SOW_Transfer_Road_Mastication.pdf

140L3722Q0090

Statement of Work Bureau of Land Management

Uncompahgre Field Office, Transfer Road Mastication

C.1.1 Description of Work: Transfer Road Mastication treatment unit is in Colorado; at

Township 49 North (TN) Range 12 West (RW) Sections 13,24,25 (see project area maps below). The proposed project is in Montrose, County at an average elevation of 7,000 feet. The vegetation is Pinon/Juniper and Mixed Mountain Shrub. To achieve project objectives, a vegetation treatment by mastication of 22 units for a total of __598___acres.

Nine units are guaranteed upon award of this contract they are for a total of 311 acres.

The remaining 13 units (287 acres) may be awarded as optional additions, should funding be available and upon agreement with the contractor via a contract modification.

The average slope is __10___vegetative cover is up to __40%__.

The Contractor will be responsible for masticating 90-95% of the pinon and juniper trees within the treatment units. The contractor shall not masticate dense, intact, and previously untreated patches of pinon and juniper trees within the treatment units. The contractor will grind/mulch pinyon and juniper trees with contractor furnished equipment leaving stumps and root crowns no higher than 6 inches utilizing a tracked or rubber tired tractor with mulching head.

Additional specific objectives will be communicated during the required on-site pre-work meeting or during subsequent project inspections with the Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR) or Project Inspector (PI).

All work will be conducted starting as early as August 29, 2022 and all operations must be completed November 30, 2022. This time frame has been identified to minimize impacts to wintering big game and minimize damage to access roads. Period of performance extensions past November 30th may be considered but are highly unlikely unless specific climactic conditions can ensure appropriate resource protections. As such, contractors are encouraged to start work as early as possible.

Notice to Proceed will be issued after a pre-work meeting has been conducted and the end of the period of performance will be no than 45 days from the notice to proceed. Work on this project is to begin within 10 days of contractor’s receipt of Notice to Proceed. Once work begins, the

Contractor will have a maximum of 45 days from when work begins to complete the work.

Extensions may be granted if there are unforeseen conditions that may halt work i.e. heavy rains or moisture events that may cause access issues and or rutting within the unit.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS TO OPERATION i.e., Operations will cease during times where rutting or excessive soil disturbance is being observed-rutting greater than 3 inches.

C.1.3 Biomass Removal:

1. The contractor may remove and utilize woody biomass if:

(a) Project work is progressing as scheduled; and

(b) Removal is completed before contract expiration

2. To execute this option, the contractor must submit a written request to the

Government.

3. Following receipt of the written request, and if appropriate, the Government and the contractor will negotiate and execute a separate timber/vegetative sales contract.

Payment under this sales contract must be at a price equal to or greater than the appraised value before the removal of any woody biomass. The contractor must make any appropriate payment specified in this timber/vegetative sales contract.

4. The contractor must treat any woody biomass not removed in accordance with the specifications in the service contract.

5. The sales contract and service contract are severable; default or termination under either does not remove the contractor from payment or performance obligations under the other contract.

C.1.4 Location: ---GROUND TRANSPORTATION ROUTE

C.1.5 Access to the Work:

Transfer Road is a county road that is a dirt/gravel road that is maintained by the county and remains open year-round. Once to the turn to the project area travel may require 4-wheel drive to access some of the area especially if the road is wet or muddy.

Access to the project area is from the Hwy. 50 and Jay Jay Road. intersection North of Montrose, Colorado take Jay Jay Road. west to west after a distance Jay Jay Road turns into Jig Road.

Continue on Jig Road to County Road 5850. Go north of County Road 5850 to Ida Road. Take

Ida Rd. west to Hillside Rd. Go north on Hillside Rd. Hillside Rd will curve to the west and turn into Holly Rd. Follow Holly road to a T. Transfer road is the T. At the T go south on

Transfer Road to the Units. It is approximately 4 miles on the Transfer Road before you hit the norther boundary of the Survey area, and Approximately 9 miles before you hit the southern end of the survey area. Once in the survey area there are a matrix of roads that cross throughout the survey area. The Transfer Road is a county road and receives regular maintenance, but the roads within the survey area will require 4X4 high clearance vehicles in spots.

C.1.6 Environmental Considerations: The targeted area is relatively flat to moderately sloping mesa top between some drainages/small canyons. Most rocky areas are associated with drainages and knobs. Slopes that are steeper than 30%, are short in nature and should not pose a problem for mechanical operations.

C.1.7 Work Limits: Moving should be limited to dry conditions to reduce damage to any roads or operator will need to smooth roads with equipment at the end of the project returning it to the prior condition. Work should not continue in wet conditions where more than 3 inch ruts will be produced by equipment operation.

C.1.8 A pre-bid inspection tour will be held the week of August 15, 2022. See the RFQ description for additional information.

C.2.0 SCHEDULING: This is a single schedule contract.

C.2.1 In the event of extreme weather or environmental conditions, the Contracting Officer will determine the best course of action based on comments from the Contractor and PI/COR.

C.3.0 CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED ITEMS:

C.3.1 The operator will provide a tractor with an operator. The tractor will be equipped with a machine mounted, thinning and shredding machine [a Mower/mulcher] with a vertical shaft mounted mulcher.

C.3.2. Transportation for equipment and operator to and from the site.

C.3.3. All fuels, lubricants, parts for repairs, and repairs to the machine.

C.4.0 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY:

C.4.1 The BLM will GPS and at the contractors request flag the outer perimeter of the unit boundaries. Treatment unit boundaries to be treated will be identified using

_____Red_____plastic surveyor flagging. The BLM will provide an electronic map/shape file to the contractor. Any area with in the project area to be avoided by the contractor will be identified on a map, flagged in pink and discussed during the pre-work meeting. From this point it will be the contractor’s responsibility to avoid these areas.

C.4.2 The BLM will provide maps and descriptions of the area and will go with the operator around the boundary of the area. The government will map the area treated by the

Contractor using a Global Positioning System (GPS), based on horizontal plane measurement, not “slope” acreage.

C.4.3 The government will provide representatives from the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office to act as liaison between the contractor and the BLM Contracting Officer to implement the project and to ensure that the resource objectives of the project are met.

COR/PI:

CO:

C.4.4 The BLM will provide treatment measurement: The determination of the acreage of completed work will be made by using the Global Positioning System (GPS). Area measurements required under this Contract will be measured on a horizontal plane.

Mechanical treatment of trees and brush will be measured and paid for by the number of acres treated to the nearest whole acre. Work performed according to the specifications and C.9.0 will be considered acceptable for payment purposes.

C.4.5 The BLM will provide re-measurement of the acreage under this Contract upon the written request of the Contractor. The request for re-measurement must be made in writing within

10 calendar days after completion of the work. If re-measurement indicates a difference of not more than 5 percent from the original measurement, the Contractor shall pay the actual cost of the re-measurement. Payments will be based on the second measurement where the difference between measurements is more than 5 percent. Where the difference is less than 5 percent the results of the first measurement will be used.

C.4.6 The PI and/or COR will conduct at a minimum weekly on-site inspection. The Contractor is encouraged to observe inspections while they are being made and have a supervisor on site to confer with the PI and/or COR. If an onsite visit has not occurred during the period, the contractor is required to report status of work each week, or when any special situations or problems are encountered. These reports may be made by telephone to the PI or COR.

C.5.0 TRANSPORTATION OF EQUIPMENT, DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING:

C.5.1 The contractor will provide transportation for all equipment; operators, fuel, and water to and from the site. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing the necessary material-handling equipment to on-load and off-load all materials and the appropriate security when equipment or property is left on site.

C.6.0 LUBRICATING AND SERVICING OF EQUIPMENT:

C.6.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for all service to all equipment including support vehicles. The Contractor shall keep all the equipment in proper functioning condition to ensure objectives of the project are met.

C.7.0 REPAIRS TO EQUIPMENT:

C.7.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for repair of all equipment including the support vehicles. The Contractor shall keep all the equipment in proper functioning condition to ensure objectives of the project are met. The Contractor shall be equipped to make necessary field repairs to equipment.

C.7.3 Use of welding equipment may be limited by fire restrictions. It is the Contractors responsibility to keep current on any restrictions.

C.8.0 SPECIFIC TASKS:

C.8.1 Surface Conditions: Treatment shall not be done when soil surface conditions are muddy.

When such conditions are encountered, the Contractor shall stop work and notify the

Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer will determine the best course of action based on comments from the contractor and the COR/PI.

C.8.2 Protection: The Contractor is required to protect section corners, bench marks, and other markers and stakes from damage or removal. In case of destruction or removal by the

Contractor, they will be replaced by the Government and the actual cost for replacement will be deducted from payments due the Contractor. The Contractor is also required to avoid all areas flagged and identified by the COR as areas to be protected due to resource concerns.

C.8.3 Noxious Weeds: Vehicles and heavy equipment are one of the primary agents for the spread of noxious weed seed to public lands. In efforts to mitigate the spread of weed seed to BLM lands the following actions are required for contractors prior to transport to a

BLM project area. The Contractor will be responsible for power-washing or comparable cleaning, to ensure that noxious weed seeds are removed from any and all equipment and vehicles used on the project prior to entering the project area. BLM will require a pre-implementation inspection to ensure compliance which would be arranged to occur in

Grand Junction when the contractor is planning transport to the project area. The

Contractor is responsible for any additional transport or expenses associated with non-compliance.

Support vehicles (pickups, fuel/service vehicles, transports, dump trucks, etc.)

< Pressure wash radiator to flush seeds.

< Pressure wash undercarriage to remove accumulations of mud and soil that may contain seeds.

Heavy Equipment (dozers, road graders, excavators, backhoes, loaders, etc.)

< Pressure wash radiator(s) to flush seeds.

< Pressure wash tracks to remove accumulations of soil.

< Pressure wash all areas of soil/debris accumulations (i.e. steps)

< Pressure wash blades and buckets where soil/mud is accumulated.

< Empty pre-cleaners (air intake) before transport.

C.8.4 Hazardous Materials: Use of Hazardous Materials and/or petroleum products requires that all appropriate State and Federal Regulations be complied with including, but not limited to, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on hand and use of necessary Personal

Protective Clothing (PPE). On-site disposal of Hazardous Materials or Waste including hydrocarbons is not authorized. The Contractor will be responsible to prevent introduction of hazardous materials into the environment during the implementation of the proposed action. Any on-site disposal or release of two gallons or more in the form of spilled fuel, hydraulic fluid, or oil used by the machinery and the resulting contaminated soil will subject the contractor to at least the cost of reclamation and the appropriate disposal of contaminated soil. Fueling and maintenance activities should not take place in or adjacent to any drainage (perennial or ephemeral.)

1. All product containers, cans, and debris should be removed from the site and disposed of properly.

2. Incidental leaks from fittings, gaskets, or ruptured hoses will not subject the contractor to remedial requirements (if less than 2 gallons).

3. Fueling equipment and maintenance/repair locations, and equipment will be inspected and approved prior to contract startup by the owner/operator and the

Government’s PI/COR. Inspections will include checking for evidence of oil/fuel leaks at all piping, oil/fuel lines, hydraulic lines and seals, fuel tanks and other potential sources of leaks. All evidence of leaks will be investigated and immediately repaired prior to equipment operation on the job and continual leaks will be noted on inspection reports and corrected through required maintenance.

4. All non-manual fueling equipment will have an automatic shut-off switch installed to avoid fuel releases.

5. Fuel tanks greater than 200 gallons may only be used within a spill containment pit.

The spill containment pit shall be constructed at a site designated by the PI/COR, with an impermeable liner capable of containing a released volume of one and one-half times the tank volume. The Contractor will report all hazardous substance spills immediately to the BLM PI or COR

C.8.5 Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Provisions: The government may require the contractor to curtail or cease operations should wild land fire danger approach critical levels. The contractor will be given 24 hour notice in the form of a suspend work order issued by the

Contracting Officer.

Ignition of a wild land fire that threatens the project area may require the Contractor to proceed with an emergency evacuation of the project area.

A 10 lb. ABC fire extinguisher and shovel or equivalent tool will be available on the operating equipment for fire prevention and control.

If extreme fire and fuels conditions are being experienced there may be a stop work order to reduce the opportunity for unintentional ignitions by mechanized operations

C.9.0 MASTICATION OPERATIONS:

C.9.1 General: Mastication shall be performed within the project area as marked by the

Government and instructed by the COR or PI. Insufficient shredding/mulching may require some work areas to be treated more than once to meet objectives.

Remaining stumps shall not exceed 6 inches in height.

Vegetation shall be reduced to a mulch material with a minimum of 80% of the woody material less than 1" in diameter and 6" long. The mulch shall be scattered evenly across the soil surface and not remain in piles greater than 4" deep.

Vegetation which is pushed over by equipment but not shredded shall be severed by the contractor by hand (chainsaw) and slash shall not exceed 18 inches in height.

No trees/shrubs shall be left to cross any improvement such as, but not limited to roads, fences, gates, ponds, power lines, recreational trails or cattle guards.

C.9.2 Additional Requirements:

The following guidelines for Mastication are a required mitigation measure incorporated in the decision record authorizing this project and will be communicated to the owner/operator during the on-site pre-work meeting:

-The contractor will post signs on the access road warning visitors of heavy equipment use in the area. These signs will be checked daily by the contractor to ensure they are in place.

The signage will be coordinated with and pre-approved by the BLM Project Inspector (PI) or the Contracting Officers Representative (COR).

-The BLM PI or COR must be informed of any objects or sites of cultural, paleontological, or scientific value such as historic or prehistoric resources, graves or grave markers, human remains, ruins, cabins, rock art, fossils, or artifacts. The objects shall not be damaged, destroyed, removed, moved, or disturbed. Any person who knowingly violates this may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment (Public Law 16-95; 16 U.S.C. 470).

-Any damage to private lands caused by the contractor crossing private lands to get to the project are is the responsibility of the contractor.

-Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.4(g), the Contractor must notify the authorized officer, by telephone, with written confirmation, immediately upon the discovery of human remains, funerary items, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony on federal land. Further, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.4 (c) 41 and (d), the Contractor must stop activities in the vicinity of the discovery that could adversely affect the discovery. The Contractor shall make a reasonable effort to protect the human remains, funerary items, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony for a period of thirty days after written notice is provided to the authorized officer, or until the authorized officer has issued a written notice to proceed, whichever occurs first.

C10.0 PAYMENT

10.1 Work Quality Acceptance

1. Work will be accepted or rejected on each treatment area.

2. Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) - A minimum AQL of 85 percent is required.

3. Unsatisfactory Work Quality

a. Based on inspection results, if the treatment falls below the AQL of 85 percent, the

CO will immediately notify the Contractor in writing and instruct the Contractor to improve the quality of the work. If the quality of the work is not raised to the AQL of

85 percent after written notification, the CO may issue a suspend work order to resolve the problem, during which time contract performance time will continue to run.

b. If untreated surplus vegetation is the primary reason for unsatisfactory work, the area may be reworked to obtain satisfactory work quality.

4. Re-inspection – If the contracted work falls below the AQL of 85 percent, rework will be required. When instructed by the COR, the Contractor shall rework the treatment area for re-inspection by the COR/PI. If the treatment area again fails to meet the

AQL of 85 percent, the CO has the option of ordering the Contractor to rework the treatment area again or seek other remedies.

The Contractor may be charged for all the COR/PI re-inspection costs. The COR/PI re-inspection costs will include, but may not be limited to, personnel costs, transportation costs, and overhead administrative costs of 21%.

10.2 Payment

Payment will be based on the COR/PI inspection results by unit. The Contractor's inspection results are to be used as a guide for the Contractor's use in complying with contract specifications and not as a basis for payment. Payment will be made for the actual number of acres completed, inspected and accepted by the COR/PI.