2021 Mechanical Fuels Reduction, Mt. Hood National Forest, Barlow Ranger District

Project Location (refer to attached maps)

Mt. Hood National Forest, Barlow Ranger District, Oregon, U.S.A.

Technical Point of Contact

Rick Lancaster, C: (541) 340-4285 O: 541-467-5130, richard.lancaster@usda.gov.

Summary Scope of Work

Mandatory Machine Piling = 1,406 Acres

Mandatory Mastication = 502 Acres

Option A Machine Piling = 922 Acres

Option B Mastication = 1,473 Acres

Period of Performance

For the “Mandatory” items stated above, the estimated start date for the for this project is July 15, 2021. The start date for the Option items shall be negotiated between the USDA Forest Service and the company awarded the project. The overall completion date, including the Option items, is December 31, 2022.

Overall Project Objectives

Reduce the slash layer to a depth of 2 to 6 inches and to eliminate vegetative competition of brush and small diameter saplings through grapple piling and mastication. Logs greater than 18 inches in diameter will be left in place. This portion of the solicitation requires reduction of fuel loading on approximately 1,908 acres by piling existing and created slash (1,406 acres) and mastication of live vegetative materials (502 acres). Piling will occur with a “lift and pile” mechanism rather than a “push and pile” mechanism. Work shall be performed on slopes up to 30 percent.

Equipment Requirements

Equipment shall be furnished on a fully operational basis and in good operating condition, with a competent, qualified operator. The Contractor shall provide operators that have sufficient skill and experience to perform properly and efficiently the work assigned to them. The Contractor, upon written request from the Contracting Officer (CO), shall immediately remove any operator, who in the opinion of the Contracting Officer does not perform their work in a proper and skillful manner. The equipment can be rubber tired or track-mounted, capable of piling logging slash and masticating live vegetation, and meet the following specifications: 

1. Capable of reaching 10 feet from center of machine; 
2. Ground pressure not to exceed 10 pounds per square inch (psi); 
3. Climbing ability up to 30 percent slope; 
4. Piling machine shall be equipped with a bucket and thumb or articulating brush grapple mechanism; 
5. Piling machine shall be capable of picking up woody debris from 1 inch by 3 feet to 18 inches by 20 feet; 
6. Equipment shall be free of fluid leaks and have hoses and hydraulics in good operating condition; and
7. The cab/canopy shall be firmly secured to the machine and free of broken glass.

Special Requirements

1. There are no operations from March 1 through July 15.
2. Water baring and/or other erosion control devices removed or altered for the convenience of the Contractor shall be rebuilt and inspected prior to the final closing of this contract.
3. Berms and/or guard rails removed or altered for the convenience of the Contractor shall be rebuilt and inspected prior to the final closing of this contract.
4. Equipment Operating Restrictions: Equipment shall operate on logging debris where it exists when possible. Should no slash exist, equipment may operate on other surface litter, duff, or approved skid trails if no additional soil is exposed by operations. The objective is to not add additional soil disturbance or compaction than already exists in the area.
5. All refueling, maintenance, and repairs will be done at landings or on skid trails.
6. Project work may be done at any time during the term of the contract, except under the following conditions: (a) Weather predictions indicate a hazardous fire condition warranting curtailment of operations, as specified elsewhere in this contract; and (b) When soil moisture conditions create excessive risk of damage to the soil.