BICY_Sources_Sought_Worksheet_1.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT (MARKET SURVEY):

The National Park Service (NPS) is conducting a market survey to determine the interest and capability of contractors for an emergent upcoming project. All costs associated with providing information in response to this market survey shall be the responsibility of the firm. Any information submitted is voluntary. The Contracting Officer will determine the acquisition strategy determination based on the results of this market survey.

Prime contractors interested in working at Big Cypress National Preserve (hereinafter referred to as

"BICY”), near Naples, Florida. The purpose of the project is to create defensible space around values of special concern, maintain existing fire breaks, install new firebreaks, and to reduce hazardous fuel loading in desired areas within BICY to improve efficiency and safety of future prescribed fire operations as well as future wildfire suppression. Fire exclusion has also allowed for unnatural fuel loading and arrangement that compromise natural cycles, create unhealthy forests, increase the potential for high severity wildfires, and encroachment of invasive species. Mastication for the purpose of this document is defined as “mulching”, “chipping”, “mowing” with the use of heavy equipment equipped with a mastication head. The contractor will provide all labor, materials, tools and other equipment necessary for project. This contract will consist of a base and 4-option years with only the initial Base year funded. The option years are subject to the availability of funds.

The NAICS code for this project is 115310 – Support Activities for Forestry, with a small business size standard of $34M. The Magnitude of the service is anticipated to be more than $500K.

Contractors must be registered as a small business under the listed socio-economic categories in

SAM (System for Award Management) under NAICS code 115310 to be considered/confirmed.

Overview: This project will include all work and labor to complete this work to include

Prime/Subcontracting oversight for Estimated 48-Miles in FY-25/26 and the government anticipates that the work will include the following:

Contractor shall masticate:

Trails

a. Shall masticate all vegetation that falls within the 12’ from center on both sides of the trail except in “leave habitats: and specific “leave trees” as described in “will avoid” section.

b. Shall masticate all Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palm) from top down that falls within the 12’ from center on both sides of the trail.

c. Shall masticate all standing dead trees (snags) that fall within the 10’ from the edge of the trail on both sides of the trail that pose a threat to personnel or cause control issues unless otherwise pre-determined by a BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

d. Shall mow all trails as close to the ground as possible and the full width.

e. Shall be carried out using techniques that minimize permanent alteration to natural hydrology.

f. Stumps will be flush cut; butt ends of logs will be turned away from trails and public areas.

Fire breaks (These areas will be determined by a designated BICY Fire and Aviation employee)

a. Shall masticate all vegetation within a 30’ swath of newly designated temporary fire breaks except in “leave” habitats and specific “leave” trees as described below.

b. Shall masticate all Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palm) from top down that falls within the 30’ swath of temporary fire breaks.

c. Will be carried out using techniques that minimize unnecessary soil compaction, and displacement when operating off trail.

d. Shall masticate all standing dead trees (snags) that fall within the 30’ swath that pose a threat to personnel or cause control issues unless otherwise pre-determined by a BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

e. Stumps will be flush cut; butt ends of logs will be turned away from trails and public areas.

Roads

a. Shall masticate all vegetation within 25’ from the edge of the road on both sides except in “leave” habitats and specific “leave” trees as described below.

b. When a canal or powerlines parallel the road, contractor shall masticate all Sabal palmetto

(Cabbage palm), Saw Palmetto and standing dead trees from top down that are within the edge of the road and the canal or the edge of the road and under powerlines even if that distance is more than 25’ from the edge of the road. Some discretion may be used in areas that are too wet or inaccessible due to low hanging powerlines. These areas will be determined by the BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

c. Shall masticate all standing dead trees (snags) that fall within the 25’ from the edge of the road on both sides that pose a threat to personnel or cause control issues unless otherwise predetermined by a

BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

d. Stumps will be flush cut; butt ends of logs will be turned away from roads and public areas.

Thinning Hazardous Fuels

a. Shall masticate all vegetation that falls the designated project area except in “leave habitats” and specific “leave trees” as described in “will avoid” section.

Contractor will avoid:

a. Masticating hardwood hammocks and cypress forest types unless otherwise instructed by designated BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

b. Leaving large holes or depressions in the ground in the event equipment gets stuck or is operating in soft soil. Contractor will need to repair/fill area to Big Cypress employee’s standards, which will be determined on site after inspection of the damaged area.

c. Leaving wind rowed, stacked, or piled material.

d. Scaring the base of “leave trees” tress while traveling down ORV trails.

e. Masticating live South Florida Slash Pine larger than 6” diameter at breast height (DBH).

f. Masticating more than 12’ from centerline of existing trails except when creating new temporary fire breaks off trail or masticating along improved roads.

g. Shall be limited in width to no more than 30’ for new temporary firebreaks.

Interested firms must complete the following and return by the date and time specified below:

Name of Firm: ____________________________________________

UEI: ____________________________________________

Point of Contact: _____________________________________________

Point of Contact Email: _____________________________________________

1. My firm is interested in and capable of performing this work.

2. My firm is:

a Large Business under NAICS 115310 a Small Business under NAICS 115310

3. My firm is not interested in this requirement.

This market research is being conducted to acquire additional information about potential contractors that may be interested in performing this work. This is not an invitation for bid (IFB) or request for proposal (RFP) and does not constitute any commitment by the Government to issue any solicitation. All interested firms must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Any solicitation that may be issued will be posted on SAM.gov.

All responses must be submitted via email not later than 1700 CDT, July 7, 2025 to Mr.

Stephen Loftus, Contracting Officer, email address: stephen_loftus@NPS.Gov.

Stephen Loftus

Contracting Officer mailto:stephen_loftus@NPS.Gov.

BICY MASTICATION PROJECT

BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

NPS

BICY MASTICATION STATEMENT OF WORK

1.DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The purpose of the project is to create defensible space around values of special concern, maintain existing fire breaks, install new firebreaks, and to reduce hazardous fuel loading in desired areas within

Big Cypress National Preserve (hereinafter referred to as "BICY”) to improve efficiency and safety of future prescribed fire operations as well as future wildfire suppression. Fire exclusion has also allowed for unnatural fuel loading and arrangement that compromise natural cycles, create unhealthy forests, increase the potential for high severity wildfires, and encroachment of invasive species. Mastication for the purpose of this document is defined as “mulching”, “chipping”, “mowing” with the use of heavy equipment equipped with a mastication head.

2. PROJECT LOCATION AND SITE INFORMATION

Project Location

The BICY mechanical mastication project area consists of multiple burn units and preserve boundaries within BICY, which is approximately 30 air miles from the city of Naples, Florida. Individual project areas are in various sites within BICY’s administrative boundary and will vary based on management priorities, funding, completed compliance and resource availability. *More project areas may be added as they are approved through compliance*. The map included represents all potential project areas. Updated Maps will be generated and made available to the contractor as areas are approved through compliance. The project area is accessed by multiple road and trail systems. Some project areas are very remote and will require long travel distances of the mastication machinery due to limited access for transport vehicles.

This should be taken into consideration during the work planning and bidding process.

The Public Land Survey System was utilized to identify the four corners of the BICY mastication project area. *This is not an exact location description of the project areas* This is a description of the 4 corners of the Big Cypress National Preserve’s boundary only. Refer to the map provided for exact project locations. The principal meridian for the Public Land Survey System is the Tallahassee meridian.

NE Corner - Township 49 South, Range 34 East, Section 1

NW Corner - Township 49 South, Range 30 East, Section 5

SE Corner - Township 56 South, Range 35 East, Section 6

SW Corner - Township 53 South, Range 29 East, Section 24

Site Information

Southwest Florida has a wet and a dry season. This will affect the type of equipment needed to access and work in most areas. A sight visit is highly recommended to ensure the contractor has the equipment needed to complete the required work.

During the wet season (July – October), standing water is present in all grass prairies and cypress forests; some pinelands may become inundated for short durations. *This can make access extremely difficult as the trails may become completely submerged in water. Some trails have deep holes that can reach up to 6’ in depth making areas inaccessible.

Additionally, strong afternoon lightning storms are common and can make remote field work hazardous*.

During the winter transition season (November – February), water levels begin to recede as the rainy season tapers off in October. Trails will remain muddy during this time and can make access difficult.

During the dry season (March – May), water may be absent from all vegetation types and all fuels are available to burn, including organic material. The deepest interior portions of grass prairies and cypress forests may continue to hold water.

During the summer transition season (May – July), the water levels begin to rise in the grass prairies and cypress forests.

3.SPECIFIC WORK REQUIREMENTS

These estimates may vary depending on unit priorities, completed compliance, touch up work on roll over units and newly identified fire breaks. Additionally, these numbers do not account for “leave areas” such as cypress and hardwood forest types as well as open areas i.e., prairies lacking the need for mastication.

Contractor shall masticate:

Trails

a. Shall masticate all vegetation that falls within the 12’ from center on both sides of the trail except in “leave habitats: and specific “leave trees” as described in “will avoid” section.

b. Shall masticate all Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palm) from top down that falls within the 12’ from center on both sides of the trail.

Estimated Miles

FY-25/26 ~48

c. Shall masticate all standing dead trees (snags) that fall within the 10’ from the edge of the trail on both sides of the trail that pose a threat to personnel or cause control issues unless otherwise pre-determined by a BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

d. Shall mow all trails as close to the ground as possible and the full width.

e. Shall be carried out using techniques that minimize permanent alteration to natural hydrology.

f. Stumps will be flush cut; butt ends of logs will be turned away from trails and public areas.

Fire breaks (These areas will be determined by a designated BICY Fire and Aviation employee)

a. Shall masticate all vegetation within a 30’ swath of newly designated temporary fire breaks except in “leave” habitats and specific “leave” trees as described below.

b. Shall masticate all Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palm) from top down that falls within the 30’ swath of temporary fire breaks.

c. Will be carried out using techniques that minimize unnecessary soil compaction, and displacement when operating off trail.

d. Shall masticate all standing dead trees (snags) that fall within the 30’ swath that pose a threat to personnel or cause control issues unless otherwise pre-determined by a BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

e. Stumps will be flush cut; butt ends of logs will be turned away from trails and public areas.

Roads

a. Shall masticate all vegetation within 25’ from the edge of the road on both sides except in

“leave” habitats and specific “leave” trees as described below.

b. When a canal or powerlines parallel the road, contractor shall masticate all Sabal palmetto

(Cabbage palm), Saw Palmetto and standing dead trees from top down that are within the edge of the road and the canal or the edge of the road and under powerlines even if that distance is more than 25’ from the edge of the road. Some discretion may be used in areas that are too wet or inaccessible due to low hanging powerlines. These areas will be determined by the BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

c. Shall masticate all standing dead trees (snags) that fall within the 25’ from the edge of the road on both sides that pose a threat to personnel or cause control issues unless otherwise pre-determined by a BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

d. Stumps will be flush cut; butt ends of logs will be turned away from roads and public areas.

Thinning Hazardous Fuels

a. Shall masticate all vegetation that falls the designated project area except in “leave habitats:

and specific “leave trees” as described in “will avoid” section.

Contractor will avoid:

a. Masticating hardwood hammocks and cypress forest types unless otherwise instructed by designated BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

b. Leaving large holes or depressions in the ground in the event equipment gets stuck or is operating in soft soil. Contractor will need to repair/fill area to Big Cypress employee’s standards, which will be determined on site after inspection of the damaged area.

c. Leaving wind rowed, stacked, or piled material.

d. Scaring the base of “leave trees” tress while traveling down ORV trails.

e. Masticating live South Florida Slash Pine larger than 6” diameter at breast height (DBH).

f. Masticating more than 12’ from centerline of existing trails except when creating new temporary fire breaks off trail or masticating along improved roads.

g. Shall be limited in width to no more than 30’ for new temporary firebreaks.

Additional mastication requirements

Residual masticated vegetative debris resulting from Contractor’s operations shall lie flat on the ground and generally not exceed 12 inches in depth. No masticated or cut material shall accumulate against leave trees. Chips, chunks, or shredded woody material shall not be concentrated into piles. No individual pieces of slash or vegetative debris shall be greater than 4’ in length. All boles or pieces up to

5 inches in diameter shall be masticated. Any cut/masticated vegetation falling into roads, road banks, trails shall immediately be removed. Slash created during mastication will not be stacked or wind rowed.

Mastication will be accomplished with machines which shall meet the following requirements:

Contractor must provide at least one Low-Ground Pressure (LGP) tracked excavator platform with boom mounted masticator head, one tracked skid steer with masticator and mowing head attachment.

Machine width should not exceed 11’ in total width to travel down off-road vehicles (ORV) trails without damaging “leave trees”. Some “leave trees” may need to be removed by Contractor for access of machines. These areas of exception will be identified by the Contractor and a determination on how to proceed will be made by a designated BICY Fire and Aviation employee in collaboration with a representative from the BICY Resource Management Division. Wheeled vehicles are not recommended and may not be excepted.

The project maps are intended to show the general shape and location of the work areas. The map is not intended to be accurate as to precise location and dimensions of work area.

Some work areas are very remote limiting the ability for service/fuel vehicles to access the equipment.

Travel on ORV trails will require four-wheel drive vehicles that meet the BICY ORV standards i.e., ATV, UTV, swamp buggy. These standards can be found at ORV permit guidelines - Big Cypress National

Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov). Due to travel time, the Contractor may choose to leave equipment in place overnight. Contractor will be responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged equipment while equipment is under contract. Contractor will be responsible for communicating the location of all equipment within the preserve when requested to a designated BICY Fire and Aviation employee in the event of a wildfire or prescribed fire. Transportation to and from operators’ vehicle will need to be provided by the Contractor. This transportation will need to meet the ORV requirements set by BICY.

Within the general work area, the COR may exclude from payment non-work areas which exceed one half mile such as: areas void of targeted/fire prone vegetation types, “leave” forest types such as cypress, or other special areas such as areas containing values of special concern.

Work restrictions:

Public Awareness All Units

The area will remain open to the public during this time. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure public safety around operating equipment and always maintain public access on designated trails.

All Contract Areas Normal Operating Season: Whenever environmental conditions allow. For the entire project area, no ground disturbing operations shall be allowed when weather conditions dictate restrictions. These conditions will be determined by a designated BICY Fire and Aviation employee.

Equipment may operate on designated trails when soils are dry enough to limit extensive damage to trial systems. Low ground pressure equipment may operate from designated trails when soils are dry enough to limit soil disturbance and extensive resource damage when installing “new firebreaks” only. The soils restrictions apply to all equipment operating on this contract. The COR will be responsible for monitoring soil conditions.

The Contracting Officer may specify the priority of work by item (unit), without additional cost. Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except during the following conditions:

a. When the COR determines that adverse weather has made access or project work unacceptable, too dangerous or ground damaging, or continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road/trail damage.

b. Values of special concern in the project area will be flagged in red. If new sites are found by the

Contractor, stop work in the vicinity of the finding and notify COR as soon as feasible.

5. SCHEDULING AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Scheduling

Scheduling or prioritizing specific work locations will be determined by a pre-determined BICY employee based on the prescribed burn units as well as compliance completion. As areas are cleared through compliance the contractor will be notified by the BICY employee and will be expected to masticate those areas in that specific order. This is due to prescribed burn season and the order in which the fire program plans to burn those units.

Period Of Performance

Mastication work will start on 10/1/2025 and needs to be completed by 10/1/2029. This will be a 5-year option contract.

6. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Contractor Quality Control Inspection System

The Contractor shall identify the quality control inspection system it will use to ensure that contract specifications will be achieved. At no time shall the Contractor rely upon Government inspections to provide notification of unsatisfactory performance. The Contractor may be required to produce written inspection records in a format and at times and places satisfactory to the Contracting Officer. Inspection records shall be made available upon request of the COR and be maintained until the date of contract closure. The COR may observe the Contractor's inspection at any time and shall otherwise have unlimited access to the inspection data.

Quality Control Plan

The Contractor shall provide a general Quality Control Plan (QCP) with the technical proposal. The

Contractor shall supplement the QCP within 7 days before start work based on items awarded to the

Contractor and Government comments. The Contractor shall conduct quality control inspections on all aspects of work. The field inspections shall be performed on each item listed.

The general QCP must demonstrate how the Contractor will assure quality meets the requirements and specifications of the contract. The Plan shall describe how quality will be monitored to assure the performance standards are met, the supervision of crew and work, and personnel that will be performing the quality control. Quality control shall include monitoring quality while work is in progress, residual tree care and other associated tasks, an unbiased sample of:

Mastication for all Work Items

a. Size and distribution of material after mastication

b. Height of stumps after mastication

c. Width of mastication from center of trail and roads

d. No live pines greater than 6” DBH cut

e. No “leave’’ forest types masticated

6.1 Inspection Procedures

Government inspections

Government inspections may be by work observation, measurement by pacing, tape, ocular estimation, and progress of work over time. The Government will accept a unit when all work has been completed and all work specifications have been met.

Specific Inspection Procedures

Inspection of site

Each inspection site will be randomly selected. A final inspection from the site will determine:

a. Size and distribution of material after mastication

b. Height of stumps after mastication

c. Leave trees with no contractor-created damage

d. Mastication of small pines under 6” DBH (no less than 12’ from center of trail)

e. Mastication of Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palm) within desired distance from trail (no less than 12’ from center of trail)

f. Mastication of all standing dead trees regardless of size within desired distance from trail (no less than 12’ from center of trail)

7.Traffic Control Plan

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, when Contractor’s Operations are in progress adjacent to or on

National Park Service controlled roads and trails open to public travel, Contractor shall furnish, install, and maintain all temporary traffic controls that provide the user with adequate warning of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions associated with Contractor’s Operations. Contractor and BICY representative shall agree to a specific Traffic Control plan for each individual project prior to commencing operations. Devices shall be appropriate to current conditions and shall be covered or removed when not needed.

8. Protection Measures Needed for Plants, Animals and Cultural Resources

Areas, known by BICY staff prior to contract solicitation, needing special measures for the protection of plants, animals and cultural resources will be identified on the ground, and shall be treated as follows:

a. Contractor shall conduct operations in a manner that does not damage or disturb identified areas. If protective measures identified by the National Park Service are for any reason inadequate, Contracting Officer may delay or interrupt Contractor’s operations, under this contract, and/or modify this contract. Contractor shall immediately notify the designated BICY employee if its operations disturb or damage any area identified as needing special protection and shall immediately halt its operations in the vicinity of such area until the designated BICY employee authorizes continued operations. If Contractor's operations disturb or damage an area identified as needing special protection, then Contractor shall reimburse the National Park

Service for the full cost and expense of any evaluative and remedial measures undertaken by the National Park Service in connection with such disturbance or damage. Such payment shall not relieve Contractor from civil or criminal liability under applicable law.

b. Following task order solicitation, additional areas needing special measures for protection may be discovered or identified; protective measures may be revised or newly prescribed; and additional species of plants and/or animals may be added to federal lists of protected species. In such event, Contracting Officer may delay or interrupt Contractor’s Operations, under this contract, and/or modify this contract.

c. Discovery, by either the Contractor or the designated BICY employee, of additional areas, resources, species, or members of species needing special protection shall be promptly reported to the other party.

Protection of Residual Trees

Contractor's Operations shall not unnecessarily damage cypress trees or other trees to be reserved i.e., live South Florida Slash Pine over 6” DBH.

9.Sanitation and Servicing

Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent pollution of air, soil, and water by

Contractor’s Operations. If facilities for employees are established on Contract Area, they shall be operated in a sanitary manner. If Contractor’s Operations or servicing of equipment result in pollution to soil or water, Contractor shall conduct cleanup and restoration of the polluted site to the satisfaction of

National Park Service.

Contractor shall maintain all equipment operating on Contract Area in good repair and free of abnormal leakage of lubricants, fuel, coolants, and hydraulic fluid. Contractor shall not service tractors, trucks, or other equipment on National Park Service lands where servicing is likely to result in pollution to soil or water. Contractor shall furnish oil-absorbing mats for use under all stationary equipment or equipment being serviced to prevent leaking or spilled petroleum-based products from contaminating soil and water resources. Contractor shall remove from National Park Service lands all contaminated soil, vegetation, debris, vehicle oil filters (drained of free-flowing oil), batteries, oily rags, and waste oil resulting from use, servicing, repair, or abandonment of equipment.

Prevention of Oil Spills

If Contractor maintains storage facilities for oil or oil products on Contract Area, Contractor shall take appropriate preventive measures to ensure that any spill of such oil or oil products does not enter any stream or other waters of the United States or any of the individual States.

If the total oil or oil products storage exceeds 1,320 gallons in containers of 55 gallons or greater, Contractor shall prepare a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan. Such plan shall meet applicable EPA requirements (40 CFR 112), including certification by a registered professional engineer.

Contractor shall notify COR and appropriate agencies of all reportable (40 CFR 110) spills of oil or oil products on or in the vicinity of Contract Area that are caused by Contractor’s employee’s agents, contractors, Subcontractors, or their employees or agents, directly or indirectly, as a result of

Contractor’s Operations. Contractor will take whatever initial action may be safely accomplished to contain all spills.

Hazardous Substances

Contractor shall notify the National Response Center and COR of all releases of reportable quantities of hazardous substances on or in the vicinity of Contract Area that are caused by Contractor’s employees, agents, Subcontractors or their employees or agents, directly or indirectly, as a result of Contractor’s

Operations, in accordance with 40 CFR 302.

Equipment Cleaning

To prevent the spread of noxious weeds into the Contract Area, Contractor shall be required to clean any equipment that will be traveling on ORV trails prior to entry on to the Contract Area. This cleaning shall remove all soil, plant parts, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Only equipment so cleaned will be allowed to operate within the Contract Area. All subsequent move-ins of equipment to the Contract Area shall be treated in the same manner as the initial move in.

"Off-road equipment" includes all machinery, service vehicles, water trucks, pickup trucks, cars, ATV’s, UTV’s and similar vehicles.

Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure that off-road equipment is free of noxious weeds. Equipment shall be considered free of soil, seed, and other such debris when a visual inspection does not disclose such material. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools is not required.

Unless otherwise agreed, Contractor shall give the designated BICY employee at least 24 hours’ notice when equipment is ready for inspection. Notification will include an agreed upon location where the equipment will be available for inspection by the designated BICY employee.

New infestations of noxious weeds, of concern to National Park Service and identified by either

Contractor or BICY employee, on the Contract area, shall be promptly reported to the other party.

Contractor and designated BICY employee shall agree on treatment methods to reduce or stop the spread of noxious weeds when new infestations are found. A current list of noxious weeds of concern to

National Park Service is available at The Park Service office.

Wetlands Protection

Vehicular or large equipment shall not be used off trail or off road in wetlands, except where roads, landings, and tractor roads are approved by the Contracting Officer.

10. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED CRITICAL ITEMS

The Contractor shall provide all labor, housing, supervision, transportation, tools, and material (except

Government-furnished Property) necessary to perform the requirements of the contract.

11. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government may deliver to the Contractor materials, supplies, property, and/or services

(hereinafter referred to as "Government-furnished property"). The Contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of such Government-furnished property until completion and final acceptance of all work required under the contract. The Contractor shall sign a Transfer of Government property receipt upon acceptance of Government-furnished property.

12. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE

This information will be provided to the contractor once awarded.