Specifications include, but are not limited to: Block boundaries will be identified by the Contract Administrator using colored flagging. Block acreages will be determined by the Contract Administrator using a GPS. All trees shall be cut with a brush saw or other handheld cutting mechanism. Target residual TPA is 725. Crop trees shall be no closer than 5’apart. Crop trees to be chosen based on stems with good form and vigor using the following species hierarchy: Spruce Fir Sugar Maple Yellow Birch Aspen Red Maple Cedar and white pine are invisible Cut tress will be cut below the lowest live limb. Stump height shall not exceed 6”. Cut trees shall be left horizontal and in no case shall slash height exceed 4’. Remaining crop trees bent or held down by felled trees shall be promptly released. No felled trees are to be left in road ditches or on roads or trails. Quality plots will be 1/100 acre plots. A minimum of 2 quality plots per 5 acres will be done by BPL. The Contractor shall complete all operations on a given block before beginning in another, unless otherwise agreed to by the Contract Administrator. General Specifications The planned TSI area of 200 acres will occur in the BPL Northern Region, lots shown on attached map, Attachment A. The project will start no sooner than June 20, 2022 and shall be completed by November 1st each year. Cutting of trees shall not commence until execution of the contract has been completed, submission of required bonds (if needed), and at least 3 days notification has been given to the Bureau. Also, the Bureau will be notified within 2 days of completing the project and if work is to cease for more than 2 weeks. The contract will be terminated if a quality score of 90 or higher is not maintained on weekly quality inspections (Attachment B). The contractor shall provide all equipment needed to complete the project including personal protective equipment for all employees. Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion of cutting in each block on a per acre basis. Payments will be based on three density ranges. Density range will be determined before working in each block by the Bureau. The Contractor shall remove all trash generated by the Contractor and their employees. Sub-contracting will not be allowed unless prior approval has been granted by the Bureau. All brush saws and mechanical cutting tools will have functioning spark arrestors. Weekly quality reviews will be exercised by the Contract Administrator to evaluate contractor performance and BMP conformance. Work will only be performed when requested by the Contract Administrator. Any work that is not authorized will not be paid for. The Contract Administrator shall have the right to temporarily stop any and all activities under the resulting agreement in the event the Contract Administrator determines such action to be necessary to protect roads, soils, water, growth or other resources. In such case, the Bureau shall not be liable for any damage, lost profits or consequential damage that the contractor may incur.
