Questions and Answers 6982AF26R000002 05 29 2026.pdf

6982AF26R000002

CA FLAP SCR T5(1A) Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trial

Question and Answers 5/29/2026

Questions Answers

Received 04/21/2026

1. Duration of the 5 years maintenance is there any water source close by?

Water sources be determined by contractor.

2. Watering irrigation system will be design and built?

Contractor to provide means and method for watering plants.

3. On state park side grading and dirt work where will be stored or hauled be all excess dirt?

Soil disposal area shown on Plan Sheet D1.

4. When would be starting time because of the all the plants will be contract grown?

Is it acceptable to get plan from local nurseries without collecting and propagating them ?

The Notice to Proceed (NTP) will be issued after bond approval.

Provide seeds in compliance with specification Section 625.03 and plants in compliance with specification Section 626.03.

5. Surveying will be done by owner or contractor. Contractor to provide surveying per specification Section 152

6. If need biological monitoring will be done by owner or contractor?

Contractor to provide biological services per specification Section 107.10(e)(1), 107.13, and 623.03(c). Paid for under item 62303-

1010 SPECIAL LABOR, HIRED

TECHNICAL SERVICES, BIOLOGICAL

SERVICES, (BIOLOGICAL

MONITOR).

7. POC’s for Bureau of Land Management if you would like to view the project sites?

Zachary Ormsby Field Manager Central Coast Field Office Bureau of Land Management 831-601-6242 zormsby@blm.gov

Ben Hoke Assistant Field Manager - Multi-Resource Group Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office Marina, CA Cell: (831) 737-0374 Desk: (831) 285-2235 bhoke@blm.gov

Received 04/23/2026

8. On the grading plan, Detail A & B show 18"-30" depth of cut for the grading work.

Bid As Shown mailto:zormsby@blm.gov mailto:bhoke@blm.gov

The total grading area on the bid schedule is 5,860 SQYD (52,740 SF). With a total square footage of 52,740, each foot of depth we excavate equates to 1,953 cubic yards (CY) of grading work.

If the excavation is 18" deep (1.5' deep), the grading equates to 2,930 CY total

If the excavation is 30" deep (2.5' deep), the grading equates to 4,883 CY total

A 2,000 CY delta is a good amount of dirt. This is about 200 10-wheeler truckloads.

Since we don't know the exact required excavation depth, is it possible to change the grading pay item from SQYD to Cubic Yards on the bid schedule? I think you will get better grading numbers this way.

Received 4/28/26

9. RFR-6 is within existing corral. Will that be removed? Or responsibility of contractor?

For RFR-6, do not remove existing corral.

Plantings and new fence layout may be field adjusted per specification Section 626.06 and

619.03 to avoid impacts to existing corral and structures

10. Please provide a detailed specification (detail drawing) and treatment area (plan sheet) for the required erosion control treatments.

Comply with specification Section 107.01(a) and Section 157.

11. On the gate there is no frame. Only vertical 4' end bar with wire. Please confirm no frame is needed?

Construct wire gate per Plan Sheet T1.

12. On the post it's calling for 9,10 and 11 gauge. We would suggest CR 40 posts and rails is thicker material. Since it's close to the ocean it won't rust as fast with the salt.

See Revision 1 to Plan Sheet T1 and Revision 1 to specification Section 710.05.

13. The spacing between posts is calling for 16' the standard for barbed wire fencing is at the most 12', please confirm spacing.

See Revision 1 to Plan Sheet T1.

14. Section 626.03 states, “Collect all plant propagules for the Palustrine Emergent Wetland Site from within Wilder Ranch State Park with approval from the CO and in compliance with Section 105.” If the collection of the locally hand-collected PLS seed quantities indicated in the

Bid as shown.

Seeding Schedule for Palustrine Emergent Wetland Restoration is determined by local land managers/ ecologists/ botanists to be ecologically and/or practically imprudent, can that seed be substituted with more live plugs grown from the same seed sources? This could be achieved by collecting a small fraction of the seed needed to reach the improbable PLS quantities.

15. On the Bid Schedule which Line Item Number is used for the hand collection of over 45# of PLS for the Palustrine Emergent Wetland?

See Plan Sheet B.1: Line Item No. A0440, Pay Item Number 62542-1000, Pay Item Description SEEDING SUPPLEMENTS, SEED, (COLLECTION AND STORAGE).

16. Bid Schedule which Line Item Number 0440 is for collection and storage of 50# of seeding supplements and seed. Does this include hand-collected seed (which is <50#) for the Emergent Wetland Site? Does it include commercial seed specified in Section 713.04?

Bid Schedule Line Item No. A0440 applies to the Palustrine Emergent Wetland site and the seed mix shown on Plan Sheet C4. The seed mix specified in Section 713.04 applies to restoring disturbed areas on BLM property and is not measured for payment per specification Section 625.10. Restoration of disturbed areas will be evaluated under Section 157 – Soil Erosion Control, Sediment Control, and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

17. If the Palustrine Emergent Wetland Restoration Area is 1.08 acres (47,045 square ft), and an average planting density of one plant per 1.5 square foot is desired (31,363 plants), can an additional 5709 plugs per species grown from locally-sourced seed be substituted for the locally collected PLS? (31,363 plants - 2820 plugs already on the plan = 28,543 plants/ 5 species = 5709 additional plugs per species). This would also be much more cost effective than hand collecting and processing 48.6# of PLS of the listed species.

18. Does Bid Schedule Line Item Number AO440 refer to commercially-sourced seed as described in Section 713.04?

Bid Schedule Line Item No. A0440 applies to the Palustrine Emergent Wetland site and the seed mix shown on Plan Sheet C4. The seed mix specified in Section 713.04 applies to restoring disturbed areas on BLM property and is not measured for payment per specification Section 625.10. Restoration of disturbed areas will be evaluated under Section 157 – Soil Erosion Control, Sediment Control, and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

19. Juncus balticus is a species that spreads by rhizomes and frequently produces very little fertile seed. Can Juncus patens seed be accepted as a substitute in the Palustrine Emergent Wetland Restoration Area PLS?

20. If the collection of the locally hand-collected PLS seed quantities indicated in the Seeding Schedule for Palustrine Emergent Wetland Restoration is determined by local land managers/ ecologists/ botanists to be ecologically and/or practically imprudent, can a commercial erosion control mix of non-persisting species be substituted?

21. If the collection of the locally hand-collected PLS seed quantities indicated in the Seeding Schedule for Palustrine Emergent Wetland Restoration is determined by local land managers/ ecologists/ botanists to be ecologically and/or practically imprudent, can a commercial seed mix of available and appropriate species be substituted, which do not meet the specifications of “local genetic source: collected from San Mateo County or northern Santa Cruz County, from the western slope of the mountains, at an elevation of 0 to 1,000 feet”?

22. Mulching dry method seems to be requesting that a hydroseed mulch material be broken up and hand spread. This material is highly compacted in its bags, is very light weight, and will have a tendency to blow away in the wind without being applied with the typical hydroseed method.

Particularly, the tackifier often used in these mixes keeps the mulch down on the ground.

Please provide a specification for a standard hydroseed mix application.

See Revision 1 to Plan Sheet C4, Note 4.

23. Section 713.04 What is the estimated square footage that will be needing to be seeded with the commercially-sourced seed mix in the table labeled’ “Seeding for BLM property disturbance areas”?

The seed mix specified in Section 713.04 applies to restoring disturbed areas on BLM property and is not measured for payment per specification Section 625.10. Restoration of disturbed areas will be evaluated under Section 157 – Soil Erosion Control, Sediment Control, and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

24. For the willow poles, what dimensions are you looking for? Section 626.07 states, ”Make planting hole at least 24 inches deep and place one live stake… with tip extending at least 5 to 7 inches above the soil surface.” This suggests a minimum length of 29 inches. Is there a minimum diameter?

Reference Plan Sheet T2 “Willow Pole Installation Detail” for dimensions.

25. Where are the willow pole materials to be collected? “626.03 Collect all plant propagules for the Riparian Forest Restoration Sites 1 through 6 from within the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument with approval from the CO and in compliance with Section 105. Has Cotoni- Coast Dairies National Monument been determined to have enough source material for 2000 willow cuttings? How close will trucks be able to get to the collection areas? Will 4WD be needed?

Reference Section 105.02 Material Sources.

See RFO Clause 52.236-3 Site Investigation and Conditions Affecting the Work.

See response to Question 7 for points of contact at BLM for accessing their land during bidding to evaluate existing plants and access conditions.

26. “626.03 Collect all plant propagules for the Palustine Emergent Wetland Site from within Wilder Ranch State Park with approval from the CO and in compliance with Section 105.” Has Wilder Ranch State Park been determined to have enough source material for 475 willow cuttings?

How close will trucks be able to get to the collection areas? Will 4WD be needed?

Reference Section 105.02 Material Sources.

See RFO Clause 52.236-3 Site Investigation and Conditions Affecting the Work.

See response to Question 7 for points of contact at BLM for accessing their land during bidding to evaluate existing plants and access conditions.

27. No browse cages or gopher cages are called out in the details, would you like these to be included?

28. Section 626.03 General specifies, “Layout plants randomly as shown in the plans to mimic a more natural distribution and to avoid grid patterns.”

Where is the Planting Detail sheet for the Emergent Wetland? Is it the following Sheet 1 of 1?

Reference Plan Sheet T2 - Wetland Planting Detail and Randomized Planting Detail for layout. The Hydrologic and Hydraulic Technical Memorandum is a supplemental report, refer to Plans and Specifications for planting requirements.

29. Regarding 625.04 Preparing Seedbed: Is it reasonable, given the site-specific conditions, to “remove stones 2 inches in diameter and larger”?

30. 104.10 Inspection at the Nursery states, “Material samples may be obtained for laboratory testing for compliance with genetic quality requirements.” Please specify how many samples of each plant species will be needed for testing, and which testing methodology will be used.

Submit nursery genetic certification in compliance with specification Section 625.03 and 626.03. See Revision 1 to specification Section 104.10.

31. 626.03 General states, “Propagate all plant material at a nursery and implement best management practices to control or eliminate the diseases caused by Phytophthora species.” Are plants to be propagated at an AIR Certified nursery as authorized here?

https://airnursery.ucdavis.edu/

Reference specification Section 104.10.

32. Section 713.06 Plant Material. Plants for the Emergent Wetland are specified to be in TB. This is a liner-sized container that will not accommodate the propagation schedule called out as: “Provide nursery grown stock that has been transplanted or root-trimmed two or more times according to the kind and size of plant”. Will it be acceptable to transplant the material once, or even direct-sow it into the liner size specified, as is standard practice?

See Revision 1 to specification Section 713.06(a)

33. Is there any on-site water source?

Water source to be determined by contractor.

34. Is it acceptable for contractors to install temporary plug-in drip irrigation?

Contractor to provide means and method for watering plants.

35. What are the survivorship requirements during the maintenance period?

Reference specification Section 625.08 for turf establishment and Section 626.10 and

626.11 for plants.

36. Is the required “70% native plant cover over the 5-year establishment period” relative cover or absolute cover?

101.04, Section 625.08, and Section 626.11.

37. Could the required “70% native plant cover over the 5-year establishment period” be amended to match the native percent cover as measured on local reference sites by qualified botanists, locations TBD?

38. If the use of local reference sites to determine percent native cover goals is approved, will this work be added to the Bid Schedule?

https://airnursery.ucdavis.edu/

39. Is SWPPP monitoring required during establishment period or only during construction?

Reference specification Section 107.01(a)(3) for notice of termination of NPDES permit and Section 157.13 for payment.

40. Section 626.11 states that, “criteria for all restoration mitigation sites is maintaining at least 70% native plant cover with the ratio of plant species shown in the plans for a minimum of 5-years as documented in the Government’s annual monitoring report and approved by the CO” Does that mean that if some species are more suited to the site, and expand more rapidly, that they must be cut back to maintain the same cover ratio as at the planting time? For example, Juncus balticus and Baccharis glutinosa are rhizomatous, and a 5 year old plant could expand to cover a lot more ground than a 5 year old bunch of Carex harfordii or Carex densa, thereby throwing the ratios out of proportion.

626.11.

41. 625.08 Protecting and Caring for Seeded Areas states that, “Vegetation is considered established when a uniform perennial vegetative cover with a density of at least 70 percent is attained.” What measurement protocol will be used to determine this cover?

Reference specification Section 626.11 for acceptance, which references Section 106.02 for Visual Inspection and 106.04 for Measured Conformance.

42. 625.08 Protecting and Caring for Seeded Areas states that, “Vegetation is considered established when a uniform perennial vegetative cover with a density of at least 70 percent is attained.” Does this apply only to the Emergent Wetland, or also to “Seeding for BLM property disturbance areas” as shown in Section 713.04?

Seeding for BLM property disturbance areas under specification Section 713.04, if employed, will be evaluated under Section 157 Soil Erosion Control, Sediment Control, and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

43. 625.08 Protecting and Caring for Seeded Areas states that, “Vegetation is considered established when a uniform perennial vegetative cover with a density of at least 70 percent is attained.” If this applies to “Seeding for BLM property disturbance areas” as shown in Section 713.04, may the contractor have the option to remove the annual species from the specified seed mix, shown below?

See Revision 1 to specification Section 101.04 and Section 625.08. Seeding for BLM property disturbance areas under specification Section 713.04, if employed, will be evaluated under Section 157 Soil Erosion Control, Sediment Control, and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. Bid seed mix as shown.

Received May 14, 2026

44. Can the contract allow for annual renewable payment and performance bonds, rather than a single bond for the full 5+ year term?

The first year bond value would be inclusive of all pay items, except pay item 62603 5 Year Maintenance, which would have bonds renewed each year during the 5 year maintenance period.

No. Performance and Payment bonds must cover the entirety of the award, to include the five (5) year maintenance period.

Received May 21, 2026

45. Is a hard copy of the bid bond required. Yes. Please send the hard copy of the completed bid bond to:

KELLY PALMER

FHWA-CFLHD

12300 W. DAKOTA AVENUE, STE 360

LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80228

They must be received by the Response due date and time as stated in the solicitation.

Received May 21, 2026 46.

The following is a request for a specification change:

1) Section 626.03 states, “Collect all plant propagules for the Palustrine Emergent Wetland Site from within Wilder Ranch State Park with approval from the CO and in compliance with Section 105.”

The hand collection of local seed at the PLS quantities indicated in the Seeding Schedule for Palustrine Emergent Wetland Restoration has been determined by local land managers/ ecologists/ botanists to not be feasible for the following reasons:

a) There are insufficient local populations of each species to collect the quantity specified.

b) Several of the specified species do not produce fertile seed due to the rhizomatous habit of the species

2) Please revise the specifications to allow for one of the following two options:

Bid as shown. See Revision 2 to Plan Sheet C4

OPTION #1 – Revise Bid Item #20 to delete the hand collection of local pure live seed and to allow for the use of 48.6 lbs of the following commercially available native wetland seed:

10% Agrostis pallens 10% Deschampsia danthonoides 20% Juncus effusus 20% Juncus patens 20% Carex praegracilis 20% Cyperus eragrostis

OPTION #2 – Revise Bid Items 21-26 to increase the collection and propagation of each species from 620 units to 5,709 units. Also Revise Bid Items 27-32 to increase the Planting Installations from 620 units to 5,709 units each

Rationale: The Palustrine Emergent Wetland Restoration Area is 1.08 acres (47,045 square ft), with an average planting density of one plant per 1.5 square foot a total of 31,363 plants. Therefore an additional 5709 plants are required (31,363 plants - 2820 plants already on the plan = 28,543 plants/ 5 species = 5709 additional plugs per species).

Option #1 is cheaper, but will not meet the collection zone requirements.

Option #2 is more expensive, but will meet the collection zone requirements:

“local genetic source: collected from San Mateo County or northern Santa Cruz County, from the western slope of the mountains, at an elevation of 0 to 1,000 feet”?

Past performance must be received by the Date Offers Due.