Title: Mastication/Thinning/Piling

Location: R-3 SW Northern Zone - Santa Fe National Forest

Description of Work:

This pre-solicitation is for mechanical fuels treatment/mastication/thinning and piling. One contract shall be awarded for all activities. The treatment area is ~550 acres on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in the State of New Mexico. The treatments consist of creating a low fuel profile area on the perimeter of a prescribed fire (Rx) area. Reducing the fuels on the perimeter of the Rx burn will reduce the probability of an escaped Rx fire and increase the safety of personnel implementing the burn. The project area's topography is steep and broken (majority of the area is over 30% slope) making for limited access for mastication. Road access is good with none of the area more than a quarter mile from a road. Roads define the project area boundary. High clearance vehicles are recommended. Stand conditions are variable. Some of the stands have been pre-commercially thinned. There are heavily logged stands converted to brush fields. Some of the area to the east of the project burned in the Las Conchas wildfire in 2011 and some thinning was done along Forest Road 266 during the fire for fire line preparation. Snags are abundant.

The project calls for cutting all trees less than 10 inches diameter breast height (DBH) and taller than 3 feet in areas not accessible for mastication/grinding (i.e. slopes greater than 40%, areas with excessive rock outcroppings, or broken topography). Cut material less than 5 inches in diameter (tops, limbs, and small trees) shall be piled, and cut material larger than 5 inches in diameter shall be bucked so that the bucked piece is in contact with the ground in at least three places. Brush species (oak, locust) do not have to be treated in areas that are not accessible for mastication. On ground accessible for mastication trees less than 10 inches DBH and brush shall be masticated on site. What is machine accessible ground shall be determined by the COR in consultation with the contractor. A reasonable attempt shall be made by the contractor to maximize the number of acres masticated. Mastication is the preferred treatment method. Mastication shall be completed for the project area before beginning the cutting and piling.

Estimated Start Date: 04-15-12