Statement_of_Work_rev2.docx

James Kipp Recreation Area Hazard Tree Abatement

SECTION C

SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

1. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Lewistown Field Office, has a requirement to have approximately 338 trees trimmed and an estimated 41 trees felled at Kipp Recreation Area. This site is located approximately 61 miles northeast of Lewistown, Montana, on the south side of the Missouri River where Highway 191 crosses the Missouri River at the Fred Robinson Bridge (T. 22 N., R. 24 E., Sec. 31: SENE, NESE) or Latitude 47.62318 Longitude -108.68297. The work under this contract shall be in accordance with the following specifications:

2. A. An 85-day completion period has been estimated for this project; however, the period of performance is from 7/16/2022 to 8/31/2022 due to public access resuming 9/1/2022. If trimming and falling work is not completed within the initial timeframe than it shall be scheduled for the following year with the same time restrictions. However, falling work may be done in winter months after campground is closed with acceptance of a proposed work schedule by the Contracting Officer. Work schedule shall detail days and hours of work per day. B. Trimming and falling workdays when campground is Open shall be limited to Monday through Noon Friday and no work during quiet hours (10:0 PM to 7:00 AM). Careful planning in areas with traffic to enable the recreation area to remain functional to the public should be utilized. The Contractor shall not be allowed to work Fridays, weekends or holidays unless approval is given by the Contracting Officer(CO) and the work area can be barricaded closed. If site use is high enough that public safety in the work area cannot be maintained, work shall be suspended and the contract completion time shall be equitably adjusted.

3. Existing roads provide access to the site. Access roads shall not be disturbed, and no building of new access roads shall be allowed. Public access roads damaged by the Contractor shall be restored at the Contractor's expense to the same condition they were in at the commencement of the work. The Contractor shall not perform work in areas where the ground is soft or wet.

4. Tables, fire rings, signs and other assemblies in the work area may be moved out of the way for operations to be completed and then moved back into the same locations after work is complete.

5. Trimming/felling operations shall be conducted while leaves are on the trees to facilitate identification of dead branches.

6. Trees to be trimmed/felled are mature cottonwoods. All trees to be felled have been tagged by the Government using a metal jar lid nailed to the tree and two additional nails near the jar lid. Trees to be felled will be marked with paint at the start of the work and tree Diameter at Breast Height,(DBH), is listed for all trees to be felled. Trees to be trimmed will be marked with flagging at start of work.

7. The Contractor shall remove entire trees identified by the Government. Tree removal shall not require stump removal; trees shall be cut off at the base of the tree, level with the existing ground surface to eliminate tripping and/or mowing hazards if on the finished grade or slopes of pads or roadways. In areas where tress to be felled are outside the footprint of past construction, the trees may be cut off within 36” of the natural ground surface. The tree removal price shall include any bucking required and moving all materials to outside the constructed campsite or road and the slopes back to native ground.

8. Trimming shall be done to eliminate dead branches and balance remaining branches/weight on the trees. All pruning cuts shall be made to the next major branch crotch, leaving the branch collar intact. In limited instances the dead limbs shall be removed until the likelihood of tree falling is reduced and the tree has been “topped” If pruning uncovers adverse conditions which result in the Government’s decision to remove the tree after trimming has started, an equitable adjustment will be made. Dead branches which are 3 inches in diameter or greater shall be removed. Cuts shall be perpendicular to lower portion of branches on those requiring trimming. Dead branches may be as high as 100 feet above the ground.

9. All debris from trimmed/felled trees shall be removed from constructed facilities such as roads, campsites or other high use areas, areas of earth fill and appurtenances. The debris for work is expected to degrade naturally. All materials deposited shall be stable so public will not have a danger from shifting materials in the future.

10. Trimming/felling operations shall be confined to one area or campground loop at a time so that visitors may use the remainder of the area. The Contractor shall be responsible for closing access routes to the general work area(s) to prevent vehicles and/or recreational vehicles from entering or parking in the work area(s). The Contractor shall be responsible for providing security for the specific work area(s) to prevent visitors from coming any closer than 150 feet to any falling limbs/trees. Operations requiring greater safety distances shall dictate larger separations.

11. The Contractor shall protect all appurtenances (structures, water hydrants, water fountains, picnic tables, cooking grills, signs, kiosks, curb stops, utility lines/poles, monuments, fences and other appurtenances) from damage during tree trimming/felling operations. All unmarked trees, including smaller trees and seedlings, in the work area shall be protected from damage and left undisturbed by the Contractor. The Contractor shall be held liable for damages to private and/or Government property or appurtenances; any damage shall be corrected by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense.

12. The Contractor shall furnish all equipment, fully functional with a skilled operator, needed to perform the required services. Exhaust stacks of engines, except those with exhaust-driven turbo chargers, shall be equipped with spark arresters. Spark arresters shall meet the requirements of the current U.S. Forest Service Spark Arrester Guide. The Contractor will ensure that equipment is free of leaks which may cause the discharge of any petroleum products.

13. During maintenance, repair, or oil changing operations the Contractor shall not drop oil or any other petroleum product directly on the ground. All waste petroleum products shall be captured and disposed of by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense. If a product is spilled on the ground, the Contractor shall excavate areas that have been saturated to a depth of 12 inches beyond contaminated material, backfill with approved material, and haul contaminated material to an approved landfill for disposal.

14. Equipment for trimming branches and limbs shall be able to reach branches from 20 feet to at least 60 feet in height though trees are higher than 60 feet. Tools may be required to reach heights in excess of 80 feet. Minimum requirements shall include, chainsaws, and all mandated personal protective equipment (PPE). Reach range, manufacturer number, and model number of equipment shall be submitted with bid.

15. All work shall be conducted in compliance with the applicable state and federal safety standards. Hard hats; steel-toed boots; eye, ear, and face protection; and leg chaps shall be required. All safety equipment that is applicable to the job shall be worn at all times. Failure to wear safety equipment shall constitute grounds for termination of this contract.

16. In the event climbers are proposed, the Contractor shall submit a written plan to the Government 3 days prior to any climbing operations. Plan shall detail the equipment, safety standards and experience of all personnel involved.

17. The Contractor may be ordered to cease work due to inclement weather to prevent site damage. If the work is ordered to halt for an excessive amount of time, an extension of the completion date may be allowed.

18. All work may be inspected daily at which time the work shall either be accepted or denied by the tree. Any work which is not in compliance with these specifications shall be corrected by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense.

19. Due to weather conditions and other factors the number of trees to trim or felled may be adjusted as needed if conditions change from the time this work was planned to when work starts.