Addedum II - Specs and Q&A.pdf

Addendum Date: October 19, 2026

Addendum Number: II

Solicitation Number: ITB FFS 26 27 58

Solicitation Title: Florida Forest Service Statewide Wildfire Mitigation Services (Re-Bid)

Please be advised that the information contained below is applicable to the original specifications of the above-referenced solicitation.

This Addendum includes the Department’s written answers to the written questions received by the deadline.

This Addendum also includes the following changes to the above-referenced solicitation. Terms struck through are deletions; new terms are indicated in red font.

Change No. 1: Attachment D – Price Sheet, is hereby replaced in its entirety with REVISED Attachment D – Price Sheet and is attached hereto.

Change No. 2: Section 2.3 Mitigation Service Levels, is hereby revised as follows:

Service Level 1 – Forestry Mowing, Mulching, and Mastication Only

• Mulch all vegetative material and stumps less than six inches (6”) DBH down to two to three inches (2” – 3”) above ground level for the specified width and length along public and private property boundary.

• Any mulching residue should be evenly distributed (no mulch piles) across designated area and no larger than three feet (3’).

Service Level 2 – Mulching, Mastication, and Land Clearing

Mulching Requirements

• Mulch all vegetative/woody material that can be processed by equipment down to two to three inches (2” – 3”) above ground level. for the specified width and length along public and private property boundary. Any mulching residue should be evenly distributed (no mulch piles) across designated area.

• Mulch residue must be evenly distributed across the designated area with no mulch piles.

• Stumps must be cut down to two to three inches (2” – 3”) above ground level and left in place.

Vegetative Removal Requirements

• Remove all vegetation less than six inches (6”) in DBH. Remove all dead-standing trees

Addendum II

ITB FFS 26 27 58

regardless of DBH, all trees leaning 30 degrees or more, trees with broken tops, and all downed trees. and vegetative material that cannot be mulched in the boundaries identified by the FFS Representative in accordance with the following:

• Remove all vegetation less than six inches (6”) DBH, only if it cannot be effectively mulched.

• Remove live trees only when directed by the FFS Representative.

Disposal Methods (Choose one)

• Haul away at the Contractor’s expense.

• Burn on-site using an Air Curtain Incinerator operated by a Certified Pile Burner upon prior approval from the FFS Representative.

• Mulch on-site when feasible, with mulch residue evenly distributed across the designated area with no mulch piles.

(i) hauling away at the Contractor’s expense, or

(ii) by burning on site with an Air Curtain Incinerator (ACI) by a Certified Pile Burner who has obtained prior approval from the FFS Representative.

• Live trees shall be removed unless directed by the FFS Representative. The FFS Representative may designate the removal of specific live trees as needed outside of dead or leaning trees to facilitate project completion.

Operational Principles

• Mulching is the Department’s preferred method and should be utilized whenever equipment can effectively accomplish it.

• Removal applies only to material that cannot be mulched or that presents hazard or safety concerns.

• Disposal requirements apply only to material removed from the project site.

Service Level 3 – Mulching, Mastication, and Land Clearing (No DBH Restrictions)

Mulching Requirements

• Remove and/or Mulch all vegetation vegetative/woody material that can be processed by equipment regardless of DBH down to two to three inches (2” – 3”) above ground level.

• Mulch residue must be evenly distributed across the designated area with no mulch piles.

• Stumps must be cut down to two to three inches (2” – 3”) above ground level and left in place.

Vegetation Removal Requirements

• Remove all dead-standing trees, all trees leaning 30 degrees or more, trees with broken tops, and all downed trees within the boundaries identified by the FFS Representative.

• Remove all vegetation, regardless of DBH, that cannot be effectively mulched due to equipment limitations or site conditions.

• Remove live trees only when directed by the FFS Representative.

• Live trees shall be removed unless directed by the FFS Representative. Stumps must be cut two to three inches (2” – 3”) above ground level and left in place.

• Removal of vegetative debris shall be in accordance with the following:

(i) hauling away at contractors’ expense, or

(ii) by burning on site with an Air Curtain Incinerator (ACI) by a Certified Pile Burner who has obtained prior authorization from the FFS Representative, or

(iii) by onsite mulching, where residue should be evenly distributed (no mulch piles) across designated area and no larger than three feet (3’).

Disposal Methods (Choose one)

• Haul away at the Contractor’s expense.

• Burn on-site using an Air Curtain Incinerator operated by a Certified Pile Burner upon prior approval from the FFS Representative.

• Mulch on-site when feasible, with mulch residue evenly distributed across the designated area with no mulch piles.

Service Level 4 – Roller (Drum) Chopping

• Roller chop all underbrush vegetation (grass, shrubs, palmetto, and small trees up to four inches (4”) DBH) within the boundaries identified by the FFS Representative.

• Live trees that are not included in the project shall not be damaged.

• Roller drums (single or double drum) shall be no less than eight feet (8’) wide and no less than forty-two inches (42”) in diameter. Roller drums shall have blades no less than eight inches (8”) long.

• Roller drums shall be capable of being filled with water or shall be heavy enough to drive the cutting blades completely into the ground.

Service Level 5 – Fireline Establishment

• Clear a ten to fifteen foot (10’ – 15’) wide buffer of all vegetation, stumps, and debris down to mineral soil for the full project width and length within the boundaries identified by the FFS Representative.

• Harrow or disk the cleared buffer to break up the soil and establish a defensible fireline.

• All trees, regardless of DBH, shall be removed.

• No berms, soil mounds, or piles of vegetative debris shall remain along the buffer.

• Removal of larger vegetative debris, including stumps, shall be in accordance with the following:

(i) hauling away at the contractors’ expense, or

(ii) onsite mulching, with residue evenly distributed (no mulch piles) outside the newly established fireline, or

(iii) onsite burning with an Air Curtain Incinerator (ACI) operated by a Certified Pile Burner who has obtained prior approval from the FFS Representative.

• Live trees that are not included in the project shall not be damaged.

Change No. 3: Section 4.1 Term Agreement, Purchase Order Issuance, and RFQ Vendor Selection, paragraph A. Term Agreement, is hereby revised as follows:

Each awarded Vendor will be offered a three-year Term Agreement (Appendix II) for the awarded Service Level(s) as applicable. Each three-year Term Agreement will be at the Unit Price Per Acre for each year as bid on the awarded Vendor’s Price Sheet and may be renewed for up to three (3) additional one-year periods, if the awarded Vendor bid on the optional renewal term in its Price Sheet.

Entering into a Term Agreement does not guarantee the awarded Vendor will receive a purchase order. Compensation will only be available to awarded Vendor(s) based on services satisfactorily completed in accordance with an executed Department purchase order.

Each awarded Vendor will be offered a three-year REVISED Term Agreement (Appendix II) for the awarded Service Level(s) as applicable. Each three-year Term Agreement will be at the Unit Price Per Acre for Services Levels 1 – 4 and Unit Price Per One-Tenth (1/10) Mile for each year as bid on the awarded Vendor’s Price Sheet and may be renewed for up to three (3) additional one-year periods, if the awarded Vendor bid on the optional renewal term in its Price Sheet.

Entering into a Term Agreement does not guarantee the awarded Vendor will receive a purchase order. Compensation will only be available to awarded Vendor(s) based on services satisfactorily completed in accordance with an executed Department purchase order.

Change No. 4: Section 4.1 Term Agreement, Purchase Order Issuance, and RFQ Vendor Selection, paragraph C. Vendor Selection Order for Issuance of a Purchase Order, is hereby revised as follows:

The FFS will issue a Request for Quotes (RFQ) to a minimum of (3) awarded Vendors for each FFS project using Appendix III – Wildfire Mitigation Work Order. This RFQ allows awarded Vendors to submit competitive price quotes. The Department will select the quote that offers the best value, which is determined by the value to the State based on factors that include, but are not limited to, total quote price and the Vendor’s ability to meet the FFS-requested deadline(s).

Vendors may offer reduced pricing in response to each RFQ; however, RFQ prices shall not exceed the fixed Maximum Rate Unit Price Per Acre for Service Levels 1 – 4 and the Maximum Rate Unit Price Per One Tenth (1/10) Mile for Service Level 5 listed in the Term Agreement.

Upon receipt of written notice from the Department of a Wildfire Mitigation Work Order (Appendix III), the Vendor must accept or refuse the project within five (5) business days by providing written notice to Department. After five (5) business days, or upon receipt of the Vendor’s refusal, the Department may proceed to the next-ranked Vendor. The Department intends to issue purchase orders for each project upon receipt of the Vendor’s written acceptance.

If the Vendor timely accepts a project in writing but fails to begin services within 30 calendar days from the issuance of the Department’s executed purchase order, the Department may terminate the purchase order and move to the next-ranked Vendor.

1) Project Details: FFS will issue the Wildfire Mitigation Request for Quote (RFQ) (Appendix III) to Contractors identifying the specific project location(s) and include the following information:

• FFS Project Number.

• Project Location.

• Approximate project acres for Service Levels 1 – 4 or distance to the nearest one-tenth (1/10) mile for Service Level 5.

• Date and time of the project-specific mandatory site visit.

• Date and time Quotes are due to FFS.

2) Request for Quotes/Project Notification Email: FFS will issue an RFQ to a minimum of three

(3) Contractors by email. The notification email will include:

• The Wildfire Mitigation Request for Quote (RFQ) (Appendix III).

• Project map and/or GPS coordinates (as applicable).

• A detailed project scope of work (as applicable).

• Instructions to Contractors to respond to the RFQ.

3) Mandatory Site Visit: Contractors must respond to the FFS RFQ within five (5) business days of the FFS’ notice of the project-specific mandatory site visit. FFS will facilitate the mandatory site visit and discuss the project details. Contractors shall sign-in at the mandatory site visit.

4) Contractor Quote Submission:

• Contractors shall submit Quotes to FFS no later than three (3) business days after attending the mandatory site visit.

• Contractor Quote shall include the Wildfire Mitigation Request for Quotes (RFQ) (Appendix III) to submit their bid, which must be signed and dated by the Contractor.

• Contractors may offer reduced pricing in response to each RFQ; however, RFQ prices shall not exceed the fixed Maximum Rate Unit Price Per Acre for Service Levels 1 – 4 and the Maximum Rate Unit Price Per One Tenth (1/10) Mile for Service Level 5 listed in the Term Agreement.

5) FFS Contractor Selection: FFS will select the Contractor with the Quote that offers the best value to the State based on factors that include, but are not limited to, total Quote price, Contractor’s estimated project start date, and estimated project end date.

6) Selected Contractor Notification: Upon selecting the Contractor to perform work, FFS will contact the awarded Contractor and issue a purchase order.

7) Purchase Order: Upon issuance of the Department’s executed purchase order, the FFS

Representative will instruct the Contractor to begin work.

8) Failure to Start Work: If the Contractor fails to start work of any project within 30 calendar days after issuance of the Department’s executed purchase order, the Department may terminate the purchase order.

Change No. 5: Section 4.14 General Liability Insurance, is hereby revised as follows:

The Contractor shall take out and maintain during the life of the contract:

Minimum Limits of Liability $1,000,000 each occurrence $2,000,000 aggregate

Including Bodily Injury, Property Damage and products and completed operations.

General Liability $500,000 each occurrence

Change No. 6: Appendix II – Term Agreement (DRAFT), is hereby replaced in its entirety with REVISED Appendix II – Term Agreement (DRAFT) and is attached hereto.

Change No. 7: Appendix III – Wildfire Mitigation Work Order, is hereby replaced in its entirety with REVISED Appendix III – Wildfire Mitigation Request for Quote and is attached hereto.

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Addendum I

Question Number

Question Answer

Is there a minimum number of acres per service request for each line item in the Statewide Wildfire Mitigation ITB?

No. There is no minimum number of acres per Service Level.

Would you be able to give us a location to look at so that we can get an idea of the density of the work to be done?

Each Florida Forest Service (FFS) project will vary in the required Service Level, project location, and density of vegetative material. FFS will provide guidance when the Wildfire Mitigation Work Order (please refer to REVISED Appendix III, of the ITB) is issued to the awarded Vendor for each specific project location.

3 Are there time limits for sections to get completed?

The FFS will issue a Request for Quotes to awarded Vendors for each FFS project. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

How often can we bill for payment? If, we understand this correctly, is it at the completion of each section?

Payment will be made upon the satisfactory completion of the specific FFS project.

References: Section 2.9 requires three of the Respondent’s most recently completed projects within the last five years that are similar in size and scope. For a newly established company that does not yet have three completed projects comparable in size to the anticipated wildfire mitigation projects, is there any acceptable method for satisfying this requirement, or are three qualifying projects completed specifically by the responding company mandatory for the bid to be considered responsive?

Section 2.9 requires three (3) completed projects from the responding Vendor within the last five (5) years. While the projects do not need to match the wildfire mitigation work exactly, they must be similar in scope and demonstrate relevant capability.

Expected workload: For Region 2, Service Level 2, can the Department provide the estimated acreage anticipated annually, typical acreage range of an individual project/RFQ, and confirm whether there is any minimum acreage or dollar amount guaranteed to an awarded contractor?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

Question Answer

Equipment: Section 2.5 states that specialized equipment, including low-ground-pressure or amphibious track machinery, may be required. Must an awarded contractor own or have this specialized equipment committed at the time of bid submission, or may equipment be rented/leased on a project-by-project basis after receipt of an RFQ or purchase order, provided the contractor can meet all required project deadlines?

No. There is no requirement for Vendors to own or have specialized equipment committed at the time of bid submission. Awarded Contractors may obtain or lease any necessary equipment on a project-by-project basis after receiving an FFS-issued RFQ or purchase order.

Awarded Contractor shall be fully responsible for ensuring that all required equipment, whether owned, rented, or otherwise secured, is available and capable of meeting each specific project requirements and deadline. All costs associated with acquiring and utilizing specialized equipment must be considered and included in the bid price.

Project assignment: Since the Department anticipates awarding up to ten Term Agreements per Service Level in each Region and subsequently issuing project-specific RFQs, can the Department clarify how contractors will be selected for individual Region 2, Service Level 2 projects, including whether the Term Agreement maximum unit price is only a ceiling and contractors may submit a lower project-specific price in response to an RFQ?

Please refer to Section 3.18, Basis of Award, of the ITB.

An award shall be made to the ten responsive and responsible Vendors with the lowest Initial Term Sub- Total for each Service Level in each Region.

Question Answer

I am seeking clarification regarding Sections 2.9 and

2.11. We intend to serve as the prime contractor and

utilize qualified, experienced forestry mitigation subcontractors to perform portions of the work.

Section 2.9 requires three recently completed projects of similar size and scope and states that subcontractor references will not be accepted as substitutes for respondent references.

Is there any permissible teaming, joint venture, or other arrangement under this solicitation whereby the experience and past performance of the firm performing the field work may be considered toward the past-performance requirement? If so, could you please clarify the required structure and documentation?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #5. The Department will not accept subcontractor references in place of the primary Contractor.

Service Level 5 – Work Order, Measurement, and Payment Unit

Attachment D and Sections 3.11 and 3.18 require Service Level 5 pricing on a per 1/10-mile basis. However, Appendix III requests estimated acres and Contractor Price Per Acre.

Please confirm that Service Level 5 RFQs, work orders, invoicing, and payment quantities will be based on 1/10-mile units, and whether Appendix III will be revised accordingly. Please also clarify how partial 0.1-mile segments will be measured and paid.

Service Level 5 RFQs, work orders, invoicing, and payment quantities will be based on 1/10-mile units.

Please refer to Change No. 7: of this Addendum and the REVISED Appendix III - Wildfire Mitigation Request for Quote, attached hereto.

Before quoting an individual project, will contractors receive the exact address, acreage, photographs, tree sizes and density, access conditions, and disposal requirements?

Yes. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

Question Answer

Can contractors inspect each project site before submitting their project quote?

Yes. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

Must one maximum price per acre cover all Level 3 conditions, including dense mature trees, wet ground, difficult access, and long hauling distances? Are separate mobilization or disposal charges allowed?

No. Please refer to Section 3.11, Price Sheet, of the ITB.

The fixed Maximum Rate Unit Price Per Acre for Service Levels 1 – 4 and the Maximum Rate Unit Price Per One Tenth (1/10) Mile for Service Level 5 shall include all Vendor costs to perform services including, but no limited to, labor, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, travel, supplies, staffing, insurance, and any other relevant and related expenses.

What is the expected range of project acreage in Region 3? Are there minimum project sizes or minimum payments?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

For Level 3, may a contractor use cutting and hauling exclusively, or must forestry mulching equipment also be available?

Yes. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #7.

Can equipment be rented or supplied by an approved subcontractor? What equipment documentation is required with the initial bid?

Yes. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #7.

Would residential tree removal and property clearing projects qualify as the three required references? How closely must they match the acreage and scope of wildfire mitigation work?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #5.

May an awarded contractor decline a project because of location, site conditions, equipment availability, or cost without affecting eligibility for future projects?

Yes. An awarded Vendor may decline the FFS RFQ for a project without affecting eligibility for future projects.

What are the payment terms? Is payment available for completed portions of a project, or only after the entire project is completed and accepted?

If a project cannot be completed due to environmental conditions such as prolonged weather conditions, the Department may still issue payment for the completed portion(s).

Question Answer

The insurance section lists both $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate and a separate $500,000 general liability line. Which requirements apply? Are valid Florida workers’ compensation exemptions accepted for owners or subcontractors?

Please refer to Change No. 5: of this Addendum.

May a bidder submit a bid for only selected districts within a region and be considered for award for those districts, or must a bidder submit for and be capable of servicing all districts within a region?

Vendors submitting a bid for a specific region must be capable of providing services throughout the entire region, not just selected portions.

Does the required equipment listed in the solicitation have to be owned by the bidder at the time of bid, or may a bidder satisfy the equipment requirements through rented or leased equipment available for performance of the work?

Yes. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #7.

If a contractor is awarded work within a district or region, is the contractor required to accept every individual project or work request issued under the agreement, or may the contractor decline individual requests based on availability, capacity, equipment, or scheduling without being considered in default?

No. The awarded Vendor is not required to accept every individual FFS RFQ project. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #18.

Fuel Price Escalation: Because the maximum unit rates must include fuel, transportation, travel, equipment, and all other costs and may remain in effect for multiple years, will FDACS permit an equitable adjustment or written change order if the average retail price of on-road diesel exceeds $6.00 per gallon for a sustained period? If so, what published fuel index, documentation, and calculation methodology would FDACS require? The ITB allows equitable adjustments only through express written approval/change order, but it does not state whether extraordinary fuel escalation would qualify.

Please refer to Section 4.3 Modification after Purchase Order or Contract Execution, of the ITB.

Question Answer

Minimum Work Order Size: Does FDACS anticipate establishing a minimum acreage, minimum mileage, or minimum dollar value for individual Work Orders issued under this contract?

No. The Department does not anticipate establishing a minimum acreage, mileage, or dollar value for projects.

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

Typical Project Size: Based on FDACS's recent wildfire mitigation program history, what is the typical acreage range for Service Levels 1–4 and typical mileage range for Service Level 5?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

Historical Volume by Region: Can FDACS provide the approximate number of projects, acres/miles treated, and dollars expended during the most recent contract period, broken down by Region and, if available, Service Level?

Project volume varies significantly by region, and the most recent contract period included an unusually high number of projects due to hurricane-related damage. As a result, historical volumes may not reflect typical workload levels.

Expected Annual Volume: Does FDACS have an estimated or budgeted annual acreage/mileage for wildfire mitigation work anticipated under this new contract? We understand the ITB does not guarantee any quantity or Purchase Order volume.

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

Project-Specific Site Information: Before vendors submit pricing on an individual RFQ, will FDACS provide sufficient site information to evaluate production and mobilization costs, including acreage/mileage, vegetation density, approximate DBH range, terrain, access conditions, wet-ground conditions, debris requirements, and environmental restrictions?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

Service Level 3 – Vegetation Density/DBH: Since Service Level 3 has no DBH restriction, will project-specific RFQs identify the approximate tree density, average or range of DBH, and presence of unusually large timber before vendors are required to quote the work?

Please refer to Change No. 2: of this Addendum.

Question Answer

Small Remote Projects: If an individual project is substantially smaller than typical but requires significant long-distance mobilization, is the contractor permitted to account for those mobilization costs entirely within its project-specific per-acre or per-mile quote, provided the resulting rate does not exceed the awarded maximum rate?

Yes. The Contractor must include all costs to perform services for each project, including, but no limited to, labor, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, travel, supplies, staffing, insurance, and any other relevant and related expenses.

Multiple Mobilizations / Phased Sites: If FDACS or the participating landowner releases a project in phases requiring multiple mobilizations rather than one continuous operation, may additional mobilization costs be addressed through the project RFQ or a written Purchase Order change order?

Please refer to Change No. 2: of this Addendum.

REVISED Appendix III – Wildfire Mitigation Request for Quote will address project specific requirements.

Traffic Control: When wildfire mitigation work is adjacent to or accessed from a public roadway, will required traffic control, lane closures, law-enforcement assistance, or flagging be furnished by FDACS/another agency, or must all such costs be included in the contractor's project-specific unit price?

All traffic control-related costs, including any required lane closures, law-enforcement assistance, or flagging, are the responsibility of the Contractor and must be included in the Wildfire Mitigation Request for Quote (REVISED Appendix III) for each project.

Heavy-Equipment Access: Will project sites be expected to provide suitable access for lowboys, tractor-trailers, excavators, grinders, forestry equipment, and support trucks, or should vendors anticipate responsibility for constructing or improving temporary access?

Each project will have a mandatory site visit before Contractor Quotes are due. The FFS Representative will address any access-related issues at the mandatory site visit.

Access-Road Damage: When existing roads or trails are used for authorized heavy-equipment access, how will responsibility be determined for repairs resulting from normal equipment use versus contractor negligence?

All projects must adhere to the Best Management Practices outlined in the Silviculture Best Management Practices Manual.

Question Answer

Boundary and Resource Marking: Prior to mobilization, will FDACS or the participating landowner physically identify or flag the approved work limits, wetlands, protected vegetation, invasive-species exclusion areas, utilities, archaeological areas, and other areas that may not be disturbed?

The FFS Representative will identify all boundary lines and exclusion areas at the mandatory site visit.

Underground/Private Utilities: Who is responsible for identifying and marking private utilities, irrigation systems, septic systems, wells, buried electrical services, and other facilities that may not be covered by normal public utility-location services?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #36.

Debris-Disposition Direction: For Service Levels 2, 3, and 5, will each individual RFQ or Work Order state whether debris is authorized to be mulched onsite, burned onsite, or must be hauled offsite before vendors submit their project pricing?

Please refer to Change No. 2: of this Addendum.

Merchantable Timber: When merchantable timber is removed as part of an authorized project, who retains ownership of that timber? May the contractor remove, salvage, or sell merchantable material, or must it remain with the participating landowner?

Please refer to Change No. 2: of this Addendum.

Service Level 5 – Stumps: For Fireline Establishment, does the requirement to clear down to mineral soil require complete stump extraction, or may stumps be ground/mulched sufficiently below grade to permit the required harrowing or disking?

Stumps may be mulched below grade as long as the requirements of the service level are met.

Water Supply: When a project requires water for equipment cleaning, dust suppression, approved burning, or other project operations, will a water source normally be available at the site, or should the contractor include water supply and hauling in its project pricing?

The Contractor is responsible for providing all equipment and resources necessary to meet the project-specific requirements, including any needed water supply.

Question Answer

Extraordinary Weather / Site Inaccessibility: When severe weather, flooding, hurricanes, wildfire activity, or other conditions beyond the contractor's control make the site unsafe or inaccessible, will FDACS extend the Work Order completion period without application of the late-completion financial consequence?

The Department may extend or cancel projects when prolonged environmental conditions (such as flooding, drought, or wildfire) make the site unsafe or inaccessible.

These adjustments will not result in any financial consequence to the contractor, and any portion of work completed prior to cancellation will be paid.

Performance Bonds: Does FDACS anticipate requiring performance bonds, payment bonds, or other project-specific security on any individual Work Orders issued under this Term Agreement? If so, what dollar threshold would trigger that requirement?

No. The Department will not issue bonds for the projects.

44 Is there a minimum number of acres per work order? No. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

It shows it is a Re-bid, are you able to share why it is a rebid and the original solicitation on 9/30 was withdrawn?

The Department withdrew the original solicitation to incorporate additional Service Levels, resulting in the issuance of a re-bid

How are work orders processed? We submit worst case scenario or not to exceed pricing for the ITB. Then when specific work is needed, we provide a project specific price that is under the NTE submitted?

Please refer to Change No. 4: and Change No. 7: of this Addendum.

Do we have to submit pricing for each Service Level within a Region? Would we be disqualified if we omitted Service Level 4 in a Region?

No. Please refer to Section 3.11, Price Sheet, of the ITB.

Vendors may submit a bid price for more than one Service Level in each Region, and more than one Region; however, Vendors are not required to bid on all Service Levels or more than one Region.

Please confirm that no questions, answers, or addenda issued under ITB FFS 26 27 04 apply to this re-bid, and that the questions below will be answered under ITB FFS 26 27 58.

All questions and answers included in this addendum apply only to ITB FFS 26 27 58.

Question Answer

Appendix II, the draft Term Agreement, refers to ITB FFS 26 27 04 in the recitals and in Section IV, and Section V refers to road material product delivered at a per ton price.

Please confirm the executed agreement will reference ITB FFS 26 27 58 and wildfire mitigation services at the Maximum Rate Unit Prices bid on Attachment D.

Please refer to Change No. 6: of this Addendum.

For Regions 1 and 2, how many wildfire mitigation work orders did the Department issue in each of the last two fiscal years, and what were the smallest, typical, and largest acreages? (Sections 1.1 and 3.11)

In Regions 1 and 2, project sizes varied by Service Level and ranged from less than one (1) acre up to approximately 200 acres.

Across the last two (2) fiscal years, the Department issued approximately 200 wildfire mitigation work orders within these regions.

Appendix III shows a Site Visit Date. Will the site visit take place before the five-business-day acceptance window begins, or does the window run from the date of written notice regardless of when the visit occurs? (Section 4.1.C)

Each project will have a mandatory site visit before Contractor Quotes are due. Please refer to Change No.

7: of this Addendum.

Will the scope of work attached to each work order identify the fuel type, the width and length of any boundary strip, the ground conditions, and for Service Levels 2 and 3 the count of dead or leaning trees to be removed? (Section 2.3)

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #51.

How will treated acres be measured for payment: by the estimate on the work order, by GIS measurement of the treated area, or by a post-treatment survey, and who performs the measurement? (Sections 3.11 and 4.18)

REVISED Appendix III – Wildfire Mitigation Request for Quote will include project specific requirements. The FFS Representative will address any other project specific requirements at the mandatory site visit.

Will treatment boundaries and the areas to be avoided, such as invasive plant areas, wetlands, and archaeological sites, be flagged on the ground by the FFS Representative before work begins, or provided as GIS files? (Section 2.7)

Each project will have a mandatory site visit before Contractor Quotes are due. The FFS Representative will address project-related requirements at the mandatory site visit.

Question Answer

For Service Level 2, will the FFS Representative mark dead standing trees, trees leaning 30 degrees or more, and broken tops before work begins, and how will the 30-degree lean be verified for purposes of the deduction in Section 2.6?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #54.

When the FFS Representative halts work for weather or soil conditions under Section 2.1, will the work order end date be extended by the number of days halted, or must the vendor request a change under Section 4.3?

The FFS Representative can extend the end date of a project if it is determined that environmental factors do not fall under Best Management Practices.

Is there a minimum acreage or length per work order, and may a vendor decline individual work orders under Section 4.1.C without affecting its standing for future quote requests?

Please see the Department’s answers to Questions #2 and #18.

Will the work order scope for Service Level 4 specify single or double drum and the number of passes required, and if a second pass over the same ground is required, is it paid as additional acreage?

For Service Level 4, the number of passes and the type of drum utilized are determined by the Contractor as necessary to meet Service Level and project requirements. Additional passes are not paid as separate acreage; they are considered part of the project.

Does the Department set any minimum horsepower or weight for the tow unit, or is any tractor or dozer acceptable provided the drum meets the dimensions in Section 2.3?

The Department does not set a minimum horsepower or equipment weight requirement. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring its equipment meets the specifications outlined in Section 2.5 of the ITB.

Service Level 5 is priced per one tenth of a mile, but the Appendix III work order provides only a Contractor Price Per Acre field. For Service Level 5 work orders, will the form state the estimated length in tenths of a mile and the price per tenth, and how will the completed length be measured for payment, for example by GPS along the centerline?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2 and Change No. 7: of this Addendum.

Who determines the buffer width between ten and fifteen feet for a given project, and is the unit price per tenth of a mile the same regardless of the width specified?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #53.

Question Answer

Section 2.3 requires that all trees regardless of DBH be removed and that larger debris including stumps be removed. Does this require stumps to be grubbed below grade across the full width, and will the scope identify the number and size of trees over six inches within the buffer before the vendor must accept the work order?

Stumps can be removed or mulched down depending on the specific service level.

Will the FFS Representative flag or GPS the fireline centerline before work begins?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #53.

Where mulched residue is placed outside the newly established fireline, is a continuous windrow of mulch along the outside edge acceptable, or must the residue be spread so that no linear accumulation remains?

Please refer to Change No. 2: of this Addendum, for mulch residue requirements.

Does the Department expect air curtain incinerator authorizations to be available for Service Level 2, 3, and 5 disposal in the Region 1 counties, and which credential satisfies the Certified Pile Burner requirement in Section 2.3: the Florida Forest Service Certified Pile Burner course, the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager certification, or either?

A Certified Pile Burner with current credentials must be on site for any pile-burning operation.

Section 3.11 states that vendors are not required to bid on all Service Levels, and also that bids that fail to provide a price for Service Levels 1 through 5 for each year will be deemed non-responsive. Please confirm that a vendor bidding only some Service Levels in a Region remains responsive for the levels it prices, and whether the unbid rows should be left blank or marked No Bid.

Vendors may submit a bid price for more than one Service Level in each Region, and more than one Region; however, Vendors are not required to bid on all Service Levels or more than one Region.

May a vendor submit Attachment D pages only for the Regions it bids, and should the unbid Regions be omitted or marked No Bid?

Please refer to Change No. 1: of this Addendum.

Vendors shall complete, sign, and return REVISED Attachment D – Price Sheet, in accordance with Section

3.11 of the ITB.

Question Answer

On Attachment D the heading of the Optional Three-Year Renewal Term table reads Initial Term Sun-Total. Please confirm this column is the renewal term subtotal, and confirm that leaving the renewal table blank does not make the bid non-responsive but only forfeits consideration for renewal.

Yes, this is a Scriver’s error and should state ‘Sub-Total.’

Please refer to REVISED Attachment D, Price Sheet, which includes the correct language.

Correct; Vendors who do not submit optional renewal pricing will not be considered for renewal if awarded a Term Agreement.

For larger work orders, may the vendor invoice for acres or tenths of a mile completed at intervals, and if so at what interval? (Section 4.18)

Payment is issued upon satisfactory completion of the project. Interim invoicing is not permitted. The only exception applies when environmental conditions require the FFS Representative to cancel the remaining uncompleted portions of the project; in such cases, the contractor will be paid for the portion of work completed prior to cancellation.

Section 4.14 lists general liability at both $1,000,000 and $500,000 per occurrence. Please confirm the required per-occurrence limit.

Please refer to Change No. 5: of this Addendum.

For Attachment A, will fireline construction, fuel reduction, and prescribed fire preparation projects performed for other public agencies or private landowners be accepted as similar in size and scope under Section 2.9?

Yes.

Please identify prior Department solicitations for comparable mulching, chopping, and mitigation services so vendors may review the award tabulations.

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #27 and Question #50.

Is there an anticipated or historical range of acreage for individual projects issued under the resulting Term Agreements?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #27 and Question #50.

Is there a minimum project acreage or minimum purchase order value anticipated for projects issued under the resulting Term Agreements?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #2.

Will the Department make available the bid opening information, bid tabulation, or pricing received under ITB

FFS 26 27 04?

ITB FFS 26 27 04 was withdrawn prior to the public bid opening. There is no public bid opening information, no bid tabulation, and no pricing submitted.

Question Answer

Project size: Can the Department provide the typical acreage range and approximate number of projects issued per year in Region 1 under the prior wildfire mitigation term agreements? Furthermore, for each Service Level?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #27 and Question #50.

Service Level 2 debris disposal: Section 2.3 lists hauling away or burning with an Air Curtain Incinerator for vegetative material that cannot be mulched. If the contractor's equipment can mulch downed trees and debris on site, with residue evenly distributed and under 3 feet, is that acceptable for Service Level 2 as it is for Service Level 3?

This determination is site-specific and will be addressed with your FFS Representative during the project review.

Certified Pile Burner: Must a bidder have a Certified Pile Burner on staff when the bid is submitted, or only before any project where on-site burning is approved?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #65.

General liability limits: Section 4.14 lists minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate, followed by "General Liability $500,000 each occurrence."

Please confirm which general liability limit applies.

Please refer to Change No. 5: of this Addendum.

Price sheet: For a vendor bidding one Service Level in one Region, should we submit only that Region's price sheet page and mark the other Service Levels "No Bid"?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #67.

Vendors may mark “No Bid” on the REVISED Attachment D – Price Sheet for any Service Levels or Regions they do not intend to bid.

Renewal pricing: Please confirm that renewal-term pricing is optional and that leaving it blank will not make a bid non-responsive.

Vendors who do not submit optional renewal pricing will not be considered for renewal if awarded a Term Agreement.

Unit prices: Since the unit prices are fixed for the Term Agreement, is there any provision for adjustment due to significant increases in diesel fuel, labor, insurance, disposal, or equipment operating costs?

Please refer to Section 4.3 Modification after Purchase Order or Contract Execution of the ITB

Quote adjustments: Can the contractor request an adjustment to the quoted project price if actual site conditions materially differ from the RFQ description?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #54.

Question Answer

Bidding for 1 region entirely for all service levels does that mean that we aren’t able to bid for other regions as well?

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #80.

It’s stated that amphibious equipment is needed. Are most projects going to run into risk where equipment gets stuck? If so should we include a rental for amphibious equipment inside our per acre or will you allow a rental separate from price?

Yes. Please see the Department’s answer to Questions #2 and #7.

Should we include amphibious equipment/excavator in our prices?

Yes. Please see the Department’s answer to Question #7 and #13.

Will machines be more prone to getting stuck because of the type of ground? Will it be mucky? I’m asking this because in ITB it specifically states needing an amphibious equipment.

Please see the Department’s answer to Question #54.

Will consideration be given to the credibility of the bids given? The last time this was put out to bid some bidders took advantage of the method used to determine the winning bid (sum of 3 years) and did not bid realistic numbers the last year. This resulted in a winning bid but a higher per acre rate the first two years of the term.

The Department will evaluate bids in accordance with Section 3.16 of the ITB.

This Addendum is hereby incorporated into and made a part of the above noted Invitation to Bid. All other terms, conditions, and specifications of this Invitation to Bid will remain the same. All questions regarding this Addendum should be submitted in writing to the Procurement Officer at Bids@FDACS.gov or contact the Procurement Office at (850) 617-7180.

Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. Protests must be filed with the Department’s Agency Clerk. Filings may be made physically at:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services The Holland Building

600 South Calhoun Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 mailto:Bids@FDACS.gov