A001_11. Cedar Creek IRSC_Site Visit.pdf

Cedar Creek IRSC contractor meeting notes

The agenda:

Friday August 9, 0900-1300.

0900- Meet at Middle Fork Ranger Station in Westfir, OR. Introduction of Project Staff and Project Brief.

0930- Drive up to the 24 road (Salmon Creek Road) to look at the project.

1000- Arrive at Stop 1- Junction of 2400 and 2409 roads. Discuss all work. Discuss road reconstruction work.

1045- Depart for Stop 2- Junction of 2400 and 1934 roads.

1050- Arrive Stop 2- Junction of the 2400 and 1934 roads. Discuss hazard tree removal and slash removal work requirements.

1135- Depart for Stop 3- Aquatic Restoration Log Decks off the 2409

1150- Arrive Stop 3- Aquatic Restoration Log Decks off the 2409. Discuss fish log requirements, resource protection measures, suppression repair.

1230- Close-out

1300- Depart from Stop 3. Travel safe on your way out. Thanks for coming.

Attendance List:

Jeff Brinks of Brinks Land Improvement

Mike O’Malley of O’Malley Bros. Corp.

Todd Pannell of Billetes Roads

Gabriel Sotela and Holden Smith of Red Flag Fire Protection

Michael Marr of Emery & Sons Contruction LLC

Corey Bingaman from American Forest Resource Council

Note that additional contractors were in attendance, at least three additional contractor vendors.

First the contractors expressed strong concerns over safety, need to see equipment leave the road to provide for operator safety. Machines keep people cutting the trees safe. Hand falling the hazard trees is very dangerous. Contractors expressed concerns that their safety is not being taken into account enough in project design, in this case sending people out to hand fall trees is very dangerous and they want to protect their people by having them work from machines.

The second main concern is that operating season is much too short. Operating season for this contract is restricted from May 31 to September 15. The are Northern Spotted Owl restrictions in many units that further restrict the season from July 15 to September 15, a two month operating period. During this time, contractors have to deal with fire season and IFPL shutdowns. The financial risk undertaken by contractors is enormous and uncertain when operating season is so short, and that operating season is during fire season, leading to a situation where there is not guarantee they will be able to operate at all. The contractors relayed that they would like to maximize their operating season to the fullest extent possible to get this work done as soon as possible. Add to that financial risk the fact that the wood has been burned for two years now, the timber is of unknown, likely low value. And the timber value is decreasing as time goes on. Add to that the condition of the pulp and wood markets seems to be deteriorating, adding to financial risk as time goes on.

It was noted that a large portion of the project was set up for wet weather work and wet weather haul. This work requires that pre-haul and pre-implementation work take place before September

15. This contract will likely be awarded after September 15 2024. The contractors stated they would like to be able to work into October to complete the rock placement before the rains come. This will allow winter work to continue. The contractors think it is essential that work commence this fall to capture any remaining value in the wood.

Contractors thought that the Cedar IRSC contract is too big overall. They would like to see this work broken up into smaller contracts.

Contractors were encouraged to submit their questions in writing throughout the field trip so that answers are clear and documented.

Contractors expressed concerns over previous contract where answers during field trips and pre-bod meetings were different than answers during implementation. Again we encouraged them to submit questions in writing.

Contractors expressed concerns about there being a lot of gaps between units on a road. In those gaps there are still hazard trees that present a safety concern to their workers doing work and driving through. They thought they might need to account for that cost to fall hazard trees in work areas that are outside of hazard tree removal units. This could lead to discrepancies in contractors accounting for this work in their bids.

Contractors expressed concern over slash piling requirements on steep slopes, stating that up to 1/3 of the project may be in areas that are too steep to pile slash.

Contractors asked if there were any on forest rock sources or if they were to obtain gravel from a commercial source. For this contract, the successful offeror will have to use commercially available and sourced gravel.