2026 PWS- Tree Planting-Draft.pdf

PART I—THE SCHEDULE

All units will be planted using existing microsites only.

Note: The Black Hills and Nebraska units will take more than one year to plant so we will only be planting a portion of the units this year.

SECTION C – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS/GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS/PERIOD OF

PERFORMANCE/UNIT DESCRIPTIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The scope of this contract is to secure services for planting tree seedlings on the Black Hills National Forest and the Nebraska National Forest.

The contractor shall also install seedling protectors(Vexar Tubing) within the planting units on the Black Hills National Forest. No Vexar Tubing will be done on the Nebraska National Forest. The Vexar tubing must be done at the same time as the planting to limit animal damage. Grubbing(cut,scrape,pull) of all live vegetation in a 18” radius (36” diameter) will be done on every planted seedling on up to 80 acres on the Black Hills NF, Bearlodge RD.

The Contractor shall provide everything--including but not limited to all equipment, supplies, including water and water containers, transportation, labor, and supervision--necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government.

1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The first shipment of trees are expected to arrive from the nursery on March 2026 Work can proceed after tree arrival dependent on site condition set forth below. It is required that work commence within 3 days of issuance of the Notice To Proceed. The work must be completed by May 2026. The actual date work will begin is dependent upon weather conditions and award of contract. Also, weather conditions or snow on planting units may cause interruptions in work progress. All planting units are not expected to be free of snow and available for work on March 2026.

Because tree survival and growth is dependent upon proper soil and weather conditions at the time of planting and because these conditions will only prevail for a limited length of time, it is imperative that work be started promptly after conditions for planting become suitable. The contractor shall maintain progress at a rate which will assure completion within the contract time indicated above. The minimum acceptable rate of progress will be calculated by dividing the total units of work by contract time indicated. The area to be planted has heavy wildlife use by Deer and Elk so the seedlings need to have the vexar tubing installed on the trees the same day that the seedlings are planted.

The Government will issue a Notice to Proceed on the items as soon as weather and ground conditions are favorable for survival of planting stock. The count of contract time will start on the date specified on the Notice to Proceed if hand delivered or the third day after the Post

Tree Planting Black Hills NF & Nebraska NF

Office has issued a Notice of Certified Mail to the contractor, or when planting commences, whichever is sooner.

Whenever the Contracting Officer determines that the temperature, humidity, soil moisture, winds or a combination of these and other physical conditions have become unsuitable for tree survival on any area, the contractor shall move the work force to another area as prescribed by the Contracting Officer. When no other area is available, the Contracting Officer will issue a Suspend Work Order for the item and the count of contract time will stop for that item. When conditions are again favorable, the Contracting Officer will issue a verbal Resume Work Order and confirm the verbal order in writing. The count of contract time will resume on the day indicated by the Contracting Officer.

It is the contractor's responsibility to keep the Contracting Officer currently advised as to where the contractor or the contractor's representative may be reached by phone during periods of work suspension. If the contractor cannot be reached at the phone number provided, or the contractor fails to leave a number, a written Resume Work Order will be mailed, and the count of contract time will resume on the date specified on the Resume Work Order. If the contractor runs out of contract time and is allowed by the Contracting Officer to continue work, the contractor shall pay for all mileage and wages of the inspection crews for any inspection time spent on the contract beyond the allowed contract time.

2. CAMPING

Camping is not permitted in US Forest Service campgrounds. Contractor will be permitted to camp elsewhere on US Forest Service land. Contractor must get written approval from Forest Service prior to camping on National Forest land.

3. Project Location and Description

The project is located on the Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest, Bearlodge Ranger District and the Nebraska National Forest, Pine Ridge Ranger District. See the vicinity and project area maps. Maps are general in nature and are not to be considered as definitively identifying locations.

3.1 Location: All items are located on the Hell Canyon Ranger District, Bearlodge Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest, Custer, South Dakota and the Pine Ridge Ranger District, Nebraska National Forest, Chadron, Nebraska. See attached maps for location of units listed in the Detailed Unit Information sheet. Additional units not shown on the maps or listed in the Detailed Unit Information sheet will be planted with left over planting stock.

3.3 Boundaries: Black Hills NF - boundaries of all planting units are defined on the ground with Blue flagging, Green tree line or follow existing roads. Nebraska NF- boundaries of all planting units are defined on the ground with Blue flagging, or are unmarked and can be followed virtually on attached contract map.

3.4 Maps: The maps are intended to show only the general size, shape, and location of the areas. If the maps conflict with the field marking (flagging or marking paint), the field markings shall govern. Positions of features are approximate.

3.5 Accessibility: There is road access to within ¼ mile to all work units. There are several planting units with walks of upwards to 1/2 mile from the road to the back of the units.

Weather and wet and muddy road conditions will make it necessary to utilize a four wheel drive vehicle and/or tire chains on some of the planting units.

4. Inspection and Acceptance

4.1 Contractor Self Inspection - The Contractor shall maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government. The intended purpose of the contractor doing self inspection is quality control of work being performed, there by allowing the Contractor to identify and correct any quality deficiencies in their work while the work is in progress.

The person doing the self inspection shall only do inspections and not plant trees or act as crew foreman to ensure that the person can keep up with the inspections. The contractor’s quality control plots will be the basis for computing the rate of payment for tree planting and seedling protection except when the contractor’s inspection plots are unacceptable to the government. The contractor’s inspection plots will be unacceptable if they are greater than 5 percent above the governments quality assurance plots. The Contractor shall make available to the Government all of its inspection records of the work performed.

4.2 Request for Inspection - The Contractor shall notify the Government when their work on an individual planting unit is completed and request that an inspection of their work be performed. This request shall be in writing and state that the Contractors inspection of the planting and seedling protection is completed and the work in the planting unit is ready for inspection.

4.3 Government Inspection Tree Planting- The Government will perform Quality Assurance inspection plots to determine compliance with contract specifications.

Inspections will consist of observations of tree handling, planting spot preparation, planting procedures, and examinations of individual planted trees. The inspection sites will be located throughout the planting areas so as to obtain a representative sample of the work. Each individual planting unit will be inspected separately and inspection results on one planting unit will not be averaged with inspection results on other planting units.

Determination of the acceptability of the work performed will be based on these inspections, which will be considered conclusive, except as otherwise provided in the contract. The contractor or a designated representative is encouraged to observe inspections while they are underway.

4.3 Government Inspection Seedling protection – Seedling protector installation procedures shall be observed and representative sample plots examined to ensure and measure compliance with specifications.

4.3 Government inspection on Grubbing – Grubbing shall be observed and inspected as the work is performed. The government inspection shall ensure there is no remaining live vegetation in the grubbing radius protruding more than 1.5 inches above the ground.

Grubbing areas shall be inspected at the same time as the tree planting inspection plots to ensure that there are adequate planting spots available as soils and topography allow.

4.4 Acceptance. Work on individual planting units will be accepted following the final inspection by the COR. Work with a quality of 90% or greater will be accepted at full payment, less deductions for wasted trees. Planting units which have an inspection quality between 80% and 89% will be accepted at a reduced pay rate as indicated in Section 7. Work with an inspection quality less then 80% is not acceptable, and may not be paid for.

5. Restriction on Work

Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as outlined in this part. Restrictions are as follows:

1. In accordance with the fire plan.

2. When the Contracting Officer (or designated representative) determines that adverse weather has made access too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

3. Work is suspended by notice of a Work Order for non-compliance with requirements of this contract.

6. Measurement

Where the unit of measure is by the tree, the measure of the number of trees planted shall be determined by the number of trees placed in the boxes at the nursery. The forest service will do Quality Assurance inspections on the tree count in the boxes.

7. Payments and Deductions

7.1 Payments

Payment, less deductions for wasted trees or other Government furnished property, will be made for completed units of work at the contract unit price wherever the planting quality is 90 percent or greater. Planting units, which have an inspection quality between 80 percent and 89 percent, will be paid for at 80 % of the contract price. Planting units that have an inspection quality less then 80 percent may not be paid for. (Wasted trees found randomly in the planting units or at the tree station, and trees calculated as wasted in the inspection plots will be charged to the contractor at a rate of forty cents per tree. Trees intentionally ditched or wasted by tree planters will be charged to the contractor at a rate of $5.00 per tree.) When a partial payment is being made for an incomplete planting unit, the quantity and quality percentage will be estimated, and a retention will be made on the payment pending completion of planting on the unit and completion of inspection on the unit.

Following are payment examples for units having different quality percentages:

Payment By the Tree: (Payment method used in this contract) Note: Box count will be used to determine number of trees per acre.

1. Payment for a planting unit with a quality between 90 percent and 100 percent:

Assume an item bid price of $0.32 per tree. Plot data indicates 400 trees were planted per acre and the acreage of the planting unit is 250 acres. Since the inspection quality is between 90 percent and 100 percent, the payment for the unit will be made at 100%.

Trees/Acre

X

Acres

100,000 Total Trees X $0.32

Price/Tree

$32,000.00 Total price

2. Payment for a planting unit with a quality between 80 percent and 89 percent:

Assume an item bid price of $0.32 per tree. Plot data indicates 400 trees were planted per acre and the acreage of the planting unit is 250 acres and an inspection quality of 80 percent for the individual unit. Since the inspection quality is between 80 percent and 89 percent, the payment for the unit will be made at 80%.

400 Trees/Acre X

Acres

100,000 Total Trees X $0.32

Price/Tree

$32,000.00 Total Price X

Percent

$25,600.00 Total Price

3. Payment of Vexar tubing

Payment for the Vexar portion of the contract will be the same as if paying by the tree.

4. Payment for grubbing of vegetation:

Assume an item bid price of $450 per acre of grubbing for 75% coverage. Plot data indicates 400 grubbed planting spots were created per acre and the acreage of the planting unit is 80 acres. An inspection quality is between 90 percent and 100 percent, the payment for the unit will be made at 100%.

400 Plantable spots/Acre X 80 Acres 32,000 Total Plantable

Spots 80 acres

X $450 Price/acre $36,000.00 Total Price

5. Payment for grubbing of vegetation:

Assume an item bid price of $450 per acre of grubbing for 75% coverage. Plot data indicates 400 grubbed planting spots were created per acre and the acreage of the planting unit is 80 acres. An inspection quality is between 80 percent and 89 percent, the payment for the unit will be made at 80%.

400 Plantable spots/Acre

X 80 Acres 32,000 Total Plantable

Spots 80 acres

X $450 Price/acre $36,000.00 Total Price X 80 Percent $28,800.00 Total Price

8. Work Progress Schedule

The Contractor shall be required to present at the prework conference 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 Contracting Officer. The schedule may be modified in writing during the course of the contract when conditions warrant it.

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 he intends to complete the project on time and in compliance with all contract requirements.

9. Non-Planting Foreman

The contractor shall at all times have a non-planting foreman with each crew whose intended purpose is quality control of the contractors work and to monitor the contractor’s quality control inspector. For crews of more than 12 planters, a second non-planting foreman may be required.

PART 2 - DEFINITIONS

The following terms are defined for use in this contract:

Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) - The maximum allowable deviation from perfect performance that may occur before the Government will invoke payment deduction. An AQL does not allow a contractor knowingly to offer defective service, but limits reduced payment to circumstances in which defective performance results in a measurable reduction in the value of services rendered.

Damaged Seedling – Damage caused by the installation of protector tubes under this contract.

Damage includes breaking or crushing stems and branches, stripping of bark or needles.

Defective Service – A unit of service which contains one or more defects or nonconformance with specified requirements.

Near Vertical – Within 5 degrees of true vertical on level ground, or within an angle of 85 to 95 degrees on a slope.

Non-treatable Seedling – A seedling that lacks good health and vigor (i.e., discolored, significant existing damage, evidence of die back). A seedling that cannot be maintained or installed with a protector without causing excessive damage to the seedlings, such as a seedling significantly larger than the protector.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) – Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the contractor.

Quality Assurance (QA) – Those actions taken by the Government to assure services meet the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Seedling Protectors – Plastic, netted tubing used to protect seedlings from animal browse (i.e., VEXAR).

Treatable Seedling – A healthy and vigorous seedling that is a minimum of 4 inches tall.

Seedlings with minor preexisting browse damage may be considered treatable if there are no acceptable undamaged seedlings nearby that could be selected instead.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) – A Government person appointed by the contracting officer to help the contracting officer with contract administration and surveillance.

Government Inspector- A government person responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

Microsite – North or east side of existing logs that are at least 6 inches tall and 4 feet long and stumps that are at least 6 inches tall and 8 inches in diameter that will shelter seedlings from wind and sun until they become established.

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)- An organized written document used for quality assurance surveillance. The document contains specific methods the Government will use to perform surveillance of the contractor.

Quality Control (QC) – Those actions taken by a contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the requirements of the PWS.

Plantable Spot – An area from which vegetation, ash, duff, and debris has been or can be removed, where a tree seedling can be planted according to all specifications contained herein.

Unplantable spot – An area within the specified spacing limits in which it is not possible to plant a tree according to specifications. Unplantable spots also include ground which is occupied by suitable existing trees.

Wasted Trees - Trees which are lost, damaged, destroyed, or handled contrary to the specifications for care of trees, as well as excess trees as determined in inspection plots.

Drip Line - The line where moisture dripping from the extremities of the tree crown strikes the ground.

Suitable Established Tree - A live pine tree free of damage due to insects, disease, physical or mechanical causes that is a minimum of eight inches in height and growing well.

Root Collar - The point on the stem of the tree seedling where the ground line was when the tree was grown in the nursery. This is usually distinguished on the stem of the seedling by a change in color from green to yellow or brown. In grasses and shrubby vegetation this is usually noted by the presence of roots growing at a point below ground level.

Tree Station - The location at which the Forest Service delivers the trees to the Contractor.

Planting Spot – The general area of planting for an individual tree based on the specific spacing for an individual planting unit .

Grubbing – The cutting, scraping, or pulling of live shrubs and herbaceous vegetation from around desired conifer seedlings.

Root Crown – The transition zone between plant stem and root; assumed in this contract to occur within one inch of the surface of the ground.

PART 3 – GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will provide tree seedlings and vexar tubing. The rigid seedling protection tubes shall be 3 ¼” in diameter and 18” long and the cedar arrow shafts shall be 28” to 32” long and 3/8” diameter. The Bamboo Stakes shall be 8-10mm in Diameter and 2.5 ft tall.

Government furnished property will be delivered by the Government within 24 hours after written or oral request from the contractor to the roadside nearest planting area that can be safely travelled by two-wheel drive vehicle.

PART 4 - CONTRACTOR FURNISHED SUPPLIES

The contractor shall provide all supplies and equipment necessary to do the tree planting and associated work required in this contract.

PART 5 – TASKS AND CRITICAL SUB TASKS

This part of the contract identifies the critical tasks and subtasks required in the contract. It also specifies the quality standard of each task and related subtask, as well as the acceptable quality level for each task and related subtask, the means of measuring the level of quality and any penalties or incentives associated with the level of quality.

For each crew or change of crew members on this contract, at the job site immediately prior to the start of planting by each crew, the contractor or his designated foreman shall discuss the following specifications with all crew members:

- Care of Tree Seedlings

- Preparation of Trees by Contractor

- Field Handling

- Spacing and Spot Selection

- Planting Spot Preparation

- Preparing the Planting Hole

- Tree Placement

- Filling and Firming

- Seedling protector installation

Quality Standards for Care and Handling of Seedlings and Related Subtasks

Planting Equipment : The Contractor can use both augers and/or hoedads for planting in this contract. Hoedads shall have a minimum blade length of 11 inches as measured from the tip of the blade to the nearest edge of the handle where it attaches to the blade, and a minimum blade width of four inches. Augers shall have bits a minimum of 4 inches in diameter and shall have sufficient power to auger through very compacted soils. Other tools for scalping and removing vegetation may be necessary.

Work Methods: The Forest Service shall establish a tree station at one planting unit at a time.

The Contractor shall complete work at one work unit prior to starting another work unit.

Spot Preparation/Scalping Tool - To do the necessary spot preparation the tool selected shall be capable of cutting and removing all vegetation below the root collar.

Planting Bags: Bags shall be a light color, shall have a minimum depth of 15 inches and be free of defects.

5.1 Care of Tree Seedlings

The contractor shall adhere to the following specifications for care and protection of trees in their possession:

1. Trees shall be protected at all times from drying, heating, smothering, freezing, crushing, drowning, abrasion, rapid temperature fluctuations or contact with injurious substances.

2. Trees stored in boxes or bags shall not be exposed to direct sunlight. Punctured or torn bags or boxes must be promptly resealed. Containers of trees shall be opened only in full shade. Each box or bag of trees shall be wrapped in a thermal protective blanket or stored in tree coolers while in the Contractor's possession.

3. Trees shall not be removed from shipping containers until immediately prior to planting.

4. Trees shall be planted without further root or top pruning or culling. If pruning or culling appear necessary, or if mold, dry roots, evidence of injury or drying is seen, the condition shall immediately be reported to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) in charge.

5. Trees that are frozen shall not be handled until completely thawed. Trees shall be thawed in full shade.

6. Trees removed from storage shall be field stored in a manner in which the roots are not in contact with water or snow.

Quality Standard - Seedlings remain moist, cool with good needle vigor at all times prior to actual planting. Seedlings are free of mechanical damage and root elongation is minimal.

Acceptable Quality Level - 99% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards

Monitoring Methods - Contractor generated inspection records and reports, visual verification by the Government.

Negative Incentives – The contractor shall be suspended from work until the deficiency is corrected and receive a poor performance rating.

Positive Incentives – The contractor shall receive a good performance rating and receive recommendations for awarded of similar work in the future.

5.2 Preparation of trees by Contractor

The contractor shall prepare trees for planting in accordance with the following:

All tree preparation shall be done at the tree station under the supervision of the planting crew foreman. For all container seedlings the Contractor shall remove each tree from the bag without disturbing the soil around the roots.

Quality Standard - Seedlings remain moist, cool with good needle vigor at all times prior to actual planting. Seedlings are free of mechanical damage and root elongation is minimal.

Acceptable Quality Level - 99% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards

Monitoring Methods – Contractor generated inspection records and reports, visual verification by the Government.

Negative Incentives – The contractor shall be suspended from work until the deficiency is corrected and receive a poor performance rating.

5.3 Field Handling

Trees in possession of planters shall be handled in accordance with the following:

1. Trees in planting bags shall have only their tops exposed.

2. Trees shall not be removed from planting bag until immediately before planting in a prepared hole.

3. Trees shall be gently removed, one at a time, to prevent stripping or other injury, and quickly and gently inserted into the planting hole.

4. Trees carried in planting bags shall not exceed the amount that can be carried and removed without injury, or which can be planted before critical heating or drying occurs. Trees placed in planting bags shall be planted within one hour, unless conditions warrant a shorter time. Trees placed in bags shall be planted out and not returned to storage. When treeing up planters shall start with a maximum of 100 trees to assure trees are not being carried for more then one hour. Planting bags shall be kept emptied of accumulated debris and water. All trees handed out shall be planted out before any planters may tree up with additional trees. Planters shall work in one group whenever possible. Trees left over at the completion of a work unit shall be counted and the tree count shall be given to the Forest Officer in charge.

5. Planters leaving the boundary of the planting unit shall leave all trees inside the unit.

Quality Standard - Seedlings remain moist, cool with good needle vigor at all times prior to actual planting. Seedlings are free of mechanical damage and root elongation is minimal.

Acceptable Quality Level - 99% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards

Monitoring Methods –Contractor generated inspection records and reports, visual verification by the Government.

Negative Incentives – The contractor shall be suspended from work until the deficiency is corrected and receive a poor performance rating.

5.4 Spacing and Spot Selection

1. Tree Spacing Requirements. Trees shall be planted in spots distributed over the area at the average spacing specified in the Detailed Unit Information sheet. The Contractor shall plant the listed species at the spacing listed in the Detailed Unit Information sheet, unless directed to do otherwise by the COR. Where an unplantable spot is encountered, the planter shall disregard spacing limits and plant in the closest suitable spot. Planters shall space off the bole of suitable existing pine or aspen trees. Spacing may be varied up to 25 percent to take advantage of shade providing material and the most favorable planting spots. However, the average number of trees planted per acre shall not be increased or decreased from that of the specified spacing in the Detailed Unit Information sheet.

2. Planting Spot Selection. Wherever possible, within requirements set forth in

Specification 5.4.1 - Tree Spacing Requirements, planting spots shall be selected where conifer stumps, slash, logs, dead brush, and terrain features provide partial protection from sun, wind, animals, loose debris, and other agents detrimental to tree survival and growth.

Quality Standard – Black Hills NF, Nebraska NF- Trees will be evenly distributed throughtout each acre, however utilizing existing microsites is more important than exact spacing..

Acceptable Quality Level – 90% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards.

Monitoring Methods –Contractor generated inspection records and reports, plot verification by the Government.

Negative Incentives – (1) Contractor shall rework at no cost to the Government all work performed which does not meet the minimum acceptable quality level. (2) Contractor shall bear the cost of extra inspections by the Government if the Government has to perform extra monitoring of the Contractors work. (3) Government may accept the Contractors work, but at a reduced payment rate.

recommendations for awarded of similar work in the future. The contractor shall receive full payment if the Quality Standard meets or exceeds 90%.

5.5 Planting Spot Preparation

Before preparing the planting hole, the contractor shall make a scalp, using a hoedad, McCloud or other suitable tool, to remove from the planting spot all snow, bark, rotten wood, ash, dry or loose soil, duff, loose debris and grass or other vegetation. For hoedad planting, the Contractor shall make a scalp to bare moist mineral soil at all planting spots whether or not there is any debris or vegetation on the planting spot. For Hoedad planting, this scalp shall be approx. 16 inches by 16 inches. Trees shall be planted near the center of the scalp. If the scalp is made adjacent to a stump, rock or other shade providing object, the contractor shall plant as close to the object as possible. All live vegetation within 16 inches of the planted tree seedling will be scalped or hoed out. Vegetation shall be cut below the root crown. If scalping tools other than hoedads are required to satisfactorly remove the vegetation, they shall be used. In work units which have been sub-soiled, the trees shall be planted in the furrows of the ripper shanks if spacing allows. Planters shall prep. the planting spot so that it is not possible for loose dirt or other debris to fall on the planted tree seedling.

A. - PREPARING THE PLANTING HOLE (Auger) Auger holes shall be drilled at least two inches deeper then the root length. Holes shall be orientated at an angle between perpendicular to the slope and true vertical. The auger shall not proceed so far ahead of the planter that the drilled hole or excavated soil will dry prior to planting. Auxiliary holes shall be drilled no closer then nine inches from the planting hole. All auger holes within 3 feet of a planted seedling shall be filled in with soil after the tree has been planted. Should the initial attempt to drill a planting hole fail because of subsurface rocks, roots or other obstacles, a second effort shall be made in a slightly different part of the same planting spot. If this attempt also fails for similar reasons, a third attempt shall be made in another part of the planting spot. If a third attempt to auger a hole fails, the contractor shall abandon the spot for auger planting and plant the spot using a hoedad.

B.- PREPARING THE PLANTING HOLE (Hoedad) Planting holes shall be oriented at an angle between perpendicular to the slope and true vertical. An open hole, broken out and large enough to fully accommodate the roots of the trees to be planted is required. Three attempts at opening a planting hole at any given planting spot will be required. The contractor is expected to open planting holes in hard as well as easy plantable ground. Slit planting will not be permitted. If an unplantable planting spot is encountered, the planter shall disregard spacing guidelines and plant in the next closest plantable spot.

C.- TREE PLACEMENT Trees shall be suspended with roots in a near natural arrangement at a depth that will, after filling, packing and leveling the soil, come to a point even with but not covering the lowest green needles on planted seedlings. No portion of the roots shall be exposed nor any needles or branches covered with soil.

The roots shall not be doubled up, twisted, spiraled, bunched or cut. The root system shall be aligned with the axis of the planting hole with all roots extending downward in their natural position for their entire length.

D.- FILLING AND FIRMING Moist mineral soil shall be filled in and firmed around tree roots. Dry soil, and other material other than moist mineral shall be kept out of holes.

Soil shall be filled in and firmed progressively, starting at the bottom of the hole, so no loose soil or air pockets remain and the tree is as firmly planted as soil conditions will allow. The contractor shall not wedge the sides of the holes, and firming the soil around the tree shall be done in a manner that assures the tree and root system are not damaged. After the soil is firmed around the tree, it shall be smoothed out to the level of the surrounding mineral soil surface. After planting, the tree stem shall be erect and be vertical or perpendicular to the ground level of the planting spot. The tree shall not be weighed down with mud or debris. Firmness will be inspected by firmly pulling upward on the stem of the seedling.

The soil shall be firm enough around the root system so no movement occurs to the seedling.

Quality Standard. No debris or foreign material shall be incorporated into the planting hole.

The planted tree shall be located near the center of the planting spot and the roots shall be oriented at an angle between perpendicular to the slope and true vertical. No portion of the roots shall be exposed nor any needles or branches covered with soil. The root system should be free of j-roots and tangled or balled roots. The soil shall be firm enough around the root system so no movement occures to the seedling and no air pockets exist.

Acceptable Quality Level – 90% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards.

Monitoring Methods –Contractor generated inspection records and reports, plot verification by the Government.

Negative Incentives – (1) Contractor shall rework, at no cost to the Government, all work performed which does not meet the minimum acceptable quality level. (2) Contractor shall bear the cost of extra inspections by the Government if the Government has to perform extra monitoring of the Contractors work. (3) Government may accept the Contractors work, but at a reduced payment rate.

Positive Incentives – The contractor shall receive a good performance rating and receive recommendations for awarded of similar work in the future. The contractor shall receive full payment if the Quality Standard meets or exceeds 90%.

5.6 Seedling Protector Installation

Protectors shall be installed on 75,000 trees throughout the planting unit on the Black Hills NF.

Protectors should be installed on every other tree with an average spacing of 20 feet X 20 feet.

Spacing can be varied up to 25% to select the best treatable seedlings, while still evenly spacing the protectors throughout the unit.

The terminal buds shall be below the top of the protector to protect against browse. Terminal buds and all lateral branches shall be upright inside the protector and shall not be bent over, twisted, or otherwise damaged.

The tubes shall be held in place with one (1) Cedar Arrow Shaft or 1 Bamboo Shaft. The shaft shall be woven in and out of the tube a minimum of four (4) times.

The shaft shall be driven into the ground six to nine (6 to 9) inches.

The completed tube and support shall be in a near vertical position when done.

Inspection items include:

1. Ceder shaft firmly in the ground(6-9 inches).

2. Protector is securely woven to the ceder shaft.

3. Protector and shaft are near vertical( within 5 degrees)

4. The seedling has not been damaged during installation of the protector.

5. Terminal bud and laterial branches are upright and are not entangled in the protector.

6. Protectors are evenly spaced throughout the work unit.

7. Protector is installed on a treatable tree. See definitions.

Quality Standard. Seeling protectors will be properly installed throughout the planting unit.

Acceptable Quality Level – 90% of all tree protectors shall meet Quality Standards.

Monitoring Methods - Contractor generated inspection records and reports, plot verification by the Government.

Negative Incentives – (1) Contractor shall rework at no cost to the Government all work performed which does not meet the minimum acceptable quality level. (2) Contractor shall bear the cost of extra inspections by the Government if the Government has to perform extra monitoring of the Contractors work. (3) Government may accept the Contractors work, but at a reduced payment rate.

Positive Incentives – The contractor shall receive a good performance rating and receive recommendations for awarded of similar work in the future. The contractor shall receive full payment if the Quality Standard meets or exceeds 90%.

Grubbing standards – The contractor shall leave no live vegetation from the root crown up to

1.5 inches above the ground level in the 18” radius of the grubbing area.

PART 6 – PUBLICATIONS, REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

Forest Service Silvicultural Practices Handbook(FSH 2409.17) , Chapter 2 . This handbook is unavalible on the internet at this time but can be obtained from the Forest Service by contacting Tim Gilg, Contracting Officer’s Representative(COR), at (605) 673-9200.

.Part 7: PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

Tasks and Critical Subtasks

Quality Standards

Acceptable Quality Level

Monitoring Methods

Negative Incentives

Positive Incentives

Care of Tree Seedling

Task Accomplished In Part 5.1

99% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards.

Visual Sampling by The Govt

Suspend work Until Deficiency is Corrected. Poor Performance Rating.

Good Performance Rating.

Preparation Of trees by Contractor

Task Accomplished In Part 5.2

99% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards

Visual Sampling by The Govt

Suspend work Until Deficiency is Corrected.

Poor Performance Rating.

Good Performance Rating.

Field Handling

In part 5.3

99% of all tree seedlings shall meet

Visual Sampling by The Govt

Suspend work Until Deficiency is Corrected.

Good Performance Rating.

Quality Standards.

Poor Performance Rating.

Spacing And Spot Selection

In part 5.4

90% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards.

Contractor Records, Data, and Reports.

Plot Sampling by The Govt.

Rework at no Cost to the Government.

Govt accept With price Reduction

Contractor Shall receive Full payment For meeting 90% of AQL

Planting Spot Preparation.

In part 5.5

90% of all tree seedlings shall meet Quality Standards.

Contractor Records, Data, and Reports.

Plot Sampling by The govt.

Rework at no Cost to the Government Govt accept With price Reduction

Contractor Shall receive Full payment For meeting 90% of AQL

Preparing the Planting hole

Sub-Task Accomplished In part 5.5 A or B

Tree placement

Sub-Task Accomplished In part 5.5 C

Filling and Firming

Sub-Task

In part 5.5 D

Seedling Protection

Task Accomp.

In part 5.6