12363N25Q4268 Amendment 2.pdf

(x)

12363N25Q4268 x x

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 electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 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 letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

363N

WASHINGTON DC 20250-1138

MS-1138

1400 INDEPENDENCE AVE SW

USDA-FS STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTING BR

09/24/20250002

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

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

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

09/24/2025

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

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

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

This amendment:

1) Extends due date for offers from 10/21/2025 to 10/30/2025 at 11:00 am Central Time

2) Answers questions regarding solicitation.

All other terms and conditions of solicitation remain unchanged.

Period of Performance: 11/06/2025 to 10/30/2026

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

CYNTHIA G. HORWITZ

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

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

Questions and Answers for RFQ 12363N25Q4268 Amendment 2

Question 1: The amendment states that the “contractor shall mulch all cedars 4 inches and larger,” and then goes on to specify that the contractor will “knock down, delimb, leaving trunk on the ground. So that only the stump is mulched ground level”

Could you please clarify whether this requires mulching the entire tree—including limbs and stump—or if the intent is to knock down the tree, delimb, and leave the material on the ground, with only the stump mulched at ground level?

Answer 1: There are 2 different specifications, one for chainsaw and one for mulching.

Chainsaw: Cedars 6 feet in height and above will be cut (sawed) from the stump leaving the stump no higher than 8 inches above ground level on uphill side of the tree stump. The cut cedar will have the limbs lopped for trunk of cedar to lay within 2 feet of ground or lower. Cedar that are cut will not be left leaning on or hanging in other trees.

Mulching: Contractor shall mulch all cedar 4 inches and larger (DBH). The stump must be mulched to ground level. Cedar will be removed (cut/mulched) from stump, knocked down and delimbed so the main trunk of cedar lay flat on ground, not stacked, crisscrossed or piled on top of one another. The main trunk of the cedar does not need to be mulched into chips. No material (limbs, trunks, etc.) needs to be removed from the area. All material will be left in the woods.

Q2: Do you know the size range (height, diameter) of the trees needing dropped? If dropped, is it flush cut finish or 24" stumps? Are they to be removed from the forest by us or left on the ground?

A2: See response to Answer 1.

Q3: If using a mulcher, does the mulch need to be removed?

A3: If using a mulcher, the limbs from main trunk need to be removed so main trunk of cedar lay flat on ground, not stacked, crisscrossed or piled on top of one another. The main trunk of the cedar does not need to be mulched into chips. No material (limbs, trunks, etc.) needs to be removed from the area. All material will be left in the woods.

Q4: What is the timeline for starting and completion of the project?

A4: See solicitation; completion date is 30 October, 2026.

12363N25Q4268 Ozark-St. Francis NF Mt. Magazine RD Cedar Removal Page 2 of 7

Q5: Is there an incumbent for this if so could you provide an award amount and or contract number/name.

A5: There is no incumbent.

Q6: May we use any subcontractors past experience or performance for our bid?

A6: Yes.

Q7: Is there any information available on the size and density of the cedars within the treatment area?

A7: Size and density depend on area. See response to A22 and A23 below.

Q8: Is there an upper limit in the diameter of the cedars to be cut or is it any and all cedars?

A8: No upper limit in the diameter of cedars to be cut. Any and all cedars will be cut.

Q9: If hand cutting, what is the minimum diameter of tree that needs to be cut?

A9: 6 feet in height and above. Not using diameter for hand cutting.

Q10: Is there any information or recent imagery on the average density and diameter of the stems to be cut in the treatment areas?

A10: See responses to A22 and A23.

Q11: Could you please confirm if we can visit the site independently, or if there are any required documents we need to carry for the visit?

A11: You may visit independently. No documents are required.

Q12: The solicitation states 600 acres. Do we have an estimate on the cedar tree density on those 600 acres?

A12: See response to A22 and A23.

12363N25Q4268 Ozark-St. Francis NF Mt. Magazine RD Cedar Removal Page 3 of 7

Q13: The solicitation states several times debris is to be removed, is that including mulch from the branches and tops of the cedar trees?

A13: No, chips from mulching branches and tops do not need to be removed. Debris refers to larger limbs, tops, trunks, and stumps that are left as a result of cutting a cedar.

Removing refers to removing those aforementioned debris from wing ditches, trails, roadways, energy right-of-ways, wildlife openings, streams, gates, base of residual trees, etc.

Q14: Solicitation states chainsaw felling and delimbing. Is there a limitation to machinery? Or is it a strict no heavy machinery contract?

A14: Mulching equipment can be used. Mulching has different specifications than chainsaw felling. See response to A1.

Q15: The solicitation only specifies cedars over 4 inch DBH must be cut not more than 8 inches above the ground, and the remaining material left on site to be processed in a manner that leaves the material no more than 2 feet from the ground. That’s not removal, can you clarify if we are just doing a lop and scatter, a full removal of all cedar wood, or a mix of both? If it is a full removal do you have any preferred biomass plants or paper mills the small material can be hauled to?

A15: Removal means cut from stump. It will be a lop and scatter operation for both chainsaw and mulching. No material needs to be removed from contract area.

Q16: What would be the upper size limits on trees to be removed/cut, the only info we have is a minimum size.

A16: See response to A8.

Q17: Are there any work windows or weather related shut downs we should know about?

A17: See Page 4, Section 5.0 of solicitation for work windows.

Q18: If removal is required is there a preference to the methods used? Examples of methods we commonly use are: cable skidding or grapple skidding material into 1 or more large “central” landings, then using various methods of our choosing to process

12363N25Q4268 Ozark-St. Francis NF Mt. Magazine RD Cedar Removal Page 4 of 7 the material into loads shipped off site by truck, using a “forwarder” type machine to lift and transport material instead of drag skidding to the landing(s), chip all material at the location it is felled and broadcasting the wood chips evenly across the property as ground cover, chipping into multiple small piles scattered across the property, piling all material into multiple small piles in safe locations to burn at a later time, or “lop and scatter” all material across the property, no more than 2ft above grade?

A18: See response to A15.

Q19: Are there any environmental concerns other than the known and marked water courses?

A19: No other environmental concerns known to exist within the contract area. If any environmental concerns are identified, please notify the COR immediately.

Q20: Any special insurance requirements other than the federal minimums?

A20: No.

Q21: Any site specific training or education we would need to have before start of work?

A21: No site specific training or education required.

Q22: What percentage of the area within this contract was previously timbered or harvested?

A22: The timber sale that was completed approximately 3 years ago and included roughly 225-275 acres that overlap with the cedar contract area. So, of the 600 acre cedar contract area, about 35-45% of the cedar area was thinned during the commercial timber sale with all merchantable cedar removed via the timber sale.

Q23: What is the average DBH of the contract area?

A23: For the areas that have been timbered in the past 3 years, those units were thinned to approximately 70 (BA) basal area. For the areas outside of the timber area, they are going to be upwards of 120-150 BA. This BA estimate is for all tree species, not just cedar.

12363N25Q4268 Ozark-St. Francis NF Mt. Magazine RD Cedar Removal Page 5 of 7

Q24: Is it ok to fall trees into a road?

A24: Yes, if that is the only way to get the tree down safely, as long as they are promptly removed, do not hinder traffic flow, do not cause damage to the road, and are pulled back within the timberline and out of the road edge ditch. Also, some roads have a pipeline right-of-way running down the edge; same tree felling rules apply and the tree must be removed from the right-of-way corridor.

Q25: How rocky is the area?

A25: Relatively speaking the area is not real rocky. There are some larger rocks that should be obvious in the woods, but again, be cautious because there are rocks that could be covered by briars or falling down debris. Also, banks along roads, streams and openings will most likely have rocks and debris that could cause damage to machines and saws.

Q26: Are there any specific dates or times we will not be permitted to work?

A26: The solicitation lists the schedule with specific dates. Work can be conducted during weekends and holidays. The only time not permitted to conduct work operations is from dusk to daylight, no night operating.

Q27: Are UTVs/ATVs allowed to be used to drive through the woods to drop off fuel or equipment to works or if something breaks down way off the main trails/roads?

A27: It is acceptable to use a UTV/ATV to run fuel back and forth to workers, to drop people off at the point where they are starting or picking people up where they are stopping or to work on broken equipment. Please do not make specific trails and keep use of UTVs/ATVs off the main trails and roads to a minimum.

Q28: Is there a specific payment schedule?

A28: No. Invoices may be submitted no more frequently than every two weeks, and they will be approved as quickly as possible as long as the work being invoiced for has been inspected and accepted as satisfactory.

12363N25Q4268 Ozark-St. Francis NF Mt. Magazine RD Cedar Removal Page 6 of 7

Q29: Is there any money needed upfront before the contractor can begin work?

A29: No.

12363N25Q4268 Ozark-St. Francis NF Mt. Magazine RD Cedar Removal Page 7 of 7