Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC, Sequoia National Forest, California

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To improve or maintain forest health, heterogeneity, and resiliency; maintain and improve wildlife habitat; and reduce fuels and restore fire into the ecosystem by thinning from below and sanitizing trees in overstocked plantations, particularly in the upper Tenmile and Bearskin Creek drainages. The goal is to reduce risk from beetle attack and stress from increased inter-tree competition.

This document outlines several work items, primarily focused on tree cutting and removal, and associated tasks:

• Mandatory Item 1 & 1.1 (Thin from Below/Sanitize Plantations): Remove live and dead conifer trees up to 20 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) and dead trees of any size that meet sanitation criteria. This includes sanitizing trees within 100 feet of specific access roads (Tenmile and Huckleberry) based on hazard criteria. It also involves hand piling or mechanical piling of dead and down fire or insect-killed trees. Specific requirements include leaving 4 snags per acre and retaining an average of 4 largest down logs per acre. Protection of paved roads with protective pads and video recording prior to operations is mandatory.

• Mandatory Item 2 & 2.1 (Roadside Hazard/Sanitation Trees): Cut and remove live and dead trees within 100 feet of Tenmile Road (13S09) and Huckleberry Road (13S02, 13S52, 13S49) that meet high and moderate hazard criteria. Stumps are to be cut to 6 inches height for scenic integrity along these roads. Hazard trees in Special Management Zones (SMZs) are to be hand-felled away from trails and roads.

• Optional Item 3 (Thin from Below/Sanitize Plantations): Similar to Mandatory Item 1, but covers a larger acreage. Includes cutting and removing trees meeting minimum specifications, piling debris, leaving snags and down logs, and protecting leave trees.

• Optional Item 4 (Piling of Material in Units): Piling of remaining material over 10 inches DBH and 10 feet long, resulting in an average fuel loading of 10 tons per acre. Piles are to be constructed in a "teepee" or pile-shape, at least 6 feet tall, with a 3-foot fire line cleared to mineral soil. Specific limitations on pile location relative to private property and live trees are included.

• Optional Item 5 (Biomass Removal): Subsidized removal of surplus or excess timber products by rail. Specific requirements for debarking logs transported outside of ecological bug/pest zones are detailed.

• Protection of leave trees is a high priority; no more than four damaged trees per acre are permitted. Exceeding this limit incurs a $50.00 charge per additional damaged tree.

• Work quality is assessed through informal visual inspections and formal verification plots. Minimum Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs) are specified for each item (e.g., 90% for Item 1, 100% for Item 1.1).

• Specific procedures for inspection, including fixed radius plots and mechanical piling inspections, are outlined.

• Unsatisfactory performance (below 85% AQL) can lead to rework orders, reduced payment, or contract termination.

The document specifies work items across various units within the Hume Basin, Sequoia National Forest, Hume Lake Ranger District. Specific dates for operations are subject to timing restrictions and Limited Operating Periods (LOPs) detailed in Appendix B.

• Environmental Compliance: Contractor must comply with all Federal, State, and local environmental quality laws.
• Timing Restrictions: Work is subject to LOPs, fire risk, active raptor nest seasons, soil moisture conditions, and snow depth.
• Cultural Resources: Discovery of cultural or archeological sites will suspend work in the immediate vicinity.
• Road Protection: Tracked equipment must use protective pads on paved roads. Damage to roads must be reported within 24 hours.
• Herbicide Application: Specific procedures for treating cut stumps with borate compound are detailed, requiring Forest Service approval and daily logs.
• Definitions: A comprehensive list of definitions for terms used in the document is provided.

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

This document is a combined synopsis and solicitation for commercial services, issued in accordance with FAR 12. It serves as the sole solicitation, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. The services required include cutting and removing timber, removing hazard trees near roads and recreation infrastructure, piling slash within units, and removing biomass material. Simplified acquisition procedures are being used.

• Mandatory Work Activities:

  • Cut and Remove Included Timber (Thin from Below): 261 Acres
  • Cut and Remove Included Timber (Rec Residence Unit 143): 77 Acres
  • Cut and Remove Included Timber (Roadside Hazard Trees - Tenmile Road): 144 Acres
  • Cut and Remove Included Timber (Roadside Hazard Trees - Huckleberry Road): 118 Acres

• Optional Work Activities:

  • Cut and Remove Included Timber (Thin from Below - Plantations): 1402 Acres
  • Piling of Material in Units (Biomass Removal): 2002 Acres
  • Haul of Timber Subject to Agreement Products: 26,426 Tons

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price (FFP)

• Period of Performance: Date of Award through March 1, 2029

• Anticipated Award Date: March 2026

• NAICS Code: 115310 - Fuels Management Services (Size Standard: $34 Million)

• Product Service Code: F099

• Proposal Submission: Submit technical and price proposals separately via email to mark.phillipp@usda.gov and Joshua.bahling@usda.gov.

• Proposal Validity: Proposals must be valid for 60 days after receipt.

• Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated based on Technical Approach, Relevant Past Performance, Utilization of Local Work Forces/Benefit to Local Community, and Cost/Price. Technical Approach is significantly more important than Past Performance, which is significantly more important than Local Community Benefit. Technical factors combined are approximately equal to cost or price.

• Key Deadlines:

  • Posted Date: 01/27/2026
  • Response Date: 03/02/2026

• Post Award Conference: Scheduled within 10 days after award at Hume Lake Ranger District.

• Set Aside: None

• Registration: Offerors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to be eligible for award.

• Timber and product removal quantities are estimates and not guaranteed; contractors are urged to examine the contract areas.

• Hauling costs have been removed from the timber appraisal.

• Specific protection measures for plants, animals, cultural resources, and cave resources are detailed, including restrictions for certain areas (e.g., California Spotted Owl PACs, Goshawk PACs, Riparian Conservation Areas).

• Fire prevention and control measures are detailed, with a fire period from April 1 to October 31.

• Attachments include Technical Specifications, Timber Removal Specifications, Road Maintenance Specs, Maps, and Wage Determination.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Appendix B - Scaled, provides detailed specifications and conditions for timber removal under a Stewardship Contract. It outlines the technical requirements, operational procedures, and contractual obligations for bidders.

• Timber Specifications: Details on included timber, utilization standards, and designations (clearcutting, overstory/understory removal, individual trees).
• Rates of Payment: Information on current contract rates, other payment rates, and how timber is valued.
• Payments: Procedures for cash deposits, integrated resource accounts, and refunds.
• Transportation Facilities: Requirements for constructing and maintaining roads.
• Operations: Guidelines for felling, bucking, skidding, yarding, scaling, and safety.
• Other Conditions: Includes title and liability, modification for catastrophe, and sale of other materials.
• Cutting Unit Boundaries: Methods for designating and marking cutting unit boundaries (marked, discernable, geo-fence).
• Fire Precautions: Specific requirements for fire prevention and suppression equipment, Project Activity Levels (PAL), and emergency procedures.

This appendix is crucial for bidders as it defines the technical and operational framework of the timber removal contract. It details the types of timber to be removed, how it will be measured and paid for, the required operational standards, and critical safety and environmental considerations, including fire precautions. Understanding these specifications is essential for accurate bidding and successful contract execution.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document, Appendix C, details the "ROAD MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS" for the Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC project. It outlines specific technical specifications (T-SPEC) for various road maintenance tasks, categorized by "PRE HAUL", "DURING HAUL", and "POST HAUL" phases. It also defines various road structure terms and provides detailed specifications for each maintenance task.

• Road Maintenance Requirements Summary: Tables detailing specific roads, their termini, mileage, and the required "ROAD MAINTENANCE T-SPECIFICATIONS" for pre-haul, during-haul, and post-haul periods. These specifications are indicated by codes (e.g., T-800, T-802).
• T-SPECIFICATIONS: A list of road maintenance specifications with their corresponding titles, including:
  • T-800: Definitions
  • T-801: Slide and Slump Repair
  • T-802: Ditch Cleaning
  • T-803: Surface Blading
  • T-804: Surfacing Repair
  • T-805: Drainage Structures
  • T-806: Dust Abatement
  • T-807: Roadway Vegetation
  • T-808: Miscellaneous Structures
  • T-809: Waterbars
  • T-810: Barriers
  • T-811: Surface Treatment
  • T-814: Drainage Excavation
  • T-815: Culvert Installation
• Definitions: Detailed explanations of terms used in the specifications (e.g., Roadway, Subgrade, Traveled Way).
• Illustrations: Diagrams illustrating road structure terms and specific features like Rock Barriers and Earthen Berms.
• Notes: Clarifications on performance items, optional items, road types, and abbreviations.

This appendix is crucial for bidders as it defines the specific technical requirements and standards for road maintenance that will be expected under the contract. Understanding these specifications is essential for accurately estimating costs, developing a technical approach, and ensuring compliance with contract obligations. Bidders must review these detailed requirements to assess their capability to perform the specified road maintenance tasks.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Contract Area Map 1 of 2 for the Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC, located within the Sequoia National Forest, Hume Lake Ranger District. It visually delineates the contract area, treatment units, and various features relevant to the stewardship contract.

• Legend: Defines symbols and patterns used on the map, including treatment unit numbers, contract area boundaries, plantation units, hazard tree units, roads, recreation sites, and special management areas (e.g., Riparian Conservation Areas, Giant Sequoia Groves).
• Contract Item Table: Lists specific contract items (e.g., Mandatory Item 2, Optional Item 3) and the corresponding cutting units, along with required actions (e.g., Fell, SEPM, TRAC) and associated contract clauses.
• Requirement Explanation: Provides definitions and references for abbreviations and terms used in the contract item table (e.g., DF for Directional Felling, LOP3 for Limited Operating Period March 1-June 30).
• Map Area: Displays the geographical layout of the contract area with numbered treatment units, roads, water features, and other relevant landmarks.
• Vicinity Map: Shows the general location of the contract area relative to nearby towns and national parks.

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the physical scope and location of the work. It helps in visualizing the treatment units, understanding the types of activities required in each unit (based on the legend and contract item table), and identifying any specific restrictions or features like Limited Operating Periods (LOPs) or Riparian Conservation Areas that will impact operations and planning.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Contract Area Map 2 of 2 for the Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC (Integrated Resource Service Contract) on the Sequoia National Forest, Hume Lake Ranger District. It visually depicts the contract area, treatment units, and various features relevant to the contract.

• Legend: Defines symbols and abbreviations used on the map, including treatment unit numbers, contract area boundaries, plantation units, hazard tree units, roads, recreation sites, riparian conservation areas, and other land designations.
• Map Area: Shows the geographical extent of the contract area with detailed topographical and feature information.
• Vicinity Map: Provides a broader geographical context of the contract area within the surrounding region.
• Requirement Explanation Table: Links contract items and requirements (e.g., Mandatory Item 2, Optional Item 3) to specific actions and explanations (e.g., Directional Felling, Designation by Damage Class, Limited Operating Periods, Scattering of Slash).

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the physical location and boundaries of the work to be performed under the Hume Basin Stewardship IRSC. It visually clarifies the specific areas designated for treatment, the types of units involved (e.g., plantation, hazard tree), and the presence of sensitive areas like riparian zones and recreation sites. The accompanying table directly links map features and unit designations to specific contract requirements and operational constraints, such as felling methods and limited operating periods, which are essential for accurate proposal development and bid pricing.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 1977-0727, Revision No. 79) for service contracts related to forestry, land management, cleaning of public use areas, and timber inventory services in California Statewide. It lists various occupation codes and their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.

This wage determination establishes the minimum wages and fringe benefits that must be paid to employees performing work under a contract covered by this determination. Bidders must use this information to accurately calculate labor costs for their proposals. Key details include:

• Occupational Wages: Specific hourly rates are provided for occupations such as Brush/Precommercial Thinner, Choker Setter, Forestry Technician, and Tree Planter, Mechanical.
• Fringe Benefits: Standard fringe benefits include Health & Welfare ($5.55/hour or $222.00/week) and specific provisions for Paid Sick Leave under Executive Order 13706.
• Vacation and Holidays: Details on paid vacation (2-4 weeks based on service years) and a minimum of eleven paid holidays are outlined.
• Uniform Allowance: Requirements for providing uniforms or reimbursing employees for their cost and maintenance are specified.
• Conformance Process: Procedures for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates not listed in this determination are described, including the use of Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444).