QAs-12970223R0001-0002.pdf

Solicitation No: 12970223R0001-0002 Central Sierra Zone Rangeland Fencing Construction IDIQ Page 1 of 4

Questions and Answers

1. RFP Section L.3.1 Scenarios requires us to respond to at least 2, and possibly all 4 of the provided scenarios.

Each of these response forms is at least five pages. Please confirm that these responses are not counted as part of the page limits.

The responses to the seed projects will not be included as part of the page limitations specified in section L.2.4.

Section L.2.4 is specifically for the item identified in Table 2.4 of the solicitation.

2. For the Seed Projects, Section B (Plan of Work) limits our response to a very small box to describe both narrative and schedule. Please confirm that this is correct.

The responses to the seed projects represent potential competitive task orders and include the maximum information the Government would need to make a best value award of an order under this IDIQ. The Section B, plan of work response in the RFQ forms require only enough detail to convey the offeror’s understanding of the requirement and allow the offeror to provide a clear explanation of how the work will be performed. Work Schedule is addressed under Section E of the form, which allows the offeror additional space to include an explanation, if necessary.

3. Are the Seed Projects subject to the same type and spacing restrictions as the rest of the proposal. Specifically:

o 1.5 line spacing o 12-point Times New Roman or Arial

No, the restrictions for spacing and font size required in L.2.6 of the solicitation terms are not applicable for the seed projects. The limitations under L.2 pertain to the items required under Table 2.4. The only restrictions in the seed project RFQ forms are that the space is not exceeded and the form not be modified other than to provide the information requested in each Section under the Proposal Response Area of each RFQ form.

4. Are the Seed Projects available as Word documents? Some tables (e.g., C. Equipment) may need to be expanded.

Yes, the Seed Project RFQ Proposal Response sections of the Forms will be provided in Word format.

However, offerors may only manipulate the font size to no less than Times New Roman 8 in their response.

The Government is not anticipating lengthy responses to the seed projects or subsequent task order RFQs post award of the parent IDIQ contracts.

5. May we include subcontractor experience in our L.4 Relevant Past Experience section?

Yes, subcontractor experience would be considered relevant and may be included in the Relevant Past Experience Volume.

6. Will developed campsites (i.e., water, electricity, toilets, hookups, etc.) be available for camping and/or staging?

Or are campsites assumed to be primitive?

Camping is addressed at the task order level post IDIQ contract award and may be authorized at the discretion of the ordering official. Camping approval guidelines and instructions are specific to the Forest and/or District of the ordering activity. The Government encourages use of developed campsites as available and authorized by the ordering official. Offerors interested in the use of a developed campground should be aware that many of the sites do not offer electrical hook-ups and approval is generally on a first come first serve basis so awarded contractors should not expect preferential access over the general public during the performance of work under an awarded task order.

For the purpose of response to this IDIQ solicitation and the seed projects under L.3.1, camping is not authorized. Campsites are not assumed primitive.

7. Are staging sites available?

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Sites may be available to stage some materials. Offerors would be required to coordinate site selection and obtain approval form the ordering activity.

8. Please confirm that permits can be obtained for the use of off-highway vehicles such as ATVs (“quads”) along the fence line. Please clarify whether such vehicles may be used to cross streams.

Permits may be obtained for off highway vehicles in the performance of the work under this IDIQ. The ordering Contracting Officer is the approval authority. Approval must be requested prior to order award.

Offerors interested in making such requests should be aware that anticipated projects may cover large areas with many different sites and some sites include sensitive areas that may be restricted from off road use. The Government will provide maps with each task order request that is anticipated to show the fence stretches and identify areas of concern.

9. The Seed Projects indicated that site visits are highly encouraged. They further state in the Basis of Award that

"The Government will consider: 1) any information that indicates the extent to which the site for this project was visited. 2) the results concluded from the site visit.” Given current and predicted snow/road conditions between now and the proposal due date, site visits seem impractical or infeasible. Will you consider removing site visits from the basis of award for these Seed Projects?

Yes, the Government will remove the site visits from the basis of award for the seed projects. See amendment 0001 to the solicitation.

10. For the Seed Projects, are there any known limited operating periods, areas, or additional equipment restrictions

(e.g., due to endangered species, fire restrictions against welding, etc.)

Currently there are no known fire restrictions in place. In the event that the Forest moves into Fire restrictions it will be expected that the contractor adhere to the local policy in place. Sensitive areas due to plants, wildlife, and cultural areas will be looked at on a case-by-case basis to determine the best course of action in completing contract requirements and maps will be provided.

11. All four of the currently posted seed project documents identify as being in Zone 1, but the pricing spreadsheet (labeled "TOSOI_12970223R0001.xlsx") says 1074219 (shouldn't that be 1082895?) and 1082953 are Zone 1, and 1082957 and 1082965 are Zone 2. Can you please confirm which projects are Zone 1 and which are Zone 2?

The reference numbers four (4) seed projects are 1082895, 1082953, 1082957, and 1082965. The Task Order Schedule of Items has been updated accordingly. See amendment 0001 to the solicitation.

12. All four of the project documents identify as being in Plumas NF, but the solicitation document (labeled "12970223R0001.pdf") in paragraph A.1.5 says Zone 2 will cover Eldorado NF and Lake Tahoe Basin MU. If projects 1082957 and 1082965 will be in Zone 2, can you please confirm the area where the work will occur?

All four (4) seed projects are located in Zone 1, in the Plumas National Forest. The Task Order Schedule of Items has been updated accordingly. See amendment 0001 to the solicitation.

13. The Statement of Work document (labeled "Statement+of+Work_CentralSierraRangeFence.pdf") in paragraph

3.1.1.4.1. Metal Fence Specifications (page 7) says that T-Posts will be every 16 feet, but all four of the project documents call for 18-foot spacing of the T-Posts. Can you please identify which standard will be expected?

The four (4) seed projects are requesting t-posts be installed every 18 feet. The required spacing of t-posts typically depends on terrain and some additional factors. T-posts spacing in Forest Service projects may range anywhere from 12-18 feet in spacing and will be determined at the task order level. The spacing is typically more of a “Guideline” than a rule. Ultimately, the Forest Service is looking for consistency across a particular project.

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14. Regarding the new fence alignment and property lines; will the Government be providing the fence alignment and or properly line points for each site along with corner staking for each of the fence locations? Or is it the Government’s intention to have the contractor be responsible for alignment and property locations? If this is the case will parcel maps be provided for verification? Do we know if there are any monuments for each location in order for possible survey to pull points off of?

The Government will provide maps outlining the alignment and property lines. Flagging may be able to be staked at the beginning and endpoints, depending on site accessibility, timing, and capacity. However, contractors should be prepared to follow the maps provided. Skeletal remains of old fencing might also be used on some sites as a guide to the reconstructed fencing.

15. Will the Government be able to provide any other plan sheets or as-builts to help verify the various locations shown on the maps for each seed project or work locations? Or are the google earth pictures the only information we have to go off of?

The Government can provide the maps of the locations of previous fence-lines. A Government representative might be able to provide more specific on ground location at the time of implementation.

16. Can the government verify how much of the old fence is still in place for each location? It’s hard to quantify how much fence and old posts will need to be removed and off hauled for each of the locations. Each of the bid items provided in the bid schedule do not have any quantities listed. This also is the case for the clearing items, as they do not have any quantities listed and there is no current way to quantify how much will be generated for disposal. Please clarify this if possible so all of the bidders are bidding equal quantities.

This is not data is currently unknown to the Government. Contractors should assume all wire and metal t-posts are not in reusable condition and will need to be removed for the total length of seed projects bid on. None of the old fence has been removed.

17. Regarding access to each location and for the seed projects, is there any way to tell us if we can access the existing and new fence locations via trails or fire roads etc.…are we are to assume all locations are accessible by OHV or if the entire fence locations are only accessible by hiking materials in place?

The maps provided have roads shown on them for accessing sites. No new fence lines or sites are proposed in the project only existing fence lines to be replaced. If resource conditions allow, offroad travel will be granted if requested.

18. The SOW calls for clearing an 8’ wide workspace or 4’ on either side of the fence to be installed-- are we allowed to lose whatever spoils that are generated from this task on site or are we to off haul anything that is generated?

Any excess vegetation cut during fence construction should be lopped and scattered to make the landscape look as natural as possible.

19. How are we to quantify the clearing of brush or number of trees that are in the way of the fencing in each location, the maps provided do not show any of the existing brush and trees that might be in the way…are we allowed to cut and remove any trees that are in our alignment, and can we leave any of the cleared bush and trees on site? Please verify this relates to each of the 22+ mile seed projects.

This is not data is currently unknown to the Government. There will be decisions that will need to be made on site, on a case-by-case basis. Directions in the contract allow for utilizing healthy trees as part of the fencing structures following proper protocols. If areas are workable without having to clear or cut vegetation this would be optimal.

20. If the sites are to be surveyed prior to fence installation, did the government account for this task in its contract durations?

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The Government has walked the fence lines in order to acquire the locations and GPS data provided in the maps associated with the seed projects submission.

21. With the weather we have been getting will we be able to access the sites due to snow?

Sites should be accessible this field season. Some lower elevation sites might be accessible earlier than others.

Contractors can coordinate these efforts after contract or task order award. Contractors will also be able to contact the sites directly, at that time, for current weather conditions.

22. What types of machinery is typically allowed? I read that we need to minimally disrupt the soil, but are there restrictions on what can and cannot be leveraged? Would a bobcat or skid steer be allowed?

Regarding the four seed projects in the Plumas National Forest the Forest Ranger has confirmed that as long as there are not any resource concerns (sensitive plants, sensitive cultural areas, etc.) that the use of a bobcat or skid steer would be allowable. Offroad travel will be granted if requested.

For future task orders machinery will need to be approved on a case-by-case basis for each stretch of fence line.

Machinery like bobcats and skid steers may be allowed to be used in most cases depending on if resource conditions allow.

23. Please clarify the offeror guarantee (bid bond) requirements. Are we providing separate bid bonds for each of the seed projects we provide a bid for? Or can we provide one bid bond equal to the sum of all the seed projects we bid? Please confirm the bid bond needs to be 20% of the bid price.

One bid bond equal to the sum of all the seed projects is acceptable, and that amount would be 20% of the bid price.

24. Is the Forest Service going to award a contract to more than one contractor?

With the understanding that the period of performance of this IDIQ contract is up to three years and involves four forests, the Forest Service anticipates awarding up to six contractors.

25. Are we mandated to complete more than one site per year?

The mandate for site visits has been removed from the seed projects due to the current weather conditions. Site visits for future work will be determined at the task order level.

26. Are the fencing posts required to be set in concrete?

Fence posts are not required to be set in concrete. However, when setting metal post for the braces concrete is the preferred method.

27. The section of the solicitation M.4.5 Cost or Price states that the bidder must provide pricing for an additional

6-month option period, but there is no place for this on the bid forms. Are we to manually add an additional row to the bid sheets for the 6-month option period?

This section of the solicitation has been adjusted for the additional 6-month option period. The 6-month option period is half of the final option year and can be submitted as another line item.