Statement_of_Work.pdf

Statement of Work USGS Wildfire Supplemental Fire Abatement Around Monitoring Sta ons

General Requirements The contractor shall furnish all facili es, labor, and materials to provide goods/services in accordance with the terms and condi ons and the specifica ons set forth herein.

Project Summary As part of natural hazard monitoring, warning, and mi ga on, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) currently operates over 1000 seismic and geode c monitoring sta ons and telecommunica ons relays in five regional networks in California (NCSN, SCSN, NSMN, SCGN) and Washington and Oregon (PNSN) combined. These sta ons and telecommunica ons relays provide cri cal informa on to promote public health and safety and to support earthquake early warnings. Many sta ons are in remote loca ons surrounded by vegeta on and other flammable materials which pose a risk to opera on because of fire. To mi gate this risk, the USGS seeks a contractor to perform work to reduce vegeta on‐based fuel and apply fire abatement strategies surrounding specified sites. This contract will be a varia on of three tasks which are considered separately for bidding purposes. The first task is a site reconnaissance visit and repor ng. The second task is the removal of fuels. The third task is the same as the second task with addi onal mi ga on measures.

Solicitation This solicita on is being offered as an IDIQ (Indefinite delivery, indefinite quan ty) between the awardee (“Contractor”) and the USGS. More than one award may be made, reflec ng the large region of the proposed work.

During the ordering period (term) of the contract (see below), the USGS will submit requests for quota on (RFQs) to the Contractor when firm requirements are iden fied for each task. The Contractor will submit a quota on to the USGS within the me specified in the RFQ to be considered for award. The USGS will award orders on either firm‐fixed price (FFP, preferred) or T&M (labor hours) basis depending on the circumstances of the requirement and the par es’ agreements leading to award of an order.

Term The term of this contract is 5 years from its effec ve date.

Qualifications Contractor must have a proven track record of successful landscaping or vegeta on removal projects.

Contractor must demonstrate ability to comply with all federal laws and regula ons including the Occupa onal Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Na onal Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Americans with Disabili es Act (ADA).

The Landscaping contractor must have a strong safety record and be able to demonstrate their commitment to provide a safe work environment to their employees.

Many of the sta ons requiring fire abatement are in remote loca ons where four‐wheel drive vehicles will be required. In addi on, some sta ons may require walking up to 250’ from a parking spot and could be on uneven and/or steep terrain where vehicles and heavy machinery cannot traverse.

Statement of Work This solicita on covers 3 different tasks. In the RFP, the USGS will specify which task is being requested:

1. Site Reconnaissance and Evalua on (“Task 1”) In coordina on with the USGS, the contractor will visit each monitoring sta on on the provided list and produce a fire suppression measures report (sample in Appendix 3).

USGS reserves the right to change listed sites within the general scope of this effort in terms of geography and work requirements. Selec on of sites to be serviced depends on acquisi on of permits and access issues which are currently being worked on by the USGS.

This evalua on will include assessment of topology, vegeta on, access and other relevant factors which will form the basis of the work plan and subsequent RFQ for Task 2 or 3. Not all sites will require a Task 1 report if USGS has sufficient recent knowledge of the site condi ons. Travel will be necessary. The contractor is expected to plan an efficient route and to visit mul ple loca ons in a region to reduce travel costs.

2. Perform vegeta on removal from USGS provided list or Site Evalua on (“Task 2”) The USGS will provide a list of predetermined monitoring sta ons which require fire abatement services. Recent images and a work plan will be provided to allow the contractor to gauge the scope of work. A typical sta on will require vegeta on removal around a 30‐ foot radius from each equipment vault and may include branches hanging into the 30‐foot radius. In cases of wooded areas where nearby trees present a line‐of‐ site telemetry or solar insola on blockage, USGS may request that addi onal branches or en re trees be removed outside the 30‐foot radius. On Na onal Forest sites, trees with diameter less than 11 inches may be removed without advanced permission. Tree trimming in the Na onal Forest will follow the guidelines in Appendix 4. In some cases, as determined by USGS task manager, roots will be removed from shrubs located within the 30 foot sta on radius to prevent rapid regrowth. In this case where land disturbance is expected, exis ng NEPA requirements will be followed. The requirement of vegeta on disposal will be specified in the site list (e.g. complete removal, chipping, etc). It is unlikely that pes cides or herbicides will be used in this project. Travel will be necessary. The contractor is expected to plan an efficient route and to visit mul ple loca ons in a region to reduce travel costs.

3. Vegeta on Removal as Task 2 with Addi onal Preven on Measures (“Task 3”)

A fabric weed barrier overlain by gravel will be installed surrounding instrument enclosures and telemetry infrastructure according to specifica on provided in Appendix

5. Task 3 should be performed on the same visit as the vegeta on removal to reduce travel costs.

Government‐furnished Materials In each task order, USGS will specify the project manager and which task item is being requested (1, 2, or 3) and provide a detailed descrip on of the task (SOW), along with site coordinates, photos, and other per nent informa on and/or necessary requirements as noted above. Access to sites such as coordina on with landowners will be provided by the USGS or cooperator. Contractor can expect that USGS or cooperator personnel will accompany them during the performance of the field work.

Safety Protocols At all loca ons, the following guidelines will be followed.

1. BE FIRE CONSCIOUS. Wildfires can easily be started any time of year. The Infrastructure Contractor crew shall have available at least three (3) class ABC fire extinguishers at all times with a minimum use time of at least 10 seconds and a dedicated water source to be used only for fighting fires OR three (3) Indian pumps or equivalent brand. All crew members shall know how to access and use this equipment. Contractors shall use a fiberglass fire blanket when CAD welding, or using other tools that have the potential to generate sparks. Note: at Forest Service sites, USGS or cooperator personnel will have to call a day in advance during fire season for current Project Activity Levels (PALs) to determine whether work can happen using the desired tools and vehicles. This may delay work or require the use of hand tools.

2. Absolutely NO smoking while on site unless you are inside your vehicle. Cigarette butts must be extinguished and stored within the vehicle.

3. Use all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and safety practices at the job site.

4. Do not disturb the wildlife and plant life outside of the site footprint. Do not disturb grazing animals.

5. WILDFIRES. The USGS safety protocols call for field operations to cease when fire approaches within 15 miles of a worksite. USGS and cooperator staff will also cease field work when the AQI exceeds 200.

Evaluation Criteria

Capability, including technical capability and capacity to perform in the required time.

Corporate experience and experience of key personnel and/or subcontractors Past performance Price

A USGS personnel will be present to sign off on completed work.

Appendices

Appendix 1 – Map of predetermined candidate sites Appendix 2 – List of predetermined sites for fire abatement and preven on measures ( Addi onal sta ons may be added within the overall geographic area).

Appendix 3 – Example site evalua on report and work order Appendix 4 – General vegeta on removal guidelines