12FPC420R0012 Montana NRI Questions and Answers.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

NATIONAL RESOURCE INVENTORY GRAZING LAND ON‐SITE DATA COLLECTION – Montana (NATURAL

RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE)

SOLICITATION NO. 12FPC420R0012

Question 1: In Volume II. Past Performance Information, is the contractor limited to only two references for the RFP?

Answer 1: The solicitation requires at minimum two references that can speak to the offeror’s past performance on similar work.

Question 2: Can more Past Performance Information be added to the proposal?

Answer 2: Yes.

Question 3: What is the current status of the NRI training in Billings, MT May 19th‐21st due to COVID‐19? Is there a possibly that a training will not occur due to COVID‐19?

Answer 3: The Billings National NRI training scheduled for May 19th ‐21st has been cancelled due to COVID‐19 concerns. However, contractors should still include a bid price for a 2020 training. Montana NRCS state leadership will determine how/if we will be able to provide required training to contractors prior to field data collection and how to follow COVID‐19 safety precautions.

Question 4: Would the use of a soil giddings for soil assessments be permitted by the Montana

NRCS?

Answer 4: No, use of a soil giddings will not be permitted for this project. This method would require driving a vehicle into the NRI macroplot disturbing the sample site vegetation. Also, this method would not be practical or even possible in many situations across private land or difficult terrain. The Soil Scientist only needs to describe the profile to a maximum depth of 45 inches. This could be shallower depending on the depth of bedrock. The soil pit is approximately 1 foot x 1 foot and should be dug with a shovel as deep as needed and then a hand auger to reach further depths to adequately identify the soils component and describe the soil profile.