Attachment 7 - Questions and Answers_0001.pdf

1. Are maps/shapefiles of potential survey areas available for review by contractor prior to proposal submittal?

a. A1: The SOW provided a map, and shapefiles are available of the areas shown in the maps. The DeBeque phacelia model will be made available, however bidders are expected to be familiar with the species and will need to do their own habitat assessment. The model is being tested, and should not be relied on solely for determining potential habitat.

2. Will shapefiles include access road layers?

Our road designations are available on ePlanning and data is on the BLM Navigator:

https://navigator.blm.doi.net/data?keyword=gtlf&format=Data%20in%20a%20File%20Geodatabase

%20(FileGDB%20Data)&fs_publicRegion=CO

3. Are administrative roads gated and locked for Atwell Gulch ACEC? If so, will the contractor for this work have access?

a. No, the administration road is not gated or locked. The contractor will be able to use the admin road.

4. Since Atwell Gulch ACEC is closed to motorized/mechanized travel, are we to assume that all survey areas in the ACEC will be accessed on foot?

https://navigator.blm.doi.net/data?keyword=gtlf&format=Data%20in%20a%20File%20Geodatabase%20(FileGDB%20Data)&fs_publicRegion=CO https://navigator.blm.doi.net/data?keyword=gtlf&format=Data%20in%20a%20File%20Geodatabase%20(FileGDB%20Data)&fs_publicRegion=CO

a. With the exception of the administrative route, access will be via foot.

5. Are there ATV trails in Ashmead Draw, and is their use allowed anywhere in the area?

a. ATVs are allowed on designated routes. No motorized cross-country travel is permitted.

6. If private land access is needed, will that be the responsibility of the contractor or will BLM assist with landowner contacts?

a. BLM can assist, but the contractor will likely need to work with landowners for access.

7. Are any parts of the survey areas in current grazing allotments?

a. Yes, Ashmead Draw is in a grazing allotment

8. Have any parts of the survey areas been recently burned?

a. No

9. Will the contractor receive information on the locations of known populations of Phacelia submutica, that can be used to verify flowering time?

a. Yes, the contractor who is awarded the contract will be provided known occurrence information if they need it.

10. Question on timing if the plant does not emerge. What will the contractor do if the plant does not germinate? – Continue the survey and provide the reports as contracted. We do not plan to terminate the contract if the plant does not germinate or appear.

11. Where is modeling data from ? – ongoing work with Heritage program based upon photo-reflectivity

12. Higher quality aerial imaging available? Not at this time

13. Literature review in person or virtual? Virtual

14. Project Budget or costs? We don’t reveal this. Use market research or FPDS-NG to see what we have paid per acre for similar items.

15. Direct experience with phalcelia submutica required? Not exactly, but a contractor with this experience will naturally rate higher on the

16. How are you going to narrow the range you can’t afford to survey everywhere you think it might be according to the model? It will depend upon what we can get done

17. Protection of species after survey? Atwell Gulch – already an ACEC. For other areas, this will give us more info to inform our decisions on future land management actions.

18. Camping allowed? Yes – Island Acres possibility. We will help you find a suitable area to camp in.

19. GPS accuracy requirement? Don’t need to be Trimble precise. Tablets and handhelds are fine.

20. Noxious weed documentation? Yes – provide notes on the forms. But focus is still on debeque phacelia.