09_GPE Synopsis_v1.pdf

(Post on SAM under Presolicitation) BPA Call Order Exceeding $25,000.00

Synopsis Requisition 1094030

The USDA Forest Service (FS), Procurement & Property Services (PPS), Special Projects Operations Center (SPOC), Northwest Branch is issuing this synopsis as a means of complying with the USDA’s policy in the Contracting Desk Book, SUBPART 413.3—SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION METHODS, 413.303 Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs). The USDA FS intends on awarding a competitive BPA Call Order against multiple award schedule BPAs for Forestry Vegetation Management located at USDA’s Contract Portal, awarded against solicitation number: 12048923Q0043 for seed orchard pruning, piling, thinning, and chipping.

This synopsis is for parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for non-commercial thinning and pruning services within the Umpqua National Forest.

Please contact John Nix at john.nix@usda.gov for additional information regarding the requirement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this acquisition is 115310, Support Activities for Forestry.

There is not a solicitation. This synopsis notification of intent to award a BPA Call order does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this notification is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information:

1) organization name, address, email address, website address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization; and

2) tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated to deliver technical capability, address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to:

1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated;

2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements;

mailto:john.nix@usda.gov

3) implement a successful project management plan that includes compliance with program schedules, cost containment, meeting/tracking performance, hiring/retention of key personnel, and risk mitigation; and

4) provide services under a performance-based service acquisition vehicle.

This requirement will be competitively awarded as a BPA Call Order against the aforementioned multiple award schedule BPAs previously solicited on the Government Point of Entry (GPE) at:

here. The government will not provide feedback or evaluations to companies regarding their submissions in response to this notice.

Submission Instructions: Parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this notice by 4PM CST September 26, 2023.

All responses under this notice must be emailed to John Nix at: john.nix@usda.gov.

If you have any questions concerning this synopsis notice, please contact the above noted individual.

Attachments:

1. Attachment 1: Draft SOW (Statement of Work)

2. Attachment 2: Map Threehorn Seed Orchard

3. Attachment 3: Map Buckeye Seed Orchard

4. Attachment 4: Map Wrens Seed Orchard

5. Attachment 5: Maps of Umpqua Orchards https://sam.gov/search/?index=opp&page=1&pageSize=25&sort=-modifiedDate&sfm%5Bstatus%5D%5Bis_active%5D=true&sfm%5Bstatus%5D%5Bis_inactive%5D=true&sfm%5BsimpleSearch%5D%5BkeywordRadio%5D=ALL&sfm%5BsimpleSearch%5D%5BkeywordTags%5D%5B0%5D%5Bkey%5D=1204T018Q0003&sfm%5BsimpleSearch%5D%5BkeywordTags%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D=1204T018Q0003 mailto:john.nix@usda.gov

Attachment 1: Draft Statement of Work (SOW)

1. Performance Work Statement (PWS): Umpqua National Forest Seed Orchard Pruning Below are the specifications for precommercial thinning and pruning under this solicitation. Activities 3 mechanical invasive species treatment will not be part of this solicitation/contract.

Activity 1. – Tree Pruning

Contractor is expected to prune all genetic seed orchard conifer trees tagged, flagged, or marked for treatment by the Umpqua Silviculture group. Orchard trees are approximately 30 years old, however a few have been interplanted, vary in age from 20 to 30 years and are younger than the main progeny. Trees to be pruned (or not pruned) will be tagged, flagged or marked as designated by the Forest Representative. Pruning is to remove all limbs up to 6-7 feet above the ground. Limbs are not expected to hang lower than a six feet height. Exceptions, seed orchard trees younger and under 15 feet will only be pruned to 5 feet. Orchard trees less than 10 feet will not be pruned (very low probability of this occurring). All orchard trees are Douglas-fir, with the exception of Threehorn which has some ponderosa pine. The following are other pruning rules;

1. Only trees that are genetic seed orchard trees shall be pruned, with the exception, Threehorn Seed Orchard which will have some additional ponderosa pine to be pruned.

2. Removal of Live and Dead Limbs – All live and dead limbs shall be completely severed from the tree as close to the bole as possible without cutting into the branch collar (see exhibit sheet). Be sure to cut limbs that go underground and come back up above ground. Each tree should be checked for these limbs. Up to 1 inch of the branch can be left to avoid scarring the main stem bole.

3. Pruning cuts shall be made immediately outside the branch collar (as shown in Illustration No. 1 of the Exhibits).

4. Limbs will be lopped and piled (see slash piling section below), or chipped. Depending on slash levels, Threehorn orchard may be masticated, so slash may be scattered away from treated trees to facilitate treatment. This will be an operational decision.

5. All pruning shall be done with hand pruners, lopping shears, or pruning saws. Use of power saws, with short chain bars (10” and under), will be allowed on trees where limbs exceed 2.5” in diameter. All pruning shall avoid scarring the main bole stem.

Activity 2. – Pre-Commercial Thinning (PCT)

Contractor is expected to cut/thin all trees flagged or marked by the Umpqua Silviculture group. Trees will be designated so contractor knows which trees to remove. Seed Orchards are approximately 30 years old and non-commercial thinning is to remove/cut dead seed orchard trees, remove seed orchard trees of poor quality, or are ingrowth (trees) that have regenerated into this unit over the previous 30 years. Under this solicitation/contract, only trees under 7.0” inches DBH will be treated. In-growth brush will not be treated under this solicitation/contract.

In-growth trees are expected to be from 0.1” to 6.9”+ inches in diameter, and 3 to 25 feet in height, were as orchard seed trees may be up to 15” DBH and generally 20 to 35 feet in height. The number of trees estimated to be treated per orchard is noted within the Activity Level Expectations sheet below. The number treated was estimated by the silviculture group and may be more or less than stated. The Government will mark trees to be cut with either tags, flagging or paint at the base of each tree. Color is expected to be red, but final color will be determined at the start of the contract.

Trees non-commercially thinned (PCT) shall be cut at the base with a stump height not exceeding 6 inches in height. Once trees are felled trees shall be delimbed and the slash must be lopped and piled (see slash treatment section). Equipment used maybe a chain saw, hand saw or hand lopper. All trees (hardwood and conifer) that are not seed trees for seed production will be treated. Hardwoods may include big leaf maple, white and black oak, dogwood, Oregon ash, and elderberry, chinquapin and madrone. No limbs will be left on the stumps of cut vegetation. Surplus conifers and hardwoods shall be felled in a manner to minimize damage to selected leave trees.

There will be no thinning or hand piling within 50’ of streams or wetlands. Vegetative material shall be delimbed once felled and the boles over 7” be cut into 18–24-inch pieces. These pieces do not need to be slash piled for burning. This type of material should be the exception rather than a common occurrence.

Activity 3. – Road Brushing and Clearing

Contractor is to cut all brush/tree vegetation within 5- 7 feet of any road surface profile. Vegetation is to be cut down to within 6 inches of the ground. Vegetation would include all brush, and any tree under 7” diameter and within the 5- 7’ feet zone on either side of the designated road. Trees greater than 7” inches of diameter may be pruned if limbs overhang road surface and interfere with vehicle travel. Cut slash material shall be either piled or chipped. Material shall be piled/chipped as stated under Activity 4. No slash or cut material shall be left on road surface.

Activity 4. – Unit Brushing

Contractor is to cut all brush under 3 feet in height or 4 feet in height as noted in the treatment expectation table below. Single stem hardwoods will be treated up to 7” diameter, as marked. Vegetation is to be cut, as close as feasible, to ground level. Vegetation would include all brush, and any hardwoods under 7” diameter. Hardwoods greater than 7” inches of diameter shall be pruned (as marked) to allow operations under the tree. Cut slash material shall be either piled or chipped. Material shall be piled/chipped as stated under Activity 5. Brush over 3 to 4 feet in height may be treated differently under certain solicitations, please review solicitation guides (see activities level expectations table below).

Activity 5. – Slash Disposal

Contractor is to treat all slash/cut material by piling into slash piles, lopping and then scattering slash within unit, or by chipping the slash material as described by the solicitation. The type of slash treatment has been indicated within the solicitation (See bid item table). Piled slash will meet the requirements below for future burning. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Forest Service, all piling shall be done in accordance with the following:

Piling and Covering:

Areas of Slash Disposal:

• Unit Slash – Ninety five percent of slash and surplus vegetation less than 6 inches in diameter shall be piled.

Inspection will be visual by government inspector. Slash left on the ground shall not exceed 2 inches in depth.

Material over 6 inches diameter shall be delimbed and cut into 2-4’ foot segments.

• Roadside slash treatment – A 10-foot treatment area from the edge of the road. All slash and surplus vegetation less than 6 inches in diameter shall be piled.

• Other slash buildup - No slash shall be left on any road, within a ditch or on a road cut bank.

Pile Construction:

• Piles shall be constructed by compactly aligning individual pieces in the same direction and placing the heavier slash on top. Piles shall have a stable base to prevent toppling, and the long axis of individual pieces shall be oriented up and down the slope. Noncombustible and decomposed material shall not be mixed with slash. Protruding pieces shall be trimmed to allow covering in a manner that permits the piles to shed water.

Hand piles shall enclose a core of kindling at least 12” inches high, 12” inches wide and 12” inches long, composed of needles, limbs, branches and damaged brush less than 1/4 inch(es) in diameter.

• Place only material 6.9” DBH (and less) in pile. Limb all tree boles and place limbs in pile.

• Piles shall be of size practicable to burn with minimum damage to Forest orchard values and any improvements designated for protection. Length, and/or width, and/or diameter, of piles shall not exceed 6 feet nor be less than 3 feet. Height of piles shall be at least 3 feet but not exceed 4 feet. Units do have some larger openings and piles within these areas may exceed this size upon approval from the inspectors or COR.

Government will stipulate the maximum pile size if approval is granted.

Location of Hand Piles:

Piles shall be located as far away as possible from the base of live leave trees. Piles shall not be placed on, or in close proximity to, stumps or down logs or cause fire to spread. Piles shall not be located on road surfaces, cut banks or ditch lines or within 80 feet of perennial or intermittent streams unless approved in writing by Forest Service.

Roadway piles shall be placed on outside shoulder of road. Avoid piling under crowns or drip lines of leave trees. In riparian areas there shall be a 50’ no cut buffer. In addition, there is no hand piling within 50’ of steam buffers. The government will make all attempts to mark out riparian zones.

Covering of Piles (all types) and/or Decks:

Covering Material: All piles shall be covered with black polyethylene plastic, 6 mil inch thick, or its equivalent, as approved by Forest Service. Plastic will be supplied by the contractor.

Method of Covering: Covering shall be placed on top of pile and weighted down with combustible material. The entire top of the pile will be covered with approximately a 2’ x 2’ sized sheet. All protruding pieces shall be bucked off and placed on piles.

Slash Chipping:

Slash shall be chipped using a mechanical chipper. Chipping shall chip 95% of the material that has been cut.

Chipping will include all material up to diameters of 7 inches. Chips shall be no larger than 2-4 inches square in size once processed. Slash material over 7 inches will be cut to small segments of 2- 4 feet in length. Large cut material may be stacked for future treatment or removal. Equipment shall be provided by the contractor, either through ownership or by leasing for the contract. It is recommended that chipping equipment will handle up to 12” material.

Chips shall be spread across landscape and shall be no deeper than 2-3 inches in depth. Contractor will be allowed to rake chips to spread them out. Contractor may spread chips along new and old fence lines to a depth of 4 inches and at a width of 8 feet (4 feet on each side). This action is to control brush competition along fence lines.

Lop and Scatter:

Pullback And Scatter – Remove slash created by pruning or thinning in the project area by hand pulling and scattering back away from residual trees. Slash shall be placed as central as possible between trees rows. Slash shall be pulled into the work unit and not left within 20 feet of fence or road systems. Slash shall be pulled back a minimum of 3 feet or the width of the tree’s drip line. Slash shall not be removed from the work unit and placed outside the existing project unit. Slash is to be scattered equally across landscape unless future mechanical mastication has been noted.

ACTIVITY LEVEL EXPECTATIONS - ** estimates only, government does not guarantee these estimates.

UNIT Est. Trees for Pruning

Pre-commercial Thinning (PCT) Level

Brushing need

Slash Treatment

Status of Orchard

Threehorn Estimate 450 to 550 total trees.

Contractor is responsible for assessing the site conditions to determine the number of trees required to meet project requirements.

Estimate 40- 50 trees per acre under 7” for assessing the site conditions to determine the amount of trees under 7”

Estimate 5 brush plants per acre under 3’ need treated, larger brush (willow) plants will not be treated.

Contractor is responsible for assessing the site conditions and the amount of brush plants under 3 feet needing treatment.

Approx 75% shall be chipped and remaining piled.

Operation to pile or chip left to contractor.

Unit was treated for brush when developed (1992), has not treated since.

Buckeye Estimate 400 to 500 total for assessing the site conditions to determine the number of trees required to meet project requirements.

Estimate 25- 30 trees per for assessing the site conditions to determine the amount of trees under 7”

Estimate 5- 7 brush plants per acre under 3’ need responsible for assessing the site conditions and the amount of brush plants under 3 feet

Approx 75% shall be chipped and remaining piled.

Operation to pile or chip left to contractor.

Unit rogued in 2004. Bid for piling however this unit may be changed to lop and scatter for mastication.

needing treatment.

Wrens Estimate 350 to 400 total for assessing the site conditions to determine the number of trees required to meet project requirements.

Estimate 10- 15 trees per for assessing the site conditions to determine the amount of trees under 7”

Estimate <3 plants per acre under 4’ need responsible for assessing the site conditions and the amount of brush plants under 4 feet needing treatment.

95% of slash material will be piled. (no chipping)

Unit was rogued in 2008.

SECTION 1

GENERAL

1.1 Scope of Contract

The scope of the project is to prune, non-commercial thin (PCT), and brush vegetation as outlined with the schedule of items. Cut vegetative material shall be piled or chipped as outlined in work activities. Raod access to the Threehorn orchard site shall also be brushed. These treatments will take place within seed orchards found on the Umpqua National Forest. The Contractor will be required to locate and conduct the needed treatments within the specified unit boundaries. Unit boundaries are defined by old fence lines. Fences may be up-right or down, and in poor condition.

The amount of pruning and non-commercial thinning treatment varies by seed orchard. Trees being treated either by pruning or non-commercial thinning will be designated by the silviculture group prior to the contractor implementation. Designation will be by either tags, flagging or paint using different colors. Colors will be determined prior to the starting contract.

Contractor will also be required to lop and pile or chip all treated slash on each unit per prescription. Contractor will be allowed to bid the Threehorn, Buckeye and Rosebud slash treatment as either hand piling, chipping, or a mix of these activities. Please note in bid your plan for treatment. Because of access, Wren Seed Orchard will be by hand pile only.

1.2 Location and Description

Units under this BPA call are located within the Umpqua National Forest and found on the North Umpqua or Tiller Ranger Districts. An area map, with a quad base show the location on the forest. Road access is available to each seed orchard, with the exception of Wren. Wren Seed Orchard road access is within 250 feet of the orchard gate. Records indicate these units have been thinned (approximately 2004), although this may not be the case on all units.

Orthophoto maps have been included with this solicitation. It is expected that the contractor do a field visit prior to their bid.

SECTION 2

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, MATERIALS, SERVICES

The property and services provided by the Government are listed below. The Contractor shall inform the Government when supplies are needed and both parties shall schedule a time to meet at the warehouse where the Government will issue the needed supplies to the Contractor. The Contractor is responsible for safe handling and transport of supplies to the work sites.

The Contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of such delivered Government-furnished property until completion and final acceptance of work required under this contract. All unused Government furnished material shall be returned to the Government in the original packaging and in good condition.

SECTION

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT, TASKS AND CRITICAL SUBTASKS

Contractor is expected to deliver a 95% and 100%, this is the actual cutting, quality level for activities under this solicitation/contract. Please see table. For seed orchard tree pruning and non-commercial removal , a 100% quality level is required. For brush removal and slash treatment a 95% quality level shall be met.

Inspection will be by visual inspection by the Inspectors or COR. Example, 95% indicates that 95% of the vegetation needing treatment has been accomplished.

Activity Quality of Work Correction

Seed Orchard Pruning 100% no trees missed

Rework – missed trees

Description Quantity

Orchard map showing Seed Tree locations (Excel print)

As contractor requests

Marking seed orchard trees for pruning Dependent on orchard

Marking in-growth for non-commercial removal.

Dependent on orchard

Non-commercial Removal

100% no trees missed

Rework – missed trees

Slash piling/Chipping 95% of material Rework

Pruning will involve the following tasks/subtasks:

Locating all orchard seed trees though out each individual unit.

Pruning these trees, according to the specifications within this solicitation.

Piling of pruning slash into proper sized piles.

Quality Standard – Orchard seed trees to be pruned are selected correctly. Trees are pruned correctly based on need. Slash is lopped and removed from tree base and piled.

Non-commercial thinning will involve the following tasks/subtasks:

Locating all orchard seed trees, ingrowth trees and brush that need thinning though out each individual unit.

Cutting trees or brush, according to the specifications within this solicitation.

Piling of pruning slash into proper sized piles.

Quality Standard – Orchard seed trees to be thinned are selected correctly. All ingrowth and brush are removed. Slash is lopped and piled properly.

Piling will involve the following tasks/subtasks

Locating the piles away from live orchard trees Limiting the size of piles to contractual allowed Lopping and trimming slash material to properly fit within the piles.

Lopping and scatter will involve:

Evenly scattering slash Removing slash away from residual tree boles (3+ feet)

Road Brushing

Cut all defined brush and tree vegetation within 5-7 feet of road prism.

Slash and pile cut material, or chip material

SECTION 4

QUALITY/PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

Requirement

Performance

Standard

Method of

Assessment

Incentive/Deduction for meeting the standard

Quality Control

Contractor maintains good quality control on all aspects of operations.

COR/Inspector randomly observes operations.

The Quality Control provided by the Contractor will be reflected in the performance evaluation either positive or negative. If the Contractor fails to meet standards, work may be suspended or terminated for cause for failure to take corrective action immediately.

Contractor’s ability to meet the standard will be reflected in the performance evaluation either positive or negative.

Contractor’s Plot Inspections

This is not applicable to this Solicitation or Contract

Contractor’s plot inspections are +/-5% of Government’s quality.

Inspection completed to meet timeframes.

COR randomly observe Contractor inspection. Review Contractor inspection sheets daily.

When Contractor’s plot inspections meet standards, no deduction. If quality does not meet standard, pay deduction per Payment Incentives and Deductions and/or additional costs to the Government will be assessed.

Work Plan, Schedule, & Communications

Work meets schedule as per the accepted work plan.

Contractor keeps COR advised of working location during contract performance.

COR conduct periodic monitoring.

Contractor’s ability to maintain the work schedule and complete work on schedule will be reflected in the performance evaluation as either positive or negative incentive. Contractor’s work not completed on schedule is subject to default and may result in termination for cause including assessment of reprocurement costs.

Attachment 2: Map Threehorn Seed Orchard

2800000

2924700

2924000

2924705

2980800

2924900

2924715

2800349

2924801

2900000

2924707

2924799

2924600

Attachment 3: Map Buckeye Seed Orchard

Buckeye Orchard

South Umpqua River

2800000

2924700

2924000

2924705

2980800

2924900

2924715

2800349

2924801

2900000

2924707

2924799

2924600

Attachment 3: Map Buckeye Seed Orchard (continued)

South Umpqua

FY2022 Orchard Maintenance Contract

Buckeye Orchard

2810250

2810245

2810326

2810260

2810265

2810263

2810241

2810261

2810264

2810270

2810315 2810240

2827310 2810251

Attachment 4: Map Wrens Seed Orchard Page 14 of 17

Wren Orchard

Road 28 to South

2810250

2810245

2810326

2810260

2810265

2810263

2810241

2810261

2810264

2810270

2810315 2810240

2827310 2810251

Attachment 4: Map Wrens Seed Orchard (continued)

ORCHARD MAINTENANCE CONTRACT

Wren Orchard

Road 28 to South

Attachment 5: Maps of Umpqua Orchards Page 16 of 17

Attachment 5: Maps of Umpqua Orchards (continued) Page 17 of 17