Sol_140R2026Q0075.pdf

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL

BUSINESS (WOSB)

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES

1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE 1 OF

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3.AWARD/EFFECTIVE

DATE

4. ORDER NUMBER 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER 6. SOLICITATION ISSUE

DATE

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

a. NAME b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls)

8. OFFER DUE DATE/

LOCAL TIME

9. ISSUED BY

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

CODE

15. DELIVER TO 16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE17a. CONTRACTOR/

OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY

CODE

CODE

TELEPHONE NUMBER

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN

OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK

BELOW IS CHECKED

REQUEST

FOR QUOTE

(RFQ)

INVITATION

FOR BID

(IFB)

REQUEST

FOR

PROPOSAL

(RFP)

SEE ADDENDUM

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Government Use Only)

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN 29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REFERENCE

. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 30c. DATE SIGNED

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 11/2021)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS UNRESTRICTED OR

NORTH AMERICAN

INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION

STANDARD (NAICS):

SIZE STANDARD:

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

THE DEFENSE PRIORITIES

AND ALLOCATIONS

SYSTEM - DPAS (15 CFR 700)

SET ASIDE: % FOR:

11. DELIVERY FOR FREE ON

BOARD (FOB) DESTINATION

UNLESS BLOCK IS MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE (FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION) FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4.

FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED.

8(A)

ECONOMICALLY

DISADVANTAGED

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL

BUSINESS (EDWOSB)

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

(SDVOSB)

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SMALL BUSINESS

NOTE: OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, AND 30.

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH

AND DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND

ON ANY ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

SPECIFIED

DATED.

OFFER

ADDENDA

ADDENDA

140R2026Q0075

See Schedule See Schedule

Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region Regional Office Division of Acquisition Services 2800 Cottage Way, Room E-1815 Sacramento CA 95825-1898

07/03/2026 1000 PD

0044041930

Davinder Kullar 9169785110

R20 100.00

R20

Davinder Kullar

115310

$11.5

06/12/2026

0011285608

ADMINISTERED BY:

Bureau of Reclamation

Mid-Pacific Region

Regional Office

Division of Acquisition Services

2800 Cottage Way, Room E-1815

Continued...

STOCK RECORD (S/R)

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 11/2021) BACK

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE RECEIVED (MM/DD/YYYY) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

40. PAID BY

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. EMAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

PARTIAL FINAL

37. CHECK NUMBER

38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER

36. PAYMENT

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

ACCEPTED,

Sacramento CA 95825-1898 US

DELIVER TO:

Bureau of Reclamation-MP-CCAO

Central California Area Office

7794 Folsom Dam Road-Receiving

Folsom CA 95630-1799 US

Delivery: 06/30/2031

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR part 12 and additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01 as of March 13, 2026 and FAR Overhaul as of April 20, 2026.

This requirement is being solicited as a 100% Total Small Business set-aside and will be awarded on a best value basis in accordance with FAR 12.203.

The Government intends to award one or more Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) under this solicitation, depending on the number of responsible small business quoters and the results of the comparative evaluation.

GENERAL INFORMATION

RFQ Number: 140R2026Q0075

Request for Quotation (RFQ)

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Invitation for Bid (IFB)

North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS): 115310

Size Standard: $34.0 Million

Quotes due date: July 3, 2026. 10:00am PDT.

Quotes shall be emailed to Davinder Kullar at davinder_kullar@ios.doi.gov.

Offerors must be registered in System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) at the time an offer or quote is submitted and continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment.

mailto:davinder_kullar@ios.doi.gov http://www.sam.gov/

VENDOR INFORMATION

Business Name: _______________________________

Business Address: ______________________________

Contact Info (name/email): ______________________________

Business Size/Socioeconomic Status: ____________________________

UEI Number/Cage Code: ______________________

QUOTE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Please see further instructions for quote submission under Addendum to Provision 52.212-1

Documents necessary for quote submission are as follows:

1. Completed Price Schedule in Attachment 1 and Vendor Information (see above).

2. Provide Technical Capability Statement, no more than 20 pages.

3. Quoters must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM.gov) with completed Representations and Certifications, to be considered for award.

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Construction and Vegetation Management of Eight Shaded Fuel Breaks in the Auburn Project Lands

1. SCOPE

The scope of this Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is to support the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in its efforts of constructing and maintaining the 1,224-acre network of Shaded Fuel Breaks (SFBs) on Reclamation’s Auburn Project Lands (APL; Project Area). These activities will take place in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) of Reclamation’s APL in Placer and El Dorado Counties, CA.

This BPA allows Reclamation to place individual BPA calls for specific work requirements during the BPA ordering period. Allowable implementation methods include one or a combination of hand crews using handheld mechanical equipment (e.g. chainsaws, string trimmers); large mechanical equipment (e.g.

masticator, skid steer); and herbicide treatments. The Government reserves the right to establish a single BPA or multiple BPAs, based on what is determined to be in the best interest of the Government.

All work shall adhere to:

- Appendix A – Fuels Reduction Prescription

- Appendix B – Best Management Practices & Conservation Measures for Auburn Project Lands

- Appendix C – Nesting Bird Avoidance Measures

2. BACKGROUND

The wildlands within Reclamation’s APL are surrounded by dense residential and commercial communities. To reduce the spread of wildfires and their intensity, increase the success of fire suppression activities and decrease the potential for wildfire-related damages to these communities, Reclamation has identified 8 SFBs in the WUI of the APL located on the ridgeline of the North and Middle Forks of the Lower American River (Project Area). An SFB is generally defined as thinning of dense vegetation, so fire does not move easily from the ground to the overhead tree canopy. Unlike fire breaks, the vegetation in an SFB is strategically thinned and modified but not completely eliminated. The objective of an SFB is to support fire suppression efforts.

The SFBs in the APL extend up to 600-feet wide, measured horizontally from the nearest structure on adjacent private lands into the federal wildlands. In the last five years, 670-acres of SFBs have been constructed making significant progress towards the goal of 1,224 initial treated acres.

After the initial treatment of priority areas, vegetation management (maintenance) of previously treated SFBs may be conducted at Reclamation’s discretion. The maintenance portion of the SFBs will aim to reduce and manage understory and ladder fuels that have emerged in the years after initial construction.

All activities will be guided by a prescription, which outlines objectives for reducing hazardous fuels such as trees, shrubs, brush, and other vegetative growth (see Appendix A).

3. BPA OBJECTIVE

The objective of this BPA is to provide a flexible, rapid ordering mechanism for contractor services to complete construction activities and conduct maintenance on 8 SFB sites on Reclamation’s APL to reduce the risk of fire activity within the WUI. BPA calls will be issued as discretionary work requirements arise.

This BPA:

- Does not obligate funds upon establishment

- Is not a contract

- Becomes binding only when a BPA Call is issued and accepted.

- The contractor shall not commence work until receipt of a signed BPA Call issued by the Contracting

Officer and accepted by the contractor.

4. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

These SFBs are, or are planned to be, adjacent to the communities of Applegate, Monte Verde Estates, Auburn, Kings Hill, Todd Valley-Foresthill, Georgetown-Greenwood, Auburn Lake Trails, and Cool-Pilot Hill in Placer and El Dorado Counties (see Exhibit A).

The Project Area covers a variety of vegetation types, including foothill pine/oak woodland, Douglas-fir/mixed conifer, chapparal, and oak woodland. Elevation within the Project Area ranges from 1,150 to over 2,800 feet, and slopes range from 0 to greater than 60%. Access is difficult in certain areas, which may require coordination with private landowners to access certain Project sites.

Sensitive environmental and ecological resources including pre-historic and historic cultural sites, habitats of special status wildlife and plant species, and riparian zones may exist, which will be identified in advance by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and shall be avoided, or appropriate protection measures shall be implemented (see Appendices A, B & C).

5. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The BPA ordering period shall be five (5) years from the effective date of BPA establishment.

6. HOURS OF OPERATION

The Contractor shall perform work during business hours, Monday through Friday.

7. RECOGNIZED FEDERAL HOLIDAYS

The Contractor is not permitted to work weekends or federal holidays under this contract.

8. BPA ORDERING PROCEDURES

This BPA is established under the authority of FAR Section RFO 12.201-1(e)(3) to streamline placement of recurring fuels reduction needs. Any CO assigned to the Acquisitions and Assistance Division of Interior Region 10 –California Great Basin (CGB) Region of the Bureau of Reclamation, acting within the limits of their authority, may act as CO after award of the BPA for purposes of administering the BPA, including issuing BPA Calls or modifying the BPA. A particular CGB CO may be assigned administration of this contract post-award.

(a) This BPA will only be open to Reclamation’s CGB Region.

(b) BPA Minimum: No minimum dollar obligation.

(c) BPA Order Limitations: Each order issued under this BPA will be for an amount exceeding $0.00 but not more than $900,000.00 per year.

(d) The contractor shall not perform any tasks without a signed BPA Call Order. Only a CO is authorized to issue BPA Call Orders and obligate funds.

(e) The Government is obligated only to the extent of authorized purchases actually made under the BPA.

9. WAGE DETERMINATION

Each call order will include the current applicable Department of Labor Wage Determination, which will be attached to all BPA calls, based on the date of issuance of the Task Order. The applicable counties for this contract are Placer & El Dorado Counties, California.

10. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

All SFBs would be constructed pursuant to the SFB Prescription for APL (Prescription; Appendix A), and by one or a combination of allowable implementation methods and applicable Best Management Practices (BMPs), which are provided in Appendix B. The contractor would treat vegetation consistent with Appendix A within pre-defined boundaries provided by Reclamation. See Exhibit A for SFB maps, which generally includes an area within the WUI up to 600-feet wide measured horizontally from the nearest structure on adjacent private lands into the federal wildlands.

10.1. SFB CONSTRUCTION/IMPLEMENTATION

Using one or a combination of the allowable implementation methods (Paragraph 11) and applicable BMPs described in Appendix B, the contractor shall adhere to the following standards to achieve the desired fuel model for each SFB. In general, the following SFB standards shall be applied to each SFB:

• An emphasis will be to create SFBs resembling a park-like setting with blended or feathered edges through selective thinning of vegetation.

• All vegetation treatments will adhere to the vegetation management guidelines conducive to the type of vegetation present at each SFB site, which is provided in Appendix A.

• Ensure that construction does not reduce the overhead tree canopy to more than 60% opening, if not already.

• Trees up to 12-inch diameter at breast height (dbh) class are eligible for removal.

• Unless directed otherwise by the COR, all understory fuels over 1 foot in height are to be removed to develop vertical separation from overhead trees. Invasive and non-native vegetation shall be prioritized for removal.

• All SFBs will incorporate the conservation and avoidance measures, including applicable Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone Widths, as identified in Appendices A, B & C.

• Work shall not commence until a Work Plan has been approved by the COR.

10.1.1. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

The contractor shall implement the following vegetation management guidelines when constructing SFBs to achieve the desired fuels arrangement:

10.1.1.1. Tree Removal

Tree removal will focus on removing dead, dying, decadent, or diseased trees before any healthy trees are removed. To achieve the desired SFB outcome, the contractor shall incorporate the following measures:

• Trees up to the 12-inch dbh class are eligible for removal under this Project.

o Trees greater than 12-inch dbh shall not be cut; however, due to operational needs, it may be necessary to remove an occasional tree with a dbh greater than 12-inches based on forest health and Project objectives.

Trees greater than 12-inches dbh proposed for removal will be identified by the COR or approved in advance in writing by the COR, if requested by the contractor.

• 100% of trees less than 12 inches dbh within the dripline of a tree greater than 12-inch dbh shall be removed.

• Hardwood trees (e.g., oak, maple, madrone) shall be prioritized for retention over softwood trees (e.g., pine, fir, cedar, spruce). Stumps of felled trees shall be cut to just above ground level, leaving the rootball intact.

o Cut stumps of felled trees shall be no greater than 6 inches above the ground surface.

o Avoid removing individual limbs of oak trees that are greater than 3 inches in diameter to preserve tree health.

o The criteria for species retention are provided in Appendix A.

• Maintain 20 feet of horizontal spacing between residual tree trunks and 8-15 feet between crown driplines.

o The contractor may increase the horizontal trunk spacing of residual trees if driplines overlap.

• Limbs of residual trees will be pruned to a height of 8-10 feet above the ground to discourage the vertical movement of fire from the ground into the overhead tree canopy.

o Ensure that pruning limbs of residual trees does not reduce the live crown ratio below ½ of the height of the tree.

• 100% of trees treated under this contract shall be masticated, chipped and broadcast, or piled for later masticating/mulching on-site.

o Chips and or mastication shreds shall be spread as evenly as possible to an average depth of 6 inches; the maximum allowable depth is 12 inches.

o If chipping and/or mastication is deemed unsafe or infeasible, individual trunks of felled trees (with all limbs removed) may be retained on-site to reduce erosion (contour felling).

The contractor must receive prior written approval from COR before leaving felled tree trunks on the ground.

o Lop and scatter of tree limbs is permissible with prior written approval from the COR.

The Project contains a variety of vegetation communities such as oak, conifer and chaparral-dominated communities, each of which has certain species that are desirable for retention that shall be adhered to. The criteria for individual species retention for each vegetation community is provided in the Prescription in Appendix A.

10.1.1.2. Snags

Snags are a conduit for fire during a wildland fire; however, they also provide excellent wildlife habitat in their natural state. Unless otherwise directed by the COR, the contractor shall retain snags or groupings of snags that are:

• 18-inch dbh or larger and not more than 30 feet in height, so long as the tree is not capable of reaching a road, structure or infrastructure.

• Unless directed by the COR, no more than 1 snag per-acre shall be retained on the Project.

o Groupings of snags (if present) may be retained where they meet the above criteria and are determined by the COR to provide beneficial wildlife habitat.

10.1.1.3. Brush & Mid-story Fuels

• Approximately 90% of all available brush shall be removed to achieve SFB objectives.

o Greater than 10% of available brush may be retained to achieve species diversity and wildlife benefits, if approved in advance in writing by the COR.

• Individual plants or pairs of plants may be retained if they are less than 5 feet tall and no more than 5 feet wide, and there is horizontal separation between plants of 3 to 5 times the height of residual plants and/or trees.

• All shrubs/brush species that are within the dripline of an overstory tree shall be removed.

• All brush shall be cut at the base of the plant, just above ground level while leaving the rootball intact.

o Remaining stumps shall be no taller than 4 inches above ground.

• The criteria for brush species retention are provided in the Prescription in Appendix A.

• 100% of brush treated under this contract shall be chipped and/or masticated and broadcast on-site.

o Chipped and/or masticated material shall be spread as evenly as possible to an average depth of 6 inches; the maximum allowable depth is 12 inches.

10.1.1.4. Understory Fuels

• 90% of understory fuels (weeds, creeping plants, re-emerging shrubs, etc.) over 1-inch dbh and greater than 1 foot in height shall be removed to just above ground level.

11. TREATMENT METHODS – CALL ORDER DESCRIPTIONS

To implement the Project, the contractor may use one or a combination of the treatment methods described below. The contractor will be reimbursed per-acre completed according to the Performance Requirements standards. Treatment methods to be used will be proposed by the contractor and approved by the COR in a Work Plan as described in paragraph 14.2. Only one treatment type per acre is reimbursable under this contract, unless otherwise provided in writing by the CO. Per-acre Unit prices shall be established in the BPA price schedule. Any changes to pricing must be approved by the Contracting Officer.

Each Call Order Description/Task described below will coincide with a Call Order Line Item, which will be reflected in the final Price Schedule. The contractor shall perform the following tasks:

TASK 1 FLAGGING

Project boundaries shall be clearly flagged by the Contractor in fluorescent orange, or a color mutually agreed upon by the COR and Contractor. If flagging is not feasible, the Project boundaries should be surrounded by clear road boundaries. Watercourse and Lake Protection Zones (WLPZ) will be delineated in blue flagging (refer to Appendix A Item 6F for Watercourse Protection Guidelines).

Geospatial data outlining the work areas will be provided by the COR and shall be outlined at each Project site by the Contractor prior to beginning work. Work shall not occur outside of Project boundaries. If there is a question on location of Project boundaries, the contractor shall contact the COR prior to working in an area where the boundary is not clearly delineated.

TASK 2 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

The contractor shall provide a qualified biologist to survey the work area not more than five days ahead of the anticipated work commencement and flag nest sites for avoidance if work is to be performed during the nesting season (March 1 – August 31). All monitoring should be done using the guidelines in the Nesting Bird Avoidance and Monitoring Measures for Vegetation Removal and Construction Activities in CCAO document (See Appendix C).

• A qualified biologist is a person who at a minimum, holds a bachelor’s degree in biological or environmental science, natural resources management, or related discipline; field experience.

o The Contractor shall provide evidence to the COR that persons serving as a qualified biologist meet the standards described above.

TASK 3 HAND CREWS & CHIPPING – SLOPES LESS THAN 50%

The following Task will apply to hand crew and chipping work on slopes that are less than 50 percent gradient.

The contractor may employ a hand crew using a variety of hand tools and techniques for cutting, felling, pruning, collecting, winching, raking, loading, and pulling vegetative material to implement SFB construction and maintenance standards described in Paragraph 10. These practices shall be performed in a manner that prevents damage to residual vegetation.

Hand crews shall be supplemented by a chipper to redistribute treated vegetative material on-site. The Contractor shall employ a tracked chipper, or a combination of tracked and tow-behind chippers, with a minimum 14-inch diameter capacity for processing vegetative material removed in implementation of the treatment.

• The tracked chipper may be used in all areas that are deemed feasible by the Contractor.

• A tow-behind chipper may be used on established roads and trails as needed. Passage on certain roads and trails may be blocked by vegetative material, requiring the Contractor to perform hand work to gain passage.

• If there is an area(s) where material cannot be chipped due to topographic limitations, safety concerns, or environmental barriers, the Contractor shall notify the COR and coordinate alternative treatment methods.

o Chipped material shall be spread as evenly as possible to an average depth of 6 inches; the maximum allowable depth is 12 inches. Chips shall not be broadcast onto roads, trails, or into watercourses.

• The overall quantity of acres to be treated by hand crews at each project site will be determined in coordination with the Contractor and COR and will be reflected in each Work Plan.

TASK 4 HAND CREWS & CHIPPING – SLOPES GREATER THAN 50%

The following Task will apply to hand crew and chipping work on slopes that are greater than 50 percent gradient. The contractor may employ a hand crew using a variety of hand tools and techniques for cutting, felling, pruning, collecting, winching, raking, loading, and pulling vegetative material to implement SFB construction and maintenance standards described in Paragraph 10. These practices shall be performed in a manner that prevents damage to residual vegetation.

Hand crews shall be supplemented by a chipper to redistribute treated vegetative material on-site. The Contractor shall employ a tracked chipper, or a combination of tracked and tow-behind chippers, with a minimum 14-inch diameter capacity for processing vegetative material removed in implementation of the treatment.

• The tracked chipper may be used in all areas that are deemed feasible by the Contractor.

• A tow-behind chipper may be used on established roads and trails as needed. Passage on certain roads and trails may be blocked by vegetative material, requiring the Contractor to perform hand work to gain passage.

• If there is an area(s) where material cannot be chipped due to topographic limitations, safety concerns, or environmental barriers, the Contractor shall notify the COR and coordinate alternative treatment methods.

o Chipped material shall be spread as evenly as possible to an average depth of 6 inches; the maximum allowable depth is 12 inches. Chips shall not be broadcast onto roads, trails, or into watercourses.

• The overall quantity of acres to be treated by hand crews at each project site will be determined in coordination with the Contractor and COR and will be reflected in each Work Plan.

TASK 5 MASTICATION

Contractor may employ a masticator to grind, shred, chop, or mulch targeted vegetative material into small chunks or pieces to implement the SFB treatment standards described in Paragraph 10. The specified equipment configuration shall be determined by the Contractor. The Contractor should consider the Project site characteristics to make appropriate equipment configuration selection.

• Mastication operations are not permitted on slopes greater than 35%.

o A map of slopes above and below 35% for each of the 8 SFB sites are provided in Exhibit A.

• Mastication operations will require supplemental work by hand crews to prune residual trees and cut brush away from residual trees to fulfill the Performance Requirements standards. Per-acre pricing for mastication operations shall include supplemental work by hand crews.

• The overall quantity of acres to be treated by mastication at each project site will be determined in coordination with the Contractor and COR and will be reflected in each Work Plan.

TASK 6 HERBICIDE APPLICATION

The Contractor may apply herbicide application in the post-treatment control of invasive vegetation and sprouting tree and brush species regrowth, consistent with the herbicide application guidelines and associated BMPs in Appendix B. Under this contract, the per-acre costs for herbicide application shall include the cost of the chemical.

• The overall quantity of acres to be treated using herbicides at each project site will be determined in coordination with the Contractor and COR and will be reflected in each Work Plan.

• Herbicide applications shall be performed by individuals possessing a Qualified Applicator Certificate or Qualified Applicator License.

o The Contractor shall provide evidence to the COR of current License/Certificate for all persons applying herbicides under this contract.

Biobased Products

To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with performance requirements, the Contractor shall utilize USDA-designated biobased herbicide products in accordance with FAR 52.223-1, Biobased Product Certification, and FAR 52.223-2, Reporting of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts.

If a USDA-designated biobased herbicide product is not available, does not meet performance requirements, or is otherwise unsuitable for the intended application, the Contractor may propose an alternative product for Government approval.

12. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

No Government-furnished property will be issued or provided to the Contractor under this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for furnishing all equipment, materials, and supplies necessary to perform the work as specified herein.

12.1. ACCESS TO PROJECT AREA

The COR will be responsible for ensuring that the Contractor is granted access to the Project Area through all Reclamation gates and locks. This access is necessary for the Contractor to perform the required work as specified in the contract. The COR will coordinate with relevant personnel to arrange for entry and will address any access-related issues that may arise during the project period.

13. DELIVERABLES

Description

Content

Medium

Delivery Contractor shall provide the COR with monthly invoices for work being billed for the respective month.

Monthly invoices should at a minimum identify the treatment types used; quantity of acres treated for each treatment type, dates, and dollar value.

MS Word, and .pdf Via SAM.gov system

Contractor shall provide the COR progress reports at the end of each month of worked that detail the work being billed for the respective month.

Monthly progress report should at a minimum, identify the dates worked;

treatment methods used; maps displaying the location and quantity of acres treated.

Progress reports shall be delivered via MS Word or .pdf

Via email to the COR and CO NLT COB 5 days after the end of the calendar month.

Contractor shall provide the COR with maps and geospatial data that detail the work being billed for the respective month.

Maps should at a minimum display/outline the area(s) treated, quantity of acres treated, and dates

MS Word, .pdf, ESRI-compatible shapefile

Via email to the COR NLT COB 5 days after the end of the calendar month.

Contractor shall provide before and after photos representative of the acres before and after the treatment.

Contractor will provide photo documentation (.jpeg) and map locations (shapefiles) to illustrate compliance in (approximately) 5-10 acre-areas completed as work progresses.

MS Word, .pdf, .jpeg (or similar file format), ESRI-compatible shapefile

Via email to the COR NLT COB 5 days after the end of the calendar month.

14. QUALITY CONTROL/QUALITY ASSURANCE

14.1. Project activities will be implemented by the Contractor consistent with Paragraphs 10 & 11, Appendix A, B and C and in accordance with the Work Plan. Changes or deviations from the Work Plan are allowable only if requested in writing by the Contractor (if requested by Contractor) and approved in writing by the COR.

14.2. Contractor and COR will develop comprehensive Work Plans that outline desired worksites over successive 90-day periods. The Work Plan will include maps and dates of specific locations where the Contractor intends to implement Project activities over a 90-day period. The Work Plan will be continually updated throughout the life of the BPA and will be approved by the COR not more than every 60 days after completion of initial Work Plan. Work shall not commence until the contractor and COR have both signed and approved of each Work Plan.

14.2.1. Work Plan Content

The Work Plan shall include, at a minimum, the following elements:

1. Means and Methods

A detailed description of the techniques, procedures, and operational strategies the contractor will employ to perform wildfire mitigation activities. This includes but is not limited to:

• Vegetation management (e.g. thinning, pruning, removal)

• Fuel reduction implementation methods

• Erosion control and site stabilization

• Debris disposal and site cleanup

2. Equipment Utilization

A list of all major equipment and tools to be used, including:

• Type, make, and model of equipment

• Quantity and availability

• Purpose and function of each item in relation to the work

3. Staffing Plan

A breakdown of personnel assigned to the Project, including:

• Labor categories and number of personnel per category

• Roles and responsibilities

• Certifications or qualifications relevant to wildfire mitigation

• Organizational structure and lines of communication

4. Estimated Timeframes

A schedule outlining the estimated duration for each major task or phase of work, including:

• Mobilization and demobilization

• Site preparation

• Execution of mitigation activities

• Final inspection and reporting

5. Maps & Photos

The contractor shall include maps that depict the work area they intend to complete. At a minimum, the maps shall include:

• A polygon that outlines the intended work area

• Acres of intended treatment areas

• Breakdown of acres to be treated by method of implementation

6. Safety and Environmental compliance

A summary of safety protocols and environmental protection measures to be implemented during operations, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

7. Review and Approval

The Government will review the submitted Work Plan(s) for adequacy and compliance with contract requirements. The contractor shall revise and resubmit the Work Plan as necessary based on Government feedback. No field work shall commence until the Work Plan is approved in writing by the COR or designated representative.

a. Contractor shall notify the COR in writing no less than two weeks in advance when proposing to commence Project activities at specific SFB sites, and prior to demobilizing from an SFB site.

The COR will provide written acceptance or acknowledgement no less than one week after receiving notification from the Contractor.

15. QUALITY ASSURANCE MONITORING

a. The Government will monitor the contractor’s performance to assure that the performance thresholds and standards of performance are met in accordance with the statement of work.

In accordance with FAR 52.212-4:

i. “Inspection/Acceptance” the Government reserves the right to inspect or test any supplies or services that have been tendered for acceptance. The Government may require repair or replacement of nonconforming supplies or re-performance of nonconforming services at no increase in contract price.

b. The contractor service requirements are summarized as performance objectives in paragraph 10 that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance standards describe the minimum acceptable levels of the service required for each task. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

c. The COR will evaluate the services required by each task to ensure compliance.

d. The contractor shall perform all work required in accordance with performance objectives. The COR will not consider the task complete until all deficiencies have been corrected.

e. If the COR receives complaints from neighbors, they will be passed to the contractor’s quality inspector for correction.

The absence of or the inclusion of a Performance Standard for any contract requirement shall not detract from its enforceability or limit the rights or remedies of the government under any other provision of the contract.

Performance Objective

Performance Standard AQL

Herbicide application Applied only in approved treatment areas and according to approved Work Plan and Appendix B requirements

100% compliance

Applicator qualifications

Applicators maintain required licenses/certifications throughout performance

100% compliance

Herbicide coverage Target treatment areas receive application consistent with Work Plan requirements

98% compliance

Environmental compliance

No unauthorized application in exclusion zones, watercourses, or protected areas

100% compliance

II. REFERENCES

Number

Title and Edition

Date

Source

1.

Appendix A: Fuels Reduction Prescription for Five Year Fuels Reduction Project – as provided in the California- Great Basin (CGB) National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Five- Year Fuels Reduction Management for Auburn Project Lands Construction and Maintenance of Shaded Fuel Breaks (CGB-EA-2022- 043)

March 2023 EA/FONSI: CGB-EA-2022-043 Five-Year Fuels Reduction Management for Auburn Project Lands Construction and Maintenance of Shaded Fuel Breaks

2. Appendix B: Fuel Reduction Best Management Practices & Conservation Measures for Auburn Project Lands

December

Auburn Project Fire Management Plan

3. Appendix C: Nesting Bird Avoidance and Monitoring Measures for Vegetation Removal and Construction Activities in CCAO Federal Action: Authorization of Vegetation Removal and Construction Activities on Federal Lands

December

Auburn Project Fire

4. Exhibit A: Project Maps

December

Auburn Project Fire

APPENDIX A

Shaded Fuel Break Prescription for Auburn Project Lands

1 SHADED FUEL BREAK PRESCRIPTION: AUBURN PROJECT LANDS

All SFBs constructed and maintained along the WUI of the APL are intended to provide increased wildland fire protection for the communities and neighborhoods situated within the WUI in the event a wildland fire ignites in the American River Canyon. The SFB treatments described in this document are the most recent guidelines for SFBs fuel load management in the APL WUI areas. The objective of creating a SFB is to help slow down the rate of fire spread across this area. SFBs, unlike disked fire breaks, clear out the understory vegetation in an area using specific treatment techniques that are suitable to the material being treated such as mowing, pruning, vegetation removal, and chipping.

Auburn Project Lands/ Urban Interface Generalized Site Characteristics: The APL is situated atop the North Fork American River Canyon, in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Foothills. Elevations range between 1,100-2,800+ feet above sea level, with slopes ranging between 0-90%. The geography in and around these lands is characterized by steep canyons with sharp drops, jagged cliffs, and numerous intermittent and perennial drainages. These drainages, also known as “chutes” or “chimneys” are very steep, V-shaped canyons with dense fuel loads of native and invasive vegetation, which can encourage fierce fire behavior. These drainages present exceptionally challenging fire suppression efforts, and there is often limited success in fire suppression because of the steep terrain and erratic fire behavior.

American River Canyon Wind Patterns: Winds moving through the American River Canyon are typically west to east with a southerly component and follow the diurnal patterns of up-slope/up canyon in the daytime and down-slope/down canyon at night. The vegetation variation in the canyon is strongly affected by the differences in temperatures and precipitation between low and high elevations. There are large transitions in fuels, and some areas may experience high rates of fire spread. Because many of the canyons and drainages are also west to east oriented, the winds in these canyons can be extremely strong and will funnel through these drainages, creating extremely hot, rapid and volatile fire behavior.

Canyon Surface Soils: Soils are generally well-drained, silty, sandy and gravelly mixtures developed over either granitic or metamorphic bedrock. Higher elevation soils are thin with numerous outcroppings of igneous and metamorphic rock and have limited permeability.

General Canyon Rim Oak Woodland Ecosystem: The vegetative arrangement within the APL consists primarily of oak woodlands, chaparral, coniferous forests, and grasslands. A type-specific list of primary vegetation types is listed below:

• Foothill Woodland: live oak, blue oak, gray pine, and some chaparral on south-facing slopes.

• Valley Grassland: wild oat, soft chess, common foxtail, and red brome.

• Chaparral: manzanita, chamise, toyon, ceanothus, and shrub varieties of various oaks.

• Ponderosa Pine including: Pacific ponderosa pine, Pacific madrone, California bay, interior live oak, blue oak, Douglas fire, black oak, and canyon live oak.

• Streamside Woodland: palustrine (emergent mosses, persistent emergent vascular plants, shrubs or trees cover 30% or more of the habitat; if non-persistent emergent, other non-plant organisms, or no organisms dominate, the wetland is not a riverine nor a lacustrine habitat) forest, dense thickets and thin stringers of palustrine scrub-shrub which includes willow scrub and some elderberry shrubs.

Fuel Break Design Standards: A sound SFB prescription follows three guiding principles:

1. It prescribes specific and measurable targets for fire behavior reduction;

2. It contains site specific considerations tied to wildland fire risk reduction objective; and

3. It aligns with other legal, resource management and non-statutory objectives including all applicable environmental policies and analyses.

Fuel Break Width: When designing a landscape-level SFB, a targeted width is recommended to reduce fire spread and intensity based on fuel types, ignition sources and variations in geographical features such as slope, topography, and access; although, the target width may be extended across the landscape to connect with natural or artificial barriers such as large rock outcrops, wet meadows, roads, canals/watercourses, or areas with low fuel loads or flammability. When possible, SFBs favor locations that are linked to road systems to facilitate firefighting access.

In consideration of the fuel type, fuel density, steep topography, sources of ignition, residential density, limited ingress/egress, prevailing winds, and recorded fire history that exists across the landscape, the targeted width for SFBs in the APL will be 600 feet, measured horizontally from the nearest structure on adjacent private lands onto APL. SFBs may be extended beyond 600 feet in areas where fire activity is likely to increase (in drainages, steep slopes, limited access, etc.), and where natural or artificial barriers exist to aid in fire suppression activities and increase firefighter safety, at reasonable and practicable locations.

Shaded Fuel Break Implementation: Implementation consists of removing or pruning trees, shrubs, brush and other vegetative growth within the Project Area as prescribed. All work will be accomplished by one or a combination of hand crews, biological treatment, mechanical equipment; heavy equipment (where permitted) and/or pile burning/pile mastication on a case-by-case basis as determined by the COR.

Standard Shaded Fuel Break Treatments/Management Criteria: Trees up to the 12-inch dbh class are eligible for removal under this prescription. Due to operational needs, it may be necessary to remove trees with a dbh larger than 12-inches based on forest health and Project objectives, but this will only be authorized on a case-by-case basis after deemed necessary by the COR.

During the initial construction and then continuing during maintenance, removal of dead, dying, diseased, decadent, or dense trees and chaparral species will be prioritized prior to removal of live healthy trees. If healthy small trees and chaparral are removed as a part of the work, spacing criteria will be evaluated for fire prevention so that a spreading from the forest floor is not likely to reach the overhead tree canopy. Individual trees under 12-inch dbh may also be retained for diversity if they do not disrupt Project objectives, but this will only be done on a case-by-case basis after deemed necessary by the COR.

The following measures will be applied for construction of SFBs on APL:

1. Understory Fuels: Understory fuels over 1-foot in height are to be removed to develop vertical separation and low horizontal continuity of fuels. Individual plants or pairs of plants may be retained provided there is a horizontal separation between plants of 3 to 5 times the height of the residual plants and the residual plants are not within the drip lines of an overstory tree.

2. Brush & Mid-Story Fuels: It is desirable to remove as much brush as possible within the SFB area;

however, if individual plants or pairs of plants are desired to be left, leave plants with the following characteristics: young plants less than 5 feet tall and individual or pairs of plants that are no more than 5 feet wide. From a fuels management perspective, retain the following brush species in descending order:

Category 1

• Dogwood

• Redbud

Category 2

• Toyon

• Buckeye

• Coffeeberry

• Lemmon Ceanothus

• Buckbrush (Wedge leaf ceanothus)

Category 3

• Whitehorn Deer brush

• Manzanita

• Chamise

• Yerba Santa

• Scrub Oak

• Non-native species (such as olive, fig, broom, etc.) will be targeted for removal.

3. Hardwood & Over-story Fuels: Remove smaller trees (< 12-inch dbh) and retain larger (> 12-inch dbh), more vigorous trees. This approach removes ladder fuels, raises the base of the tree crowns, and increases the spacing between tree crowns. Large trees are more fire-resistant due to thicker bark. This approach tends to shift species composition away from shade-tolerant species that have thin bark and are often abundant in the understory.

• Thinning from below is a common approach in even-age stands. In cases where an uneven- age stand is desired (a forest containing three or more age classes), a modified approach can be used;

however, the presence of young, smaller trees can act as ladder fuels and increase the chances of a crown fire.

• Trees up to the 12-inch dbh shall be removed to create horizontal and vertical separation from residual trees. Exception to this size limit shall be trees that have significant defect, and/or which do not have a minimum of a 16-foot saw log or trees, such as saplings, that do not present an undesirable effect.

• Live but defective trees larger than the 12-inch dbh providing cavities for wildlife use may be retained at the CORs discretion.

• Trees shall be removed to create horizontal distances between residual trees from 20 feet between trunks, and up to 8 to 15 feet between tree crown drip lines. Larger overstory trees (≥ 12-inches dbh) do count as residual trees and, to reduce ladder fuels, shall have vegetation within their drip lines removed.

• Branches of residual trees shall be pruned to a height of 8 to 12 feet off the forest floor, not to reduce the live crown ratio below 1/2 of the height of the tree.

• When constructing the SFB, tree canopy opening shall be limited to no more than 60% of the overall SFB canopy.

• Criteria for residual trees (≥ 12-inch dbh)

• When pruning oak trees, avoid removing individual limbs of oak trees that are greater than 3 inches in diameter to preserve tree health.

Hardwood trees: Leave trees that have vertical leaders and thrifty crowns with at least 1/3 live crown ratio.

Retain hardwood tree species in descending order:

• Valley Oak

• Blue Oak

• Black Oak

• Big Leaf Maple

• Madrone

• Live Oaks

Conifers: Leave trees that have single leaders and thrifty crowns with at least 1/3 live crown ratio. Retain conifer tree species in descending order:

• Sugar Pine

• Ponderosa Pine

• Douglas fir

• Knob-cone Pine

• Grey Pine

• White fir

• Incense cedar

Intolerant to shade species have a higher preference as leave trees because their seed will be less likely to germinate in the understory.

4. Snags: Snags are a conduit for fire during a wildland fire; however, they also provide excellent wildlife habitat in their natural state. The following is the criteria of when snags shall be retained:

• 18-inch diameter class or larger and not more than 30 feet in height, and those that are not capable of reaching a road or structure provided there is a separation of at least 100 feet between snags.

5. Wetlands: Wetlands and riparian areas will not be adversely affected for treatment and ground operations.

6. Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone (WLPZ): This ZONE of PROTECTION means a strip of land, along both sides of a watercourse or around the circumference of a lake or spring, where additional practices should be undertaken for the protection of the quality and beneficial uses of water, fish, and riparian wildlife habitat, other forest resources, and for controlling erosion.

WLPZ widths and operational limitations shall be in conformance and consistent with Title 14, California Code of Regulations, 936.5, Procedures for Determining Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone Widths, as approved by the California Board of Forestry, as described below:.

Class I watercourse (Fish bearing): Exclude from equipment operations (except on existing roads) and remove one thousand hour and smaller sized dead fuels (≤ 5 inches in diameter).

Class II watercourse (Aquatic habitat for non-fish aquatic species): Treatment of overstory and the treatment of understory will not reduce vegetative cover below 50%. One thousand-hour and smaller sized dead fuels (≤ 5 inches in diameter) will be removed. Ground based equipment will not operate within the zone except on existing roads. Prune residual trees.

Class III watercourse (No aquatic life present): Full SFB prescription will be implemented but no ground-based equipment will operate within exclusion zones.

The following table may be used to identify the standard width of a WLPZ:

Water Class Class I Class II Class III Class IV

Characteristics or Key Indicator of Beneficial Use

1) Domestic supplies, including springs, on-site and/or within 100 feet downstream of the operations area and/or

2) Fish always or seasonally present on-site, includes habitat to sustain fish migration and spawning.

1) Fish always or seasonally present offsite within 1,000 feet downstream and/or

2) Aquatic habitat for non-fish aquatic species.

3) Excludes Class III waters that are tributaries to Class I waters.

No aquatic life present;

watercourse showing evidence of being capable of sediment transport to Class I and II waters under normal high-water flow conditions after completion of tree operations.

Human-made watercourses, usually downstream of established domestic, agricultural, hydroelectric supplies or other beneficial uses.

Protection Width 150 feet 100 feet 25 feet < 30% slopes; 50 feet > 30% slopes

25 feet < 30% slopes; 50 feet > 30% slopes

APPENDIX B

Best Management Practices & Conservation Measures for Auburn Project Lands

2 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES & CONSERVATION MEASURES

2.1 GENERAL BMPS

Trees and brush shall be cut as close to the ground as possible. Residual brush stumps shall not be taller than 4 inches. Residual tree stumps should be as low as possible, but not taller than 6 inches.

• All cut vegetation shall be kept within the Project boundaries. Vegetation falling into ditches, streams, roads, road banks, adjacent properties, or trails shall be removed immediately.

• All equipment, including chainsaws and hand tools, must be cleaned before entering the Project Area to prevent spread of…