Attachment11_OriginalSolicitation_Site_Visit_Notes.pdf

Attachment 11

Berry Brush Stewardship IRSC (Fire Salvage)

Solicitation Site Visit Notes (Updated to reflect revised requirement) Prepared by Eric Murphy, Jose Rodriguez, Charlie Hiles

Information added by CO: Karen Ruklic

Site Visit was held on 03/24/2022

Attendance List:

Name Company Matt Branson Branson Enterprise Inc.

Tyler Willis/Steve Lavoie

Markit! Forestry Management

Adam Lefebvre USFS Jared Hawe USFS Nathan Tyler Bamford Nathan C. Bamford

J.W. Bamford

Ray Romine Romine Timber Jose Rodriguez USFS Charlie Hiles USFS Jesse and Keri McCutcheon

McCutcheon Logging

Fred and Tami Adamson

Adamson and Son Logging

John Romena Poston Logging LLC Ron Schmelzer Summit Forests James Morgan Morgan Tree Nate Charlton Phoenix Timber Eric Murphy USFS

Notes:

Eric Murphy described the work to be done and gave a project overview. The group looked at Units 11 and 12 from the edge of Bald Rock Road and also looked at Unit 26 from Oro-Quincy Highway.

Question: Who will determine a green tree? Answer: There is a designation by damage provision which outlines this. USFS would prefer to leave any green tree in the interior, but it can be worked out with sale admin if they think the tree is going to die. Specification was simplified. See Appendix A.

The minimum dbh could be changed to a higher diameter like 24 inch, if deterioration increases in time and can be worked out with sale admin and showing check cruiser deterioration in wood.

Question: Who has responsibility for the already piled up material at Bald Rock and Zink roads? Answer:

Those piles are not part of this contract and may be burned this Spring before they start work.

Question: Would the USFS provide tub grinders to feed material into? Answer: The USFS doesn’t have that capability under this contract.

Question: Could a contractor submit a different proposal? Answer: Contractors have to do the USFS proposal as is but they can also submit an alternate proposal along with it.

Question: Do we have to bid on all items? Answer given on site: Yes, all items including optional items have to have a bid.

Contracting Officer correction (see Notes immediately following the Schedules of Items in the amended solicitation): Price Proposals MUST be provided for all Mandatory Work Activities (Items 1-11), Optional Work Activities (Items 12-15) and Timber/Product Removal Price Schedule. Price proposals for Optional Items 16, 17 and Timber Subject to Agreement (TSA) are NOT required. Not applicable to revised solicitation.

Update: Item numbers changed in the revised solicitation. Corrected information is as follows: Price Proposals MUST be provided for all Mandatory Work Activities Items 1-9 and Optional Work Activities - Items 10-13. Price proposals for Optional Item 14 and Timber Subject to Agreement (TSA) are NOT required.

What is payment schedule? Answer: I believe it would be by unit completed but referred the contractor to ask CO Karen Ruklic how payments would work.

Contracting Officer confirmation: Payment may be made for fully accepted Units.

Discussion: There was a concern by a contractor that the way the timber rate was written N/A that the contractor would have to cut and deck all the pine over 20 inch using the timber value. This is not the case as I showed them in the Appendix A that by bidding the service items by acre, the price for cutting/piling the 20 inch dbh and over pine would be factored in their price per acre. Not applicable to revised solicitation.

Question: How long is the term of the contract? Answer: 2 years for the mandatory items 1-11, and 3 years for the optional items 12-15. CO clarification: See Amendment 1 for accelerated deadline added for Unit 47 within Mandatory Item 11.

Update: PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS FROM DATE OF AWARD THROUGH October 31, 2023 for Mandatory Items 1-9; October 31, 2024 for Optional Items 10-12 and October 31, 2025 for Optional Item

13. If Item 14 is awarded, the deadline for product removal shall follow the deadline applicable to the given Item/Unit whether Mandatory or Optional.

Discussion: There are concerns for the unstable roadway on Oro-Quincy in unit 26. The USFS will monitor this and do the best we can with soil erosion control measures including falling and leaving logs on contoured slopes.

Traffic control is a high cost. I told them it was appraised for in the timber value and service work government estimates. Update: Service work estimates for revised requirement account for the traffic control cost.

Question: Is there adequate area to pile and deck material in unit 26 due to slope? Answer: There is access from lower road and upper skid trails. There are some places where contour falling and leaving to stabilize hillsides may be agreed upon with sale administrator. See revised Appendix A that addresses this concern.

Question: What road work needs to be done? Answer: Road reconstruction on 21N80 road. There is basic road maintenance for the rest of the sale (only if Optional Item 14 Timber Removal is awarded).

Question: Are water bars needed to be done after the work is completed? Answer: Yes, definitely on Unit 26 and the steeper sections.

Question: Is there any help/guidance with the bid process and a template for making a proposal? Answer:

I said I would ask Karen Ruklic this question.

CO input: For free assistance with proposal preparation, sign up with your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Here is a link to for information regarding PTACs in CA: https://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/?state=CA#. Here is information regarding the PTAC for Butte county.

California Capital PTAC The California Capital serves businesses working in Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo, and Yuba Counties.

Regional PTAC - Headquarters http://cacapital.org/ptac/ 1792 Tribute Road, Suite 270 Sacramento, CA 95815

(916) 442-1729 Joe Longobardi Procurement Specialist Phone: (916) 442-1729 Email Address: JLongobardi@cacapital.org

Ralph "Skip" Masters Procurement Advisor Counselor *Certified VA Verification Counselor Phone: (916) 442-1792 Email Address: rmasters@cacapital.org

Alex McCracken Procurement Counselor Phone: (916) 299-6780 Email Address: amccracken@cacapital.org

James Aldea Procurement Counselor Phone: (916) 442-1729 Email Address: JAldea@cacapital.org

Michael Schremmer Procurement Counselor Phone: (916) 442-1729 Email Address: mschremmer@cacapital.org

Ivor Newman Program Director Phone: (916) 442-1729 Email Address: inewman@cacapital.org

These centers were set up specifically to provide this type of assistance. Procurement Counselors will also help with sam.gov registration. I also recommend that you read provision 55. INSTRUCTIONS FOR https://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/?state=CA https://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/?state=CA http://cacapital.org/ptac/ mailto:JLongobardi@cacapital.org mailto:rmasters@cacapital.org mailto:amccracken@cacapital.org mailto:JAldea@cacapital.org mailto:mschremmer@cacapital.org mailto:inewman@cacapital.org

SUBMISSION OF OFFERS AND OTHER INFORMATION very closely. Follow the general format prescribed for the Technical Proposal and provide all the information requested. If you provide a copy of the solicitation, as amended, to your local PTAC, they will review your draft documents and ensure that you get all the required information submitted.

Proposals are due on the 19th of April at 3 pm PST. Update: new proposal deadline June 2, 2022 at 3:00 pm PDT.

Question: Are there any Limited Operating Periods on the sale? Answer: There are no LOPS.

Question: Is this in Butte county? Answer: Yes, entire project is in Butte County.

Question: Could the USFS lift time restrictions for such things as fire precautions when the work site has lower potential to burn. Answer: The normal fire waiver process would need to be done and we would make the decision on a case-by-case basis. But no assurances that we could make for lifting restrictions at this time. It was noted that bringing extra fire equipment like skidgeons and dozers helps with getting possible variances.

Question: Could the project be broken up into multiple contracts. Answer: This creates increased burden on the agency and is not likely for Berry Brush. Updates in red. Work at the Brush Creek Station was repackaged and solicited as a stand alone requirement under solicitation number 12363N22Q4042. The revised requirement for Berry Brush Stewardship IRSC removed the fire salvage requirement as well as the mandatory timber removal requirement. The USFS will be doing some smaller IRSC contracts after this one including one called Tamarack Chimney IRSC, Gold IRSC and Walker Mine IRSC.