QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS_6-4-26 FINAL.pdf

• Fuel Pricing Basis - Please confirm that all fuel price adjustments under this contract are based on diesel fuel pricing. Yes, it is for diesel fuel.

• Fuel Price Determination - Please clarify when fuel prices will be established for task orders and identify the fuel index or source that will be used for pricing adjustments. That is addressed in the solicitation. There are three fuel pricing ranges for Base and four option years. Sources for fuel costs are also listed in the solicitation; Orders shall be issued in accordance with the contractor’s Schedule B, Road Maintenance Services (Attachment 1) utilizing the pre-priced column for diesel fuel in the performance area. The CO/PA shall utilize a local fuel guide on the day of task order issuance to determine the final price. Some fuel comparison sites include, but not exclusive are: AAA:

https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=Arkansas

PLEASE READ THE SOLICAITION FOR FULL DETAILS!

• Gas Buddy: https:www.gasbuddy.come/gasprices/Arkansas

• Fuel Escalation Limits - Please clarify how fuel adjustments will be calculated when diesel fuel prices exceed $5.00 per gallon and identify any applicable cap or maximum adjustment. Again, read the solicitation/schedule of items, it states >$5.00 per gallon. Per task order issued, real diesel pricing will be utilized over $5.00.

• Road Network Limits - Attachment 4 identifies "Typical Blading Routes" in purple.

Please confirm whether all work to be priced under this solicitation is limited to the roads shown in purple on Attachment 4, or if work may also be ordered on other National Forest System roads within the Ranger District boundaries. If additional roads may be included, please provide maps and estimated quantities.

I attached new maps that have been updated with additional example roads….however, they are still just an example of roads that are likely to receive maintenance throughout the life of the contract. Actual roads to receive maintenance may vary by task order and the type of maintenance they receive may vary by task order.

• Culvert Sizes - Please identify the anticipated culvert sizes that may be encountered under the Culvert Cleaning pay item.

Most of these culverts will be 30” diameter or less. However, larger culverts may also be included in the culvert cleaning pay item.

• Secondary Road Maintenance Scope - Please define which roads are considered secondary roads and provide any available quantities, locations, or maps associated with the Secondary Road Maintenance pay item.

See comment above for “Road Network Limits”.

• Pay Factor Items - Please identify which contract pay items, if any, are subject to Pay Factors. Pay items/factors are on the Schedule of work. That is the work we are contracting for.

• Applicable Specifications - Will this contract utilize FP-14, FP-24, or another specification for contract administration and acceptance? Standards for Bridges – No- Applicable contract specifications and requirements are included in the Statement of Work.

• Vegetation Disposal Requirements - May vegetation generated during brushing and clearing operations be scattered onsite, or must it be removed from the project area? If removal is required, please identify disposal requirements.

Vegetation removed during Roadside Brushing & Overhead Trimming operations may be scattered onsite, but must conform with the requirements listed in the Statement of Work.

• Statistical Evaluation Requirements – If Pay Factors apply, please confirm whether payment adjustments will be based on statistical evaluation using Pay Within Limits (PWL) methodology. We do not use the pay factor analysis methodology for highway pavements.

• Testing Characteristics for PWL Analysis – If Pay Factors apply, please identify the testing characteristics and acceptance criteria that will be used for statistical analysis and PWL calculations. N/A

• Pay Factor Reduction Tables – Please provide the Pay Factor reduction tables that will govern payment adjustments under this contract. N/A

• Aggregate Gradation Requirements – If locally available materials do not meet the specified gradation requirements, would the Government consider eliminating Pay Factor requirements associated with aggregate gradation? N/A

• Alternative Aggregate Specifications - If locally available materials do not meet the specified gradation requirements, would the Government consider allowing aggregate that conforms to applicable State DOT specifications?

As stated in the Statement of Work for Item #2 Aggregate Placement, alternate aggregate materials may be authorized for use by the COR on a situational basis with no change in contract prices.

• Quality Control Staffing Requirements - Must the Quality Control Manager and testing personnel be separate individuals, or may one qualified individual perform both roles?

They are not required to be separate individuals

• Water Source Availability - Is a bulk water source available for grading and dust-control operations? If so, please identify available fill locations and any associated usage requirements or restrictions.

A bulk water source will not be supplied by the Forest Service.

• Landscaping / Site Restoration Requirements - Beyond the roadway maintenance activities identified in the Statement of Work, are any landscape restoration measures required, including topsoil placement, seeding, fertilization, or erosion-control measures? Not required

• Third-Party Testing Requirements - Is third-party testing required under this contract? If so, please identify the required testing and responsible party. Not required

• Key Personnel Requirements - May one individual serve in multiple roles under this contract (e.g., Superintendent, SSHO, Quality Control Manager, and/or Tester), provided all qualification requirements are met? Yes

• Schedule Extensions - If material, aggregate, fuel, equipment, or other supply-chain constraints impact performance after award, will contract completion dates or task order performance periods be eligible for extension? YES, depending on the situation; weather, government delays, etc…..always willing to do a no cost extension for delays beyond anyone’s fault.

• Tax Status - Is this project exempt from state and local sales taxes? NO

• Anticipated Start of Work - What is the anticipated award date and expected commencement of task order work under this contract? These are IDIQs, each project will be funded at the task order/delivery order level. The IDIQ’s are scheduled to begin 08/01/2026 – This is stated in the SF1449 – PLEASE READ

THE SOLICITATION.

• Surveying and Staking Requirements - Please clarify whether surveying, construction staking, control points, or grade staking will be required under this contract. If required, please identify the applicable pay item or method of compensation. Not required.

• IDIQ Contract Structure - Please confirm whether the unit prices provided in Attachment 2 will be used solely for future task order pricing under the IDIQ contract, or whether any of the work identified in Attachment 2 will be awarded and performed immediately upon contract award. The pricing you enter in the Schedule of Items for Base and four option years will be used for all task orders issued against the IDIQ award.

• IDIQ Ceiling Value - Please provide the total IDIQ contract ceiling value. $2M per IDIQ award.

• Number of Awards - How many contracts does the Government anticipate awarding under this solicitation? We do not have a minimum or maximum amount

• Award Methodology - Please clarify how the Government intends to make awards across Ranger Districts and individual line items. Each district has someone responsible for ensuring the roads are maintained. They will be doing the requisition / acquisition packages for the contracting personal. We will compete each task order, if there are more than one contractor for the district needing work completed, among the IDIQ holders.

The awarded items will be grouped by Ranger District, with the exception of Roadside Brushing & Overhead Trimming, which will be awarded as a single, Forest-wide item.

• Bid Bond Requirements - Is a bid bond required for this solicitation? NO

• Instructions to Offerors - Please provide Section L, Instructions to Offerors, or identify where Section L requirements are located within the solicitation documents. There is a document that was one of the attachments it is called Commercial Services and Solicitation terms and conditions. PAGE 12 has all the instructions you will need. PLEASE READ THE SOLICATION IN ITS ENTIRETY.

• Proposal Volumes - How many proposal volumes are required to be submitted?

The solicitation explains what is needed to be submitted. Signed SF 1449 and pricing filled in on the Schedule of Items.

• Past Performance Requirements - Please clarify the required past performance information to be submitted with the proposal. IN THE SOLICIATION – TERMS AND CONDITIONS IT LISTS: (Page 13)

Past Performance:

The Government may utilize any references provided by the Contractor, along with information available from past contracts/orders with the USDA and any information found using sources such as Federal Government sources or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

(CPARS) to determine if the Contractor has acceptable or neutral Past Performance. Past Performance will be evaluated using the following rating system:

• Acceptable: The contractor shows a demonstrated ability to meet contract requirements in prior or current contracts, including quality of work, timeliness, cost control, business relations, and adherence to contract terms.

• Neutral: Offeror does not have a past performance record.

• Unacceptable: The contractor has a documented history of failing to meet contract requirements, including poor quality, missed deadlines, cost overruns, lack of responsiveness, or unethical behavior.

PAGE 14: NOTE: Ozark-St. Francis National Forest goal is to complete road maintenance work by the following springs, prior to awarding new task orders. If a contractor is awarded multiple Ranger Districts, he/she will be expected to complete work across their awarded Districts simultaneously in a given year.

Any information provided in your quote to show your overall capacity and ability to complete work in a timely manner would assist the Government in its decision-making process for this IDIQ.

• Site Visits: Would Like to confirm whether a site visit, pre-quote conference, district road list, maps, or any additional route/location details are available for contractors preparing quotes.

There is a map uploaded on the amended solicitation. No pre-quote conference will be held. A site visit would be difficult as there are numerous sites to see. If a specific district a contractor is interested in quoting and want to see it, then notify the CO on the solicitation. If the customer is available then a site visit can be arranged.