SOW Ward Mtn 140L3920Q0077.doc

Ward Mountain, 2020 Thinning Performance Work Statement

A. Project Area Description and Location The contractor is responsible for furnishing all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies and materials to treat 187 acres. Treatments will consist of 149 acres of slashing and, there will also be 38 acres of slash and handpile. There may be an additional 23 acres of slashing and hand pile (Unit 9) indicated as an option item that would be awarded subject to available funding (see attached maps). Tree species to be cut are identified in Table 1 all other species encountered within the unit will not be removed or damaged. There is potential for crews to encounter multiple species of conifers within the units. Crews must be capable of and will be responsible for identifying different tree species common to the mountain range. Leave areas and boundaries may be altered prior to implementation of the project to mitigate sensitive resource concerns that may reduce the acreage.

The project area is located in White Pine County, State of Nevada. The project area is located on the Egan Mountain Range (refer to attached Map) in the vicinity of Ward Mountain. The area is typical Great Basin aspen, mixed conifer and sagebrush communities with pinyon, juniper and mountain mahogany. Access to the treatment area along the west side is along Highway 6 to the Headhouse Canyon Road. Access to the treatment area along the east side is from Highway 50 to County Road 45 (Cave Valley Road) to the Ward Mine Road and the Williams Creek Road. The project area is approximately 13 miles from Ely, NV. From these roads there are a few unimproved roads that intersect some of the treatment units. Access to some of the treatment units is limited and the large variance in elevation of the units can limit access with snow. It is advised that potential bidders become familiar with the access within the units.

Although the roads are in good condition, four-wheel drive vehicles and ATVs/UTVs are recommended due to the potential for unexpected inclement weather conditions. Roads within the units can be on steep side slopes that may not be conducive for large trucks and it is recommended that they be scouted on an ATV or UTV prior to driving a truck on them. It is the offeror’s responsibility to become familiar with the access prior to bidding.

Overland travel may be authorized by the BLM to access the units with ATV’s/UTV’s. This will be determined on a unit by unit basis, by the BLM. To minimize the number of trips with an ATV or UTV the BLM may ask that multiple days worth of fuel be transported into the unit and placed on a containment barrier. There are private lands adjacent to the treatment units. It is the contractor’s responsibility to secure permission to cross these lands if they wish to do so.

The following legal land descriptions apply:

· Township 14 North; Range 63 East; Sections 7-9, 16-18, 20, 21, 29 and 32; MDM

· Township 13 North; Range 63 East; Sections 9 and 10; MDM

The treatment area boundaries will be outlined on a map provided by the Government. The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring that they are within treatment boundaries by utilizing a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit. The contractor may flag the boundaries of the unit at their discretion however, the contractor would be responsible for the removal of all flagging. Leave areas and boundaries may be altered prior to implementation of the project to mitigate sensitive resource concerns.

It is recommended that potential bidders become familiar with access to and within the sites, the density of the trees to be cut and the trees to be left by unit, and the timing restrictions by unit (see Section C). There is a large variance in the density of the different tree species within the units. Pinyon and juniper is to be slashed and piled while mahogany will not be removed (see Section B.).

B. Specifications and Requirements

a. Slashing Slashing treatments will be conducted within the treatment units specified within the shapefile and the attached map (Units 1-5). All live, standing vegetation less than 18 inch Diameter at Root Collar (DRC) shall be completely severed with the stump height not to exceed 6 inches. Slash shall be scattered with a maximum height of 36 inches above ground level or the height of the surrounding shrubs (whichever is higher). Stumps will be cut where there are no living branches, bark or other parts of the tree left attached. All target species within the units will be cut regardless of the height of the tree.

b. Slashing, Hand Pile/Cover Slashing and piling will be conducted within the treatment units specified within the shapefile and the attached map. Trees shall be cut as specified within each treatment unit. Boles shall be cut as close to the ground as possible with a maximum height of 6 inches. Piles shall be constructed to be between 5 and 9 feet in diameter and 4 to 8 feet in height. Piles shall be placed as far as practical from other tree species not targeted and pinyon and juniper shall not be piled within 30 feet of live mountain mahogany within the treatment units. Areas where mahogany canopy cover does not permit this spacing and is not practicable, piles will be placed as far as possible from live mahogany.

Piles WILL be covered within units 3, 5 and 6. Cover material shall be provided by Contractor. All piles shall be covered with a minimum of 6 foot by 6 foot piece of 4-mil polyethylene plastic, such that at least 80 percent of the pile's surface area shall be covered. All four corners and the middle of the plastic sheets shall be anchored with slash and/or other debris.

The maximum walking distance into the work area is approximately 1 linear mile.

A requirement of no more than one live stem per acre remaining after treatment will be adhered to. If inspections indicate the quality of the work in all/some aspects does not meet this standard the unit will be reworked. Standard will be randomly sampled during inspections by the government representative via a transect and communicated to the contractor point of contact. The sampled areas may involve portions of a unit and not the entire unit and will be at the discretion of the government representative. A minimum sample size of 3% will be adhered to however a sample size of 5% or more will be the goal.

Contractors are to submit a single bid for each line item on a per acre basis using the table in Attachment 1.

Table 1 – Table of treatment units by line item, treatment and size.

C.

Environmental Considerations The project site shall be cleaned up, and all refuse removed to an approved landfill at the Contractor’s expense. The Contractor shall not disturb lands adjacent to the project site. Existing access roads and trails within the project area that are damaged by the Contractor shall be restored at the Contractor’s expense to the same condition they were in at the commencement of work. Stream channels, springs and other wet areas will be avoided by vehicles and heavy equipment.

Vehicles and other equipment used for implementation of the project shall be washed to remove any vegetation and potential noxious weed and invasive species parts prior to beginning the work and following completion of the work.

Due to wildlife restrictions, work may only occur between September 16th and March 31st on all units. Unit 7 will have additional timing restrictions from November 1st to February 28th. These timing restrictions shall be built into the proposal. No extensions to the performance period will be granted due to these timing restrictions. Waivers may be granted from November 1st through February 28th pending further agency consultation, but the contractor shall not include these dates when submitting a bid.

D. Work Camp

Camping will be allowed during project implementation only at sites approved by BLM in advance. All fire regulations and permits shall be followed. All garbage and refuse shall be removed from the camp site by the contractor within fifteen days of camp abandonment. Final payment will be reserved subject to inspection of these sites by BLM and approval of site cleanup.

E.

Pre-Work Conference

A pre-work conference will be held prior to the start of work, and within seven days of Contract award. The Contractor will be notified in advance of the meeting location, date and time. The purpose of the meeting will be to review the required work, the project location, project specifications, the work schedule, payroll and payments and administrative provisions of the Contract. The Contractor and the persons responsible for coordination of the work shall be present at the meeting. The Contractor shall be prepared to summarize and explain procedures planned for the project.

F.

Progress Meetings Meetings may be called by either the Contracting Officer or the Contractor. Meetings shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the Contracting Officer.

G.

Final Inspection

Final inspection for the project area shall be held at the project site or as otherwise mutually agreed by the Government and the Contractor. The Contractor shall notify the Government representative at least two (2) working days before the completion date, so the Government can schedule a final inspection. Final payment of the contract will be held pending the completion of a satisfactory final inspection of all associated areas.

H.

Measurement of Payment

Work will be measured and paid for by the number of acres within each treatment unit as that unit is completed. The total will be rounded up to the nearest whole acre. Once a treatment unit is complete the acreage completed may be billed for. Area measurements required under this Contract will be measured on a horizontal plane.

Prices and payment will be full compensation for the work described in this section. Payment will be made under the following:

The Contracting Officer or representative will make periodic inspections as a basis for progress payments and recommendations for adjustments in work quality. The Contractor or representative is encouraged to observe inspections at the time they are being made. Work performed according to the specifications will be considered acceptable for payment purposes.

I.

Performance Schedule Period of performance for this work shall begin as soon as possible following the award of the contract, not to exceed 30 days. The end of the performance period would be 1 calendar year from the award of the contract. The Contractor shall be required to start and complete the treatment area within the performance time identified above or as otherwise negotiated during the pre-work conference, provided weather conditions permit. If inclement weather conditions should occur prior to the Contractor completing the project, the Contractor shall be issued a stop work order and the project shall be completed as soon as weather conditions permit.

Due to wildlife restrictions, work may only in the timeframes as described in the environmental considerations.