SOW - C-13 Fuel Reduction Thinning.pdf

C-13 Fuel Reduction Thinning

Timber Thinning – Fuel Reduction – Habitat Expansion

Camp Edwards, Massachusetts Army National Guard

Scope of Work

Concept: This project is the first stage of a multi-year effort to reduce fuels in Training Area C-13, on Camp Edwards, MA. Wildland fire modelling has consistently indicated that this training area is a high-risk receptor for wildfire on Joint Base Cape Cod. This project will thin the existing forest to reduce wildland fire fuel loading, increase habitat value for rare fauna, and create a buffer to disrupt southern pine beetle irruptions.

Project Description: The work to be accomplished under this contract, without limiting the generalities thereof, consists of providing all labor, equipment and supervision required to clear trees from a minimum of 50 acres (as determined by GIS software) of land in Training Area C-13, Massachusetts Army National Guard Training Site, Camp Edwards MA. The work includes but is not strictly limited to the following:

1. Parcel 1: 50 Acres. This is the focal point of, and is the minimum acreage intended for this project. It will anchor in the southernmost point of the unit, near the intersection of Burgoyne Road and Gibbs Road. The thinning will extend north and northwest from the anchor point.

a. The contractor will remove 75% of all trees 8-12” diameter at breast height (DBH). The contractor will not remove any trees larger than 12” DBH.

b. The contractor will remove all trees between 4-7” DBH.

c. Standing trees within the prescription will be removed. Woody debris (woodchips) resulting from this tree removal must be removed from Joint Base Cape Cod.

d. No action is required for stumps resulting from this harvest.

e. The contractor will rough grade any extreme rutting or craters created by cutting, skidding, chipping, or trucking operations so that the site is accessible by MAARNG wheeled vehicles. Back-blading with the blade on a skidder is an acceptable example of grading in most cases.

2. Parcel 2: Additional acres. Depending on the per acre rate of the winning bid, MAARNG may elect to expand the harvest further north from the extent of Parcel 1. Additional acres will meet the same prescription, requirements and conditions of Parcel 1. Training Area C-13 is reasonably homogenous so the contractor can expect similar land conditions and tree density, etc.

3. Parcel 3: The contractor will cut standing snags scattered throughout 18 acres of previously thinned woods in Training Area BA-3. The contractor is not required to chip and remove these trees, nor to process them on the ground. The contractor is only responsible for cutting the snags and laying them down.

4. There are some special considerations when executing this contract:

a. The contractor will conduct work during relatively dry conditions to minimize rutting and erosion. MAARNG may elect to suspend work during unusually wet conditions.

b. In order to minimize impacts on species of concern, the contractor may not begin work on this project before November 15, 2025. The project should be completed by January 15, 2026.

c. The winning contractor will conduct a site visit with the MAARNG project manager prior to Sep 26, 2025 to determine logistical requirements, site access, staging areas, and landing sites.

d. Some likely landing and access sites are within a utility easement owned by Eversource Energy. Should Eversource approve use of their easement, when chip hauling is complete the contractor will be expected to clean any impacts on the easement (i.e., remove branches and piles of chips/needles, smooth ruts), to respect Eversource property and reduce ignition/smolder potential.

e. When choosing a landing site, and while operating along the eastern project boundary, the contractor must protect the power line along (unnamed) road.

5. Rehabilitation extents (see map) – The final extent of this project could be adjusted based on the per acre cost of work. Our expectation is that the project will ultimately be larger than the minimum acreage (Parcel 1) outlined in this scope of work.

Standard Considerations:

1. This bid solicitation requires that the vendor provide a per acre price for each Parcel. Depending on the winning bid and available funding, MAARNG may elect to increase or decrease the acreage of the project. Any additional acreage will be adjacent to and in the same condition as the Parcels in this scope of work. Total project bid will be determined by using the cost per acre price plus any additional costs submitted on the mandatory bid sheet.

2. To bid on, or be awarded any timber management project on Camp Edwards, the contracting person, firm or corporation must have a valid Massachusetts Timber Harvesting license.

3. MAARNG will clearly mark the limits of all project boundaries with high visibility flagging or paint. The project manager will provide a georeferenced PDF map with final parcel boundaries, suitable for common smartphone mapping apps, so operators can track their location.

4. To prevent introducing invasive species, the contractor is required to thoroughly clean the exterior, undercarriage, and tires/tracks of all equipment with a high-pressure washer at a maintenance facility prior to bringing the equipment on site.

5. All mechanized equipment shall carry a working fire extinguisher at all times to be used in the event of a fire. Camp Edwards’ vegetation is dominated by high-risk fuel types – no torch cutting or welding can be conducted without a permit from the Joint Base Cape Cod Fire Department.

The MAARNG project manager will serve as liaison between the contractor and fire department and must individually approve any open flame operations.

6. All mechanized equipment must be free of leaks in fuel and hydraulic lines during the course of work and must be removed from the site at the conclusion of work. Further, all mechanical equipment must carry oil-absorbent pads at all times, to be used in the event of a fluid spill.

7. The contractor shall comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations controlling pollution of the environment.

8. The contractor shall be responsible for the cleanup of any trash, spills, or other debris associated with or originating out of work done by the contractor. In the event of a spill or leak, the operator must immediately cease operations and notify the MAARNG project manager.

9. Contractor personnel must be able to pass security screening in order to access the base for a site visit or to conduct work on this project. A list of disqualifying criteria will accompany this scope (Appendix A). The project manager may request limited personal information for any contractor personnel accessing the site in order to pre-clear them with base security.

10. Refueling: The base fire department will perform an initial inspection of the contractor’s refueling process. At a minimum, the contractor should be able to display the following for the inspector: fire extinguisher, absorbent pads and a 5-gallon plastic bucket.

11. Permitting: The MAARNG will arrange for any review and permits for the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, Forest Cutting Practices Act, Camp Edwards Environmental Performance Standards, and will perform initial liaison with the Joint Base Cape Cod Fire Department. All other necessary permits are the responsibility of the contractor and shall be obtained and paid for by the contractor.

12. Site visit: It is mandatory for all vendors to attend a site visit prior to submitting a bid. The site visit will be conducted on Friday, 22 Aug 2025. To attend the visit, contact Robert Crevey at Robert.crevey@mass.gov or 317-525-0691.

13. If the contractor with the lowest bid does not have a history of previous projects on Camp Edwards, the MAARNG may request a list of similar jobs they have completed in the past two years, with addresses and contact numbers for managers/owners of the job sites.

14. Bids for this project will be submitted through COMMBUYS and are due by 3 Sept, 2025. Any questions about COMMBUYS access or functionality should be directed to Mia Kochka at Michaela.A.Kochka@mass.gov.

mailto:Robert.crevey@mass.gov

Need: Camp Edwards has thousands of acres of sorely neglected pine barrens woodland units. This habitat type is dependent on intermittent disturbances such as fire, grazing, or other forms of natural thinning. C-13 is long overdue for maintenance fire or thinning, and thus is overstocked with wildland fire fuels and has lost a significant amount of early successional habitat value. In its current condition, it poses a significant potential fire risk for Pave Paws and the town of Sandwich and should be thinned.

Current Situation: C-13 is an overgrown pitch pine and oak woodland. As the woodland further matures, it is losing early successional habitat value for a range of desirable species. The amount of fuel loading and proximity of overstocked pines have an increased risk of running crown fire near a Space Force facility and the town of Sandwich. Additionally, the terrain is challenging and recent events have clarified how difficult it can be to access wildfires in the training area. This project will increase firefighter access within the unit and permit the creation of functional firebreaks.

Justification: The MAARNG Natural Resources program has identified C-13 as a high-yield opportunity where a single project can benefit three different natural resources priorities.

First, models of potential wildfire scenarios consistently show that C-13 is a likely receptor of fire and, given its current fuel loading, could be a grave risk for the Pave Paws facility and the town of Sandwich.

Second, MAARNG NR and partner agencies remain deeply concerned about the spread of southern pine beetle and the severe damage it can cause to pine barrens (as demonstrated in Long Island and New Jersey). We are increasingly dubious that an irruption can be contained once established, so our best practice is to preemptively thin pine stands to disrupt explosive breeding.

Third, the proposed project site is adjacent to a regularly maintained utility easement and a 2018 timber harvest in Training Area C-14. Both locations have a resurgent population of frosted elfin butterflies, a species of particular interest. Additionally, harvests of this nature have greatly assisted the rebound of whip-poor-wills on Camp Edwards. That recovery is especially pronounced in this part of the base and this project is expected to further benefit it.

Mandatory Bid Sheet

C-13 Fuel Reduction Thinning

Timber Thinning – Fuel Reduction – Habitat Expansion within Training Area C-13

Camp Edwards, MA.

This bid includes addenda no(s). : _____________________________

Project Costs:

1. Parcel 1:

Thinning cost per acre = $___________ x 50 acres = $__________________

2. Parcel 2:

Thinning cost per acre = $___________

3. Parcel 3:

Snag removal on 18 acres = $__________________

4. Additional Costs $__________________

5. Logistics: Contractors must list the equipment and methods proposed to complete this harvesting/clearing (use additional pages if needed).

Appendix A:

ACCESS CONTROL DENIAL AND REVOCATION CRITERIA

Access control is subject to be revoked if a person is found to be defined under the following criteria or at the request of a JBCC JOG member:

A. Is listed on the National Terrorist Watch List.

B. Is not a U.S. Citizen and is illegally present in the U.S. or whose U.S.

citizenship, immigration status, or Social Security Number cannot be verified.

C. Is subject to an outstanding criminal warrant of any type.

D. Whose business pass application contains false or fraudulent information.

E. Has a felony conviction within the last 2 years.

F. Is a registered sex offender regardless of the date of the criminal offense.

G. Has obtained a felony conviction for the following types of criminal offenses:

Offenses of a sexual nature - Offenses of violence - Offenses related to gang activity, supremacist, or extremist behavior - Crimes resulting from the possession, use, manufacture, introduction, or distribution of any illegal drug listed in the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention & Control Act of 1970, schedules I through V. - Offenses in which weapon instrumentality (e.g., firearm, knife or other bladed instrument, club, brass knuckles) was used either as a means of violence, or a threat of violence.

H. Whose military service was terminated by the receipt of an other than honorable discharge or bad conduct discharge.

I. Has been issued a debarment order and is currently banned from military installations.

J. Has exhibited characteristics, traits or other indications that cause concern for the health, safety or welfare of personnel and/or residents aboard the base; or that cause concern for the physical security or environment of the base.

C-13

B-10

E-4

C-14

B-12

B-11

Gibbs Rd

Mon um en t S wa mp

Rd

Burgoyne Rd

Ca t R d

MassGIS

¯Impact Area

Legend !. Anchor Point

C-13 Harvest Parcel 1

Real Property Roads

Training Area Boundaries 0 1,000 2,000500

Feet

BA-3

A-2

MassGIS

¯Impact Area

Legend C-13 Parcel 3

Real Property Roads

Training Area Boundaries 0 500 1,000250

Feet

MAARNG C-13 Project Parcel 3