Q_A_-_0002_0002.docx

1. Will government delineate the stand boundaries? Are the shp files available now for the stand boundaries? If so, can you email them to me? It says that all stands are within a mile of a road, is this correct?

-Fist I have the stand boundaries and can place the plots; these are now attachments that can be accessed through the solicitation. There are a total of 204 stands within the project area.

2. Is the contractor required to do the plot layout for the individual stands? Will the government provide the configuration file for EcoSurvey handheld application?

-We will provide the configuration file for ecosurvey.

3. The SOW states that woodland species require a diameter at root collar. Since many woodland species are multi-stemmed, will each stem of a single tree be tallied as a separate tree? Or will the sum of the diameters be averaged to provide a single DRC measurement for that tree? The SOW requires site trees for this project. It is my understanding that the main species are junipers. Is there a juniper site tree index? It states that up to half of the plots will have site trees on them. Due to the anticipated size of these stands that could translate into an excessive number of juniper site trees. Do you really want that many? There is also a requirement for age trees listed. It states that 10% of live trees will be sampled for age. This along with the requirement for site trees is going to result in a large number of trees being bored. Since boring trees is the most time-consuming task when performing work on a plot this is a significant cost factor. My question: is this something that you feel necessary to collect in mostly even age juniper stands? Not collecting all this site and age tree information could result in a significant cost savings.

-Site trees are defined in the SOW (2.0 definitions) a site index is not necessary to meet this definition. However, the definition accidently carried over a statement saying, “One site tree will be measured on every other plot.” This piece should have been removed and has been updated in the current SOW. The actual number will be 5 per stand(unit).

0. Site Tree Plots and Site Tree Selection

1. Total number of Site Trees will range from a minimum of five to half of the total stand exam plots in the unit. If two consecutive plots have suitable site tree candidates, they can both be chosen as site trees. If two consecutive plots do not have suitable site tree candidates, the site tree selection may be made up in other plots or found off plot, as long as Site tree selection criteria are met. Site Trees will be assigned tree flag “S”. Each Site Tree shall be painted with the letter “S” as specified in 5.1.4. The appropriate Site Tree Table (see below) shall be selected on screen 3/9 of the Unit screens in the field data collection device.

Only site trees will be age trees.

4. Another question has to do with your .xlsx bid schedule. It states that this should be filled out and that we have the option of giving you a per plot price. Since the bid schedule is requiring hourly rates, plus travel and expenses does this mean that once we have spent the amount of money listed in the bid schedule that we have fulfilled the terms of the contract for the amount of work required? There is no provided bid schedule for a per plot price.

· The bid schedule has been updated to provide a price per plot. Please see attachment.

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