Whissenhunt_Trail_Q A_and_Comments.docx

Pre-Bid Notes: Questions, Answers and Comments The Pre-bid was held on August 20, 2014, 1:00 p.m. at the Whissenhunt Trailhead.

In attendance was:

Lori Austad FS, CO Valencia Morris FS, Recreation Program Manager Taylor Hamilton FS, Wilderness/Trails Technician and COR for the project Teressa Brown FS, Forestry Tech Contractors:

John Anderson, M.A. Anderson Associates, Atlanta GA Is there a way to share the shapefiles of the existing Whissenhunt Trails with the contractors?

Yes, that is not a problem!

Could the contractor have access to ArcMap/GIS information in the FS system?

A contractor would have to use GIS through our system. A contractor would have to have a username and password to get into it and a FS computer. So no!

Does our GIS and ArcMap information have GPS coordinates that could be shared with contractor for the Whissenhunt Trails?

If they know GIS, they can get the GPS points easily enough from the data the FS sends. The FS could pull them out for them but if they are going to use GIS, they would probably just as soon do it themselves.

What should the bid item for 6 miles of new/reroute trail entail when considering pricing?

6 miles of New Trail/Re-route Plan GPS’d route, ground-truthed route that is consistent with USFS Trail Design Parameters for ATV/Motorcycle Trail and includes a centerline, cross-sections, and elevation profiles.

What kind of mapping does the Forest Service use?

Arch and ESRI and are linked with GPS coordinates.

Is hiking allowed on OHV trails?

Yes, but use extreme caution. Hiking only for New and Rerouted trails.. OHV’s are not authorized.

With regards to C.4 1-day field visit prior to the inventory, will the USFS be supplying ATV/OHVs for the contractors for this experience or shall we budget to bring/provide those?

No, FS ATV’s are authorized for Forest Service employees only. You need to budget for ATV’s.

With regards to the project kick-off and wrap up meetings with the USFS, will the FS provide a meeting room at the RD or SO office for these?

The contract requires the contractor to provide a suitable facility (suitable to USFS).

With regards to C.6 1 Day Motorized Trail Maintenance for Volunteers: will the FS provide a meeting room at the RD or SO office for this, or shall the contractor locate and provide an appropriate location?

The contract requires the contractor to provide a suitable facility (suitable to USFS).

With regards to C.6 1 Day Field Demonstration: does the FS desire a mechanized trail maintenance demonstration or a hand tool demonstration?

Either mechanized or hand tools or both, but having hand tool demonstration will be particularly relevant.

With regards to C.6 1-Day Follow-Up Meeting: the last line on page 6 following “ … will need to meet the following objective:” is missing. Please provide.

Replace with “After completion of the inventory and assessment stage, the contractor will organize and facilitate a one-day follow-up meeting with the Forest Service to discuss the findings of the study and the recommendations for future maintenance activities.

For the ground-truthed trail alignments for the plan (C.2 #4), can the FS provide an estimate of linear footage to base our budget off of? The time/materials for this portion is a bit ambiguous until after the inventory and assessment work are underway.

In the amendment, there will be 5-6 miles of reroute for which the contractor can bid. If more Reroute/New Trail is needed, the Forest Service will add that into the bid with a change order.

Comments: The purpose of the assessment is for better improved soil deposit, mapping, soil erosion, better sustainability… Based on ground- truthed and GPS.

Critical point of assessment for reroute and new trails: we want a turn-key assessment, with defined plans, able to go right to NEPA.