Questions (for Post to GPE).pdf

127EAS24Q0078 A00001

USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region

Sierra National Forest HSRD Tamarack Site Prep

Questions and Answers

1. What about LOPs in reference to time on the contract?

A: LOPs still go against time and are still active.

2. Will a list of biological monitors be provided given that resumes are required for the bid proposal?

A: Yes, it will be provided. We have 65 consultants that are approved to use but availability is a different story. The list will be given to the CO to post on Sam.gov.

3. What happens if we’ve worked with a biologist/monitor in the past but they are not on the list?

A: We work closely with Fish and Wildlife for specific qualifications that must be met because we also report back to them. Qualifications are listed in the contract and must be followed. Stephanie Barnes, the district aquatics biologist, can sign them up for a training in July and would be able to determine whether or not they are good to go for the contract.

4. What happens if the biologist makes a mistake and isn’t in the right area, or isn’t looking in the right places?

A: If there is a mistake it gets reported back to Stephanie Barnes, as well as Fish and Wildlife. They will then work it out. The monitors need to be coordinating at some level with Stephanie to begin with. If there’s an issue, its not necessarily a non-compliance on the contractors part. These are opportunities for everyone to learn, and better understand how the project can move going forward. Over flagging can be an issue and should be discussed with the COR.

5. Does it help to have a monitor in terms of having more or less working days?

A: It helps in the Fall because the toads will be in specific areas that the monitors can watch. In the Spring it’s a 60 dispersal period, but the monitor will get you in 30 days sooner because they can move toads, etc.

The closer you get to the meadows the more stringent we have to be.

6. If we were having trouble with the monitor, who would we contact?

A: You would contact Molly, the COR, then it would go to the CO (Perry Rinato) and most likely

Stephanie would be involved. The contractor hires the monitor and can fire the monitor.

7. The FB5 certification for seasonal ag workers, the form number on the proposal is wrong or doesn’t exist.

A: The reference to that form may have been included in error. Please follow the instruction in

“employment of eligible workers” section of the RFQ for information on the Migrant and Seasonal

Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and information required for seasonal workers if necessary.

8. Theres an OHV trail system, can we do a full closure of the trail system?

A: That is something we can discuss as the contract is moving through those areas. You will need to provide an operating plan. Also, we don’t want piles in the OHV trail. We would need to go through the

Ranger and possibly the Forest Supervisor. It would need to be a discussion.

Sierra National Forest HSRD Tamarack Site Prep

9. Same question about hunting, can we get a closure?

A: We have not traditionally closed contract areas off to hunting. If a safety issue comes up, we will have a discussion. It will vary depending on the area.

10. What are they monitoring?

A: The Yosemite Toad.

11. Is 102 the zone you were talking about for the equip exclusion area?

A: The equipment exclusion zones are the powder blue areas on the map.

12. Are we going to look at one of the no piling zones?

A: Not quite sure, but we will see some sensitive species.

13. Will we have to hand pile in the equip exclusion zones?

A: No.

14. Can we masticate all the brush?

A: If you choose to masticate in the contract, there’s specs in the contract. You can also pile the brush, specs are also in the contract.

15. Do you line piles or whole unit?

A: Line the whole unit (big box).

16. Do the piles require covering?

A: No covers.

17. Pile Sizes?

A: As big as an opening will allow. Specifications are in the contract.

18. What’s the spacing in the green stands?

A: Refer to the specs in the contract.

19. If choosing to masticate, 12-18 inch ground down to soil for mastication? That’s going to be hard.

A: This is referring to sub soil mastication. There are multiple ways to achieve this.

20. Can we leave the elderberry?

A: Yes.

21. Can we deck instead of pile? Are Log decks ok especially if we want to haul it?

A: This is a straight forward service contract which means there is no product removal. If you would like some of the material, we can entertain a deck sale which will be an entirely different contract not related to this. Decks are ok for burning, as long as they are constructed right.

22. What percentage of the ground is over 40%?

Sierra National Forest HSRD Tamarack Site Prep

A: Contract specifies the steep ground acres.

23. Will we be allowed to take equipment on steep?

A: Yes, but tethered, the specifications for slopes and equipment are in the contract.

24. Piling allowed on steep units?

A: Yes.

25. The stump height?

A: Refer to the contract.

26. 25,27,28 same specifications, but we need to provide the how we plan to achieve it?

A: Yes.

27. On units over 40% slope, lop and scatter or cut and pile?

A: Cut and pile. We do not want and will not allow lop and scatter.

28. Logs on rocks, can we leave?

A: If there’s logs on rocks that are inaccessible, yes you can leave.

29. Smaller diameter stuff, can we just knock it over and pile?

A: Yes.

30. For the mastication the SOW says "the material should be ground into the soil at least 12-18 inches, to reduce the flammability and continuity of the remaining mulch." My machines have drum mower attachments, they mow the vegetation, all material and mulch is spread out. Will you accept the work that way?

A. Per the contract, The contractor may propose any equipment that can do the job to the specifications

(without resource damage). In the section describing mastication it states that the end product of chips on the ground in areas masticated should not exceed 6 inches deep

31. For the piling the SOW says "Manzanita, ceanothus, choke cherry and other live brush over 3ft tall shall be uprooted and crushed before placing in a pile". In the past I would mow all the brush and everything below 10-12 inches dbh, the rest would be piled such as downed logs and other material that can't be mulched. Would you be willing to accept the work that way?

A. See above, the contractor may propose any equipment that can do the job to the specifications (without resource damage). Combinations of treatment methods and how the product should be achieved will all be entertained, they should be adequately described in their proposal.