KTR Solicitation Questions - Answers.docx

RFQ 1240BK250088/ Requisition - 1149582 Questions w/Answers

We are pleased to provide you with the responses to the inquiries received from vendors regarding this solicitation. Additionally, please find attached the updated documents for your review:

· DUIS_Bugle Post Treatment_update

· Conroycliff_update

· UnitMapwithRoads_update Please note that, due to the timeliness of this requirement, we will not be accepting any further questions. We appreciate your understanding and prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to receiving your quotations.

Question 1) Are contractors able to visit the units at their own time, or is a key/access required to enter some, or all units?

The contractors may visit the units on their own time. What was missed in the solicitation that I thought was included is this area falls into ODF’s Cliff Knox Green Dot Travel Management Area. See attached Map.

Timing restrictions do not start until October, in which only roads with Green Dots can be driven. Contractors may ask for a waiver from the District Ranger to access units via non-green dot roads.

Also, even though majority of the roads may show closed on the map they are still open to drive, unless they have been bermed after logging has occurred. These berms maybe removed per COR approval if deemed needed by the contractor to access the unit with equipment and vehicles. Dependent on the location, these berms may not need to be reinstalled.

Question 2 and 3)

2) Do you have geo-referenced maps available that work with Avenza Maps?

3) Do you have maps for the optional units (84, 4, 148, 173)?

All of the maps should have been geo-referenced but may have been corrupted. I have included a newer map that shows the roads into this area, and Base Units plus Optional Units.

Question 4) The solicitation document does not mention any detail in regard to the "grapple pile" that is part of the project description. Reading it makes it seem like it would be a hand pile. Are we allowed to hand pile, or is using a grapple a requirement? Do you have any machine/grapple requirements?

The solicitation states that it is a grapple pile contract. We can update all the wording in the DUIS if needed to state Grapple pile. The description of pile size and diameter also would limit it from being hand piling. Hand piling may occur if machinery is not able to access the area. However, all of these units have been commercial logged using ground-based equipment.

Originally, this contract was thought to go under a BPA that would cover equipment specifications. Here are those requirements from that BPA.

Equipment Standards

a) Equipment shall not operate on slopes greater than 35%.

b) Equipment shall not operate on wet soils, very rocky ground, or on rock outcroppings or.

c) Equipment shall operate on existing skid trails to the extent practicable.

d) Equipment shall not cross or operate in meadows, stream channels, riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCA’s), or other non-work areas without approval of the COR.

e) Equipment shall not operate on road surfaces, cut banks, or fill slopes without approval of the COR.

f) Refueling, maintenance, and repair shall be done at landings or forest roads where practicable.

g) Excavators shall not exceed 8.5 pounds per square inch ground pressure. Excavators shall have a minimum effective horizontal arm reach of 20-25 feet and vertical reach of 15 feet (as applicable) plus be fitted with a brush head (for grapple piling) unless otherwise agreed to by the Contracting Officer.

h) Mechanical equipment shall not operate within 50 feet of Category 4 Streams, 300 feet of Category 1, 150 feet of Category 2, or Category 3 Streams unless otherwise specified in the Detailed Unit Information Sheets.

Additional information:

2) Machine operations shall be conducted in such a manner as to minimize additional soil disturbance or compaction. Generally, no more than 10% of the soil within the project area may be disturbed. Detailed Unit Information Sheets may alter this percentage depending upon unit requirements.

3) Contractor shall suspend work if soil moisture levels, due to adverse or unusual weather conditions, are causing excess resource damage or ruts greater than 6” deep and 30 feet in length over more than 10% of each unit.

4) Contractor shall exercise extreme care to prevent damage to all physical improvements (fences, telephone lines, established land corners, buildings, ditches, etc.) within the contract area. Contractor shall be liable for damage to physical improvements and shall make immediate repairs to damaged physical improvements at no additional cost to the Government.

Question 5) A pre-bid site visit / job walk is scheduled or allowed for this solicitation? If so, please share the date/time, meeting point (GPS coordinates if available), and any RSVP details.

There is no formal pre-bid/ job walk scheduled for this solicitation. Offerors are allowed to self-inspect units, which is highly recommended.

Question 6) If no formal site visit is planned, may offerors self-inspect units, and is there a preferred point of contact at the Prairie City RD for access logistics?

Brie Myers for the week of September 1st: brie.myers@usda.gov (541-820-3855), Dave Maynard for the week of September 8th. David.maynard@usda.gov (541-820-3815) Question 7) Any access restrictions I should plan around (e.g., IFPL, temporary closures), and whether questions raised from any visit will be documented via amendment for all offerers.

IFPL Level is still at a 1 for the district but may be subject to change. Timing restrictions start in October for the Cliff Knox Green Dot Road closure. See attached map. Contractor may also request a waiver from the District Ranger to utilize certain roads within the green dot area during timing restrictions, once contract has been awarded. Majority of the roads that are shown as closed on the map are open and drivable. Some roads are bermed, however, with COR approval, berms may be removed to access the unit once the contract has been awarded. It is currently Archery season here, so contractors need to be heads-up for higher number of the public on the forest.

Questions raised from any field visit would be shared with all other contractors. If necessary, an amendment may occur.

Question 8) We see that solicitation number 1240BK25Q0088 is listed under NAICS Code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) and a size standard of $11.5 million is listed. Under that code, there is a sub-size standard for Fuels Management Services (Exception 2) which is now $34 million. Would it be possible to amend the size standard of this project to $34M since it involves fuels reduction?

There is no need to amend this contract to increase project cap.