Seed Project 5 Knowles Head Thinning PWS.pdf

Knowles Head Restoration Thinning - Performance Work Statement

Knowles Head Restoration Thinning Knowles Head Restoration Thinning Task Order

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. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: to secure thinning services for 212 acres in young growth stands approximately 26 to 33 years of age.

1.3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Shall be Date of award – October 31, 2024

1.4. GENERAL ACCESSIBILITY

1.4.1. This project is located on the Chugach National Forest’s Cordova Ranger District, on

Knowles Head peninsula which is located north of Port Gravina and south of Port Fidalgo in eastern Prince William Sound. No roads connect the project area to Wrangell or any other nearby communities. It lies approximately 25 miles northwest of the city of Cordova, Alaska and 30 miles south of Valdez, Alaska. The Village of Tatitlek is approximately 15 miles north of the project area.

1.5. ITEM(S) SITE ACCESSIBILITY

1.5.1. This project is situated on Knowles Head Peninsula in eastern Prince William Sound, Alaska. See Appendix 1: Access Information. Knowles Head Peninsula is not connected via road system from the city of Cordova or other nearby towns. All vehicles, equipment, supplies, staff, etc. must be barged or flown to the project site. Potential beach access points include Snug Corner Cove, western Two Moon Bay, and Knowles Bay.

1.5.2. The Government does not guarantee vehicle access or continued vehicle access to project areas by road. Roads indicated on the contract map have been decommissioned and may not be accessible by motorized vehicle. Road maintenance by the Government will not be provided in this contract.

If access to any of the Units changes due to weather, floods, slides, failure of man-made structures, or any natural phenomenon, the Government reserves the right to delete those units affected by the change in access. The Government may decide to substitute similar units or may provide an alternate access route. The Government may also agree to the completion of the work on those units affected by a change in access with an adjustment in contract price, an extension in contract time, or both.

1.6. LOCAL SERVICES

1.6.1. Cordova, Alaska is a full-service community that is linked to Seattle, Washington and Anchorage, Alaska via Alaska Airlines, the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System and private barge services. Cordova is the administrative site of the Cordova Ranger District.

2. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/TASKS

2.1. TASK – THINNING

2.1.1. The Contractor shall thin all eligible conifers to the following specifications:

Tree Size Treatment <2 feet high Leave and ignore for spacing >2 feet high and < 9 inches dbh Cut trees to reach the desired spacing 9 inches dbh and larger, not residual trees Girdle trees to reach the desired spacing all residual trees Leave and ignore for spacing

2.1.2. The Contractor shall thin all eligible conifers greater than 2 feet in height to the following spacing specifications:

Project Area

Spacing (feet) Target TPA Minimum

Spacing Maximum Spacing

Knowles Head 16’x16’ 170 8’ 24’

TPA – Trees Per Acres

Conifer tree spacing may be varied up to +/- 50 percent on an individual tree basis, in order to select the most desirable leave trees. Leave trees shall be no closer and no farther apart than the minimum and maximum variance for any given spacing as listed in the above table. The intent of the 50% variance is to give the Contractor the greatest opportunity for selecting the most desirable leave trees and to meet the treatment objectives. However, overall average spacing using the original spacing guides shall be maintained wherever possible.

Dense Canopy Retention Area - The contractor will retain 5% of each unit as untreated based where units are greater than 4 acres, where natural tree spacing is less than 5 feet between trees. Size of retention areas will vary between 20 and 40 feet in diameter.

Dense Canopy Retention areas may not be grouped together and need to be more than 40 feet from other retention areas.

All spacing distance between trees shall be adjusted to horizontal distance and measured from the face of the tree boles at breast height (4.5 feet above ground level). Though most stands contain openings not occupied by trees, overly dense thickets shall not be left in one spot to offset the lack of trees in another.

2.1.3. TREES TO FAVOR FOR LEAVE TREES - Within the spacing requirements the

Contractor shall select as leave trees, the largest, best formed, most vigorous tree, of the preferred species. It shall be dominant or co-dominant, free from mechanical or animal damage, and show no signs of disease or dwarf mistletoe.

In the event the Contractor determines that no tree meets these specifications, they shall choose the one that comes closest to meeting the specifications in order to maintain the required spacing.

2.1.4. SPECIES PREFERENCE - The Contractor shall thin all eligible conifers greater than 2 feet in height based on the following species preference / priority ranking and no-cut specifications:

District Project Area Crop Tree Species Preference/Priority Ranking*

No- Cut / Ignore For Spacing**

1 2 3

Cordova Knowles Head Peninsula SS WH MH SA, BC

*Species Preference / Priority Ranking: 1 is highest priority species; when two species appear in the same priority ranking, they shall be considered equal and one should not be favored over the other – the objective is to leave both species distributed proportionally throughout the stand.

**No-Cut / Ignore For Spacing: Except on closed roads to aid access, these species shall not be cut and will not count as crop trees.

Species Codes: SS = Sitka Spruce; WH = Western Hemlock; MH = Mountain Hemlock;

SA = Sitka Alder; BC = Black Cottonwood;

2.1.5. STUMP HEIGHT – REMOVAL OF LIVE LIMBS - All trees to be cut shall be cut below the lowest live limb, except when prevented by natural or man-made obstacles. Obstacles are objects that could damage a saw blade if nicked, include but not limited to as rock, cable or mineral soil. They do not include logs or stumps. Any live limbs left on stumps because of natural obstacles shall be trimmed to within 4 inches of the obstacle. Stump height shall not exceed 12 inches above ground level or 4 inches above natural obstacles.

3. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT MEASUREMENTS:

Performance Objective

PWS

Paragraph

Measurement Method

Allowable Performance Deviation

Remedy Amount or Corrective Action

Task - Thinning 2.1 COR will inspect using plot at a spatial frequency relative to the unit area. The COR will inspect a minimum of one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the unit/contract area.

Distance from a specified centerline or designated width

10% deviation

0% deviation for no-cut corridors

Contractor shall rework the thinned area(s), if possible.

If over cutting has occurred:

Contractors shall be charged per area in accordance with Appendix 2, Damages Table.

Full invoice payment upon acceptance of services.

or following defined no-cut boundary

4. DELIVERABLE / SCHEDULE

4.1. Work Schedule IAW parent PWS.

IDIQ PWS

Paragraph 2.15

Work Schedule

To notify the government of when the contractor shall be on site performing work.

5 working days prior to commencement of work and upon request thereafter

5. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

5.1. N/A

6. Appendix:

Appendix 1: Access Information

Appendix 2:

DAMAGES TABLE

Spacing Target

TPA

Minimum Acceptable TPA with no Damages for

Deficient Trees

Damages Category 1 (light over-cutting)

Damages Category 2 (moderate over-cutting)

Damages Category 3 (severe over-cutting)

Measured

TPA

Damages per Deficient Tree below Min.

Acceptable

TPA

Measured

TPA

Damages per Deficient Tree below Min.

Acceptable

TPA

Measured

TPA

Damages per Deficient Tree below Min.

Acceptable

TPA

10’ X 10’

436 392 371-391 $2 349-370 $4 >349 $6

12’ X 12’

303 273 258-272 $3 242-257 $6 >242 $9

14’ X 14’

222 200 189-199 $4 178-188 $8 >178 $12

16’ X 16’

170 153 145-152 $5 136-144 $10 >136 $15

18’ X 18’

134 121 114-120 $6 107-113 $12 >107 $18

20’ X 20’

109 98 93-97 $8 87-92 $16 >87 $24

22’ X 22’

90 81 77-80 $10 72-76 $20 >72 $30

24’ X 24’

76 68 65-67 $12 61-64 $24 >61 $36