Amendment 3 RFIs.pdf

Amendment#3 Q&As 4.20.2023

Item 911(02) Excavation and Embankment, New Trail Construction, Full Bench Pay item (911)02 Excavation and Embankment, Widen Existing Tread – this pay item was left out of Attachment 9 on SAM.gov. Reference new corrected Schedule Of Items Document dated 4/20/2023. Use this latest version to submit pricing.

Item 911(05) Excavation for Trail Structures

• How are these excavations separately defined? Please refer to the Standard Trail Specification 911.00.03. For Structure Excavation Pay Item 911(05), please refer to Standard Trail Specification 911.30.14. As we understand these items, 911(02) would be basic new tread construction yes, but read trail specification and 911(05) would be based on the installation of trail structures AFTER a trail already existed. yes Is this a correct interpretation? yes

914(02)

• Why are these priced “each” (instead of linear foot) when they can vary greatly in length and required labor depending on terrain and local conditions? A Unit of Measure of Linear foot is more appropriate for work that is uniform in effort along its length of application. As you stated, effort can vary greatly based on terrain and site specific condition ie soils. Due to the non-uniform nature, when calling for the construction of a climbing turn, the Shoshone will take pictures of the site, provide measurements of the side slope and otherwise try to provide as much site specific information about existing conditions as reasonably possible

914(03) See Standard Specification 914 and specifically 914.20 / 917(02) See Standard Specification 917.40.02 / 922(02) See Standard Specification 922.00.01 & 922.40.03/ 927(02) See Standard Specification 927.10/ 928(02) See Standard Specification 928 specifically 928.20.02/ 931(03) See Standard Specification 932, specifically 932.40 & 931.40.06 / 935(02) / See Standard Specification 935 and specifically 935.70

• What specific labor actions are described by “ ‘maintenance’ of existing”? Maintenance is a very broad term and can be used to describe re-treading, clearing drains, removing debris, repairing rock or log structures, logging out, excavating slides, etc. Please provide some additional details and expectations in regard to each “maintenance” item on the master trail pricing sheet. Maintenance generally refers to applying a level of effort to bring an item back to its full functioning capacity, when that level of effort would be less than reconstructing that item in its entirety. Maintenance is pay item specific, so for instance if we call for maintenance of water bars that would work would relate to bringing that water bar back to functioning capacity. Essentially make it drain again. – If we want a tread maintained we will call that out in the pay item. Again these examples are simplified, please see the specifications related to each pay item for a clear explanation of requirements.

917(01)

• This item needs to be defined in more detail as stream ford projects can vary greatly in length, availability of local building materials (rock or log), site accessibility, and current water levels. It is too vague and very difficult to price based on a unit of “each”; recommendation/request to price per task or by linear foot. Please refer to

Standard Specification 917, and specifically 917.40.02. Please see the Ruth Creek Crossing at Mile Post 8.07 for a typical ford. – We have steep ground with potential for high intensity short duration runoff. As a result, our Steam Ford Maintenance work revolves around removing down trees and piled rock. The intent is to have pictures (photo and video log) of all work prior to bidding (except simple work such as clearing and log out).

921(01)

• Is this item specifically describing placing the corrugated pipe, not including excavation, material cost, or drainpipe supporting structures as in the scenario of placing a corrugated pipe within a causeway structure? Please include more details and expectations in the description of this item. Please refer to Standard Specification 921

922(02)

• Should the unit be “each” instead of “linear foot”? Sure

912(04) and (05)

• In the Schedule of Items Notes, there are two descriptions for the same item number(s) above. Is this an error? No Is it being confused with 912(14)? No. The notes could be combined, but were left separate due to varying scope

• Assuming the labor-time estimations for 912(04) and (05) are based on wilderness locations, as opposed to non-wilderness. You do not need to provide labor time estimates. I used hourly estimates to verify unit costs. Please See Attachment 5 Fishhawk Maps.pdf for location of work items with respect to wilderness boundary

912(14)

• This item is not listed on the master pricing schedule but it is on the task order for Fishhawk. There is some confusion as to how it is different from 912(04) and (05).

912(14) was inadvertently left off the master pricing schedule. Same work requirements as 312(04) & (05). One is paid for by Each, and one is Paid for per Mile.

- A MCC crew spent three weeks on Fishhawk trail in the summer of 2022. The trail was clear in its entirety with the exception of 2 trees in October 2022 . Down trees will be dealt with on a per each basis for this Task Order. Future Task Orders in almost all cases use 912(04) & (05) and paid for by the mile

Please define Class 1, 2, and 3 trails (USFS offers several different definitions) Trail Class definitions are uniform throughout the nation. Design Parameters for Trail Classes vary with respect to Designed Use. All Trails on the Shoshone National Forest will be Pack & Saddle Designed Use –However please refer to the Solicitation, Plans, Specifications and Schedule of Items for specific Design Parameters and dimensions, specifically Sheets 2,4, 5, 6.

Fishhawk

• Milepost 1.75 shows the pay item as 911(02), which is NEW trail construction, but in the work description, it is described as EXISTING trail. The incorrect spreadsheet was uploaded for Attachment 9 on SAM.gov. The intent is to have a pay item for 911(02) where the existing condition of the ground requires ”..New Trail Construction, Full…” and other existing conditions where there is an existing trail but it needs to be widened. Same specifications and same required end product, but due to the varying existing conditions, the effort involved will require a different unit cost. Attachment #9 updated. Use this latest version to submit pricing

Scope of Work

• Are there any variances in place for running chainsaws in wilderness areas for heavy work conditions to bring pricing down for the client and shorten impact timeframes for work being performed in these areas? No

• Are there any variances we or the CO could apply for to obtain helicopter support to sling load building materials into difficult to access wilderness sites such as in the case of a bridge build task order? It depends. This option is not available for the Contractor.

It would be addressed by the Agency during project planning. It would be on a case by case basis. The Forest Service would apply for the MRDG in advance and have it in place at the time of Solicitation if flying bridge materials is an option.

Local Pack Stations

• Are USFS packers and stock available to support contractor mobilization in any sites that are difficult to access, require multi-day crew operations, or where building materials need to be hauled in (i.e., bridges) on an either paid or unpaid basis? This will be Forest and Task Order specific. For the Shoshone NF - This option is not available for the Contractor to solicit Agency Packers. It would be addressed by the Agency during project planning. If Agency stock support was deemed advantageous it would be listed as a Government Furnished Service in the Task Order at the time of Solicitation. For this IDIQ contract, the Shoshone would look to schedule Agency packers to haul large bridge and puncheon materials only. (Our packers are currently scheduled over a year in advance). Packing gear, supplies and personnel can be readily be hired out to local Outfitters. Another possible option would be to contact the local chapter of Backcountry Horseman. There is a local Trail Riding business where you can rent horses. They walk slow, (2ish mph) but are pretty bombproof.