1127759 - LWS Botany Survey BPA RFP.pdf

Issue Date:

BPA No. Project Name

BPA call No. Issuing and Billing Office:

Contractor:

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTI

TY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT

PRICE

24.

Amount

Mount Adams Ranger District

BASE

Mechanical and Herbicide Treatment Category

Woody Vegetation

0001 Regional Forester’s Sensitive botanical species, Survey and Manage Category A & C botanical species, and invasive species surveys within units proposed for thinning that are greater than 80 years of age (60 Units).

1882 Acres $ $

0002 Invasive species surveys along road miles within ¼ mi of units greater than 80 years of age.

20 Miles $ $

0003 Road mile walk-in to access units. 15 Miles $ $

Option 1

Regional Forester’s Sensitive botanical species and invasive species surveys within stands less than 80 years of age (99 Units).

1719 Acres $ $

1002 Invasive species surveys along road miles within ¼ miles of units less than 80 years of age.

30 Miles $ $

1003 Road mile walk-in to access unit. 20 Miles $ $

Option 2

2001 A complete set of non-vascular species (lichens and bryophytes) vouchers, i.e. a single voucher for each species encountered within the Little White Salmon Vegetation Management Project area, not inclusive of Target Species vouchers which are addressed Section 5A, Subsection 5

Each

Remarks: See Attachments for additional terms and conditions. The Period of Performance for this Task Order is from the Date of Award through October 15, 2025.

Total Price: $

Contractor: (Name and Signature)

General Information:

As specified in the contract, the contractor will complete botanical surveys, monument rare plant locations, record spatial data for rare plants (See Attachments C-1, C-2, F) invasive plants (Attachment D, J, IK, L), produce unit level summary reports, produce unit level species lists, and produce a project level summary report.

Requirements Specifics:

The performance period for this task order is up to 441 - calendar days, upon issuance of a Notice to Proceed. The performance period for Over 80 Items (CLIN 1-3) is 441 calendar days.

All Over 80 items must be completed by September 30, 2025, and all deliverables received by October 15, 2025. The performance period for Under 80 Items (A1-A3) is 441 calendar days.

All Under 80 items must be completed by September 30, 2025, and all deliverables must be received by October 15, 2025. B1 items have the same performance period as 1-3 and A1-A3.

All B1 items must be completed by September 30, 2025, and deliverables received by October 15, 2025.

For CLIN Item 0001 (Survey and Manage Stands, Over 80 years of age), surveys have two available performance periods. The first period shall begin on August 1, 2024 and last until September 30, 2024. A second survey period shall occur from June 1, 2025 until September 30, 2025.

For CLIN Item 0002 (Invasive species surveys along roads within ¼ mile of stands over 80 years of age), surveys have two available performance periods. The first period shall begin on August 1, 2024 and last until September 30, 2024. A second survey period shall occur from June 1, 2025 until September 30, 2025.

For CLIN Item 0003 (Road mile walk-in access to stands over 80 years of age), activities will have two available performance periods. The first period shall begin on August 1, 2024 and last until September 30, 2024. A second survey period shall occur from June 1, 2025 until September 30, 2025.

For CLIN Item 1001 (Under 80 Stands), surveys have two available performance periods. The first period shall begin on August 1, 2024 and last until September 30, 2024. A second survey period shall occur from June 1, 2025 until September 30, 2025.

For CLIN Item 1002 (Invasive species surveys along roads within ¼ mile of stands under 80 years of age), surveys will have multiple periods. The first period shall begin on August 1, 2024 and last until September 30, 2024. A second survey period shall occur from June 1, 2025 until September 30, 2025.

For CLIN Item 1003 (Road mile walk-in access to stands under 80 years of age), activities will have multiple performance periods. The first period shall begin on August 1, 2024 and last until September 30, 2024. A second survey period shall occur from June 1, 2025 until September 30, 2025.

For CLIN Item 2001 (Voucher preparation for non-vascular species [mosses and lichens]), activities will have multiple performance periods. The first period shall begin on August 1, 2024 and last until September 30, 2024. A second survey period shall occur from June 1, 2025 until September 30, 2025.

1. DESCRIPTION/STATEMENT OF WORK

Little White Salmon Phase 3 Botany Surveys – 2024 Botany BPA Call Purpose, Over 80 Items, Under 80 Items The purpose of this BPA call is to conduct botanical surveys to determine the presence or absence of target species, document and map locations and populations of target species, and provide an ecological description for the areas surveyed including any special habitats encountered. Botanical surveys for this call will include target vascular, non-vascular, fungal, and invasive botanical species. See Attachments C-1 (Target TEPS Botanical Species List 2019), C-2 (Target Survey and Manage Botanical Species 2004), and Attachment D (Invasive Botanical Species List) for complete species lists.

Survey and Manage Category A & C botanical species surveys (Attachment C-2) are required only in units over 80 yrs. of age (Over 80 Item, contract line item 1). Within Over 80 stands sensitive plant species surveys and invasive species surveys are also required. Invasive species surveys are required along roads within ¼ mile of Survey and Manage units (Over 80 Item, contract line item 2). Estimated road mile walk-ins to Survey and Manage units (Over 80 Item, contract line item 3) are required to account for contractor walking access into units not adjacent to FS system roads.

Sensitive Species surveys, including sensitive and invasive plant species (Attachments C-1, D) are required in survey units under 80 years of age (Under 80 Item, contract line item A1).

Invasive species surveys are required along roads within ¼ mile of Under 80 unit boundaries (Under 80 Item, contract line item A2). Estimated road mile walk-ins to Under 80 units (Under 80 Item, contract line item A3) are required to account for contractor walking access into Under 80 units not adjacent to FS system roads.

The final Item is preparing a complete set of non-vascular species (lichens and mosses) vouchers for completed surveys during Phase 3 (contract line item B1). A single voucher shall be collected for each lichen and moss species encountered during surveys, not inclusive of Target Species vouchers which are addressed in Section 5a, Subsection 5 of the BPA call. Attachments G and H include sample voucher packets and vouchering guidelines.

Surveys for Over 80 items will be conducted within proposed timber sale units and along adjacent roads on the Mt. Adams Ranger District, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, during two performance periods. The first period occurs from August 1 – September 30, 2024. The second performance period occurs from June 1-September 30, 2025.

The performance period for Under 80 and voucher items has two performance periods. The first performance period occurs from August 1, 2024-September 30, 2024, and the second occurs from June 1, 2025- September 30, 2025. All survey products for Over 80 and Under 80 items shall be completed and submitted by October 15, 2024. All voucher products shall be completed and submitted by October 15, 2025.

Under 80 items may be completed under the same performance period as Over 80 items. Having the same performance period for both should increase contractor efficiency by allowing visits to adjacent survey units that may be either Over 80 or Under 80 in age. However, in the first performance period (August 1-September 30, 2024) the Forest Service wishes that Over 80 activities be prioritized. Surveys and documentation will follow established written protocols, as specified in Section 5. Specific Work Requirements, and in Table 1. Performance Requirements.

The Project Area and Notable Flora

The project area is within the southeastern portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, on the Mt. Adams Ranger District of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Most units are accessed via Forest Roads 6600000, 6800000, and Oklahoma Road (Forest Road 1800000). The general survey area is outlined in the vicinity map (Attachment 1). Detailed unit maps will be provided with the BPA call (Attachments B-1, B-2), and additional maps may be provided prior to the start of contract work. Unit boundaries are not marked on the ground and shall be surveyed by approximating the boundary location from maps and photos provided by the Forest Service.

The Little White Salmon watershed is uniquely placed on the landscape, spanning the east and west Cascades, and extending from the Columbia River Gorge into the high meadows of Indian Heaven Wilderness. The volcanic history of the area, combined with the steep climatic transition zones in this area drive uniquely high biodiversity; many botanical and wildlife species with high priority conservation status call this watershed home. Within the planning area, known sites for Regional Forester’s Sensitive botanical species include Sisyrinchium sarmentosum, Chrysolepis chrysophylla, Penstemon barrettiae, Packera bolanderi var. harfordii, and Montia diffusa. In addition, known sites of the Northwest Forest Plan Survey and Manage species Cypripedium fasciculatum, Chaenothecoa chrysophylla, Chaenotheca ferruginea, Chaenotheca subroscida, Collema nigrescens, and Peltigera pacifica are found in the watershed. Federally-threatened Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine) is not known from the watershed, but should be looked for if the survey unit elevation is greater than 4000 feet.

The major Biophysical settings of the Little White Salmon planning area are mostly East Cascades Mesic Montane Mixed-Conifer Forest and Woodland (40% of the planning area) that represents the majority of non-riparian vegetation type in the main Little White Salmon river valley. The majority of the lower lava creek sub-watershed is North Pacific Maritime Dry-Mesic Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Forest (13%) which is mainly on the actual lava bed. Going up in elevation toward the Dry Creek-Lost Creek sub-watershed the vegetation community transitions to North Pacific Dry-Mesic Silver Fir-Western Hemlock-Douglas-fir Forest (31%) with small portions of mountain hemlock, riparian and other forest types.

Potential Natural Vegetation reflects a similar vegetation composition of the planning area and breaks the plant community into representative zones. In this model the Little White Salmon valley is represented by the white fir grand fir zone (23%), while the lava field is in Douglas fir and lodgepole pine series (10%) with the Lava Creek and Dry Creek-Lost Creek transitioning up an elevation gradient from western hemlock (21%) to silver fir (29%) and mountain hemlock (11%).

Units and Unit Access

Units may contain rough and steep terrain and thickets of dense vegetation. Surveyors must be physically fit. Hunters, forest product harvesters and other forest users may be present in the work area during the period of the contract. Roads range from paved to gravel and may be suitable only for high-clearance vehicles.

Work areas may be reached by Forest Service roads that are accessible by a standard two-wheel drive pickup during normal operating seasons. Vehicles shall not operate off system roads without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer. No vehicle shall by-pass any officially blocked road (barriers, locked gates, posted signs, rock/log/dirt, etc.) without approval of the Contracting Officer.

Inaccessibility due to snow, fallen trees, slides or washouts on roads may or may not be corrected at the option of the Government. If road access is blocked, the Government may: (1) provide an alternate access route; (2) delete the inaccessible unit(s); (3) clear access to the unit(s), or (4) compensate for walks-in on a per mile basis. In these situations, walks-in must be approved by the Contracting Officer prior to occurring, in order the give the government an opportunity remedy as described in 1, 2, and 3.

Inaccessibility due to road decommissioning actions that render a road undriveable (for instance a road that has been bermed and/or ripped) that were not previously identified (i.e. listed in an excel table that will be provided during the pre-work meeting) do not require Contracting Officer approval prior to walks-in.

When walks-in occur, the Contractor is responsible for recording accurate measurements of mileage. The Government has estimated a mileage range for anticipated walk-in access.

Roads shown on unit maps indicate access to units and are not to suggest the roads are open within units for any further travel. Bid on the basis of current status as mapped.

4. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE:

4.1 FAR 52.246-4 INSPECTION OF SERVICES--FIXED-PRICE (AUG 1996)

(a) Definition. “Services,” as used in this clause, includes services performed, workmanship, and material furnished or utilized in the performance of services.

(b) The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

(c) The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract, to the extent practicable at all times and places during the term of the contract. The Government shall perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the work.

(d) If the Government performs inspections or tests on the premises of the Contractor or a subcontractor, the Contractor shall furnish, and shall require subcontractors to furnish, at no increase in contract price, all reasonable facilities and assistance for the safe and convenient performance of these duties.

(e) If any of the services do not conform with contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by reperformance, the Government may—

(1) Require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and

(2) Reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.

(f) If the Contractor fails to promptly perform the services again or to take the necessary action to ensure future performance in conformity with contract requirements, the Government may—

(1) By contract or otherwise, perform the services and charge to the Contractor any cost incurred by the Government that is directly related to the performance of such service; or

(2) Terminate the contract for default.

4.2 CONTRACTOR INSPECTION PROCEDURES

(A) General Instructions

1) The Contractor shall conduct inspections of treatment units and record the results using procedures described herein. Inspections shall be maintained concurrent with contract work.

Completed inspection forms shall be made available to the Government within 24 hours of completion of each treatment unit and will remain part of the permanent contract file.

2) By submission of inspection forms to the Government, the Contractor is considered to be certifying that the unit is satisfactorily completed and that the inspection forms reflect the work accomplished.

3) The Contractor shall submit legible inspection forms. Illegible and incomplete forms shall be returned to the Contractor for correction and re-submission.

4) In the event the Contractor falsifies inspection results, as determined by the Contracting

Officer, the Government may declare the Contractor to be in default of the contract.

Additionally, the Government may refer such falsifications to the US Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1001 (Falsification of Government Documents) or 18 U.S.C. 287 (Fraud).

4.3 GOVERNMENT INSPECTION PROCEDURES – COMPLIANCE INSPECTION:

(A) The COR, or a designated inspector, will conduct compliance inspections while work is in progress, usually daily at first, to assure that work is proceeding satisfactorily. Compliance inspections will be accomplished by 100 percent visual inspection of each treatment unit and will be based on adherence to the required specifications / cutting prescriptions.

(B) The Contractor shall notify the COR when units are completed prior to his moving out of the general area. Compliance inspections will be conducted within three (3) business days of completion of treatment units and the Contractor notified of any part of the unit(s) requiring additional work or rework.

(Work will be accepted on the basis of visual inspection for compliance with specifications on areas reported as completed by the Contractor.

5. COMMENCEMENT PROSECUTION, AND COMPLETION OF WORK (FAR 52.211-

10) (APR 1984)

The Contractor shall be required to (a) commence work under this contract within 7 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the notice to proceed, (b) prosecute the work diligently, and (c) complete the entire work ready for use not later than 01 August 2024. The time stated for completion shall include final cleanup of the premises. Work is estimated to begin 01 August 2024

6. EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Price, Availability, and Relevant Past Performance, will be considered for the “Best Value” evaluation.

The order of importance corresponds with each criteria’s preceding order of appearance.

7. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

The following attachments are made a part of this solicitation and any resultant contract.

Title Pages Attachment_A-1_Phase 3 Maps_Topo 29 Attachment_A-2_Phase 3 Maps_Ortho 29 Attachment_B-1_Target_TEPS_Botanical_Species_List_2021-GiffordPinchot 3 Attachment_B-2_Target_Survey_and_Manage_Botanical_Species_2014 2 Attachment_C_Invasive_Botanical_Species_List 5 Attachment_D_Table of Unit Acres 4 Attachment_E_R6_TES_Element_Occurrence_Field_Form 2 Attachment_F_Cryptogam_Voucher_Packet 1 Attachment_G_Cryptogam_Vouchering_Guidelines 2 Attachment_H_Target_Look-alike_Species 1 Attachment_I_R6_Invasive_Inventory_Field_Form 1 Attachment_J_Invasive_Plant_Infestations_Spreadsheet 1 Attachment_K_Guidelines_for_Documenting_Invasive_Plant_Infestations_2021 1 Attachment_L_Wage Determination 13

1. DESCRIPTION/STATEMENT OF WORK