Attachment_D_-_Qs_&_As.pdf

Attachment D Questions & Answers

RFQ

Question

NASA/KSC

Answer

1 BFF-Are there any underground lines? Not within the area of work. Maps can be provided.

2 BFF - What are the acceptable work hours and can you work weekends?

Standard work hours are anytime between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Weekend work needs to be pre-approved in advance by the facility point-of-contact.

3 BFF - Is the stump grinding 6 inch above ground? Yes, all stumps will be 6 inches or less.

4 BFF - Are there any turtle mound concerns? There are likely gopher tortoise burrows located within the project area but they will not be impacted by proposed exotic tree removal or habitat vegetation management actions implemented within natural areas. The contractor will be briefed regarding wildlife they may encounter in the area and their repsonsibilies regarding avoiding species observed while working. All wildlife (including snakes) are protected within KSC operational areas and within MINWR. Wildlife surveys will be conducted on behalf of the contractor as deemed necessary by MINWR or at the request of the contractor if needed.

5 LOS - What is the timeframe for the retreat of the herbicide? Three months, or as needed.

6 LOS - How many acreas are considered habitate area? Refer to aerial maps and corresponding landcover acreage tables. Essentially all work within the LC-40 and LC-41 LOS are within natural habitats managed by MINWR. Within the LC-39B LOS Ruderal Herbaceous and

Brazilian Pepper land covers are not considered natural habitats, as well as any vegetation within 100' of facility perimeter fences or other infrastructue.

7 LOS - Can large trees fall in place in the habitate area? Felled large trees may be left in place, provided they do not block existing fire breaks or right of ways. (See also answer provided in questions #41 and

56).

8 When can you invoice for the retreat of herbicide? At completion.

9 Do you need a Saftety & Health Plan? As stated in Attachment B Terms & Conditions, NFS 1852.223-72 Safety and Health (Short Form) (JUL 2015) is required.

10 What is the criteria to determine of the work is complete? The NASA project manager will verify that the area is cleared to the SOW specifications.

11 With no Solicitation Documents, SF 1442, is there a particular format to submit the proposal in?

No particular format. Proposals should include the total price for the job, the schedule of milestones, and the technical approach/methodology.

12 Wasn't land clearing and fire line clearing covered under the recent grounds maintenance solicitation?

The grounds maintenance solicitation did not include the work listed in this solicitation.

13 Who is SCJ and how are they involved in this contract? SCJ is the current grounds contractor

14 Is this contract directly to NASA or SCJ? This is a NASA solicitation.

15 Would awardee invoice SCJ or NASA? Awardee would invoice NASA.

16 What role does SCJ play in this contract? Why is their name mentioned in the solicitation?

SCJ is the current grounds contractor. Coordination with SCJ would only be required if SCJ is also working in the same area.

17 Since SCJ is under contract to perform these services as the incumbent grounds maintenance contractor why aren't they providing the services themselves?

See answer to question #12 above.

18 Will SCJ be providing oversight on this contract such as

Quality Control/Quality Assurance/Final Approval of work?

No.

19 Do you have any contract documents or a bid schedule for this procurment?

No.

20 Do you know how many acres of service are required? See Attachment A Statement of Work

21 How will offerors be evaluated for award purposes? See Attachment B Terms & Conditions. Section 52.212-2 Evaluation -

Comercial Items.

22 Can you please provide photos of the jobsite for those who are unable to attend the site visit?

See attached LOS photos.

23 In what format will the proposal submittal need to be in? See answer to question #11 above.

24 What is the width of the LOS treatment areas? How will the treatment areas be delineated in the field (flagging, georeferenced maps)?

Contractor to be provided with aerial image showing extent of vegetation management areas with periodic GPS Lat/Lon provided along boundaries.

25 At the site visit, NASA personnel mentioned that in order to clear vegetation at the BFF one of the members of the group will need to be hazardous materials trained. Will NASA be providing the training?

There is no hazerdous material requirement - however there is a requirement for a Pesticide license to apply herbicides. The "Natural Areas" license is minimally required.

26 Does the hazardous material trained team member need to be on site whenever treatment is being completed?

Can be in supervisor status. Over the phone is sufficient.

27 Does the hazardous material trained team member need to be on site whenever treatment is being completed?

See answer above

28 What constitutes hand removal? What type of hand removal will be necessary (machete, chainsaw, hand-pulling)? How many acres are expected to occur for hand removal?

No pulling/uprooting or other soil disturbance will be permitted within wetland areas. The contractor is free to use any method they choose as long as the above criteria is maintained.

Can we physically get equipment to all areas of the project?

Are there areas where wetlands/ponds restrict equipment access? Will some areas require access by boat?

No in-water work is anticipated. Although some of the interior wetland swales containing trees that require removal will be flooded/inundated the use of a boat would likely not be practicable. Refer to aerial imagery and land cover maps to better understand habitat requiring vegetation alteration.

30 What herbicide formulation do you want on the Brazilian

Pepper? Are there other exotic/invasive plants needing spraying?

Basal bark treatment utilizing 18% Garlon 4 in bark oil if tree is not in standing water. If in standing water utilize aquatic approved triclopyr.

31 Are the Brazilian pepper trees in wetlands? There could be Brazilan peppers within and along wetland edges.

32 Will Kennedy obtain all necessary permitting or will that be the contractor's responsibility?

There are no authorized/planned wetland impacts from the proposed habitat management actions and no permits are being obtained by NASA for the work. The contractor will be required to execute the contract in accordance with all environmental requirements identified in the Record of

Environmental Consideration (REC) for this project provided to the contractor.

33 Will shapefiles/GPS files of the Press Site LOS Trimming areas be provided?

Yes, this can be provided.

34 On the 19 acres to be cleared, what is the DBH (Diameter

Breast Height) requirement or spacing for the trees that are to be left standing?

No trees should be left with a DBH lower than 15"

35 Will this work automatically go to the vendor with the lowest bid or will it be awarded based on price and past experience on similar projects?

See Attachment B Terms & Conditions, Addendum to FAR 52.212-2 -

Evaluation Commercial Items.

36 Are silt screens required around any areas? No, work is to be accomplished with no to minimal soil disturbance

37 How is work to be invoiced? Per acre, % complete, milestone by area etc.?

Invoice at completion of each milestone area.

38 What are payment terms? Can the FAR fast pay clause be added to this contract?

Net 30. No, FAR fast pay is used for purchasing of supplies.

39 Can vegetation cleared as part of this project be left in place? I would say vegetation within natural habitats managed by MINWR can remain and vegetation within disturbed areas supporting predominately exotic vegetation should be mulched, removed and disposed (KSC landfill is an option), or burned.

40 Is burning or off-site disposal of vegetation required? I would say vegetation within natural habitats managed by MINWR can remain and vegetation within disturbed areas supporting predominately exotic vegetation should be mulched, removed and disposed (KSC landfill is an option), or burned.

41 Are trees to large to mulched to be removed from the site? or can we burn them onsite?

Essentially the same questions as #56.

42 What is the tree size to keep at the BFF? No trees should be left with a DBH lower than 15"

43 Are palm trees to be removed from the LOS and BFF areas? Any cabbage palms encountered in clearing activities may be removed.

44 What is the width of clearing around the perimeter BFF fence? West and south facing fenceline - to a distance of 100'

45 In the specifications for around the fence area it stated to mechanical thin and remove understory vegetation without removing the trees but at the site visit we were told to remove everything even the trees since it was a fire break. Please clarify.

I believe they are looking for a mowable firebreak on the west and south sides, removal of all trees

46 Is there a figure similar to figure 01 for complex 41 and 39? Yes - figures will be provided to awarded contractor and are similar in nature to figure 01.

47 Can vegetation within the LOS areas but less than the max height (Figure 01) be left in place?

Yes, but the intent within managed natural areas is to leave the existing vegetation structure intact but a lower height that would clear visual obstructions and allow future prescribed burning. MINWR does not want habitat areas to be mulched to the ground.

48 How many days after cutting the Brazilian Peppers should herbicide be applied?

Brazilian pepper should be treated immediately after cutting when possible.

In areas that are mechanically treated, where it may be difficult to identify

Brazilian pepper stumps, follow-up herbicide application should occur 1 month later, or when Brazilian pepper re-sprouting is visible.

49 Will NASA provide GPS points for the LOS areas? Yes

50 Can we get access with heavy equipment to all areas or will there be some hand cutting required?

Hand cutting will be required when working in wetlands.

51 How much area of the Wetlands will have to be done by hand? Contractor should refer to aerial images and corresponding landcover acreage table to make this determination.

52 Will a staging area for equipment be provided? Yes. The facility point-of-contact will provide a location.

53 Are we going to able to use a tractor wit a boom to treat the areas where there is Brazilian Pepper?

Yes, but only where a monoculture of exotic vegetation previously existed.

This would not be acceptable in areas with a mix of exotics and desirable native plant species.

54 Will the contractor be responsible for only the initial application of the herbicide? It appears that the grounds maintenance contractor will be responsible for monitoring and applying all subsequent applications.

Yes, the contractor is responsible for initial herbicide treatments of exotic vegetation (primarily Brazilian pepper & Australian pine) and demonstrate less than 5% of treated plants have resprouted after 180 days.

55 How much fence work is needed around the BFF area? West and south facing fenceline - to a distance of 100'

56 Will trees that are cut down need to be removed our can they be mulched on site?

Trees within natural habitats to be burned by FWS post treatment can remain on site. Trees located within operational areas unlikely to be burned by

MINWR should be mulched onsite or removed/disposed offsite. Although burning using an air curtain incinerator could be an option there may be burning restrictions near smoke sensitive facilities that could interfere with this approach.

57 Will a map be given of the exact location of the manholes mentioned in this section?

Yes

58 BFF Area: What Diameter do the trees need to be to be taken down? Are all trees to be taken down regardless of the size?

I think all trees regardless of size should be removed within firebreak areas along west and south elevations and within the first 100' of clearing on the east elevation. Beyond 100' along the east side would recommend removal of all trees less than 15" dbh.

59 BFF Area: From the fence to where are the trees to be removed… The “Ditch”? Is there a map of the ditch?

Yes

60 Can we get Utility maps please? Yes