Statement_of_Work_0001.doc

PMIS 245241

REMOVE HAZARDOUS LIMBS & TREES

FROM THE

NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY

DANCY AND TUPELO DISTRICTS

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND STATEMENT OF WORK

REMOVE HAZARDOUS LIMBS AND TREES

FROM THE

NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY – DANCY & TUPELO DISTRICTS

1. SCOPE OF WORK: The contractor shall furnish all transportation, materials, labor, equipment, and all other services necessary to remove hazardous limbs and trees at various locations on the Natchez Trace Parkway as described in this document.

2. BACKGROUND: Over the past several years there have been several major storms along the Parkway. In addition, there are hazardous trees and limbs overhanging the Parkway area that are to be removed in order to mitigate any threat to Parkway visitors and vehicles.

a. Task 1 – Removal of hazardous and overhanging limbs in order to create a clear zone.

b. Task 2 – Removal of hazardous trees that are in danger of falling into motor road.

c. Task 3 – Removal of downed trees within the mowing area

3. PROJECT LOCATIONS: The following three project areas are included within this contract.

Project Area 1: Dancy District

State: Mississippi

Parkway Mile Marker: 193 - 239.5 Project Area 2: Tupelo District

State:Mississippi Parkway Mile Marker: 239.5 - 297.3

4. PROJECT EXECUTION:

d. Task 1: Removal of Hazardous Limbs: In the project areas there are hazardous limbs overhanging the Parkway area that are to be removed in order to mitigate any threat to Parkway visitors and vehicles. The objective in removing these limbs is to create a clear zone in and around the Parkway motor road. Any limb or branch that is within the designated clear zone shall be properly removed. As shown below, the clear zone is defined as a boxed area extending eight feet beyond the pavement edge on both sides of the road and extending vertically eighteen feet above the surface of the pavement. ALL APPLICABLE LIMBS WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ARE TO BE REMOVED. The bid will not be accepted if the bid does not include ALL limbs within this section of the contract.

In some cases, it will be necessary to cut off a limb or branch at the tree trunk. In other cases, the limb may be pruned at a naturally occurring fork or branching point. In either case, the contractor must exercise good judgment when trimming limbs, and shall not cut limbs in a manner that degrades the beauty of the Parkway scenery. Snags shall not be allowed (A snag is defined as a limb sticking out and being cut at a point that is not a natural fork or branching point). A successful pruning project must result in a clear zone that does not appear to have been freshly pruned. Limbs are to be properly pruned in an aesthetically pleasing manner in accordance with standard arborist practices.

e. Task 2: Removal of Hazardous Trees: In the project areas, there are hazardous trees overhanging the Parkway, in the mow line, or near the end of the mow line area that are to be removed in order to mitigate any threat to Parkway visitors and vehicles. This includes the removal of all parts of the tree: limbs, vines, etc. Tree stumps greater than 12” in diameter of these trees are to be ground to a depth of at least four inches (4”) below ground level. Trees 12” or less shall be cut at ground level (cut flush with the ground) regardless of location. The objective in removing these trees is to create a clear zone in and around the Parkway motor road. Trees to be removed will be designated by the contracting officer. ALL APPLICABLE TREES WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ARE TO BE REMOVED.

For trees that are grouped together in small areas or are confined to a general area in relation to one another, the contractor shall remove the trees from the Parkway entirely; the contractor shall not fell/down them in-place in the woods or move/push them back into the woods (Refer to Notes 11 & 12 on the bid form for further information).

f. Task 3: Removal of Downed Trees: In the project areas, there are trees that are downed or felled within the mowing area. These trees, limbs, vines, etc. shall be removed from the Parkway mowing area. ALL APPLICABLE TREES WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ARE TO BE REMOVED. Any trees that protrude from the woods into the mow area can either be cut at the mow/wood line and removed or fully removed. At no time shall the contractor push limbs, trees, etc into ditches, creek, or other drainage ways. The tree root balls within the mowline shall be removed by the Contractor. All holes remaining by the root balls shall be filled with backfill material per the following:

In cases where fill material shall be required, the top 6” of depressions shall be filled with topsoil. Depressions deeper than 6” shall be filled for the remainder of the depth below the topsoil with Class B9 Borrow material per the Mississippi Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction (MDOT Redbook 2017) Section 703 also meeting the classification of SC (Clayey Sand) per ASTM D-2487. Once all areas within the mowline are graded to re-establish the original slopes and landscape surfaces, the areas that are bare shall be seeded and mulched per the following specification Section 02921.

g. When removing trees & limbs (standing or existing downed trees) from the mowing area or at the wood line, the contractor has the following options (except in the cases of areas with large volume of trees that shall be removed entirely):

Option 1: Remove the tree or limbs and haul away from the Parkway entirely.

Option 2: Cut trees or limbs into 10'-12' lengths and scatter in wooded area within the Parkways Boundary. The cut sections of the tree shall not be stacked or oriented in such a manner than would look unnatural such as in the case of a brush pile. When scattering cut sections of trees, they may be placed at a minimum of 25’, in a scattered orientation, away from the wood line within the natural landscape. The method by which the contractor scatters the cut sections of trees, shall be so that the remaining existing trees and saplings are not damaged in the process.

Option 3: Chip trees and limbs and scatter into woods line. Chip depth shall not exceed 4 inches.

5. PROJECT RESTRICTIONS: The following restrictions apply to this contract.

a. Any damage caused by the contractor’s equipment shall be rehabilitated to the original condition or state. No heavy machinery will be allowed on slopes or beyond mowed areas. In no case will tracked vehicles or log skidders be allowed.

b. Access routes for the Parkway shall be the closest Parkway access to the area where the contractor is working.

c. When hauling on National Park Service roads, do not exceed the following load restrictions:

Single Units

Gross Vehicle Weight –Lbs.

2 axles

40,000

3 axles

48,000

4 or more axles

52,000

Combination Units

3 axles

57,000

4 axles

62,000

5 or more axles

66,000 Where the ground is saturated with water or during periods of freezing and thawing, the Contracting Officer may impose further load restrictions or suspend hauling. Haul vehicles shall turn around only at intersections and parking areas, not on the Park Road.

d. Operate loaded vehicles hauling material at speeds not exceeding 40 MPH and spaced at 500-foot minimum intervals. On bridges, speeds shall not exceed 25 MPH and not more than one loaded hauling vehicle shall be allowed on any bridge at one time. Hauling of materials, supplies, and equipment over the park road, other than within the limits of the project, shall not be permitted without prior approval of the Contracting Officer. Load restrictions on park roads are identical to the state load restrictions with such additional regulations as may be imposed by the Contracting Officer. Vehicles shall not be counted for the purpose of load determination unless they are equipped with brakes. Trucks and other heavy equipment shall be confined to the limits of the project on the park road. Hauling of materials, supplies, and equipment over the park road, other than within the limits of the project, shall not be permitted except as is necessary to perform the required work and the contractor shall be required to haul on non-Parkway roads to the maximum extent possible.

e. Material shall not be piled on the Parkway shoulders or allowed to accumulate except during hauling or chipping operations. All road shoulders shall be kept free of debris and left free of debris at the end of each workday. Any necessary interruptions in traffic flow shall be minimized at all times. Extra care is required to make sure material along shoulders do not encroach into the roadway at any time.

f. No unauthorized dumping of the material is acceptable. The contractor is strictly responsible for properly disposing of removed material and shall be liable for any fees or fines associated with improper hauling or disposal.

6. TRAFFIC CONTROL: The contractor shall provide two flaggers whenever work operations may interfere with the flow of traffic. The flagger shall be located at least 150 feet in advance of the work site. "FLAGGER AHEAD, 500 FT." signs shall be used at all times the flagger are working, flagger and workers are required to wear bright orange safety vests while working on and along the roadway. The contractor is responsible for providing all signs and other equipment to perform this task. Traffic must be stopped both ways anytime a limb overhanging the roadway is being removed.

7. INSPECTION and TIMES OF WORK: The work will be monitored by a representative of the Contracting Officer and regular meetings with the contractor will be held to assure safety requirements are being met, to resolve problems that arise, and to monitor the general status of the removal process. The contractor, or his designated representative, shall be present at all times while work is being performed. Any contractor representative shall be thoroughly familiar with the project and have authority to act in the absence of the contractor. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding Federal Holidays. No work shall be permitted on weekends or Federal Holidays without prior approval from the COR or Contracting Officer.

8. CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY: The contractor shall remove all material from the site in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and all the terms and conditions listed in the contract. The Contractor agrees that personnel and equipment are subject to safety inspections by the Government while on federal property. The Contractor must comply with all Federal and State OSHA requirements. The contractor shall be responsible for the safety of his employees and equipment, and for any injury or damage done to or by them from any source or cause. He shall save and hold the United States free from all claims for damages to any and all persons and (or) property arising from the execution of the work covered by these specifications.

9. PROTECTION OF VEGETATION, STRUCTURES, AND UTILITIES: The Contractor shall preserve and protect all structures, equipment, and vegetation (such as trees, shrubs, and grass) on or adjacent to the work site, which are not to be removed and which do not unreasonably interfere with the work required under this contract. The Contractor shall only remove trees when specifically authorized to do so and shall avoid damaging vegetation that will remain in place. If any limbs or branches of trees are broken during contract performance, or by the careless operation of equipment, or by workers, the Contractor shall trim those limbs or branches with a clean cut and paint the cut with a tree-pruning compound as directed by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall protect from damage all existing improvements and utilities at or near the work site, the locations of which are made known to or should be known by the Contractor. The Contractor shall repair any damage to those facilities, including those that are the property of a third party, resulting from failure to comply with the requirements of this contract or failure to exercise reasonable care in performing the work. If the Contractor fails or refuses to repair the damage promptly, the Contracting Officer may have the necessary work performed and charge the cost to the Contractor.

10. SITE VISIT: Each bidder is urged to visit the sites prior to bidding.

11. PREWORK CONFERENCE: Before the start of the work, the Contracting Officer will arrange for a prework conference with the Contractor to determine any requirements that must be resolved to accommodate the work. Upon completion of the meeting and/or resolution of any items required, site work may proceed.

12. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The contractor shall have 90 working days to complete all work awarded under the base items. A working day shall be considered every day that does not fall on a federal holiday, Saturday, or Sunday. In the case of rain, wet soil, or other weather-related delays, time may be extended. The Contractor may provide documentation as to which days within their Period of Performance time should not be charged due to weather to the COR for Review and Approval.

13. MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT: The estimated quantities shown in this document are approximate and actual quantities may differ from that stated. Bidders are cautioned that the estimated quantities indicated are rough counts only. While it may appear that the quantities shown for the tasks indicated are small, the amount and size of the material to be removed from that area may be significant. All bidders should thoroughly inspect the project areas before bidding. Measurement and Payment shall be as per the line items, their units of work, and unit prices bid as defined on the bid form commensurate to the final quantity of work performed.

Parkway

CenterLine

[---8’-----]

[---8’-----]

18’

18’