Seed Project 3 SRD Thinning Performance Work Statement.pdf

Seward Ranger District Mechanical Thinning Performance Work Statement

General Information

1 PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

1.1 All general descriptions and contract terms and conditions listed in the Base IDIQ Performance Work Statement/Contract remain unchanged and are applicable to this Task Order PWS.

1.2 Background and Purpose: This is a non-personal services task order for spruce bark beetle mitigation including mechanical timber harvest and slash treatment for approximately 189 acres of the Seward Ranger District, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

1.3 Project Location: The project is located within and adjacent to the Seward Ranger

District, Chugach National Forest, Alaska: see Appendix 7 Campgrounds Overview Map.

1.3.1 For specific project sites see:

1. Appendix 1 Unit 600 Russian River Campground and adjacent land, 75 acres

2. Appendix 2 Unit 601 Entrance Station K’beq Interpretive Site, 15 acres

3. Appendix 3 Unit 605 NW Cooper Creek, 13 acres

4. Appendix 4 Unit 605 SW Cooper Creek, 10 acres

5. Appendix 5 Unit 625 Crescent Creek, 65 acres

6. Appendix 6 Unit 630 Tenderfoot Creek, 11 acres

1.4 Period of Performance:

1.4.1 May 16st 2022 to May 15th 2024

1.5 Performance Restrictions: Crescent Creek Campgrounds may be treated in the summer, May 1st – September 15th, barring any potential closures for Northern goshawk nests. For the remaining sites services can only be performed after the campground is seasonally closed, September 15th through May 1st, of each calendar year. If services can be performed while the campgrounds are open, the COR will notify the contractor 15 days prior to opening the performance restriction window.

2 CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/TASKS

2.1 General Requirements and Mitigation Measures– Applicable to All Tasks:

2.1.1 All designated trees within the unit will be cut, skid, and decked at approved landings. Slash from cutting shall be piled in the units. See below for general and specific task details.

2.1.2 No activities shall occur within 1/8 mile of any active Northern goshawk nests from March 1st through July 15th. No nests are currently identified. If a nest is found in the vicinity of the project, the contractor will be notified, and the location provided.

2.1.3 Unit boundaries are not delineated on the ground. Most boundaries are roads, powerline corridors, water bodies or marked Forest Service property lines. See attached map. Questions pertaining to project area boundaries should be directed to the COR for clarification. Additionally, items to be avoided including firepit rings, water spigots, well heads and septic vents are marked with wooden stakes and flagging.

2.1.4 Any identified sensitive plant areas will be flagged on the ground by the COR and the contractor will be notified.

2.1.5 Skidding and log transport shall be restricted to existing disturbed areas, such as existing or old roads, powerline corridors, etc. to reduce new area ground disturbance, soil displacement or compaction wherever possible. New trails will be designated before development and will avoid trail locations on side slopes or slopes greater than 35%.

2.1.6 Mechanical treatments shall occur on frozen ground, or durable surfaces, unless otherwise agreed to with the COR.

2.1.7 All access routes developed during project implementation shall be closed and rehabilitated to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized motorized recreation use.

Closure will consist of existing gate. All skid trails will be rehabilitated by “fluffing” slash as equipment leaves the Contract Unit Boundary.

2.2 TASK 1: Mechanical Timber Harvest

2.2.1 Russian River CG & K’Beq Interpretive Site & Crescent Creek CG - All spruce trees greater than or equal to 5 inches in DBH shall be cut.

2.2.2 Cooper Creek North & South CG & Tenderfoot CG - All spruce trees greater than or equal to 6 inches in DBH shall be cut.

2.2.3 Live trees meeting harvest specifications not to be harvested will be marked by the Forest Service with orange paint or flagging.

2.2.4 A merchantable tree is any cut tree that is 6 inches in DBH or larger and is at least 1/3 sound.

2.2.5 All merchantable trees cut shall be cut to a 5-inch top, limbed, skidded to an approved landing and decked.

2.2.6 Preapproved decking locations are shown on unit map with the expectation to completely fill these areas before other sites will be approved. If no sites are identified on the unit map, the contractor shall work with the COR to identify[MDF1] suitable locations.

2.2.7 Any trees within the unit less than the minimum diameters stated in 2.2.1 and

2.2.2 may be cut for operational purposes but are considered slash and shall be piled as described in the TASK 2 Slash Treatment.

2.2.8 Stumps shall not be greater than 6 inches in height [RTFMPA2][MDF3]on the side adjacent to the highest ground.

2.3 TASK 2: Slash Treatment

2.3.1 Pile Material: All limbs, tops, and sound non-merchantable material less than 6 inches in diameter shall be machine piled.

2.3.2 Piles shall be constructed in a pyramid or conical shape and be reasonably free of dirt and rotten material. All piles shall be placed a minimum of 15 ft. from residual trees to prevent damage.

2.3.3 All piles shall be located within the cutting unit boundary.

2.3.4 Piles must be a minimum of 100 feet from streams or standing water and 50 feet from hardened surfaces. Hardened surfaces include roads, parking areas and campsites. If these requirements cannot be met within a unit, alternate pile locations will be agreed to with the COR.

2.3.5 Maximum pile size is 20 feet in diameter and 15 feet tall.

3 Deliverable / Schedule

3.1 The Contractor shall submit all deliverables for this PWS IAW within listed timelines outlined above. Below is a list of all deliverables outlining each objective and due date.

Item No.

Deliverable Objective Due

1 Work Schedule Finalize Draft Work Schedule. Para 1.7

5 working days prior to commencement of work

2 Project Manager Designate a Project Manager IAW paragraph 1.15

At the pre-work meeting.

4 Deliverable / Schedule Item Work Schedule IAW Master PWS IAW Master PWS

5 Government Furnished Access to campgrounds will be via locked gates. The contractor will be supplied a key/code to unlock gates. Contractor will also be furnished with digital map files delineating unit boundaries.

6 Security Requirements

Only the contractor and their employees are allowed access into work areas. Gates will be closed and locked at all times.

7 Performance Requirement Measure Required Service

Performance Standard

PWS

Para.

Acceptable Performance Deviation

Method of Surveillance /Measurement

Remedy or Corrective Action

Mechanical timber harvest including skidding and decking of merchantable logs

Cut, limb, skid to approved landings and deck all merchantable designated spruce trees.

Cut and treat non-merchantable designated trees as slash

2.2 100% of designated trees are cut and treated

Zero (0)% deviation

Visual inspection by COR

All linear and area measurements required under this contract will be measured on the horizontal plane.

Contractor shall correct and deficiencies prior to any payment for performance Pile all designated slash for burning

Pile all slash generated from timber harvest including tops, limbs and sound non-merchantable material

2.3 90% or more of slash meeting specifications piled in approved locations

9 Definitions, abbreviations and regulations:

9.1 See Master PWS

10 Appendix:

Appendix 1 Unit600RussianRiverCGwAcreage Appendix 2 Unit601KBeqwAcreage Appendix 3 Unit605NwAcreage Appendix 4 Unit605SwAcreage Appendix 5 Unit625CrescentCreekwAcreage Appendix 6 Unit630TenderfootCreekwAcreage Appendix 7 CampgroundsOverviewMap

Scale: 1:6,000

0 0.09 0.180.045 Miles

Date Created: 12/16/2021

Legend Roads

! ! Trail

Powerlines

Approved Deck Locations

CG Unit Boundary

Non-National Forest s Spruce Beetle Mitigation Project, Chugach NF Unit 600 - Russian River CG, 75 Acres Russian River CG

Scale: 1:2,000

0 0.03 0.060.015 Miles

Date Created: 12/16/2021

Legend Roads

! ! Trail

Powerlines

Approved Deck Locations

CG Unit Boundary

Non-National Forest s

Unit 601 - K'Beq, 15 Acres Russian River CG

Scale: 1:2,500

0 0.035 0.070.0175 Miles

Date Created: 12/16/2021

Legend Roads

! ! Trail

Powerlines

Approved Deck Locations

CG Unit Boundary

Non-National Forest s

Unit 605N - Cooper Creek CG, 13 Acres Cooper Creek CG

Scale: 1:1:500

0 0.02 0.040.01 Miles

Date Created: 12/16/2021

Legend Roads

! ! Trail

Powerlines

Approved Deck Locations

CG Unit Boundary

Non-National Forest s

Unit 605S - Cooper Creek CG, 10 Acres Cooper Creek CG

Scale: 1:5,000

0 0.075 0.150.0375 Miles

Date Created: 11/22/2021

Legend Roads

! ! Trail

Powerlines

Approved Deck Locations

CG Unit Boundary

Non-National Forest s

Unit 625 - Crescent Creek, 65 Acres Crescent Creek CG

Scale: 1:2,500

0 0.035 0.070.0175 Miles

Date Created: 11/22/2021

Legend Roads

! ! Trail

Powerlines

Approved Deck Locations

CG Unit Boundary

Non-National Forest s

Unit 630 - Tenderfoot Creek CG, 11 Acres Tenderfoot Creek CG

!9

!9 !9 !9

Scale: 1:175,000

0 2.5 51.25 Miles

Date Created: 11/18/2021

Legend

!9 Campgrounds in Project Area

Roads

Non-National Forest

Forest Boundary s Spruce Beetle Mitigation at Russian River, Crescent Creek, Cooper Creek and Tenderfoot Campgrounds, Chugach NF Project Overview Map

Cooper Creek Campground

Russian River Campground

Crescent Creek Campground

Tenderfoot Creek Campground