Amend_1_-_Attach_1_-_Answers_to_Questions_F15PS01096.pdf

Amendment 1 RFP No. F15PS01096

Answers to questions received:

1) Approximately how many miles of fenceline will be brushed? And, will some of these areas be remote?

a. There are approximately 45 miles of fencelines within the Hakalau Forest Unit and 17 miles of fencelines within the Kona Forest Unit. Some of these fence can be accessed by road, however in the lower units of Hakalau Forest it would require some hiking to get to the fencelines.

2) How often will fencelines need to be brushed?

a. At this time we don’t foresee this being a routine activity for the contractor to perform.

Currently, we have other parties that are responsible for brushing the fencelines within the Refuge. Only a substantial break in service by the other party would lead us to employ this contract for such duties. In the unlikely event, the contractor would be notified and activities coordinated well in advance of any added duties.

3) Is the contractor responsible for rapid response actions to brush fencelines during natural events like storms?

a. Again, we currently have another party that is responsible for the fencelines within the

Refuge; however, in the unlikely event of a break in service by the other party we may employ this contract to perform such duties. We would let the contractor know well in advance if there was a break in service and if there was an expectation for the contractor to provide this type of service during this break.

4) For English holly, the current herbicide solution is 20% Garlon 4 or Element 4 + Crop-oil + Turf-trax dye and has shown to be effective. The RFP states that 60% Garlon 4 or Element 4 will be used. Is this correct?

a. 20% is currently being used in the field and is showing high efficacy. We will continue with this percentage unless 20% is shown to be ineffective.

5) What percent of the work will occur at the Kona refuge? And, is there an estimated percentage focus for each target weed species of blackberry, holly, and gorse (i.e. blackberry = 50%, holly = 30%, gorse = 20%).

a. It will be between 0-5% of the time at the Kona Refuge. These would be discrete projects only and only when funding was targeted for the Kona Forest Unit. Currently, we have no funding to provide this type of service in Kona, but would like to include all NWR lands in this contract in the event that we do get this type of funding.

b. In Kona, we would target different weed species than what are typically seen at the Hakalau Unit. Methodology would be similar to what has been described in the SOW for both chemical and mechanical methods; however, herbicide type and concentration may be different.

c. At the Hakalau Unit, the estimated percentage for each target weed at this time is 50% holly and 50% blackberry.