B08_Attachment_9_140P8422Q0127_Site_Visit_Notes-Q-A_0001.pdf

SOLICITATION NO. 140P8422Q0127

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT

RCA RECEIVING AND TRANSMITTING STATIONS,

POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

SITE VISIT – August 22, 2022

SITE VISIT SUMMARY:

A site visit was conducted on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Participants met at the Point Reyes National Seashore headquarters admin parking lot at 1 Bear Valley Road Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. Participants then caravanned to the project location.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RECEIVED TO DATE:

1. I just noticed on sam.gov that there's one more attachment, Attachment 3, Condition Assessment

Forms, that we needed to request from you separately because of its large size. Is there some site where we can download it?

NPS Response: The Contracting Officer can send you the secure link from which you can download the file. Please provide the Contracting Officer with your email address when you make your request for the document.

2. Can chips be broadcast on site to keep the nutrients for the soil from the chips for both removals and prunings?

NPS Response: Chips from removals and pruning may be chipped and broadcast around the base of the trees to keep the nutrients for the soils. Chips must be distributed evenly across a given area and not exceed a depth 4 inches in any given area. For chips spread at the base of the cypress tree allée, chips must be spread evenly and consistently across the entire feature in order to maintain a pleasing visual aesthetic.

3. Who is in charge of what branches come out? this pruning is tedious work and if our arborist is to call out the branches to remove and has final call than that is fine‐ but if your arborist will have final call then we would expect this person to be on site daily so we don’t have to go back to trees to fix anything.

NPS Response: An appointed Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or designated Project

Inspector will be on site regularly to track progress of work and implementation of the tasks described in the Performance Work Statement. However, the project requires the work be conducted under the supervision of a Contractor‐provided ISA certified arborist who is expected to exercise their best professional judgement in the implementation of the Performance Work Statement and

RFQ # 140P8422Q0127, Site Visit Notes and Q&A achieving the goal of the project that is to support the health and visual aesthetic of individual trees and vegetative features of the site.

4. There are 2 lines that say different sizes of limbs to prune‐ ½” and larger on one line and 1” and larger on another line? What size limbs?

NPS Response: Section II.A.e. of the Performance Work Statement is revised to say "Remove as much deadwood as possible for all tree canopies, from 1" in size and up". This revision was made to be consistent with Section II.A.l. that requires target pruning for all branches 1" in diameter or larger

5. Who is in charge for any bird nesting, etc.? Will state pay for this?

NPS Response: This project is to be undertaken outside of bird nesting season in order to avoid impacting nesting birds and requirements for bird nesting surveys. Bird nesting season for Point

Reyes National Seashore is defined as February 1‐August 1 for Raptors and March 15‐July 31 for all other birds.

6. Do you want us to leave chips on site or stay with the original scope of work and haul them all away?

NPS Response: See question 2 and NPS response.

7. What is the minimum size for dead wood we are to prune‐‐1/2‐inch dead wood or 1‐inch dead wood and larger?

NPS Response: See question 4 and NPS response.

8. Will there be an area in which to stage our equipment overnight?

NPS Response: Yes, the parking area at the northwest end of the cypress tree allee may be used for general project staging and staging of equipment overnight.

9. When is work anticipated to start?

NPS Response: Refer to the Performance Work Statement (Attachment 1) which states the following:

Work shall begin only after the Contracting Officer is in receipt of proof of required insurance and an acceptable Safety and Accident Prevention Plan. The work is anticipated to take approximately 45 days. The anticipated period of performance for on‐site work is September 20, 2022 to November 4, 2022; work may begin sooner upon receipt of acceptable insurance/safety plan. Work shall be

RFQ # 140P8422Q0127, Site Visit Notes and Q&A conducted during regular scheduled working hours (7:00 am‐ 5:00 pm, Monday‐ Friday), excluding any federal holidays. The work is anticipated to start September 20, 2022 – November 4, 2022

10. What is budget for the work?

NPS Response: While we don’t publish our Independent Government Estimate, this project is currently funded at the amount of our estimate, which we consider to be a fair and reasonable price for the required services.

11. This is all certified payroll?

NPS Response:

This acquisition is considered a service contract. As such FAR 52.222‐41, Service Contract Labor

Standards applies. Service Contract Act Wage Determination No. 1977‐0727, Revision No. 68 is attached to the solicitation (Attachment 5) and contains minimum wages and fringe benefits.

12. Pricing. Are we just to provide a single lump‐sum price for the entire project? Do we just put the pricing on the SF 1449?

NPS Response: Regarding pricing, yes it should be stated on the SF 1449.

The RFQ states:

Standard Form 1449 (quoter to fill blocks 12,17,23,24,30a,b & c – this includes your pricing). Clearly identify your company’s "Unique Entity Identifier" or “UEI” in block 17.

On the SF 1449, enter pricing as follows:

Block 21: 1

Block 22: LS (for lump sum)

Block 23: Your price

Block 24: Your price (this should be identical to block 23 since lump sum)

13. Am I correct that there is no bid bond required for this bid?

NPS Response: Correct, no bid bond required with your quote. No payment or performance bond will be required post‐award.

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