Amendment_2_Q&A.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

1 7

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

2 01/09/2018

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

USDA Forest Service Central California Acquisition Service Area Tahoe National Forest 631 Coyote Street Nevada City, CA 95959

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State, and ZIP Code) (X) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

129JGP18Q0015

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

12/19/2017

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE FACILITY CODE

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended, is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS, IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED

IN ITEM 14. (TO BE FILLED OUT BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER)

(X) A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN

THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.

The reason for Amendment 2 is to present question and answers and site visit sign in sheet. Due to comments for wording in Schedule of items, a revised schedule of items is attached. Response date is extended to 25 January 2017. Please note some questions still remain with Forest Service program personell, who will provide responses to those questions next week. Expected date for follow on question response will be 19 January 2018.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

OLaine Martinez

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16C. DATE SIGNED

01/09/2018 (Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

30-105 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Revised Schedule from combined/synopsis solicitation Sugar Pine Hazard Tree Mitigation.

Item Description Quantity Unit Price 1 Hand Fell/cut Designated trees 510 EA

2 Remove Sawlog and Non-Sawlogs to Disposal Sites (Estimated Quantity)

776* EA

3 Remove all saw logs Slash Treatment/Mechanical Removal/ Piling of Slash and Decking of Logs

776* EA

4 Treat Stumps newly cut with registered Borat Compound.

EA

5 Site Restoration (Entire Recreation site) 1 EA 6 Stump Grinding (Estimated Quantity) 250* EA

• Please note asterisk implies estimated quantities. Some saw logs will remain on the ground after falling. Approximate number not available at this time but will follow up if any changes arise. Not all stumps identified may be able to have its stump ground. If no changes are a result of the follow on questions, this schedule replaces the schedule on the Combined Synopsis solicitation.

Question and Answer Answers in blue immediately after question.

1. Last day to present questions is Friday, Jan 19, 2018. Questions after this date may not receive a response.

2. Can we hand pile the branches and collect the piles with a Skidsteer? Depends on site.

Campsites yes. Grounds are already compacted. Outside of sites and roads is site dependent.

3. Can we go off of the Skid Trails to access hand piled branches and debris with a Skidsteer?

Possibly but would have to receive input from Program managers. This should be answered next week.

4. Will we be allowed to close areas of the campground where and while we work? All site are closed for this work until May 20th, 2018. After May 20th, any work for removal, stump grinding, and slash removal will be site specific and closure may be a possibility depending on site.

5. During my first site visit I noticed dead trees that were not marked. Is it anticipated that there will be tree removal add ons? Possibly but that would be dependent upon funding. Priority is hazardous trees in the recreation site.

6. During the felling procedures there will inevitably be branches that bust into tiny pieces upon the trees impact with the ground. What percentage of the branches and debris will be allowed to remain on site? Less than 5%

7. Does all the bark that breaks off of the trees have to be removed? Bark bits included? No

8. Does the debris from previously felled trees need to be removed? Bark bits included? No

9. Will we be allowed to use small equipment to gather the remaining debris between the skid trails? Such as a Skid Steer? Potentially. Depends on Ground disturbance.

10. There is yellow skid trail flagging in the campgrounds. Are those preselected skid trails?

Can we deviate from those trails? Can we flag our own trails? Yes, Pre-selected. Only if pre-selected can’t be used you can use CO/COR approved trails. Suggested trails require approval prior by COR/CO. Need to maintain the integrity of the ground at the recreation sites.

11. Are the tree numbers in linear sequence? i.e. 1 through 500 Yes

12. Does each campground have its own set of Tree numbers? No, continuous number but we do have the tree evaluations for each tree and each tree is located on maps, and each tree has a GPS location.

13. Are the 510 trees divided among the four campgrounds? Basically but we identified 6 areas.

14. Are there trees along the roads or in the day use areas? Yes.

15. Will we be allowed to camp on site throughout the project duration? No. Sorry, Cannot camp at rec site. It is only useable for recreation. We cannot have vendors working out of the camp grounds.

16. Can we chip an agreed upon amount of the branches and debris and broadcast on site amongst the skid trails? No, this will prohibit other plant and flora growth in the area.

17. Can we get a waiver for the FAR clause Subcontractor limitations if we use all Foresthill contractors? No, I cannot waive the FAR Clause.

18. Can we get a waiver for damage or removal of small trees when the said tree is in the felling path safest to property and infrastructure? Yes.

19. There is a large Cedar tree marked for removal. This tree is surrounded by leave trees and stands behind a large log from a previously felled tree. Felling this tree will more than likely destroy a number of trees. The ideal scenario would be a felling path that balances minimal damage or removal of leave trees while maximizing access for removal. Can we get a waiver to damage or remove trees in the most advantageous felling path? Can we remove part of the previously downed tree in order to access the debris and logs from this Cedar?

20. Can we winch or end-line logs to the paved areas during times when the ground is too moist for equipment to travel on? Potentially, this would be site specific and would need COR/CO approval. Must minimize foot print and ground disturbance.

21. Item 3 seems misleading. Is it meant to be for the stump grinding as it shows the number 250 in the line items? Or does it pertain to the slash removal and log decking as it states in the line item? If so what is the number 250 refereeing to. See new schedule of items above.

22. Page 8 makes this comment: Slash from operations will be removed from project area and not be deposited within controlled areas. See Controlled areas definitions. Paragraph 2.1 Please explain what this means? It seems all slash and debris will be left at designated disposal sites but this statement seems to contradict that. They will be removed to disposal sites. Some areas will be lopped and scattered depending on distance from campground or other restrictions. Note. 2.2,g. In serpentine barrens between Giant Gap Campground and Shirttail Day use area, do no spread wood chips, use vehicles off-road, transport logs or cause ground disturbance. Please review the Solicitation to I.D. other areas with similar restrictions.

23. If we are not employing any MSPA workers do we still need to have FLC authorization for transporting employees, housing employees and do all non MSPA worker still need to certify individually under FLC? No, this pertains to H2B and MSPA only.

24. Are the health and welfare fringe benefits included in the hourly rates listed? Yes

25. pg. 34 states: Portions of roads that lie within RCAs shall be rocked Is the total area to be rocked known? what type/depth shall the rock be? At this time we did not plan to have any roads within RCAs. If, during the work process something needs to be done, it can be discussed at that time. Some of the wording is canned from specialists that needs to be in the contracts for protection of certain species. We did not analyze for any temporary roads.

26. Are the vehicle washing stations already in place or is this something we will need to create? Vehicle washing stations are NOT in place. The equipment would only need to be washed if it is returning to the campground AND operating off of the payment at that time. For example, if a self-loader is used to deposit logs at Disposal Site 1 and it is returning to pick up more logs, as long as it stays on the asphalt at the campground the tires do not need to be washed. If it will be pulling off of the pavement for access then the tires will need to be washed before leaving the disposal site.

27. Will any bonds be required? No, Bonds are not required for service work.

28. Is this service or construction work? This is Service work.

29. Was there previous projects of similar scope? No, this is the first of this type for this forest.

30. Can we leave rounds for firewood on hill top? No, because there is already firewood available from previous cut trees and there would be too much fuel on the ground.

Questions from Site Visit, January 11, 2018

1. Can the time to do the stump grinding be extended beyond the May 20, 2018 date?

Yes, possibly if weather conditions permit, the ground is already compacted in the actual camp sites so ground disturbance is not an issue. Potentially Stump grinding may occur at Shirttail Camping sites after site is open. Must coordinate with Recreation site management beforehand.

2. Are we doing improvements? No. If there is any damage to existing infrastructure, the repair is to the existing infrastructure only, not to make any improvements.

3. Will the R5 Hazard tree guideline Sugar Pine Reservoir tree information be shared before award? No, and will not affect the quote as this is not a timber sale. Note. This is not a timber sale. The purpose is to fall hazard trees and remove them to disposal sites. Cutting to preferred timber sale length is not the priority. In areas where removal is difficult, trees may be cut to smaller sizes to allow for easier removal.

4. Are mules a consideration for a tool to remove slash? Yes, definitely.

5. Is there a way to get the hydrologist and the soil scientist from the Lassen to collaborate with Tahoe resource specialists? (as there was a similar contract to remove hazard trees on the Lassen). We are trying to get these folks together but it’s a long weekend and we will have to follow up next week with their response.

6. What about additional hazard trees that may need to be felled as well? If more trees are identified by Forest Service and if funding is available we may modify the contract. If no funding is available, depending on hazard risk we may be able to swap a lesser hazardous tree but that would be determined when that problem arises. Would prefer to not switch/swap out trees or swap. And this would also be site specific.

What about damage to other trees not marked or other trees that need to be cut down to remove the hazard tree? This is a standard practice for tree felling-this needs to be communicated with CO/COR or designated official. Contractor will not be compensated for trees not designated for falling. Contract incurs cost of additional tree felling and removal. This is an industry practice.

How deep are the water lines? About 18 inches. Water lines are marked with blue paint and/or blue flags on each site. Site facility maps may be available.

How old are the water lines? 40-50 years

Is it OK to remove existing downed logs to remove the logs from the site to disposal site? Yes

Can we use a skid steer to stump grind? Follow up next week. We will find out if stump grinding could be done with skidsteers on wet soil and/or if there is a psi limitation within which grinding can be accomplished on wet soil for stump grinding. This answer requires more time to research. Expect follow up Mod before 18 Jan 2018.

If our questions aren’t answer by end of week, will there be an extension?

Because we cannot respond to all questions at this time. The solicitation will be extended to January 25, 2017 at 4:00 p.m.