Questions Answers 12048923R0008 revised v1.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ) #: 12319822Q0076

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

# RFP Section # / Page # Question Government Response

1 Schedule

Of Items

2.2, and

4.2

Will the “Logs with Branches” require a feller buncher? Or can both items be tipped with rootwad using an excavator? 4.2 says either rootwad or cut, but 2.2 only says log with branches.

They can be with or without rootwad. Does not require a feller buncher – can be broke with an excavator, tipped with an excavator, or felled. A lot of these logs with branches can come from the tops of the larger trees that are removed with the rootwad.

2 Schedule of Items

2.4, and 4.4

To “create” these “cut trees and branches”, will we be required to go in and harvest reprod or young growth trees? What is the process and method used in this if so. Bunching racking wood? plucking reprod? or will we be using cut tree tops from rootwad logs? Is there enough tree tops to make that volume or will we have to go harvest more?

Line Item 2.4 – This material will be slash leftover from harvest of Line Items 2.1 – 2.3 and felled small trees cut by USFS staff.

Line Item 4.4 – This material will come from the slash piles located in the Line Item description.

3 Page 12, 4 paragraphs down What kind of work does the hair pin turn need in access road to sheep creek unit?

May need to clear some trees and expand road prism for about 200’ of road.

4 Schedule of Items 1.1 This is for 2 excavators 550 hours each or 550 hours between the two?

2 tracked excavators for a total of 550 hours.

5 General Will there be specific trees marked for harvest or is this a clear cut? Is there an engineered plan that can show how many small, medium, and large root wads will need to be harvested that might influence our bid?

Trees are marked. There is a plan for the amount of small, medium and large rootwads. Amounts for 2.1 are

26 Large (> 20” dbh), 52 Medium (14” – 20” dbh) and

53 Small (10” – 14” dbh).

Amounts for 4.1 are 158 Large (> 18” dbh), 194 Medium

(14” – 18” dbh, and 42 Small (10” – 14” dbh).

6 General Are there any seasonal restrictions or weather condition restrictions? How soon can the tree harvest and stage begin?

Tree harvest and stage needs to occur during dry conditions. So, it will depend on snow melt and when soils dry out.

7 General Is there an engineer estimate on the job? No.

8 General Are there design plans for this project that you are able to share?

There is for the Fly Creek portion but not other parts.

9 General We have an excavator that due to the blade in the front it lingers around 28,500lbs. Would you guys make an exception for this? It’s a compact and short turn radius excavator.

We can make exception on this.

General How much distance is between the piles of slash and trees to the drop zone? In miles?

How many yards are you guys expecting to move?

Line Items 2.1 – 2.3 = Approximate 1 way haul distance: 1 – 5 miles. The rest of the Line Items have it specified in the description. Yards are specified in the project description.

10 General Do any construction details exist for “Habitat

Structures” or “Log Spanning Jams”

There is a design for Fly Creek but not for Small streams work (mini work).

11 General Will the team need a stream restoration or fish habitat engineer to design the structures? If not, are they all felled and randomly placed

(how will Contractor know exact placement of tree orientation)?

No. They will not need a stream restoration or fish habitat engineer. The COR will work with operators for correct placement. Sites will be flagged.

12 General Will the owner be present during all of construction to direct locations and orientation of wood?

The United State Forrest Service (USFS) will not be present at all times. They will be present during all instream work on Fly Creek. Sites will be flagged and explained to the contractor prior to implementation of the line item. The USFS will be present over a significant portion of the contract.

13 General Is there detail on how much submergence the wood will require within the channel banks?

2-3’ down. This is all part of the equipment rental with operator.

14 General Will references of similar jobs or past performance of stream restoration work be required?

Yes.

15 General What will the Contractor be required to do for willow trenching (is there an engineering detail available)? Will Contractor be required to supply willows?

The contractor does not have to supply willows. Forest

Service will be on site sticking the willows in the trenches. The Contractor will be responsible for digging the trench and filling it in.

16 General Question Regarding all

Log/Rootwad Harvest and

Bucking to Length

What is the requirement for bucking logs/rootwads at desired length?

Is sawcutting permitted or does the piece need broken using the equipment?

Saw cutting or breaking is acceptable.

17 Line Item 2.2

Line Item 4.2

Page #7-8

Can these logs be “tops” from harvested rootwads?

Or are these pieces sourced from separate trees requiring hand falling?

These can be “tops” harvest from the rootwads or be separate trees plucked or felled.

18 Line Item 2.4

Line Item 4.4

Page #7-8

The scope calls for a 10 CY dump truck.

Will the government allow a truck with a larger capacity to be used?

IE….. A dump truck with a 30CY box?

Yes, we will allow a larger dump truck.

19 Line Item2.1,2.2,2.3

Line Item4.1,4.2,4.3

Page #6

Page #7

Scope of work states “Logs with root wad/branches”

Some branches will break during harvest and loading. What is acceptable or expected?

Also, some branches and root wads will need limbed and trimmed to prevent damage to contractors’ equipment.

Is this expected and acceptable?

Also, will the contractor be permitted to load multiple stems on each load assuming this will also cause limb and top breakage?

Limit trimming and breakage as much as possible. You can haul more than one tree at a time.

20 Line Item 2.1,2.2,2.3

Line Item 4.1,4.2,4.3

Page #6

Page #7

Will the off loading and decking of this material be covered under the hourly rate for equipment?

Or does this cost need to be factored into the harvest ?

No. The cost needs to be factored into the harvest.

21 General Question Regarding

Rehabilitation

Is the contractor required to provide and place weed free straw and seed as part of the rehab requirement?

No, the contractor does not need to provide weed free straw.

22 Line Item 1.1

Page #6

This line item allows for a large discrepancy in equipment size.

I.E….A 10,000# excavator cannot accomplish what a 25,000# excavator can during the same shift, but will likely be much cheaper on an hourly basis.

What will the governments approach be to scoring or evaluating the differing equipment size vs. hourly rate?

Need to have equipment in that range of pounds. If it is in that range, then the type of equipment will score the same.

23 Line Item 3.2

Page #7

This line item allows for a large discrepancy in equipment size.

I.E….A 35,000# excavator cannot accomplish what a 75,000# log loader can during the same shift, but will likely be much cheaper on an hourly basis.

What will the governments approach be to scoring or evaluating the differing equipment size vs. hourly rate?

Need to have equipment in that range of pounds. If it is in that range, then the type of equipment will score the same.

24 Line Item 3.2

Page #7

This Line item calls for a “360 rotating clam style bucket”.

Yes, that will work.

Will a standard 56” rotating grapple on a log loader meet this requirement?

25 General Question regarding

Road Conditions

Is there currently snow on the harvest units?

If so, are these roads expected to be accessible by April 15?

If not, is the contractor expected or required to plow the roads to gain access?

Yes, there is snow on harvest units. The roads are expected to be clear by April 15. Not going to require plowing. We will wait for snow to melt, before starting the project.

26 General Question Regarding

Road Maintenance

Will the contractor be required to perform any pre, during or post haul maintenance on the haul route?

There will be rehabilitation of damaged ditches and the area where the hair pin turn is located.

General Question Regarding

Road Maintenance

If the Contractor is NOT required to perform pre haul maintenance as part of this contract, but the road is not in adequate condition to haul on, what is the governments course of action?

The only portion of the road that may not in adequate condition is located on the hair pin section of road going to the Sheep Creek Unit. This section is specified in the contract as needing work to pass trucks and would be incorporated in the cost for creating, transporting and staging trees in Line Items 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3.

27 General Question Regarding

Equipment Fluids

Will equipment be required to have “BIO” fluids?

If Yes, will this pertain to ALL equipment being used?Or just equipment in the wet?

Equipment associated with line items 1.1. 1.2, 3.1 and

3.2 will need to have “BIO” fluids.

28 General Question Regarding

Potential Delays Caused by

IFPL Levels

In the event there are IFPL delays or full shutdowns, will an extension be granted to this years operating season?

Or would the contractor be required to demob and remob in 2024?

Would a demob and remob be compensated by change order?

Not anticipated that any shut downs will occur. In the past 14 years, we have always obtained waivers to keep working.

29 General Question Regarding

Work Schedule

Would the government consider a 6 or 7 day per week work schedule during the instream window?

No, not during the instream work window. However, for

Line Items 2.1 – 2.4 and 4.1 – 4.4; the contractor is permitted to work as long as hours and days as they want to.

30 Page 12

Work Hours and Timing

General Question Regarding

Work Schedule and Hourly

Pricing

On the proposed 50 hour per week schedule, should overtime be calculated into the overall hourly rate? Or will an overtime rate be paid for those hours in excess of 40?

Yes, you will need to include the cost of contractors paying overtime to their employees in the overall hourly rate.