SGL 037 Nettie Lewis CTR Special Provisions.docx

SGL 037

NETTIE LEWIS CROP TREE RELEASE

July 15, 2024

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

I. SCOPE OF WORK:

A. The Pennsylvania Game Commission, Northcentral Region, requires the mechanical release of crop trees. Services shall include, but not be limited to, the furnishing of all labor, superintendence, tools and equipment for the release of designated crop trees on 123 acres of SGL 037 in Tioga County. Detailed specifications are attached. All Purchase Orders require the contractor to provide the equipment, labor, insurance, and all miscellaneous expenses to complete the operation.

Any questions concerning the technical aspects of this bid should be directed to:

Chris Wood Forester, Northcentral Region Phone: 814-404-2209 Email: chriwood@pa.gov

II. CONTRACT TASKS:

A. Project Location:

a. State Game Lands 037, Middlebury & Charleston townships, Tioga County. Project is accessed from Carpenter Road near Hills Creek State Park. The contractor will mechanically release crop trees by hand felling competing trees with a chainsaw or handheld brush cutter. In all blocks crop trees are marked as reserves in red paint.

b. Maps of the locations are included in the packet.

B. SITE INSPECTION AND ASSISTANCE:

The PGC will conduct a one-time-only guided tour of the work sites for prospective bidders on Aug 15, 2024 beginning at 9:30 AM. The tour will start with a review of the site. We will meet at Sheetz in Mansfield, PA.

Coordinates:

41.43627, -77.28159

Contractors are permitted to visit the project site on any date on their own time to further inspect the site, however, due to a gated access road, contractors should contact the PGC Forester to gain access through said gate if a pre-visitation is desired.

C. OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS:

To bid on this project, an Operator must have the office, maintenance facilities, equipment, employees, and qualified equipment operators and mechanics, and have tools, equipment, and spare parts for the make and type of equipment indicated in these specifications.

III. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS:

A. All work can be started immediately after bid award notification and contract signing. Work must be completed by the termination date: June 30, 2025. No contract extensions will be approved.

B. Work Specifications

1. Crop Tree Release

Item 1: Crop tree release on 123 acres.

Nettie Lewis CTR Block 1 – 22 acres Block 2 – 21 acres Block 3 – 20 acres Block 4 – 21 acres Block 5 – 18 acres Block 6 – 21 acres Total crop trees – 1,608 Estimated trees to cut – 5 to 7 trees per crop tree

Crop trees in all blocks were 100% tallied.

1. Crop trees are marked in red paint. All crown-touching competitors of these trees are to be cut. All reserve trees from the previous timber harvest and conifers are reserved. No branches from adjacent trees should remain above or touch the branches of the crop trees. When standing below each crop tree, a ring of sky should be visible when looking upwards. We estimate an average of five to seven competing trees will need to be cut for a full release of each crop tree. The successful bidder is required to meet on site with a PGC forester prior to cutting to discuss specific cutting instructions.

2. Trees may be felled with hand operated devices. Trees felled must be completely severed at the stump.

3. Stump heights must not be higher than 6 inches above the ground.

4. All trees must be felled to ground level. Any leaning trees must be pushed or pulled to ground level. It is not necessary to lop down tops on trees that are on the ground.

5. All woody material must remain on site.

6. All care should be taken to directionally fell trees away from road edges, crop trees, herbaceous openings, trails, parking area, vernal ponds, stream corridors, and the game land boundary. The main game land road must be kept open for travel prior to leaving the location each day during operations.

7. Grape vines may be severed for operator safety

8. Any damage to game lands access roads will be repaired by the operator.

9. Cutting equipment -The Operator may use any handheld equipment for felling the trees competing with each crop tree. Primary equipment will be chainsaws or handheld brush cutters on a weed trimmer platform. The equipment and technique must completely sever the competing trees without damaging the crop trees’ bole or crown. No self-propelled machines are permitted. The Commission reserves the right to reject any piece of equipment that in its opinion will not adequately complete the job.

C. The contractor agrees to comply with all attachments.

D. As a further guarantee of faithful performance of the conditions set forth in this Contract, the Successful bidder hereby agrees to furnish the Commission with Cashiers or Treasurers Check, Letter of Credit, or Insurance Bond payable to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, in the amount of $1,000.00.

E. Failure to comply with any of the terms or conditions of the Contract will result in cancellation of the agreement.

IV. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS:

A. The contractor will provide Workmen’s Compensation insurance sufficient to cover all of the employees of contractor working to fulfill this contract.

B. Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, including bodily injury and property damage insurance, to protect the Commonwealth, and the contractor from claims arising out of the performance of the contract. The amount of Bodily Injury Insurance shall not be less than $300,000.00 for injury to or death of persons per occurrence. The amount of Property Damage Insurance shall not be less than $300,000.00 per occurrence.

Such policies shall name the Commonwealth as an additional insured. Prior to the commencement of work under this contract, the contractor must provide the Commonwealth with current Certificates of Insurance. These Certificates shall contain a provision that coverage afforded under the policy shall not be canceled or changed until at least thirty (30) days prior written notice has been given to the Commonwealth.

V. HOLD HARMLESS:

The contractor shall be responsible for and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Commonwealth from and against damages to property or injuries (including death) to any persons and other losses, damages, expenses, claims, demands, suits, and actions by any party against the Commonwealth in connection with the work performed by the contractor.

VI. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY:

The Contractor shall be responsible for any damage to Commonwealth property resulting from the improper use of equipment for this herbicide project. The Contractor will be given one (1) written warning that damage is becoming excessive and if the action continues damages will be assessed.

PROPERTY INFRASTRUCTURE - Contractor shall immediately repair, in a manner that meets with the approval of the Regional Forester, any damage to administrative roads and other facilities, including access roads, resulting from their use for this operation, general wear and tear is accepted. Regional Forester may notify the Contractor in writing to temporarily discontinue use of any of the above whenever, in their opinion, such action is necessary to prevent serious damage.

VII. OPERATIONS AND NON-WORK DAYS:

a) No woods operation will be permitted on the following days:

1. All Saturdays in the months of October, November, December, and January and any Sundays open to hunting.

2. The opening day and all Saturdays during spring turkey season, including the youth spring gobbler hunt.

3. All the days of the general statewide bear season

4. The entire 2 weeks of the general firearms deer season.

5. The opening day of the flintlock muzzleloader season

b) The contractor, employees, and sub-contractors may not hunt to, from, or at the job site when the work location is beyond a gated road that is closed to public traffic. The contractor may travel to and from the work location on non-work days to check on the condition of equipment.

c) The contractor is responsible for the control and collection of fluids leaking from any equipment used on the site. The contractor must have a spill containment and cleanup kit appropriate for the equipment being used. At a minimum, the kit will contain: plugs and clamps to control hydraulic line breaks, a container to collect leaking fluids, fluid absorbent pads and a shovel. Operating any equipment noticeably leaking fluids is prohibited. The contractor must collect and control fluids leaking from any equipment and dispose of properly.

Except on Sundays, it is unlawful to be present on State Game Lands from November 15 through December 15 inclusive when not engaged in lawful hunting or trapping and fail to wear a minimum of 250 square inches of daylight fluorescent-orange material on the head, chest, and back combined, or in lieu thereof, a hat of the same colored material. The material shall be worn so it is visible in a 360-degree arc.

VIII. CONTRACT TERM:

The contract term shall commence upon contractor’s receipt of the approved Purchase Order(s), receipt of performance bond, and proof of insurance. This also includes a notice to proceed and terminates June 30, 2025.

IX. BID AWARD:

A. RECEIVING AND OPENING BIDS - The bid shall be awarded on a per acre basis. Bids must be submitted via the PA Supplier Portal, to be found at www.pasupplierportal.state.pa.us Faxed bids and mailed bids will NOT be accepted.

Bids will be publicly opened on Aug 28, 2024 at 2:00 PM., at the Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.

The price per acre shall include all labor, equipment, tools, insurance, materials disposal and all items necessary for the completion of the project. Prices bid shall be in dollar and cents only.

B. BID RESULTS - Bidders can obtain results at www.emarketplace.state.pa.us/bidtabs.aspx

The posted results will contain the information of the apparent bidders, and all bids are under review until final award of the purchase order.

Quantities herein are only estimates and may increase or decrease dependent upon the needs of the Commission. Operator shall be paid at the unit price bid for actual services performed.

The Commission reserves the right to reject any or all bids and award contracts as it determines to be in the best interest of the Commission.

X. PAYMENT TERMS:

Payment shall be on a reimbursement basis for actual services performed. Payment will be made on the basis determined by the Commission’s surveyed acreage treated.

Only work successfully completed to the specifications will be paid for by the agency.

Attachment #1 “JOB SPECIFICATIONS” Crop Tree Release