B12_Questions_and_Answers_LAVO_Hazard_Trees_FY26_0001.pdf

1. Is the inventory final?

Yes

2. Are all blue marks facing roadside / visible?

Most should be marked for best visibility. This is subjective. Pictures will be made available as well.

3. Will/can a KMZ be provided?

Yes.

4. Can crews stay in the cabins at Manzanita Lake while working?

No.

5. Will contractors / park staff be working on the cabins at Manzanita (or other areas) during tree removal?

Potentially. NPS will coordinate with other work crews to assure concessions staff and

NPS field staff are not in the contractors work zones.

6. What are the parameters for heavy equipment to work off pavement? Will heavy equipment, bucket trucks, chippers, excavators, ect., be allowed at all sites? How likely is the PM going to approve the request?

National Park Service Lassen Volcanic National Park

Questions and Answers

Project Name:

140P8426Q0029 – LAVO Remove Hazard Trees FY26

Rubber tracks are acceptable. Drop offs from asphalt should be minimized / avoided when possible since this can result in asphalt damage, and tracks should remain on asphalt whenever possible. Minimal ground disturbance is preferred. Ideally equipment should remain on pavement as much as practical.

Headquarters in Mineral is on a location by location basis.

7. Can dead, down woody debris be moved while felling? If moved can they be left on the ground?

They can be moved to aid in felling operations. There is no responsibility to remove material that is already dead and down in the project area.

8. What size material can be left on the ground at campgrounds?

Material up to 10” DBH can be cut up to firewood size (approx. 12”) and left behind.

9. Will contractors be expected to apply fungicide?

No. While the solicitation notes applications of fungicide, NPS has made the determination to make these applications using NPS staff. This will not be the responsibility of the contractor.

10. How are contract trees to be marked? DO any other trees have markings?

Trees for this contract will be marked with blue dots. If any other marking/flagging is done, this will be conveyed to contractors.

Other markings that may be encountered that are NOT part of the contract may include:

Blue dots with an orange circle

X’s

Numbers

Blue circles

Black circles

Other painting

Old, faded blue dots

If encountered, NPS can clarify if tree is part of contract or not

11. Can trees be felled onto saplings?

Yes. NPS has an understanding that there could be potential damage to trees during falling activities. These damages should be avoided as much as possible with the understanding that there will be casualties during felling operations.

12. If necessary for safe felling operations, can additional trees be removed?

Yes, damage to healthy green trees outside of the trees marked for removal should be minimized whenever possible but the NPS understands there will be instances where this will not be possible.

13. Can trees be dropped onto roads? If a road is damaged, is the contractor or NPS liable for repairing the damage?

Yes BUT, Ideally trees are not to be felled on roads. If it is necessary to fell a tree onto a road, then providing tree slash and or boles to absorb impacts to eliminate damages to the roadways is required. Damages to roadways because these rules are not followed will be the responsibility of the contractor.

14. Which trees were selected / how were they selected?

The inventory represents a combination of dead trees, green hazards, and trees that otherwise represent other hazardous conditions.

15. Can the old logdeck near the campground loops near Manzanita Lake be used as a staging area?

Yes, but all material decked for this contract needs to be removed by the end of the project to meet area deadlines.

16. Can the area near Mineral Ballfield be used as a staging area?

Yes, but all material removed for this contract needs to be removed by the end of the project.

17. What other information can be provided about decking areas? Can we use central locations within the park to stock pile logs and chips until the completion of the project and then remove them all at the same time?

Areas for decking and staging can and will be identified by NPS and relayed to contractors.

Each location has immediate locations in where the logs can be decked but all work activities, decks and equipment must be completed and removed by the target opening dates.

When staging and decking roads, trails, and other routes are to remain clear and accessible.

18. What is the final day and time for questions?

1pm Monday, April 20, 2026.

19. Can multiple sites be worked on concurrently?

20. Why were Summit Lake North and South, Butte Lake, and Southwest Visitor Center not part of the site visit?

The Summit Lake Campgrounds are at a higher elevation in the park, and with the snow storm immediately preceding the site visit accessibility was not guaranteed.

Similarly, access to Butte Lake via its dirt road was not guaranteed due to the same storm.

Both locations would add a great amount of drive time, and with no guarantee on accessibility, they were removed from the itinerary.

The Southwest Visitor Center is a very small part of the inventory, and given proximity to

Mineral, directions were given for contractors to visit this site on their own.

21. Can descriptions of Summit Lake and Butte Lake campgrounds be given?

Summit Lake North and South Campgrounds comprise of 6 loops total: 4 in South, 2 in

North. Both were in proximity to the Dixie Fire, particularly Summit Lake South, which has led to mortality. Broadly speaking, most of the inventory is not in close proximity to buildings. Like the other campgrounds, fire rings, picnic tables, site markers, and bear lockers are present. The campground is accessible via HW 89, Lassen Volcanic Highway via Manzanita Lake (and the Southwest Entrance once the road is cleared).

Butte Lake is in the northeast part of Lassen Volcanic National Park via a well graded dirt road, Forest Route 32N21 (low clearance, 2WD vehicles regularly travel this road). There are a number of larger trees inventoried for removal at Butte Lake, including some that are near and adjacent to buildings (at least 5 were identified as maybe needing sectional dismantle).

22. Does Manzanita Lake Campground contain the majority of the removals?

The breakdown in number of trees per area is as follows:

Butte Lake: 43 trees

Lost Creek and Volcano Adventure Camp: 37 trees

Manzanita Lake Cabins, Campground, and Day Use Area: 135 trees

Mineral Headquarters and Ballfield Campground: 85 trees

Southwest Visitor Center: 4 trees

Summit Lake North and South Campgrounds: 56 trees

TOTAL: 360 trees

23. Can trees be chipped and broadcast?

No. Felled trees need to be removed. Some may remain as firewood (see question #8).

24. Are there requirements on where the logs and chips need to go?

Felled trees need to be removed. Some may remain as firewood (see question #8).

25. Does the park have use for cedar logs of downed trees in Mineral?

Yes. All cedar logs can be cut to 10’ 6” for NPS use.

26. Can equipment / vehicles / materials be moved by NPS staff prior to removals in

Mineral Headquarters?

27. Are afternoon winds common in Mineral (it was windy during the Mineral Site Visit on

4/16)?

Mineral does not typically receive afternoon winds. Broadly speaking it is not prone to high winds.

28. Can additional barb wire fencing be removed around the Mineral Ballfield

Campground adjacent to Highway 36?

No, this will not be possible.

29. Can / will utility maps be provided?

Yes. These are being worked on.

30. Can you provide a contract estimate?

No. The IGE Independent Government Estimate cannot be disclosed.

31. Is there any capacity to work outside of weekdays?

This can be discussed for campgrounds. Mineral HQ and Ballfield are strictly weekday only, 8am to 4:30pm.

32. In reference to the different locations, if one area cannot be completed due to weather is that considered a breach of contract? Will I still get paid for the completed locations?

Weather delays do not constitute a breach of contract, however expected weather delays or issues have been already incorporated into the period of performance. The

NPS does not foresee extending the period of performance further due to weather.

Yes, you would get paid for completed work.

33. Also in reference to the different locations, if I do not complete a location by the deadline is that considered a breach of contract and what are the consequences?

Yes, this would be considered a breach of contract and would result in a Termination for

Default and an unsatisfactory CPARS rating. The dates noted in the solicitation are non-negotiable as this will delay key campground opening dates.

34. The solicitation says the roadways can not be blocked by equipment, are there designated areas we will be allowed to park our equipment when not in use and will we be able to park on roadway while removing trees close to the roads?

The park understands that work activities in any given location will be obstructed at time for felling operations. The park only asks that the awarded contractor minimizes these obstructions.

35. The solicitation states the contractor must get all permits required, what permits will be required to work inside Lassen National Park?

None. The contractor is required to obtain their own permits for the mobilization of equipment to the park. Additional park road information was provided in earlier Q&As.

36. Does the bid need to be broken down per site or overall total?

Total lump sum.

37. In regard to this section:

All trees proposed for removal in and around the ML Campground are growing within the Lassen Volcanic National Park

(LAVO) including the Mineral Headquarters Historic District which are culturally significant landscapes protected by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1968. As such, offeror needs to include in their pricing the high level of protection of the natural and cultural resources in the area that will be required by the National Park Service

(NPS). For instance, any vehicle access off pavement will need to be approved ahead of time, and carefully monitored by a park designated Field Inspector:

Are the only areas included for the higher level of protection at Manzanita Lake and the Mineral Headquarters?

All areas will be treated equally and this statement listed in the solicitation is inaccurate.

Mineral HQs is not within the Lassen Park Boundary; HQ's is within the Mineral District.

Therefore, each location will be treated with the highest degree of respect and protection as possible. If a specific area within a location needs avoidance or additional mitigations, the awarded contractor will be notified by NPS staff ahead of time.

38. The solicitation is unclear if all the debris needs to be hauled out or is it site specific?

Please see Statement of Work, page 3 - All material stemming from these removals will be hauled out of park by the contractor. Material in this sense, again, includes logs, brush, chips, or any other debris stemming from the removal of the identified hazard trees.

39. Does the equipment need to be cleaned of seeds and soils between each site or just when entering the park?

No, just before entering the park. Movement between sites within the park is acceptable, but we would like to encourage best practices to prevent spread of invasive weeds, particularly if equipment comes into contact with vegetation. NPS would also like to note that equipment includes tires, treads, and footwear.

40. Will Highway 89 be open to the contracting staff before it is open to the public?

This depends highly on several factors like spring road opening progress, other contract work outside of this contract and weather.

41. Can the communication lines in Mineral be lowered prior to the work being conducted?

With ample notice, the NPS may contact the utilities company to remove / lower lines for tree removal.

42. For the tree adjacent to the meadow in Mineral Headquarters (Tree ID 328), do any wetland considerations need to be taken?

Specific directional falling may be required to avoid sensitive habitat and aid removal of woody debris by laying the tree alongside the road.

43. Are there any LWOP / bird nest concerns?

There are currently no known raptor nests in the contract areas, nor have there been historic nests in the contract areas. The are no current Limited Operating Windows in these areas. NPS conducts routine surveys throughout the park for nesting birds, and if any nests or nest trees are encountered the contractors will be notified of any additional necessary mitigations. If there are nesting bird or other wildlife concerns, the contractor should notify NPS.

44. Are there any cultural / threatened and endangered / additional sensitive areas with unique mitigations?

If a specific area within a location needs avoidance or additional mitigations, the awarded contractor will be notified by NPS staff ahead of time.

45. What is the closest dump site?

If referring to where tree slash, chips, and tree boles, this will be the responsibility of the contractor to determine. There could potentially be an interest from local tribes for tree boles or co-gen plants may be the next option.

46. Can / will the fencing around Mineral Headquarters be taken down prior to the work to be conducted?

This will be determined ahead of time on a site by site basis.

47. What are the weight per axle limits on park roads?

There is no published axle weight limit for the Lassen Park Highway.

What is regulated instead

The park controls vehicle access primarily by size and geometry, not weight:

Maximum vehicle width: 102 inches (8.5 ft)

Maximum overall length (vehicle + trailer): 45 feet

Larger vehicles require a special permit

These limits exist because of:

Tight curves

Narrow roadway

Limited pullouts and soft shoulders

The road is a mountain scenic highway, not designed for heavy commercial trucking.

Even though no axle limit is posted, large/heavy vehicles are effectively restricted by length and maneuverability, not weight.

Standard highway-legal trucks (e.g., 80,000 lb GVW) are generally not appropriate unless they meet the size limits and can safely navigate the road.

For the purpose of this solicitation requirement, trucks will be exempt from these restrictions.