Amendment 001 - RFI Responses.pdf

RFI Number Question Request Date Response

1 Can you please share the license requirements needed for this project? 9/9/2024

Bidders must be active and in good standing with Oregon

CCB to be considered.

Would I be able to receive a copy of the previously executed agreement/contract? 9/12/2024

We will need a public records request submitted in order to share the previously executed contract as it requires legal review. The forms for this can be found on our website via the link below. The previously executed contract is on a different boilerplate and entirely different from the contract being used going forward.

https://www.nwascopud.org/about-us/transparency/

Is there historical data available regarding how many crews/personnel are working year round, or what the annual budget is? 9/12/2024

We have typically ran either a 4 person or 3 person crew throughout the entire year. As stated in the RFP documents, The District is signatory to IBEW Local 125 and requires that all vegetation management requires union labor.

Can the District clarify the specific criteria for determining which trees require removal versus pruning under the vegetation management scope?

9/19/2024

The District will determine the trees needing removed and type of pruning and will notify the Contractor crew.

Are there any specific guidelines or preferred methods for herbicide application beyond complying with regulatory standards? 9/19/2024

The District will determine when herbicide is applied at a location and pass that information on to the crew. The

District uses a spray bottle for the application method. No herbicide is to be used around orchards or water. The crew, when applying, will comply with all regulatory standards and requirements.

For herbicide application, how is this reimbursed? Should this be placed in the tools and equipment pricing section of the proposal? 9/19/2024 Northern Wasco County supplies the herbicide (Crossbow).

What are the expectations regarding the percentage of work related to each task (e.g., tree pruning, stump grinding, ROW mowing)? 9/19/2024

The percentage of work allocated to each task is as follows: Tree Pruning 98%, Stump Grinding 1%, and ROW

Mowing 1%.

8 Do all tree removals require stump grinding? 9/19/2024

Very few (less than 1%) of the stumps need to be ground out.

Can you provide a copy of the IBEW Local 125 CBA, including wage rates, for pricing purposes? 9/19/2024

The District doesn't require Local 125 labor but union labor must be utilized. Cotnractors can reach out to 125 if they want to inquire about using 125.

10 What can one expect as the average number of crews working on a daily basis? 9/19/2024

(1) four-man crew consisting of (1) Foreman, (2)

Journeymen Line Clearance Tree Trimmers, and (1)

Apprentice.

Could you confirm if there is a minimum number of crews required to meet the District’s service needs during regular and emergency hours? 9/19/2024

The District utilizes (1) four-man crew for regular and emergency work.

Will the District provide specific criteria for union labor requirements when hiring non-local employees, or should all employees be sourced from local union labor? 9/19/2024

Labor is to be union whether local or non-local at the choice of the Contractor.

Are there any limitations or specifications on subcontracting portions of the work? 9/19/2024

No work will be subcontracted by the contractor unless approved prior by the District.

Are there any District-preferred safety standards beyond OSHA and ANSI that need to be adhered to during vegetation management? 9/19/2024

All vegetation management performed must comply with

OSHA and ANSI safety standards.

Is there a required standard for fire suppression equipment? If so, could you provide details? 9/19/2024

Required fire suppression equipment for the crew includes

(1) shovel, (1) Pulaski tool, (1) refillable water fire extinguisher, (1) refillable water bladder hand pump extinguisher, (1) exhaust blanket, and other equipment if specific site conditions require it.

16 Is the contractor allowed to make use of PUD’s property for staging? 9/19/2024

The contractor is allowed to stage (1) bucket truck, (1) chipper, and (1) foreman pick-up on Northern Wasco

County PUD property.

17 What permits are required by the contractor, and are they reimbursable? 9/19/2024

If any permits are required the District will reimburse actual costs. The District is unaware of any required permits at this time.

Is dumping/disposal incidental, or should we provide a separate price in the tools and equipment section? 9/19/2024

Dumping and disposal are considered incidental; no special pricing is needed.

19 If traffic control is required, is it reimbursable? 9/19/2024 All flagging is supplied by Northern Wasco County PUD.

Could the District specify whether there are penalties or additional compensation for responding to emergency events outside of regular work hours? 9/19/2024

Contractor to provide rates for overtime related to emergency or work performed outside of regular work hours.

Are there any historical data or projections for emergency call-outs that could help with resource planning? 9/19/2024

In the last 8 years, the tree crew has been called out for storm damage/emergency work (2) times. What the future holds is unknown, but it is expected to be close to the

District’s past history.

In regards to monthly invoicing, will the District provide templates or preferred formats for submitting detailed work descriptions, or should the contractor develop these formats independently? 9/19/2024

Contractor to provide invoices that clearly detail verifiable employee & equipment hours and rates.

Could the District provide clarity on any specific items they consider necessary for “sufficiently detailed invoices”? 9/19/2024

List each employee hours, equipment hours, multiplied by the contract rates and receipts for any costs outside of the contract scope of work.

In Exhibit B regarding proposal ranking, how heavily will experience with utility line clearance in similar geographical areas (such as Wasco County) be weighed? 9/19/2024 All score sections are weighted equally.

Are interviews with the contractor’s team likely to be requested as part of the evaluation process, and what would be the main focus of these interviews? 9/19/2024

Interviews may be requested by the District to discuss the

Contractor proposal and performance history.

If the contractor experiences cost changes after the first 12 months of the MSA, is there a cap on the percentage increase that can be proposed annually? 9/19/2024

The District does not set a cap. The District maintains the option not to extend the agreement annually for any reason including if the District feels pricing is increased greater than the market.

Can the District elaborate on the specific processes or approvals required for pricing adjustments beyond the fixed rate period? 9/19/2024

The District may increase the contract amount should the

District have budget funds available and additional work needs completed. Pricing can be adjusted once annually as mutually agreed upon.

Amendment #001 - RFI Responses