C05 1240BF26Q0035 Questions and Response to solicitation.pdf

Solicitation 1240BF26Q0035 Hazard Tree Questions and Response

1) Will pics and questions get released to all potential bidders?

a) Government response: Yes, the FS will send list of questions, pictures and answers to Raymond Padgett, contracting officer (CO).

2) Mike Hackett, government representative, asked how many contractors have looked at the region 6 hazard tree solicitation documents. About 6 people raised their hand and Hackett encouraged them to look over that document thoroughly.

3) Will this be multiple awards or 1 contract?

a) Government response: This will be 1 contract with optional items.

4) What do we want to do with the trees once on the ground?

a) Government response: Deck the Merch timber and pile other to be cut for firewood or burn. Want decks on the road but other piles do not need to be near the road.

5) If a tree is not likely to strike the road does it need to be cut?

a) Government response: No, if it is not likely to hit the road, does not need to be cut. Cut distance is no more than 150 ft on downslope side and 200 ft on upslope side.

6) What is the size chunks for trees to be decked or piled? If tree breaks apart into small chunks what needs to be moved to decks?

a) Government response: Will need to work closely with COR, but in areas where there is not a lot of trees, contractors can limb and leave. If there are a lot of trees, then need to be piled or decked.

7) In areas where there are existing hand piles, what needs to be done to protect piles?

a) Government response: Will need to start in areas where there are not piles and the piles will be burned this fall and should be able to move into those areas after piles are burned.

8) Maximum debris height requirements?

a) Government response: see paragraph 2.2.3.4 Performance work statement states 18”

9) Do tops need to be piled and what size needs to be topped?

a) Government response: Minimum 6-inch top height will need to be piled. PWS paragraph 2.2.2.12

10) Is trucking/skidding or moving logs required?

a) Government response: There may be some trucking/skidding required up to ½ mile. Can make piles along the road as they move along the road. Coordination with the COR will be required to determine deck areas. Deck areas are not pre-established on a map. Merch decks will need to be close to road and burn piles do not need to be close to road.

11) Question was asked about what the wet season restrictions are.

a) Government response: See the PWS. Contractors can work on top of snow, but there are restrictions when it’s the rainy season.

12) Who makes the decision on what is merch wood, firewood or burn pile?

a) Government response: Contractor decides what merch wood is.

13) Will removal off site be in this contract?

a) Government response: It will be a separate contract.

14) How do the bids for required and option items need to be done?

a) Government response: Will need to read the solicitation and submit bids by mile for both required and optional.

15) Can roads be closed?

a) Government response: Need to maintain public access but can have up to 30 min closures. See PWS paragraph 2.1.6.7

16) Question about location of riparian zones?

a) Government response: A map will be provided to the contractor after award, to show locations and areas where trees were planted.

17) Where terrain allows, are they allowed to leave the road?

a) Government response: Yes, up to 35% slope, see PWS paragraph 2.1.2.4

18) Is tethering allowed?

a) Government response: Yes

19) What needs to be done with the already down logs. Does the contractor need to move it?

a) Government response: The existing downed material does not need to be moved by this contract, unless something is dislodged and in the road, then it will need to be moved off the road.

20) High stumps? Are they allowed?

a) Government response: Stump height is 12 inches, unless they need to be left higher for stabilization or safety concerns.

21) If trees are felled land out of the 200 ft, does it need to be moved?

a) Government response: No, if it falls more than 200 ft, it does not need to be moved or limbed.

22) Question about leaving some trees on the ground and what can be left.

a) Government response: 10 trees per acre need to be left where felled, whole and not bucked preferred. Preference is largest trees to be left on the ground.

23) Can the contractor leave a bridge over a creek?

a) Government response: Yes, bridges are fine to leave as long as no safety concerns.

24) If a tree is 210 feet tall outside of the 200 ft away from road, does it need to be cut?

a) Government response: No. Distance is also 200 feet horizontal, not vertical?

25) Is the contract a fixed completion date?

a) Government response: Yes, the contract needs to be completed by October 2028 The period of performance can be modified under extenuation circumstances with concurrence between the Government, CO and the contractor. The district can entertain a fire waiver during fire season.

26) Question about the work on CA side? Does a contractor or subcontractor need a LTO?

a) Government response: No federal rules apply here and no LTO needed for work on the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest.

27) Question was asked about areas that have previously been worked and have a lot of logs in drainages, does this contract need to clean up that work and is it ok to leave it like that?

a) Government response: This contractor does not need to clean up the previous multiple downed logs, but the idea is to not have what they cut to not look like that. If there are a lot of logs that the contractor cuts that will create problems for fire suppression, the trees that this contractor cuts will need to be piled or decked, but not responsible for cleaning up what is there prior to their work starting.

28) If there are trees outside the 200 feet that will fall into the area, does it need to be cut?

a) Government response: Do not cut any trees outside of 200 feet unless it is a safety concern for the operation.

29) In areas on the map about the road that goes around that does not show a road.

a) Government response: It is on the roads layer as a road and is a snowmobile/bike trail and does need to be cleared. There may be a couple of spurs on the map that got buffered that has a gate and there are trees growing up through it and is not being used as an open route, do not need to treat those roads.

30) Is this 100% low bid?

a) Government response: Told to read the solicitation, see page 13 for all factors and sub-factors for award.

31) Can contractors bid the chipping being beneficial to the award.

a) Government response: This is a performance-based contract and the contractor needs to let the government know what their(contractors) plan is.

32) Question asked again and asked if the clean-up contract is a separate contract and when it may be awarded?

a) Government response: It will be a separate solicitation and if awarded within the same time period can be done at once, but there is no guarantees on dates of clean up contract and restated that it would be a separate bid.

33) Does the contract need to be started on August 1?

a) Government response: As a performance-based service the contractor shall have from the date of award until 01 October 2028 to complete performance as outlined in the PWS. The contractor may begin work once all required pre-performance deliverables have been made and coordination with the CO and COR have been made.

34) Do the merch logs need to be cut to specific length?

a) Government response: Not holding to any specifics but prefer to use merch log standards.

35) What if someone has more questions?

a) Government response: Send additional questions to Raymond, the CO.

36) Is there any road work that may interfere with contract?

a) Government response: 4904 rd has some road work and will need to be coordinated.

37) Is there a preference where to start?

a) Government response: No specific location other than prefer not to start in the areas with hand piles and Scott suggested start at higher elevations and work down.

38) Are we able to close down secondary roads for longer durations of time than the 30 minutes stated in the solicitation?

a) Government response: This will be a case by case scenario and shall be coordinated with the COR and CO

39) Are we able to include a chipping option to chip all of the slash created and disburse wood chips through the project to make the bid more attractive to the solicitor?

a) Government response: Contractors may include optional pricing in their offers.

However, chipping is not currently a requirement for this service.

40) How many days before the 10/01/2028 does the contractor need to request an extension of the deadline?

a) Government response: The contractor should notify the government as soon as possible when they are aware they won’t make the period of performance end date. This time should allow enough time for discussion and consideration for the government.

41) Is bonding required on this contract?

a) Government response: Contractors are required to comply with all local, state and federal laws and regulations. Oregon department of labor requires contractors performing forestry work in the state of Oregon to Provide a Forest Labor Contractor Corporate Surety Bond.

42) Our company is not required to have a MSPA registration by DOL standards for our logging business. We do not plan on using seasonal workers. Will we still be considered technically acceptable if we are not required to have a MSPA registration by DOL and do not plan on needing one?

a) Government response: If the contractor does not utilize a workforce requiring

MSPA registration, the contractor needs to provide a statement in the quote as such.

43) Do we need a MSPA registration to bid this project?

a) Government response: If your company does not employee a workforce requiring

MSPA registration, then no.

44) Do you foresee the need for dangerous-tree blasting on this project?

a) Government response: At this time the government does not foresee the need for hazard tree blasting.

45) Would equipment with rubber tracks be acceptable to use on this contract?

a) Government response: In some areas of performance yes, rubber tracks may be used. However, that equipment must meet all requirements in the PWS and is listed on the contractors equipment list submitted to the government.

46) Included Timber Specifications: Section 2.2.3.1.1 of the Performance Work Statement references “Included Timber” meeting minimum DBH, specified log lengths, minimum small-end diameter inside bark (DIB), and species requirements. However, I have been unable to locate the table or specifications defining these thresholds. Could you please provide the merchantability specifications or indicate where they are located within the solicitation?

a) Government response: This cut length information will be provided to the contractor onsite as it is dependent on specie and how much defect is found in the log, but the log will either be placed in a merch, firewood or burn deck so each tree must be yarded to a deck regardless of cut sheet.

47) Merchantable Material / Decking Requirements: Is all hazard tree material expected to be yarded and decked, or only material meeting the Included Timber specifications? For non-merchantable material, is the expectation generally to limb, lop/scatter, or otherwise leave material in place as described in the PWS?

a) Government response: All cut trees will be decked in one of three types of decks, if the tree shatters as it is felled then it can remain as it lays and will then be addressed in future fuels cleanup contract unassociated with this project. There is an exception to this, is the 10 trees per acre that ill remain as whole limbed tree as it fell.

48) Optional CLINs: Will award be made for the base items only with options exercised later at the Government’s discretion, or is the Government currently anticipating award of both the base and optional CLINs?

a) Government response: The government plans to award all work at time of award, depending on offers. The government reserves the right to no award the options at time of award however, to exercise at a later date.

49) Heavy Equipment Expectations: The PWS references equipment used on previous successful contracts, including tracked equipment, rubber-tired machines, cable systems, and excavators. Is the Government’s intent that offerors propose whatever equipment they determine necessary to meet the performance requirements, or is there any minimum equipment capability expected beyond what is identified in the PWS?

a) Government response: This is a performance-based service. The government does not tell the contractor what equipment needs to be used. Any equipment the contractor deems needed to perform needs to be listed in the offer and is at the contractor discretion.

50) Approximately what percentage of the treatment area has been field-marked or otherwise identified by the Forest Service as requiring removal, or will hazard tree identification be performed entirely by the contractor in accordance with the Hazard Tree Field Guide?

a) Government response: Contract requires contractor to identify and fell hazard trees as per contract and per the hazard tree guide, government may verify that trees are correctly identified and treated correctly, it is also the responsibility of the contractor to identify the boundary limits of the work as defined in the contract.