WSTC Meteorology Tower Climbing SOW_abbrev for public release.pdf

White Sands Test Center – Meteorology Branch

Tower Climbing Effort

Scope of Work (SOW)

Prepared by:

Shawna Pfeiffer

Meteorology Branch

Range Operations Directorate

E-mail: shawna.r.pfeiffer.civ@army.mil

Telephone: 575-678-2876

Prepared for:

WSTC Contracting Office

White Sands Missile Range

New Mexico, 88002

Date Prepared: 23 May 2025

Version Number: 2.0

Scope of Work Tower Climbing

WSTC Meteorology Branch 2

DOCUMENT REVISION HISTORY

Version

Number Date of Change

Page

Number(s)

Name of Person

Entering Change Description

0.0 23 May 2025 All Shawna Pfeiffer Initial Document

1.0 14 November 2025 All Shawna Pfeiffer Update Document

2.0 21 November 2025 All Shawna Pfeiffer Public Release

WSTC Meteorology Branch 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DOCUMENT REVISION HISTORY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 SCOPE

2.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

2.2 PLACES OF PERFORMANCE

3.0 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

3.1 SOW DOCUMENTS

3.2 OTHER DOCUMENTS

4.0 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

5.0 SCHEDULE CONSIDERATIONS

5.1 RANGE TEST SCHEDULE

5.2 PROJECT SCHEDULE

6.0 DELIVERABLES

6.1 RESPONSE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL REQUEST FOR SERVICE

6.2 FINISHED PROJECT

6.3 FINAL REPORT

7.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS

7.1 GENERAL

8.0 SAFETY

8.1 ON SITE SAFETY

8.2 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

8.3 SAFETY PLANS

8.4 COMPETENCIES

8.5 FIRST AID AND TRAINING

8.6 MEDICAL FACILITIES IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY

8.7 SAFETY TAILGATES

8.8 COMMUNICATION

8.9 DRIVING

8.10 SNAKES AND OTHER VENOMOUS CRITTERS

8.11 HANTAVIRUS

8.12 ORYX AND OTHER LARGE FAUNA

8.13 DESERT ENVIRONMENT

8.14 WEATHER

8.15 UXO

9.0 QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS

9.1 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

WSTC Meteorology Branch 4

10.0 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

10.1 ACCESS TO THE SITE

10.2 SITE DIRECTION

10.3 SITE ENTRY

10.4 PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

WSTC Meteorology Branch 5

1.0 INTRODUCTION

White Sands Test Center (WSTC) performs open air missile testing in support of National Defense. As part of this effort, the WSTC

Meteorology (MET) group observes wind conditions at eight total levels from the 500-foot tower installed at a site on range. At minimum, the sensors used to ascertain this critical wind data, called wind birds, are

TMDE (Calibration) items and must be replaced once per year regardless of mission support requirements. Additionally, high wind and other adverse weather conditions regularly damage the wind birds, requiring unforeseen replacement.

For this project, the WSTC MET group seeks to provide a purchase agreement to a qualified vendor for execution of as-needed maintenance and repair efforts at this tower location. Predominantly, this includes replacing the eight wind birds currently installed on the 500-foot tower once per calendar year, as well as perform other wind bird- and tower-related maintenance as required. This includes, but is not limited to, tower and/or wind bird related cabling, tower and/or wind bird related hardware like cable clips, pull boxes and mounting posts, tower related lighting, tower related ascent system, etc.

The MET group does not have the capability, equipment or expertise to climb the tower to complete this effort, and as such, the WSMR MET group seeks to contract this requirement to a local or semi-local contractor that is trained and certified in elevated work and tower climbing.

The tower in question is approximately 30 miles east of Las Cruces, New

Mexico and 50 miles north of El Paso, Texas, on White Sands Test

Center. The tower is shown in Figure 1.

The government envisions a Purchase Agreement for this effort, with a period not to exceed five years and a cost not to exceed $55,000 in total.

2.0 SCOPE

The Scope of Work (SOW) is provided for the Contractor to provide a turn-key wind bird replacement on a 500-foot tower, as well as perform other work on the tower as required, such as preventative and corrective maintenance on the MET systems, sensors, cabling, as well as on the

Figure 1: 500-foot Tower

WSTC Meteorology Branch 6 tower itself, to the extent possible and as needed. This will be a referenced as the “project” from here forward within this document.

Typically, the most frequent maintenance effort requires only the replacement of the eight wind birds on the tower, using all existing cabling currently employed by the existing wind birds installed on the tower. The contractor is required to swap the wind birds, supplied as

Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), at each of the eight height levels on the tower. All heights, in feet above ground level, are as follows: 25, 75, 125, 175, 225, 300, 400, 500. Each height installation is identical.

The project shall conform to the applicable documents, the technical requirements, and the safety requirements of this SOW. This SOW attempts to cover the project as a whole, under a purchase agreement. However, for each request for service under the project, a subsequent SOW will be generated with details of the work required for that specific service call.

The Meteorology Government Point of Contact (GPOC) for funding and project questions is

Matthew Walter, 575-678-2997. The Meteorology Government Technical Representative (GTR) for this project is Shawna Pfeiffer, 575-678-2876.

2.1 Period of Performance

Period of Performance for the Blanket Purchase Agreement shall be no more than five (5) calendar years from the date of ATP.

The project schedule will be on an as-needed basis, as determined by WSMR, with individual periods of performance and scopes of work identified at the time of each request for service throughout the life of the entire contract.

2.2 Places of Performance

All work will occur at the tower site on White Sands Missile Range. As part of each support requirement, the contractor will be required to submit a final report of the work completed, which will be completed at the contractor’s place of business and provided electronically to the GPOC and GTR.

3.0 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

Applicable Documents are documents that are the responsibility of the Contractor to acquire and abide by.

WSTC Meteorology Branch 7

3.1 SOW Documents

• Specific photographs of the site and equipment must be requested in writing.

Some equipment may not be photographable due to sensitivities.

• The Contractor shall abide by the White Sands Missile Range Safety Policies.

3.2 Other Documents

Suggested documents the Contractor could reference; not limited to the suggested documentation below, should these documents apply. The latest version of each code should be referenced.

• International Building Code (IBC).

• Applicable OSHA Standards, especially for

Communications and Tower Climbing

• Any other applicable industry standard documentation

4.0 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The technical requirements for climbing the tower and previous wind bird installation/replacement efforts are described herein.

a. This tower has been approved by WSMR

Safety for climbing.

b. The first wind bird level is shown in Figure 3, including the tower base.

c. From the ground level, the wind bird levels are as follows: 25 feet, 75 feet, 125 feet, 175 feet, 225 feet, 300 feet, 400 feet and 500 feet.

Figure 2: 500-foot tower, first wind bird level

WSTC Meteorology Branch 8

d. The wind birds will be GFE and assembled on the ground by MET personnel. Climbers must be able to carry multiple wind birds up the tower for installation.

e. The tower arms that the wind birds are mounted to, at the ends, retract toward the tower.

Climbers can slide the arms toward the tower to access the wind birds at the end after loosening the tightening screw handle on each arm. The arms are shown in Figure 4.

f. Climbers must disconnect and uninstall the existing wind birds and replace them with new wind birds, noting the serial number and/or TMDE number on the new wind birds and at which height level they were installed

at. See Figure 5 for the TMDE label of the wind bird, containing the calibration (TMDE) number (in this case, CSR361) and the serial number (in this case, 140449).

g. Wiring on the new wind birds is to be identical to the wiring on the existing wind birds, with the wiring connections as shown below (in order from left to right within the wind bird connection box):

o Bare wire → EARTH GND Figure 4: TMDE and Serial Number

Figure 3: Tower arm and wind bird

WSTC Meteorology Branch 9 o Jumper → WS REF o Jumper → WD REF o Black → WD REF o Green → WD SIG o White → WD EXC o Red → WS SIG

This is reflected in Figure 6.

h. The Contractor is required to provide radios for use by each climber and by the

MET personnel on the ground.

i. Once each wind bird has been replaced, the climber will radio to the MET personnel on the ground to note the serial number of the wind bird and/or the TMDE number, as well as to perform a series of directional and speed check on the wind bird. For example, the climber will be asked to manually point the propeller of the wind bird to the south, east, north and west directions. These directions can be approximate. The climber will also be asked to manually spin the propeller of the wind bird if there is insufficient wind for it to spin at that time.

j. Upon completion, the wind bird installation at each level will be as shown in Figure

7. This includes electrical tape around the base of the connection box on the wind bird and securing the hose clamp at the base of the wind bird pedestal. The propeller on the wind bird must spin freely and should not exhibit any sound while spinning. The wind bird must rotate about the mounting pedestal freely and should not exhibit any sound while rotating.

k. A final report shall be provided to the GPOC and GTR within five business days after the completion of each effort. The report will include specific details of what was accomplished during the effort. The report will be on company letterhead and include the contact information for the lead climber on site, as well as the person completing

Figure 5: Wind Bird wiring

WSTC Meteorology Branch 10 the report. The report should also contain any suggestions for additional tower work relevant to the project for future tower climbing efforts, especially any necessary or recommended alterations affecting the safety of the climbers.

5.0 SCHEDULE

CONSIDERATIONS

5.1 Range Test Schedule

Current mission scheduling considerations for the operations at the project locations must be evaluated.

These sites are operational around the clock and site visits must be specifically scheduled with MET personnel to ensure safety, limited data loss and ease of assessment.

5.2 Project Schedule

When considering current mission schedules at WSMR, it is important to note and maintain the contractor’s support performance should not exceed three calendar weeks

(21 calendar days) after each request for service is made.

6.0 DELIVERABLES

6.1 Response to each individual request for service

The Contractor shall provide a safety plan with explicit, written details of how they intend to proceed with the current request for service, especially citing specific safety standards that they will adhere to.

Figure 6: final wind bird installation

WSTC Meteorology Branch 11

6.2 Finished Project

At the completion of every service visit, the Contractor shall deliver a completed installation per that request for service scope.

6.3 Final Report

Within five days of the completion of each service visit, the contractor will provide a written report of the effort, noting what was completed and any safety or other recommendations for future installations, per the Technical Requirements Section of this

SOW.

7.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS

7.1 General

The Quality Assurance (QA) verification provisions will be encompassed in a full project review throughout the project by the GPOC and GTR, as well as individual assessments aligned with each individual service visit. The MET group will be on site during each service visit to review installation practices and ensure the quality of the project is being maintained. The primary QA provision will be a Verification and Validation method, for which the Contractor shall make every reasonable attempt to adhere to.

The Contractor shall seek to standardize the installations at each wind bird height and for every iteration of installation to the greatest extent possible.

8.0 SAFETY

8.1 On Site Safety

MET personnel will be on site throughout the project. The MET personnel have the right to halt work at any time for any safety concern.

8.2 Personal Protective Equipment

During the project, the Contractor is required to provide necessary Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE) to all of their personnel on this project. PPE may include but is not limited to the following: fall restraint and fall protection equipment, eye protection, steel-toed (or other) shoes, hard hat, sunblock, gloves, flame resistant (FR) clothing, etc.

8.3 Safety Plans

The Contractor shall exhaustively consider the safety implications of the entire aspect of the project. The Contractor shall develop a Safety Plan by which all potential safety

WSTC Meteorology Branch 12 concerns are identified and addressed, to the best of their ability, with mitigations outlined. Safety concerns shall be addressed for personnel, site, and installation, as well as any other aspects as defined by the Contractor. Safety plans will be updated and submitted for every request for service, aligned with that request’s specific technical requirements.

8.4 Competencies

The Contractor must be able to prove that the individuals tasked to the project are critical to project completion and are qualified to complete the tasks required of them, including and especially the ability to climb the 500-foot tower in question.

8.5 First Aid and Training

The Contractor personnel on site are strongly encouraged to have updated first aid training, including in the use of a defibrillator. At minimum, a first aid kit must be on site at all times that personnel are present and be verified to be stocked with basic equipment.

A tourniquet is strongly recommended. A defibrillator is strongly recommended.

8.6 Medical Facilities in the Event of an Emergency

As part of the Safety Plan, regional medical facilities and POCs will be researched and listed in detail in the event of accident, injury or illness. For example, this should include local dispatch numbers, emergency numbers, hospital and/or clinic numbers, etc. This should include anticipated travel times to each facility.

8.7 Safety Tailgates

The Contractor shall hold a Safety Tailgate on site at the beginning of each project day to ensure all personnel on site are briefed on the specific safety concerns associated with the project as a whole and/or the site specifically, along with the anticipated tasks to be completed.

8.8 Communication

At least one, reliable, consistent means of communication must be maintained on site at all times and be known and accessible to all personnel on site.

8.9 Driving

The WSMR Commander will close Main Post in the event of inclement weather that creates any hazardous driving conditions. The GPOC and GTR will inform the

Contractor’s POC in the event of a closure or anticipated closure affecting the jobsite.

WSTC Meteorology Branch 13

8.10 Snakes and other Venomous Critters

Contractor personnel are required to be aware of their surroundings at all times and watch closely where they place their hands and feet. Adequate footwear is strongly recommended.

8.11 Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a confirmed presence in this area. Contractor personnel should refrain from touching their face when out in the field and should wash hands thoroughly before eating.

8.12 Oryx and other large Fauna

WSMR and surrounding areas are home to a large mammal called an Oryx. These are horned, hooved animals that can pose a threat to personnel on the ground and a hazard while driving on or near the range. Contractor personnel should avoid interactions with these animals if at all possible and pay particular attention to the roadway and shoulder when travelling. Other animals that may be encountered include deer, elk, javelina, pronghorn, bears, mountain lions and cattle.

8.13 Desert Environment

The location of the project is in a remote, desert region with no available sources of potable water. Contractor personnel should plan to cart in appropriate water and excess water for their time on site.

8.14 Weather

The various seasons in the desert presents environmental hazards such as flash flooding, lightning strikes, wind and snow. The Contractor is responsible for monitoring weather reports when planning work on site and reschedule in the event of anticipated or actual hazardous weather activity. This includes, excessive snow, thunderstorms, excessive wind, excessive rain, etc. This is especially true of the activities covered under this scope of work, as they relate to climbing a tower.

Several Rules-of-Thumb should be considered:

• Never drive through flooded road ways.

• If you can hear thunder, seek shelter immediately for risk of lightning.

• Monitor wind levels and reconsider height or crane work or work with large components in the event that winds are anticipated to be impactful.

WSTC Meteorology Branch 14

• Snow can accumulate quickly in areas away from paved roads. Monitor anticipated snow levels and consider the terrain and roads for how much snow will still be passable.

The GPOC and GTR reserve the right to postpone or terminate prematurely a site visit or work at a site in which a thunderstorm or other impactful weather activity exists.

8.15 UXO

While the sites under consideration for this project are previously disturbed, there still may be hazards associated with unexploded ordinance, or UXO. Contractor personnel must not disturb any man-made article found at or around the site that didn’t obviously come from the existing equipment or brought in by themselves. Any suspected UXO must be marked from a distance and the GPOC and GTR must be immediately notified of the discovery.

9.0 QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS

9.1 Hazardous Materials

In developing this SOW, the GPOC and GTR have not detected the presence or the likely presence of hazardous material. Although there appears to be little or no likelihood of encountering hazardous materials in the performance of this project, should the

Contractor encounter such, the Contractor shall notify the GPOC and GTR immediately.

10.0 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

10.1 Access to the Site

The contractor is required to produce a schedule listing individuals, dates and times that work is planned at the site. This schedule must be provided three business days in advance of being on site, to the GPOC and GTR, via email.

Contractor vehicles are required to carry registration and insurance and drivers are required to be licensed in their home state.

In the event the Contractor requires a Subcontractor to complete some of this work, the

Contractor shall ensure that all proper installation access requirements are completed through their Security Office and that a robust SOW is produced for the Subcontractor to ensure costs, schedules and deliverables are appropriately met.

Due to test schedules at the site, work hours may vary and change on short notice.

WSTC Meteorology Branch 15

The contractor shall make every effort not to disturb existing infrastructure, equipment or installations at these sites and return surrounding areas and items to their original state once the installation is complete.

10.2 Site Direction

Contractor personnel are to take site personnel direction for areas of the project. If site personnel request contractor personnel to vacate an area at a pre-determined time or immediately, contractor personnel are to immediately comply and inform the GPOC and

GTR of the unexpected schedule deviation.

10.3 Site Entry

Personnel accessing the site are subject to search of their person, belongings and vehicle.

Contractor personnel are required to comply with all directions of the WSMR police or guard force personnel and assist in the searches as requested.

10.4 Professional Relationships

The WSMR MET group understands that other Government personnel at the site will have a vested interest in the project progression. While it is acceptable and encouraged for the contractor to discuss with and take direction from Government personnel at the site, the contractor must NOT take any direction from anyone other than the GPOC, GTR, or other MET personnel in the event that direction will impose any additional cost to the project. In the event the contractor is being asked to provide anything beyond the scope of work written here that will result in increased cost to the project, the contractor is to immediately notify the GPOC and GTR of the direction for approval.