AG-9AB5-S-14-0001_RFQ.pdf

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CODE 18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

FACILITYCODE

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER

OFFEROR

9AB5

ARCADIA CA 91006

701 N SANTA ANITA AVE

R5 AQM SO-CAL SERVICE AREA

USDA FOREST SERVICE

9AMH CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BYCODE

X

X

X

115310

SIZE STANDARD:

100.00 % FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED OR9AB5

RFPIFB

10. THIS ACQUISITION ISCODE

RFQ

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

13b. RATING

NAICS:

SMALL BUSINESS

06/30/2014 1700 PT

06/12/2014

626-574-5337KATHLEEN CARVAJAL

(No collect calls)

INFORMATION CALL:

FOR SOLICITATION 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIMEb. TELEPHONE NUMBER a. NAME

4. ORDER NUMBER3. AWARD/ 6. SOLICITATION

AG-9AB5-S-14-0001

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE OF

1 25 692012OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

TELEPHONE NO.

17a. CONTRACTOR/

PRATHER CA 93651-0559

POC TIM VEACH 559-855-5355 X3323

HIGH SIERRA RANGER DISTRICT

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

US FOREST SERVICE

15. DELIVER TO

ARCADIA CA 91006

701 N SANTA ANITA AVE

R5 AQM SO-CAL SERVICE AREA

9. ISSUED BY

7.

2. CONTRACT NO.

EFFECTIVE DATE

$17.5

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

ISSUE DATE

DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

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SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13a.

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

8(A)

USDA FOREST SERVICE

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

Sierra National Forest

CFLR Eastfork Mastication Project

DUNS#:______________________________

Delivery: 113 Days After Notice to Proceed Period of Performance: 08/19/2014 to 12/10/2014

Continued ...

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

X

XX

DATED

KATHLEEN CARVAJAL

. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5),

INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER

ARE

ARE

31c. DATE SIGNED

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30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL

SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

OFFER

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

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ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

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RECEIVED INSPECTED

40. PAID BY39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER

37. CHECK NUMBER

FINALPARTIAL

36. PAYMENT

FINALPARTIAL

35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

34. VOUCHER NUMBER33. SHIP NUMBER

COMPLETE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD)

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42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

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41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

001 Reduce brush, release and thin conifers. Prepare sites in stands by mechanically shredding/mulching/chipping live and dead brush, created and existing slash, small dead and live conifers.

See statement of work.

Product/Service Code: F108

Product/Service Description: ENVIRONMENTAL

SYSTEMS PROTECTION- ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

25 2 of

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 3 of 25 PROJECT: SNF CFLR Eastfork Mastication Project

**SCHEDULE OF ITEMS**

OFFERORS PLEASE NOTE: BEFORE PREPARING PROPOSAL, CAREFULLY READ THE CONTENTS OF THIS

REQUEST FOR QUOTE/SOLICITATION COMPLETELY.

Furnish all equipment, labor, supplies, supervision, transportation, and incidentals necessary to perform the work in accordance with the specifications, terms, and conditions contained within.

ITEM

NO.

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES EST.

QTY

UNIT UNIT PRICE TOTALPRICE

1 Eastfork Mechanical Thinning Thin/Release/Site Prep in Plantations and Wildstands/DFPZ- Fuels Treatment

223.4 Acres $ $

TOTAL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 223.4 Acres >>>>>>>> $

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 4 of 25

STATEMENT OF WORK/DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

SCOPE

The purpose of this contract is to reduce brush, release and thin conifers, and prepare sites in stands by mechanically shredding/mulching/chipping live and dead brush, created and existing slash, small dead conifers, and live conifers.

Operating the equipment in a safe and practical manner continuously on 0 to 45 percent slope and on short pitches up to 50 percent slope, while protecting soil conditions.Work shall be done in a manner that does not damage residual trees or vegetation not specified to be treated including resource protected sites and all leave trees. Work is to be performed on the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest.

DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

The location of the work site, access to the site and other information pertinent to each unit is contained on the vicinity maps in Section J and in the paragraphs below. The project areas have been identified with the unit number written on flagging which is tied somewhere within the unit, where it meets the road or access trail. The work boundaries are flagged.

Work areas shown on the project map are approximate but are reasonable representations of the areas suitable for the task prescribed in this contract.

Directions are given from the High Sierra Ranger District Office, Prather CA. To reach the District office from Fresno, take Highway 168 northeast to the community of Prather.

Eastfork Project Area:

Proceed east on Highway 168 for approx. 26 miles to Dinkey Creek Road located in the community of Shaver Lake. Take Dinkey Creek Road for 13 miles the the McKinley Grove Road. Follow McKinley Grove Road for approx. 8 miles to the south junction of the Big Fir Loop Road (10S13). The junction landmark is a location known as Brush Meadow. Follow forest road 10S13 north to the intersection of 10S13 / 10S23. Turn right on 10S23 to access most of the units on the Eastfork Project. This road has a year-round closure gate. A temporary gate key can be requested through the Prather office for contractor pre-bid review of the units. Several of the units are located on both sides of 10S23 after passing Snow Corral Meadow.

Additional units must be accessed by forest road 10S70 which intersects with the main McKinley Grove road (11S40) just east of House Meadow. To locate 10S70, stay on McKinley Grove Road until passing under a set of high voltage transmission electrical lines. 10S70 is approx. ½ mile east of that point.

CONTRACT TIME

Start Date: August 19, 2014 Contract time: 113 days after Notice to Proceed

Contract time shall begin on the date stipulated on the Notice to Proceed, or 3 calendar days after the Notice to Proceed is mailed, whichever is later. Work shall progress at a rate, which insures job completion within the calendar time specified above. During the winter months, contract operations will only be permitted when the weather is favorable and soil conditions on the roads and the project areas are suitable for equipment operations (Refer to paragraph C.11 (f), Non Work Areas/ Resource Protection).

The Contractor must obtain prior approval from the Contracting Officer and/or COR to employ more than 2 pieces of equipment on the project.

WINTER SHUTDOWN

When winter weather sets in and the continuation of work is impractical, upon written request by the Contractor, the

Contracting Officer may authorize a total suspension until such winter weather has passed and work can proceed. During the period of total suspension, the calendar days elapsed will not be charged against the contract time.

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 5 of 25

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

Specific equipment to be furnished by the Contractor is as follows:

(a) The equipment shall be capable of working on slopes up to 50% and shall have a boom mounted adjustable, mechanically or hydraulically powered cutting head that controls the height and angle of shredding head/blade. The boom shall be capable of working in areas less than 6 feet wide with a reach of 20 feet.

(b) Equipment/mastication head shall be capable of severing, mulching and reducing to a maximum length of five feet for shrubs and trees/snags up to 10 inches D.B.H. in all of the project. The boom and powered cutting head shall be capable of cutting down and shredding/masticating all shrubs, trees/snags and both existing and created slash material to a mulch condition.

(c) Resulting debris from contractor’s operations shall not be allowed to accumulate to a depth of more than 2 inches against crop trees. Contractor shall direct cutting head debris away from drainages and culvert approach areas.

Mastication debris shall be cleared for at least 25 feet from the upstream side of any culverted stream course.

Accumulations of debris in drainages shall be removed by means approved by Contracting Officer.

(d) Equipment shall be track mounted to minimize soil compaction and disturbance on slopes. The cutting head shall be mounted on a swinging boom to maximize release of conifers with a minimum amount of damage and number of passes needed to treat the area.

(e) Equipment shall be in good running condition with no excessive fluid leaks or overheating.

(f) The Contractor shall provide all tools and equipment needed for the job.

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED OPERATORS

The Contractor shall provide Equipment Operators with the following experience:

(a) Experience operating the equipment in a safe and practical manner while working in Conifer Plantations, Natural-Wild Stands and DFPZ Fuelbreaks.

(b) Experience operating the equipment to meet work methods and standards, and work description and spacing requirements without damaging leave trees or resource/protected sites.

(c) Experience operating the equipment on slopes 0 to 45 percent and on short pitches up to 50 percent slope, while protecting soil conditions and residual trees or vegetation not specified to be treated.

(d) The Equipment Operator(s) and Contractor’s Representative must be able to speak fluent English and understand the written English language.

INSPECTION OF EQUIPMENT

Prior to award, the Government reserves the right to inspect the equipment to be furnished. If the equipment is found to be in such condition to indicate the need for frequent repairs and delays in performance, it shall be rejected. The decision of the Contracting Officer will be final as to whether equipment is in suitable condition for acceptance.

EQUIPMENT CLEANING

The Contractor shall ensure that prior to moving on to the project area, all off-road equipment is free of soil, seeds, vegetative material, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds of noxious weeds. “Off Road Equipment” includes all logging, construction machinery and brushing equipment (brush hogs, masticators, chippers) except log trucks, chip vans, service vehicles, water trucks, pickup trucks, and similar vehicles not intended for off-road use.

The Contractor shall notify the Forest Service at least 5 working days prior to moving each piece of equipment on to National Forest Land, unless otherwise agreed. Notification will include identifying the location of the equipment’s most recent operations. Unless the prior location of operation is known to be free of noxious weeds as documented in a Weed Risk Assessment, Forest Service may assume that the equipment is contaminated with noxious weed seeds. In general, because of the magnitude of the yellow star thistle infestation in northern and central California, equipment coming from off-forest sites will be considered contaminated and cleaning/washing will be required. Upon request of Forest Service, arrangements will be made for Forest Service to inspect each piece of equipment prior to it being placed in service.

The Contractor shall thoroughly clean all off-road equipment before entering the project areas. The Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure that off-road equipment is free of noxious weed seeds.

Equipment shall be considered clean when a visual inspection by the Contracting Officer Representative verifies that the equipment does not disclose soil, seed, plant material, and other such debris. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools is not required. For subsequent moves between project areas, the Contractor shall be

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 6 of 25 required to use water to wash down and thoroughly clean the equipment. Notification to the Contracting Officer and his representative at least 48 hrs prior to a move shall be required to initiate the scheduling of a water source for the wash down.

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (C.O.R.), Government Inspector or authorized Forest Service employee shall observe and inspect the wash down process to verity that off-road equipment is free of noxious weeds prior to each start-up of contract project item areas.

PUBLIC SAFETY

The Contractor shall provide and install large, easily read warning signs along the roads or access trails, warning the public or other visitors of the hazards of the machine during operations. These signs shall state that all persons shall remain at least 200 feet from the machine during operations and approach only by permission of the operator.

Contractor's operation shall facilitate Forest Services' safe and practical inspection of Contractor's operation and conduct of other official duties in the contract area.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, when Contractor's operations are in progress adjacent to or on roads and trails open to public travel, the Contractor shall furnish, install and maintain all temporary traffic controls which provide the forest user with adequate warning of hazardous conditions associated with Contractor's Operations. Contractor and Contracting

Officer and/or his Representative (COR) shall agree to a specific traffic control plan for each individual contract work area prior to commencing operations. Devices shall be appropriate to current conditions and shall be covered or removed when not needed. Except as otherwise agreed, flag persons and devices shall be as specified in the "Manual on Uniform

Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highway" (MUTCD).

ORDER OF WORK

The Contracting Officer and/or his representative may specify an order of work by item or sub-item (unit) within an item, without additional cost to the Government. Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as specified as followings:

(a) In accordance with the attached fire plan.

(b) When the Contracting Officer and/or his representative determine that adverse weather has made access or project production too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

(c) When the Contracting Officer and/or his representative has determined that weather conditions are unfavorable for mechanical thinning operations to continue due to increased risk of insect infestation.

(d) Limited Operating Period’s (LOP): A LOP for the protection of Spotted Owls and Great Gray Owls from March 1 st through August 15 th , for the protection of Northern Goshawks from February 15 th through September 15 th , and for the protection of the Pacific fisher from March 1 st through June 30 th when activities are prohibited for all or part of the treatment area in specific units as listed in the chart in Section C.13 (f) Work Conditions. LOP designations are for the 2014 calender year.

In the event that threatened, endangered, or Forest Service sensitive species is located near operations, a limited LOP for their protection shall be applied as directed by the Land Management Plan (LMP) as amended in 2004.

In the event that a Pacific fisher (Martes pennanti) den site is located near operations, a 700 acre buffer shall be delineated around the den site. A limited operating period where activities are prohibited for the protection of the

Pacific fisher shall be established for March 1 st through June 30 th for the buffered area.

(e) When the Contracting Officer and/or their representative has determined that soil conditions are to wet and unfavorable for mechanical thinning operations to continue due to the increased risk of soil compaction and /or resource damage. Refer to C.11(f)) Non Work Areas/Resource Protection.

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 7 of 25

SALVAGE MATERIAL

If authorized by the Contracting Officer, salvage material shall be made available to the Contractor. Any such material created by this contract will become the property of the Contractor on a salvageable basis and may be removed from the project, provided project work is progressing as scheduled and removal is completed prior to completion of that sub-item.

Rights to any material not removed from the project areas prior to expiration of the contract shall revert back to the Government. Salvage rights may be granted by the Contracting Officer if the Contractor requests such rights in writing.

Permission to remove salvage material will be by letter and is not transferable. Land management direction guidelines for required down logs per acre will be provided.

NON-WORK AREAS / RESOURCE PROTECTION

Within the general project area, the Contracting Officer will exclude non-work areas such as: rocky areas, wildlife areas, non operable portions of terraces, noxious weeds and sensitive plant areas, streamside protection zones, meadows, and/or areas with a dense oak canopy, Cultural Resources Protection areas and other special areas such as excessively steep slopes. The Contracting Officer will designate non-work areas. Such areas exceeding 1/2 acre in size will be excluded from payment. The attached maps are intended to show only the general size and location of work areas and are not intended to be accurate as to shape and dimensions. The position of cultural and topographical features also may be approximate.

(a) Non-work areas have been strung, flagged, or otherwise designated.

(b) The Contractor shall not operate and shall not refuel within Stream Management Zones (SMZ). Stream management zone boundaries will be identified with blue and white polka-dot flagging, or otherwise designated prior to commencing unit treatment.

(c) Equipment shall not cross meadows, stream channels, and/or designated non-work areas except at locations designated by the Contracting Officer and/or their representative. The following SMZ buffer distance shall be maintained; 100’ buffer along meadows unless otherwise designated by the Contracting Officer’s Representative, Class 1 streams require a 100’ buffer each side, Class 2 streams require a 75’ buffer each side, Class 3 streams require a 50’ buffer each side and a Class 4 stream requires a 25’ buffer each side. Equipment shall treat a booms length inside the SMZ buffer as directed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

(d) Equipment shall not operate on areas steeper than 50%.

(e) Leave all snags over 16 inches in diameter and over 20 feet in height including those that may have been broken and/or burned. These snags shall not be pushed over, damaged, or disturbed.

(f) Mechanical operations shall be restricted to periods when surface soils in the operating area are drier than the "plastic limit", to a depth of 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches). A test to determine the plastic limit can be measured by rolling soil with your hand on a flat surface that produces a wire of soil 1/8 inch in diameter. Equipment shall be operated only when soil moisture conditions prevent unacceptable compaction or soil displacement. Typically, soil moisture conditions are a concern between the months of November and April.

Equipment operations shall minimize soil erosion and damage. Erosion control mitigations shall be kept current and prior to any seasonal period of precipitation or runoff. Damage resulting from failure to perform required work shall be repaired by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense.

(g) Protection of Land Survey Monuments. The Contractor shall protect all known survey monuments, witness corners, reference monuments, and bearing trees against avoidable destruction, obliteration, or damage during the Contractor's operations. Known corners are identified on the contract maps by black diamonds. It is the Contractor's responsibility to locate and protect them during operations.

If the Contractor causes damage as detailed in the above paragraph, the Contractor shall hire the appropriate registered land surveyor to establish or restore at the same location the monuments, corners, or accessories. Such surveyors shall use procedures in accordance with the "Bureau of Land Management Instructions for the Survey of the Public Lands of the United States" for the General Land Office surveys, and in accordance with the State law for others. The Contractor shall record such survey in the appropriate county records.

(h) Protection of Improvements. Contractor shall protect improvements from damage and shall be responsible for their timely restoration if damaged by Contractor's Operations. Improvements include but are not limited to; water tanks, fences, gates, pipeline, culverts, helispot, existing roads, water bars, under ground fiber optic cable, stock driveways, power lines, established land corners, established hiking and motorcycle trails and all private property.

(i) Equipment shall not be walked between units on paved or chip-sealed roads. The walking of equipment between units shall be at the direction of the Contracting Officer and/or COR, to avoid the possibility of entering a Control Area and/or resource damage.

(j) Exit and entry of units shall be confined to within unit boundaries unless otherwise stated by the Contracting Officer and/or COR. Entry and exit points to the unit shall be chosen in a manner as to reduce resource damage and soil erosion.

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 8 of 25

(k) Prevention of Oil Spills. If the Contractor maintains storage facilities for oil or oil products on the project area, the Contractor shall take appropriate preventative measures to insure that any spill of oil or oil products does not enter the soil, any stream, or other waters.

If the total oil or oil storage exceeds 4996 liters (1320 gallons) or if any single container exceeds a capacity of 2498 liters (660 gallons), the Contractor shall prepare a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan. The proposed plan is to be approved by the Contracting Officer. Such plan shall meet applicable EPA requirements (40 CFR 112) including certification by a Registered Professional Engineer.

(l) Protection of Cultural Resources: Location of known historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology and culture, such as settler or Indian artifacts, protected by American Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431433), National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470), and implementing regulations (36 CFR 800), the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (PL 96-95 and 36 CFR 261.9(e)) will be identified on the ground by the Forest Service. The Forest Service may unilaterally modify or cancel all or portions of this contract to protect an area, object of antiquity, artifact, or similar object which is or may be entitled to protection under these Acts regardless of when the area, object or artifact is discovered or identified. Discovery of such areas or objects by either party shall be promptly reported to the other party.

The Contractor shall protect Controlled Areas (CA) shown on the Project Unit Maps, by AVOIDANCE, and shall protect all known and identified or discovered historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to

American history, architecture, archaeology and culture against destruction, obliteration, removal or damage during the Contractor's operations. The Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer and the COR if damage occurs to any cultural resources and immediately halt operations in the vicinity of the resource where damage occurred until the Contracting Officer authorizes the Contractor to proceed. If such damage is negligently or willfully caused by the Contractor's operations, the Contractor shall bear costs of investigation and restoration in accordance with 36 CFR 296.14(c), provided that such payment shall not relieve the Contractor from civil or criminal remedies otherwise provided by law.

Wheeled or track-laying equipment shall not be operated within such areas except on roads, landings, tractor roads, or skid trails approved by the Contracting Officer and/or his representative. The Contractor may be required to restore disturbed areas where the Contracting Officer has approved incursion.

All known Controlled Areas are identified on the project map and on the ground with flagging. The sites may be re-flagged immediately prior to operations.

(m) Protection of Sensitive Plant Populations. No known populations of sensitive plants occur within or adjacent to the designated units. The Contracting Officer Representative will designate any protected plants located within any of the units for protection. Elderberry bushes/tree and California Dogwood shall not be damaged. To maintain stand diversity, trees and/or brush providing homes to wildlife shall not be damaged or disturbed.

(n) Control of Dust near Sensitive Areas. The Contracting Officer and/or his representative may require the Contractor to cease operations when the wind speed is such that dust from operations will blow into sensitive areas. Sensitive areas are those occupied by the public including developed campgrounds and residences. Periods of shut down will not count against the Contractor's time.

(o) The Contractor shall remove all trash from the work site.

(p) The Contractor shall be responsible for determining the location of buried utilities and preventing damage to them.

(q) Areas with an excessive amount of rock or rock outcrop areas on the soil shall be avoided. These areas will be designated by the Contracting Officer Representative.

(r) Heavy equipment shall not work or leave the boundaries of the work areas without written permission from the

Contracting Officer. This is intended to avoid the possibility of damage to sensitive or protected sites outside the work boundaries. The "walking" of equipment cross-country between work units is not allowed without the written permission of the Contracting Officer.

(s) There may be terraces or portions of terraces that have existing non-treatment areas. These non-treatment areas may be due to one or more of the following conditions: angle of the slope, existing rock at the edge of the flat platform, width of terrace, height and angle of the cut bank, and/or the size of the tree’s diameter.

(t) Noxious weeds have been identified in the project areas and the equipment shall avoid these locations. Where identified, equipment shall require a washdown before moving to the next project/unit to prevent weeds from spreading.

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 9 of 25

WORK METHODS AND STANDARDS

For all items, the Contractor shall provide the following; one track mounted operating piece of equipment with a masticating/mulching/shredding type head attached at the end of the equipments’ boom. Protection of residual trees shall be the highest priority in all operations. Excessive residual stand damage may result in contract shut down and/or contract termination. Excessive damage shall be defined as damage to 10% or greater of the residual trees.

(a) The Contractor shall be responsible for avoiding identified buried utilities.

(b) The Contractor shall not operate in areas within the units that exceed 50% slope, or in areas where the ground conditions may damage Contractor's equipment, such as excessively rocky sites. These areas will be excluded from measurement for payment.

(c) Water bars in skid trails, fire lines, culverts, draws, roads and continuous travel routes disturbed by the Contractor shall be restored to the condition, prior to damage at the Contractor's expense. Culverts, roadside approaches to culverts that have been graded, stream channels, draws and roads shall be kept free of all slash and debris by the Contractor.

(d) To prevent soil erosion damage, the Contractor shall operate equipment in a manner that limits soil displacement and shall restore to prior condition any deep ruts or berms created by the equipment’s tracks.

(e) The Contractor shall complete work to the slope break.

(f) Downed logs shall not be shredded or cut and shall be left in an undisturbed state to the greatest extent practical.

(g) Equipment shall be kept free of debris accumulations that may result in fire starts.

(h) The shredded/masticated/chipped material shall be evenly distributed over the treated areas so as to not leave large accumulations of slash. Concentrations of brush, slash, and small dead trees may need repeated treatment in order to satisfy desired work standards.

(i) Dead and excess live trees and brush, and created and existing slash and/or existing slash piles shall be shredded.

The shredded material shall not be deposited by any means near leave trees in excess of the allowable depth stated in Sec. C.3 (c). All cut material shall be shredded according to contract requirements.

(j) Equipment will not be permitted to cross meadows, stream channels, or other non-work areas except at locations designated by the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative.

(k) Soils in the operating area must be dry enough to prevent rutting and/or compaction by a single pass of the equipment.

(l) The Contractor shall not operate and shall not refuel within Stream Management Zones (SMZ). Stream management zones boundaries will be identified with white with blue polka-dot flagging or otherwise designated prior to commencing unit treatment.

(m) Protect rock out crops that support islands of mature vegetation such as manzanita and protect Blue Elderberry Bushes and California Dogwood trees.

(n) The Contractor shall be required to work the edge of the project boundary along all private property and road side edges. Where the project area meets the roadside edge, create a visual barrier to promote wildlife screening, habitat enhancement and prevent unoffical access by utilizing natural vegetation strategically placed parallel to the roadside.

WORK CONDITIONS

Shredding and clearing may be done at any time during the term of the contract, except under the following conditions:

(a) Weather predictions indicate a hazardous fire condition warranting curtailment of operations, as specified elsewhere in this contract.

(b) When ground conditions are such that machine operations could cause resource damage.

(c) Between dusk and dawn.

(d) Between December 1 st and June 30 th when shredded/cut/chipped material is larger than 3" diameter and consists of

Pine species.

Before 7:00 A.M. on weekdays or 8:00 A.M. on weekends when operating within ¼ mile of residences or campgrounds.

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 10 of 25

(e) Limited Operating Periods (LOP): For the 2014 Calendar year, activities are prohibited for all or part of the treatment area in the following units for the protection of Spotted Owls, Northern

Goshawks and the Pacific fishers. Surveys may reveal the absence of protected species in proximity to the work areas. The district Wildlife Biologist may lift the LOP as a result of the surveys.

Spotted Owl LOP March 1 st to August 15 th

Unit # Acres

Northern Goshawk LOP February 15 th to September 15 th

Unit # Acres

Pacific Fisher LOP March 1 st to June 30 th

Unit # Acres

PID 600 19.8 PID 600 31.1

PID 624 17.2

Grand Total = 19.8 Grand Total = 48.3 Grand Total =

^Results of the field surveys may change the Northern Goshawk LOP status for the 2014 calendar year.

(f) In the event that a Pacific fisher (Martes pennanti) den site is located near operations, a 700 acre buffer shall be delineated around the den site. A limited operating period where activities are prohibited for the protection of the Pacific fisher will be established for March 1 st through June 30th for the buffered area.

SELECTION OF LEAVE TREES

(a) Hardwood Trees:

Hardwood trees over 10 feet in height or 4 inches in diameter shall be considered potential crop trees.

(b) Leave Trees/Conifers:

Leave trees shall generally be the tallest, most vigorous, healthy, largest crown, and straightest stems that are free of damage due to insects, diseases, physical or mechanical causes. The Contractor shall select leave trees based on the following priorities:

1. Healthy undamaged trees at the required spacing intervals.

a. Crown class - must be either vigorous dominant or co-dominant.

b. Crown ratio - 30% or more of the total height must be live crown.

c. Vigor - healthy and vigorous in appearance. Terminal growth must be equal to or greater than that of competitors.

2. If no healthy, undamaged tree exists within the spacing requirements, leave the best disease free tree available, including oaks, to meet the stocking requirements.

3. If no healthy tree with minor damage exists, leave a tree as defined below:

a. A tree with minor mistletoe infection: Minor mistletoe infection is defined as a tree with 20 percent or less of the crown infected and with no mistletoe within one foot of the main bole.

b. Trees with crown damage may be left providing there are no signs of rot and the tree has established a new leader (top) with a minimum of two years growth visible.

4. Within categories listed above, selection shall be made based on the following priority order:

a. Ponderosa, Jeffrey pine and /or Giant Sequoia

b. Sugar pine

c. Incense cedar

d. Fir

e. Oak

f. To mix up species composition, leave an occasional Sugar pine, Incense cedar or White/Red fir, damage free tree of equal size and vigor as a replacement for Ponderosa pine/Jeffrey pine. Generally, the resulting species composition should be 80-90% Ponderosa pine/Jeffrey pine with the remaining species percentage being other suitable species from the priority list.

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g. When no other priority leave tree is present, then large hardwoods shall be left when present. 20% of existing large oaks should be preserved regardless of crop tree spacing.

WORK DESCRIPTION AND SPACING

(a) Thinning/Release/Plantations/DFPZ Fuel break Natural-Wild Stands and/or Conifer Plantations:

1. In multi-storied stands, remove fuel ladders from beneath and within 8 feet of the drip line of the residual overstory trees. Shred/masticate/mulch brush any excess trees less than 10" DBH, to achieve an average leave/crop tree spacing of 18' x 18’ (130-140 trees/acre ) (See attached data table for spacing requirements, listed in Section J).

Spacing can be varied up to 25% to take advantage of better crop trees. If present, shred/masticate/mulch all vegetation beneath the electrical power lines and watch for guy wires. Trees and/or brush providing homes for wildlife shall not be disturbed.

2. In openings within the stand, shred/masticate/mulch brush and excess trees that are less than 10" DBH, and greater than 8 ft. from the drip line of residual overstory trees to achieve an average leave/crop tree spacing of 18' x 18’ ( 130-140 trees/acre) between boles/tree stems. (See attached data table for spacing requirements, listed in Section J). Spacing can be varied up to 25% to take advantage of better crop trees. If present, shred/masticate/mulch all vegetation beneath the power lines and watch for guy wires. Trees and/or brush providing homes for wildlife shall not be disturbed.

3. In conifer plantations where natural and/or planted trees exist, shred / masticate / mulch excess trees less than 10" DBH, to achieve an average leave/crop tree spacing of 18' x 18’ (130-140 trees/acre), between boles/tree stem. (See attached data table for spacing requirements, listed in Section J). Spacing can be varied up to 25% to take advantage of better crop trees. If present, shred/masticate/mulch all vegetation beneath the power lines and watch for guy wires. Trees and/or brush providing homes for wildlife shall not be disturbed.

(b) Preserving Pacific fisher habitat:

While performing work described in Section C.15, Work Description and Spacing, the Contractor shall preserve stand conditions to meet the Mosaic Design Criteria as described in C.9, Definition of Terms, No. 27, and No. 44, Wildlife Design Criteria.

Wildlife Design Criteria: Shrub and understory diversity shall be retained to provide cover for the Pacific fisher in the treatable landscapes between 3,600’ to 6,600’ elevation. The following guidelines shall provide hiding cover for the Pacific fisher as well as other native wildlife species, utilizing existing vegetation in a natural state.

To create diversity in the lower profile of the stand and retain small to medium size mosaic patches/ribbons of untreated understory vegetation consisting of conifers, oaks, dogwood and different species of shrubs. These mosaic patches/ribbons shall cover no more than 10 percent of the lower profile of the stand and are designed to preserve stand diversity while decreasing the threat posed by ladder fuels. Mosaic patches/ribbons in conifer plantations are approximately 1/10 th acre in size and within wild stand treatment areas, approximately ¼ acre in size.

On the southern aspect of the Nehouse Project Area, this untreated understory of mosaic/patches/ribbons shall cover no more than 5 percent of the stand.

Provide hiding cover and retain the structure underneath the canopy of mature Black Oaks and Incense Cedar trees 30 inch DBH and larger by not treating trees and brush vegetation growing within the canopy. If possible, take advantage of existing visible cavities on 2 to 3 mature Black Oaks per acre. Where no visible cavity is present, select a mature Black Oak with a full dominant crown to reach the 2 to 3 oak per acre requirement.

Do not disturb live trees or dead trees that are leaning (like a ladder) against a mature Black oak or an Incense cedar 30 inch DBH or larger.

STUMP HEIGHTS

All project created stumps, including those of shrubs, shall be less than 6 inches high as measured from the uphill side.

Scattered stump heights up to no more than 8 inches from any natural obstacles such as rocks or downed logs will be tolerated on up to 10% of the area. All unobstructed stumps shall be severed below the lowest live limbs or stems of trees and brush.

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SLASH, BRUSH AND TREE TREATMENT

(a) All brush within the designated units shall be shredded except brush growing so close to adjacent leave trees that attempted brush removal would cause damage to the leave tree; generally 15.2 cm (6 in.) or closer to residual tree.

(b) Created and existing slash shall be shredded/mulched/masticated and shall lie in close contact with the soil no higher than 6 inches off the ground nor exceed five feet in length. Created and/or existing windrows and piles shall be considered as existing slash unless otherwise indicated.

(c) Brush shall be severed from its main stem no more than 3 inches (7.6 cm) from the ground on level surfaces, and no more than 8 inches (20.3 cm) from any natural obstacles such as rocks or downed logs. All targeted vegetation shall be severed below the lowest live branch.

(d) All cut trees and brush shall be shredded/mulched/masticated within the work areas. Any cut material not masticated that encroaches upon protected sites, roads, telephone/power lines, established trails, stock driveways, fence lines, established land corners, stream zones, outside of the unit boundaries and other improvements not listed, shall be removed if possible. Any resulting damage shall be immediately reported to the Contracting Officer. All cut trees and brush shall be masticated. Any vegetation cut and not masticated shall be reworked. Any cut vegetation lying on the top or against untreated vegetation shall be reworked to pass inspections.

(e) Designated trails within treatment units shall be cleared of brush and small excess trees to a minimum width of 6 feet.

Created debris shall be removed from the trail route to provide for unrestricted foot travel. Cleared debris must be dispersed to prevent development of berms on the sides of the trail.

(f) No dead conifers (snags) greater than 10 inches+/- DBH shall be cut with the exception of roadside hazard trees or others designated by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

DAMAGE PREVENTION

Leave trees shall not be damaged.

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

1. Fire Plan – 10pages

2. Project Area and Vicinity Map – 1page

3. SCA Wage Determination 77-0727 (Rev.-44)

4. Definition of Terms – 2pages

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SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

AGAR 452.236-72 USE OF PREMISES (NOV 1996)

(a) Before any camp, quarry, borrow pit, storage, detour, or bypass site, other than shown on the drawings, is opened or operated on USDA land or lands administered by the USDA, the Contractor shall obtain written permission from the

Contracting Officer. A camp is interpreted to include a campsite or trailer parking area of any employee working on the project for the Contractor.

(b) Unless accepted elsewhere in the contract, the Contractor shall (i) provide and maintain sanitation facilities for the work force at the site and (ii) dispose of solid waste in accordance with applicable Federal, State and local regulations.

CAMPING

Camping is not permitted in U.S. Forest Service campgrounds. Contractor [ x] will, [ ] will not be permited to camp elsewhere on U.S. Forest Service land, subject to terms of a permit. Camping on Forest Service land is not a right;

permission may be revoked for failure to comply with the terms of the permit.

AGAR 452.236-73 ARCHAEOLOGICAL OR HISTORIC SITES (FEB 1988)

If a previously unidentified archaeological or historic site(s) is encountered, the Contractor shall discontinue work in the general area of the site(s) and notify the Contracting Officer immediately.

WORKER SAFETY

(a) The Contractor shall train all workers on the job site in the safe operation of all tools and equipment used on the job site.

(b) The Contractor shall provide all workers on the job site with information concerning the identification and avoidance of site-specific hazards or hazardous conditions.

(c) The Contractor shall provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for each worker on the job site. Such equipment shall be in a serviceable, sanitary, and reliable condition; equipment that is found to be damaged or defective shall be immediately replaced and shall not be used.

(d) The Contractor shall ensure that all workers on the site wear the provided PPE while working on the job site.

(e) Consistent with US Department of Labor regulations, PPE shall be provided at no expense to the worker.

(f) Appropriate PPE includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Chain saw chaps approved by Underwriters Laboratory or meet Forest Service specification 6170-47. The chaps shall cover the full length of the thigh to the top of the boot on each leg.

2. Foot protection that provides adequate traction and ankle support. For workers operating chainsaws, foot protection that shall be constructed with cut-resistant material which will protect the employee against contact with a running chainsaw.

3. Hard hat that meets the minimum requirements of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z89.1- 1997. Hard hats shall be worn where there is potential for head injury from falling or flying objects.

4. Eye protection that meets the minimum requirements of ANSI standard Z87.1-2003. Eye protection shall be worn where there is potential for eye injury due to flying objects or sharp objects encountered at eye level.

5. Hearing protection where there is a potential for hearing loss due to high intensity noise—e.g., chainsaw operation.

AGAR 452.236-74CONTROL OF EROSION, SEDIMENTATION AND POLLUTION (NOV 1996)

(a) Operations shall be scheduled and conducted to minimize erosion of soils and to prevent silting and muddying of streams, rivers, irrigation systems, and impoundments (lakes, reservoirs, etc.).

(b) Pollutants such as fuels, lubricants, bitumens, raw sewage, and other harmful materials shall not be discharged on the ground; into or nearby rivers, streams, and impoundments; or into natural or man-made channels. Wash water or waste from concrete or aggregate operations shall not be allowed to enter live streams prior to treatment by filtration, settling or other means sufficient to reduce the sediment content to not more than that of the stream into which it is discharged.

(c) Mechanized equipment shall not be operated in flowing streams without written approval by the Contracting Officer.

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 14 of 25

Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Bidders

FAR 52.212-1 -- Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items (April 2014)

The RFQ Due date (closing date) for proposal is on or before 17:00 Pacific Time, June 30, 2014. Quotes may be submitted ONLY via e-mail to: Kathleen Carvajal at kcarvajal@fs.fed.us.

DELIVERY OF QUOTATIONS. It is the responsibility of each offeror to ensure that its offer is received at the designated location at or before the closing time for the receipt of proposals in response to this RFQ. Any proposals received after the scheduled closing time will not be accepted or considered for a contract award.

Offerors are cautioned that in no event shall failure to familiarize themselves with the requirements of this solicitation or to resolve ambiguous or inconsistent terms or conditions of this solicitation or proposed contract constitute grounds for a claim of any kind after contract award.

ASSUMPTIONS, CONDITIONS, OR EXCEPTIONS:

The Offeror must submit, under separate cover, all (if any) assumptions, conditions, or exceptions with any of the terms and conditions of this solicitation including the Requirements Summary. If not noted in this section of your quote, it will be assumed that the offeror proposes no assumptions for award, and agrees to comply with all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein.

Offers which add to or otherwise change the terms and conditions of the solicitation will be rejected, unless there is a statement on the schedule allowing otherwise.

As a minimum, responses shall include the signed Standard Form 1449, the Schedule of Items, Technical Proposal/Approach - Describe your ability to accomplish this project in its required timeframe, including the following; a work schedule, your proposed workforce including a description of each operators experience as referenced in C.4 Contractor Furnished Operators, your plan to comply with inspection and quality control requirements and your plan for project supervision. The Offeror shall provide equipment specifications, including the year, make, and model of proposed equipment and mastication head.

the Capability Information sheet in any type of form that will show experience, past performance, current obligations, and available equipment & personnel).

The contractor is required fill out and submit AGAR 452.209 – 70 Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction (Deviation 2012-1) Alternate 1 (FEB 2012) with their offer. (This provision is on the last page(s) of this main document.)

If the contractor does not have a current profile in the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov), then the contractor must download, fill out and submit all provisions referenced in FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items (the last few pages of the solicitation). (Submitting this hardcopy does not exempt the contractor from registering at the SAM website in order to qualify for award.)

Amendments It is the contractor’s responsibility to monitor the Federal Business Opportunities (www.fbo.gov) website for amendments.

If there are any amendments that require signature, the offeror should, if required, sign and send the first page (Standard Form 30) as acknowledgement, as well as follow any revised instructions in the amendment.

Online Registrations Contractor MUST be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly known as Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA)) before award can be made.

Contractors are strongly encouraged to register in this database before submission of an offer so that they will be qualified for award. When awarding a contract if the contracting officer determines that a prospective contractor does not have a current registration, the contracting officer may proceed to award to the next otherwise successful registered offeror.

Also, the CO must be kept informed, even after award, if there are changes to the SAM profile so that the Agency may request a refreshed profile with the changed information.

CONTRACT #: AG-9AB5-S-14-0001 Page 15 of 25

FAR 52.237-1 SITE VISIT (APR 1984)

Offerors or quoters are urged and expected to inspect the site where services are to be performed and to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the cost of…