1224H819R0002_Q&A_05282019.docx

Solicitation Number: 1224H819R0002

Allegheny National Forest Non-Native Invasive Plant Treatment IDIQ

Addendum 3 – Questions and Answers 5/28/2019

1. Question – HP Item is openings?

Answer – HP – is herbaceous perennials – for this year’s task order it is Japanese knotweed, which includes a cutting treatment by June 15, and then subsequent herbicide treatment or re-sprouting stems before stems are greater than 5 feet in height: by July 1st.

2. Question – Are there going to be more task orders issued this year?

Answer – No, based on scheduling and personnel resources available this year it is highly unlikely any other task orders will be issued this fiscal year.

3. Question – Are hack and squirt treatments included in cut-surface?

Answer – Yes, under section “294 - Techniques such as cut stem, hack and squirt and wet blade cutting/application may be used” for cut-surface treatments depending on site/task order.

4. Question – Are mastication treatments in forest edges/roadsides only?

Answer - Mastication treatments may be in other areas such as managed wildlife openings, or where there is more access available and where there is less non-target damage likely to occur.

5. Question – I read where boats may be required?

Answer – Yes, in Item 21A and 21B – treatments along and within large rivers/streams like the Allegheny, Clarion and Tionesta creek (for example), there are islands/riparian areas that may be ordered for treatment where access is only by boat. These sites may be ordered within the 5 years of this contract.

6. Question – Please discuss/compare Item 1A &1B to Item 6A & 6B to 11A &11B within forested areas in terms of manual foliar versus cut surface treatments?

Answer –

· Items 1A (Lower Rate of infestation) and 1B (Higher Rate of Infestation) are areas where the manual foliar treatments or treatments of all target plants is limited to 5 feet in height and that is the primary mode of treatment, if cut-surface treatment is needed within the site, it compromises less than 50% of the site in total item area. Section 249 of the contract specifications lists “Techniques such as cut stem, hack and squirt and wet blade cutting/application may be used” for cut-surface treatments depending on site/task order.

· In Item 6A (Lower Rate of Infestation) and 6B (Higher Rate of Infestation) are the opposite so to speak, where cut surface herbicide application of woody plants greater than 5 feet in height is the primary mode of treatment, if manual foliar treatment on plants less than 5 feet in height is needed within the site, it compromises less than 50% of the site in total item area.

· In Item 11A (Lower Rate of Infestation) and 11B (Higher Rate of Infestation) Both Manual Foliar and Cut Surface Herbicide Application is needed across the site, in Item 11 it is not easy to ascertain if manual foliar or cut surface is at the 50% threshold, so they are considered to be needed across the entire site somewhat equally.

7. Question – On Item 21A and 21B, if there was Japanese knotweed on the islands along with other target species, how would that be listed in the task order?

Answer – Japanese Knotweed would be listed separated under 20 HP as well as listing the island under Item 21A or 21B, because of the cutting and then spraying that Japanese knotweed requires versus the other target species.