SOW (Drafted).docx

127EAS23Q0136

Southwestern Region USFS PSWRS Rooted Cuttings Orchard Operations Statement of Work

STATEMENT OF WORK

USFS PSWRS Rooted Cuttings Orchard Operations Description of Work:

The purpose of this contract is to continue the testing and establishment of rooted cuttings of sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) in an effort to create a more cost-efficient method of reforestation of critical species. Rooted cuttings of sugar pine and ponderosa pine is a new concept and must be tested to prove its efficiency both in the greenhouse and field settings. The initial process of the rooted cuttings experiment will take place in glass greenhouses located at the USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station (USFS PSWRS) in Riverside (CA) where pine clippings will be undergoing the establishment procedures in hydroponic growing conditions before being transplanted at the Mormon Rock Seed Orchard (MRSO) where they will be monitored and evaluated.

Performance of ongoing maintenance of the MRSO will ensure the hydroponic-based rooted cuttings will have a sufficient and safe area to become established for future reforestation needs. Regular maintenance and upkeep to the seed orchard is vital for Southern California’s conifer reforestation efforts. Performed maintenance will include mowing of grasses within and around seed orchard, pruning of lower branches of established trees, removal of any volunteer trees, layout and repair of irrigation system, and general cleanup of any trash and vandalism.

Services are being sought for the base year (09/29/2023 to 09/28/2024) plus 4 optional years through 09/28/2028.

Contractor Responsibility:

The Contractor shall provide --including, but not limited to, all equipment, supplies, transportation, labor, and supervision--necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government.

Project Location & Description:

Location: Seed Orchard at the Mormon Rock Fire Station in the San Bernardino National Forest and Greenhouses at the USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station in Riverside, CA Description: The USFS Seed Orchard is located at the Mormon Rocks Fire Station in the Front Country Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest. The address is at 7198 Abiel Barron Memorial Hwy (Hwy138), Phelan, CA 92371. Less than 1 mile westbound on Hwy 138 from the Hwy 15 exit.

Accessibility: The area is accessible all year.

Maps:

Maps showing the general vicinity, districts and/or specific work areas will be provided at the pre-work meeting. Maps are general in nature and are not to be considered as definitively identifying locations. Forest maps can be obtained from the individual forests through their websites. Access to these websites can be obtained thru the Washington Office website (www.fs.fed.us). Detailed maps and motor logs for some tree locations may be provided at the start of the project.

127EAS23Q0136

Southwestern Region USFS PSWRS Rooted Cuttings Orchard Operations Statement of Work

The greenhouses in the USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station in Riverside are located at 4955 Canyon Crest Dr, Riverside, CA 92507

Period of Performance:

Base Year: 09/29/2023 to 09/28/2024 Option Year 1: 09/29/2024 to 09/28/2025 Option Year 2: 09/29/2025 to 09/28/2026 Option Year 3: 09/29/2026 to 09/28/2027 Option Year 4: 09/29/2027 to 09/28/2028

Restrictions on Work:

Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as outlined here. Nothing in this part shall be construed to take away any of the Government's rights under the Suspension of Work Clause (52.242-14). Restrictions are as follows:

1. When the Contracting Officer (or designated representative) determines that adverse weather has made access too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

2. When ground conditions are too wet to continue operations without sustaining resource damage to soils. The Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative will make this determination. When such conditions exist, the Forest Service will issue a written Suspend Work Order.

3. Servicing and refueling of equipment areas shall be located outside of RCA’s or 100 feet from other wet areas. In case of a HAZMAT spill, the material shall be immediately contained, and the Forest Service shall be immediately notified.

4. Within the sub-item boundaries, the Government may exclude non-work areas such as: rocky areas, wildlife areas, and other special areas. Non-work areas will be designated by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Such areas exceeding 1/2 acre in size per unit will be excluded from payment.

Licenses and Insurance:

The contractor shall obtain the insurance and licenses listed here.

· MSPA Card (Form WH510): This contract [ ] does [X] does not require the contractor to be registered with the US Department of Labor as a Farm Labor Contractor. The Contractor shall provide a current Form WH510 or legible copy.

Technical Requirements:

Vegetative Propagation of Sugar Pine and Ponderosa Pine by Rooted-Cuttings at the USFS PSWRS:

· Hydroponic System and Hedge Garden Upkeep and Maintenance:

There is currently a working hydroponic system that must be able to continue to support and sustain sugar and ponderosa pine rooted cuttings for growing, testing different growing media, and observation. The Hydroponic System has the capacity to hold 1,000 rooted cuttings. The Contractor shall maintain and upkeep a hedge with Sugar pine and Ponderosa pine seedlings provided by the USFS Placerville Nursery. These parent stock will serve as the source of tip cuttings once a “bonsai-like” pruning is induced. The parent stock will be maintained in a hydroponic system to improve cuttings production. The vegetative tips will be extracted from the parent stock regularly for the rooted-cuttings procedure.

· Rooting Cuttings, Planting Stock Production and Transplanting:

Cuttings collected from the parent plants in the Hedge Garden will be treated with hormones to induce rooting in the hydroponic system. The rooted-cuttings will be transplanted to nursery containers with proper stock media to promote healthy plant stock growth. The planting stock produced by rooted-cuttings will be transplanted in areas pre-determined (by COTR) in the MRSO site for further monitoring and observation.

· Monitoring and Reporting:

Contractor will provide monthly reports of the Hedge Garden and Rooted-cuttings activities. The study is intended to determine the more efficient procedure to maintain the parent plants in the Hedge Garden and the best rooting for cuttings will be carried as a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement. Where nutrient solution (Main Plot) will be combined with hormone treatments (sub-plots) in a two-replication experimental design. Evaluations of the Hedge Garden will be conducted regularly, but the efficiency of the systems to generate rooted-cuttings will be performed every 60 days after induction by quantifying: rooting percentage, statistical analysis, and conclusion and recommendations.

Seed Orchard Maintenance:

· Mowing:

(Monthly) - Mowing will include all grass and shrubs using a tractor and mowing implement. Mowing must be done with accordance to the San Bernardino NF fire plan. Mowing will take place throughout all blocks within the seed orchard, Inside and out of the perimeter fence line, and on/along Roadways inside the seed orchard.

· Irrigation System, and Irrigation Maintenance/Repair:

(Monthly) - Irrigation system will be maintained at fully operational level during watering times (May – November). This includes repairs to any section of the orchard’s dripline system, underground piping, couplers and unions, water tanks/pumps, and sprinkler/dripline heads.

The irrigation system will be drained and winterized during the non-watering winter months (November – March).

· Property Cleanup and Removal of Volunteer Trees:

(Monthly) - Volunteer trees will be removed throughout all blocks within the seed orchard. All removed debris including but not limited to volunteer trees will be placed in burn piles designated before contract start date. Grasses and volunteer trees will be removed from around these trees at a circumference twice the size as its longest branches.

· Lower Branch Pruning:

(Biannual) - Lower branches will be pruned to a height no lower than eight feet for trees over 40 feet tall. Trees that fall under 40 feet will be pruned to a height that will remove no more than two thirds of the live crown. Trees that cannot be pruned to specifications will not be pruned. Grasses and volunteer trees will be removed from around these trees at a circumference twice the size as its longest branches.

Other: The contractor must have the capability to install, maintain, and repair drip irrigation systems and must be able to perform weeding and protection of the saplings against mechanical damage.

Definitions:

Conifer: A cone bearing tree with needles or leaf scales (e.g. pine, fir, cedar)

Dripline Irrigation: A type of micro-irrigation system that has the potential to save water and nutrients by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either from above the soil surface or buried below the surface. The goal is to place water directly into the root zone and minimize evaporation.

Hydroponics System: Hydroponics is a type of horticulture and a subset of hydroculture which involves growing plants without soil, by using mineral nutrient solutions in an aqueous solvent.

Lower Branch Pruning: Removal of selected branches from the tree leaving no less than 60% of the live crown.

Mowing: The act of cutting down grass or vegetation.

Transplanting: Is the process of moving a fully germinated seedling (or mature plant) and replanting it in a permanent location for the growing season.

Volunteer Trees: Unwarranted trees or saplings that have grown from seed naturally and not planted.

These trees are typically a different species than what is planted and generally not “in line” with planted rows (e.g. not in a uniform row or column).

Contractor-Furnished Equipment:

Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, supplies (except for Government-furnished materials) and incidentals necessary to successfully complete all of the above tasks associated the land clearing scope of work in accordance with attached terms, conditions and specifications.

Government-Furnished Materials:

The Contracting Officer’s Representative or designated inspector will furnish:

· All soaking/propagation materials for rooted cuttings

· Containers for shipping and transplanting rooted cuttings

· Mormon Rock Seed Orchard site for transplanted rooted cutting material.

· Any keys needed to access the Mormon Rock Seed Orchard site.

· Seed orchard irrigation materials

All Government-furnished materials not used by the contractor will be returned to the Government before processing of the final payment. Damaged government property will be the responsibility of the contractor for repairs or replacement.

All assembled and working equipment by the contractor will be government property and all equipment transportation after project is complete will be handled by the Forest Service.

Inspection and Acceptance:

Quality Control Plan: The Contractor shall conduct inspections on all units in accordance with his/her Quality Control Plan (QCP). The Contractor’s Quality Control Plan shall be submitted and accepted by the Government prior to any work starting.

Government Inspections: Government inspections are for the purpose of satisfying the Government that the services are acceptable and do not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for maintaining quality control.

The Contracting Officer's Representative or designated inspector will conduct all inspections. The Contractor (or designated representative) is encouraged to be present to observe inspections. Summary results will be made available on request.

Compliance Inspections. Visual compliance inspections will be made on a periodic basis. Such inspections are not final and do not constitute acceptance by the Government.

Final (formal) inspections for payment will be made on completed items only. Contractor shall request final inspections in writing and give the Forest Service at least two working days advanced notice.

Inspections will be completed within four working days after the notice is received. If the work is not ready for inspection at the time specified by the Contractor, the cost associated with the inspection attempt may be charged to the Contractor.

Disputed Inspection: The Contractor may request reinspection without rework if the results are unacceptable. Reinspection must be requested in writing within 48 hours after receiving written notice of the inspection results. Reinspection will be accomplished within five working days after receipt of the contractor's written request.

The same sampling and inspection procedures will be used, but new samples will be taken. The inspection pattern will be shifted so that new samples will not overlap previously inspected samples. Results will be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

If reinspection results are within five percentage points of the first inspection, the original inspection result will be used in determining acceptability and payment. If reinspection results are greater than five percentage points above or below the first inspection, the reinspection results will be used.

If the reinspection results are within five percentage points of the first inspection, the Contractor may be liable for the government’s costs of the reinspection.

Reinspection after Rework: Where rework after a failed inspection may improve the inspection results, the Contractor may rework the area and request (in writing) a second inspection. The Government may charge to the Contractor the cost of this additional inspection. Reinspection will be accomplished within five working days after the notice is received. The results of the second inspection will be final, and no further rework will be permitted. Areas not ready for reinspection at the time specified by the Contractor will not be reinspected, and the results of the first inspection will be final.

Government’s inspection system:

· Inspect the fully assembled hydroponic system and verify it is in full working order.

a. Hydroponic system is fully assembled.

b. Inspect that hydroponic system is contained and no leaks, cracks, or breaks are present.

c. Inspect that the hydroponic system is capable of growing and sustaining all rooted cuttings.

· Inspect that the rooted cuttings have been established within the hydroponic system.

d. Rooted cuttings have been soaked in supplied material for propagation.

e. Root growth and or survival is acceptable.

· Inspect that the Mormon Rock Seed Orchard site is being maintained.

a. Irrigation system is fully functional throughout the orchard.

b. Grasses have been mowed and maintained.

c. Vandalism (if any has been noted) has been mitigated.

d. Lower branch pruning on existing established trees has been completed.

· Inspect that rooted cuttings have been transplanted to the Mormon Rock Seed Orchard site.

a. Rooted cuttings are on site.

b. Have been successfully transplanted.

i. No J-rooting

ii. Irrigation system is in place

iii. Are planted in correct order and location on site

· Rooted cuttings are being monitored on site.

a. Inspect log book/observational report.

b. On site visits to verify observational report accuracy.

Acceptance:

Work on this contract will be deemed acceptable when:

· The hydroponic system remains fully operational.

· The rooted cuttings are established within the hydroponic system.

· The Mormon Rock Seed Orchard site is observed as being maintained.

· Rooted cuttings are transplanted at the Mormon Rock Seed Orchard site.

· Sugar pine rooted cuttings have been monitored at the Mormon Rock Seed Orchard site for one year.

Quality Assurance Plan:

To be acceptable, the plots must meet the following standards:

Selection of crop trees: Each selected tree shall meet the standard herein. Damaged trees will not count as selected trees.

Spacing of crop trees: Each plot shall contain 6 selected trees (12X12) or 8 selected trees (10X10) that meet the spacing guidelines (i.e., +/- 50%). Target TPA will be calculated by summing the number of trees that should have been released for the total number of plots & dividing by the total acreage of the plots. Actual TPA will be calculated by summing the total number of selected trees; damaged trees will not count as selected trees.

Release of trees: A plot shall contain a maximum of 2 stems of untreated competing vegetation, no sprouts from a stump, and no damaged non-crop conifers within each treated radius.

Disposal of slash: At least 90% of the plot area shall comply with the slash depth restrictions.

Contract Administration:

Pre-performance Conference: Before work begins on service contracts, a pre-performance conference is normally held to discuss the contract--especially the specifications, labor provisions, plan of work, and selected standard clauses. The pre-performance conference should be attended by an officer of the firm or someone designated in writing to act on behalf of the firm. The pre-performance conference may be waived at the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

Notice to Begin Work: Work on this contract may proceed and contract time will begin upon receipt of the awarded contract. Any adjustments to the anticipated completion date will be noted in the award letter.

Payments: Payment will be made for fully acceptable work at the prices bid in the schedule of items. Payment will be made monthly or upon completion of the nonmonthly services.

Contract Release: Before final payment will be made the Contractor shall sign a release of all claims against the Government arising by virtue of this contract, other than claims, in stated amounts, that the Contractor has specifically excepted from the operation of the release. A release may also be required of the assignee if the Contractor's claim to amounts payable under this contract has been assigned under the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 (31 U.S.C. 3727 and 41 U.S.C. 15).

Invoices: Payment will be made from Contractor's invoice. In service contracts where work is paid for on a monthly basis and the Government prepares the invoice, the date for receipt of a proper invoice is established as the second working day of the month, starting with the month following the first service performed under the contract.

Safety Plan: The Contractor shall submit a safety plan for this specific project that will address, among other things, a communications plan, egress of injured workers and protection of the public and government personnel prior to any work staring.

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