OrograndeThinSiteTourNotes.docx

Orogrande Community Protection Project – Hand Thinning and Piling

RFQ AG-0343-S-17-0019

Site Tour Notes 4/11/2017 Prepared by Karen Ruklic

Government Representatives:

Karen Ruklic, Contracting Officer Tom McLeod, Contracting Officer’s Representative (Assistant Fire Management Officer – Fuels)

Industry Attendees:

Futuristic Forestry Services Representatives: Vincent Martinez, Dwayne Harris and Andy K. Brown Kooskia, Idaho

Tree Trouble Representative: Scott Yates Burley, Idaho

3H Forest Management Representative: Gabe Gerken Helena, Montana

OC Forestry Representative: Mario Ordonez Medford, Oregon

Attendees met at the project on 4/11/17 at approximately 11:00 AM.

COR explained that the PDF maps provided may be downloaded into a cell phone application called AVENZA in order to track the contractor/crews location in relation to the various unit boundaries without a cell phone signal.

Group headed up Road 233 to the beginning of the project area – Unit 102 / 101

Background and Scope of Contract were reviewed. This is a hazardous fuels reduction project with the express purpose of protecting the community of Orogrande, providing an escape route for local residents, shifting the species composition to fire resistant species and creating a buffer from which firefighters can implement suppression operations. The project balances these needs with protection of riparian habitat and wildlife needs.

Maps were reviewed to highlight areas for various prescriptions: thin/lop/leave, thin/lop/scatter and thin/pile. See technical specifications and detailed information charts for specifics. COR described the different prescriptions for how materials would be lopped in different areas (longer lengths in roadside areas planned for subsequent chipping (lop/leave) vs. shorter lengths in the riparian areas (lop/scatter). Orange flagging will be used for lop/scatter areas, pink for the areas to be piled and yellow for the areas to be chipped (lop/leave). Contractors will treat the dead and downed timber throughout entire project area, though the treatments will vary, and bole pruning of the leave trees is also required throughout.

COR relayed that plots were taken to estimate tree densities for each unit.

COR noted that trees under 1 foot in height are not required to be cut. See Amendment.

COR also noted that there may be a few steep draws that are not detailed on the maps as riparian areas. For simplicity, these draws will be treated as follows. Where the topography breaks sharply down to the stream, the treatment will change from thin/pile to thin/lop/scatter in accordance with the Thinning Treatment Part F. 2). These areas shall be paid at the original thinning/piling prices. See Amendment.

Group continued to drive up canyon. Group stopped again at the point where the canyon narrows sharply. Discussed that safety of the public and the crews was of paramount importance. Per Technical Specifications Part E, 1), b) – cliff areas will be excluded from treatment. Also, per General Specifications Part D. 7. Roads – contractor is required to use road guards to manage traffic when felled trees might impact the road. Specially certified flaggers are not required. In addition, hazard trees may be felled for crew safety in accordance Technical Specifications Part E, 2), a).

On sections of very steep ground planned for piling, contractors may build the piles against high stumps to minimize roll-out. This is the only time that high stumps shall be permitted. See Amendment.

Group discussed Unit 108A. CO/COR discussed concerns that cut material will clog ditches and create windrows along this narrow stretch of Road 233. Therefore, this unit will be removed from the contract requirements in its entirety. See Amendment.

Contractors were notified that a solicitation for fire line construction in the same general project area will be issued for completion this summer. Charles Tapia, located at the Coeur d Alene office of the Idaho Montana Acquisition Team is in charge of this acquisition. The solicitation will be posted to FBO. Contractors were encouraged to quote.

Group proceeded further up canyon. Stopped to view a unit piled by the USFS crews in 2016. COR explained that piled areas are to serve as a shaded fuel break. All cut material will be piled. Government is looking for a “clean” landscape except for large boles on dead and downed that will not be piled.

Cutting treatments apply to all brush as well as trees. See Amendment.

Proceeded to Unit 118. This is the unit with the highest tree density. This is a thin/lop/scatter unit to treat trees under 8 inches DBH.

Group stopped at another unit treated by the USFS in 2016. This unit included a lot of dead and downed and COR noted that crews didn’t treat enough material. At this location, it was noted that existing fine, dead and down materials (twigs/limbs) laying flush on the ground will not be piled. It is not the government’s intent that contractors will rake the fine materials. In addition, dead and downed material that is flush to the ground and laying in the dirt, will not be cut. However, all dead and downed material that is cut (except for the large boles) will be piled. See Amendment.

Group contiuned to the community of Orogrande. Stopped within the townsite to view Unit 149. Explained that the community is very supportive of the project. However, the contractor awarded the project must reduce speeds when driving through the community in accordance with the posted speed limits. Contractors will also need to respect private property boundaries. There is an active mining claim in the area that utilizes explosives. The explosions are loud but do not result in any flying rock or debris.

Contractor asked about need to use biobased products. CO discussed agency’s goal of increasing the use of biobased materials. Contractors should review the website provided in the clause entitled BIOBASED PRODUCT UTILIZATION that starts on page 19 and includes a sample list biobased products that could be used during performance of this contract. Contractor should then identify the products it intends to use and their value in the technical proposal. Although this is not a huge emphasis area and the government recognizes that opportunities for use are limited given the nature of this contract it is a part of the work plan to be evaluated, and the Government could pay more to secure a quote that utilizes more biobased products. Also if two contractors quoted prices that were essentially equal, a contractor planning to use more biobased may get the award if everything else was equal.

CO went on to stress the requirement that contractors submit complete technical proposals that supply all the information requested. See FAR 52.212-2 on pages 51 and 52 for details. This is a best value procurement under which a contractor with a higher price may be selected if the technical attributes proposed are worth the expense.

Contractor inquired about the government using contractor crews for fire suppression. Please see Fire Control clause starting on page 16. Standard clause included. No requirement for pump and trailer. See section (b) Other Fires. While drafting contractor equipment/crews is authorized under this contract for initial attack, this occurrence is unlikely. A more likely scenario based on past experience is that heavy equipment (i.e. excavators/bulldozers) have been utilized to construct fire line. CO prior approval is required. Contractors are responsible for putting out contractor ignited fires.