Questions_and_Answers__2.docx

Questions and Answers #2

Timber, Fall, and Buck Solicitation AG-0116-S-14-0032

1. Question: Can you estimate how many days in the 12 month contract period you expect to need these services? Or how many times?

Answer: 60 days not consecutive.

1. Question: The solicitation appears to be for 1 professional timber faller. What is considered “adequate personnel” and what would be the duties of these additional personnel?

Answer: Professional faller familiar with fell old growth timber in SE Alaska.

1. Question: Please clarify travel/transportation. The contractor will provide travel between larger towns with the USFS providing transportation from there to the job site I assume that the contractor will provide his own transportation to/from lodging and to/from the USFS office. “The government will provide transportation and field subsistence” does this include meals while in the field?

Answer: Yes; meals in city and field.

1. Question: The solicitation requires the faller to take out the specified trees without damaging or removing other trees. Does the faller have the right to refuse to fall a tree if in his professional opinion it cannot be felled without damage to standing timber or without taking out other trees?

Answer: Yes. If a selected tree is determined unsafe by the faller another tree will be substituted.

1. Question: The solicitation states that if/when bucked the log ends cannot be accessed for scaling the faller will cut a 2 inch wheel to expose the log ends. There are times when a wheel can be impossible and even a wedge is difficult to remove. Will wedge cuts be acceptable in these cases?

Answer: Yes.

1. Question: The solicitation states that the contractor will only work on Sunday if he chooses to. Will there be a problem if the contractor is willing to work Sunday but not on Saturday?

Answer: Not encouraged. Per diem will not be paid on a day not willing to work.

1. Question: The solicitation specifies that the contractor will provide a fire box containing the appropriate fire tools for his crew. Since the contractor will very likely be flying commercially to and from the job site this may pose a problem and would greatly add to the expense.

Answer: UFSF will provide fire tools.

1. Question: Will contractors be allowed to e-mail their bids?

Answer: Yes.

1. Question: What type inspection system will the contractor be expected to maintain?

Answer: Contractor will not be required to conduct self-inspection. USFS Scalers/Project Inspectors will be at the work site whenever the contractor is working.

10. Question: I have been on-line looking for a silvey tree jack with remote controls.

I learned that silvey tree jacks are no longer made. I contacted Madsen's Saw Supply in Oregon and they can get parts but the jacks are no longer available and they couldn't tell me where I might be able to find one. It may be possible to purchase a used one if you could find it. If the Silvey tree jack is no longer available is it still required equipment for this contract?

Answer: Any ‘make’ of tree jack will suffice.