Combined_Questions_Amd_2_0002.pdf

#1 Question: We request some clarification regarding the provided wage rates please. The State rates are higher than the provided rates for this area (below snippit). Per USDOL starting Oct.

23, 2023 our understanding is the local rates when higher than federal rates are what is to be paid (link: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction#:~:text=Davis%2DBacon%20Act%20and%20Related,similar%20proj ects%20in%20the%20area). Can you please confirm if it is the local rates or the provided rates that will be required for this solicitation.

#1 Answer: The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts is not applicable to this acquisition, but the

“Service Contract Labor Standards” is applicable to this acquisition. Therefore, the provided rates are required for this solicitation.

#2 Question: A.3.1.2.1 Irrigation Operations:

• Can you confirm the total acres of temporary irrigation to be installed. Pg 17 suggests that the planting area is 80 acres. Pg. 49 suggest 20 acres from fall 2023 plantings in 2024 and 30.3 in 2025.

#2 Answer:

• 97.52 acres encompasses all of the land exchange properties, the revegetation area within those 97.52 acres is a total of 30.3 acres. The 2023 plantings will be removed and are not included in the acreage.

# 3 Question: A.1.4 (4) Post Planting Surveys

• Can you provide specific requirements regarding level of detail needed for GIS mapping and Census of planted species.

• What is the expectation or requirement for photo-point monitoring.

#3 Answer:

• There needs to be a GIS Level of Detail (LOD) of 14-15 for the entire site and then GIS

LOD level of 20-23 for each site.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction#:~:text=Davis%2DBacon%20Act%20and%20Related,similar%20projects%20in%20the%20area https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction#:~:text=Davis%2DBacon%20Act%20and%20Related,similar%20projects%20in%20the%20area https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction#:~:text=Davis%2DBacon%20Act%20and%20Related,similar%20projects%20in%20the%20area

• Each Site will require photo point monitoring at the beginning and end and each quarter of the project as well as throughout the monitoring period.

#4 Question: A.3.4.1.1 General Planting Requirements

• Acceptable Quality Level-. Is this period the same as the base contract from 7/15/24 to

7/15/2025 with option year if exercised 7/15/2026. Please clarify what contractors’ obligation, duties or responsibilities are during this 3-year monitoring period if different than 7/15/2024 to 7/15/2026.

#4 Answer: Will be adjusted to match new timeline.

#5 Question: A.3.4.1.2 Plant Replacement

• Please confirm the “contract performance period” Is this 2024, 2025, and option to extend service term to 2026?

#5 Answer: This will be altered to make the timeline more realistic.

#6 Question: Please provide the soils report and any test pit or bore log information available.

#6 Answer: Doesn't appear any sampling was done during the All-Appropriate Inquiries (this is normal, not an exception

#7 Question: There is a monitoring well with fresh tire tracks located in area 23 (Picture attached). Please confirm if the traveled path to this monitoring well should remain unplanted, or if this wellpoint will need to be decommissioned as part of this contract or decommissioned by others.

• If decommissioned by others, please give a timeline for that scope for plant scheduling purposes.

#7 Answer: Twin City Foods (TCF) has a permitting requirement to monitor this well unless it is decommissioned by TCF. We would have to work with TCF to have it decommissioned, if not access will need to be permitted.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/wells/information-for-drillers/abandoned-wells

#8 Question: During the site visit it was mentioned that water is available from the nearby ditches/creeks/river. Please provide the permit for accessing this water.

#8 Answer: Permitting will be available, currently waiting on permitting. Also, contractor will need to install fish screen. Water will only be allowed to be taken from the river.

#9 Question: Based on the timeframe in the documents and the volume of needed plants, most of these will not be available this year and will need to be contract grown. Will the bureau please consider extending the contract to meet these terms? Also is modifying the seed zone for allowable plants are grown in or a combination of both?

• Is splitting the planting window an option based on current timeframes?

#9 Answer: Contract will need adjusted to meet more realistic timeline. However, near native plants will be allowed.

#10 Question: The previous plantings performed used a hog fuel/ woody mulch type material in lieu of the 3*3 fabric called out. Would Bureau consider this acceptable for this phase as well.

#10 Answer: Yes, Hog Fuel will be the preferred method.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fecology.wa.gov%2Fwater-shorelines%2Fwater-supply%2Fwells%2Finformation-for-drillers%2Fabandoned-wells&data=05%7C02%7Cjkerwood%40usbr.gov%7C5f2021c08d154723e03f08dc8fe9adeb%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C638543481010286494%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ax1YGOGE2KMrt4i791KpnKJen49jPKIU59v3fu4mJE0%3D&reserved=0

#11 Question: Please confirm the maintenance contract referenced that begins after the 2026 contract end date is by others (IE warranty and watering and maintenance stop at the 2026 date for this contract).

#11 Answer: This also needs to be adjusted for a new timeline. Not affected

#12 Question: It was verbally confirmed a Bid Bond is not required for this submission. Due to the rough order of magnitude of work will a performance/payment bond be required by the successful contractor (FAR 52.228)?

• If a performance bond is required, please provide an order of magnitude.

#12 Answer: No performance bond will be required.

#13 Question: Will government consider State or other public projects for past performance examples that are similar, or more is size and complexity?

#13 Answer: State or other public projects will be considered if similar in size and complexity.

#14 Question: This is from page 52.

• We talked about 2-year maintenance on site yesterday. The CORP or Reclamation was taking it over the 3rd year. Line 12 probably needs to be changed because it calls for 3 years.

#14 Answer: Will change in solicitation.

#15 Question: Please clarify the intent of interplanting in established seeded areas and how established the new areas of grass seed are to be prior to interplanting if the intent is to install plant material in 2024.

#15 Answer:

• Areas requiring interplanting will be chemically treated and mowed before interplanting takes place.

#16 Question: Can you provide a detailed drawing showing where the wetland sod is to be installed and the required soil prep/clearing & grubbing.

#16 Answer: We have the wetland delineation that can be shared.

#17 Question: At the top of solicitation page 75 of 95, it says the total evaluated price will be calculated as the sum of the base year, all option CLINs, and the 52.217-8 Option to Extend

Services (which is limited to a 6-month extension).

• If planting is completed during the base year (July 2024-July 2025), and only one option year is included in the contract (July 2025-July 2026), then will a 6-month Option-to-

Extend be sufficient to complete the required monitoring? According to the Performance

Criteria, Quantitative Monitoring begins during the third (3rd) year post-planting.

• If performance criteria aren't met by the end of the 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services window, will there be an opportunity to re-negotiate prices? Or will additional maintenance/adaptive management be flown as a new contract?

#17 Answer: Timeframe is adjusted in the solicitation.

#18 Question: On page 49 of 95, Table 4. Estimated Revegetation Timeline, tasks are only scheduled through December 2026. Even though the base contract period ends on 7/14/2026, these tasks can be included through the use of the 6-month option-to-extend services, which will carry the contract through January of 2027. However, that is still only a little more than 2 years after the planting is scheduled for this contract (in October/November of 2024). If

Quantitative Vegetation Monitoring must take place three years post-planting, as stipulated in the Revegetation Plan, then it would occur at the end of the growing season in 2027 - which is outside the scope of this contract.

• Are these monitoring tasks expected to take place in 2026? If so, the description of

Quantitative Monitoring in the Revegetation Plan (Solicitation page 55) should be revised to stipulate that Quantitative Monitoring take place two years post-planting, instead of three years.

• If these tasks will need to be completed in 2027, as the Revegetation Plan indicates, then is it possible to add another option year into the contract? This would need to include all maintenance tasks necessary to maintain revegetation areas, as well as monitoring/reporting.

#18 Answer: Concern addressed and adjusted on contract.

#19 Question: On the SF1449, under Section 20. Schedule of Supplies/Services, it says: "The contractor must provide evidence of understanding of the requirement through a written technical quote that addresses the requirements and shows the clear understanding of the

PWS. The contractor must provide a narration that demonstrates Past Experience, either as the prime or major subcontractor, on recent and relevant contracts with same or similar scope."

• Does the narration demonstrating Past Experience satisfy the "technical quote" portion of the proposal? Or is it separate from the Technical Quote?

• If the Technical Quote is separate from Past Experience, then what information should be included? Is the BOR looking for a specific technical approach for completing the PWS, or just a description of the contractor's technical capabilities in general?

#19 Answer: Past experience is one part of the “technical quote.” The contractor’s quote still requires a narrative that show the contractors understanding of what is required in the PWS.

#20 Question: Can quantities be adjusted on the price schedule (page 17 of 95)? Since there is only one line item per year for Monitoring/Adaptive Management, this will need to cover all services included on pages 54 and 55 of the solicitation, including Qualitative

Monitoring/Adaptive Management, Photo Monitoring, and Quantitative Monitoring.

• During the first-year post-planting (2025), this will include a minimum of five (5) visits during the spring/summer (three (3) in subsequent years) to visually assess plant survival, seedling emergence, natural recruitment, noxious weed presence, erosion issues, site health, and potential reveg/adaptive management treatments. Additionally, photo points will need to be established within each revegetation type to facilitate annual photo monitoring. Finally, quantitative monitoring data will need to be collected in the late summer/early fall to assess plant survival and other performance criteria. 40 hours/year seems insufficient to complete all of these tasks.

o Could this line item be changed to a Lump Sum price?

o Alternatively, could these tasks be divided into separate line items on the price schedule?

#20 Answer: Yes, we can adjust the Price schedule and the tasks can be divided into separate items.

#21 Questions: What are the reporting requirements (if any) for qualitative monitoring/adaptive management visits? Does a separate report need to be prepared following each visit?

• If not, how will immediate corrective actions (mowing, herbicide apps, erosion control) be presented to the BOR for approval?

• If so, should the cost of those reports be included under the Monitoring/Adaptive

Management line item, or the Yearly Report line item?

#21 Answer: A report will need to be prepared each time, beginning, quarterly, end of project.

Can be included in the Monitoring/adaptive Management line item.

#22 Question: Will there be crack willow control as part of this contract? If so, what quantity, density per acre, and locations can be expected? Also, will debris removal be part of this task? Where should pricing be accounted for on the bid sheet for crack willow control?

#22Answer: This will be removed from contract.

#23 Question: How many acres will be seeded under this contract for both upper transitional and lower transitional areas?

#23 Answer: Lower Transition is 24.7 acres and Upper Transition is 5.4 acres.

#24 Question: What is the required seeding rate? On page 47 grass seeding methods it refers to

16 lbs/ac and on page 56 it refers to 18 lbs/ac.

#24 Answer: It only list 16 lbs/ac, idk what document is being looked at none of them are 47 or

56 pages long.

#25 Question: Will the 0.2 acres of wetland sod be required or would an alternative of 10 c.i.

wetland plugs be acceptable. If so, what species and quantity? If wetland sod is required what level of site prep/excavation and permitting would be necessary to recontour the wetland?

#25 Answer: This can be determined by the contractor.

#26 Question: Will topsoil amendment be required? If so, what is the topsoil spec, quantity, and areas requiring topsoil amendment and decompaction?

#26 Answer: Topsoil amendments will not be required.

#27 Question: Will browse protection be bid as an option item? Where should this be accounted for on the bid sheet?

Commented [MTL1]: Need to fix

#27 Answer: No

#28 Question: Will hog fuel be an acceptable alternative to mulch matts? If so, what is the spec?

(diameter and depth around each plant). Also, if plants are installed in strips would placing hog fuel on the entire strip be acceptable? (6’x6” hog fuel strips)

#28Answer: Yes, Spec for hog fuel determined by Contractor, hog fuel strips are not acceptable.

#29 Question: Can you clarify bid quantities? The quantities on the bid table (page 17) and estimated revegetation timeline table (page 49) don’t match.

#29Answer: Will adjust to display area to be planted.

#30 Question: Can depth to ground water data be provided for all fields that would have woody live plants installed?

#30 Answer: No

#31 Question: Will BOR except alternative methods to reaching project goals?

#31 Answer: Yes

#32 Question: Will the irrigation system/plan be intended to only water individually installed plants or for broadcast watering of all sites?

#32Answer: Individually water plants/ NO Broadcast watering.

#33 Question: Can you clarify what areas will be chem fallowed, seeded, and planted vs what areas will only be interplanted? Please provide updated site maps.

#33 Answer: All areas will be chemically fallowed and mowed and weeded before interplanting with the exception of the wetland area.

#34 Question: Will photo point monitoring be required? If so, can you provide quantity and location of photo points by site?

#34 Answer: Yes, photo monitoring is required, beginning picture then photos each quarter of each site and then again at the end of the project. Contractor will select photo points.

#35 Question: Revegetation areas total 30.3 acres yet table 4 (page 49) lists 80 acres of weed control. Where are the 80 acres that need to be treated?

#35 Answer: Will fix.

#36 Question: Can planting be completed in fall of 2025 or split between fall of 2024 and fall of

2025 depending on plant availability?

#36 Answer: Will fix for contract time.

#37 Question: What is the intent of the 20 hours for marking possible salvage plants on the bid sheet? Will the plants be salvaged and installed? If so, are these (salvage/installation) tasks to be included in the mark possible salvage plants line item?

#37 Answer: The intent is to preserve any native vegetation that is currently growing.

#38 Question: Can contractors re-visit the site prior to bidding?

#38 Answer: No

#39 Question: Please confirm or clarify the timeline and scope of work for the monitoring activities:

• Section A.1.4 (page 6 of solicitation) suggests that photo-point monitoring and quantitative transect monitoring will be done repeatedly at unspecified intervals for an unspecified number of years.

• Planting plan (page 55 of the solicitation) specifies that permanent photo points will be established in year 2026.

• Planting plan (page 54 of the solicitation) specifies quantitative monitoring during the second and third year following plant installation, but page 55 specifies quantitative monitoring at a single time point 3 years after planting.

• Planting plan (page 55 of the solicitation) specifies the use of drone imagery.

#39 Answer: Contract will display changes.

#40 Question: Please clarify the zones where each specific monitoring task is required.

#40 Answer: Each area will need to be determined by the contractor.

#41 Question: Please clarify irrigation requirements. Is broadcast irrigation allowed or required?

If so, in which zones?

#41 Answer: Broadcast watering is not allowed. Irrigation will need to be by live planting.

#42 Question: Please clarify the chemical fallow, grass seeding, live plant installation, maintenance weeding and irrigation requirements for each zone, including total acreage as specified in the tables on page 17 and page 49 of the solicitation.

• In zones that are currently dominated by non-native rhizomatous grasses (17, 22, 23, 24, 26), should the existing vegetation be replaced with native grasses that are seeded in after a chemical fallow treatment? Or would interplanting woody shrubs and trees in the existing plant community be acceptable?

• Do any of the areas that were previously planted in year 2023 require irrigation? N/A

Will be removed.

#42 Answer: The existing vegetation be replaced with native grasses that are seeded in after a chemical fallow treatment.

#43 Question: Please clarify the timeline for the chemical fallow and plant installation activities.

It is likely too late into the 2024 growing season for the non-native grasses to be effectively treated this year, and there is likely not enough time to have plants from a specific local seed zone grown for installation this autumn.

#43 Answer: Will clarify timeline.

#44 Question: Please clarify the period of performance for the survival and growth of the installed plants.

#44 Answer: Will clarify timeline.

#45 Question: Is there any piping available for use?

#45 Answer: No

#46 Question: Is the 33 acres included in the 90 acres?

#46 Answer: If these 33 acres refers to lot sections 3, 17, 22, 23, 24, 26. Those plots are just over

30 acres of revegetation within the 90 acres of land exchange lands that are to be revegetated.

If the 33 acres refers to the 2023 live plantings that need watered, then no they are separate.

#47 Question: Can “near native” plants be supplemented? Near Native plants maybe supplemented if native plants are unavailable.

#47 Answer: Near Native plants must be from a similar climate as the site location.

#48 Question: Has decompaction been completed on any of the areas? If yes how deep does it need to go?

#48 Answer: No

#49Question: When were the handlines used last?

#49Answer: 2023

#50 Question: What is the plan for the road?

#50 Answer: The road is going to remain in place.

#51 Question: Will there be any change to Tjossem ditch in the future?

#51 Answer: Possibly in the future.

#52 Question: Due to the last start in the year what would the Bureau like to see for Spraying?

Maybe 1st year spray then spray again later to get rid of plants, then plant woody plants?

#52 Answer: Contract will need adjusted to meet more realistic timeline.

#53 Question: Is there any site preparation required?

#53 Answer: A.3.3.1.1. Base Seeding Requirement:

The Contractor shall prepare the planting areas to normal planting standards as defined in the

Planting Plan and correctly apply herbicides to achieve a reasonably weed and grass free planting surface. Multiple passes with the tiller disk, rotavator, roller, mower or herbicides may be required to effectively control the unwanted growth and achieve a satisfactory seedbed.

#54 Question: What was the last thing the area used for?

#54 Answer: Silage Production

#55 Question: Can interplanting be used?

#55 Answer: Areas with rhizomatous grasses will be interplanted (under reed canary grass in

Reveg Plan)

#56 Question: Will any construction be required for the wetlands?

#56 Answer: No construction is allowed on this contract.

#57 Question: What will be done with the dirt pile in field 23?

#57 Answer: Contract will specify.

#58 Question: Who will be taking over the 3-year maintenance plan?

#58 Answer: Unknown the Bureau will have a new contract.

#59 Question: Will a more defined map for areas be available for the areas along with the limits for irrigation?

#59 Answer: Yes, we have a map, unsure of what they mean by limits for irrigation.

#60 Question: When is the peak flow?

#60 Answer: Peak flow is in Spring and Sep 1st.

#61 Question: Will a GIS map be available for plant location?

#61 Answer: Contractor will create GIS map for plant location, there are no plant locations currently on the site.

#62 Question: What will happen to the Solar panel for fish monitoring?

#62 Answer: Solar panels charge the batteries for the PIT Tag Array; these will continue to be onsite for monitoring.