TASK 1: PROJECT KICK-OFF • Sub-task 1.1 Pre-work on-site meeting (week of 9/29/25) • Sub-task 1.2 One-acre mastication trial (to commence no later than 10/14/25) • Sub-task 1.3 On-site mastication trial review meeting (within two business days of trial completion) The project will commence with Sub-task 1.1, a pre-work one site meeting during the week of 9/29/25, scheduled at the joint convenience of the selected contractor and NLB staff. This meeting is expected to last at least three hours and cover the expectations of NLB as to the technique and quality of the work, a thorough visit of the project site, and field visits to other sites on Nantucket as examples of comparable and quality work. Sub-task 1.2, a one-acre mastication trial, will commence no later than 10/14/25, during which the selected contractor will masticate one-acre, flagged by NLB staff, to a finished level. See Task 2 for a description of required mastication equipment and technique. Within two business days of the completion of the trial area, NLB staff will meet the selected contractor at the trial site for sub-task 1.3, the onsite trial review meeting. During this meeting, which is expected to last between one and two hours or more at the discretion of NLB staff, the quality of the work in the trial area will be reviewed and critiqued. NLB staff will offer constructive criticism on the performed trial work and guidance on achieving the required final outcome to the selected contractor, who must accept all recommendations from NLB staff. TASK 2: UNDERSTORY MASTICATION Task 2 shall commence within one business day of the successful completion of Task 1. • Sub task 2.1 The selected contractor will furnish adequate labor, crew, equipment, safety equipment and tools necessary or required to safely and efficiently complete the assigned project. This equipment must be on hand and in good working condition before the work is to begin. The contractor will be responsible for transporting all equipment to and from the site. The machine specifically will be a skid steer with high flow capabilities to operate a masticator that is specifically designed with a rotary drum cutting multi-toothed attachment such as a high flow Loftness Battle Ax S-series with Quadco planer blades (https://www.loftness.com/product/battle-ax-s-series/). Furnished crew will hold all licenses necessary to operate machinery needed to complete the scope, (e.g. Hoisters, drivers licenses etc.) • Sub task 2.2 The Contractor must designate an individual as the crew supervisor who shall be responsible for the crew’s activities to accomplish the assigned work. Should the supervisor be unsatisfactory or non-responsive in the determination of NLB staff. The NLB may request that another responsible party be designated, and this request will be granted. • Sub task 2.3 Sensitively masticate understory in work area to reduce the fuel load and ladder fuels and prepare the site for future pitch pine thinning. Mastication will only be performed within areas designated on the work plan map (Figure 2 – attached as Exhibit A to Scope of Services) by red outline and not within the red shaded buffers. This map will be provided to the contractor as a geo-referenced pdf for use in a mapping app if desired. Work edges and buffers will be flagged by NLB prior to the start of work. • Sub task 2.4 The contractor will utilize enviro-mats as needed to prevent rutting at landing access points. • Sub task 2.5 The contractor will seek to retain or cut to encourage the growth of lowbush blueberries and scrub oak and valuable low-growing or shrub habitat in natural openings to the extent possible (see NHESP letter attached as Exhibit B to Scope of Services). • Sub task 2.6 All masticated understory is to be masticated into a fine mulch (equivalent to that visible in Gardner Units 1, 2a and 2b). • Sub task 2.7 The contractor will masticate doghair pines < 3-inch DBH or any freestanding ladder fuels that reach the canopy of the overstory trees. • Sub task 2.8 Overstory trees and snags are not to be damaged during this work. If overstory trees are damaged, the contractor shall notify the Project Manager or their designee, who will determine the next course of action (tree wound treatment, removal etc.) which will be performed at the contractor’s expense. • Sub task 2.9 The contractor shall mobilize all equipment to the site once and demobilize only at the completion of work to limit disturbance of the access track and abutters. If the contractor wishes to remove the machine from the unit prior to demobilization they must contact the Project manager in advance. NLB shall designate the landing/staging area. All refueling and machine maintenance will take place at this landing area. If the contractor chooses to bring in a portable toilet, it shall be located in the landing/staging area. The contractor will have a hazardous materials spill kit onsite and prevent hydraulic spills to the best of their ability and properly dispose of hazardous spills and clean up materials. Any spill or incident shall immediately be brought to the attention of the Project Manager, when safe to do so. The contractor will follow required spill reporting procedures with MassDEP and any other relevant agencies if reporting thresholds are exceeded. • Sub task 2.10 The contractor shall follow all required Best Management Practices and Recommended Guidelines in the Massachusetts forestry Best Management Practices Manual. This manual is available from http://www.masswoods.org/sites/default/files/pdfdoc-ppt/MA-Forestry-BMP-Manual.pdf. TASK 3: SITE REHABILITATION • Sub-task 3.1 Site clean up. • Sub-task 3.2 Walking trail/driveway rehabilitation The established walking trails in Unit 3 will be clearly marked by NLB staff prior to this project. The contractor will restore the trails to their original state following the mastication work and ameliorate any damage or wear on the road and/or access to the site.
