Amendment _ A002_to_Timber Sale Prep

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

USDA Forest Service Region 8, Acquisition Zone West 100 W. Capitol Street, Suite 1141

Jackson, MS 39269

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AG-447U-S-12-0042

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

June 29, 2012

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10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

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The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers FORMCHECKBOX is extended, FORMCHECKBOX is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

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B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

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C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

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D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor FORMCHECKBOX is not, FORMCHECKBOX is required to sign this document and return ___ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.

Amendment 2 (see continuation sheets) The above referenced solicitation is hereby amended to extend the due date for receipt of proposals from

July 30, 2012 to August 8, 2012 and to arrive no later than 4:00 PM Local Time.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

KAREN G. RAY, Contracting Officer

Jul 26, 2012

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

SN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

A site showing was held on the subject site on July 16, 2012. The Forest Service was represented by Karen G. Ray, CO, AZW, Jackson, Mississippi, Andrew J. Thompson, CS, Jackson, Mississippi, and Jimmy Mordica, TMA, Desoto Ranger District, Wiggins, Mississippi.

The contractors were informed that an amendment to the solicitation would be sent out and that the amendment would include any corrections and/or changes to the solicitation, in addition to answers to questions asked concerning the solicitation. The following information was reviewed with the contractors at the site showing, covering the Timber Sale Specification, Silviculture Prescription, and the site visit.

Summary of Discussion

Timber Sale Prep and Professional Forestry Services Contract are for 5 years. The base year is effective from the date of award through September 30, 2012. Special funding has been received for high priority restoration projects. We have 3600 acres ready now for project execution on the Desoto Ranger District.

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS: Unit prices for line items under 5.3 will be used for evaluation purposes only. These items will assist in determining our pool of contractors for future awards.

Unit prices will be used to determine the pool of contractors and will not be used to evaluate offers for actual timber sale items 1a to 1e However awards will be made under line items 1a through 1e. Offerors may bid on one, all or a combination of items.

Separate sheet is included for offerors to indicate which district they are interested in working on.

MARKER CERTIFICATION:

This amendment corrects page 9, AG-47U-S-12-0042, Marker Certification as follows:

The following paragraph: “Contractors are required to obtain a Qualified Cruiser Certification through the Forest Service by passing a written examination and field test prior to and in order to complete for contract award of timber sale preparation tasks and subtasks” is changed to read: “Contractors are required to obtain a Qualified Cruiser Certification through the Forest Service by passing a written examination after contract award.”

Certification is valid for 1 year and annual recertification will be required. Certification is based on Codified Federal Regulations (CFR)

CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION: In order to be eligible for award, contractors must comply with the requirements of FAR 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration

This process will require the assignment of a DUNS Number by Dun and Bradstreet Inc.

INSURANCE COVERAGE: The contractor will be required to present evidence to show, as a minimum the amounts of general liability insurance below: Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: $500,000 per occurrence and Property Damage Liability Coverage: $100,000 per occurrence

CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: Have the same force and effect as if given in full text. Referenced clauses are available for view on the internet at http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html INITIAL TASK ORDER AWARD: Projects/Services included with this solicitation will be awarded as task orders when initial contracts are awarded.

POST TASK ORDER AWARD: Projects/Services following contract award – will be competed by task orders among awarded contractors. Task Order Quotes will be evaluated based on price, contractor availability and past performance on earlier task order awards.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICES: Contractors shall only submit for acceptance those items that conform to the requirements of the contract.

PROPOSAL EVALUATION –It was mentioned several times during the preproposal conference that offerors MUST submit a technical proposal with their offer. Offerors who fail to submit a technical proposal will not be considered for award.

Basis for Award - Award is based on BEST value. Award will be made to those offeror (s) whose proposals are technically acceptable and whose technical/cost relationship presents the best value to the government. By definition of the FAR: Best value - means the expected outcome of an acquisition that, in the Government’s estimation, provides the greatest overall benefit in response to the requirement.

Evaluation Factors: Descending Order of Importance: Past Performance

Technical Approach

· Method

· Equipment

· Capacity

· Quality Control Plan

· Resource Protection

· Safety Plan

Technical Experience, Expertise of Firm and Key Personnel

Utilization of Local Work Force

Price

Preparation of Proposals – Required with all Proposals in 2 copies:

Business/Cost Proposal

Completed and Signed Standard Form 1449 (one original signed copy)

Priced Schedule of Items

Contractors Financial Information Sheet

Proof of Insurance

Technical Proposal See Technical Proposal Instructions. Include Applicable licenses, certifications or registrations.

Representations and Certifications - Completion of the online representations and certifications is required. Paragraph (b) of this provision can be completed to show any exceptions to the current version.

An amendment to the Solicitation is being issued addressing this Pre-Solicitation Meeting and any necessary changes to the Solicitation.

Due date for Offers – August 8, 2012, NLT 4:00 P.M. local time.

Postal Service Mailing Address:

USDA-FS

ATTN: Andrew J Thompson

100 W Capitol ST, STE 1141

Jackson, MS 39269

Courier Delivery Address:

USDA-FS

ATTN: Andrew J Thompson

200 S Lamar ST, Suite 500-N

Jackson, MS 39201

CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS TO SOLICITATION/COMMENTS

Correction to pages 4 and 5, Schedule of items, AG-447U-S-12-0042 (attached)

Please remove pages 4 and 5 schedule of items and replace with schedule of items pages 4, 5a, 5b and 5c.

Page 4 also provides the opportunity for offerors/contractors to select locations or districts in which you are interested in receiving contract award.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

GENERAL

Q.

When other districts advertise will it be like this?

A.

No. Will be by task order proposal.

Q.

How long we get to respond to task order request?

A.

You will have approximately 10 days to respond to request.

Q.

Will we be locked into unit prices?

A.

No. Unit Prices are for evaluation purposes only.

Q.

Base on the terrain, how will we determine prices?

A.

Initial prices are for evaluation only. The simplest form of terrain should be used to determine prices.

Q.

Was there any rule for Unit Prices to match lump sum?

A.

No. Unit Prices are used for evaluation purposes to determine the pool of contractors. Prices will not be used or matched against lump sum for actual sale.

Q.

Would technical proposals be required every year?

A.

No

Q.

Is there a preference where we go first?

A.

Camp Shelby has high priority

Q.

Does each district have their own paint storage?

A.

Yes

Q.

Are there any specific way of marking and flagging?

A.

All layouts are based on the specification.

Q.

How do we do the marking? Is it a tally?

A.

Procedures for marking and tally are in the specification.

Q.

How long for award after receipt and evaluation of proposals.

A.

Award will be approximately August 15, 2012 or after.

Q.

Why is there no cruising listed in the individual bid items on page 5 of the solicitation?

and which units will need cruising?

A.

These sales will not require cruising – Forest Service will do that work.

Q.

Can a Certified cruisier check his own work?

A.

No – Quality control should be done by someone other than who perform the work. Our check cruisers would make the final check.

Q.

Please define relic tree?

A.

Large flat topped longleaf pine residual.

Q.

For the units to be thinned from below it says leave trees at a minimum spacing of 30 x 30 feet. Is there a maximum spacing?

A.

30 x 30 is the minimum. The expectation is to be as close as possible to that measurement without being less.

Q.

The actual Cruise procedure is unclear to me, especially with regard to tally tree selection and the use of the data recorder. It refers to USFS general cruising standards..... where are they?

A.

We will need to put this together from the handbook as a resource for contractor use.

Q.

The cruising work specifications are not clear to me and that will have an effect on production and therefore price. How can I get a better handle on that in time to figure and submit a competitive bid? It looks like a lot of that information on what to do will be in the individual unit file but that is not available until after the bid. There will also be a lot of information about that in the certification process but that also won’t be until after the bid date. I am assuming that almost all of the units will have to be cruised so that is a significant part of the work that I am unsure of what is involved?

A.

Contract line items 1a though 1e do not include any cruising. Other specifics will be included in task orders.

Q.

On the item 1a – 1e (sales that are ready to be awarded) - How will we get paid? Will work be invoiced by the acres, % of total work complete, etc?

A.

All work will be invoiced by acres.

Q.

What is the schedule for these sales to be completed -- Do we have until Sept. 30, 2013 to complete each individual sale?

A.

No. Would like to complete by May 15, 2013 to advertise sales for bid.

Q.

Cruising techniques -- How do we determine which tree to measure on the plots?

A.

Specifics will be included in each task order SITE 1 – Stewardship Sale # 1 Camp Shelby Q. What type plot?

A. This is a cruise plot Q.

How many plots are there?

A. Depends on how the computer runs statistics. All parameters will be given.

Q.

Are all diameters to the tenth?

A.

Yes

Q.

Do you predetermine sample plots?

A.

Yes. Is set up in the data recorder.

Comment: Regular Plots/Count Plots – Just using prism to count trees.

Q.

Orange strip should be facing inside sale.

A.

Yes

Comment: Well defined boundaries such as roads are not marked. An orange boundary separates payment units

Q.

How many acres are in this sale?

A.

366 acres

Q.

Off of this sale how many sample plots A.

Every 5th plot is your measured plot. About 20%

Q.

How many sites have been burned or not burned?

A.

Airey Tower – parts have been burned. Thompson Hill burned in 2009

SITE 2 – Stewardship Sale 2 Camp Shelby Q. Does the military drive your prescription?

A. A little bit of both.

Comment: Are thinned to minimum 30x30 Q. We would not do anything until military marks?

A. Yes

Q.

You are not banding all trees?

A.

No, we are only banding the leave trees Q.

What kind of paint are we using?

A.

Forest Service Tracer Paint

SITE 3 – Stewardship 3 305F Road Comment: On one side of road will be thinning and the other side clear cut. All for thinning minimum 30x30

Q. Color areas are the prescription area?

A. Yes

Q.

How much basal area are you running?

A.

Leave basal area average 55-65 sf with average spacing between trees of 18 feet

LIST OF INDIVIDUALS OR FIRMS ATTENDING SITE SHOWING:

Sarah Holmes, Holmes Forestry, Wiggins, Mississippi

Pam Spencer, Pam T. Spencer, Lucedale, Mississippi

John G. Guthrie Jr., John G. Guthrie and Sons, Wiggins, Mississippi

John G. Guthrie, John G. Guthrie and Sons, Wiggins, Mississippi

Gary Futch, UFL Inc, Ackerman, Mississippi

Jamie Walley, Walley Forestry CS, Ellisville, Mississippi

Rick Green, Davis Forestry, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Mike Thomas, Timber Investment Managers, Petal, Mississippi

Diversified Forestree Management, Sumrall, Mississippi

THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE ATTACHED TO AND BECOME A PART OF

THE SOLICITATION. FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS

AMENDMENT MAY RENDER YOUR OFFER NON-RESPONSIVE.

NOTE: Unit prices for Section 5.3 will be used for evaluation purposes only. This will determine a pool of potential Contractors used to compete on future individual task orders. No awards will be made at this time for these line items.

5.3 MATOC FOR TIMBER SALE PREPARATION AND PROFESSIONAL FORESTRY SERVICES

5.3.1 SALE UNIT LAYOUT

5.3.2 TIMBER CRUISING

5.3.3 TIMBER MARKING

5.3.3.3 Leave Tree Marking - THINNING or

CLEARCUT WITH RESERVES

MATOC FOR TIMBER SALE PREP AND PROFESSIONAL FORESTRY SERVICES

REVISED SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

Revised by Amendment 0002

LOCATIONS OF WORK

Offerors are invited to submit a proposal in response to our Request for proposal (RFP) for a multiple awards task order (MATOC) contract for various locations listed in the Schedule.

EACH OFFEROR SHALL IDENTIFY THE LOCATIONS FOR WHICH THEY DESIRE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR CONTRACT AWARD. Contractors will be provided fair opportunity to compete for all task orders at those locations if awarded a contract.

Locations:

PLACE AN “X” FOR ALL

National Forests in Mississippi

LOCATIONS OF INTERESTS

Bienville Ranger District, Forest, Mississippi

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Chickasawhay Ranger District, Laurel, Mississippi

Delta Ranger District, Rolling Fork, Mississippi

Desoto Ranger District, Wiggins, Mississippi

Holly Springs Ranger District, Oxford, Mississippi

Homochitto Ranger District, Meadville, Mississippi

Tombigbee Ranger District, Ackerman, Mississippi

TIMBER SALE PREP AND PROFESSIONAL FORESTRY SERVICES

DESOTO NATIONAL FOREST, DESOTO RANGER DISTRICT

NOTE: Awards WILL be made for Line Items 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e below.

Offerors may bid on one, all, or a combination of items.

Task/Sub Task

1a Compartment 3

1a. Compartment 3 – Layout, mark and GPS an estimated 798 acres for this sale. Leave tree mark 211 acres of clear cut with reserve trees (retain all healthy and vigorous Longleaf Pine and Mast Producing Oaks). Leave tree mark 134 acres of first thinning, leaving approximately 50-60 basal area with a minimum of 15 feet between trees for equipment operability. Cut tree mark 448 acres of mature pine, leaving approximately 50-60 basal area.

Lump Sum Bid (Totals)

Indicate if you do not wish to be considered for an award for this item_______

Task/Sub Task

1b Compartment 4

1b. Compartment 4 - Layout, mark and GPS an estimated 904 acres for this sale. Leave tree mark 322 acres of clear cut with reserve trees (retain all healthy and vigorous Longleaf Pine and Mast Producing Oaks). Leave tree mark 32 acres of first thinning, leaving approximately 50-60 basal area with a minimum of 15 feet between trees for equipment operability. Cut tree mark 550 acres of mature pine, leaving approximately 50-60 basal area.

Lump Sum Bid (Totals)

Indicate if you do not wish to be considered for an award for this item _______

Task/Sub Task

1c Camp Shelby Stewardship Sale 2

1c. Camp Shelby Stewardship, Sale 2 - Layout, mark and GPS an estimated 707 acres for this sale. Leave tree mark 559 acres of clear cut with reserve trees (retain relic Longleaf Pine and Mast Producing Oaks 15inch DBH and up). Leave tree mark 148 acres of thinning, leaving spacing a minimum of 30 feet x 30 feet for equipment operability.

Lump Sum Bid (Totals)

Indicate if you do not wish to be considered for an award for this item _______

Task/Sub Task

1d Camp Shelby Stewardship Sale 3

1d. Camp Shelby Stewardship, Sale 3 - Layout, mark and GPS an estimated 350 acres for this sale. Leave tree mark 160 acres of clear cut with reserve trees (retain relic Longleaf Pine and Mast Producing Oaks 15 inch DBH and up). Leave tree mark 190 acres of thinning, leaving spacing a minimum of 30 feet x 30 feet for equipment operability.

Lump Sum Bid (Totals)

Indicate if you do not wish to be considered for an award for this item _______

Task/Sub Task

1e Airey Tower

1e. Airey Tower - Layout, mark and GPS an estimated 831 acres for this sale. Leave tree mark 449 acres of clear cut with reserve trees (retain all healthy and vigorous Longleaf Pine and Mast Producing Oaks). Leave tree mark 342 acres of first thinning, leaving approximately 50-60 basal area with a minimum of 15 feet between trees for equipment operability. Cut tree mark 40 acres of mature pine, leaving approximately 50-60 basal area.

Lump Sum Bid (Totals)

Indicate if you do not wish to be considered for an award for this item _______