B09_-_Amendment_0002_-_Questions_and_Answers_0002.pdf

Solicitation 140PS125R0012 – Amendment 0001

RFP

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS REGARDING:

SOLICITATION/REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NO. 120PS125R0012

Amendment 0002

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve – Hazard Tree Removal FY25

(AMENDMENT 0001)

QUESTIONS RECEIVED AS OF 05/07/2025:

1. Question: Has there been an actual inventory of trees to be felled? Were there boots on the ground making the determination whether the trees were actual hazards? In the contract it states the word approximate.

ANSWER: No actual inventory of the trees to be felled has been completed yet, as the weather conditions (i.e. snow pack) is only now allowing access to the areas. As of this Amendment 0001, both the Campground and HQ Area are marked with red/orange marking paint. A more accurate tree count will be made this week, but that is why the word approximate was used, as it is not expected to exceed 200 trees in each location.

If for some reason the number of trees to be felled exceeds the approximate numbers stated elsewhere, the

Government included Line Item 00040 – Optional Item – Addition Hazard Tree Fell, flush cut and removal – shall not exceed 60 trees across all three (3) locations to cover that contingency. Note, Line

Item 00040 – Optional Item, is subject to the availability of funds, and is not guaranteed to be exercised, even if additional trees may be identified. If additional trees are identified that exceed the approximate

200 trees in each location, only the trees determined to be the most hazardous may be selected/marked for felling to keep it with 200 trees in each location.

2. Question: Page 25 on the SF1449 in the minimum qualifications for the fallers. There is a minimum of certificates the fallers need to work in Oregon. Will a VIPR contract with the Fallers names suffice?

Every season they get validated by an MOU and the Forest Service CO.

ANSWER: Yes, for VIPR and/or National Type II Contract Crew Contract holders a VIPR contract and/or National Type II Contract is fine to confirm certifications of the fallers. The contractor shall provide the VIPR and/or National Type II Contract Number only, and if applicable list of identified fallers from those contracts with their response. Having a VIPR and/or other National Contract DOES

NOT remove the requirement of the contractor from providing a copy of their Oregon Farm/Forest Labor

Contractor’s License as required in Section D.20.

3. Question: Will hwy 46 and the other park roads be open to visitors during the hazard tree operations?

ANSWER: Yes, all roads will be open to the public so we must ensure. This additional text will be added at Award to address contractors Traffic Control Responsibilities.

D.3.8 – Traffic Control

All roads and trails shall remain open to public during operations. Work may be performed simultaneously on more than one site. Adjust the traffic layouts as necessary to coordinate traffic control operations between sites. Only one single lane closure in each direction of travel will be permitted at one time. The maximum length of a single lane closure shall not exceed one mile. Do not close any roads without prior approval from the COR and/or CO. Road and trails may be closed to traffic as required;

however, such closures shall be restricted to a maximum of 15 minutes in either direction, unless otherwise requested in writing at seven (7) business days in advance of closure to COR/POC.

Prior to beginning work, the contractor shall submit a milestone schedule that identifies any major closures, detours, or significant traffic impacts. After the start of work, the contract shall submit any, changes, updates and/or deviations to original milestone schedule within three (3) business days of identified changes, updates and/or deviations.

For any road, lane, shoulder and/or trail closures, the contractor shall submit a written closure request within fourteen (14) calendar days to COR and CO showing at least the following information:

• Date of Request

• Dates, times, and location of the work to be performed

• Brief description of the work to be performed

• Existing number of lanes to be closed

• Sidewalk and trail closures and detours

• Field point of contact name and cell phone number

• Traffic Control Plan and typical applications, including detours if any

Any traffic control permits that may be required by the State of Oregon, are the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor shall adhere to any/all required Traffic Control procedures, including the use of any requirement traffic control and safety related equipment as necessary during performance of this contract.

4. Question: In the campground I noticed some decaying rails along the road and hazard trees had them as targets. Will the NPS dismantle those? I see dismantling will be a challenge because of the decaying.

ANSWER: The decaying rails in the campground were removed by NPS staff as of May 1, 2025, so no dismantling will be required. In case the questions also refers to other areas with decaying rails inside or outside of the campground that may have been missed, the NPS can visit with the awarded contractor at the time of discovery to see if they can remain in place, or will be removed. Any other infrastructure requirements or concerns, please refer to Section D.3.2 – Felling Requirements for additional details.

5. Question: Do you have geo referenced maps for this project?

ANSWER: Yes, additional maps are being provided with the additional documentation - Amendment

0001 – Attachment 0002 – Additional Maps. Unfortunately, additional mapping or shape files cannot be provided.

6.Question: Do you happen to have georeferenced maps or shapefiles for the above project?

ANSWER: Yes, additional maps are being provided with the additional documentation - Amendment

0001 – Attachment 0002 – Additional Maps. Unfortunately, additional mapping or shape files cannot be provided.

Amendment 0002 – Questions and Answers

7. Question: D.3.5 Removal of Designated Timber Produced by Felling Operations states all debris within

20' of the roadway edge & near infrastructure must be removed; any debris outside the 20' can remain.

Please confirm what the intent of debris (tree branches, bark, etc.) removal is.

7.a Can large tree branches & tree tops remain on the ground outside of the 20' requirement along the roadway?

ANSWER: Yes, if any part of the tree is within the 20’ of a campsite, road, building or infrastructure, then it needs removed, otherwise it may be left where it falls. This is addressed specifically in Section

D.3.5 under (a) in original solicitation SOW, and (b) in the new SOW included as Attachment B08 –

ORCA Hazard – FY25 -RFQ – Amendment 0002.

7.b Can the tree branches inside the 20' area be chipped and spread as ground cover from 21' and beyond from road edge, or must they be removed from the area completely?

ANSWER: The branches of the tree can be chipped and removed entirely or chipped and shot but no chips, branches or bowls should not be left within the 20’ designation. It is ok to chip the branches and shoot them past the 21’+ designation. Preference would be to move the material off-site completely.

Additional language has been added under Section D.3.5 to address this issue fully and can be found with

Attachment B08 – ORCA Hazard – FY25-RFQ – Amendment 0002.

8. Question: Will the Prime Contractor be required to have a full-time non-working supervisor and safety inspector onsite?

ANSWER: No, they will need to have a point of contact (POC) though that the contracting officer representative (COR) can reach when needed and that will be able to give a status update of completion when asked by the COR or a park representative.

Note some additional changes to SOW with Amendment 0002 and are included in Attachment B08 –

ORCA Hazard – FY25-RFQ – Amendment 0002.

Tree DBH ranges from 3” – 40” now, instead of 12” – 36” DBH

Mount Elijah Trail has been removed entirely.

Only the trees designated for removal in campground have been marked with paint. All trees designated for removal in all other areas are pinned in Avenza, which may be viewed with Google Maps.

Unfortunately, due to system limitation kmz. files cannot be shared and will be provided at award only.

No additional maps are provided with the Amendment 0002.