STATEMENT_OF_WORK_ROSA_THINNING.pdf

ROSA WILDLIFE AND RANGELAND IMPROVEMENT THINNING

PROJECT

STATEMENT OF WORK

A. INTRODUCTION

The Bureau of Land Management's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

BLM manages public lands to maximize opportunities for commercial, recreational, and conservation activities. This promotes healthy and productive public lands that create jobs in local communities while supporting traditional land uses such as responsible energy development, timber harvesting, grazing, and recreation, including hunting and fishing.

A.1 BLM MISSION PRIORITIES

1. Clean Energy: We will help lead the way to a clean energy future, leaving no communities behind.

2. Restoration: Nature is our planet’s best engineer. As the effects of climate change increase, we will restore our lands and waters to create healthy, resilient landscapes and to allow nature to better store carbon.

3. Recreation for All: We will work to ensure that all families now and into the future have equal opportunity to hunt, camp, fish, hike and play on our public lands.

4. Conservation: As part of our multiple use and sustained yield mandate, we will address climate change and conservation in all we do.

5. Rebuild the Agency: To achieve the above and create an agency the future is relying upon; we will fix staffing shortages and build a team that represents all of America.

B. BACKGROUND

• Pinyon-juniper woodlands provide thermal and escape cover for big game, as well as some forage resources. Vegetation types typically found in pinyon-juniper woodlands provide important, nutrient rich browse for wintering big game species. Over the past 150 years, fire suppression and historic overgrazing have likely contributed to an expansion of pinyon and juniper trees over much of the Farmington Field Office. As pinyon-juniper woodlands expand, infill and age, they can reduce production of understory vegetation by depriving those species of direct sunlight and competing with them for nutrients and moisture. Gradual replacement of superior browse forager with pinyon-juniper forest reduces habitat carrying capacities for many species. Still, pinyon and juniper forest does provide important cover for wintering wildlife, as well as essential nesting and foraging substrate for a variety of bird species. Existing vegetation consists primarily of persistent pinyon/juniper woodland with low density intermixed shrub and grass components.

C. OBJECTIVE

Clearing and thinning of pinyon-juniper forest shall be conducted in patches, to preserve intact forests and protect obligate wildlife species. In proximity to roads and other developments, forested buffers (screens) shall be retained to reduce visual exposure to wildlife.

PROJECT SIZE

The project shall consist of three options with different acreages to quote on. Vendors may provide a quote on one option, two options, or three options. The BLM will choose the one proposal across all three options that is most advantageous to the agency and maximizes the full extent of the requirement as outlined per Section C, Project Size in the Statement of Work (SOW). Vendors are encouraged to offer up their best overall pricing.

Requesting Office:

Farmington Field Office Description/Project Est.

Area Name/Location Qty. Unit

Rosa Thinning - Option 1 951 Acres

Rosa Thinning - Option 2 1334 Acres

Rosa Thinning - Option 3 1729 Acres

C.1 TASKS/TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The following tasks for which the contractor shall use in the treatment of the Rosa Wildlife and Rangeland Improvement Thinning Project (see attached maps):

Thinning

• An on-site meeting with the Farmington Field Office (FFO) archeologist and on-site contractor personnel shall be held prior to the implementation of any thinning treatments.

• Treatment shall be done by hand-cutting (chainsaws and other hand equipment).

• Cut all juniper trees under 15” diameter at stump height (DSH).

• Due to stem characteristics of Juniper and Piñon, stem diameter shall be measured

6 inches above ground surface on the high side for cutting (DSH-diameter at stump height), not DBH.

• 70% of standing dead trees (snags) shall be cut, lop and scattered.

• Leave all Pinyon Pine trees.

• Limb dead branches on all live trees (including Pinyon Pine) up to 3’ from ground level.

• Cut stumps shall be three (3) inches or less in height with no live limbs or foliage attached.

• Cut and felled material shall be bucked into lengths of 3 to 6 feet.

• Slash from cutting operations shall be lop and scattered. Scattered material shall be focused in areas prone to erosion (drainages, washes, gullies etc.) to prevent future erosion.

• Limb tops of mountain mahogany, oak brush, and serviceberry bushes to approximately waist height to promote growth regeneration.

• The contractor shall not cut culturally altered juniper and pinyon pine trees as per the district archeologist guidelines. (Reference Archeological Sites Section in this SOW)

• Shall not delimb live branches on left trees.

Slash Management

• Slash within the cutting area shall be lopped and scattered through-out the area and shall not exceed 18 inches in height.

• Cut material that is less than 16 inches in diameter shall be placed in arroyos and erosion “cuts” located within 1 chain (66 feet) of cut trees to help slow head cutting and soil erosion.

• Any tree that is cut within 66 feet of an active erosion cut, arroyo or area of bare ground shall have the slash placed in areas, in a manner that shall allow the slash to catch sediment and help reduce soil erosion.

Leave Trees (No Cut Trees)- The contractor shall at no time cut trees for the following:

• Any tree having signs or survey markers.

• Any tree having wildlife nests or cavities.

• All trees along fence lines that have fence wire attached to them.

• All Alligator Juniper

• Pinyon Pine Trees

Seeding

• Areas to be treated shall be seeded prior to thinning, following the guidelines listed below.

• Seed supply shall be provided by the FFO-BLM.

• Contractor shall mix seed to comply with desired seed species ratio.

• Contractor shall disperse seed within treatment areas PRIOR to thinning activities at a rate of 10lbs of mixed seed per acre.

• No application of seed shall be applied if there is persistent snow on the ground.

Approval for seed application shall be done through coordination with the delegated BLM COR if snow conditions exist.

D. DELIVERABLES

Requirements Due

On Site meeting with Farmington Field Office

Archaeologist and Contractor.

Determined by Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer

(CO) after award

Acreage Final Approval As determined by the Farmington Field Office and in consultation with the COR and CO

Onsite meeting before any Thinning is to begin

Determined by COR in consultation with the Farmington Field Archaeologist

E. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

E.1 PLACE OF PEROFRMANCE

The project lies east of Navajo Lake, south of the Colorado border and west of the Jicarilla Ranger District (Forest Service) lands. All project boundaries reside within BLM lands. Grid Coordinates are as follows: Township 32 N, Range 6 W, Section 12, 13, 24, 34; Township 32 N, Range 5 W, Section 7, 8, 18, 19, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33;

Township 31 N, Range 5W, Section 8, 9, 17, 18, 20, 21; Township 31N, Range 6W, Section 11, 12, 14, 15.

• The Contractor shall NOT block roadways.

• The Contracting Office shall at any time place certain work restrictions as necessary to the project, for the safety of general public.

• Any use of All Terrain Vehicles (including four-wheelers, Mules, Gators, etc.)

must be approved in advance by delegated COR and in conjunction with the CO.

• Before any equipment is brought into the public land project area it shall be washed to remove non-native seeds or any other foreign object debris.

• Cleaning shall consist of the removal all dirt, grease, debris, and materials that shall harbor noxious weeds and their seeds. Cleaning shall occur away from the project site. Equipment includes: Trucks, UTV’s, Trailers and Hand-tools

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Estimated start date is June 26th, 2023 with performance time of completion due by May 14th, 2024 (note work restrictions dates).

WORK RESTRICTIONS UNDER PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

• The Contractor shall abide by the following Work Restrictions:

• MIGRATORY BIRD: May 15th - July 31st (No prescribed treatment activity is allowed during this period, unless cleared by a BLM biologist prior to treatment. Do not assume that BLM biologist shall be available to clear treatment areas during this time. If BLM biologist is available, the maximum cleared acres by BLM biologist per day shall be 10 acres. Clearances are valid for 10 calendar days.)

• BIG GAME WINTER RANGE: December 1st – February 28th (No prescribed treatment activity is allowed during this period, unless approved by Farmington Field Manager in coordination with the COR and/or CO.)

E.3 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

MAPS

BLM Maps shall show thinning boundaries, treatment acreage, and areas within the project boundary excluded from treatment. Geo-referenced PDF Avenza Maps of treatment polygons shall be made available by the Farmington Field Office Fire and Fuels program.

PROJECT SITE ACCESS

The contractor shall use existing roads and/or access routes that have been previously approved for vehicle use by the BLM. All access into the project shall be by existing roads or by foot. No vehicle access shall be allowed off established two track roads and must be approved for use prior to project implementation.

Closest amenities (fuel; food; lodging) are approximately 60 miles (approx. 46 miles on pavement) from the southern portion of the project area.

Road Conditions may become difficult in wet conditions. Tire chains are recommended (not provided by BLM).

BOUNDARIES OF PROJECT AREA

Project area boundaries shall be provided as geo-referenced PDF maps for use in Avenza Maps. Contractor may flag project area boundaries as needed (flagging not provided by BLM).

MIGRATORY BIRDS

Nesting Migratory Breeding Season begins on May 15th and ends on July 31st. No prescribed treatment activity shall be allowed during this period, unless cleared by a BLM biologist prior to treatment and in coordination with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer (CO). Do not assume that BLM biologist shall be available to clear treatment areas during this time. If BLM biologist is available, the maximum cleared acres by BLM biologist per day shall be 10 acres.

Clearances are valid for 10 calendar days.

If contract personnel encounter any bird nests within the acres to be thinned, they shall not cut the tree in which the nest is located or otherwise physically disturb the nest.

BIG GAME WINTER RANGE

Big game wintering range season begins December 1st and ends on February 28th. No prescribed treatment activity is allowed during this period, unless approved by Farmington Field Manager in coordination with the COR and/or CO.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

This project may pose adverse effects to unknown cultural resources within the boundaries of the area.

An on-site meeting with the Farmington Field Office (FFO) archeologist and on-site contractor personnel shall be performed prior to the implementation of any thinning treatments. Follow guidance from the Farmington Field Office Archeologist to avoid adverse effects to cultural resources. Notify the COR of any unidentified cultural sites discovered during the implementation of the project.

SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT

Contract personnel shall follow and meet all federal, state, and local safety standards and requirements for this project.

REMOVAL OF FOREST PRODUCTS FROM AREA

Removal of any forest product from the project site is not authorized.

TRASH

Thinning contractor shall be responsible for removal of all trash from the project site daily through the duration of the project.

E.4 GOVERNMENT FUNSIHED EQUIPMENT: The government shall furnish all seed(s) required for the tasks associated with this SOW.

E.5 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED EQUIPMENT: The contractor shall furnish all equipment and supplies, not furnished by government as listed in the SOW, to complete associated tasks required in this SOW.

E.6 INSPECTION AND MEASUREMENT

• Initial inspections of treated areas shall be done by a delegated BLM COR or the assigned Project Inspector (PI).

• Final inspections shall include interior and exterior examinations for adherence to prescription.

Attachment A: Rosa Wildlife and Rangeland Improvement Thinning Project 951 Acres Option 1

Attachment B: Rosa Wildlife and Rangeland Improvement Thinning Project 1334 Acres Option 2

Attachment C: Rosa Wildlife and Rangeland Improvement Thinning Project 1729 Acres Option 3

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