CLEAR CREEK MASTICATION CARSON RANGER DISTRICT

THE SOLICITATION NUMBER, AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE ACTUAL SOLICITATION IS REALLY AG-9360-S-09-0042. PLEASE USE THIS NUMBER ON ALL CORRESPONDENCE, INQUIRIES, OFFERS, ETC. DO NOT US 0040. The intent of this contract is to secure services for mechanical treatment of 150 acres of vegetation to remove ladder fuels and reduce the continuity of fuels adjacent to an urban interface community. Vegetation consists of young to mature mountain mahogany, sagebrush, bitterbrush, manzanita, and ceanothus. Some units have areas of naturally regenerated conifer saplings that range from 4-20 ft in height. Vegetation to be treated will require cutting, chipping, shredding and mulching. The treatment will reduce ladder fuels and rearrange natural vegetation to a state that will burn with reduced fire intensity during a wildfire event. Firefighter safety will be improved as well as a reduced threat to the public and private property. The work shall be done in a manner that does not damage vegetation not specified to be treated. C.1.1.2 - Contractor Responsibility: The Contractor shall provide everything--including, but not limited to, all equipment, supplies, transportation, labor, and supervision--necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government. C.2 Project Location & Description Location: The project area (Clear Creek) lies within Carson City, Nevada and is accessed off Kings Canyon Road west of town. The legal description for the project area is T15N, R19E, sections 23, 22, 25, 26, 27, and 35 Mount Diablo Base Meridian. C.2.1 Unit Descriptions: The project consists of 9 units within a pine/mountain mahogany/brush plant community with boundaries marked with orange flagging. Slopes vary depending on the units. Approximately 35 to 40 percent of the acreage is above 30 percent slope with the rest falling below 30 percent. Any archeological sites within the unit are marked with white flagging with red polka dots. Units C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 are genrally covered with Bitterbrush, Sagebrush, Manzanita, and Ceanothus with an overstory of mixed conifer stands. Units C7, C9 are generally brush fields covered with Bitterbrush and Sagebrush. Unit C8 is genrally covered with Bitterbrush, Sagebrush, Manzanita, Ceanothus and small pockets of Mountain Mahogany with a minimal amount of scattered conifers. Units C5, C6, C8 will be treated for 80 percent removal of brush species leaving mosiac pattern Units C1, C2, C3, C4, and C7 will be treated for 50 percent removal of brush species leaving a mosiac pattern. Unit C9 will be treated for 30 percent removal of Bitterbrush, leaving younger healthier Bitterbrush. Mechanical Fuels Treatment (Bull Hog Treatment) - Line item 0030 Level of difficulty: Removal/shredding of material using the Bull hog (Fecon 250 or equivalent) wheeled or tracked mounted vehicle equipment either hydraulic or PTO driven cutter head with a minimum head lift height of 12.5 to alter the vegetation type in accordance with a specified level of work, prescription, or as otherwise specified in task order. The task order will specify whether the equipment required will be tracked or wheeled. Item 0030AC-Level III: Crown closure of material to be severed is estimated to be between 31 and 60 percent total cover. Slope is under 30%. Item 0030AD-Level IV: Crown closure of material to be severed is estimated to be between 31 and 60 percent total cover. Slope is from 30 to 45%. Item 0030AE-Level V: Crown closure of material to be severed is estimated to be greater than 60 percent total cover. Slope is under 30%. Item 0030AA-Level I: Crown closure of material to be severed is estimated to be between 0 and 30 percent total cover. Slope is under 30%. C.2.2 Accessibility: Roads are accessible with a four-wheel drive vehicle after snowmelt. The Government assumes no liability to perform special road maintenance to keep roads open to the project area. Vehicles must stay on designated roads. C.2.3 Exclusions (non-work areas). 1. Any area within the units designated, as a non-treatment area to provide wildlife habitat, archeological sites, and sensitive watershed areas will be identified with flagging. These areas may include single trees, clumps of trees and/or brush and edges of unit boundaries. 2. Meadows and wet areas. This includes any areas with wet soils or vegetation indicating the presence of wet soils. The COR shall designate these areas on the ground. 3. Survey monuments and bearing trees shall be protected and not damaged in any way. 4. All specified roads shown on contract maps shall be left in the original condition existing prior to the commencement of work on this contract. Any water bars in skid trails disturbed by the Contractor's operations shall be restored to the condition prior to damage at the Contractor's expense. Excessive slash cannot be left in the roadways after end of each workday. All cut vegetation shall be kept within unit boundaries. If slash is broadcasted onto the roadways, it must be removed by the end of each workday. Warning signs (at least two) shall be posted on roads. These shall be located 200 from the intersection of the road and unit boundary at each edge of the unit. Signs shall be posted whenever working to alert oncoming traffic of the safety hazards associated with the operation. Signs shall include phrases similar to - Caution, flying debris stay back 300 feet and be no less than 3'X3 in size. C.4 Estimated Start Date & Contract Time Estimated start date is October 1, 2009. The estimated contract time is 80 days (December 20, 2009). Activities may occur during winter months as long as soils are frozen and snow depth does not affect treatment of vegetation, and dead and down material. PRE-BID Walk through at Carson Ranger District Office on August 10 at 10:00 AM. Please RSVP in writing to Contracting Officer, or Charlene Byrd