Savage_Gulf_Tree_Cutting_and_Herbicides_Specs_Revised.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK FOR SAVAGE GULF STATE PARK TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT

LOCATION: Savage Gulf State Park PROJECT START DATE: 11/16/2024

ADDRESS: Per map provided PROJECT COMPLETION DATE: 3/31/2025

TDEC Project Manager: Sam King Contact Information: sam.king@tn.gov

PROJECT SUMMARY:

Contractor shall complete up to 507 acres of timber stand improvement activities, to include thinning of understory mesic hardwoods by hand. Limbing and bucking of downed trees is required to place woody debris at ground level in preparation for fuel consumption by prescribed fire.

• Contract Period:

o The window of contract performance between November 16, 2024 and March 31, 2025 is fixed and shall not be extended or altered. This window of performance is based on bat hibernation and sensitive plant phenology. These guidelines are affirmed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Biological and Conference Opinion for this project.

PROJECT PLAN:

Contractor shall complete up to 507 acres of timber stand improvement activities, to include thinning of understory mesic hardwoods by hand. Limbing and bucking of downed trees is required to place woody debris at ground level in preparation for fuel consumption by prescribed fire.

Objectives: (1) thin around extant mature shortleaf pine, (2) promote pine & oak recruitment, (3) remove mesic hardwoods, (4) prepare for prescribed burn

Deliverables: The Contractor’s hand crews shall use chainsaws and low pressure/low volume herbicide application complete the following management actions

1. Fell all red maple (Acer rubrum) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) less than sixteen (16) inches Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), treat stump cambium layer with herbicide (triclopyr).

2. Fell all tulip poplar (Lirodendron tulipifera) and sourwood (Oxydendrum arboretum) less than twelve

(12) inches DBH, treat stump cambium layer with herbicide.

3. Cut all hardwood (non-conifer) stems less than two (2) inches DBH (except oak and hickory species).

4. Cut all stumps flat to less than six (6) inches above ground level.

5. [Girdle and treat with herbicide] or [hack and squirt + hybrid basal application of herbicide] all red maple and sweetgum trees greater than 16 inches DBH.

The Contractor shall complete all work between November 16, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

The Contractor shall NOT cut any shagbark hickory, oak species or pine species.. The contractor shall be able to complete identification of tree species.

• Timeline:

o Begin work on or after November 16, 2024 and all work must be completed no later than

March 31, 2025. The Contractor shall plan accordingly to accomplish the work during this timeframe given the region’s seasonal weather during this performance period.

o At the sole discretion of the State of Tennessee, if all work cannot be accomplished by March 31, 2025, a second seasonal window shall be available in fall/winter 2025-2026. It is preferred the Contractor plan accordingly to complete the project during the initial project period.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:

• Materials:

o The Contractor is expected to provide all materials and supplies necessary to complete this project.

• Equipment:

o The Contractor is expected to provide all equipment necessary to complete this project.

The Contractor is responsible for transporting the equipment to and from the job site and securing it at the job site. The Contractor assumes all liability for equipment while on the job site.

LABOR AND STAFFING PLAN:

• Project Team:

o The Contractor shall name a project manager, who shall be a full-time employee of the

Contractor.

o The Contractor shall name a project safety coordinator, who shall be a full-time employee of the Contractor.

• Subcontractors:

o Unless authorized by the procurement office of the Department of Environment and

Conservation, subcontractors are not permitted. All work must be performed by the

Contractor, by employees covered under their worker’s compensation insurance.

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN:

• Safety protocols:

The worksite is a rural, forested area with no structures or equipment that could be affected by this project. Personal safety requirements are incumbent upon the Contractor based on their corporate safety policies and insurance requirements.

• Environmental Considerations:

The Contractor must comply with Tennessee Division of Forestry’s “Guide to Forestry Best

Management Practices in Tennessee”, 2023 edition, including Streamside Management

Zones, Sensitive Areas and Wetlands. The guide may be found here. They must operate within the specified window of time vetted by US Fish and Wildlife and the State of

Tennessee to not cause adverse effects to wildlife. They must not cut Carya ovata

(Shagbark hickory), Quercus spp. (oak species) and Pinus spp. (pine species).

PERMITS AND COMPLIANCE:

• Permits or Contractor Qualifications Required:

o The Contractor must be a professional forester as demonstrated by membership in either the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF), the Society of American Foresters (SAF) or listing in the State of Tennessee, Department of Agriculture Consulting Forester Directory.

The Contractor must have the ability to identify common trees of the Cumberland Plateau region to genus and species.

• Compliance:

o Material not originating in the natural area must be removed (trash, litter, equipment, etc.).

Removal of cut debris is not required.

BUDGET AND PRICING:

• Price proposal: Please bid a firm, fixed-price for performance of all work under this contract period.

• Payment Schedule:

o The standard payment terms of the State of Tennessee are Net 45 days.

o Payment schedule – the Contractor may submit an invoice at the completion of the project after acceptance of the services provided by the State of Tennessee. Unless specific payment milestones are permitted here, only one final invoice is acceptable.

▪ Invoice may be submitted for work completed at the conclusion of the project period in March 2025.

▪ If a second project period is granted by the State of Tennessee, an invoice for work completed during that period may be submitted at the end of the project period (anticipated March 2026).

INSURANCE AND LIABILITY:

• The State of Tennessee requires all registered vendors to provide a Certificate of Insurance, listing the State as an additional insured with a waiver of subrogation. Minimum acceptable limits of coverage are as follows:

o General Liability: $1,000,000.00 o Automobile Liability: $1,000,000.00 o Workers’ Compensation: $1,000,000.00

▪ Unless exempt from workers’ compensation.

REFERENCES AND PAST PROJECTS:

• Past experience by the Contractor is required.

o Contractors shall have a minimum of 3 years prior experience in forestry service, including timber stand improvement or wildlife habitat improvement.

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/agriculture/documents/forestry/2023/Forestry-BMP-Guide.pdf

Additional Terms and Conditions:

Conservation measures mandated by USFWS:

The Contractor shall not cut oak, pine, or hickory species.

PENALTIES – Contractor shall exercise caution to prevent damage to residual trees of pine, hickory, and oak species. Any residual trees of pine, hickory, and oak species cut or damaged shall be paid for at the rate of $3,000.00 per thousand board feet, International 1/4 Inch Rule, for sawtimber and $100.00 per ton for pulpwood as estimated solely by the STATE's forester. Any undesignated trees cut or damaged in designated retention zones and streamside management zones or outside the designated area(s) shall be paid for at the rate of $2,500.00 per occurrence plus the above-mentioned rates for sawtimber and pulpwood for the individual trees cut or damaged as determined and estimated by the STATE. Except at places designated by the STATE's forester or other terms and conditions of this contract, travelling in or through retention zones streamside management zones, equipment restriction zones or outside the designated area(s) with heavy equipment shall be paid for at the rate of $2,500.00 per occurrence as determined solely by the STATE's forester.

The Contractor shall complete all work between November 16, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

The Contractor shall note areas with known Platanthera integrilabia and research plot areas which shall be mapped, flagged and excluded from contracted management.

The Contractor shall report any bat species observed, living or dead, to the TDEC project manager.

Approximate acreage locations (subject to change in similar terrains and densities to avoid sensitive areas identified by DNA or USFWS field staff). Total acreage shall not exceed 507 acres.

Meadow Creek North (275 ac):

Meadow Creek West (98 ac):

Hobbs A (133 ac):