INTRODUCTION

The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council (EDCFSC) has received grant funding from the United States Forest Service through the California Fire Safe Council Clearinghouse. The purpose of this grant is to plan and perform strategic fuels reduction to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildland fire within the vicinity of Crystal Blvd near Logtown, California. This area is identified as a high priority fuels reduction area in the El Dorado County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The Project is located in the southern portion of the unincorporated community of El Dorado in El Dorado County, California. The project area can be accessed by U.S. Highway 49 to Crystal Boulevard.
 
The project is being funded by a National Fire Plan grant from the USDA Forest Service (FS) through the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) (Grant Agreement Number 09USFS-X0222). Therefore, it is subject to 2 CFR 215 and 2 CFR 215 as amended by the FS in 7 CFR 3019; OMB Circular 230 (A-122); and OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations and A-133 as implemented in 7 CFR 3052. The basis for this agreement is for the support or stimulation of a public purpose under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 PL 95-313.92 Stat. 365, 16 U.S.C. 2104-2114 as amended and the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, P.L. 110-329. The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council (FSC) wishes to obtain specialized services in order to complete the project.

PROJECT LOCATION

Site location includes Sections 12, 13, 15, 22, 24, 27, 34 and 35 of T9N, R10E as well as Sections 2 and 3 in T8N, R10E in a mostly linear form along Logtown Ridge, El Dorado County; Fiddletown Quadrangle.
 
The project area is a rural residential development located on a ridge top bordered by active rangeland to the west. Other aspects are largely unmanaged blue oak woodland, chaparral and grassland adjacent to the Consumnes River's north fork to the south and east. Highway 49 separates the project's eastern section from the river south to the bridge crossing. Habitats include primarily montane hardwood consisting of foothill pine (Pinus sabiniana) , blue oak (Quercus douglasii) and interior live oak (Quercus wislizeni). Shrubs are manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), buckbrush (Cenothus cuneatus), coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica), currant (Ribes spp.), poison oak (Rhus diversiloba) and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum).
 
The surrounding ownership is private with one small BLM holding to the south. Elevation ranges from 1200 to 1700 feet. Within the project area designated for this grant, no watercourses more significant than a Class III exist with the exception of a perennial spring that originates on the east side of Mica Road, flows underneath and continues from the road. This watercourse is outside of the areas proposed for treatment.

PROPOSAL

This project is a priority as identified in the Logtown Community Wildfire Protection Plan (LCWPP), approved in 2007. The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council proposes to work one-on-one with individual landowners to develop defensible fuel zones within the wildland urban interface area within the vicinity of Crystal Blvd near Logtown to provide mutual fire prevention for communities and valuable watershed resources.

RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

Signed permission will be obtained from each property owner for this work to be performed.
 

PRESCRIPTION/TREATMENT

Mastication: Contractor may use rubber tired or tracked vehicles to cut, chip, and scatter all shrubs and small trees up to 9" (diameter at breast height, 4 1/2 feet above the ground on the uphill side) dbh on site. Trees should be spaced approximately 20 feet between the boles of the remaining trees. All trees not removed will be limbed up to 10 feet above the ground surface.
 
Brush cover should be reduced by creating a mosaic of treated and untreated shrubs. A minimum 90% of the shrubs should be treated. Brush that is treated should be cut to the maximum of 6 inches in height. No individual pieces of cut material should be greater than 4 feet long. All masticated stumps should be cut to within 6 inches of the ground. No debris should average more than 6 inches in depth over the entire project area. All cut vegetation will be kept within the unit boundaries. Any cut vegetation falling into ditches, roads, road banks, trails, or adjacent units should immediately be removed.

Hand Thin: Hand thinning and pile burning or chipping should be accomplished using a hand crew with chainsaws. The contractor will be required to cut material up to 9"dbh with 20'x20' spacing between leave trees. All brush species will be treated. All uncut trees will be limbed up to 10 feet above the ground and limbed material treated by chipping or piling for burning. All trees not removed will be limbed up in the project area up to 10 feet above the ground surface.

Piling and Pile Burning: All dead and down material greater than 1 inch in diameter and up to 10 inches in diameter and all cut material regardless of size can be piled in piles for burning. Piles should be constructed compactly beginning with a core of fine fuels and minimizing air spaces to facilitate complete combustion. Piles will be constructed no taller than 5 feet nor wider then 6 feet in diameter and located away from trees to prevent damage to the residual trees when burning, each pile will be ringed with fire line a , minimum of 6 feet wide. Piles will be covered and secured with water resistant paper a 4'x4' square to cover the fine material in the center of the piles.
 
Contractor will be required to get all necessary permits for burning and burn the piles in coordination with the project coordinator and the local fire protection district after the rainy season has started. Contractor will be required to have a fire engine on site during the burning and to provide a small engine for patrol. The engine specifications must meet the US Forest Service specifications for a Type III or Type IV engine As the piles burn down the contractor must push the unburned material on the inside of the fire line into the pile to burn up all pile residual
 
In addition, all burning shall be conducted in compliance with PRC 4421, 4422, 4423 and 4425. Additionally operation of equipment shall comply with PRC 4427, 4428 and 4431.
 
Contractor shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies governing the funds and scope under this agreement.

Chipping: Chipping will be used as a preferred alternative to burning. Chips may be removed from the site and converted to energy for other products or scattered throughout the project area.

Identification of Protected Species or Other Critical Resources: With all environmentally sensitive areas, identification and avoidance during project implementation is important. Should any sensitive resources be found during project implementation, the area should be avoided until the appropriate agencies review the situation.
 
Final treatment areas will be dependent on property owner's permission.

Please prepare bids for the project based on a cost per acre.

Other responsibilities of the Contractor include:

1. Contractor will work with the Project Coordinators, El Dorado County Fire Safe Council and the Logtown Fire Safe Council to insure compliance with the guidelines, conditions and criterions of the grant.
    
2. Contractor will include enough layout time and supervision time in bid to assure public safety and compliance with property owner and EDCFSC requirements.
    
3. Contractor will be sensitive to and responsive to property owner's desires within the objectives of the Grant and this contract.
    
4. Contractor will be responsible for crew's safety and sanitation needs.
    
5. Contractor shall comply with all established administrative processes (monthly contractor's reports and invoicing) of the EDCFSC.
    
6. Contractor will protect any areas from disturbance that have been identified as an archaeological site, endangered plant or animal habitat, or watercourses. These areas, if any, will be discussed at the pre-operations meeting and will be flagged as equipment exclusion zones.
    
7. Contractor will be responsible for ensuring protection of structures, property improvements, power lines and other utilities.
    
8. Residual trees will be protected from skin ups and damage.

EVALUATION

Members of the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council, the Project Coordinator and members of the Logtown Fire Safe Council will evaluate the proposals. Evaluation and selection will be based on experience in doing this type of work, references, cost, and type of equipment to be used by the contractor.

AVAILABLE FUNDS

The maximum amount of funds available for contracted services in this grant is $344,690.00. The selected candidate must acknowledge and affirmatively indicate that he/she can provide the tasks outlined in the Scope of Work within this amount.

PROPOSAL FORMAT

A qualifying proposal must address all of the following items:

1. Letter of Interest, including a statement that the proposal will perform outlined services.
    
2. Cover Sheet with the following information:
    
   1. Title of Proposal
       
   2. Name and Address of Firm
       
   3. Contact person, Telephone Number and Fax Number
   
   
3. Understanding of the Project: The contractor shall provide a brief response that demonstrates an understanding of the fuels treatment within the project area that clearly describes his or her ability to reduce hazardous fuel loads in the project locations.
    
4. Approach and Objectives: The contractor shall briefly outline how their proposal will be responsive to the Scope of Work. The contractor will also provide a description of equipment they will use in accomplishing the contract. Mastication equipment should have a self leveling cab with tracks to work on steep ground greater than 30 % slope. The mastication head should operate at high speeds so that the masticated material will be small in size and not in shreds. Type of equipment and type of mastication head will be used to determine award of the contract as well as best price per acre.
    
5. Qualifications of Key Personnel: The contractor shall provide the names of the key people who will be working on this project, their role in the project, and a synopsis of their experience relevant to these roles. Expertise in the development of fuel breaks is highly desirable.
    
6. References: The contractor shall provide a minimum of three recent references from similar or related projects, including an appropriate contact name, telephone number and e-mail address (if available).
    
7. Cost Proposal: The contractor shall provide a total project cost as well as a per acre cost that covers all work and responsibilities described in the Project Description and Scope of Work.
    
8. Driving Record and Insurance: Contractor must maintain a valid driver's license. The successful applicant must provide proof of current auto, liability, and workman's compensation insurance.
    
   1. Automobile Liability Insurance of not less than $500,000 is required in the event motor vehicles are used by the Contractor. One million dollars ($1,000,000) per accident for bodily injury and property damage combine single limit.
       
   2. Workers Compensation coverage: Contractor shall maintain workers' compensation insurance for all of its employees.
       
   3. Commercial General Liability Insurance of not less than Two Million dollars ($2,000,000) combined single limit per occurrence for personal injury liability, bodily injury and property damage. Two million dollars ($2,000,000) aggregate.

   PROJECT MILESTONES

   Milestone	Timeline
   Release request for proposal	November 6, 2009
   Site Visit/ Pre-Bid Meeting	November 20, 2009
   Proposals Due	December 4, 2009
   Review and Selection of Contractor	December 11, 2009
   Agreement Signed	December 11, 2009
   Work Begins	December 14, 2009
   Contract Ends	December 1, 2010

   PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

   One original and three copies must be mailed to the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council, P.O. Box 1011, Pollock Pines, CA 95726 and postmarked no later than December 4, 2009. Receipt of the proposal will be acknowledged via email, if available, or by fax. No proposals will be accepted after this deadline. Address any questions to the contact person listed on the first page.
    
   PAYMENT
    
   The FSC shall make payment of the Contractor's invoice within 30 days of the FSC receipt of Funds from the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) to cover the amount of the invoice. In order to receive reimbursement under the described Project, the Contractor shall provide an "Invoice for Services" detailing services performed by task and actual costs. The Contractor shall not be reimbursed for any additional expenses incurred beyond this maximum amount available.
    
   (a) Rates. In consideration of Contractors fulfillment of the promised work, the FSC shall pay Contractors at a Per Acre Rate accepted and authorized by the FSC.
    
   (b) Expenses. No travel or other expenses will be reimbursed by FSC.
    
   (c) Maximum Amount. The maximum payments under this Agreement shall be a total of $344,690.00 for professional services, provided, however, that such amounts shall not be construed as guaranteed sums, and compensation shall be based upon services actually rendered and expenses actually incurred.
    
   (d) Budget Contingency Clause. If funding for any fiscal year is reduced or deleted by the CFSC for purposes of this program, the FSC shall have the option to either cancel this Agreement with no liability occurring to the FSC, or offer an agreement amendment to Contractor to reflect the reduced amount.
    
   METHOD OF PAYMENT
    
   Invoices.
   All payments for compensation and reimbursement for expenses shall be made only upon presentation by Contractor to the FSC of an itemized billing invoice in a form acceptable to the FSC which indicates, at a minimum, Contractor's name, address, Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number, a description of the tasks completed during the billing period, and the approved task rate.
    
   Available Funds
   The maximum funding available for contracting services in this grant is $344,690.00. Contractor must acknowledge and affirmatively indicate that they can provide such services within this amount.

   NONDISCRIMINATION

   The program or activities conducted under this agreement will be in compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions contained in Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-259); and other nondiscrimination statutes: namely, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the American's with Disabilities Act of 1990. They will also be in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture (7CFR-15, Subparts A & B), which provide that no person in the United States shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, marital or family status, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture or any agency thereof.
    
   The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the California Fire Safe Council or the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the California Fire Safe Council or the U.S. Government.