RockCreek_PreBid_Questions_07072022_Amend_0001.pdf

Rock Creek IRSC Pre-Bid Meeting Questions

Santa Fe National Forest, Cuba Ranger District

July 7th, 2022

Forest Service Personnel: Patrick Petracca (District Ranger, provided introduction), Gennaro Falco (Forestry Program Manager), Paul Martinez (Supervisory Forester), Eduardo Cortez (Presale Forester), Alfred Garcia (Timber Sale Administrator), and Jay Williams (RO Stewardship Coordinator).

Questions:

1. Is there a table with unit volumes?

A summary of included timber volumes by unit are provided in Appendix B. See Schedule of Payment Units table on 3 of 26 in Appendix B.

2. Why are volumes for Units 1 & 2 not shown in the tables?

No volumes are provided for Units 1 and 2 as there was no included timber provided and therefore no corresponding timber cruise.

3. Do we know the volumes in the Cut, Skid, and Deck units?

The Government does not have a volume estimate to provide for the Cut, Skid, and Deck Service Item.

The Unit of Measure for this Item is ACRE.

4. On the Cut, Skid, and Deck units, what is the timeline? Or the “X” amount of acres per year to complete? The 1st year? Etc.

Please refer to the Solicitation - 51. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF OFFERS AND OTHER INFORMATION. The timeline is open ended and should be described in the technical proposal. However, the intent from the Forest Service, was that the Contractor would plan to complete the Cut, Skid, and Deck within the first 2 years of the contract and use this work to accrue Stewardship Credits.

5. Are the public allowed to come out and cut on the decks while the logging occurs in the CSD units? (Theodore P.)

No, the Forest Service would no allow fuelwood cutters to access any material generated by the Cut, Skid, and Deck until the work is completed and units are closed.

6. On the road work, is there not an actual road engineering package?

For Item 5: Road Repair, the technical specifications for this service item are included in Appendix A.

Also see Attachment II which provides Best Management Practices for this Service Item.

7. Is there a cost estimate on the road work?

The Forest Service has an Independent Government Estimate which is used when evaluating bids however this information is confidential and not shared with the Contractors. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to provide a bid price in response to the RFQ.

8. What happens with the public traffic and road maintenance? How about on FR 103?

Public Use Roads related to this Contract include FR 103, FR 69, FR 126W, and FR 264 up to the Red Fern Cabin. Of these roads FR 264 and FR 126W are the only segments that have during-haul maintenance requirements. FR 103 and FR69 only have post-haul maintenance specifications assigned, therefore ‘commensurate with use’ is no applicable as it is a one-time service item that should not be impacted by public traffic on the roadways.

Road maintenance specifications are provided in Appendix A and Appendix C. During haul road maintenance is commensurate with use by the Contractor. The Forest Service does not intend to close any roads from public use (i.e., FR264 and FR126W). Contractors should bid accordingly.

9. On the volumes, Unit 1 and 2 are not included?

No timber cruise was conducted for Units 1, 2, or 7a as these are service-only units (Item 2: Cut, Skid, and Deck) and the unit of measure for acceptance and payment is ACRES and not in volume.

10. What are the slash requirements?

Slash requirements are found in Appendix A (For Item 2: Cut, Skid, and Deck) and in Appendix B (see CT6.7#) for Included Timber Units.

11. How big are the piles expected to be? Maximum size?

See Appendix B – CT6.7# for requirements on slash.

12. Regarding the NMDOT permit, is that required by the contractor?

See Appendix C for information regarding required permits. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to obtain all necessary permits from NMDOT, County, and/or Local governments to safely haul material away from the project area.

13. Does the Forest Service not have an easement onto Hwy 126? Why does the contractor need to get a permit? They need to know this so that they can figure it out what they need to get.

Are they going to require flagmen on the Hwy?

The Contractor will be required to follow all State and Local laws related to hauling on HWY126 and other non-FS roads. Contact NMDOT for requirements for use of the Highway and related safety measures (e.g., necessary signage).

14. Do you need a permit to get on the Hwy?

Contact NMDOT for all permit related questions. The NMDOT communicated with the Forest Service that they will require the Contractor to have a Work Permit. This would include detailing a plan for signage and other safety measures related to trucks turning onto the highway.

15. The CSD units have a 6ft tall limit on the decks?

Yes, please reference Appendix A for Technical Specifications related to Decks. The intent is to keep decks no taller than 6’ so they can be safely utilized by the public for firewood collection. This will mean shorter but larger decks across the units and should be considered when developing a bid.

16. When bringing in material for road work, is there a specification on the material type, etc?

Can it be borrowed fill material?

Appendix A and Appendix C do not specify the type of material for road maintenance and road repair. In general, the preference would be to utilize and develop existing material within the road template. Pit run or base course material brought into the Contract Area would also be sufficient.

17. Are we going to have 300ft specs on the spacing for deck locations, etc.?

Due to the height requirements on decks (see Appendix A), the Contracting Officer Representative would work with the Contractor to designate landing sites. Depending on the quantity of material generated by the Cut, Skid, and Deck service item, distance between decks may vary and be less than the normal 300’ BMP.

18. What is the max DBH to be cut?

The maximum tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) to be cut in this contract is 23.9”.

19. Anything not marked goes?

All units (except 7A) within the Contract are designated as Leave Tree Mark (Orange Paint), so yes, any tree 6.0” DBH or larger shall be either Cut, Skid, and Decked or removed as Included Timber (See Appendix A and Appendix B). Unit 7A is designated as a Cut Tree Mark (Blue Paint). In Unit 7A all designated (Painted) trees shall be Cut, Skid, and Decked.

20. Is the FR 264 washed out where it crosses the SMZ?

Service items related to FR 264 include Road Maintenance and Additional Road Repair (Optional Item).

There are segments along FR264 that may require road repair in addition to maintenance to meet end-result objectives. Contractors are encouraged to walk FR264 to provide an accurate quote for service items assigned. Also see Appendix A and Appendix C.

21. What happens if the contractor needs an extension on this contract after 5 years?

Based on the consensus of feedback from Field Trip attendees, and concerns around the Contract Term being too short – this was based generally around the Seasonal Wildlife Restrictions in Unit 4 and Unit 7/7a, the Forest Service will amend the solicitation to extend the term of the Contract from 5 years to 7 years.

22. What are the insect requirements regarding decks? Is there a 30 day timeframe for removal/hauling?

See Appendix B for Timber Removal Tree Measurement Specifications. The timeline for removing material related to insect (bark beetles) is 30 days.

23. Would hauling be restricted on the PFA timing restriction?

Yes, unless waived in writing by the Contracting Officer.

24. Is cattleguard installation a service item or requirement?

No, this was originally considered as a service item but has since been removed from the contract.

25. Is cattleguard cleaning in the T-Specs?

Please see Appendix C for Road Maintenance Specifications. Cattleguards exist on FR 103 and FR 264.

Post-haul maintenance does include T-812 for these roads (see description of work in T-812).

26. Are culverts required to be installed?

Installation of Culverts have not been identified as a work item related to this contract. However, see Appendix C for T-specs and requirements on existing culverts.

27. Is there an option to use FR 103 to haul out towards Coyote?

Currently FR103 is listed a Haul Restricted on the Contract Area Map. To haul on FR103 would require a formal modification with the Contracting Officer.

28. Is escalation part of this contract?

The Contract does not have escalation on timber rates.

29. When submitting the bids, do you submit through SAM.gov?

Prices and Technical Proposals should be submitted directly to the Contracting Officer. In the event you are the successful bidder, the award will be made through SAM.gov.

30. If cut skid and deck units are done first, credits are earned so that no deposits would need to be made?

The Cut, Skid, and Deck Units may be completed to earn stewardship credits which can count against Included Timber.

31. The road access seems just fine to haul out of unit 4 from 126Y onto the highway. If you have line of sight from sitting high up in the log truck, you can see up over that big dirt bank would it be okay to haul off of?

FR 126Y is listed as Haul Restricted on the Contract Area Map due to concerns from NM DOT. If a Contractor wished to use this road they would need to obtain permission from NM DOT and then a formal modification to the Contract could be negotiated with the Contracting Officer. Otherwise, the Contract Area Map shows preferred temporary access points to the Highway.

32. So will most of these units need to be winter logged then because of timing restriction on all of unit 4, 7, and 7a.

Units 4, 7, and 7A all have seasonal wildlife restrictions and work shall be done outside of that period. As a result of feedback on this, the solicitation will be amended to extend the contract term.