Q&A_20190322.docx

REPLY TO QUESTIONS ON 3/22/2019

RE: SOLICITATION NUMBER 12012018Q0011

QUESTION: Will the successful bidder be given the GIS shapefiles for the unit boundaries, roads, stream and contours?

ANSWER: No GIS data is provided. Mapping images included in the solicitation identify cruise unit boundaries. Roads information may be available from public sources. Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game provides an “Anadromous Waters Catalog” on their website. Digital Elevation Models information is available on the website of U.S. Geological Survey.

QUESTION: Per FSH 2409.12, Forest Service policy is to have certified cruisers for land exchange. Is this project requiring that all timber cruisers be certified as qualified cruisers?

ANSWER: No. This project does not require that all timber cruisers be certified. The appraisal which will utilize this cruise data complies with private-industry standards and not Forest Service requirements, therefore the USFS Handbook requirements do not apply. However, the work will be check cruised by the USFS Forest Measurement Specialist and held to the standards set forth in the solicitation.

QUESTION: Can you please provide GIS data for the cruise areas so we can accurately estimate the access and site conditions prior to bidding? The following layers would be most useful:

ANSWER: No GIS data is provided. Mapping images included in the solicitation identify cruise unit boundaries. Roads information may be available from public sources. Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game provides an “Anadromous Waters Catalog” on their website. Digital Elevation Models information is available on the website of U.S. Geological Survey. No LIDAR information is known.

QUESTION: 4.a. -- refers to a statistical accuracy. Since the sample design, and cruise intensity is dictated in the solicitation, how is this relevant?

ANSWER: The statistical accuracy is stated in the solicitation in order to provide the prospective bidder with the expectations of the appraiser’s Forester for proper performance of the assignment.

QUESTION: 4.h.-- Can you please provide documentation regarding “typical’’ cruise standards and procedures?

ANSWER: There is no documentation. This element arises from knowledge of the Southeast Alaska timber market.

QUESTION: 6.d. --Who will be stratifying the timber types – the contractor or the appraiser?

ANSWER: Stratifying will be done by the appraiser’s Forester. This is the reason for the requirement to produce additional reports if requested by the appraiser (Item 11.a.4).

QUESTION: 10. -- To reduce our risk and therefore the cost, may we be allowed to use any BAF for both OG and SG as long as we achieve a minimum of 4 trees per plot on average?

ANSWER: No. Please adhere to the requirements stated in the solicitation.

QUESTION: 11.a.(1) – Can you provide an example of the timber cruise report?

ANSWER: No.

QUESTION: 11.a.(4) – Please clarify what “an individual plot report for each cruise area” entails.

ANSWER: The Atterbury Cruise Program must be utilized, as stated in the solicitation at Item 5. The phrase “…an individual plot report for each cruise area.” refers to the standardized printout reports produced by that software, together with the narrative described in Item 11.a.(1) and with separate reporting of old growth and young growth as described in Item 11.a.(3).