Amendment 0003.pdf

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. Name and Title of Signer (Type or Print) 16A. Name and title of Contracting Officer (Type or Print)

15B. Contractor/Offeror 15C. Date Signed 16B. United States of America

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. Date Signed

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 30-105 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

PREVIOUS EDITIONS UNUSABLE Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. Contract ID Code Page of Pages

1 4

2. Amendment/Modification No. 3. Effective Date 4. Requisition/Purchase Req. No. 5. Project No. (if applicable)

AMENDMENT 0003 June 6, 2023 1095079

6. Issued By Code 7. Administered By (If other than Item 6) Code SEE BLOCK 6

SPOC NORTHWEST

1400 INDEPENDENCE AVE SW MS-1138

WASHINGTON DC 20250-0001

8. Name and Address of Contractor (No., Street, County, and Zip Code) (X) 9A. Amendment of Solicitation No.

X

12048923R0011 9B. Date (See Item 11)

May 23, 2023 10A. Modification of Contract/Order No.

10B. Date (See Item 13)

Code Facility Code

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers X is extended is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDG-

MENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT

IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. Accounting and Appropriation Data (if required)

1. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACT/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

(x) A. This change order is issued pursuant to: (Specify authority) The changes set forth in item 14 are made in the Contract Order No. in item 10A.

B. The above numbered Contract/Order is modified to reflect the administrative changes (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

Set fourth item 14, pursuant to the authority of FAR 43.103 (b)

C. This supplemental agreement is entered into pursuant to authority of:

D. Other (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. Description of Amendment/Modification (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

SUMMARY OF CHANGES:

The purpose of this amendment is to:

1. Respond to pre-quote inquiries (PQI); and

2. Delete the solicitation’s Performance Work Statement (PWS) and replace it with a new PWS; and

3. Extend the due date and time for quotes.

See continuing pages.

END SUMMARY OF CHANGES

12048923R0011, Amendment 0003

1. Response to PQIs:

Question No. 5

Site Visit

QUESTION: “We would like to schedule a site visit to view the property. Could you provide a few key location addresses in which we can check them out specifically?”

ANSWER: From Kettle Falls Wa, head West on Highway 20 which becomes Highway 395, go across the Columbia River bridge, follow the road to the right past the gas station called Noisy Waters, Continue North on Highway 395 for approximately 22 miles, pass the Town of Orient and continue North for another approximately 3.5 to 4 miles. You will come to a County road that turns to the West again. It is County Road 595. Continue traveling on this road until you come to the Forest Service Road #9576, This is the main road that goes thru the Border Contract area, which is also the Little Boulder Allotment Map. There is an intersection approximately 4 miles that is road #9576-150, this road leads into the Jenny Creek area with various side roads off of this one, this comes to a dead end. Drive back to the intersection and, continuing West on Main road #9576, following this road you will see road #9576-240 on the left. This road takes you into Jasper Mtn. area. Return to the main Road #9576 continue West again, you will come to another intersection with the junction of the #300 road systems to the left or continue on #9576 to the north up into the Independent Mtn. area. The #300 Road system turns into the #450 road that will take you over to the #6120 road systems which is now the Lone Ranch Allotment map with various roads off of this Road segment.

Question No. 6

PWS

QUESTION: “On the updated PWS I can see that lab sampling was crossed out in a few areas.

However, it still mentions that payment will be processed after lab results are received. Can you confirm if this portion of the the PWS should have been removed too?”

ANSWER: Yes, that should have been removed. Please see attached new PWS.

Question No. 7

PWS

QUESTION: “Section 1.6 of the PWS states "Work shall be conducted Monday through Thursday to avoid conflict with the public using the National Forest for recreation opportunities"... later on in section 8.0 of the PWS (Government Furnished Property/Equipment/Information) it states that some areas are located behind locked gates.

Given that these areas are locked and not accessible to the public, would it be permitted for us to spray and treat these areas between Friday - Sunday?”

ANSWER: We need to stick to the schedule for treatments being applied Monday – Thursday and not on weekends or Federal Holidays. Areas behind locked gates provide the public with recreational opportunities and we want to avoid those areas as well during the weekend.

Question No. 8

Species

QUESTION: “Most contracts (For example SOLICITATION NO. 12363N23Q4148) include a list of target spices, or noxious weeds to be treated. Please reference attachment 3 - A. What are the "TARGET" and "NON-TARGET SPECIES?? Can we get a list of "TARGET" and "NON-TARGET SPECIES as soon as possible? B. Attachement 3 list very many weeds species (three classifications, acrosss 2 pages) Do you want all weeds across the three classifications on this list treated or all weeds referenced as Noxious on attachment 3 treated?

C. Do we have have to survey, record and log all noxious weeds listed in attachment 3?

ANSWER: All roads are not inventoried and cataloged for what invasive species may be present. Survey expenses should be included in the quote and contractor needs to be able to identify invasive species present on site. Invasive plants need to be listed on the application records which were targeted during treatment. A list of possible invasive species was provided, and contractor should expect a small subset of those identified on the list to be present on the Forest.

Question No. 9

Herbicides

QUESTION: “If we have to treat all of these species of weeds, this will require many applications of a number of different herbicides. Hence the impact on price per acre. A target and non-target list would be very helpful here.”

ANSWER: Only the herbicides listed in the attachments are approved for use on the Colville National Forest. These are the herbicides for which an analysis has been conducted and the effects disclosed. Other herbicides which have not been identified are not approved for use.

Question No. 10

PWS: New Invaders and Potential Invaders

QUESTION: “All the species in these two categories must have a GPS location and population density assessment”

ANSWER: Invasive plant populations can increase in size and change distribution on the landscape on an annual basis. Contractors should be able to identify the current population and location of invasive plants present for the growing season and apply the treatment within the road prism buffer and meet the target.

Question No. 11

PWS: Backpacking Area

QUESTION: “Is there anyway that you can release the maps for the backpacking area specifically? It's unclear how difficult it will be to reach, or how long it will take them to reach this site by foot.”

ANSWER: Backpack applications are a minor part of the contract. Backpacks would be used for treatments when a skid mounted sprayer, UTV/ATV, or hand line cannot effectively reach the target invasive species which are located within the road prism for treatment. Steep banks would be an example for backpack if hand line on skid mounted sprayer was not available. This is a tool that can be used with the other types of treatment applications depending on location of invasive plants found within the planning area.

2. The solicitation’s PWS is hereby deleted and replaced with the new attached PWS.

3. The solicitation’s due date and time for quotes is hereby changed as follows:

FROM: June 6, 2023, 2:00 PM Pacific Time TO: June 7, 2023, 2:00 PM Pacific Time.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged

Attachment 1-Performance Work Statement

Performance Work Statement (PWS) Statement of Work

Border Planning Area

1.0 General

1.1 Introduction

The mission of the USDA Forest Service (FS) is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. To achieve this the Colville National Forest aims to treat 2,000 acres of invasive plants. This project supports the Colville National Forest Land Management Plan objective to treat 2,000 acres of invasive plants per year. This project will take place on the Republic Ranger District of the Border Planning Area.

1.2 Objective

Contractor shall use approved herbicides to treat and kill all invasive plants listed under the attached 2023 Washington State Noxious Weed List on road prisms and mixed landscape features within the Border Planning Area on the Colville National Forest by September 16th, 2023, to meet the Forest’s objectives of treating 2,000 acres of invasives plants per year.

1.3 Scope of Work

The purpose of this solicitation is to secure services including all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals necessary for treating invasive plants with herbicides on specific areas identified on the Colville National Forest.

The objective of this contract is to prevent the spread of invasive plants by creating areas free of undesirable plants along roads, meadow systems, and dispersed campground sites on the Colville National Forest.

The work shall be done in strict compliance with the 2005 Record of Decision for the Pacific Northwest Region Invasive Plant Program Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants EIS, and the terms, specifications, conditions, and provisions.

1.4 Background

Invasive species (including non-native plants, animals, insects, and pathogens in aquatic and terrestrial habitats) do not threaten the capability of the Forest to provide for the desired conditions described throughout the Colville land management plan. Impacts of invasive species are minimized through an integrated approach that emphasizes prevention, early detection, and timely treatment and includes cooperative management with neighbors within affected watersheds. In cooperation with partners, proactive invasive response plans are prepared, or existing plans reviewed to facilitate rapid response to new invasions.

1.5 Type of Contract Contemplated

A single performance-based, firm-fixed-price, Purchase Order contract will be awarded for this requirement.

1.6 Period of Performance (PoP)

The period of performance under this contract will be from the date of award through September 16th, 2023.

Work shall be conducted Monday through Thursday to avoid conflict with the public using the National Forest for recreation opportunities. Treatments will not be conducted during Federal recognized holidays.

1.7 Place(s) of Performance

The application environments are Forest Service and designated private roads, rights-of-way, and ditch lines in the Border Planning Area. Areas identified or designated by the Forest Service may be accessible by motorized vehicles or inaccessible with motorized vehicles which may require back-pack spraying.

1.8 Applicable Documents

Documents included are: 2023 Washington State Noxious Weed List, Colville National Forest Approved Herbicides, Camping Rules and Regulations, R6 Fire Protection and Suppression Plan, Border Planning Site Map, and Pesticide Application Record.

2.0 Specific Requirements/Tasks

The contractor shall provide pesticide application records, maps, photos, or other documents at the request of the COR.

Task Min. Quality

Standard Per Task/Subtask

Measurement Incentive/ Remedy

Submittals Applicator's License, Spray Apparatus, Assessment Plan, Review of Contractor's Plans to verify all required items are addressed.

+ Allow Contractor to proceed with work.

+ Satisfactory performance

Quality Control Plan, Safety Plan, and Spill Plan.

Verify Plans are in compliance with State and Federal regulations and are realistic to implement.

evaluation.

- Suspend performance until all items are addressed.

Mobilization, Work Plan, and Communication

95% Compliance with Contractor's Quality Control Plan and Work Plan. The Government is aware of the Contractor's work schedule 95% of the time.

Compare Work Plan to actions taken by Contractor to mobilize when and to location planned.

COR or Inspector conduct periodic monitoring.

+ Note timeliness and communications on performance evaluation.

- If lack of timely mobilization impacts rest of performance negative performance evaluation may result.

Assessment Plans:

Assessment of species and treatment plan

100% Compliance with Colville's 1998 Environmental Assessment for Integrated Noxious Weed Treatment, Applying Herbicide Correctly and Best Management Practices.

Compare Contractor work plans and documents to site information.

Review Contractor's record of treatment, inspection, and sampling results and perform visual periodic onsite inspections.

+ Allow to mobilize and proceed with application.

- Rework within three days, at no cost to Government.

+ Document results on performance evaluations. Could be positive or negative.

Application and Treatment

Treat all noxious weeds as described according to the application environment they are in and also with the label restrictions for the appropriate selected herbicide.

Post Public Notification Sign.

Gate keys and permits shall be returned at

Visual inspection or random sample plots of treated areas and review of Contractor's Application Records.

In some cases, the Government may have a laboratory analysis be performed to verify herbicide used and amount applied. The Government will

The Contractor's treatment will affect the performance evaluation either positive or negative.

+ 75% payment for Successful completion of work after first visual inspection, or random sample plots.

completion of gated road units.

"Established" Category: 80% mortality or physical signs of treatment.

"New Invaders" Category: 90% mortality or physical signs of treatment.

"Potential Invaders" Category: 100% mortality and treatment. All the species in these two categories MUST have a GPS location and a population density assessment.

“Non-Target Species” -less than 10% collect samples only after application records have been submitted for an area.

Failure to submit application records in a timely manner will further delay payment processing. Payment will be processed only after acceptable laboratory results are returned. Laboratory results should be returned in 14-21 days.

The Contractor or its Authorized representative will be Informed immediately after inspection, if inspection results indicate there is a missed or problem area and rework can be initiated.

Inspections will take place three (3) – seven (7) days after receipt of Contractor's Application Records.

+ The remaining 25% will be approved for payment after four to five weeks when the site is revisited and Minimum Quality Standards are met.

+ The Government may elect to make only one visit to the site and approve payment at 100%.

- Rework after 30 days, at no cost to Government

- Deduction of 1 % for every 1 % below Min. Quality Standard Lab Samples.

- Unacceptable lab results may result in no payment and/or termination and penalties.

- No rework will be permitted.

Mix/Clean Up 100% clean operation during mix and loading 100% clean-up.

Visual inspection of mix/load sites.

Observation of

+ 100% payment for area of work.

+ Note satisfactory mix/load performance.

Verification Clean- Up was performed in accordance with State and Federal Regulations.

performance on past performance documentation.

- Rework within 3 days, at no cost to Government.

- Suspend performance of contract until corrected.

Record Keeping, Inspection and Application Records

Fill out Application Records correctly and timely.

100% Compliance with Washington State regulations 95% Compliance for timely submittal of documents.

Comparison of documents to Contractor's Assessment Plan, Government surveillance of work, and State Regulations.

+ Approve payment in full for work performed.

- Rejection of work, until Contractor Application Records are corrected within three (3) days of returning logs to the Contractor.

Quality Control Contractor maintains good quality control on all aspects of operation.

Actions not Consistent with contract specifications are corrected per Contractor's QCP.

Acceptable Quality Level is: All deficiencies are corrected 98 % of the time.

COR or Government Technical Monitor (GTM) randomly observe 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 and result in adverse performance evaluation.

3.0 Contractor Quality Assurance

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.

1. Government Quality Assurance Inspection: The Government will, at its convenience, make periodic inspections of the work to assure itself of contract compliance and to perform Quality Assurance Inspections to determine and confirm that the Contractor is performing quality control in accordance with its QCP and that Contractor monitoring results in quality performance of contract objectives.

2. The Government reserves the right to inspect all equipment, material and supplies prior to starting work for suitability; the decision of the Contracting Officer as to acceptability, shall be final.

3. Once Application Records are received by the Government, the COR/GTM will visit a few randomly selected spray sites to confirm that pesticides have been properly applied.

The following items will be inspected at randomly selected spray sites, properly filled out Application Record forms and evidence that pesticides have been applied properly such as wilting plants. Contractors will be required to: rework an area at their cost when inspection indicates no pesticides were applied and redo forms not filled out correctly.

4. The Government will do a visual inspection to make sure the Contractor is in compliance with the specifications and proceeding satisfactory.

5. Acceptance: Acceptance of the work under the contract will be made after steps in 1.

above have been taken and the Contracting Officer has made the determination of satisfactory compliance with the specifications. For acceptance purposes, complete application records as defined above and/or visual inspection shall be satisfactorily completed before acceptance will be made. Acceptance will not be made for segments broken by unacceptable portions of work.

6. Rework: When inspections indicate that the performance objectives were not met, the work will be deemed unsatisfactory and payment will not be made until the Contractor has assured the Government that its Quality Control measures have corrected the deficiencies. Inspections after rework will be made in the same manner as the first inspection. The cost to the government for inspections necessitated by the rework will be deducted from any payments to the Contractor.

4.0 Delivery or Deliverables

Delivery of approximately 628 acres of treated land by contract completion date.

5.0 Meetings

The contractor shall meet with Forest Service employees prior to initiating work to receive required documents and equipment and discuss any areas of relevance to the project.

6.0 Required Travel and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

All travel costs, unless otherwise specified, are the responsibility of the Contractor.

7.0 Special Instructions

See special requirements/tasks table listed above.

8.0 Government Furnished Property/Equipment/Information

The Forest Service will provide the following item(s) listed below in Table 2 of Government property to the Contractor for use in the performance of this contract. This property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor and returned to the Contracting Officer when the Project is completed and accepted.

Table 2

Government Furnished Property

Item Description Where, When, How Project Maps Maps of the project area with access roads.

Attach to this contract.

Site specific field maps Maps that show the sites for rare plants or other areas to avoid conflict with other resources.

Provided to the Contractor at the post award meeting.

Access behind locked gates Some areas may be behind Forest Road closures (locked gates). The Government will provide access through locked gates unless walk-ins are required. The Contractor will be required to return keys prior to final payment.

During period unit is being treated. Location and time for delivery will be agreed to as these items are necessary.

The key will be provided at the pre-work meeting

Signs Signs to Post Treatment Areas. Will be provided to the contractor at post award meeting. Will be posted at the beginning and end of each treated road segment.