C04_QAs for 127EAS26Q0048.pdf

REQUEST FOR EXTENSION

The solicitation will be extended to 10/16/2026 for the time being.

The Statement of Work requires a biological monitor in Unit 102 (base) and in optional Units 2, 3, 5, 6, and 38. The Schedule of Items lists only one monitor line: optional item 1003, 65 days, Unit 3.

How should offerors price monitoring for Unit 102 and for optional Units 2, 5, 6, and 38? Should those costs be included in the unit prices for the treatment work, or will separate pay items be added by amendment? Please confirm receipt.

The list of qualified YOTO monitors was uploaded to SAM.gov last week. The interested parties will need to contact the folks on that list to get a price for monitoring. The offers will need to determine how many monitors will be needed and how many days are needed to determine the total cost depending on what units are in occupied YOTO habitat, and the total number of days they plan to be working in the contract area.

You may list the total for all the areas in the Statement of Work on optional item 1003.

QUESTIONS

1. Monitor in base Unit 102: The SOW (Biological Monitor section) calls for a monitor during work in base Unit 102. The only monitor line item, CLIN 1003, is an option. Should monitoring for Unit 102 be priced into CLINs 0001/0002, or is a base monitor CLIN anticipated? Yes, the price for Unit 102 should cover the price of monitor.

2. Units covered by CLIN 1003: CLIN 1003 references Unit 3, and the SOW lists option Units 2, 3, 5, 6, and 38 as requiring a monitor. Do the 65 days cover all five option units? Yes, the 65 days cover all option units listed in the SOW.

3. Fire Plan contacts: The attached Fire Plan lists the Almanor Ranger District, Susanville Interagency Fire Center (SIFC), and COR John Outland. Are these the correct COR, dispatch, and PAL areas for this project? Updated. Fire plan should list High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra Interagency Communication Center, and COR is Molly Murray

4. Wage determinations: Page 2 of the SF 1449 references Wage Determinations 2015-5609 and 1977-0727, and the package includes 2015-5609. Does WD 1977-0727 also apply? If so, could it be provided? 2015-5609 is the applicable Wage Determination.

5. Option to extend: The terms and conditions include 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract. Does the Forest anticipate using this option to add treatment acres and funding? Or is it intended to accommodate inclement weather and loss of access from possible wildfire events? Similarly, are the ordering and requirements clauses (52.216-18, -19, -21) and 52.219-9 intended to apply to this stand-alone award? It is intended to accommodate inclement weather. It could also be used in the case of wildfire.

6. Schedule of Items signature: The instructions call for a signed Schedule of Items. Is an offeror-added signature and date line on the "CONTRACT (NO OPTIONS)" tab acceptable? We also assume the "CONTRACT (WITH OPTION YRS)" tab is not used for this solicitation. Please let us know if that is incorrect. Yes, that is acceptable, the option years tab will not be used.

7. Monitor qualification: We would like to qualify our Nevada Environmental Consulting biological team as approved Yosemite toad monitors for this project. Matt Setty, Owner, Supervisor, and Principal Scientist, supervises the team. Mr. Setty holds a BS in Natural Resource Management / Conservation Biology / Hydrology (University of Nevada, 1995) and has over 30 years of experience in Sierra Nevada forestry and fuels restoration. He has conducted ESA Section 7 surveys for all listed species in the Lake Tahoe Basin, as well as aquatic and terrestrial sensitive species surveys. He has served as a Caltrans Qualified Biologist for right-of-way fuels treatments, and he is a California Licensed Timber Operator. Matt's team also includes a frog specialist, whose name and qualifications we will submit for review. What is the process and timeline for approval by Stephanie Barnes, HSRD District Aquatic Biologist?

Process for approval: When appropriate (contract awarded?) potential candidates can be submitted to and reviewed by S. Barnes for qualifications as listed in the contract.

Biological Monitor: At a minimum, Yosemite toad (Federally threatened) biological monitors will have the following schooling and training (This strict qualification standard is based off the USDI FWS 10(a)1(A) permitting process).:

• Bachelor’s degree in biological science that includes herpetology and reptile courses.

• Have a minimum of 40 hours of survey experience with a species expert on Yosemite toad, including handling and correctly identifying the species and all life stages.

• Participated in the High Sierra Ranger District Yosemite toad habitat and life history 4-hour online training.

• Participated in the High Sierra Ranger District Yosemite toad upland habitat field courses (2 days, 16 hours).

• Has been approved by Stephanie Barnes, HSRD District Aquatic Biologist, to conduct Yosemite toad upland habitat or species identification surveys.

• Participated in the 2026 refresher course (applicable to monitors approved in 2025 of earlier).

Candidates who meet the qualification standards based on the 10(a)1(A) permitting process will be approved to attend the 2027 YOTO training.

Timeline for approval: When the contract is awarded, potential candidates can be submitted to S.

Barnes after filling out a standardized questionnaire of experience and resume. After the 2 trainings, if the candidate passes, they will be approved to start work immediately.

Specifically:

a. When are the HSRD 4-hour online Yosemite toad training and the 2-day (16-hour) upland habitat field course next offered, and how do we enroll?

The 2027 training date has not been determined at this time but is expected to occur between March and April 2027 for the 4 hour online course, and in mid-late June 2027 (could be end of May -weather and breeding timing dependent) for the 2 day field training.

The snow needs to be 100% gone prior to the training so the upland habitat portion of the training can occur.

Enrollment can occur at any time after the candidates have been approved by S. Barnes as qualified to attend.

b. Can an offeror name monitors who are pursuing approval, with approval required before work begins in monitored units rather than at quote submittal?

Monitors are not automatically approved after the training. Approval comes from passing ID of species, proper handling of species, and proper ID of upland habitats to avoid to meet the requirements of the terms and conditions and incidental take statement outlined in the project BO.

c. Can team members work under the supervision of a Tier 1 approved monitor while completing the required 40 hours of survey experience with a species expert?

No. The YOTO is a listed species under the Endangered Species Act. Any personnel working on the project must have the mandatory training listed above prior to working in the habitat to be covered under the existing permits from the HSRD aquatic biologist (species expert). The FS Aq. Bio is the lead for all monitors, reporting, and species/field questions for consistency with the biological assessment and biological opinion (BO) for the project. The FS is also the lead agency for ensuring monitors are following the terms and conditions of the BO and follow reporting requirements. The 40 hours of survey experience is obtained during the field trainings.

d. Could you provide a contact for submitting our team's qualifications for review?

Stephanie.barnes1@usda.gov, 559-855-7102 for questions.

8. Site visit: If the due date is extended, would the District consider hosting a pre-quote site visit or Teams video call, to discuss the project? Please conduct site visits on your own as there are no restricted areas, and the Forest Service is short of personnel due to fire season.

9. GIS data: Will the shapefiles and georeferenced PDFs for unit boundaries, EEZs, sensitive plant areas, OHV/OSV trails, and Yosemite toad areas be available before quote submittal, for site visit and pricing use? Georeferenced PDFs were provided with the contract package and include: work areas and treatments; EZZs, sensitive plants, Yosemite toad units, and avoidance areas. Shapefiles can be provided to successful the bidder at the prework meeting.

mailto:Stephanie.barnes1@usda.gov

10. Start of work: What is the anticipated authorization-to-begin-work date given winter conditions? Will contract time be suspended over winter if work cannot begin in fall 2026? The planned work start date will be discussed at the prework meeting. Typically, there is a window in the Fall to complete work prior to the onset of winter conditions and outside LOPs. The District would strongly urge the contractor to take advantage of this Fall working window.

Actions that need to occur after October 1 will be coordinated with the district aquatic biologist to determine locations that can continue operations which will not interfere or impact dispersing or overwintering toads.

11. LOPs and surveys: Are Yosemite toad occupancy surveys, goshawk surveys, or LOP waivers anticipated for 2027 that would affect unit sequencing? We are outside the LOP for the remainder of 2026. Waivers are not anticipated for 2027. However, request for waivers is dependent on specific observations and weather.

12. Merchantable material: Will felled logs or firewood material be made available to the contractor? Is removal of material off-forest permitted? Yes

13. Fuel price adjustment: Most field work will likely occur in 2027, up to a year after quotes are submitted. Fuel is a major cost for mechanical treatment, equipment transport, and water tenders.

Would the Government consider negotiating a fuel economic price adjustment tied to a published index, such as the EIA California on-highway diesel price? We would welcome a two-way adjustment that applies to both increases and decreases, so the Government also benefits if fuel prices fall. The Contracting Officer does not typically adjust for fuel prices.

14. SOW Section 1.0 states ±30 ft device accuracy, while the Equipment section states sub-meter. Which applies? Is sub-meter accuracy required for each piece of equipment, or only for acreage measurement and track submittal? Sub-meter accuracy is required for acre measurement only.

15. Mastication as an Acceptable Treatment Method. The SOW states that mastication may be used and provides mastication specifications, while the Schedule of Items prices the work under Felling and Piling & Vegetation Treatment CLINs. Please confirm that mastication may be proposed as part of the Piling & Vegetation Treatment approach, where site conditions and resource-protection requirements permit, without a separate mastication CLIN. Also, please confirm that mastication within known occupied aquatic threatened/endangered/sensitive habitat would require a site-specific plan approved by the Government before use. Confirmed, as directed and/or approved by the COR.

16. Period of Performance / Authorization to Begin Work / Options The Schedule of Items identifies a period of performance of October 16, 2026 through October 16, 2027, while the SOW states that contract time is 365 days from authorization to begin work and that the Government may issue authorization by item. Please clarify:

• Whether the 365-day completion period applies to the entire contract from the first Notice to Proceed, or separately to each item when authorized.

• If optional units are exercised after the initial Notice to Proceed, whether their completion must still occur within the original October 16, 2027 end date or whether additional contract time will be established for exercised options. 365 days for the entire contract.

17. Project Location / Ranger District The SF-1449 lists a delivery address for “Pineridge Ranger District” at 29688 Auberry Road, Prather, CA, while the project description identifies the work as occurring in the High Sierra Ranger District. Please confirm that the actual field work is located within the High Sierra Ranger District and that the Prather address is an administrative/delivery location rather than the physical work site. Confirmed.

18. Self-Guided Site Visit / Access Requirements The solicitation strongly encourages self-guided site visits and states there are no restricted areas. Please confirm that no RSVP, Forest Service escort, access permit, gate key, special vehicle authorization, or other advance approval is required for an offeror or prospective subcontractor to inspect the accessible project units before the proposal due date. If any roads/gates are currently inaccessible, please identify them.

Confirmed.

19. Bonds and Insurance We did not identify a bid guarantee, performance bond, or payment bond requirement in the solicitation package. Please confirm that no bid, performance, or payment bonds are required.

Please also confirm whether there are any project-specific insurance minimums beyond the requirements incorporated by the solicitation that offerors should account for in pricing.

Confirmed.

20. Pricing and Basis of Estimate Please confirm that offerors should price all base and optional CLINs, including the biological monitor CLIN, and that unit prices should include all labor, supervision, equipment, mobilization/demobilization, fuel, transportation, lodging, fire-prevention measures, environmental compliance, access costs, quality control, and other costs necessary to achieve the required end state unless specifically identified as Government-furnished.

Confirmed.

21. Unit Quantities and Measurement Please confirm that the acreage quantities listed in the Schedule of Items are the Government’s estimated payment quantities and that final payment will be based on accepted acreage as measured by the Government using GIS/GPS methods described in the SOW.

Contractor shall be required to have a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a mobile electronic device with GPS capabilities (i.e. smart phone, tablets) with a program capable of reading a .pdf map for each piece of equipment and/or crew.