AG-82BH-S-16-0035_Pre-Proposal_Questions_ _Answers.docx

Questions and Answers from Pre-Bid Meeting held 03 August 2016

AG-82BH-S-16-0035

Chipita Creeks Thinning and Fuels Reduction

Government Attendee(s): Michael Dennis and David Danker

Vendors:

Summit Tree Service, Evan Romero – Florence, CO Elwyn Wildfire, Ryan Elwyn – Eagle County (Beaver Creek area) MarkIt! Forestry, Jeremy Moore and Jesse Whitley – Colo Spgs, CO

General Discussion

· Covered a large part of the prescriptions as they vary a bit.

· Ponderosa pine will only be cut in Units 5, 6, and 9-13.

· All units will require some aspen to be cut 1’ foot to 7.9” inches DBH.

· Unit 5 and 6 will be lopped and scattered. These units will also require the trees to be “contour felled” so the tree will help stop the DG soils from severely eroding. The boles must be 75% in contact with the ground and the boles will NOT be bucked at all.

· I explained that some of the units were behind locked gates “Two Creeks area” and the others 1-6 were accessed by the PP Hwy or a powerline maintenance road and they have permission to park by the Hwy Vehicle Maintenance Building.

During the pre-bid meeting and site visit, several questions were raised. Each question and answer is provided below:

* Prior to departure:

1. Who do we talk to about proposal questions? Contracting Officer – Toinette Aranda (Toni)

2. What is the lop and scatter max height? 18 inches

3. Will all units except 5 and 6 be piled? Yes

*Departed about 0950 for Treatment Unit (TU) 13

4. Are there maps of the service areas? Yes, two service area maps should have been posted. Maps are attached.

5. Camping – Is camping permitted? Camping can be offered if certain conditions are met: self-contained trailers would be the best for sanitation purposes. If your tent camping then port-a-potties are required, trash must be in containers that bears could not get into (or put it in vehicle’s), food must be stored in locked containers or vehicles, and the area must be clean at all times. Behind the gate is the Manitou Springs Watershed!! I will need to locate a place for camping.

6. Are standing dead to be cut in TU13? No, just in TU9. .

Discussed the pile specs max 8’ x 10’ min 5’ x 7’. Also looked at several aspen retention clones that met the definition and others that should be cut.

7. Looking at a huge group of aspen – “Would this be two groups or just one? If all aspen are continuously 10 feet or less from each other it continues to be ONE aspen retention clone.

* Walked trail through TU 13 headed for TU 12

* Slash piles need to be 10’ feet or more from residual trees and has to be carried up to 100’ feet, if needed, to meet this specification. There were aspen everywhere and it would be impossible to meet the spec. as it was written – “The minimum distance between a pile and residual trees is 10 feet.” The specifications will have to be changed to read “The minimum distance between a pile and residual conifer tree is 10 feet.” Page 8 of the Solicitation.

8. Do we cut dead under 7.9”? No, does not apply to this unit – only TU 9.

* Walked into TU 9 as it is the only unit that has a requirement to cut Standing Dead and Downed Woody Debris.

9. Can I get the .Pdf map of the units: Yes, maps will provided posted with the amendment on FBO.

10. Are Subcontractors ok? Yes, the Prime contractor is responsible for all of the subcontractors work.

11. Will I be required to pay the gate fee everyday? No, the USFS will work it out so that you can get through free.

12. What’s the significance of the “normal operating season? Usually the best operating weather for the local area.

13. Any Bonds required? No.

14. What is TU 10 like or similar to? Lots of aspen and more Douglas-Fir.

* At about 1145 we decided to drive over to the “Chipita Creek” area TU’s 1-6. We visited TU 6 first.

15. Are there other issues hampering camping in the Manitou Watershed? Contract stated that “NO Camping near primary recreational roads and developed recreation sites.

16. Is this the contour felling unit? Yes.

17. Will traffic control sign be required? Traffic Control signs WILL NOT be needed. There will be contour fell trees along the lower boundary of Unit 6 so they will catch rolling material. The limbs on the top of the boles WILL NOT be lopped and scattered until the upper portion of the unit is cut/finalized.

18. Any way we can do a site visit with a sub-contractor? No more scheduled site visits will be held. Subcontractors may conduct a site visit at their own expense and will not be compensated in an award.

19. Is TU 5 the same as TU 6? Not exactly, the northwest end has more trees/acre with spruce and Douglas-Fir.

20. Is this turn-out the best access to units 5 and 6, and is it walk-in only? Yes, and Yes – no ATV’s.

21. Is aspen retention clones distance cut-off 10’ feet? Yes, you can put an imaginary polygon around all aspen that are 10’ feet or less from each other to make the clone.

22. What hours can we work on this project? The COR or technical representative will contact the crews that sweep the Pikes Peak Highway after they close the gate and do their lock-down check for stray people so they know a contractor is working in the area.

Pikes Peak Highway Hours of Operation:

May 27 through September 3 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

September 4 through September 30 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 1 to May 26 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The highway is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also, the entire highway, or parts of it, may close when weather events would make travel unsafe

* We all drove to the PP Hwy Maintenance building parking area to walk into TU 2.

24. Can we use ATV’s on the powerline road to run fuel and supplies to the crew? ATV usage is allowable in the Chipita Units 1-4: The Pikes Peak Hwy Manager stated ATV use is fine up the powerline maintenance road.

25. Are other units similar to TU 3? TU 1 is more open and not as thick with trees (told them TU 1 has about 500 TPA to cut and TU 3 has 750 TPA)

26. Is there a minimum spacing between piles? No, a foot or two, they can’t touch due to the maximum pile specification.

27. How do we get access through the gates? COR will assign a key to the awardee.

28. Will payments be in a lump sum or do you allow progress payments? Yes, with contracting officer approval.