Attachment__14_Ottawa_Task_Order_Specifications.docx

R9Z-00-12-CNO Page 86 Hand Tree Planting Chequamegon-Nicolet and Ottawa National Forests

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST TASK ORDER SPECIFICATIONS

1 SCOPE

This contract is for services to hand plant Government-furnished tree seedlings on the Ottawa National Forests. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies (except those designated as Government-furnished property in Section G) and incidentals, to plant trees on the areas specified.

2 LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The location of the planting areas, access to the areas, size of the areas, method of site preparation, species to be planted, and other information pertinent to each planting area is contained on the maps in the attachments.

3 DEFINITIONS

Plantable Spot: An area from which vegetation, ash, duff, and debris has been or can be removed and a tree seedling can be planted according to all specifications.

Unplantable Spot: An area within the specified spacing limits in which it is not possible to plant a tree according to specifications.

Satisfactorily Planted Tree: A tree planted in full accordance with all planting specifications.

Unsatisfactorily Planted Tree: A planted tree that fails to meet any specifications for a satisfactorily planted tree.

Wasted Tree: A tree that is lost, damaged, destroyed, or handled contrary to the specifications for care of trees.

Excess Trees: The number of planted trees that exceed the maximum number of trees stated for average spacing.

4 OPERATING PLAN

The Contractor shall provide and maintain a current operating plan, subject to the approval of the Contracting Officer. The plan shall detail crew organization, management of the project, and quality assurance.

5 CONTRACTOR'S REPRESENTATIVE

A designated Contractor's Representative who is fluent in written and spoken English shall be on site during any planting operations. The Contractor or a designated Contractor's Representative with full authority shall be within 12-hour contact.

6 CARE OF TREES

The Contractor shall adhere to the following specifications for care and protection of tree seedlings while in the Contractor's possession.

(a) Tree seedlings shall be protected at all times from drying, heating, smothering, freezing, crushing, over watering, abrasion or contact with injurious substance.

(b) Trees are to be planted as received, without further root or top pruning or culling, unless otherwise agreed to by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). Any damage to seedlings shall be immediately reported to the COR.

(c) Trees shall be handled so soil is not washed from the roots.

(d) Seedlings shall be handled to prevent striping, injury, and drying of roots.

7 SPACING AND SPOT SELECTION

(a) Trees shall be planted in spots distributed over the area at the intervals prescribed on the project maps, provided that the average spacing for individual trees may be varied as much as 25 percent in any direction to find a suitable planting spot.

(b) Trees shall be planted in spots where placement would not result in damage to the tree seedling by drowning, physical restriction, or mechanical damage from slash.

(c) Planting spots shall be the specified spacing distance from suitably established trees which are over 6 inches tall and of acceptable species and form.

(d) Trees shall be planted in holes free of non-mineral soil material, such as leaves, twigs, duff, etc.

8 TREE PLACEMENT

(a) Trees shall be planted in a vertical or near vertical position.

(b) The tree shall be planted in a natural arrangement above and below ground at a depth that the root collar shall be at or slightly below the ground line.

9 FIRMING THE TREE

The planting hole shall be closed with mineral soil and firmed so that the tree is as firmly planted as soil conditions will allow. Soil shall be firmed so that no loose soil or air pockets remain.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

REINSPECTION UPON CONTRACTOR'S REQUEST

(a) If the original inspection results by the Government are unacceptable to the Contractor, a reinspection may be requested. Requests for reinspection shall be made in writing within 5 days after receipt of notice of initial inspection results.

(b) If the results of the reinspection are within plus or minus 2 percent of the original inspection, the original inspection quality percentage will prevail.

(c) If the results of the reinspection vary by more than 2 percent of the original inspection, the reinspection quality percentage will prevail.

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

CONTRACT TIME

Contract time will be up to 14 calendar days and will begin on the effective date of the Notice to Proceed for each Item, depending on weather, soil conditions, and availability of planting stock. It is anticipated contract task order will begin between May 8, 2019 and May 19, 2019. Work shall begin within 5 calendar days of the effective date of each Notice to Proceed. Contract time may run concurrently for some or all Items (i.e. the Government may require that planting occur at the same time for some or all areas).

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

1.GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will provide the following items of Government property to the Contractor for use in the performance of this contract. This property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor in accordance with the provisions of the "Government-Furnished Property" clause referenced in Section I.

(a) Tree Seedlings

(1) The Government will provide the tree seedlings for each area as indicated on the area maps, and seedling protection materials such as tarps, boxes, and ice. Minor adjustment of species due to availability may be made by the Government without any adjustment in the unit price.

(2) The Contractor shall order trees as needed. A 24-hour notice is required. On Fridays, this notice shall be no later than noon and shall include all quantities needed for weekend planting. Time of delivery will be arranged with the Contractor when trees are ordered. Contractor will be required to sign a receipt for the stock. Delivery will be made to the applicable District Office or other location agreed to between the Contractor and the COR.

(3) The bags that the tree seedlings are delivered in are Government property. The Contractor shall return all bags to the COR.

2 PAYMENT PROCEDURE

(a) Payment will be based on the number of trees planted and quality of planting, as accepted by the Government. Payment will be processed for completed items only.

(b) Wasted trees will be charged for at a rate of $300.00 per thousand.

(c) The actual cost of any Contractor-requested reinspection will be charged to the Contractor, if the reinspection results are within plus or minus 2 percent of the original inspection.

(d) Incentive payments will be made for areas where the planting quality is determined to be 90 percent or greater. Incentives will be based upon 100 percent of the contract price at 90 percent quality or greater, plus a percentage increase in payment for each percentage of quality above 90 percent.

(e) A reduction against payment will be made by area where planting quality is determined to be under 90 percent.

(f) Payments for quality of planting below 80 percent will be on a percentage basis equal to the percentage of quality inspected, if accepted by the Government. Should the quality of planting fall below 80 percent, the Contractor will be considered to be in default and the right to proceed with the work may be terminated.

(g) Final payment percentages are summarized as follows:

PLANTING QUALITY INCENTIVE OR REDUCTION (%) FINAL PAYMENT (%)

INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, & NOTICES TO QUOTERS

1 SITE VISIT (52.237-1) (APR 1984)

Offerors or quoters are urged and expected to inspect the site where services are to be performed and to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the cost of contract performance, to the extent that the information is reasonably obtainable. In no event shall failure to inspect the site constitute grounds for a claim after contract award.

2 CONTACTS FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION

OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST

3 PREPARATION OF PROPOSALS

Proposals are to be submitted in two parts:

(a) PRICE PROPOSALS. Unit prices and totals are to be entered in the Schedule of Items in Section B. In addition, a price proposal should be provided that details how the unit prices were calculated. This should include hourly wage rates, fringe benefits, and other payrolling costs (FICA, Worker's Comp., Social Security, etc.), along with any overhead, profit, and other components.

(b) TECHNICAL PROPOSALS. (Note: The Technical Proposal will contain no reference to price.) The Technical Proposal should cover the following:

1. Describe qualifications and experience of the crew(s) and any proposed subcontractors. Include specific information on qualifications and experience of all crew leaders and crew members.

2. Describe plans for organizing the crew(s) and managing the project. Include a Quality Assurance Plan that explains the inspection system that will be used to maintain the planting quality and other quality control measures. Provide details about authorities of crew members, size of crews, available equipment, and the anticipated work schedule, including estimated hours per day and days per week.

3. Explain past performance on hand tree planting projects completed within the past 3 years. Include a description of the size of the project (acres and number of trees planted) and names and telephone numbers of clients who may be contacted regarding the quality of work performed. Provide information about any planned or anticipated planting to be done this season.

4 QUALIFICATION OF QUOTES

(a) Quotes may be submitted for any or all Items.

(b) To avoid being awarded more work than can be accomplished within the contract period, quotes may be qualified to limit the maximum number of Items that will be accepted.

(c) To avoid being awarded less work than desired, quotes may also be qualified to limit the minimum number of Items that will be accepted. Quotes may also indicate they are on an "all or none" basis.

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

1 BASIS OF AWARD

(a) Award will be made to that concern(s), (1) whose proposal is technically acceptable and (2) whose technical/cost relationship is the best value to the Government. While cost is secondary to technical capability, it will be a factor in the award decision. The critical factor in making any cost/technical trade-off is not the spread between the technical ratings, but rather what is the significance of that difference. The significance of the spread in rankings will be determined on the basis of what that difference might mean in terms of performance and what it would cost the Government to take advantage of it. Award may not necessarily be made to that concern submitting the lowest quote. Also, award may not necessarily be made for technical capabilities that would appear to exceed those needed for the successful performance of the work. The Government reserves the right to make cost/technical trade-offs that are in the best interest and to the advantage of the Government.

(b) Award may be made without further negotiations. Proposals should be submitted initially on the most favorable terms, from a price and technical standpoint, which the quoter can submit to the Government. However, the Government may, after evaluation of proposals, conduct further oral or written discussions as appropriate, with all quoters whose proposals are within the competitive range.

(c) Award will be by Item.

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used in evaluating Technical Proposals. The criteria are listed in descending order of importance.

(a) Qualifications and experience of the crew(s) and any proposed subcontractors.

(b) Plans to organize crew(s) and manage the project, including the Quality Assurance Plan; available equipment; and anticipated work schedule.

(c) Performance on hand tree planting completed within the past 3 years.