Amendment 0001 - QandA Document.docx

Solicitation 12444324Q0016 Allegheny National Forest Backpack Foliar Herbicide Application Question & Answer Document – 03/06/24

Questions received:

Q1. Regarding the “pink tags” which have to be checked off by the contractor when he treats a location. Does every location have a pink tag? Are the tags attached to posts so they can be located by the contractor?

Answer: Yes, every location will be tagged. Areas listed in Item 1 will be tagged with White tags. Areas listed in item 2 Bradford will have a pink tag. The tags will be stapled to trees at logical access locations to the treatment areas. All tags will be identified with the contract name and area number.

Q2. Does the contractor have to check in and be inspected for every location before moving on?

Answer: The Contractor should notify that an area has been completed before moving to a new location, but it is not necessary that they be inspected at that time. Inspections may occur right after an area is treated to look for sign that all areas of the stand were treated; however, most inspections will occur a couple weeks following treatment to look for yellowing or browning of vegetation from the successful treatment.

Q3. The areas are irregular in shape. How does the contractor know what the boundaries are?

Answer: The boundaries will be flagged on the ground with flagging. Areas in Item 1 - Marienville will be flagged with orange flagging. Areas in Item 2 – Bradford will be flagged with pink flagging. The pdf maps are also georeferenced, so a contractor can use with a program such as Avenza.

Q4. Are all the roads into these locations passable? i.e. gravel, free from fallen trees, overgrown brush, water filled depressions etc.? Is 4-wheel drive needed?

Answer: All roads are passable to the sites; however, 4-wheel drive is recommended. Some FS roads may be two tracked and contain potholes. Trees fall in the forest. There is no guarantee that all roads will be clear of fallen debris at the time the work is set to begin. We strongly recommend that contractors carry a saw with them to clear the occasional tree that may fall across the road. If there are a large quantity of trees, the FS will mobilize to open the road, but this will require some lead time.

There is one unit in which a skid trail is the only access into the stand. An ATV is most likely necessary to transport water.

Q5. Is it possible to walk these areas or is the brush so overgrown walking is difficult?

Answer: Yes, it is possible to walk the areas. That being said, the blocks are in a forested setting and have had other treatments (harvest, brush cutting etc.). There will likely be some level of “brush/vegetation” to walk through, or maneuver around on all sites.

Q6. Can an ATV be driven into these areas for spraying purposes or are the saplings too large and too plentiful and ATVs are a hinderance and the areas must be walked?

Answer: There may be areas where an ATV could be used for application; however, I think those sections would be very limited. Most stands have access where an ATV may be useful for staging or water tending.

Q7. Are there any water sources that can be used for the mixes”? We can carry a large water tank with us, but we need to fill it up at a clean water source, i.e. a spigot.

Answer: There are two clean water sources at the district offices that can be used if necessary. Otherwise, water drafting sites can be worked out through the COR.

Q8. Can I set up a meeting with a ranger to examine these areas in person before the bid is due?

Answer: A site visit could be set up with an FS employee that is familiar with the contract. This would need to be set up in advance and is subject to staff availability.