_SoW.pdf

Cone Collection

Black Hills National Forest

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

CONE COLLECTION

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST

C-1 - Introduction

C-1.1 - Scope of Contract

The Forest Service is in need of Ponderosa pine seed used to restore and reforest National Forest lands. The purpose of this solicitation is to secure commercial services for the harvest of mature seed cones in areas prescribed by the terms of this contract.

Work will be performed on the Bearlodge District of the Black Hills National Forest (Ranger District in

Wyoming).

The contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies (except those designated as Government furnished) and incidentals to perform all work necessary to select trees (if required) and to pick, bag, label, and deliver cones to the delivery point. Delivery points will be determined by the Forest Service approximately two weeks prior to cone collection.

C.1.2 - Location and Description.

Collection areas are located throughout the Black Hills National Forests. Areas for picking pinecones will be directed to the awardee(s) by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

C.1.3 - Site Visit

No site visit is planned for this project.

C.2 - Definitions

Cone lot: The cones from a variety of trees, usually at least 20, from the same elevation band and within the same collection area.

Contracting Officer (CO). The person executing this contract on behalf of the Government, including any duly appointed successor and authorized representatives of the Contracting Officer acting within the limits of their authority.

Contractors Officer’s Representative (COR): The COR is the on-site contract administrator for the Contracting

Officer. The duties and responsibilities of a COR are defined in the letter of designation issued by the

Contracting Officer after award.

Cut face: The exposed face of one side of a cone that has been cleanly sliced lengthwise along the cone axis exposing the inside of the cone and the seeds.

Mature seed: The actual seed condition will vary by species but in general seed is considered mature when the embryo fills 90% or more of the embryo cavity (most important criteria) and is a cream or pale yellow color. The surrounding storage tissue (endosperm) is a firm consistency and not a viscous, milky condition. The seed coat and seed wing have darkened in color and is easily lifted from the cone scale.

Filled seed per cut face: a method used to determine seed yield which includes the count of seed on the cut face exhibiting the highest exposed filled seed count. Only seed that have been sliced open sufficiently so that the inside of the seed is readily visible are counted as exposed. Only seed containing storage tissue (endosperm) and that are sound are counted as filled seed. Seed that are not sliced open (i.e., the seed coat remain intact), are ignored.

Sound seed: Seed is considered sound when the endosperm and embryo are developing normally and there is no evidence of insect, disease, climatic or other types of damage.

Species Definitions:

PP Ponderosa pine (PIPO)

C.3 - Government Furnished Property and Services.

The property and services that will be provided by the Government are as follows:

Item

No.

Item Name Description Where, When, How

3.1 Project Maps Maps of seed zones, general collection areas.

Will also include Motor

Vehicle Use Maps, forest maps and topographic maps

Provided in attachments, at pre-work meeting.

3.2 General Collection Cone Tags Self explanatory At pre-work meeting, or upon Contractor request. Refer to page 9 for instructions to fill out tag.

3.3 Bagging Materials Burlap cone bags and

fasteners for bagging cones.

At pre-work meeting, or upon Contractor request.

The Contractor shall return unused government supplies, maps, and forms to the Government to the same location they were delivered or as agreed to with the COR.

C.4 - Contractor Work Requirements and Standards

C.4. - General

C.4.1.1 - Access

The Contractor may access the collection areas from forest roads indicated on forest travel maps. All roads should be drivable during the performance period; a high clearance or four-wheel drive vehicle, however, may be necessary, particularly under wet conditions.

The Contractor is not allowed to drive off of forest roads indicated on forest travel maps unless approved in advanced by the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer Representative. Travel on designated closed roads is prohibited except with prior written permission of the Contracting Officer or Contracting

Officer’s Representatives.

The Contractor shall be responsible for transportation of all equipment and supplies to the cone collection and delivery sites.

Walk-ins to some sites may be necessary, but generally should not exceed 1 mile.

C.4.2 - Tree Selection - General Collection

C.4.2.1 - Cone Lot Requirements.

The Contractor shall survey and select trees for each cone lot specified for collection. Collection within a cone lot shall meet the following criteria:

C.4.2.1.2

The physical characteristics of the selected trees are indicative of the genetic makeup of the seed, thus the selected trees shall be equal or better than the average of the same species in the area and be healthy and vigorous. Physical characteristics that are desirable include:

• Dominant or codominant trees (tree crown extends above the general level of the canopy or forms the general level of the canopy) relative to the neighboring trees.

• Straight stem free from crook, sweep, spiral grain, and forking.

• Branch bases small in relation to the stem and branches should project horizontally or angle slightly upward. Do not collect from “wolfy” trees.

• At least 30% live crown ratio.

• Tree crown compact for the species but have a large area of foliage.

• Conical crown indicating the tree is growing and is vigorous.

• Free from insect and disease damage.

• Tree age approximately 40 to 110 years old. (Very old and very young trees have poor sound seed production even when there are numerous cones.)

• History of past cone crops is desirable.

• Avoid trees that are isolated from trees of the same species by more than 100 feet (may be inadequately pollinated by other trees).

C.4.2.1.3

The selected trees should have a cone crop that is expected to provide seed quality and quantity suitable for collection as described in C.4.3.

C.4.3 Cone Collection - General Collection

C.4.3.1 General

Cones shall be from the current calendar year, and meet the quality standards described in C.4.3.2.

The upper 1/3 of the tree crown typically has the best quality cones and should be the priority for collecting. The lower portions of the tree may be allowed by the COR when large collections are needed and the cones meet the quality standards.

C.4.3.2 - Seed Quality Standards

C.4.3.2.1 - Mature, Sound Seed.

Only cones with mature, sound seed shall be used in the collection. The Contractor shall discuss with the COR where the seed quality is questionable. Refer to definitions in C.2 for definitions of mature seed and sound seed.

C.4.3.2.2 - Filled Seed Content.

An acceptable collection for an individual tree shall be based on evaluating the filled seeds per cut face on a sample of at least 5 cones. An average of the cones tested shall have the following minimum number of mature, filled seed per cut face at the time of collection:

Species No. Filled Seeds per Cut Face

PP 7

Due to past drought seasons and unknown Cut Face Seed, the Government may at its option, reduce the minimum number of filled seed per cut face at the time of collection.

C.4.3.2.3 - Cone Condition.

Cones must be dry, free of mold, and not showing damage by animals, disease, or physical damage.

C.4.3.2.4

The Contractor shall notify the COR when cones are not sufficiently mature for collection; the government may move the contractor to another area or suspend operations if cones have not yet matured.

C.4.3.3 - Cone Care

Cones are live plant material and as such shall not be handled roughly or exposed to damaging conditions.

Bags of cones shall not be dropped and shall be protected from moisture and heat. Cones must not come in contact with petroleum products such as oil and gas in the back of a pickup truck.

C.4.3.4 - Cleaning and Bagging

Prior to delivery, a maximum of one bushel may be put in the Government provided bag to allow cones to expand during storage. Bags shall be free of debris (such as twigs, needles, cone stems, cones of other species or tree source). All bags shall be tied securely shut approximately three inches from the top of the bag. The bags must be tied shut with only string or twine: no wire is allowed to tie bags. Only cones that meet the quality standards shall be included in the bag.

C.4.3.5 - Cone Tags

For each tree, the Contractor shall prepare two general collection cone tags as per Section J. Information shall be legible through both layers of the cone tag, and be in permanent ink. One tag shall be placed inside the bag at the top, and the other securely fastened on the outside of the closed bag.

C.4.3.6 - Delivery.

Cones shall be delivered to Tepee work center on the Hell Canyon Ranger District approximately 19 miles west of Custer, South Dakota along highway 16 as soon as practical after bagging the cones; at least weekly. Cones shall be protected from moisture and drying conditions.

C.4.4 - Crew Safety.

The Contractor shall prepare a Safety Plan, which addresses the hazards of the work site. The Contractor shall identify the specific conditions that s/he considers is a hazard. The Safety Plan shall also address the personal protective equipment and mitigating measures the Contractor will do to increase safety on the worksite.

If climbing, the contractors shall comply with the safety requirements of:

• FSH 6709.11 - Health and Safety Code Handbook, section 22.49

• Forest Service National Tree Climbing Guide (Technical Report 0567-2819-MTDC, March 2005;

found at http://www.fs.fed.us/treeclimbing/policy/guide/tree-climbing-field-guide-2005-edition.pdf.)

At the request of the Contractor, alternative procedures may be approved by the Contracting Officer that meet the intent of Forest Service safety requirements, but differ in actual practice.

The Contractor shall follow all Federal, State, and local safety laws and regulations applicable to the contract work to be performed.

Failure to meet safety requirements will result in an immediate work shut down until requirements are met.

Contractor assumes all risks of loss or damage to his/her equipment and injury to self or employees, and will hold and save the Government and its employees harmless from liability of any nature or kind resulting from performance of this contract, except for negligent acts of Government employees.

C.4.5 - Communications

The Contractor shall keep the Contracting Officer’s Representative advised as to where the Contractor can be reached prior to start of Contract Time.

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 Contractor Quality Control

The contractor shall provide a general Quality Control Plan (QCP) with the technical proposal. The Contractor shall supplement the QCP within 10 days before start work based on the items awarded to the Contractor.

The QCP must demonstrate how the Contractor will assure quality meets the requirements and specifications of the contract. It shall describe how quality will be monitored to ensure that cone collection meets the standards for tree selection, collection, testing of cones, safety, and other associated tasks.

http://www.fs.fed.us/treeclimbing/policy/guide/tree-climbing-field-guide-2005-edition.pdf

Cone quality inspection shall include tests from at least 5 cones from the area of the crown being collected from and demonstrate that seeds are mature and the average number of mature filled seed meets the minimum quantity described in C.4.3.2 2, and meet the other quality requirements. These test cones shall be provided to the government in a separate bag identified and delivered with the appropriate bag of cones. The test cones may be in addition to that made just prior to the cone collection and if so should be identified as such.

E.2 Work Plan and Schedule

The Contractor shall provide a work plan and schedule that demonstrates how the work can be completed within the performance time. The Contractor shall advise the COR of the next day’s work area to allow for

Government quality assurance.

E.3 Acceptance

E.3.1

The Government will accept all cones which meet the standards in C 4.3 and F.2.

E.3.2

Collections which fail to meet the above requirements will not be acceptable. When rework is possible, the

Contracting Officer may allow rework. When rework is not possible, then the affected bags of cones will be rejected. All rework will be at the expense of the Contractor.

SECTION F -- DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 Performance Period

Due to the nature of cone collection, it is imperative that work be started promptly after conditions for collecting become suitable. Proposed start date will be on August 29th, 2023. Some variance will occur in approximate start dates due to the uncertainty of cone ripening. The Government will issue a Notice to

Proceed as soon as cone conditions are favorable for work. The count of contract time will start on the date specified on the Notice to Proceed.

Work will commence no later than 2 days after the effective date of the Notice to Proceed.

The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate which will ensure completion within the contract time indicated in the contract. Progress shall be according to the schedule provided by Contractor and approved by the

Contracting Officer.

If the Contractor’s progress falls behind for more than 10 percent, the Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated if satisfactory progress is not attained within the time specified in a written notice. Such notice may be in the form of a Work Order and shall allow no more than 2 working days for corrective action to be completed. Contracting Officer may suspend work and stop contract time when no trees with cones in suitable condition for picking are available.

During the period this solicitation is being advertised and prior to award, the Forest Service will be monitoring the cone crop to determine seed acceptability. Should insects, disease, animals or other factors affect the crop, the number of bushels or trees, or the collection areas may be altered prior to award.

The decision of the Contracting Officer that the collection season is ended will be final. If the Contracting

Officer closes the season prior to the estimated closing date, the Contractor will be paid for the number of bushels collected that are satisfactorily completed and accepted.

Optimum cone collection timeframe is from 30 to 45 days not to exceed October 7, 2023.

F.2 Performance Summary

Specification Work Requirement Performance

Standard

Government

Method of

Assessment

Incentives and Deductions for

Meeting Standard

C.4.2 Tree Selection

90% of trees selected meet standards.

Sample observation;

approval will be given prior to collection.

Failure to meet standard, which results in a delay in collection, may result in Government making selection at Contractors expense.

C.4.3.2

Cone and seed quality

Cone test indicates seeds are mature and the average number of mature filled seed per cut face meets minimum requirements.

Periodic sample of cones using cut face technique.

Examination of contractor test cones.

Failure to meet minimum standards result in rejection of cones in the bag.

C.4.3.3

Cone care

100% of cones delivered to government are properly cared for.

Periodic Field

Observation

Rejection of affected cones.

C.4.3.4

Cleaning, and bagging

Less than 1.5% of the bag may have trash (up to 1 pint per bushel). Bags are filled no more than ½ full (one bushel per two-bushel bag)

Periodic Inspection.

Inspection for trash may occur in the field or at the

District Office.

Contractor shall rework unacceptable bags or result in reduced payment.

C.4.3.5

Cone tag All tags are properly filled out with one tag in bag, one secured to top of outside of bag.

100% inspection Failure to meet standards result in rework or rejection of collection for tree in question.

C.4.4 Safety All activities meet

Safety Plan

Periodic field observation

Failure to meet safety plan will result in work suspension until corrections are made.

SECTION G -- CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 Quantity of Measure

Cone quantity shall be measured to the nearest 1/10th bushel, with a maximum of one bushel per bag. One bushel of cones may be measured in a one-bushel container to the level top. One bushel = 8 gallons. Cones that do not meet the requirements of C.4 will not be included in the measurement. Cones not meeting standards remain the property of the Government.

G.2 Payment

Contractor will be paid for the number of bushels collected that are satisfactorily completed and accepted. The estimated numbers (quantities) shown is not a guarantee of payment. Payment may be delayed or reduced if work is not completed according to performance objectives. All invoices and payments will be submitted through www.ipp.gov .

A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled TBD after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at a location to be determined.

http://www.ipp.gov/

GENERAL CONE COLLECTION CONE TAG FORM AND INSTRUCTIONS

Instructions for filling out General Collection Cone Tag:

Species: Four digit scientific name abbreviation. See Section C.2 - Definitions.

Seed Zone: Western High Plains

Elevation: Fill in to nearest 100 foot (e.g. 8400).

Forest: Black Hills

District: See Section C-1.1, Section J or Government provided maps.

Date Collected: MM-DD-YYYY

Responsible Forest Officer: See Section C.1.3.

Township, Range, Section: write in below Responsible Forest Officer

Latitude/longitude: write in below Responsible Forest Officer