Z--TX-BALCONES CANYONLANDS NWR-FENCE INSTAL

1 STATEMENT OF WORK (2026 06 17) 238990 - All Other Specialty Trade Contractors Warbler Vista Barbed Wire Fence Installation, Balcones Canyonlands NWR, TX PR Number: _______________ 1. General 1.1 The Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), located at 24518 E FM 1431, Marble Falls, TX 78654-4096, is seeking a contract for fence installation (NAICS 238990). The barbed wire fence will be built along the eastern boundary of Warbler Vista (Tract 11) and total approximately 3,540 linear feet. The work in this contract will include all materials, equipment, and labor needed to complete the fence installation. 1.2 Purpose/End Application: The Refuge has continued to acquire new tracts of land since it was established in 1992. While some tracts were bought with existing boundary fences, others do not have fences to delineate boundary lines. Warbler Vista (Tract 11) has remnants of an old fence on its eastern boundary, but there are several small, privately-owned lots adjacent to this area that have encroached onto the Refuge. The boundary line has already been surveyed and posted, but installing a new fence with this contract will provide a visible boundary across the entire line to prevent accidental trespassing or encroachment by neighboring landowners. 1.3 Contractor Qualifications: The Contractor shall be licensed in accordance with State of Texas requirements, as applicable. 1.4 Other: N/A 2. Place of Performance and Period of Performance 2.1 Place of Performance: Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, 24518 E FM 1431, Marble Falls, TX 78654-4096 2.2 Performance start and end date: The performance start date will be determined as soon as possible after the contract has been awarded. The performance end date shall be 60 days from the start date, unless an extension is granted by the Contracting Officer. 2.3 Normal duty hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. In the event of emergencies, Contractor shall provide contact information. 2.4 Non-duty hours include weeknights, weekends, and Government holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King JR’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence -- 1 of 6 -- 2 Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day). 3. Scope 3.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for all materials, equipment, and labor required to install a new 4-strand barbed wire fence (approximately 3,540 linear feet) along the eastern boundary of Warbler Vista. Measurement of the linear footage of the fencing installed will be determined from Refuge surveying records. Questions from the Contractor regarding linear footage of the fencing installed will be resolved by taking actual measurements on the ground. The fence line will follow the Refuge boundary, which has been surveyed and marked with periodic boundary posts and survey monuments (see Fencing Contract Exhibit). Refuge personnel will visit the site with the Contactor and indicate the path of the fence. It shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to construct a fence within 12 inches of the boundary for the entire length of the fence line. The Contractor shall follow all outlined specifications for materials and installation in this section, unless changes are approved by the Contracting Officer. 3.2 Material Specifications  Barbed wire: minimum 12.5 gauge, galvanized, 4-point barbs  Fence stays: minimum 42” length, smooth, 9.5 gauge (minimum), galvanized wire  H-brace posts: 8’ length, 2-7/8” diameter, galvanized steel pipe (or steel painted with anticorrosive paint)  T-posts: 6’ length, 1.33 lbs./foot steel, studded, attached anchor plates, coated with enamel paint (or galvanized)  T-post wire clips: 12 gauge (minimum), galvanized steel  Concrete: minimum 3,000 PSI 3.3 Installation Specifications  Field Meetings: Prior to beginning fence construction, the Contractor and the Refuge Manager (or their designee) shall meet in the field to discuss specific fence and gate space locations, vehicle access restrictions, and any problems unique to the section of fence. The Contractor shall notify the Refuge Manager of a timeline for all phases of project completion prior to beginning any work.  Preparation of Fence Line: If any clearing is required along the fence path, the Contractor must use methods approved by the Refuge Manager. Clearing shall be carried out with minimum soil disturbance. A dozer shall not be used by the Contractor to cleat the fence line unless authorized by the Refuge Manager. Any cleared paths along the fence line shall serve as roads for fence construction rather than creating new paths. Trees which are in the fence path shall either be cut down and mulched or placed in piles in areas approved by the Refuge Manager. Certain trees and vegetation may, at the discretion of the Refuge Manager, be left on the fence path. The Contractor shall preserve any such designated vegetation during fencing operations.  Line Posts and Stays: All steel T-posts or line posts shall be set plumb, in true line with the side to which the wire is to be attached. Posts shall be permanently positioned and anchorages firmly set before wire or stringers are placed. T-posts shall have tapered -- 2 of 6 -- 3 anchor plates securely attached. The anchor plate may be omitted provided the post is set in a concrete footing. T-posts must be secure and free of play. Concrete may be used to secure T-posts. T-posts shall be set at 15’ to 17’ intervals. On rough ground, post spacing shall be decreased so the specified wire height and spacing is maintained. A minimum of one metal stay spaced evenly between line posts shall be required. Special conditions, such as dry washes, will be handled in a manner dictated by site conditions.  Stretch, Corner, and Brace Posts: Stretch posts shall be set every 150 feet apart. Posts shall be vertical steel pipe that are 2-7/8” in diameter and approximately 8’ long. Stretch posts shall be se…