower 500 feet of ephemeral streams:

Avoid ground-based equipment operations to the extent possible (except at designated crossings or existing roads).

Approve tracked felling equipment on a site-by-site basis after consultation with a hydrologist.

Exclude wheeled equipment o For aquatic management zones around springs and wetlands, avoid activity within 100 feet from the aquatic feature, no wheeled or tracked equipment unless approved by District Hydrologist.

o Piles of the fallen trees should be at least 50 feet from any intermittent and perennial stream, springs, and wetlands. If piles cannot be constructed at that distance away, they should be approved by the District Hydrologist in advance.

o Exclude piles from within the stream, if the stream is not clearly identified, do not construct piles in the lowest spot of the drainage.

• Unit Description o Unit 2 (148 Acres): Located in Township 4 North, Range 2 East, Section 9. This unit is approximately 14 miles south of Spearfish, South Dakota. US Highway 14A comprised the southern boundary of the unit. County roads of Blue Spruce Lane and Billie Lane provide additional access to the unit (Contractor shall be advised that although County roads, the primary purpose of these primitive one lane roads is cabin access). Hazards associated within unit 2 include structures within 100 feet of treatment area boundary and low hanging powerlines.

Resource concerns within the unit include raptor nests along the northern part of the unit and streams and other aquatic management zone concerns throughout the unit. A timing restriction of April 1 to August 31 exists for this unit as well.

• Supplemental Information o All specifications in the parent contract and this PWS apply to Sub/Contractor.

o The contractor is responsible for repairing any damage they may cause to Forest Service

Roads or County Roads. Roads must be left in state in which they were discovered.

o The contractor may not block access to traffic during operations unless necessary. Contractor shall inform COR at least 1 business day prior to the intent to block traffic so that Department of Transportation can be notified.

o All trash and discarded parts/tools shall be removed from all work areas daily. Areas shall be completely clear of trash prior to contract close.

o Locate fuel and chemical storage areas on gentle upland sites away from creeks and wetlands so as not to contaminate ground or surface water.

• Vehicle/Heavy Equipment Inspection Checklist – When equipment covered by this contract arrives on-site, the FS will initially inspect to verify that each unit is ready for work. If a unit is does not pass inspection, no charges can be incurred by the FS until repairs are made and re-inspection finds acceptance. This initial inspection is made by the COR or Inspector. All equipment is given a second inspection when released from a project. Inspections are documented by the FS on Optional Form 296, and a copy is provided to the vendor.

4.0 Deliverable / Schedule

Quality Control Plan

(a) This contract will incorporate a visual inspection system, implemented by the Government. While this system will be key as the means for determining work quality (whether work has been completed in accordance with the specifications of the contract), Offerors shall address additional elements of quality control as follows:

(b) Proposals must include a comprehensive response to the following question:

(1) What measures will the Contractor or representative take to correct problems with work quality that are discovered?

(2) How does the contractor propose to ensure the quality of work meets the requirements?

(c) Offerors shall submit a schedule showing how they would maintain minimum daily production rates, considering normal weather condition shutdowns including rain, snow, hot and dry conditions, and high winds. Offerors may enhance their proposal by indicating their ability to maintain a progress rate greater than the minimum daily production rates listed in the Deliveries or Performance section.

(d) Proposals must include comprehensive responses to the following questions:

(1) Accomplishment of work in this contract will be contingent on seasonal ground conditions which provide unit access, as well as local Industrial Fire Precaution Levels which will permit work operations.

What measures will the owner take to keep abreast of and maximize use of opportunities to complete the work?

(2) How will the owner coordinate successful and timely completion of this contract when faced with other potentially conflicting contractual commitments?

(e) Offeror shall provide a detailed safety plan including mitigations for inherent hazards encountered in equipment operation, including site-specific hazards such as high winds and snags.

(f) List all personnel that have had first aid training and those that are qualified as first responders or emergency medical technicians (EMT's).

(g) Offerors shall include a brief description of company resources, including but not limited to, equipment operators available for this project, equipment available for this project, vehicles, tools, supplies, etc. Also note any other contractual obligations that could conflict with completing this project in a timely manner.

PAYMENT TERMS

Contractor will be provided shift tickets for recording equipment time prior to start-up of project, and for obtaining signature of COR/Inspector/Dozer Boss validating work.

The Contractor must submit an invoice with copies of shift tickets for payment to be processed. COR will validate invoice and tickets and forward to CO for processing the payment request.

Transports are deemed released after arrival on the project unless the COR/Inspector/Dozer Boss orders the transport in writing to be held at the project.

All contractors must be register in the System for Award Management (sam.gov)

Key Deliverables Item No. Deliverable Objective Due 1 Safety Plan Defining the safety plan as described in

10.0 Pre-work Meeting/ Solicitation technical

2 Daily Shift Tickets Report documenting tasks Daily after each shift is worked

3 Quality Control Plan

This contract will incorporate a visual inspection system, implemented by the Government. While this system will be key as the means for determining work quality (whether work has been completed in accordance with the specifications of the contract)

Pre-Work Meeting: Address questions in technical submission

5.0 Government Furnished

• Government will provide unit and vicinity maps. Upon request, government will provide geo-referenced PDF maps for use in mobile mapping devices. Avenza Maps will be utilized to determine boundary for unit 2.

6.0 Travel

• Travel to the project site once with the specified piece of equipment and travel back to home unit.

• Treatment unit is located approximately 15 miles south of Spearfish, SD along US Highway 14A.

Access and Access Roads:

o Unit 2 – Approximately 15 miles south of Spearfish on US Highway 14A. County roads Blue Spruce and Woodchuck Lane provide access to the interior portions of some of the unit. 148 is the total acreage for this unit.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

Excavator operator needs to be experienced with uneven terrain, and familiar with spreading out previously burned material and/or re-piling of perilously burned material. Re-piled material would need to be burned at a later date. Equipment operator needs to be also familiar with changing conditions out in the woods, as well as experience with limiting ground disturbance within the project boundary.

8.0 Surveillance Methods

The surveillance methods used in the Quality Assurance process are the Government’s tools to monitor the Contractor’s products and services. The best means of determining whether the Contractor has met all contract requirements is to inspect the Contractor’s service products and analyze the results. Further, documented inspection results are an effective tool in contract administration that can confirm the successful achievement of all performance requirements or highlight areas where defects exist, and improvements are necessary. COR will be responsible for inspection and collecting daily shift tickets from contractor.

PWS

Para #

Required Services

Performance Standard Acceptable Quality Level

(AQL)

Monitoring Method

3.0

3.0

Scatter previously burned material

Mechanical Piling of previously burned material to be burned

*Spreading/scattering of previously burned material, by not having slash or material higher than 18 inches.

*Re-Piles shall be compact, free of dirt with no protruding limbs and no material common between piles nor shall piles be created on top of stumps or slash greater than 3 inches in

100% Scatter burned material to the best desired outcome.

100% Re-Piles shall be compact, free of dirt with no protruding limbs and no material common between piles nor shall piles be created on top of stumps or slash greater than 3 inches in diameter.

COR will inspect daily- Visual inspection.

COR will inspect daily- Visual inspection.

• This performance work statement will also require the contractor to mechanically re-pile, where feasible and where the material is required to be re-piled, by the COR. Contractor shall consider the following items when mechanically piling fuels:

o Piles shall be placed in openings and a minimum of 15 feet from any tree form vegetation to minimize tree mortality while burning.

o Piles shall be constructed to facilitate re-burning of material – COR will determine these locations.

o Re-Piles shall be compact, free of dirt with no protruding limbs and no material common between piles nor shall piles be created on top of stumps or slash greater than 3 inches in

• Spreading/scattering of previously burned piled material and require not having slash or material higher than 18” in diameter.

*The contract requires the Contractor to perform all work as specified. Any inaccuracies or omissions in services or products are referred to as “defects” on the part of the Contractor. The Contractor shall be responsible for all identified defects and may be required to perform the work at no cost to the government.

The AQLs take into account that in some instances an allowable level of deficiencies (deviations) is possible while overall performance continues to meet the government’s desired level of service.

Work Acceptance Standard

(a) If either visual or formal inspections by the Government indicate work quality to be at least 90 percent or greater (before or after rework), the unit pay rate will be 100 percent.

(1) The work listed in the Schedule of Items will be paid for at the acre rate for accepted acres.

(2) Payment will be made only on completed and accepted unit(s).

(3) The pay rate will be calculated by multiplying the unit price per acre by the number of completed and accepted acres.

(b) If formal inspection by the Government determines work quality to be between 75 and 89 percent, the Contractor shall be paid the determined work quality percent of the bid rate.

(c) For work quality determined to be 74 percent and less, no payment shall be made to the Contractor.

9.0 Performance Monitoring

(a) The COR, or government technical monitor, will make periodic inspections while work is in progress, usually daily at first, to assure work is proceeding satisfactorily. The Contractor shall notify the COR when units are completed and ready for inspection prior to his moving out of the general area.

An inspection will be made within three (3) calendar days and the Contractor notified of any parts of the unit(s) requiring additional work or rework.

(b) Each unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Units will not be averaged with other units for acceptance or payment.

(c) The COR, or designated inspector, will determine compliance of contract specifications through informal, 100 percent visual inspections. In the event visual inspection indicates work to be in non-compliance with specifications, prompt corrective action and/or rework shall be required.

10.0 Safety Plan Requirements

10.0 Contractor Safety Plan Certification

a. The Contractor shall have a Safety Plan in place.

b. The Contractor shall provide a copy of their safety plan at the pre-work meeting. This copy of the Safety plan shall be kept in the contract folder for OSHA’s review.

c. The Safety Plan should be available to all employees and subcontractors working on the contract.

d. The Safety Plan should cover at a minimum:

i. Safety briefings covering the work area, equipment being used, and any special considerations for the work under the contract

ii. Personal Protective Equipment required for the work under the contract

iii. Appropriate OSHA requirements for the type of work under the contract

iv. Weather considerations for the time of year of the contract

v. Communication issues and locations of the nearest medical facilities

vi. Name and point of contact information of supervisor responsible for enforcing Safety Plan

vii. Name, position title and point of contact information of company executive responsible for approving the Safety Plan

viii. Specific contingency plans for emergencies such as medical, fire, hazard material spills and any other contract assessed hazard prevention and abatement requirement needs that apply to this project

_______________________ certify that I have a safety plan in place and certify that it will be strictly enforced.

(Name of Contractor)

Signature: ______________________

Title: ________________________________

Date: _______________________

11.0 Fire Prevention and Control

Tools and equipment. The Contractor shall furnish and maintain in a serviceable condition one shovel, size O or larger, for each employee working in the project area. The shovels may be stored in the employees private vehicle or the contractor's vehicles, but must be readily available to each employee while in the project area.

For each yarder, loader, jammer, chipper, crawler tractor, skidder, hauling truck, portable welder, or comparable type equipment, the Contractor shall furnish one shovel, size O or larger, attached to each unit and one two and one-half pound or larger dry chemical or four pound or larger carbon dioxide type fire extinguisher attached to each unit.

For each power saw, soil auger, portable pump, or like powered equipment, the Contractor shall furnish one shovel, size 0 or larger, and one dry chemical fire extinguisher, 8 ounce or larger, immediately available to the operator of the equipment. The fire extinguisher shall be with the operator of the equipment; the shovel may be with the fuel can used to refuel the equipment.

Refueling of the equipment shall be done in an area cleared and void of flammable materials. Power saws shall be moved from the spot of refueling before starting.

(b) Fire Prevention –

The Contractor shall immediately notify the Government of any fires sighted on or in the vicinity of the work site. The Contractor may be held liable for all damages and for all costs incurred by the Government for labor, subsistence, equipment, supplies, and transportation deemed necessary to control or suppress a fire set or caused by the Contractor or the Contractor’s agents or employees.

Blasting - Advance approval in writing is required from the District Ranger. The use of fuses shall not be permitted, except near power lines where the danger of accidental detonation is present. Use of prima cord will not be allowed in clearing operations where flammable materials are present. A watchman will remain on site for at least one hour after detonation in areas of blasting where flammable fuels are present.

Explosives will be stored at all times in a locked box marked "Explosives." All Federal, State, and local laws concerning the use and storage of explosives shall be followed.

Fire Orders/moratoriums – Any fire order issued during the contract will become a requirement of the contract.

Gas and Oil Use and Storage - Gasoline will be stored and transported only in metal containers with tight caps or seals. Gas and oil drum storage areas will be cleared of all flammable material for a distance of 50 feet around the drums. Storage areas will be posted with "No Smoking" signs. Oil filters, oil cans, oily rags, etc., will be removed from the project area and discarded in proper waste disposal receptacles or sites.

Open Fires - In accordance with State and local regulations.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50a the following is prohibited on each National Forest or National Grasslands in the Rocky Mountain Region:

Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine on any timber, brush or grass covered land, including trails traversing such land, without a spark arrester, maintained in effective working order, meeting either (i) Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or (ii) the 80 percent efficiency level determined according to the appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended Practices J335 and J350.

Violation of this regulation and the general prohibitions of 36 CFR 261.3 to .20 is punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months or both.

Smoking - Smoking is prohibited while operating tractors or open-type vehicles, or while walking or working in an area with flammable fuels.

Welding - All flammable materials will be cleared for a minimum distance of 10 feet around any welding operation. Fire extinguishers and fire tools are required as shown in Section B-1(b).

Cleaning of Equipment: Each piece of equipment covered by this BPA must be cleaned before use on the National Forest. The purpose of this cleaning treatment is to remove noxious weeds and seeds. This treatment is mandatory. The standards for cleaning are discussed in the following paragraphs.

• The Contractor shall ensure that prior to moving on to the Project Area all off-road equipment are free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Contractor shall certify in writing that off-road equipment is free of noxious weeds prior to each start-up of operations and for subsequent moves of equipment to Project Area. The certification shall indicate the measures taken to ensure that off-road equipment is free of noxious weeds will be identified.

“Off-road equipment” includes all BPA listed machinery, except for service vehicles, water trucks, pickup trucks, cars and similar vehicles. A current list of noxious weeds of concern to Forest Service is available at http://www.state.sd.us/doa/das/hp-w&p.htm and click on Local Noxious Weed List.

• Contractor may be required to clean off-road equipment prior to moving between units on this project that are known to be infested with noxious weeds and other units, if any, that are free of such weeds. Project Area Maps may show areas, known by Forest Service prior to each order placed, that are infested with specific noxious weed species of concern. These areas will be discussed at the time the order is placed.

• Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure that off-road equipment is free of noxious weeds. Equipment shall be considered free of soil, seeds, and other such debris when a visual inspection does not disclose such material. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools are not required.

• If the Contractor desires to clean off-road equipment on National Forest Land, such as at the end of a project or prior to moving to a new unit that is free of noxious weeds, Contractor and Contracting Officer’s Representative or Project Inspector shall agree on methods of cleaning, locations for the cleaning, and control of off-site impacts, if any.

• New infestations of noxious weeds of concern to Forest Service, identified by either Contractor or

Forest Service, on National Forest land at the project area shall be promptly reported to the other party. Both parties shall agree on treatment methods to reduce or stop the spread of noxious weeds when new infestations are found. This may involve cleaning of equipment prior to leaving the project area.

http://www.state.sd.us/doa/das/hp-w&p.htm