SiteTourNotes.docx

Crooked River Valley Rehabilitation – Option 2

RFP AG-02RC-S-17-0077

Pre-Bid Tour Notes Finalized 5/25/2017 Prepared by Karen Ruklic

Government Representatives:

Karen Ruklic, Contracting Officer Anne Connor, Watershed Restoration Program Manager Jenifer Harris, Nez Perce Tribe Watershed Division

Industry Attendees:

Bill Whealy and Stephen Moats Aqua Terra Restoration Headquarters: Driggs, Idaho

Don Loper Red Road Inc.

Headquarters: Post Falls, Idaho

Kevin Yrjana and Aaron Rainio North Wind Construction Services Headquarters: Kellogg, Idaho

Erik Ryan Headwaters Engineering Headquarters: Moscow, Idaho

Dana Thomason, Dusty Thomason and Jim Bonnalie Thomason Excavating Headquarters: Craigmont, Idaho

Mark Bledsoe Pro-Op-Co Headquarters: Craigmont, Idaho

Bob Cuffe Glacier Excavating Headquarters: Eureka, Montana

Gordon Eckel Flash Excavation Headquarters: Harpster, Idaho

Attendees met at the Crooked River Bridge on 5/17/17 at approximately 11:00 AM. Contracting Officer started the meeting by reviewing the following solicitation background information, requirements, clauses and provisions:

· Reviewed Objectives and Background of Project - see C-1 (a). The Crooked River Valley Rehabilitation is to be implemented in 6 Phases. Phase 1 Bypass Channel was completed in the fall of 2016. Phase 2 Bypass Channel will be completed in the fall of 2017 under a separate contract during a performance period after the current requirement gets completed. The current requirement was designed under Option Item 2. Option Items were designed in order to provide flexibility to meet funding changes/needs.

· B-5 Additional Wage Classification Required. No excavator operator rate is included in the wage decision applicable to this project. A rate shall be conformed after award. Most recently conformed rate was $28.60/hour with $11.85 fringe (received DOL approval most recently on 5/17/2017). Base your offer on this rate.

· M-1 EVALUATION CRITERIA Government stressed the requirement for submittal of complete technical proposals that supply all the information requested in this provision; don’t reiterate the specifications. Make sure the client contact information required for reference checks is current and that the key employees are identified for the past work performed. The government requires complete information regarding the techical approach for how/when all the significant work items (see Schedule of Items) will be performed. Be sure to respond with the information requested by the bullets. The government is very interested in knowing who will be on site and who will be operating the equipment; we have seen the difference that a high quality operator can make in the quality of the final product. The government stressed the fact that log wood structure stability is of paramount importance given the relative proximity of the new structures to the US Fish and Game Fish Weir and thus the need for operators that are experienced in performance of this type of work.

· A solicitation amendment will be issued to add a requirement for contractors to provide information regarding their plan for survey staking and onsite elevation control. See Amendment 1.

Presentation was then turned over to Nez Perce Tribe Program Manager, Jenifer Harris, for a discussion of a few key technical elements of the project.

· Road 233 is is maintained by Idaho County. See last paragraph under C-1 (c). It is important to the USFS and the Nez Perce Tribe to maintain a positive relationship with the County, thus the requirement for road maintenance related to porject activities. The contractor will want to keep a close eye on the condition of the road throughout the period of performance, keep track of its use by the contractor and perform maintenance when the road condition degrades. The project COR will keep documentation of the road conditions but the contractor must do the same. Timber haul activities may also occur on the road during the performance window. Documentation of the contractor’s use of the road with supporting photo documentation may become important to allocate responsibility for wear and tear.

Contractor may utilize the haul route constructed under the Phase 1 Bypass Channel contract to reduce the use of Road 233 for haul. If the contractor chooses to utilize this option, two temporary stream crossings would need to be installed along the route. See Construction Plans Sheet 4 Access and Staging. See aerial photo for locations (Amendment 1) and technical specification for sizing requirements.

After these topics were discussed, the group travelled to the ID Fish and Game Fish Weir.

· Jenifer Harris explained that the weir is opened manually when the river reaches a certain level. The weir spans the complete width of Crooked River. If debris gets pinned against the weir, it makes operation dangerous. For this reason, the government has specifically designed 3 of the 10 log structures to withstand 100 year flood events. These structures are categorized as type 3 structures on Seeh 5.0 of the Construction Plans and are shown in orange and are designed to be taller and are comprised of more wood so that they will catch debris before it can reach the weir. This is why operator skill to maximize structure stability while also maximizing habitat creation and keeping the structures natural in appearance is important to the government. The difference between the two structures are the amount of wood installed, sizes of wood, and height of the structures.

After these topics were discussed, the group travelled to the Access Route into the project area – see A2 in yellow triangle on Sheet 4.0 of the Plans. Group walked the full length of the access route to where it terminates at Crooked River.

· Jenifer Harris and CO explained that the Government and Nez Perce Tribe are concerned about preserving the cultural heritage of Crooked River while also rehabilitating the valley bottom. For this reason, a Preservation Area was designated that is characterized by a pond and dredge piles. To access the project area, contractors must travel on an existing route through the Preservation area. The route will need to be improved and then reclaimed to its prior condition upon demobilization. See Section C-1(c) of the contract and Section 01505 Demobilization and Site Reclamation within the Technical Specifications. Impacts to the preservation area on either side of the access road shall be minimized to the maximum extent possible.

· All wood for the log structures and floodplain roughness will come from within the project site. It is understood that due to the cobble substrate we may lack 4 foot root wads required for the log structures. Lack of root size shall be compensated by adding more small trees to the structures. Excess wood shall be hauled to the stockpile site with root wads intact under Item 4 – Tree and Brush Salvage of the contract. This item is measured as a Design Quantity by acre. Tree quantities and sizes were surveyed under the design contract. The Government is currently pulling together some additional information regarding the tree sizes and densities within the project area. This information will be supplied via Amendment 1 that will be issued within the next week.

· During log structure construction, the Government and Nez Perce Tribe will de-fish the area adjacent to each the new structure; they will also monitor turbidity and notify the contractor when spikes in turbidity occur. The Contractor shall isolate the structures from Crooked River but will not be expected to dewater the area completely. The contactor is responsible for installing structures and taking measures to control turbidity during construction. There are several ways this can be done and it is up to the contractor to meet Water Quality Standards/Permits and have the necessary equipment on site to do so. The contractor shall also assist with de-fishing by utilizing pumps to draw down the water in the isolated area.

· Stormwater Pollution and Prevention Plan is required; EPA review required – see specifications for review timeframe. The contractor shall be expected to have a full complement of erosion control materials on site in order to be prepared and mitigate for spikes in turbidity caused by project activities and in response to environmental conditions such as thunderstorms. No erosion control materials are available for purchase in the Elk City area so when needs arise, lengthy trips are required. Please be prepared. Ponds can be used as settling areas.

· It will be the contractor’s responsibility to stake elevations off the established control points. Control points disturbed during construction shall be reestablished upon work completion. An Auto Cad Civil 3D surface will be provided to the contractor from the project designer to facilitate project staking. Government is adamant that the contractor shall exercise proper quality control to ensure proper elevations are achieved and feature limits are properly staked and constructed in accordance with the construction plans.

Group drove to the Stockpile Area.

· Trees that are stockpiled need to be sorted. Trees must be located in a way that keeps of the trees from being removed by local residents for firewood.

· Stockpiled vegetative fill (topsoil) must be kept out of wet areas.

· Cobble and trees may be stockpiled in the wet. Cobble from the Option 2 project site must be piled so that is can be distinguished from material moved to the stockpile site in 2016; it is to protect mineral rights.

· Additional area that may be used for stockpiling cobble was indicated. (See aerial photos provided with Amendment 1).

· Haul route constructed in 2016 was pointed out and temporary crossing locations were pointed out (one at the upper end and one at the lower end). These crossing would be required if the Contractor opted to use the existing haul route to bypass a section of Rd 233. (See aerial photos provided with Amendment 1). Contractor would be required to remove the structures prior to demobilization.

· It is believed that the campground located above the project area will remain open during the contract period. The Contractor would not be allowed to utilize the campground for equipment staging or camping unless it was closed by the District.