Specifications include, but are not limited to: Work Limits: Only areas shown on the Project Map will be treated. Treatment and non-treated areas within the project area may be flagged and/or described verbally. A shapefile for GPS and a PDF map of the project area will be provided prior to work beginning. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to furnish either a GPS unit(s) or smartphone(s) with PDF map application to be utilized in identifying project boundaries. Contractor(s) will be responsible to download all needed shapefiles/PDFs using their own devices. Shapefiles/PDFs will be provided in email upon request. Government staff may physically identify unit boundaries for the work executed under the contract, or may rely on the Project Map and associated GPS shapefile as adequate boundary markings. The Project Manager and Contractor will identify an estimated start date for work to begin on the project. The Project Manager will provide Contractor with a Notice to Proceed prior to the estimated start date if site conditions are suitable to initiate work. Upon receiving the Notice to Proceed, the Contractor shall promptly enter the project area, locate treatment boundaries, locate control points, section corners, take such action to prevent their destruction, and begin treatment work. Treatment Methods and Specifications: Lop & Scatter: The area within each of the project polygons will be treated by hand cutting crews utilizing chainsaws, brush saws, or similar hand tools. Conifer treatment will consist primarily of pinyon and juniper trees. Cutting in the treatment area will comply with the following specifications: Cut and fell all live pinyon pine and juniper trees smaller than 10 inches diameter. Trees larger than 10 inches should be left standing. For trees with multiple stems, if the largest individual stem is over 10 inches, the entire tree should be left standing. If every individual stem is less than 10 inches, the entire tree should be removed. All trees will be completely severed from the stump and no limbs will remain attached to the stump. Remaining stump(s) must be less than six inches in height, measured on the uphill side. Cut material will be lopped and scattered so that slash height does not exceed 36 inches above the ground. Cut material should be spread in ephemeral washes where possible to help reduce erosion. Live browse species shall not be cut or damaged. Cut material shall remain off 2-tracks and roadways. Vehicle travel in the project area will be restricted to existing roads. Trees identified as bearing trees, or any tree blazed or tagged to mark the line of any Government survey, shall not be cut or destroyed under penalty of the law. Trees with reference tags will be left uncut.
