B08_Solicitation_Attachment_3_SOW.pdf

Solicitation 140P8526Q0089

Statement of Work

Packing Services – Tehipite Valley Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

The National Park Service (NPS) has several work projects scheduled in Tehipite Valley in 2026 In support of the Kings Canyon Trail Crew: camp gear, food, tools, and other material will be packed in by Pack Animals to wilderness camp locations along the Middle Fork of the Kings River. The duration of pack support under this contract will be based on snow levels, and access to backcountry camp locations, weekly crew needs, and project scheduling. It is anticipated that between 8 to 10 pack animals will be needed for camp mobilizations and 4 to 6 pack animals will be needed once a week for camp resupplies. Work will be based on snow levels, and access to backcountry camp locations, weekly crew needs, and project scheduling.

Due to the remote location of many wilderness camps some locations may require multi-day trips with overnight stays in the wilderness. For each trip the contractor must factor this into their quote. The actual dates are flexible, but the project duration will be approximately: Date of award to mid- September.

The Contractor is to supply all animals, tack, pack equipment, packing tools, veterinary and farrier care, vehicle transport, stock packing personnel, livestock feed, and all other items needed for performing all the work outlined in this contract. When overnight stays are required, the Contractor must be able to supply their own bedding, food, and shelter for their packers staying in backcountry locations.

• All Contractors traveling in or overnighting in Kings Canyon National Park will follow the SEKI wilderness, camping and stock use requirements. Specifically, SEKI group size limits, camping restrictions, and grazing regulations. These regulations can be found at http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/stockuse.htm

• When overnight trips are required, the cost will reflect multi-day round trips.

• Payment will be made on a Per-Packer-Day and Per-Pack Animal-Day basis; see the price sheet provided in Attachment 2, “Instructions, Provisions and Clauses”.

• A single Packer may lead up to 6 Pack Animals on a given trip. For 1-6 Pack Animals to be worked, one packer will be billed; for 7-10 Pack Animals worked, two packers will be billed; for 11-15 Pack Animals, three packers will be billed.

• One Pack Animal may carry up to 120 pounds of material packed to a destination, with or without a contracted load on the return trip, two Pack Animals will carry no less than 121 pounds and no more than 240 pounds, and so on. (Example: 240 pounds of material packed on two animals to destination and 100 pounds packed back on one animal for the return trip would be billed as two Packer-Days and four Pack Animal-Days.)

• Pack trips may be contracted to deliver loads to any location in the contract area that are legally accessible to Pack Animals. Camp delivery locations are typically within 200 yards of the maintained trails to established camps. Materials, tools or supply deliveries may be contracted for any point along the trail.

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/stockuse.htm

• The NPS will communicate with Contractor to establish appropriate drop-off and pick-up locations.

• Additional days, alternate locations, trips, or animals can be negotiated between the Contractor and the C.O.R. (Contracting Officer’s Representative) dependent upon changing needs and will follow the Per-Packer Day/Per- Pack Animal Day cost agreed upon by the granting of the contract and the Contractor’s availability or capability to provide additional services.

• Grazing may or may not be available for Pack Animals; depending on SEKI meadow restrictions and other grazing that has occurred during the open grazing period. Upon request, and on a trip-by-trip basis, the C.O.R. will inform the contractor about the availability of grazing or current restrictions. If grazing is limited or not available, extra packing will be contracted to pack feed at a rate of 15 Pounds of feed Per-Pack-Animal-Per-Night.

• The NPS will estimate pack trips at least one week in advance. At the time of scheduling, the NPS will specify the expected wilderness delivery location, the estimated number of Packers and Pack Animals needed (plus or minus one Pack Animal).

• No single item to be packed will be longer than 5 Feet, with the possible exceptions of shovels and telescoping pole saws. No single item will be heavier than 60 pounds (e.g. a sack of Portland cement).

• Tools and supplies will be identified by the NPS crew through paper lists in hand or InReach text communication in a timely manner to the Contractor before the weekly resupply.

• The Contractor will be responsible for transporting a weekly grocery list (as necessary) from camp locations after resupply and for delivering the food order in a timely manner to a NPS representative. The appropriate email addresses/phone numbers will be provided.

• The NPS will not be able to provide staging areas in the front country. The Contractor will be expected to receive tools, equipment, fuel, food, and mail for contracted trips at agreed upon locations or Pack Stations before each pack trip. All items for delivery will be brought to the contractor at a reasonable time the day before the resupply.

• The contractor is responsible for safely and appropriately storing food in sanitized and secure containers (freezer/refrigerators/coolers/ice) for perishable goods in the interim time between grocery delivery and camp resupply.

• The contractor will be responsible for building loads of mail, tools, equipment, fuel, and food at their facilities before each pack trip, and for storing the food until it reaches its final wilderness destination.

• Locations other than Gnat meadow to which loads will be delivered will require overnight travel.

Trips to Tehipete Valley and resupplies east of Tehipite Valley will be considered “two-day” round trips as outlined on the map. If more days are needed as camp moves farther up the Middle Fork trail travel can be negotiated between the vendor and the COR and will continue to follow the Per-packer Per-day/Per-animal Per-day cost agreed upon in the price sheet.

Price Sheet:

• Contractors are required to submit their bids on a Per-Packer-Day and Per-Pack Animal-Day basis as a flat rate for each line item.

• Line item for Packer Day Fee includes the Packer’s Riding Animal

• Resupplies must be taken into remote areas of the Kings Canyon Wilderness and may require overnight camping in backcountry locations.

• All Contractors will be expected to record meadow use nights and adhere to SEKI Meadow open/close dates and grazing restrictions.

• Grazing may not be available at all overnight locations, vendor must bid on estimated feed needed to be packed in to support mob/demob and resupplies, additional animals needed to carry feed should be included in the bid line item below.

It is anticipated that there will be up to 1 one day resupply, 8 two-day resupplies and up to 5 crew/camp de/mobilizations to support the Kings Canyon trail crew under this contract, 8 additional days will be identified for unexpected additional days to account for changes in plans.

Vendors are to use the bid sheet below to submit their pricing for the daily cost of Packers and Pack Animals.

Packer and Pack Animal Requirements

• 38 Packer Days

• 225 Pack Animal Days

• 24 bags of feed

**Please see Attachment Two, Page 3 of “Instructions, Provisions, and Clauses” to complete the price sheet.