Hume Basin IRSC Site Visit Notes.pdf

Forest Service Questions and Answers Hume Basin IRSC Site Visit - February 5th 2026

General Q1: What are the chances of the optional units and work being funded?

• The first 1,400 acres—high

• For other stewardship activities, not likely

• The priority is thinning from below. The fuels reduction component would be completed to the fullest extent possible afterwards.

Q2: Is the funding for the entire span of the project coming from one pot of money or is the Forest Service looking to bring in more funding during subsequent years?

• The funding is from one pot of money; the project should not exceed 2 years.

Q3: Do you have to complete each item one by one in order?

• The order is as follows: Item 1 to 2, to 3, and then 4.

Q:4 What is marked in general across the project area?

• Hazard trees and sanitation trees in HT units that USFS personnel want to be removed for sanitation. All other harvest trees are designated using DxP. Unit boundaries are virtual except for boundaries along private property which are marked with orange paint.

Q5: Is there any sanitation done inside the plantation units like there is in the hazard tree units?

• No.

Q6: Is 20 tons per load the default count?

• Yes.

Q7: What are the chances of an executive order increasing the 20” DBH limits on the national monument?

• Not likely for this project.

Volume, Timber Subject to Approval, Material to remove Volume

Q8: Does the 3.5 million board feet include what comes from the optional units?

• The 3.5 million is only coming from the mandatory work.

Q9: How was the 26,000 tons of cull material estimated? Where is the cull material in the project area?

• Most of the cull material is within the Hazard Tree units; this was estimated using a Sample Tree (STR) method for both live and dead strata.

Q11: Can you send the project timber cruise information?

• https://usfs.app.box.com/folder/362684794944

Q12: What was the error margin on the timber cruise?

• There was a 30-40% error for Thin/Thin from below units; the error for the Hazard Tree strata is 200%.

Q13: For the optional work, is it the most likely scenario that the units in need of the most piling/fuels reduction be awarded first over the optional plantation units that are more valuable and less costly? Should bidding be based on the expectation that the more costly units will be prioritized?

• Bidding should assume that units in excess of 40 tons per acre -AFTER the initial cut/skid/deck/haul - should be prioritized when awarding optional items.

Q14: Is it expected that pre-existing debris, including down logs, will be yarded?

• No, not unless the unit has been awarded as an optional item.

Timber Subject to Approval Q15: What is meant by Timber Subject to Approval? Is this referring to what product is in the optional work items?

• TSA is the cull logs and all other excess material that is not included in the mandatory haul.

Q16: If a bidder does not put a price on the Timber Subject to Approval, does that detract from the bidder proposal in the eyes of the Forest Service?

https://usfs.app.box.com/folder/362684794944

• Yes. Since the Forest Service plans on awarding some optional items, a per unit bid price should be entered; this is a thinning project for the purpose of fuels reduction.

The number of units may change, i.e. negotiated, but the desired future condition of completed units does involve the potential for machine piling and biomass removal/haul).

Q17: If you don’t put a price down on the Timber Subject to Agreement, can it be negotiated later?

• This can be included in technical proposal and the amount negotiated later.

Volume Caps Q18: Are Items 1 and 3 capped at volume removal target? The schedule notes on page 4 of Solicitation have conflicting information. Note #5 says Items 1 and 3 are capped (meaning price is locked in) but Note #6 says Item 3 is not capped. Nowhere else does it say that they are or not capped, including the Schedule of Items.

• This was an error in the Solicitation document. There should be sufficient funds for the mandatory items. If for some reason funds run out while accomplishing the mandatory items then YES the buyer would have an Anti Deficiency claim.

Q19: Can you explain the caps on tons to remove in Item 1?

• There isn’t a cap on tons to remove in Mandatory items.

Material to move Q20: Is it expected that all logs greater than 6 inches size class and 10 feet in length are removed to a landing?

• For mandatory work, all logs that are cut shall be moved to a landing.

• For optional work, that will be everything else that meets the piece requirements.

Q21: Is the sub-merchantable material in any units (0-9.9 inches size class) lumped with the optional work? Will these trees be cut in any bid items?

• The contractor will not be required to cut additional trees in optional item 4, with the exception of SMZ’s, or when creating additional piling locations.

• This material will be left standing; sub merchantable material that is existing and generated by contractor operations will be YUMD 6” and 10’.

Q22: Is mandatory removal spread across mandatory units?

• Yes

Q23: Is it expected that pre-existing debris, including down logs, will be yarded?

• No, existing downed logs will not be yarded. We would look to award optional item 4 to address downed logs.

Q24: Do logs already down (not cut) get piled in optional work?

• In optional Item 3, No. In Optional Items 4, yes.

Item 1.1—Rec Residence Unit 143

Q25: Are the trees marked in the cabin units?

• No trees are marked in these units. The unit is Designation by Prescription.

Q26: Is the contractor expected to thin around powerlines?

• Yes. Hazard trees near PG&E powerlines should have already been cut by PG&E.

However, PG&E does not thin the areas surrounding these low voltage powerlines.

Q27: What kind of support will the ranger district provide for working near cabins and the camps? Will LEOs and patrols be around? Can there be cabin closures?

• The contractor may stop traffic on roads that felling is occurring nearby. Same as the traffic control mentioned in the Solicitation. The COR will be present.

Q28: What is meant by unknown and unmarked infrastructure?

• See Solicitation “Notes Section”

Q29: Who is responsible for damages?

• If the contractor negatively impacts infrastructure within 5 ft. of either side of a marked improvement, the damage will be the contractor’s responsibility.

• If the contractor negatively impacts an unmarked improvement, the damage will be the responsibility of the Forest Service- unless the damage is egregious or malicious.

Q30: Are the cabins on septic?

• Yes, the cabins have a septic system.

Q31: Are waterlines buried? How deep?

• Yes, these lines are buried, these lines are buried between 6”-18”. The known water lines will be flagged prior to implementation.

Q32: How many cabins are within the unit?

• There are 46 cabins within the unit.

Q33: Are cabins open all year? When do lessees have access to cabins seasonally?

Summer?

• Water is shut off during the winter, allowed access year around, majority access outside of winter, power will remain on.

Q34: Can you provide a map of the cabins?

• A map will be provided on award; the Forest Service encourages contracts to thoroughly walk the site.

Item 4

Q35: For the SMZ work in Item 4, what is the min and max size class for hand piling and what distances to piles need to be from channels?

• For vegetative debris greater than 3 feet long, the max diameter will be 16 inches (on the large end).

• The minimum diameter is 1 inch, and the maximum diameter is 16 inches in diameter outside bark.

• Piles shall not be located within 25ft. of a stream bank unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR.

Q37: Are we treating within SMZ’s? They are not included on the CAM but are mentioned in the contract.

• We are treating SMZs throughout the entire contract area.

Resources Q38: How significant is the archeology component in the project area?

• There is a moderate to low significance of archeological sites in the contract.

What are the expectations for work around archeology sites in terms of cutting and removing material?

• For smaller sites, all contract specs should be adhered to.

• For larger sites, the successful contractor will coordinate with the COR and District

Archeologist to develop a feasible logging plan for the site. The contractor will not be required to end lined or suspend logs that are unreachable with a shovel.

Access, road closures, miscellaneous

Which roads are plowed?

• None.

Do you expect active road control on FS roads?

• Yes, the contractor is responsible.

What kind of closures can the contractor make on Tenmile Road (13S09)?

• Road closures should not exceed 30 minutes along Tenmile Road (13S09).

Is Tenmile Road open year-round? What is access like throughout the year—gates, snow, traffic?

• Tenmile Road is open year-round. Access is difficult during winter months particularly along the southern stretch below Quail Flat.

Who manages the Hume Lake Road between Hume Lake and HW 180?

• Caltrans

Are there any weight restrictions on roads and bridges for heavy equipment entry and logging trucks?

• No. The roads and bridges in this project were constructed to support heavy machinery for logging and construction operations.

What roads will the Forest Service be filming on?

• The conditions of all paved roads in the project will be recorded before operations begin.

Are there any limitations on working hours during the day?

• Hauling is not permitted on weekends and holidays, other work is not restricted.