!Fuel Reduction High Sierra Task Order 1.pdf

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE 1 OF 22

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

2. CONTRACT NO. 3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE 4. ORDER NUMBER 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER 6. SOLICITATION ISSUE

DATE

RFQ-S-05-SS-13-09-329

DATE

3-6-09

a. NAME b. TELEPHONE NUMBER(No collect 8. OFFER DUE DATE/

7. FOR SOLICITATION Patrick J. Gallegos Calls) 559-297-0706 x 4830 LOCAL TIME

INFORMATION CALL: 4-6-09 – 3:00pm

9. ISSUED BY CODE 10. THIS ACQUISITON IS

USDA Forest Service – Southern Sierra Province

UNRESTRICTED OR SET ASIDE: 100 % FOR

1600 Tollhouse Rd SMALL BUSINESS EMERGING SMALL

BUSINESS

Clovis, CA 93611

HUBZONE SMALL

NAICS: 115310 BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN- 8(A)

SIZE STANDARD: $7 million OWNED SMAL BUSINESS L

13b. RATING 11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINATION

UNLESS BLOCK IS MA KED R

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS 13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED

ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ IFB RFP

15. DELIVER TO CODE

16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

SOUTHERN SIERRA PROVINCE

1600 Tollhouse Rd Clovis, CA 93611

17a. CONTRACTOR/ CODE FACILITY

OFFEROR CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

USDA – National Finance Center P. O. Box 60075 New Orleans, LA 70160

TELEPHONE N0.

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN 18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

OFFER IS CHECKED

SEE ADDENDUM

19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

ITEM N0. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

Fuel Reduction USDA Forest Service Sierra National Forest

High Sierra RD Task Order #1

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN __2_____________ 29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. OFFER

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY DATED .. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED (BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS: ____________________

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR 31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV.3/2005)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

RFQ-S-05-SS-13-09-329

High Sierra RD Task Order #1

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

South of Shaver Stand Cleaning

Big Creek Pruning

Jose 1 Fuelbreak

For Site Information Contact:

Ray Acker – 559-855-5355 Ext. 3312

THE BIDDER SHALL BID ALL ITEMS.

642.2

Ac

Ac

Ad

TOTAL

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED: ________________________________________

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

36. PAYMENT 37. CHECK NUMBER

|PARTIAL | |FINAL

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER 40. PAID BY

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER

FOR PAYMENT

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE 42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE RECD (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV.3/2005) BACK

RFQ S-05-SS-15-09-329

High Sierra RD Task order #1

C.1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The purpose of this contract is to secure manual labor to perform a full range fuel reduction treatments. These treatments are needed to improve forest health, reduce stand density and reduce the risk of wildfires.

Item 1 is a stand cleaning treatment. Stand Cleaning is a post harvest treatment where remaining clumps of pre-commercial sized trees are thinned and damaged or diseased pre-commercial sized trees are treated according to the specifications. This treatment is done after a harvest treatment and often before a tractor piling treatment. Slash must be treated as specified. Trees to be treated under this treatment are less than 12 inch

DBH.

Item 2 is the pruning of a previously thinned stand. Pruning is a treatment done to improve tree form or reduce ladder fuels by removing limbs (both live and dead) on the bole of a tree. Approximately 65% of the live crown is always maintained but all dead branches on at least the first 6 feet must be removed. The height of the pruning varies with the size of the tree being pruned but in no case will treatment under this contract exceed six feet of the bole. Pruning may not be performed with power equipment in these units.

Item 3 is a fuel break project. This is a treatment designed to create an area where wildfire may burn with less intensity or an area where the fire might be stopped by fire suppression personnel. This is done by hand cutting the existing vegetation to contract specifications. The existing vegetation may be brush, trees or a combination of the two.

No trees over 12 inches DBH are to be cut. All existing and created slash must be treated according to slash treatment specifications. Hand piling of fuels is required to concentrate slash in piles for burning. Covering and lining of the piles is also required.

The piles are covered with a waterproof material to maintain a dry spot to light the pile.

Firelines are constructed to keep burning material within a confined area. This (fuelbreak)work is on ground that can not be worked with machinery so the project must be completed using hand tools (chain saws).

Work shall be done in a manner that does not damage residual trees or specified non-treated vegetation. The Contractor shall develop a plan of operations to accomplish these objectives, and organize and direct all of the equipment and personnel needed to fully accomplish the work. The Contractor shall furnish all technical expertise, labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals necessary to complete the work required.

Task order #1

C.2 DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

The project is located on the Sierra National Forest, High Sierra Ranger District, Fresno County, California. (Refer to Section J, Vicinity Map).

Access - Access instructions as given here are for information only. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to determine the most suitable route to the project area.

The Government will not provide special maintenance or snow plowing to open roads or keep roads open. All transportation of equipment, personnel, and supplies shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Under normal conditions, most of the units are accessible with a 2-wheel drive vehicle after snowmelt. The units are located throughout the High Sierra district and can be accessed from various forest, state, and local roads. See Vicinity and Unit Location maps in section J for individual unit locations.

Work Areas:

The perimeters of the work areas that have been identified on the ground are marked with red/black or red/white striped flagging.

Maps - The size, shape, and location of the contract units were mapped using topographic maps, digital orthophoto quads and the Managed Stand Layer within the Arcview Geographical Information System (GIS) or traversed utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS). The GPS technology calculates all slope percentages and distances to the horizontal plane, which is the recognized standard for forest projects. Contractors are responsible for estimating the actual work based on the stated acreages.

The maps are intended to show only the general size, shape, and location of the areas.

If the maps and field boundaries conflict, the field boundaries shall govern. Positions of the features shown on the maps are approximate.

Description:

Work will be done on mountainous terrain, which can have slopes up to 60 percent, variable ground conditions, soil types, and vegetation types. Ground conditions include surface and below surface rock, stumps, and other debris that will vary in size, density, and depth. All of which may affect production. Vegetation varies in size and density and includes conifers, hardwoods, and brush.

With the exception of any known or discovered archaeological, noxious weed, or sensitive plant sites, non-work areas within units that are not identified on the map or the ground, but are visible to the Contractor on the ground, shall be excluded from treatment. Contractor is required to consult with Contracting Officer’s Reprsentative before working any potential sensitive or restricted area to avoid fines or penalties.

Item 1: A total of 642.2 acres of stand cleaning will be executed in the South of Shaver

Task order #1

Timber sale area. These units are located in the Blue Canyon area of the district and are accessed from the 10S18 road. To reach the project area take state highway 168 past Prather to the “top of the four-lane”. Turn right onto Tollhouse road and follow it 1 mile. Turn left onto Peterson Mill Rd. After 6 miles this becomes the 10S02 road.

Follow it another mile to a four way intersection. The left hand turn will be road 10S18.

The project area starts here. These units were logged over the last several years. The perscription was a commercial thinning leaving the units a mosaic of pockets of pre-commercial sized trees, areas of less density and remaining larger trees. The maximum size tree that may be cut is 12 inch DBH.

Item 2: There are two units to be pruned. The total acres in the two units is 56. The units are located in the Big Creek burn area. They are plantations created after the Big Creek fire in 1994. The units were thinned in the last several years. The stocking is approximately 200 trees per acre. The trees range in size to about 15 feet tall. The perscription is to prune the first six feet or one third of the height which ever is less. To protect the tree stems the pruning is to be completed using loppers. The created slash is to be spread out in the unit beyond the drip line of the crop trees. To reach these units follow highway 168 past the town of Shaver Lake and turn left onto the Big Creek road. Follow this road to the village of Big Creek. Follow the sign for Huntington Lake.

Follow this road several miles to a Y intersection and turn right. Continue to the intersection with road 8S32. The units are along this road.

Item 3: Ninety acres of hand cut fuels reduction will be completed in the Jose Basin area of the district. This area is accessed by roads off of the Auberry road. Follow highway 168 to the top of the four lane then turn left onto Auberry road. Several roads off of this road will lead to the project areas. Some of these units are adjacent to private property. Care will be needed to stay on the Government land and not to disturb the residents. The units are to be cut and hand piled according to the specifications. The piles are also to be covered and lined. Note that the cutting, piling and covering and line construction are three separate lines in the schedule of items, but they are on the same acres.

C.3 CONTRACTOR'S REPRESENTATIVE

Before work starts, the Contractor shall designate, in writing, an English speaking person to act for the contractor during the Contractor's absence from the work site. The Contractor shall list the extent of authority the representative will have on the job. The Contractor, or the Acting Authorized Representative, shall receive orders and instructions from the Contracting Officer and shall take such action as required to keep the job in progress under the terms of this contract.

Task order #1

C.4 RESTRICTIONS ON WORK

Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as outlined in this section. Nothing in this part shall be construed to take away any of the Government's rights under the Suspension of Work Clause (52.242-14). Restrictions are as follows:

1. In accordance with the fire plan.

2. When the Contracting Officer has determined that adverse weather has made access or continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road, landing, or skid trail damage.

3. Within a sub-item boundary, the Government may exclude no-work areas such as: rocky areas, wildlife areas, wet areas, streamside buffers, and other special areas. The Contracting Officer will designate no-work areas. Payment will not be made for no-work areas greater than one half acre in size.

4. Limited Operating Periods: Limited operating periods will be identified in the task orders. Many projects will have limited operating periods that will preclude work until fall. There are several units in Item 1 with Limited Operating Periods (LOP).

Units 401-025 & -028 have a LOP from 3/1 – 8/31 and unit 401-018 has an LOP form 2/15 – 9/15. These LOPs may be mitigated by the District Biologist depending on yearly conditions.

5. Location of areas needing special measures for protection of plants, animals and heritage resources are shown on individual unit maps and identified on the ground with various colors or other means. Specific flagging colors and postings will be identified at pre-work meeting.

6. If protection measures prove inadequate, and if other such areas are discovered, or if new species are listed or found during the term of the contract, the Contracting Officer may modify, (under clause 52.243-01 Alternate 1), this contract to provide additional protection regardless of when such facts become known. Discovery of such areas by either party shall be promptly reported to the other party.

C.5 CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

Equipment shall be furnished on a fully operational basis, of modern design, and in good operating condition, with a competent, fully qualified operator.

1 All chainsaws or other motorized equipment shall be equipped with Forest Service approved spark arresters. Spark arresters are not required on equipment powered by exhaust-driven turbo-charged engines or motor vehicles

Task order #1 equipped with a maintained muffler as defined in California Public Resources Code, Section 4442 and 4443.

2 Water resistant cover paper in 4 foot width for covering piles. ( Material must be the equivalent of “ clean burn kraft paper” available from Bailey’s Outfitters ).

3 Individual fire extinguisher for each saw,( see fire plan).

C.6 INSPECTION OF EQUIPMENT

Prior to award the Government reserves the right to inspect the equipment to be furnished by the Contractor. If the equipment is found to be in such condition as to indicate the need for frequent repairs and delays in performance, it shall be rejected Also in riparian conservation areas fueling of equipment will be done away from water and on already disturbed sites such as roads or landings.

C.7 DEFINITIONS

Areas to Protect – Areas designated or defined by Forest Service that must be avoided or protected due to resource or improvement concerns.

Basal Area – The number of square feet per acre of the standing timber.

Best Management Practice (BMP) - An alternative structural or nonstructural practice approved by the California Regional Water Quality Board for the effective manual erosion control and management of surface runoff. BMP's are described in Chapter 30 of the Forest Service Manual (the BMP Handbook).

Blister Rust – A disease occurring in sugar pine. Indicators are flagging or mortality of branches, swelling of branches or trunk, cracked bark exuding pitch and sometimes showing of yellow powdery spores.

Bole – Stem portion of a tree.

Broom – Sometimes called witch’s broom. An abnormal growth of branches and twigs usually caused by dwarf mistletoe. Broom branches are typified by a ball of dense branches and twigs, heavy growth, short needles, and may or may not have swollen limbs. Mistletoe fruiting bodies are commonly present.

Brush – A woody plant with no main stems. Species include manzanita, deer brush, buck brush, ceanothus, mountain mohagany and white thorn.

Clearing - Removal of brush species that compete with residual or leave trees.

Co-Dominant – Trees with crowns forming the general level of the stand tree canopy.

Task order #1

Compact Pile- A pile consisting of less than 25% air gaps between stacked pieces.

Stems of stacked material do not stick out more than 1 foot from the main pile.

Conifer – A cone-bearing tree with needles or leaf scales including, but not limited to ponderosa pine, incense cedar, white fir and suger pine. Cones may or may not be present .

Crown – The part of the tree comprised of the branches, twigs and foliage, which carry on the majority of the photosynthesis. Live crown ratio is the percent of tree crown that supports live foliage effectively contributing to tree growth.

Crown Ratio – The ratio, expressed in percent, of live healthy crown to the total height of a tree. For example, a 70-foot tall tree with 21 vertical feet of healthy crown would have a crown ratio of 30%.

Damaged Trees (Created) – Any damage created by work under this contract.

Includes stripping or removing of branches and debarking of the bole of a crop tree in excess of ¼ of the circumference or longer than 10 inches, causing the tree to tilt and damaging the root system.

Damaged Tree (Existing) – Includes any defect or deformity of a tree caused by other agents than the work in this contract. These includewind, snow, animals, insects, disease, andprevious activity. Indicators include dead or broken tops or branches, or debarking extending more than ¼ of the circumference of the tree.

Deficient Trees – Those cut trees that should have been left to maintain tree spacing or trees per acre specifications.

Designated on the Ground – The location of materials, work areas, and construction item, including lines and grades, marked on the ground with stakes, flagging, tags, or paint.

Designation by Spacing (DxSPA) – Designating trees by utilizing spacing guidelines to designate trees to be cut and removed in lieu of marking the trees by paint.

Diameter at Stump Height (DSH) – The diameter measured at a point six (6) inches above the ground on the uphill side of the tree or stump.

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) – The diameter of a tree measured at a point 1.4 meters (4.5 feet) above the ground on the uphill side of the tree. Typically measured in 5 cm (2 inches) intervals, for example a 20 cm (8 inches) DBH tree includes trees with a DBH from 17 cm (7 inches) to 22 cm (9 inches).

Diseased Tree – Tree with one or more of the following symptoms: visible mistletoe infection on any part of the crown or stem; off-color foliage, weak root system, or exhibiting an unhealthy appearance; signs of insect infestation or displaying conks or

Task order #1 other disease indicators; and sugar pine showing branch flagging or cankers due to blister rust on or within two feet of the bole.

Dominant Tree – Tree with crown extending above the general level of the stand canopy.

Downed Log – All or part of the trunk of a felled tree greater than 35 cm (14 inches) DBH and 3 meters (10 feet) long. Includes logs in all stages of decomposition.

Ephemeral Stream - Flows only during storms and may or may not have a well defined channel.

Excess Trees – Uncut trees that do not meet leave-tree specifications and should have been cut. Trees not severed from the stump, hangup trees, stumps with live limbs and stumps higher than specified are also considered tree excess.

Fine Fuels- Small diameter material, such as branches, with the needles or leaves still attached.

GIS – Geograpic Information System.

GPS – Global Positioning System

Hardwood – A tree with broad leaves rather than needles. Species include, but are not limited to, black oak, live oak, alder, cottonwood, dogwood, big leaf maple, etc.

Improvement – All roads, trails, ditches, land survey corners, telephone lines, power lines, water troughs, buildings and structures, recreational development sites, research plots, septic systems, water guzzlers and similar items which the Contractor must protect during operations.

Intermittent Stream - Flows only during wet periods (30-90% of the time) and flows in a continous well defined channel. Seasonal flow in an inttermittent stream usually lasts longer than 30 days per year.

Intermediate Tree – Tree shorter than those in the dominant and co-dominant classes, but with crowns either below or extending into the stand canopy.

Inspector – An individual who is designated in writing to have certain authorities and responsibilities for administration of a contract. Generally works for or with the designated COR.

Landings – A cleared area in the forest to which logs are yarded or skidded for loading onto trucks for transport.

Leave Tree – Any tree that is selected or required to be left standing as provided in the specifications. A leave tree is determined by both spacing and vigor of existing conifers.

Task order #1

Hardwood species may also be selected as leave trees.

Limited Operating Season –A period of time in which operations are not allowed.

Material – Any substance specified for use in the performance of the work.

Missing Leave-trees – Those trees cut that should have been left.

Mistletoe or Dwarf Mistletoe – Parasitic flowering plants that infect conifers. The species of dwarf mistletoe that infects one conifer will not infect other conifer species.

Mobilization – The moving of personnel, equipment, material and incidentals to the project to perform work at the project site.

Non-work Areas – Within unit boundaries non-work areas may include, but are not limited to, archeological sites, sensitive plant sites, wildlife areas, wet areas, rocky areas, and other special areas that shall not be treated.

Non-Target Species – All green plants, which are not listed as target plants.

Normal Operating Season – That period in a typical year wherein an operator can reasonably expect to be able to operate.

Oversize Tree – Any conifer or hardwood tree 12” or greater at DBH and is not to be cut unless designated by Conracting Officer’s Representative.

Perennial Stream – Flows more than 90% of the time.

Radius Clearing – Removal of competing brush species from a specified distance of residual or leave trees.

Release – The cutting of brush species that are overtopping or adjacent to leave trees.

Residual Tree or Leave Tree – Tree(s) to be left standing and undamaged that comprise the stand following the Contractor’s operations. A leave tree is determined by both spacing and vigor of existing conifers.

Riparian Vegetation – Plant species typically associated with and found in wet drainages. They include, but are not limited to alder, willow, cottonwood, or maple in the over-story and sedges and rushes underneath.

Screening – A visual barrier between roads and the interior of the stands. Screening areas can be composed of standing live trees and brush, standing dead trees and brush that would be retained, cut banks, or other topography.

Sensitive Plants – Includes but is not limited to rare, threatened, endangered, or special emphasis species such as Clarkia australis, Clarkia biloba ssp. australis and

Task order #1

Mimulus pulchellus.

Skid Trail – An access cut through the woods on which equipment operates to move logs from the stump to the landing or decking area.

Slash – Vegetative debris generated by the Contractor's operations, or debris created prior to this contract including all brush and cut trees, tops, trunks, and branches.

Slash Pile – Collected slash from a cutting area stacked compactly in a safe location for disposal.

Snag – A standing dead tree greater than 22 cm (8 inches) DBH and 6 feet tall.

Spacing – The horizontal distance from the bole of one leave tree to the bole of the nearest leave tree.

The same principle applies to slash piles.

Species mixture - a desired proportion of several tree species to be aimed for in the tree selection process

Thinning – The cutting of trees in excess of those to be left for future management.

Unit or Stand – Areas where contract work will be completed that are delineated on the Stand/Unit Map (Refer to Section J, Unit Maps).

C.8 DAMAGE PREVENTION

The Contractor shall exercise care in thinning operations. He shall prevent damage to crop trees or brush from improper felling methods. If a suitable crop tree is cut or damaged during thinning operations, a substitute tree shall be reserved as a crop tree.

Substitute trees will be selected according to the specifications in Clause C.14.

C.9 RESOURCE PROTECTION

Heritage Resource Protection: The Contractor shall protect Controlled Areas (CA) shown on the Project Unit Maps, by AVOIDANCE, and shall protect all known and identified or discovered historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology and culture against destruction, obliteration, removal or damage during the Contractor's operations.

The Contractor shall immediately notify the Contract Officer if damage occurs to any cultural resources and immediately halt operations in the vicinity of the resource where damage occurred until the Contract Officer authorizes the Contractor to proceed. If

Task order #1 such damage is negligently or willfully caused by the Contractor's operations, the Contractor shall bear costs of investigation and restoration in accordance with 36 CFR 296.14(c), provided that such payment shall not relieve the Contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law.

All Controlled Areas have been flagged. Unauthorized entry to these Controlled Areas by the Contractor or his employees will result in the Contractor paying all costs associated with the restoration work. If necessary the sites will be re-flagged immediately prior to operations.

Streamcourse Protection: The Contractor shall not refuel within Stream Management Zones (SMZ). SMZs will be identified on the ground. The specific prescription for work in the SMZs will be included in the task order. The perscription for work in the SMZ will vary from exclusion to full treatment including pull-back The width of the SMZ will also vary depending on the stream category involved.

C.10 PROTECTION OF IMPROVEMENTS

The Contractor shall protect improvements from damage and shall be responsible for their timely restoration if damaged by Contractor's Operations. Improvements include water tanks, fences, gates, pipeline, culverts, helispot, existing roads, water bars, under ground cable, and all private property

C.11 CUTTING METHODS

Tree and Shrub Removal

All living or dead trees and brush, other than leave trees or protected plants, shall be completely cut according to specifications and treated as slash. Do not cut oaks greater than 15 feet tall. The minimum size trees and brush to be treated is 1 foot tall.

For radius release treatments, all live or dead trees & brush within 6 feet of the main stem of leave trees must be cut and treated as slash.

Task order #1

Cutting Height

All trees & shrubs will be cut to within 6 inches of the ground or 4 inches above natural obstacles, and treated as slash. All limbs below the cutting point shall be removed, as practicable. Cut stump height is measured on the uphill side from ground level.

Felling

Cut trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries, private property, roads, telephone lines, established trails,stock driveways, archeological sites, fence lines, established land corners, and streams. Any trees falling on such areas shall be removed in a timely fashion. All created slash shall be placed on or near the ground surface, so that it will not lean against or be suspended by other vegetation or uncut trees.

C.12 MOTORIZED EQUIPMENT

Use of motorized equipment other than hand-held equipment such as power saws and brush cutters will not be permitted off designated roads in the project area without prior approval of the Contracting Officer.

C.13 SPECIFICATIONS FOR THINNING AND STAND CLEANING

The contractor shall thin the identified stands to the following specifications. This involves selecting crop trees, according to the selection criteria, on the specified spacing and with the specified species mix. The spacing and species mix will be identified in the task order. The rest of the trees are to be cut. This includes both dead and live trees that meet the specifications. The created slash will be treated to specifications listed here as part of the thinning project. Additional slash treatment beyond that described in this section may or may not be required under another task order.

Selection of Leave Trees

Leave trees shall generally be those of the tallest height, largest crown, and straightest stems that are free of damage due to insects, disease, physical or mechanical causes.

The Contractor shall select leave trees in the following priorities:

a. leave all trees with a DBH greater than 12 inches.

b. leave all oaks greater than 15 feet tall.

c. Sugar pine free of disease that meet spacing criteria and are in dominant and codominant position will be selected as leave trees.

d. select trees free of disease with the best crown class – dominant or co-dominant.

e. select trees based on species mix

Task order #1

f. select trees based on species priority listed in specification

g. select trees that meet the spacing guidelines (spacing should be based on equilateral triangles).

Select additional leave trees from healthy undamaged conifers as necessary to achieve the average spacing specified. Spacing is based on equilateral triangles. Spacing may be varied up to 25 percent to select the most desirable tree. However, spacing control, using original guides, shall be maintained whenever possible. The number of trees per acre shall not be materially increased or decreased. The trees per acre shall be within 10% of the target number Dead trees are not to be included in the spacing guidelines. The spacing is specified in table 1 in section J.

The Contracting Officer may designate additional cut or leave trees with flagging: white designates leave trees and blue designates cut trees.

Trees with the following types of damage will be treated as noted:

a. Conifer trees that are infected with dwarf mistletoe shall not be left unless the infection sites are within the lower one-half of the crown, the infections are not in or within 6 inches from the bole or it is feasible to remove the disease by pruning. For it to be feasible, the disease must be confined to a few branches with the infection more than 6 inches from the bole of the tree. All the branches to the height of the infection plus two higher whorls of branches must be removed.

b. Trees with crown damage may be left providing there are no signs of rot and the tree has established a new leader (top) with a minimum of two years growth visible.

c. Fir trees with any amount of bark missing below 18 feet above the ground shall be cut.

The Contractor shall leave trees in the appropriate spacing and at a species mixture that is identified in the task order. Trees shall be selected as leave trees so that the species mixture will result in a portion of each ten leave trees meeting the specified species mix. If no healthy undamaged trees exist in ten trees to meet the species mixture at the required spacing leave a tree that meets the species priority in C.8.1.8 with minor damage. If no such tree exists all trees shall be cut.

Thus for a species mixture specified as PP/JP 80 & other 20; the contractor shall strive to leave for each 10 trees, 8 healthy dominant or co-dominant ponderosa or Jeffery pine and two additional trees of another species, selected according to the species priority, However in all cases dominant and or co-dominant sugar pine shall be selected as leave trees.

Leave trees that have the following additional characteristics:

Task order #1

a. Crown Class - must be either a vigorous dominant or codominant.

b. Crown Ratio-30 percent or more of the total height must be live crown.

Sub-standard trees not meeting the above criteria are not acceptable even when they fit spacing guidelines. Stands composed entirely of stagnated trees will be thinned to leave the undamaged trees with the fullest crowns.

Use the following chart to select from trees of equal size and vigor.

a. oak

b. sugar pine (rust free)

c. ponderosa / jeffrey pine

d. white fir / red fir

e. incense cedar

Regardless of the specified spacing, where a tree ( conifer or oak) greater than 18 in DBH is present the spacing from it for all trees less than 12 in DBH shall be 22 feet.

Slash Treatment in item 1.

All cut slash shall be scattered to a depth no greater than 18 inches above the ground.

Piling of materials is to be avoided.

Bucking All created slash in excess of 3 inches in diameter shall be bucked into 4 foot lengths. When specified in the task order, logs on the ground in the units greater than 18 inch diameter shall be bucked into 25 foot lengths. This is to fascilitate future tractor piling and will occur most in units that are to be stand cleaned and less often in plantations.

Lopping. In those units requiring lopping on slopes less than 35%, the limbs that stick up in the air more than 12 inches will be cut from the stems of felled trees and scattered to a depth no greater than 18 inches above the ground.

Created slash on slopes 35% and greater shall be treated by lopping all limbs from stems of cut trees and scattered to a depth of no greater than 12 inches above the ground.

Pull Back. Pull back is required for a distance of 25 to 100 feet in areas where a crawler type tractor cannot pile thinning slash due to road cut banks, drainages, meadows, stream beds, creeks or arrangement of leave trees within the clumps.

The pull back material shall be dispersed and scattered. The material shall not be deeper than 12 inches from the ground.

Bucking, lopping and pul back requirements are lsite din the tables in section J.

Task order #1

PRUNING

Pruning involves the cutting of the lower branches of the crop trees, usually after thinning.

The branches are cut from the first six feet or one third of the tree height which ever is less.

To protect the crop trees from damage in thinning projects this work is done with loppers.

When pruning, the branch is to be cut at the branch collar without damaging the tree boll.

The cut material shall be spread away from the crop tree. The material shall be placed beyond the drip line of the crop tree. Both dead and live branches are to be cut.

Pruning in timber stand improvement projects is ordered as a separate task.

Pruning as described in the fuels reduction projects is included as part of the fuels reduction treatment.

C.14 SPECIFICATIONS FOR FUEL BREAKS

The goal of these treatments is to reduce the amount of vegetation on site to a level that a wildfire would burn with less intensity. On many of these sites the vegetation is mostly brush, however on some sites there are conifers and hardwoods as well as brush. The contractor will cut most of the vegetation on these sites leaving widely spaced conifers, hardwoods and bushes according to the spacing and species selection guidelines. The created slash will be treated according to the specification included here. Also the contract requires the piling of the slash and the lining and covering of the piles.

In units that are mostly conifers and hardwoods the crop tree selection guidelines listed in Spec C.17 would apply.

In the Jose units with mostly brush all the brush is to be cut except vegetation that exceeds the maximum size specifications (12 inch conifers & 15 ft tall oaks). If there are no larger plants individual plants can be left on about a 50 ft spacing. These should be the larger individuals and favor oaks, manzanita, elderberry and where found willow.

If space for piling becomes an issue due to the brush that has been left the contractor shall work with the COR to determine how to make space for the piles. This may include cutting the brush.

In units with a mix of forest and brush the contractor would use the thinning guidelines where aplicable and the brushing guidelines in the brush vegetation types.

Pruning of the leave trees and bushes shall be included in this treatment. The leave

Task order #1 trees shall be pruned to six feet or one third the height which ever is less. The brush plants that are left shall also be pruned to six feet. Multiple stems in excess of four shall also be cut. In the fuels project this work may be done with a chain saw, care must be taken when pruning conifers not to damage the stem of the tree.

Regardless of the specified spacing, where a tree ( conifer or oak) greater than 18 inch DBH is present the spacing from it for all trees or bushes less than 12 in DBH shall be 22 feet.

Created slash shall be cut into four foot lengths and lopped down to 30 inches. Pieces of cut brush that have more than 2 stems must be cut so that they will lay flat when piled.

If the unit has a significant amount of pine slash it will be necessary to let the slash dry for 30 days before piling. Units that are mostly brush may be piled immediately.

In the fuels treatment areas, standing dead trees and brush must also be treated. The dead conifers less than 12 inch DBH are to be felled and bucked into 4 foot lengths.

Dead bushes shall be cut and bucked into four foot sections. Hardwood snags less than 10 inch DBH shall also be cut and bucked into four foot lengths.

C.15 HAND PILING, COVERING, & HAND LINE CONSTRUCTION

Hand piling may be requested as a separate task on either thinning, or more commonly, fuels reduction projects. This requires the contractor to pile created and existing slash in the unit. The piles are to be placed and sized where they can be safely burned without damage to the residual stand.

All material in the unit greater than 1 inch diameter and 2 foot in length shall be piled.

Down logs greater than 9 inch diameter may be left in the unit but must be spaced from the piles as specified in C.21.4.

The piles must be built so that they are compact and tight, it should not be possible to see through the pile. The pile should be constructed in the shape of a haystack, tall and domed. The height and width of the pile should be roughly equal.

There should not be material extending beyond the borders of the pile.

The piles shall be placed in the best opening possible for safe burning. The size of the pile is to be adjusted in relation to the size of the opening, A larger opening can accomadate a larger pile.

Piles are not to be made in drainage ditches or stream channels. Piles are not to be made on uncut vegetation. The piles must also be spaced from one another. Piles in the 8-12 foot diameter size shall be spaced 15 feet from one another. Piles in the 12-16 foot size shall be 25 feet from one another. Piles will be spaced 50 feet from private

Task order #1 property and 25 feet from unit boundaries. Piles shall also be spaced a minimum of 8 feet from down logs, stumps and snags. Piles must be spaced at least 100 horizontal feet from power lines. Piles shall be placed so that they will not roll when burned. In some instances pile location may be problematic. In these cases the contractor will work with the contracting officer to place the pile appropriately.

Piles should be at least 6 foot in diameter.

When constructing the pile small material shall be used to start the pile and larger material put on last. The boles of conifers (greater than 4 inch diameter) are to be placed on the outside of the pile whenever possible.

Piles must also be placed away from crop and or protected plants so that there will be no damage when the piles are burned. There should be an 8 foot spacing on the down hill side of the pile and a 10 foot spacing on the up hill side.

It will be acceptible that large pieces of material ( greater than 9 inch diameter) be left scattered in the unit instead of piled. Each piece must be flat on the ground, placed so it will not roll if on a hillside and spaced at least 6 inches from another piece.

Covering of the pilesis also required. The pile is to be covered with a 4X6 ft piece of waterproof paper (such as clean burn kraft rolls available from Baily’s). This should be placed where there is a concentration of fine fuels and secured by several heavy pieces of wood. The paper must lay flat and be fully spread on the pile. The pile should be substancially constructed before the paper is placed. The paper should be secured with enough material that it will not lift up, fold or blow away.

Hand lines are to be constructed around the piles. The line shall be 2 feet in width and scraped to mineral soil. All pieces of material extending from the pile or exposed during the line construction shall be cut out of the line. The line shall be free of organic material.

The line shall be 3 feet from the pile on the down hill side and 6 feet on the uphill side, measured from the pile edge to the inside edge of the line. Sometimes it may be more effecient to have a line go around several piles or a shared line between piles, this must be approved by the inspector. During constuction of the line, piling of material or the creation of a berm is to be minimized. The berm shall not be higher than 6 inches.

Material may be scraped toward the pile or away but creating concentrations of fuel (organic materal like needles and leaves) next to the line is to be minimized.

C.16 MEASUREMENT

Acreage as shown on the Schedule of Items was measured on a horizontal plane using a Global Positioning System. Estimated acreage: Actual acreage worked will be measured by the method(s) indicated above. Payment will be based on measured acreage worked.

Task order #1

Any contiguous non-work areas exceeding ½ acre (.020 hectare) in size will be excluded from payment.

Remeasurement

Unless otherwise indicated by this contract, the Contractor may request remeasurement of any quantities listed in Section B, Schedule of Items of this section, when the units are acres or any linear measurement. The request must be in writing and must be made within 10 calendar days of completing work on the unit in question. If the remeasurement indicates a variance of five percent or less from the stated quantity, the Contractor shall pay for the actual cost of remeasurement and no adjustment will be made in the quantity as stated in Section B, Schedule of Items of this section. If remeasurement indicates a variance more than five percent from the stated quantity, the Contractor will not be liable for the costs of remeasurement. All remeasurement will be done by the Government. Remeasurements of acreage will be done by means of a Global Positioning System.

C.17 CONTRACT TIME

Item 1 81 days Item 2 54 days Item 3 6 days

Estimated Start Work: June 1, 2009

Task order #1

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

ITEMS: PAGES:

Unit Data Tables 2 Unit Location Maps 3 Wage Determination # 1977-727, Revision 35, 5/29/2008 3 Fire Plan 8

Task order #1

TABLE NUMBER 1

WORK METHODS FOR STAND CLEANING / THINNING

& FUELS REDUCTION PROJECTS

ITEM # 1 STAND CLEANING

UNIT # ACRES SPACING TREES/AC SLASH SPECIES

(*) TREATMENT MIX

SOUTH OF SHAVER

401-018 119.2 18 x 18 134 C, D, E, K 90%pp / 10%other 401-021 25.7 18 x 18 134 C, D, E, K 90%pp / 10%other 401-023 60.0 18 x 18 134 C, D, E, K 90%pp / 10%other 401-025 82.9 18 x 18 134 C, D, E,,K 90%pp / 10%other 401-026 35.0 18 x 18 134 C, D, E,,K 90%pp / 10%other 401-028 40.7 18 x 18 134 C, D, E,,K 90%pp / 10%other 401-029 20.3 18 x 18 134 C, D, E,,K 90%pp / 10%other 402-027 125.5 18 x 18 134 C, D, E,,K 90%pp / 10%other 402-029 92.3 18 x 18 134 C, D, E,,K 90%pp / 10%other 402-031 40.8 18 x 18 134 C, D, E,,K 90%pp / 10%other Total 642.4

ITEM 3. JOSE 1 FUELS REDUCTION

UNIT # ACRES SPACING TREES/AC SLASH SPECIES

(*) TREATMENT MIX

336-089 27 18 x 18 134 C,E,F,I 80%pp / 20%other 336-112 12 18 x 18 134 C,E,F,I 80%pp / 20%other 336-114 17 18 x 18 134 C,E,F,I 80%pp / 20%other 336-115 23 18 x 18 134 C,E,F,I 80%pp / 20%other 336-175 11 18 x 18 134 C,E,F,I 80%pp / 20%other Total 90

ITEM # 2 PRUNING

BIG CREEK PRUNING

UNIT # ACRES SPACING TREES/AC SLASH

(*) TREATMENT

324-102 38 18 x 18 134 E,F 324-101 14 18 x 18 134 E,F

SPACING GUIDELINES BASED ON EQUILATERAL TRIANGLES

Task order #1

TABLE NUMBER 2

WORK METHODS FOR FUELS PROJECTS

ITEM 3 JOSE HAND PILING – COVERING – HAND FIRELINE CONSTRUCTION

UNIT # ACRES (*) PILE FIRELINE SLASH

SPACING WIDTH TREATMT

( feet ) 336-089 27.0 15-25 2 ft A,C,E,I 336-112 12.0 15-25 2 ft A,C,E,I 336-114 17.0 15-25 2 ft A,C,E,I 336-115 23.0 15-25 2 ft A,C,E,I 336-175 11.0 15-25 2 ft A,C,E,I Total 90.0

Definitions of symbles used in Tables 1 & 2 for slash treatments:

A = Hand pile entire area.

B = 50 foot roadside hand C = Bucking D = Lopping, and Scattering to 18” E = Pull Back F = Pruning of limbs G = 4’ Brush cut around crop trees.

H = 6’ Brush cut around crop trees.

I = 100% Brush Cut in the unit.

J = Chipping slash under 4 inches diameter K = Sever branches from removed boles L = Bark beetle prevention measures

The boundries of these units will be marked with flagging.

Additionally, because of seasonal closure on some roads, the contractor will be required to supply a heavy-duty lock to be installed on the gates when the closure is in effect and to keep the gate locked.

401-018

401-021

401-029 401-023

401-025 401-026

401-028

402-031

402-027

402-029

R-24E R-25E

T-10S

Sierra National Forest High Sierra R.D.

South of Shaver Area

FY 2009

Hand Thinning

401-018 119.2 401-021 25.7 401-023 60.0 401-029 20.3 402-027 125.5 402-029 92.3 402-031 40.8 401-025 82.9 401-026 35.0 401-028 40.7

0.5

Miles

1:20,000

Unit Acres

Total 642.4

CJH

336-115

336-114

336-175

336-112

336-089A

336-089B

T 9S

T 10S

R 23E

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

HIGH SIERRA DISTRICT

JOSE PROJECT AREA

FY09 FUELS REDUCTION

Unit Acres 336-089A 3.0 ac 336-089B 24.0 ac 336-112 12.0 ac 336-114 17.0 ac 336-115 23.0 ac 336-175 11.0 ac ¥

0 0.50.25

Miles

Total 90.0 ac

1:19,000 CJH

324-101 324-102

T 8 S

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

HIGH SIERRA RANGER DISTRICT

MUSHROOM AREA

FY 2009 PRUNING

Unit Acres 324-102 17.2 ¥ 0 0.40.2

Miles 1:12,000

CJH

Total 35.5 324-101 18.3

R 25 E

REGISTER OF WAGE DETERMINATIONS UNDER THE SERVICE

CONTRACT ACT

By direction of the Secretary of Labor

Shirley F. Ebbesen Director Division of Wage Determinations

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADMINISTRATION

WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20210

Wage Determination No.: 1977-0727 Revision No.: 35

Date of Last Revision: 05/29/2008

State: California Area: California Statewide

**Fringe Benefits Required Follow the Occupational Listing**

Employed on service contracts for forestry, land management, the cleaning of public use areas and timber inventory services.

OCCUPATION CODE - TITLE MINIMUM WAGE RATE

08010 - Brush/Precommercial Thinner 13 .83

08040 - Choker Setter 14 .51

08070 - Faller/Bucker 32 .06

08100 - Fire Lookout 13 .83

08160 - Forestry/Logging Heavy Equipment Operator 16 .39

08190 - Forestry Technician 15 .36

08200 - Forestry Truck Driver 16 .62

08250 - General Forestry Laborer 13 .53

08280 - Nursery Specialist 19 .18

08310 - Slash Piler/Burner 13 .83

08340 - Tree Climber 15 .52

08370 - Tree Planter 12 .30

08400 - Tree Planter, Mechanical 12 .30

ALL OCCUPATIONS LISTED ABOVE RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:

HEALTH & WELFARE: $3.24 per hour or $129.60 per week or $561.60 per month

VACATION: 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year of service with a contractor or successor; 3 weeks after 5 years, and 4 weeks after 15 years.

Length of service includes the whole span of continuous service with the present contractor or successor, wherever employed, and with the predecessor contractors in the performance of similar work at the same Federal facility. (Reg. 29 CFR 4.173)

HOLIDAYS: A minimum of ten paid holidays per year, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. (A contractor may substitute for any of the named holidays another day off with pay in accordance with a plan communicated to the employees involved.) (See 29 CFR 4174)

** UNIFORM ALLOWANCE **

If employees are required to wear uniforms in the performance of this contract (either by the terms of the Government contract, by the employer, by the state or local law, etc.), the cost of furnishing such uniforms and maintaining (by laundering or dry cleaning) such uniforms is an expense that may not be borne by an employee where such cost reduces the hourly rate below that required by the wage determination. The Department of Labor will accept payment in accordance with the following standards as compliance:

The contractor or subcontractor is required to furnish all employees with an adequate number of uniforms without cost or to reimburse employees for the actual cost of the uniforms. In addition, where uniform cleaning and maintenance is made the responsibility of the employee, all contractors and subcontractors subject to this wage determination shall (in the absence of a bona fide collective bargaining agreement providing for a different amount, or the furnishing of contrary affirmative proof as to the actual cost), reimburse all employees for such cleaning and maintenance at a rate of $3.35 per week (or $.67 cents per day). However, in those instances where the uniforms furnished are made of "wash and wear" materials, may be routinely washed and dried with other personal garments, and do not require any special treatment such as dry cleaning, daily washing, or commercial laundering in order to meet the cleanliness or appearance standards set by the terms of the Government contract, by the contractor, by law, or by the nature of the work, there is no requirement that employees be reimbursed for uniform maintenance costs.

** NOTES APPLYING TO THIS WAGE DETERMINATION **

Under the policy and guidance contained in All…