B12_MISC_140PS126Q0006_BLRI_Tree_Q_A_5-18_0002.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 28 KB Posted
- Attached to
- BLRI-345019 HAZARD TREE REMOVAL
- Solicitation number
- 140PS126Q0006
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document for a hazard tree removal contract at Julian Price Memorial Park and Price Picnic Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The Q&A responses clarify scope, pricing, logistics, and execution details across three question cycles (5-2-2026, 5-14-2026, and 5-18-2026).
The contract is a Firm Fixed Price lump-sum engagement for removal of approximately 1,000 hazard trees and debris management across a 90-acre work area. Pricing is based on a standardized price sheet with line items organized by tree diameter at breast height (DBH) classifications, with the largest category capped at 42 inches DBH; contractors should conduct site visits to accurately estimate the actual tree-size distribution rather than relying solely on government estimates. Debris removal and hauling are included in each line item, with total debris estimated at 510-530 cubic yards (though responses emphasize this lay-person estimate should not be the sole bidding source). The contract includes an option for increased quantities if government estimates prove incorrect, requiring Contracting Officer approval after Contracting Officer Representative verification. Period of Performance is 60 days from Notice to Proceed (benchmark preferred by NPS) with a contract envelope end date of 12/31/2026; contractors may propose longer timelines with factual justification, subject to case-by-case CO approval. Work is restricted to 07:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, with no Federal Holidays without CO approval; weather-related workday losses may qualify for reasonable extensions. Payment will be processed through the Department of the Treasury Invoice Payment Processing system with partial payments permitted based on work accomplished. Key scope clarifications address tree classification methodology (price sheet DBH standards), removal criteria for recently-fallen trees, widowmaker mitigation versus full removal, debris disposal (contractor-selected legal facilities with potential COR documentation requests), equipment staging (onsite in gated campground areas with water and restroom access but no power), site access constraints (66,000-pound weight limit on parkway; contractor liable for damage), and public safety responsibility (contractor responsible for signage and safety measures, with NPS issuing work notices but unable to enforce closures due to multi-directional park access). Bat-season work is permitted with required flushing documentation, and vegetation cutting for access is allowed if the site is restored to pre-work appearance. The government has not disclosed an independent government estimate or budget range.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Sol_140PS126Q0006_Amd_0006.pdf | ||
| B08_140PS126Q0006_Updated_Final_Pricing_Sheet_0006.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Sol_140PS126Q0006_Amd_0005.pdf | ||
| B08_140PS126Q0006_Final_Pricing_Sheet_0005.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| B08_140PS126Q0006_Correct_Pricing_Sheet_0004.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Sol_140PS126Q0006_Amd_0004.pdf | ||
| Sol_140PS126Q0006_Amd_0003.pdf | ||
| Sol_140PS126Q0006_Amd_0002.pdf | ||
| B12_MISC_140PS126Q0006_BLRI_Tree_Q_A_5-14_0001.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Sol_140PS126Q0006_Amd_0001.pdf | ||
| B03_Forestry_Wage_Determination-_2001-0233_Rev_58_12-03-2025.pdf | ||
| Sol_140PS126Q0006.pdf | ||
| A22_BSR_-_Limitation_on_Subcontracting_Worksheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| B08_140PS126Q0006_Pricing_Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| A04_345019_Price_Park_SOW.pdf | ||
| A06_Specs_Price_Park_Map.pdf |
Show all 16
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Text version
5-2-2026
| Questions | Answers |
| Looking at the excel Price Sheet, are the numbers real or just estimates? | Yes, they are estimates…This is the reason we are including the option for increased quantities in the contract...it is the only way we have to keep it fair to protect the government and contractors alike.. |
| Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past. | This is the first project for the Price Campground area |
5-14-2026
| Questions | Answers |
| 1. Why is there no line item to bid for debris removal on the bid sheet. | The debris removal is included in each item in the bid sheet and it is part of the overall process |
| 2. How far into from a high value target are we cutting trees | Any tree that can hit a high value target i.e., building, road, trail, fence and any other vital resource and is identified as having defects that qualify it for removal should be cut |
| 3. What is the amount of removal detail for trees that are down? | Only recently down trees should be removed and any that are clearly down prior to the storm and decaying should remain. We want to make the campground safe not clean up the forest. |
| 4. Period of performance extension? | 60 days is the government estimate and preference, however contractors can suggest a longer POP based on a factual suggestion. The government will take it on a case by case basis. |
| 5. How is the payment made? | DOI will pay this contract, similar to all DOI Contracts, via the department of the treasury Invoice Payment Processing (IPP) system as clearly stated in the Solicitation. Furthermore, as a lump sum contract by dollars, the government will allow partial payments based on work accomplished |
5-18-2026
| Questions | Answers | |
| 1 | Who has final authority on classifying trees between the “large” and “standard” line items — the contractor’s certified arborist, the COR, or both jointly? | The trees will be classified using the price sheet. There are standard DBH classifications on the price sheet. This eliminates the generic classification of large or standard trees listed in the SOW. |
| 2 | The pricing sheet uses a single blended rate for “Large Tree Removal (>36″)” across all 400 trees, but a 37-inch tree and a 70-inch tree are radically different in crew time, rigging, and debris produced. How should bidders approach the unknown size distribution within the large category — assume a weighted average, plan for a worst-case mix, or rely on the increased-quantities mechanism if field conditions skew toward larger trees? | The largest category of trees listed on the price sheet is the 42-inch diameter at breast height (DBH) class. Contractors should use their observations from the site visit to decide how to incorporate this tree class into their bid, ensuring their proposal reflects the actual mix of trees present. |
| 3 | How does the lump-sum quantity adjustment work in both directions: if actual qualifying tree counts come in materially under the 1,000 estimate (e.g., fewer than 400 large trees), is the lump sum reduced proportionally? If counts come in materially over, what is the trigger and process to invoke the increased-quantities option — written modification before additional removals, or a pre-approved unit-rate mechanism? | The contract is a Firm Fixed Price Contract on a Lumpsum basis…If the selected contractors quote comes in under the estimated quantities, Life is good…if the governments estimated quantities are incorrect, this is why the CO has the request for increased quantities clause in the solicitation…The contractor, working with the COR, will need to indicate where the government estimate was incorrect and the COR will verify the extra quantities. |
| 4 | Once the marked list is approved, can additional hazard trees identified during execution (e.g., revealed after canopy thinning) be added in the field with verbal COR approval, or does every addition require a documented amendment? | All additions to the contract will require CO approval, whether via verbal or written…COs discretion, however it will be after the park confirms there are funds available to pay for the additional work |
| 5 | How should the contractor treat woody material on the ground that is neither recently storm-felled nor clearly pre-storm and decaying — for example, material that came down within the last 6–18 months, is still sound, but is not from Hurricane Helene? Is this in scope for removal, leave-in-place, or evaluated case by case in the field? | See 5-14-2026 Q3 |
| 6 | Does the 510–530 cubic yard debris estimate include the ambiguous middle-category material described above, or is it limited to storm-event debris only? | This estimate was conducted by a lay person and should not be the sole source of the estimate for bidding purposes. Visitation of the site for a walk around is highly recommended. Contractors' are advised to use their own high level of experience to accurately bid on the project |
| 7 | SOW §3.3 describes widowmakers qualitatively (“hanging limbs, broken branches, or unstable overhead hazards”) but does not specify size thresholds or distinguish dead/failed material from live broken branches. For the 150-tree count on the pricing sheet: (1) what condition qualifies, (2) is there a minimum size threshold (e.g., diameter or length of hanging material), and (3) what is the unit — per tree, per hazard, or per crew-day? | Any broken, dead, or defective limb from a tree that would be a hazard to a campsite, building, or roadway should be considered for removal. Windowmakers in the rest of the work area that do not threated these areas where a visitor walking around would have a very short exposure time would not be required. |
| 8 | Does “safely removed or neutralized” (§3.3) require physical removal of all overhead hazards, or is partial mitigation acceptable with remaining hazards documented? Who makes the judgment call in the field — the contractor’s BCMA/TRAQ arborist or the COR? | Physical removal would be required with the definition given in question 7. |
| 9 | If field conditions reveal a widowmaker tree is more compromised than initially assessed, what is the process to convert it from mitigation to full removal? Is this within the bundled line item, or does it require COR pre-approval and reclassification? | It may be possible to request a contract modification from the contracting officer if additional work is required beyond the work covered in the bid. This would be work that was previously unknown |
| 10 | What is the expected/required mobilization time after Notice to Proceed (NTP) is issued? | The goal is to remove hazards and begin to open this area to visitors as soon as possible. More specifics would be handled by the contracting officer upon award. |
| 11 | Given the 07:00–17:00 M–F work-hour restriction (no Federal Holidays without CO approval), what effective working-day count within the 60-day POP is NPS targeting? Are there seasonal access or campground occupancy constraints (e.g., summer high-visitation periods) that further restrict working days? | Other than the listed limitations there are no additional constraints. All reasonable request for additional work time will be considered by the COR and the CO. |
| 12 | Amendment 0001 sets the contract envelope as 05/18/2026 – 12/31/2026, while §5 specifies 60 days from NTP for execution. If a bidder proposes a longer execution window (e.g., 75–90 days) to accommodate the bat time-of-year restrictions or seasonal access, must it still fit within 12/31/2026, or can that end date itself be extended? | The Park has set 60 days as the benchmark because they want to open the campground ASAP, however, if circumstances require it, the COR and the CO will adjust as required…The NPS feels that the end date of 12/31/2026 is sufficient to complete the contract |
| 13 | Will NPS coordinate campground and picnic area closures in advance of mobilization, or is the contractor responsible for working around active visitor use? Can the full 90-acre footprint be closed for the duration of work, or are staged closures (e.g., loop by loop) required? | It states in the SOW that the contractor is responsible for public safety, signage, and appropriate safety measures (3.6in the SOW). The NPS can issue a notice that the work is being done and recommend the public stay away. It is very difficult to close access that the public would follow due to the site is accessible from almost every direction. |
| 14 | Does the government have an anticipated budget range, independent government estimate (IGE), or order-of-magnitude target price that can be shared with bidders? | No |
| 15 | The pricing sheet shows “Debris Removal & Hauling” at quantity 1,000, but §3.4 estimates total debris volume at 510–530 cu. yd. (350 campground + 160–180 picnic area). What is the unit for the 1,000 — cubic yards (which would expand the upward adjustment range significantly), tons, hauling loads, or something else? | The measure used was debris volume after processing through a grinder. A walk through of the site is highly recommended to develop an accurate estimate as this number was generated by a lay person. |
| 16 | The pricing sheet Stump Cutting line at quantity 1,000 matches the 1,000 hazard-tree count. However, the May 14 site visit revealed a meaningful volume of recently-fallen middle-category trees (down within the last 6–18 months but not from Helene) with existing stumps in place. If any of these trees fall into scope per Q2.1, are their existing stumps captured within the 1,000 Stump Cutting count, or does this drive a quantity increase on that line? | The generic estimate should not be the sole source and any trees that have fallen are considered damage from the storm and will need to be included in the bid. Any down or damage trees should be considers as within scope. |
| 17 | Is there a designated NPS-approved disposal facility for woody debris, or does the contractor select one within the 100-mile round-trip range? Are there restrictions on landfill, mulch yard, or private-property disposal sites (e.g., must be permitted, must provide receipts)? | The contractor may choose any site where they can legally dispose of the debris. The COR may request documentation as all debris is required to be “legally disposed” as listed in the SOW. |
| 18 | Are there access constraints on the Parkway for heavy equipment (Sennebogen material handler, log trucks with trailers, horizontal grinder) — vehicle weight, length, or width limits on access roads, campground loop roads, or picnic area roads? | The weight limit on the parkway is 66,000 lbs. The contractor may request an exception but will be responsible for any damage from equipment transportation. |
| 19 | Is there a designated equipment staging / laydown area within the campground or picnic area, or is staging required offsite? If onsite, is there power, water, or restroom access available for the crew? | The contractor may use any area behind the gated sections of the campground for a lay down area. This will be further outlined at the pre-construction meeting with the COR. You will have access to water, and restrooms. No onsite power will be available. |
| 20 | Are there noise-restriction windows during which on-site chipping (confirmed acceptable May 4) is not permitted — early morning, evenings, weekends — particularly if any portion of the campground remains open during work? | All trees within the boarder provided on sam.gov are part of the work area, with the only trees requiring removal are listed in question number 23 |
| 21 | At the site visit, we noticed there were several visible hazardous trees between the Parkway right of way and the Julian Price Park picnic area. Are these trees included in the scope of work? | All trees within the boarder provided on sam.gov are part of the work area, with the only trees requiring removal are listed in question number 22 |
| 22 | How far off the paved path do we need to clean up? | You must clean up all of the storm damaged fallen trees within the area marked on the map provided. You must also remove any trees that have defects that make it a hazard tree and can fall and hit an occupied camp site, building, or trail. |
| 23 | Can we cut other vegetation in order to access material? | Yes, you can cut other vegetation to safely remove material, but the impact should be minimized and the site must be restored to appear as nothing was cut. For example, removal of the stumps from a rhododendron that was removed to gain access to remove a tree. No replanting will be required. |
| 24 | Does the 60 day window have to be outside of Bat season? | No, however, if you cut withing the window you will be required to track any bats flushed during cutting and submit the form that is in the SOW. |
| 25 | Do we get additional work days if inclement weather prevents us from working? | The contractor will need to track the loss of workdays due to weather and a reasonable extension can be authorized by the contracting officer. |
| 26 | How often will the pay cycles be? | Pay Cycles are IAW industry standards: The federal government only mandates the minimum pay for each worker |
| 27 | Do we have to grind all the stumps? | No, the stumps must be cut within 2 inches of ground level unless approved by the COR. This is outlined in the SOW. |
| 28 | Can we forestry mulch along the sides of the campground road? | No as this will affect the appearance of the campground. The intent of this work is to remove the hazards and remove debris while preserving the appearance of the campground. Forestry mulching would significantly alter the appearance of the campground |
| 29 | Will there be a line item for additional debris hauling over a certain amount of yards? | it is on the shoulders of the contractor to estimate the amount of debris |
| 30 | For example, if 7,000 yards is estimated but we end up hauling 10,000 yards of debris, can we get paid for the 3,000 yard overage? | See Q3 above |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .