Section_J_-_Att_No__002_SOW.pdf

Kaweah Crew Pack Support Statement of Work

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI) has a cyclic trail maintenance project scheduled for the trail network within the Upper drainage of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River in 2022. In support of this work, camp gear, food, tools, and other material will be packed in by mule from the Lakes trailhead near the Wolverton ski area in Sequoia National Park to multiple Wilderness camp locations. In addition to delivery of goods, the pack support will also include multiple relocations of the trail crew camps from one Wilderness location to another. The duration of packing needs under this contract will be based on access to the backcountry camp locations, weekly crew needs, and project scheduling.

Due to the camp locations, overnight stays in the wilderness will be required. For each trip, the vendor must factor this into their bid. Roughly 9 mule loads will be needed for camp mobilization/moves including resupplies of food. For only food resupply trips, 3-4 mule loads will be needed. A tentative schedule is set, but dates will need to be flexible based on the progression of work throughout the field season. The project duration will be approximately July to mid-September 2022. Trips will occur weekly and will be from 4.5 to 15 trail miles one-way into the Wilderness from the nearest trailhead. The tentative schedule is as follows and will be subject to change:

Trail Miles One-way

Resupply 14-Jul 4 mules 1 day 10.5 Resupply 21-Jul 4 mules 1 day 10.5 Move with resupply 28-Jul 7 mules 2 days 13 Resupply 4-Aug 4 mules 2 days 13 Resupply 11-Aug 4 mules 2 days 13 Resupply 18-Aug 4 mules 2 days 13 Move with resupply 25-Aug 7 mules 2 days 16.5 Resupply 1-Sep 4 mules 2 days 15 Resupply 8-Sep 4 mules 2 days 15 Demobilize 20-Sep 5 mules 2 days 15

The contractor is to supply all animals, tools, tack, pack equipment, veterinary and farrier care, vehicle transport, stock packing personnel (packers and assistants), livestock feed, and all other items needed for performing all the work of this contract.

• Any contractors traveling through or camping in Sequoia National Park will follow the SEKI traveling and camping regulations. Specifically, SEKI group size limits, camping restrictions, and grazing regulations will apply to contractors carrying out this work. These regulations may be found at http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/stockuse.htm http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/stockuse.htm

• Pack trips may be contracted to deliver loads to any location in the contract area that is legally accessible to pack trains. Delivery locations will typically be within 400 yards of the maintained trails to established camps, although deliveries may be contracted for any point along the trail.

• Due to the camp location, some overnight travel will be required. The cost will reflect Two-Day round trips.

• When overnight stays are required, the vendor must be able to supply their own means of bedding, food, and shelter for packers staying overnight in backcountry locations.

• Grazing may or may not be available for pack stock, depending on park regulations, meadow conditions, and other grazing that has occurred in a given year. Upon scheduling, and on a trip-by-trip basis, the Contracting Officer’s Representative will inform the contractor whether stock may graze or not. If grazing is not available, extra packing will be contracted to pack feed at a rate of 15 pounds of feed per animal per night. Feed will consist of certified weed-free hay or pellets.

• Stock use reporting will be the responsibility of the commercial operator following guidance set forth in their CUA.

• Additional Days, alternate locations, or trips can be negotiated between the vendor and the COR dependent upon need and will follow the Per-packer Per-day/Per-animal Per-day cost agreed upon the granting of the contract and vendors availability or capability to provide additional services.

• The NPS will schedule pack trips at least one week in advance. At the time of scheduling, the

NPS will specify the wilderness delivery location, the number of pack strings, and the number of loads (plus or minus one load). The final number of loads will be determined by 4pm the afternoon before the pack trip is to leave.

• Vendors are required to submit their bids on a per-packer-day, per-riding animal-day, and per-pack animal-day basis as a flat rate for each line item. Such as:

1 packer per day Vendor bid cost

1 pack animal per day Vendor bid cost

1 riding animal per day Vendor bid cost

• The NPS will provide the Wolverton Corrals as a staging area in the front country. Water and a corral will be provided. The commercial user will be responsible for manure removal at the staging area, whether at Wolverton Corrals or Wolverton Trailhead parking area. Corrals will be cleaned weekly and manure removed from the area at least monthly, possibly more often depending on use.

• While using Wolverton Corrals, commercial users will feed certified weed-free hay or pellets.

• Food, tools, and materials for delivery to the trail crew will be picked up by the commercial packer at the Wolverton Corrals.

• Loads will generally consist of food, tools and equipment, fuel, and mail. The vendor will be responsible for sanitary cold storage of the perishable food, sanitary storage of dry goods, mail, tools, equipment, and fuel until it reaches its final wilderness destination.

• All applicable food/goods will be stored and handled in a bear-safe manner when under the care of the commercial packer.

• No single item to be packed will be longer than 5’, with the possible exceptions of shovels and telescoping polesaws, or tripod legs. No single item will be heavier than 90 lbs.

• One “load” will be up to 150 pounds of material packed to the destination, with or without a load on the return leg of the round trip. Top loads may be required.