Amend 000001 pgs 2-3.pdf

Amendment 000001 AG-82X9-S-12-0081

Pre-bid Site Visit

Roxborough Mastication – Set Aside for BLM IDIQ Fuels Reduction Contract Holders

Solicitation Number: AG-82X9-S-12-081

South Platte Ranger District, Morrison, Colorado

May 16, 2012

Introductions Matt Schweich, Natural Resource Staff Officer, South Platte Ranger District Kris Heiny, Fuels AFMO, South Platte Ranger District

Contract Highlights

202 acres in one unit will be awarded.

This work will be conducted using appropriate tracked or wheeled equipment.

Equipment will be inspected for noxious weeds and will not be allowed into the project area if it is not clean.

Access to the treatment unit is from Douglas County Road (DCR) 67 and National Forest

System Road (NFSR) 512 that approaches the unit from the south.

NFSR 512 a native surface single lane forest road that is not maintained in the winter and is approximately 4.5 miles long. It is accessible to pickups and most maintenance/fuel vehicles, but is too narrow for low-boys.

Access on NFSR 512 to the treatment unit is generally possible from May to November without snow-plowing, depending on weather conditions.

The prescription is thin from below to the target basal area, which will be averaged across the entire unit. Current basal area is 180 ft /ac, target is 120 ft

/ac with an acceptable range of 110 ft /ac to 130 ft

/ac. Masticating trees up to around 10” dbh should achieve the target basal area. We also have a performance standard to masticate 90% or more of brush stems (mainly oak). The solicitation contains more detail on the prescriptions.

The unit is crossed by a high-voltage transmission line. The right-of-way for this line is a no-treatment exclusion (acres not included in task order). The right-of-way can only be crossed at designated locations.

The estimated start work date is July 9, 2012, and all work must be complete by

December 31, 2012. The contractor is encouraged to consider winter access concerns when planning contract work.

Technical factors, when combined, will be approximately equal to cost or price in evaluating proposals. The requirements of this particular project (mastication) and schedule compliance will be some of the important technical factors considered.

Amendment 000001 AG-82X9-S-12-0081

Questions and Answers

Question 1: Will we be able to camp in/near the treatment unit?

Answer 1: Yes, potential camping sites are available. Please note the camping provisions in Section I of the solicitation.

Question 2: Can we use motorized vehicles to access the treatment unit or within the unit?

Answer 2: You may use the appropriate and allowed types of motorized vehicles on all roads and trails open to public motorized use, as shown on the District’s MVUM. In addition, the contractor will be allowed to operate full-sized or smaller motorized vehicles on NFSR 512, which is not currently open to public motorized use. No cross-country travel will be allowed by any type of motorized vehicle other than the mastication equipment within the unit. During the site visit, we discussed the option of using an ATV or similar motorized vehicle to re-fuel mastication equipment. We stated this would be considered a reasonable method to avoid having to drive the larger equipment the length of the unit to re-fuel.

Question 3: How will you deal with untreatable areas (rock outcrops, etc.)?

Answer 3: We are not aware of any large areas that cannot be safely treated. There may be small areas of rock, steep slopes, or other natural features that cannot be safely treated. We expect untreated areas to be averaged with other more open areas (for example, large patches of oak brush) to reach the required basal area.

Question 4: Could we store fuel tanks or other equipment at the camp site?

Answer 4: Yes, assuming appropriate safety and hazardous material storage precautions are followed.

Question 5: Why is this contract length less than the typical 365 days?

Answer 5: The contract length was set based on need to have a pre-bid meeting (the road does not typically open up until May), then the time needed to receive bids, review bids, and award the contract set the estimated start work date. The deadline to finish the contract is based in part on the funding source (Denver Water partnership), as well as the tendency of the road to be closed by snow in the late fall or early winter. We did state that there would be an option to extend the contract if long periods of adverse weather or fire/operation restrictions were to occur. This option is stated in section F of the solicitation.

Field Trip U.S. Highway 285 north to C-470 C-470 east to U.S. Highway 85 (Santa Fe Blvd.)

U.S. Highway 85 south to Sedalia, State Highway 67.

State Highway 67 south to Indian Creek Work Center.

Indian Creek Work Center to treatment unit via NFSR 512.

Stop#1: Treatment Unit – walk closer portions of the unit. Review specifications as needed based on site conditions and questions from bidders.

End of trip. Return via NFSR 512/DCR 67/State Highway 67 to Sedalia.