Pre-Bid Questions.docx

Questions and Answers from Pre-Bid Meeting held 21 July 2010 for Pike and San Isabel Natioanal Forests, Herbicide Application and GPS Data Reporting IDIQ Project

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

1. When registering in ORCA, will I self-certify that I am a small business?

Yes. You can access ORCA at orca.bpn.gov. to complete this certification.

2. Will the FS provide maps of the weed locations?

Yes. We have GIS capabilities and can provide weed points on digital or paper topographic maps, Forest maps, or orthophotos.

3. If two weed patches are close to each other, when are they considered separate points that need to be recorded?

Two weed patches separated by 50’ are considered individual points and data needs to be collected for each point.

4. Can I use my ATV in areas or routes that are posted otherwise?

Yes, under contract you have permission to enter these areas, except for the Wilderness area where mechanized equipment is not allowed.

5. Can I use a subcontractor? If so, who will inspect equipment?

Yes, you can use a subcontractor, but the prime must complete at least 51% of the contract work. Also, you will need to provide equivalent information about the subcontractor’s past performance and prior experience when answering the Technical Evaluation factors. The prime is responsible for quality control over the subcontractor. The Forest Service will inspect subcontractor equipment prior to entry onto NFS lands.

6. In the option years, is the goal to treat 250 acres?

No, in the option years 250 acres are estimated for treatment, but the goal is to treat 600 acres, if funds are available.

7. In large meadow areas, is it acceptable to use a boom sprayer and turn it on and off to treat weed patches that are scattered through the meadow?

Yes, this is acceptable with the understanding that over-spraying and treatment of non-target plants is not acceptable.

8. Plateau is now available for purchase. Will the Forest Service continue to provide this herbicide?

No.

9. What has been the price per acre for the previous contract?

We can not disclose this information but can tell you that the total cost for the previous 3-year contract (base year plus two option years) was $350,486. This total cost includes herbicide spraying of 1770 acres and annual reports.

10. How many years has this area been treated for these weeds?

Noxious weeds have been treated within the Hayman Fire area since 2002. Because the area is so large, most weed occurrence have not been treated each year.