Government_Responses_to_vendor_questions_0001.pdf

Question Government response Reference 1 4.1.2 The Contractor shall furnish sufficient equipment to satisfactorily spray the designated areas in the time specified as required in the Detailed Specifications.

Equipment shall be capable of traveling at moderate speed to give proper control and distribution of herbicide. Equipment shall have communications with the Government by using cell phones. Contract will not commence until communication is established. Equipment shall have radios with radio frequencies designated by the Project Inspector as a backup communication.

What is the specific communication device being referenced in bold text above?

Clarification has been added to the document. We are refering to mobile devices that can make or receive phone calls. The ability for the device to have texting or messaging capabilities is optional.

PWS 4.1.2

2 The Contractor shall be responsible for purchasing, securing, and providing all herbicides necessary to complete the specifications of this contract. Any unused herbicide will be turned into the Government upon completion of the contract.

Does this mean that contractors are to turn over to the government unused herbicide that the contractor has purchased? Please clarify.

Yes, the contractor will turn over any chemical that they have purchased for this contract over to the government upon the completion of the contract.

Chemical has been included as part of the bid schedule. The contractor will include the estimated costs of purchasing the chemical in the bid schedule and that amount would be paid along with the amounts put in the bid schedule for application. Because the government will have paid the contractor at the completion of the contractor for the chemical, any chemical that was purchased for the contract, but not used, is the property of the government.

The only chemical that will not be turned over to the government is any chemical that is not listed in the bid schedule that the contractor chooses to purchase for purposes such as drift control.

PWS 4.3.1 Herbicide Requirements PWS 5.2 Supply Herbicide

3 Will this contract be awarded to multiple contractors? No, this contract will not be awarded to multiple contractors.

4 Are contractors able to draft water from creeks or streams when possible? If not, what are the specific logistics of water supply for all project areas?

Yes, the Contractor may draft water if water is available at the project site. If the Contractor chooses to draft water, they shall provide a means to filter the water. The Contractor shall not damage the riparian zone. Damage can be avoided by not driving through the riparian zone.

Any damage caused to the riparian zone will be resolved at the expense of the Contractor. The Contractor shall prevent contamination of water sources.

The only areas where water would be likely available for drafting would be at the 2 and 1/2 Mile and Morgan's Bridge project sites.

If water is not available at the project site, the Contractor is responsible to obtaining and providing their own water.

PWS 6.2.8 Water (Carrier)

5 Does the government possess detailed noxious weed infestation location maps for all project areas and will this data be shared with the contractor prior to commencing herbicide applications?

No, the government does not have detailed noxious weed infestation maps for all of the project areas. The Contractor will survey the entirety of the outlined project sites.

6 Will onsite camping be possible on all project areas? Camping is allowed in developed campgrounds on a first come-first served basis (subject to campground rules). Personal property cannot be left unattended for more than 24 hours in a day use area and 72 hours in other areas. Dispersed camping is allowed on public land managed by BLM. All camping on public land is limited to a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period.

The Contractor shall be subject to campground rules at developed campgrounds. For all other camping please refer to PWS 1.6.9 Camping for expectations of the Contractor.

PWS 1.6.9 Camping

Contractor Questions and Government responses: PFO Herbicide Application (140L2625Q0030)

7 GPS tracklog lines will be recorded at all times where inventories or treatments are conducted.

When inventorying project areas, is there a specified grid distance that contractors will be expected to adhere to? Is the contractor expected to grid entire project areas at appropriate application swath distances?

All areas within the project areas shall be surveyed and all noxious weeds within the project area shall be treated (PWS 6.2.1 Coverage)

There is no specified swath distance that the contractor is expected to adhere to when surveying, however the contractor must show that all areas of the project sites have been sufficiently surveyed using tracklogs (PWS 4.1.5.3 Project Log).

Any and all single spot or large infestations of noxious weed infestations within the project area shall be sprayed and mapped according to the NISIMS Business Rules for GPS Mapping which is outlined in PWS 4.1.5.4 Mapping. No specified swath distance is required, however the Contractor must determine the effective swath width based on the application equipment to be used while spraying. While the swaths do not need to be straight due to the terrain, no overlapping should be occuring during treatment to maintain uniform coverage (PWS 6.2.3 Application Paths and PWS 6.2.4 Swath Width).

To clarify, tracklogs will show where crew members have traveled while surveying and spraying. These tracklog lines should cover the entirety of the project areas. The mapping will be in points or polygons according to NISIMS rules and will show where treatments occured.

PWS 4.1.5.3 Project Log PWS 4.1.5.4 Mapping PWS 6.2.1 Coverage PWS 6.2.3 Application Paths PWS 6.2.4 Swath Width

8 What will determine whether or not overland/off road travel will be permitted at all project areas? The Pocatello Resource Management Plan prohibits cross country travel using motorized vehicles. The Authorized Officer (Pocatello Field Manager) has the discretion to approve cross country travel on a case-by-case basis for authorized/permitted activities. Permitted activities may have allowances for off-road travel if it obtained in writing from the Authorized Officer in the form of a letter or specifically stipulated or identified in the terms and conditions of the permit/authorization.

In the case of this weed spraying contract, the Field Manager will not give a blanket approval for off-road/overland travel at Blackrock Canyon or Indian Rocks because they are both sensitive areas, however case-by-case requests may be considered through a Travel Variance Request (a form will be given to the awardee). The Travel Variance Request would include the purpose of the request, and would include specific information such as who, where, and what vehicles are being requested for cross country travel. The government will approve off road motorized travel for all other project locations associated with the contract with an approval letter that would contain some general terms and conditions to follow.

Any other limitations will be due to the landscape. Descriptions of each of the project sites are listed in PWS 1.6.3 under "Description of Work Site."

PWS 1.6.12 Cross-Country Travel PWS 1.6.3 - Description of Work Site (under each project site section)