Final-R6-BPA-ProfessionalForestryServices.pdf

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE 1 OF

2. CONTRACT NO.

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE

DATE

a. NAME

4. ORDER NUMBER 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

12046W20Q0005

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls)

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE

DATE

8. OFFER DUE DATE/

LOCAL TIME

9. ISSUED BY

USDA Forest Service

LESLIE SOLBERG

CODE

503-668-1667

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS UNRESTRICTED OR SET ASIDE: 100 % FOR:

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

Mt. Hood National Forest

Attention: Leslie Solberg (AQM)

70220 E. Hwy. 26 Zigzag, Oregon 97049

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

8 (A)

NAICS:

115310

SIZE STANDARD:

7.5 million

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

15. DELIVER TO

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

CODE

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

16. ADMINISTERED BY

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ IFB RFP

CODE

As Indicated On Each BPA Call As Indicated On Each BPA Call

17a. CONTRACTOR/

OFFEROR

CODE FACILITY

CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE www.ipp.gov

TELEPHONE NO.

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN

OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK

BELOW IS CHECKED SEE ADDENDUM

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

USDA Forest Service - Region 6

Multiple Award Professional and Forestry related services

Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)

Perform work when required by properly executing BPA

Calls in accordance with attached BPA and any additional terms and conditions contained in the call. This BPA incorporates the solicitation and your technical and price proposal by reference.

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED

ARE NOT ATTACHED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

SMALL BUSINESS

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN 1 29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. OFFER

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

DATED . . YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR 31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 31c. DATE SIGNED

XXX XXX XXXXX XXXXXX

http://www.ipp.gov/

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

NOTE: Prospective awardees MUST be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be awarded a Federal Government contract. If you are not registered, please register at the following site:

www.beta.sam.gov

NOTE: NAICS code is 115310

Quoters are to respond to the area of services which are of interest and hold proper qualifications for those services. (See page 6)

DUNS Number

EMAIL

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

36. PAYMENT

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

37. CHECK NUMBER

PARTIAL FINAL

38. S/R ACCOUNT NO. 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER 40. PAID BY

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT 42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

http://www.beta.sam.gov/

FY2020 Region 6 Professional and Forestry Services BPA Solicitation # 12046W20Q0005

This pool of Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) address the recurring needs of the Forest Service for professional and forestry related services. Multiple BPAs will be issued for each category. Types of work that might be requested in a BPA call, but is not limted to the following:

a. Perform surveys of current aquatic and riparian habitat and biota;

b. Assess passability of road-stream crossings for aquatic biota.

c. Assess effectiveness of aquatic and riparian restoration projects.

d. Search for cultural sites inside proposed activity areas;

e. Survey for threatened and endangered flora and fauna species according to protocol(s);

f. Conduct soil surveys and write feasibility reports, recommending mandatory operational curtailments and/or restrictions to meet regulatory requirements, etc.;

g. Complete planning documents consistent with National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) required methods and procedures, from scoping to writing the decision document;

i. Identifying inter-disciplinary team members;

ii. Setting up meetings with stakeholders and interested publics; define the agenda, location and facilitate meetings.

h. Timber Cruise-related work items:

i. conduct a pre-cruise and prepare a cruise plan;

ii. conduct the cruise based upon the approved cruise plan;

iii. flag unit boundaries;

iv. traverse with GPS with a print out to scale indicating shape and acres to set standards;

v. mark trees with tracer paint and a marking guide supplied by the Forest Service;

i. Road Construction and Timber Logging Preparation work items:

i. flag locations on-the-ground for permanent and temporary roads;

ii. conduct road survey and layout;

iii. complete cost estimates for road construction and reconstruction using Forest

Service cost guides;

iv. locate landings;

v. perform on-the-ground skyline profiles and analysis of logging system requirements;

vi. Locate tail trees, intermediate support trees and related items as needed.

Note: The hourly rates shown in the Schedule of Supplies or Services are not a representation of actual quantities or unit of measure to be ordered, but serve as a means of developing a pool of contractors for competing BPA calls. Contractors are to identify the services for which they are qualified and would like to be considered for the pool by listing a price per hour for that service.

19. ITEM NO.

20. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

22. UNIT

23. UNIT PRICE

01 Program/Project Manager Hour $

02 Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager Hour $

03 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Support Hour $

04 Meeting Coordinator/Facilitator Hour $

05 Writer/Editor Hour $

06 Soil Scientist Hour $

07 Hydrologist Hour $

08 Botanist Hour $

09 Wildlife Biologist Hour $

10 Fisheries Biologist Hour $

11 Geologist Hour $

12 Rangeland Management Specialist Hour $

13 Forest/Vegetation Ecologist Hour $

14 Forester Hour $

15 Timber Sale Layout Forester Hour $

16 Fuels Specialist (related to planning and NEPA) Hour $

17 Air Quality Specialist Hour $

18 Pesticide Risk and Effects Analysis Hour $

19 Heritage or Cultural Resource Specialist Hour $

20 Recreation Specialist Hour $

21 Landscape Architect/Visual Resource Specialist Hour $

22 Road and Facilities Engineer Hour $

23 Logging Systems Engineer Hour $

24 Economist Hour $

25 Lands and Special Uses Specialist Hour $

19. ITEM NO.

20. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

22. UNIT

23. UNIT PRICE

26 Sociologist Hour $

27 Data Analyst and Statistician Hour $

28 Biological Technician Hour $

29 Archeological Technician Hour $

30 Forestry Technician Hour $

31 Range Technician Hour $

32 Engineering Technician Hour $

33 Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician Hour $

Non-professional positions are subject to the Service Contract Act Wage Determination in effect for the

County/State in which the work will be performed. Wage Determinations may be viewed at https://www.wdol.gov/. Current applicable wage determinations will be provided with each BPA call when use of technical personnel are needed for an individual project.

https://www.wdol.gov/

As these BPAs are intended to cover a variety of services, it is not expected that all BPA Holders will perform every task. As such, please indicate below which services you are interested and qualified to provide:

Table of Services for Professional and Forestry Services

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Support

Data Collection and Analysis

Natural Resource Studies

Minerals and Geology

Water Resources

Soil Resources

Pesticide Risk and Effects Analysis

Air Quality and Smoke Management

Vegetation Management (Timber, Silviculture, Botany, Invasive Species)

Common Stand Exam

Designation and Cruising

Fuels Reduction and Treatments Planning

Rangeland Management

Logging and Transportation System Planning

Logging and Road Analysis

Fisheries and Wildlife

Scenery Management

Landscape Analysis and Watershed Assessments

Recreation

Heritage Resource Surveys and Studies

Socio-Economic Studies

Lands and Special Uses

Travel Management

Climate Change

Geographic Information System

The above list is not intended to be all inclusive, but represents the type of activities covered by these

BPAs. If a project falls within the general scope of the BPA, but is not listed above, all BPA Holders will be provided the call solicitation and afforded the opportunity to compete. Each quoter will determine the mix of skills necessary to perform the tasks and provide pricing based on the appropriate pricing method. Multiple BPAs will be issued for each category.

FAR Clauses (Federal Acquisition Regulations):

Continuation of SF1449

The full text of a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or Department of Agriculture Acquisition

Regulation (AGAR) clause or provision may be accessed electronically at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items

52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive

Orders – Commercial Items

52.228-5, Insurance – Work on a Government Installation

52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors

52.242-17, Government Delay of Work

52.245-1, Government Property

AGAR Clauses (Department of Agriculture Acquisition Regulations):

452.204-70, Inquiries

452.228-71, Insurance Coverage

452.236-73, Archaeological or Historic Sites

452.236-74, Control of Erosion, Sedimentation, and Pollution

452.237-74, Key Personnel

Addendum to FAR 52.212-4

1. 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address:

www.acquisition.gov

52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (OCT 2018)

52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (JUL 2016)

52.204-21 Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems (JUN 2016)

52.227-17 Rights in Data – Special Works (DEC 2007)

52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (DEC 2013) http://www.acquisition.gov/

2. The following are addenda to 52.212-4 paragraph (a)

a. Contractor’s Quality Control Plan

The Contractor shall identify the quality control inspection system it will use to ensure that contract specifications will be achieved. At no time shall the contractor rely upon Government inspections to provide notification of unsatisfactory performance. The Contractor shall produce written inspection records in a format and at times and places satisfactory to the Contracting Officer. Inspection records shall be made available upon request of the Contracting Officer and be maintained until the date of contract closure. The Contracting Officer may observe the Contractor's inspection at any time and shall otherwise have unlimited access to the inspection data.

b. Government Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

The Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer’s duly authorized representative COR will inspect and accept the supplies and/or services to be provided under this contract.

Monitoring may consist of:

i. Field operations by visiting job site(s).

ii. Compliance to Quality Control Plan.

iii. Compliance to any requirements listed on individual BPA calls, including adherence to performance period and time table for subitems.

The Government will incorporate a mutually agreed upon Contractor Quality Control Plan into a

Government Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan.

FAR Provisions

The full text of a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or Department of Agriculture Acquisition

Regulation (AGAR) clause or provision may be accessed electronically at:

52.204-16, Commercial and Governmental Code Reporting

52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items

52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items

1. REQUIREMENTS BACKGROUND

The USDA-Forest Service in fulfillment of its vegetation, land use, and resource management functions, requires a variety of professional and forestry related services in the natural resources environment, and technical sciences to meet legal requirements imposed by such laws as the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Preservation Act (NFPA), National Historic

Preservation Act (NHPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and others.

These BPAs shall provide scientific and professional services contributing to the integrated vegetation management program, and other professional services used for land and resource management by the

USDA Forest Service and other government entities. Work under the BPAs will relate to the following typical subject areas, or those that are similar in nature. This list is not all-inclusive:

a. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Support, including Public Engagement

b. Data Collection and Analysis

c. Natural Resource Studies

d. Minerals and Geology

e. Water Resources

f. Soils Resources

g. Pesticide Risk and Effects Analysis

h. Air Quality and Smoke Management

i. Vegetation Management (Timber, Silviculture, Botany, Invasive Species)

j. Designation and Cruising

k. Fuels Reduction and Treatments

l. Rangeland Management

m. Logging and Transportation System Planning

n. Logging and Road Analysis

o. Fisheries and Wildlife

p. Scenery Management

q. Landscape Analysis and Watershed Assessments

r. Recreation

s. Heritage Resource Surveys and Studies

t. Socio-Economic Studies

u. Lands and Special Uses

v. Travel Management

w. Climate Change

x. Geographic Information System (GIS)

2. SCOPE OF WORK

The purpose of these agreements is to obtain a pool of contractors available to provide commercial, non-personal, professional services in support of the timber, natural resource management, and land use activities of the Forest Service (USFS) and Service First Agencies (http://www.fs.fed.us/servicefirst/).

The intent is to award a sufficient number of BPAs to ensure adequate competition for all covered services in all geographic locations. The Government may issue BPA calls to perform work in any or all of the subject areas listed above in order to carry out respective programs. The Government may also issue BPA calls for other professional services in land use and resource management-related disciplines, including those not listed above.

3. LOCATION

The project area will be defined in each BPA call for the specific project. Project areas may be located anywhere on USFS or Service First Agency managed lands in Oregon, Washington and California.

Some of the work may include private land adjacent to forest lands or forest lands with mining claims on them in accordance with the Wyden Amendment (Public Law 109-54, Section 434) authorizes the

Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements to benefit resources within watersheds on National

Forest System lands.

4. BPA CALLS

Over the duration of these agreements, individual BPA calls with actual quantities will be issued and price competed. Only vendors holding BPAs will be allowed to submit a quote on the work offered, but are not required to quote on all orders. BPA calls will include site-specific work, maps, reporting requirements and deliverable information.

5. BPA EXTENT OF OBLIGATION

The Government is obligated only to the extent of authorized orders awarded under the BPAs.

6. PURCHASE LIMITATION

No single order under this agreement shall exceed $1,000,000 in amount.

7. INDIVIDUALS AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE UNDER THE BPA

The following personnel are authorized to issue calls under this BPA: Any warranted Forest Service or

Service First Agency Contracting Officer.

http://www.fs.fed.us/servicefirst/

8. GENERAL WORK REQUIREMENTS

a. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, personnel, supervision, equipment, materials, supplies, tools, transportation, travel, and incidentals (except those designated as Government-furnished property) to perform all work necessary for completion of the BPA call. The Contractor has the responsibility for all other data collection and reports that will be used as the basis for deliverables resulting from the BPA call. The Forest Service retains approval authority for these documents. All federal and state rules and regulations will be followed as well as appropriate federal agency jurisdictional guidelines unique to each agency.

b. Prepare resource reports or other related reports to document procedures, findings or recommendations.

c. Submit all reports to the COR designated on the BPA call.

d. Public Involvement work may consist of preparing informative documents for public circulation. The work may include all preparation needed to conduct public meetings, scheduling, availability of meeting room, etc. Results of public involvement efforts may be documented, consolidated or analyzed.

e. Writing/Editing work may include technical writing or editing of documents required for support of NEPA efforts or landscape analysis, watershed assessments, and other programs.

f. Monitoring work may include designing monitoring plans for resources, projects, or programs.

It may include implementation of monitoring efforts or preparing related monitoring reports.

g. The contractor is responsible for presenting requested data and information in formats specified by the Forest Service or Service First Agency that is compatible and useable with Microsoft

Office and other data compilation and processing methods.

h. All data, reports, pictures, analysis, etc. collected or produced related to this contract shall remain the property of the government.

9. REQUIRED ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

a. NEPA Support

i. Work may consist of gathering data and preparing supporting documents for environmental analysis. The documents may require varying levels of resource analysis, field investigations, public involvement (including meeting coordination and facilitation), including writing/editing, 508 compliance, and preparation of camera-ready documents.

Project management and interdisciplinary team leader skills may also be requested. Policy and procedures contained in Forest Service Manual 1950 and Forest Service Handbook

(FSH) 1909.15 will be the basis of the required work.

i. The USFS is responsible for identifying of the purpose and need of the proposed action and decide the preferred alternative. The awarded Contractor shall complete all other NEPA analysis, documentation and comment analysis from identification of the proposed action through government decision. Specific progress check points will be established by the

USFS to facilitate approval of work completed and to ensure timely submittal of the completed NEPA document. Reports prepared by the awarded Contractor may be incorporated completely, in part, or by reference into NEPA documents or planning files at the sole discretion of the Government.

b. Data Collection and Analysis

The following guidelines are primarily related to the gathering of resource information:

i. Maximize the use of existing National Forest information available before initiating field investigations or inventory activities. Available information will be identified as part of the

Government Furnished Property in the BPA call.

ii. The Contractor shall not release data or information gathered through a BPA call without written permission of the Government.

iii. Public laws, manuals, and handbooks referenced in any guidance or directive documents are subject to change.

iv. The Government requires that all data collected and prepared that are the basis of summary documentation shall be delivered to the Government at the conclusion of the BPA call in an appropriate format that allows future use by the Agency. In addition, the Contractor shall document any updates made to government-furnished data as a result of field checking or other means of verification. As a minimum, the Contractor shall state what the updates were, what areas were affected, and the cause for the update.

c. Natural Resource Studies

Work may include field surveys or investigations, data gathering, statistical analysis, and documentation. Resource areas may include soil, water (surface and groundwater), air, botany, fish, vegetation, range, fuels, wildlife, scenery, recreation, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, geology, and land/special uses. Resource studies for botany, fish, and wildlife may include biological evaluation or biological assessment preparation consistent with the appropriate Forest Service manual and handbook direction.

d. Minerals and Geology

i. The contractor will employ geologists (resource geologists, engineering geologists, or geomorphologists) to perform the necessary geologic and geomorphology components of resource inventory, analysis or monitoring. The work will range in specificity from landscape to site-specific and may include working as part of an interdisciplinary team conducting Ecological Unit Inventory, Watershed Analyses or other integrated work.

ii. Specialized geologic skills shall be required when conducting groundwater studies or when completing landslide investigations and other work requiring the characterization of soil and rock material for engineering purposes.

iii. A professionally certified geologist shall be utilized to locate and document unstable land hazard areas to facilitate layout and design of transportation and harvest systems.

e. Water Resources

i. Work may consist of identification of non-point source pollution water quality protection and mitigation requirements in accordance with the USFS Region-6 Best Management

Practices (BMP). Identify water BMP implementation and effectiveness monitoring required. Address cumulative watershed effects (CWE) potential and remediation options.

Include in the documentation an analysis of location and condition of flood plains, wetlands and riparian management areas that may require additional precautions and/or mitigations.

ii. Evaluate and document channel, stream bank and flood plain stability, and threat of onsite and downstream impacts using local Forest evaluation and analysis protocols.

f. Soil Resources

i. Gather field data to analyze effects of proposed management activities on soils.

ii. Conduct inventory, analysis or monitoring in compliance with policy contained in Forest

Service Manual 2550 and any other pertinent information provided by the Forest Service.

iii. Collect sufficient field information to assess the existing conditions of the soil resources for the project area.

iv. Evaluate and document susceptibility to erosion, soil compaction, soil stability channel, threat of onsite and downstream impacts, and capabilities and limitations of soils for a variety of contemplated uses and activities (e.g. timber sales, watershed rehabilitation project, transportation planning, or recreation development).

g. Pesticide Risk and Effects Analysis

i. Compile description of proposed pest management – “pests” include native and non-native insects, pathogens, and non-native fish, mammals, or plants. Identify treatment methods, pesticides needed for chemical methods, acres of needed treatment on an annual basis, identify of pests (including specific invasive plants and/or other species), and include issues related to the needed management. This will require consultation with the project manager and possibly various specialists including, but not limited to the Regional Pesticide Use

Coordinator/Technical Specialist, Fisheries and Wildlife Biologists, Hydrologists, Soil

Scientists, Botanists, Entomologists, and Pathologists.

ii. Complete analyses and planning for addressing pests, including pesticide needs, treatment descriptions, pesticide effects to non-target resources including, but not limited to, workers and general public, water quality, non-target plants, and fish and wildlife, the scope, scale and likelihood of any adverse effects, management options and recommendations.

iii. Document will be professional quality free of typographical errors, contain analysis sufficient to support recommendations, and be clear and concisely written. Full content and format of analysis will be agreed upon prior to writing and submitting draft documents.

Draft and final document(s) will be provided to Regional Invasive Plant Program Manager

(COR’s Technical Specialist) for review, correction and final approval.

h. Air Quality and Smoke Management

i. Contractor shall be knowledgeable of federal, state, and local county air regulations pertaining mainly to open burning. This performance standard includes fluency of understanding and interpretation of Section 118 requirements of the Clean Air Act and

State Implementation Plans (SIP); which include a Smoke Management Plan.

Determination of potential impacts from the proposed use of prescribed fire on designated non-attainment and smoke sensitive areas must be a part of any analysis related to this work item.

ii. The contractor shall be knowledgeable in combustion processes and emission factors associated with prescribed fire for the various vegetative and fuels found within the project area. If prescribed fire use is proposed within a SIP non- attainment area, the Contractor shall be capable of performing a conformity rules determination of the impacts of the burning through modeling.

iii. Primary emission sources to be analyzed are: Particulate Matter (PM2.5) from prescribed burning activities and fugitive dust generated from road construction, recreation use, and commercial hauling activities.

iv. The Contractor will determine total emissions produced by the proposed activity for each alternative displayed by the analysis. Modeling of downwind impacts may be necessary if there is concern over avoiding impact of smoke to sensitive populated areas.

The Government will supply guidelines for preparing Air Quality Analysis for the project areas upon request.

i. Vegetation Management (Timber, Silviculture, Botany, Invasive Species)

i. Timber Management work may include conducting formal stand examinations or more general “walk-through” examinations all based on the Common Stand Exam Protocols.

Using stand and other resource information, the Contractor shall develop diagnostic and/or implementation prescriptions for timber sale or stewardship projects. Work may include all aspects of preparing timber projects from harvest unit boundary location, road location, boundary or road traverses using GPS equipment, marking and cruising and documenting tree measurements on USFS provided cruise cards, tree designation, prescription implementation, creating sale area maps, timber value appraisals, and related documents substantiating all preparation work accomplished. Work may also include development of plans for accessing commercial forestlands, assigning relative values to the plans to reflect resource needs, logging/road limitations and economics, and field verification of these plans.

ii. Analyze the current condition of insect disease and fuels buildup for the project area including basic predictions resulting from current conditions. Collect sufficient field information to prepare diagnostic prescriptions, determine feasible treatment options, and to assess effects on listed or proposed plant species.

iii. A Forester shall prepare a silvicultural prescription for each area proposed for harvest or treatment (e.g. fuel treatment, reforestation, timber stand improvement, or mechanical habitat improvement). Prescriptions shall be prepared in compliance with policy contained in Forest Service Manual 2470 and using guidelines contained in Forest Service

Handbook 2409.17 (Silvicultural Practices Handbook) and any other pertinent information provided by the USFS. The prescriptions shall be prepared to the satisfaction of a Forest

Service Certified Silviculturist, who will approve the prescriptions in writing once satisfied.

iv. Personnel conducting Common Stand Exams shall be familiar with the Region 6 Common

Stand Exam Field Guide, Appendices and Data collection forms.

v. Data collection may include surveys such as stake tree survival exams, stocking surveys and stand density exams, periodic exams conducted from time of planting to stand maturity.

vi. Prepare a botanical report and a Biological Assessment/ Evaluation (BA/BE), consistent with Forest Service Manual 2670, for any threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate or sensitive plant species that are known or suspected to occur within the project area or for which potential habitat has been identified. Data collected in support of these evaluations must be in a format that allows assessments to be completed that contribute to determinations of effects under the Endangered Species Act, consistency with Forest Plan direction, and general NEPA effects disclosure. The USFS will provide a list of plants to be assessed. The USFS retains approval authority and the ability to reverse determinations for any BA/BE written.

vii. Data collection may include surveys for vascular plants (including rare and invasive plants), non-vascular plants (bryophytes [mosses and liverworts] and lichens), and/or fungi. Surveys shall be conducted according to protocol for target species.

j. Designation and Cruising

i. A Forester or Forestry Technician shall determine and flag harvest unit boundaries following NEPA specific standards for logging feasibility, riparian habitat conservations areas, unsuitable forest lands, etc.

ii. A Forester or Forestry Technician shall oversee designation of boundaries and trees for cut or leave using USFS-provided paint. Paint shall be accounted for in accordance with Forest directions. Use marking guides developed from the silvicultural prescription. Follow

Regional Accountability standards for marking trees. Personnel assigned to complete this work shall not be employed by or associated with the eventual successful purchaser or contractor of the timber sale or stewardship contract.

iii. A Forester or Forestry Technician shall prepare a cruise plan for the proposed sale. The cruise plan shall be prepared in compliance with policy contained in Forest Service Manual

2440 and using guidelines contained in Forest Service Handbook 2409.12 (Cruising

Handbook) and any other pertinent information provided by the Forest Service Certified

Advanced Cruiser. Acceptable cruising methods include 3P, sample tree cruising, point variable plot count/measure, and fixed plot. The cruising method will be approved by the

Forest Service.

iv. A Forester or Forestry Technician shall cruise the sale area during or after tree designation.

The cruise plan shall be followed. Cruise data shall be processed using the Forest Service cruise processing software using R-6 volume equations. The cruise must meet the standards specified in Forest Service Handbook 2409.12 (Cruising Handbook). The cruise must pass a standard check cruise by a USFS-Certified Check Cruiser.

v. A qualified cruiser is responsible for applying a variety of volume determination techniques. Working alone, as a crew member, or as a crew leader, a qualified cruiser must ensure all necessary field work is completed in compliance with cruise plan instructions.

This includes, but is not limited to, preparation of data for computer compilation. A

Qualified Cruiser must meet the requirement in Forest Service Handbook 2409.12 Chapter

60, 61.1 Qualified Cruiser.

k. Fuels Reduction and Treatments

Contractor shall prepare a fuels management plan for each stand proposed for harvest or vegetative treatment. Data collection for the plan shall be in compliance with policy contained in Forest

Service Manual 5150 and any other pertinent information provided by the USFS.

l. Rangeland Management

i. Perform the necessary components of rangeland resource inventory, analysis or monitoring.

ii. Gather field data to analyze effects of proposed management activities on the rangeland ecosystem.

iii. Evaluate and assess the environmental impact of various management practices on a rangeland and ecosystem management applicable to rangeland management, grazing systems, and improvements. Inventory, analysis or monitoring shall be conducted in compliance with policy and guidance contained in Forest Service Manual and handbooks, 2200 Series and any other pertinent information provided by the Forest Service.

iv. Collect sufficient field information to assess the existing conditions of the rangeland resources (range condition and trend) for the project area.

m. Logging and Transportation System Planning

i. Plans shall take into consideration the landform stability and related geologic hazards, water quality, riparian and wetland information, specified resource protection requirements and economic considerations. Logging plans will document and recommend a logging system and associated transportation network that provides for treatment of the project area.

A road engineer or logging engineer shall accomplish the work requirements in this section.

ii. Develop a transportation analysis with recommendations for needed permanent and temporary road system within the Sale Area or Contract Area Boundary. Include a recommended haul route on National Forest System Roads and county roads to reach the state highway system. The recommended haul route is that route which is most advantageous to the Government.

iii. Transportation planning and analysis shall be completed according to the guidance provided in Forest Service Manual and Handbooks, 7700 Series and specifications provided in the BPA call. Include road surfacing and transportation safety enhancements necessary to accommodate existing traffic and projected sale traffic.

n. Logging Road Services and Road Analysis

The Government requires various skills for logging road placement and layout that may require or may include: consultations, site visits, planning, cost analysis, inspections, documents and review of documents. Various road analyses may include studies to help determine if and where to construct new roads, reconstruct existing roads, or decommission existing roads. Efforts could include road data collection, resource effects analysis, public involvement, and report preparation.

o. Fisheries and Wildlife

i. In conjunction with soil and water resources, collect sufficient field information to assess the existing conditions of the aquatic biota and aquatic biota habitat resources for the project area. Data collected in support of these evaluations must be in a format that allows assessments to be completed that contribute to determinations of effects under the

Endangered Species Act, consistency with Forest Plan direction, and general NEPA effects disclosure.

ii. Collect sufficient field information to assess the existing condition of habitats for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species of concern, including ESA-listed, proposed and candidate species and sensitive species.

iii. Complete a Biological Assessment/ Evaluation (BA/BE), consistent with Forest Service

Manual 2670, for any threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate or sensitive fish or wildlife species that are known or suspected to occur within the project area or for which habitat has been identified. The Forest Service will provide a list of fish and wildlife species to be assessed. The USFS retains approval authority and the ability to reverse determinations for any BA/BE written.

iv. Data collection may include surveys for wildlife species such as mollusks, red tree voles and northern spotted owl. Surveys shall be conducted according to protocol for target species.

p. Scenery Management (Visual Resource)

i. Conduct analysis for scenery and visual resources. Describe current landscape characteristics, including a description of the ecological unit, landscape attributes and the landscape’s relative scenic attractiveness.

ii. Describe the area’s scenic integrity, including historic or past integrity, any interim short-term integrity levels necessary to reach a long-term goal, and an expression of the landscape’s “desired condition.”

iii. Collect information regarding the constituent(s), including a constituent inventory and analysis; information sources and use of constituent surveys. Determine landscape visibility including the identification of travel ways and use areas, constituent concern levels, “seen” areas, distance zones and scenic classes.

iv. Conduct ecosystem analysis, planning and implementation, alternative development, evaluation and selection, achievement of landscape character goals, and monitoring.

q. Landscape Analysis and Watershed Assessments

i. Work may consist of assessing physical, biological and social resources of an identifiable portion of an ecosystem to determine program or project opportunities and possible management practices. Public involvement may be a key component of this pre-NEPA type of work.

Determine a program for site development through use of client interviews. Conduct site analysis to identify physical site constraints. Demonstrate use of Best Environmental Design Practices.

Develop conceptual alternative plans for client review. Develop final working drawings and specifications. Conduct scheduled site reviews during construction phase; and final post-construction site review.

r. Recreation

Work elements in this area may include the following items: Describe the amount and type of recreation use in the project area based upon market research and analysis. Identify and locate recreation facilities. Develop conceptual alternative recreation site configurations for client review.

Design recreation sites. Incorporate Built Environment Image Guide principles to meet the needs of client/visitor groups, including the needs of specific cultural/ethnic groups.

Incorporate use of Universal Design principles to address the facility and program needs of the physically challenged. Develop management plans for recreation management areas including

Scenic Areas, National Recreation Areas, Special Interest Areas, Monument Areas, or

Congressionally-designated areas. Determine trail locations and provide trail construction details.

Develop scenic byway corridor plans and associated infrastructure improvements. Provide design of visitor information signs, directional signs or interpretive signs.

s. Heritage Resource Surveys and Studies

i. Heritage Resource work may include archaeological, anthropological, historic or other related studies or analyses. Completing this work may require the expertise of archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, curators, architects, preservation engineers, or other related professionals and specialists. This area’s work usually involves work with archaeological, historic, or traditional cultural resources.

ii. Tasks may include: literature, records, or archival searches; overviews, preparation of research designs, resource inventories and documentation, ethnographies, written /recorded or oral histories, excavations and data recovery, artifact and data analyses, curative work, stabilization or restoration, interpretation or other historic preservation activities.

iii. Provide analysis and documentation to complete National Historic Preservation Act

Section 106 consultation, involving resource significance or eligibility evaluation, analysis of effects to historic values, and mitigation of adverse effects. Work may also be oriented to

Section 110 historic preservation activities such as resource rehabilitation or public education.

iv. Identify and assess traditional cultural properties (TCP) and areas of tribal importance.

This may require coordination with Tribal Relations staff and work with local Native

American Tribes as requested and coordinated by the Agency. Interaction with tribal entities shall occur only with the approval and in coordination with the Forest Service tribal relations coordinator

t. Socio-Economics and Economic Viability

i. Collect data on the social and economic environment including information related to subsistence resources and uses. It may include analysis of social and economic information for NEPA or landscape analysis.

ii. Describe the social and economic conditions or contributions of the project area in relation to the local and regional settings. The socio-economic analysis must include various resource values including recreation, scenery, habitat, and other related items.

iii. Financial and Economic Analysis shall be completed as guided by FSH 2409.18. This work will be completed for the project area in relation to local and regional values. The purpose of this analysis will be to determine the most cost-efficient and practicable method/approach to achieve the objectives outlined by Forest plans and to produce a program/project where the long-term benefits exceed costs (FSM 2430.3).

u. Lands and Special Uses

i. Identify encumbrances and investigate their status and ownership within the sale or contract area. Provide COR with written documentation of investigation that includes a map of acceptable scale.

ii. Provide communication site and transmission line corridor designation documentation and analysis preparation, and/or assessments supporting NEPA analyses for general permit actions in support of accepted proponent applications that do not fall under cost recovery requirements.

iii. Provide a recordable document, which includes an exhibit in map form, which clearly defines the location and extent of any needed right-of-way, connected to property corners.

iv. Examine federal land status records and document any outstanding ownership rights.

v. Travel and Access Management

i. Conduct analysis for travel and access management. Government regulations (36 CFR 212) pertaining to travel management and travel planning and policy and procedures contained in

Forest Service Manual 7712 and Forest Service Handbook 7709.55 Chapter 20 will be the basis of the required work.

ii. Involve a broad spectrum of interested and affected citizens; local, state, and federal agencies; and tribal governments. Public involvement is an integral part of the travel analysis process.

iii. Conduct the Travel Analysis Process and Travel Analysis Report.

iv. Complete a travel analysis that identifies the minimum road system needed for safe and efficient travel and for administration, utilization, and protection of National Forest System lands. Work may include field surveys or investigations, data gathering, statistical analysis, and documentation.

w. Climate Change

i. Evaluate and assess the environmental impact of various management practices, with consideration of climate science, climate models, and ecological processes. Determine the effect of climate change on a proposed project; the effect of a proposed project on climate change through greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration; and the cumulative effect of the project and climate change on other resources of interest.

ii. Assess physical, biological and social resources of an identifiable portion of an ecosystem to determine the role of climate change, to analyze the environmental impacts at the appropriate scale using the best climate change information available, and to integrate climate change into the environmental analysis document. Include incorporating climate-related vulnerabilities and uncertainties into land management and project-level environmental analyses and discussing how a range of uncertain future climate conditions might affect the expected consequences of proposed activities. For activities in Region 4, the 2018

Interagency Partnership Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Intermountain

Region (General Technical Report 375, available at http://www.adaptationpartners.org/iap/index.php) shall be the basis for analysis and assessment.

x. Geographic Information System (GIS)

i. Geographic Information System work may include digitizing data for entry into a system, designing and conducting various resource mapping and analysis for projects, creating various products for inclusion in NEPA and maps for timber sale or stewardship contract packages, or other documents or public display items, or other electronic related resource or geographic analysis.

ii. The Contractor shall use a computer-based Geographic Information System compatible with the National Forest system software, ARCINFO. The electronic data, both products and additions to the database, shall be delivered to the USFS at the conclusion of each project or BPA call. The Contractor shall supply coverage additions, updates and http://www.adaptationpartners.org/iap/index.php) corrections to base layers with full documentation so that the updates may be verified before application to the Forest Service database. Any data capture must meet minimum spatial accuracy consistent with USGS 7.5-minute Quadrangle sheets, 1:24,000 scale or larger. GIS coverage file naming, map projections, items and valid codes shall be consistent with the Regional Forest Resource Data Base Dictionary, or other National or Regional approved data base.

10. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

A. All personnel must meet the minimum OPM agency qualifications for the position. Primary professional personnel must meet the minimum qualifications for the series of the position at the GS-

11 professional level. Technicians or laborers must meet the minimum qualification for the series of the technician position at the GS- 07 level. Tasks are expected to be performed by professional personnel unless otherwise described in the individual BPA call. The minimum qualifications for each position can be found at:

Occupational Series Standards GS level: Professional and Scientific Positions https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards

The following list of job series, title, and GS level are to meet the minimum qualifications as shown at

OPM websites above. This list provides the types of personnel that have historically performed the services requested of a BPA call.

Job Series Position Title

Minimum GS level to Meet

0110 Economist GS-11

0184 Sociologist GS-11

0193 Archeologist GS-11

0301 Administration and Program Management GS-12

0340 Program Management GS-12

0401 Natural Resource Management and Biological Sciences GS-11

0404 Biological Technician GS-07

0408 Vegetation Ecology GS-11

0430 Botany GS-11

0454 Rangeland Management GS-11

0455 Range Technician GS-07 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url%3DGroup-Standards https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url%3DGroup-Standards

Job Series Position Title

Minimum GS level to Meet

0458 Soil Conservation Technician GS-07

0460 Forester/Silviculturist/Sale Prep Forester/Fuels Forester/Recreation Forester GS-11

0462 Forestry Technician GS-07

0470 Soil Scientist GS-11

0482 Fisheries Biologist GS-11

0486 Wildlife Biologist GS-11

0802 Engineering Technician GS-07

0807 Landscape Architect GS-11

0810 Civil Engineer GS-11

1035 Public Affairs GS-11

1082 Writer/Editor GS-11

1315 Hydrologist GS-11

1350 Geologist GS-11

B. Additionally, the following supplemental requirements or job descriptions shall be met for the respective work categories below:

Project Manager: The Project Manager must have at least seven (7) years of demonstrated experience and be responsible for, but not limited to, managing and overseeing the preparation of assessment reports, environmental documents (including at least 3 Environmental Assessments or Environmental

Impact Statements), monitoring plans, and other supporting documents required through the environmental analysis process, consistent with applicable law and regulation. The Project Manager has an extensive knowledge of and experience in the advanced concepts, principles and practices of ecosystem management and integrated forest resource planning sufficient to serve as an authority for the overall environmental analysis process.

Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager: An Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager must have at least seven (7) years of demonstrated experience and be responsible for, but not limited to, serving as a leader and supervisor for an interdisciplinary Planning Team engaged in Regional, multi-Forest, or Forest planning programs and projects (including at least 3 Environmental Assessments or Environmental

Impact Statements). The Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager has an extensive knowledge of and experience in applying Federal and State environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy

Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA) as well as extensive knowledge and experience in developing cooperative relationships with Non-Governmental

Offices (NGO's), tribes, and state and federal agencies.

Forester: The term Forester refers to a person with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from a 4-year college or university in forestry or a forestry-related field with at…