Questions and Answers.pdf

Questions & Answers

Q. Just to confirm we are pruning 3 trees and removing 13 trees is that correct?

A. As stated in the SOW and the SOI

• 3 trees to be pruned

• 13 trees to be removed

• 14 tree stumps to be removed

Q. Also is it my responsibility as the prime contractor to find a site for removed trees to go or do you have a location address?

A. The prime contractor is responsible removing and hauling all debris off site legally.

Q. Neither the SOW nor the RFQ include any language on the tree removal and pruning work to be done having an approved PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) tree removal permit to be conducted. I wondered if IITF already has a tree removal permit, a management agreement, or some waiver from the DNER for the tree removal at UPR lands, also part of the San Juan Ecological Corridor Natural Reserve. To my understanding of the DNER laws and regulations, this type of work requires a tree removal permit justified by a risk evaluation of each tree as the USFS does not own the land, and it is within a DNER natural area designation administered by the UPR. It is essential to clarify this to vendors, as an ISA Certified Arborist® and licensed agronomist, we can only perform tree removal work with the proper permits or confirmation in writing of any existing tree removal waivers by the DNER.

Nevertheless, if requesting this permit is needed, we could include in the quote the service of evaluating the risk of each tree to justify their removal, the corresponding mitigation plan, and the permit submission. If permits are not in place yet, FYI—the DNER usually takes a few days to evaluate them with 1-2 staff available for these purposes, they can make a site visit if they desire, and then when the permit is finally approved, it comes with 1-2 weeks with no work restriction during that time, which could significantly impact the anticipated date to begin this work according to the SOW. I want to clarify if there is a tree removal permit or waiver in place or if IITF will be responsible for having it in place before starting this work.

A. It will be the responsibility of the contractor to secure all applicable federal and commonwealth of PR permits.

Q. The Algarrobo tree (Hymenaea courbaril) in the attached photo is growing next to the water drainage canal for the rainfall retention pond in front of the building. If the removal work requires the stump of this tree to be grinded down 6 inches, this could significantly affect the drainage canal, which could end up being the contractor's responsibility to repair it, to comply with the Contractor requirement 3.0 - Task 4. Those roots hold the soil around the drainage and could damage it by grinding the stump. Please clarify if the stump needs to be grinded 6 inches for this large tree, and if damage occurs to the drainage, who will be responsible for them.

A. It will be the responsibility of the contractor to repair the drainage channel to pre-project condition in the event it is damaged during the tree removal process.

Q. Contractor Requirements - Task 3.2 requests to prune two (2) 36-diameter existing Terocarpo (Pterocarpus indicus) trees, reducing their canopy to 20 ft horizontally measured from each side of the tree trunk and 10-15 ft from its current highest elevation. This crown and height reduction will significantly reduce its canopy, which is the main attribute of this beautiful tree that provides shade to the parking lot and the back entrance of the building. This substantial pruning would damage the natural tree form, which goes against task 3.7 of that “pruning should resemble natural tree forms.” A significant reduction like this would also need to be approved by the DNER, as more than 33% of the canopy of each tree is being proposed for pruning. On the additional Terocarpo growing next to the library, the tree has a tag that says it is an IITF-registered Champion Tree. The height and crown reduction in the SOW will disqualify this tree from being a Champion tree, and it defeats the purpose of the IITF Champion Tree Program managed by Para La Naturaleza for this particular species. However, crown reduction, raising, cleaning from dead branches, and structural pruning could still be achieved without affecting its Champion status for the species and the structural integrity of this beautiful tree. Please confirm that the SOW-stated measurements are correct for pruning the three Terecapo trees. The requested pruning significantly increases the work cost compared to the pruning we will propose for this tree, keeping its beautiful canopy healthy and safe, while it continues providing many ecological benefits with its huge canopy.

A. Final tree pruning dimensions and limits shall be coordinated onsite between Certified Arborist, FS Technical Expert, and COR to preserve tree’s health, shape, and an proper size.

Q. Are there any existing electrical or plumbing drawings available? It would be great and safer to have them available for stump grinding near the building. For electricity, we use high-voltage detectors, but we cannot detect any hidden water pipelines to avoid any possible damage to them.

A. Existing utility plans in the tree areas may be shared after contract is awarded.

Q. Regarding Clean-ups, is stated on Task 8.5 the following: “Cleanup shall include disposal of all waste, garbage, trash, debris, excessive excavation material, excessive material, and materials not utilized in its entirety by recycling and/or disposing legally off the project site legally in a certified sanitary landfill or at other approved and certified solid waste disposal facility, with the capacity to receive and process these waste types.” From my understanding, IITF is the leading https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paralanaturaleza.org%2Fen%2Fchampion-trees%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cyolanda.padilla%40usda.gov%7Ced24f6fcc1554174bd7908dcb6a77b1f%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638586077737761927%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zFDY7SXwRVo0SOZiCIAJkjJH6BFW1rNNcWiczCychUk%3D&reserved=0

US government entity promoting wood salvage in Puerto Rico (https://caribbeanclimatehub.org/resources/wood-salvage/). It is totally opposed to this practice of dumping usable valuable wood and mulch into sanitary landfills, which are already overloaded in the garbage to receive valuable wood by-products that add to our island economy revenue. I don’t understand why this criterion is included here when it goes against the research and policies of the Institute and the Caribbean Climate Hub, the programs that S&PF and the Climate Hub promote, and the Puerto Rico Forest Action Plan financed by IITF. We hope to salvage those precious woods and deposit the mulch in the Para La Naturaleza nursery on the other side of the botanical garden to make better use of it and they will use it for their tree planting or composting it for tree propagation. We can process the wood with our colleagues' sawmills and use it better than dumping it in landfills. However, some tree parts cannot be chipped or have usable wood and must be processed according to this criterion. I want to clarify if there is any chance for IITF to reconsider wood salvage and mulch use for tree plantings as an alternative instead of disposing of the debris in a certified sanitary landfill or at other approved and certified solid waste disposal facility. This decision also affects pricing and adds a lot more driving to our trucks, contributing to more fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

A. Vegetative debris, tree limbs, and any excess material shall be disposed and/or salvaged legally off the project site and off government lands (no exception). However, any material that is not suitable for salvage shall be legally off the project site without exceptions. Under no circumstances will any debris be allowed to be stored onsite.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcaribbeanclimatehub.org%2Fresources%2Fwood-salvage%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cyolanda.padilla%40usda.gov%7Ced24f6fcc1554174bd7908dcb6a77b1f%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638586077737772483%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Wu7LcUiDSwDlCk32tPos%2BU86XqPOvmQJu4B17HtCIng%3D&reserved=0