FA309926Q0023 Questions and Answers for North Gate Final.pdf

FA3099-26-Q-0023

Questions and Answers for North Gate – Clear Brush and Tree Removal

Q1: Is the contractor responsible for obtaining and paying for all Union Pacific permits, right-of-entry approvals and railroad flaggers? A: The government will put in the right-of-entry application.

Q2: Will the 30-day performance period begin before or after the required railroad approvals are obtained? A: After Q3: May cleared vegetation be mulched and left onsite, or must all vegetation and debris be removed and disposed of offsite? A: Disposed of offsite Q4: Are tree stumps required to be ground, removed or cut flush with the ground? A: Stump removal is required. It will be ground down to 4” below ground level.

Q5: Is there a maximum tree diameter or height included in the required removal? A: No Q6: Will trees and vegetation that must remain be identified or marked by the Government?

A: There should be no trees in the area being cut Q7: Are herbicide application, grading, seeding or erosion-control measures required? A:

No Q8: Are there any restrictions on equipment access, staging or operating near the railroad?

A: Yes. A flagger is required anywhere within 25’ of the tracks. Equipment cannot be staged within that 25’ either.

Q9: Is contractor access to the installation required at any point? A: No Q10: Please confirm whether the current SAM.gov posting intentionally has no designated small-business set-aside. A: This acquisition is Set-aside 100% small business and is located on the Solicitation FA309926Q0002 SF1449 box 10.

Q11: Please confirm exactly which documents must accompany the lump-sum quotation.

A: Please submit your quoted amount on the Solicitation FA309926Q0002 SF1449 on page 3.

Q12: For pricing, please clarify SOW 3.5 and 3.6: is the contractor responsible for submitting and paying for the Union Pacific ROW application, with physical work prohibited until the permit is fully approved and the Government verifies it? The reference to Government submission and approval being in process appears inconsistent with the full-approval requirement. A: No. The government will have to put in the application, but we will need the contractor’s insurance information.

Q13: Where should quotes be submitted? The solicitation and the SAM notice both state the deadline of 18 September 2026, 4:00 PM Central, but we could not find a submission email address, portal or mailing address in the solicitation, the SOW or the notice. Please confirm the channel and the required format.

A: The points of contact are listed in the description of the SAM posting.

Primary Point of Contact: Contract Specialist: Karina Gloria Phone: (830) 298-5768, Email: Karina.gloria@us.af.mil Alternate Point of Contact: Contracting Officer: Alejandro Alvarado Phone: (830) 298-5992, Email: alejandro.alvarado.3@us.af.mil Please submit your quoted amount on the Solicitation FA309926Q0002 SF1449 on page 3.

Q14: Beyond a priced and signed SF1449 (Blocks 12, 17, 23, 24 and 30), is any other document required for a quote to be considered technically acceptable — for example a technical approach, equipment list, past performance, or evidence of railroad qualification? A: Please submit your quoted amount on Solicitation FA309926Q0002 SF1449 on page 3.

Q15: Block 27a of the SF1449 is marked to indicate that FAR 52.212-3 and 52.212-5 are attached, but neither appears in the solicitation. Should we submit a completed 52.212-3, or will our annual representations in SAM suffice? A: Your representations on SAM will suffice. With the new Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, these clauses are now Reserved.

Q16: SOW paragraph 5.1 specifies removal of woody vegetation "over six (6) inches in diameter," while paragraph 2.0 says "woody vegetation over six (6) inches" without a unit and paragraph 6.1 refers to "all vegetation over six inches." CLIN 0001 is described as "Mow. Brush Removal North Perimeter Fence." Please confirm whether the requirement is

(a) removal of woody stems over six inches in diameter only, or (b) mowing and clearing of all vegetation above roughly six inches in height across the full 5.4 acres. These are very different quantities of work. A: Paragraphs 2.0 and 5.1 are stating that all shrubs, rubbish, and woody vegetation (aka trees or other shrubs) over 6” in diameter are to be removed and disposed of. The entire 5.4 acres will be mowed.

Q17: Attachment A shows a red and blue outline over an aerial image with no scale. Does the 5.4-acre work area consist only of the strip between the railroad and the base perimeter fence, or does it also include the vegetation and treeline on the far (north) side of the tracks? A: the area between the railroad track and the fence line.

Q18: SOW paragraph 6.2 requires the area to be "cleared, leveled, and free of debris." Does "leveled" require grading or earthwork, or is it intended to mean cutting to a uniform height and restoring any ruts? A: no grading required, just cutting to a uniform height and restoring ruts

Q19: SOW paragraph 8.0 requires warranty documentation and manufacturer warranty service calls, and paragraph 11.0 refers to "the installation of all products." Please confirm these do not apply to this vegetation-clearing scope. A: Correct.

Union Pacific right of way

Q20: SOW paragraph 3.5 states that the Contractor is "solely responsible for initiating, preparing, submitting, and managing the Union Pacific Right of Way (ROW) Application," but the same paragraph then says no work begins "until the Government submits the Right of Way Application and approval is in process." Please confirm which party submits the application. A: The government will submit the application but may need inputs from SP such as insurance.

Q21: Paragraph 3.5 permits work to begin once ROW approval is "in process," while paragraph 3.6 requires that no physical work begin until the Government POC verifies receipt of the fully approved permit. Please confirm which condition governs. A: The physical work will not start until the approved right-of-way.

Q22: The Deliveries schedule at page 6 states 30 Work Days from Date of Award, while SOW paragraph 1.0 states 30 business days from the Notice to Proceed. Given that the Union Pacific permit process is outside the Contractor's control, please confirm that the period of performance runs from a Notice to Proceed issued after the ROW permit is approved, rather than from award. A: That is correct.

Q23: Has the Government had any prior contact with Union Pacific regarding this location

— an existing permit, application number, or point of contact — that can be shared with offerors? Is the Government able to state the insurance limits Union Pacific will require for work in the right of way, and the anticipated permit processing time? A: Yes, we’ve done this before. It takes 30-45 days to be processed.

Site conditions and access

Q24: The SAM notice states that installation access will not be necessary. SOW paragraph

3.4 nonetheless requires coordination of access with Security Forces, and the solicitation includes the standard Contractor Access to Air Force Installations clause. Will badges or vehicle passes be required for the work itself, for example to stage equipment or to open a perimeter gate? A: This paragraph was to cover everything in case base access is needed.

At this time, base access is not needed.

Q25: Attachment A notes that the red areas are priority "due to birds nesting adjacent to

Center Runway / Perimeter fence." Will the Government impose any seasonal restriction, nest survey, or Migratory Bird Treaty Act requirement on the timing or method of clearing?

A: Seasonal restrictions on brush clearing and tree removal will be implemented to avoid migratory periods (April - May and September - October). Prior to any clearing activities, the areas will be evaluated by the Installation USDA Wildlife Biologist for any species protected within the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If any concerns about wildlife are encountered during clearing activities, please contact the Laughlin AFB USDA representative at 830-298-5662.

Cyber

Q26: DFARS 252.204-7019 is included in the solicitation. Given that no covered defense information is expected to be processed, stored or transmitted in the performance of this vegetation clearing work, please confirm whether a current NIST SP 800-171 Basic Assessment score posted in SPRS is required as a condition of award for this acquisition.

A: Not required, With the new Revolutionary-DFARS, this clause has been removed but was automatically generated on the solicitation.

Q27: I noticed that your quote does not have a line item for mobilization. Given the high cost of fuel at the moment. Can an additional line item for mobilization be added to the solicitation via an amendment? A: Your quote should include everything needed in order to complete the requirement.

Q28: Do bushes/brush under 6” have to be “grubbed” and “hauled,” or is a brush cutter acceptable with chippings left behind? A: No, chippings cannot be left behind.

Q29: What is the exact length along the fence and railroad where work will be performed?

A: This information is located in the SOW, 1.0

Q30: A prospective performing subcontractor has asked whether vegetation may be mulched and left in place or whether roots and stumps must be removed. We read SOW sections 3.3 and 5.3 as requiring daily off-base debris removal. A: remove vegetation, stumps will be ground down to 4” below ground level

Please confirm that interpretation and specify whether root grubbing or stump removal is required, including depth or permitted finished stump height. A: Stump removal is required.

It will be ground down to 4” below ground level.

Q31: Please also reconcile the 30 business days after notice to proceed in sections 1.0/10.0 with the 30 days after contract modification in section 13.0. Our earlier question tel:(252)%20204-7019 about ROW applicant/permit responsibility remains open; we are not assuming approval or authority to work within the railroad ROW. A: The 30 days for work will be after the government has received an approved right of entry. A NTP will be issued.

Q32: What portion of the approximately 5.4 acres lies within Union Pacific ROW or the railroad foul zone, and for what portion of the work will a Union Pacific flagger/escort be required? A: It all falls within the ROW. Anything more than 25’ away from the tracks does not require a flagger.

Q33: Is flagging required whenever personnel/equipment are anywhere inside the outlined work area, or only when personnel/equipment enter a defined distance from the tracks? A:

A flagger is required for anything within 25’ of the track.

Q34: Please clarify the vegetation-removal standard. Does “over six inches” mean six inches in diameter, six inches in height, or another measurement? Are all shrubs to be removed regardless of diameter? A: Paragraphs 2.0 and 5.1 are stating that all shrubs and rubbish are to be removed. Any woody vegetation over 6” in diameter is also to be removed and disposed of. The entire 5.4 acres will be mowed.

Q35: Does tree removal require stump grinding, stump/root removal, or cutting flush to grade? A: Stump removal is required. It will be ground down to 4” below ground level.

Q36: Please define the required final condition for “cleared, leveled, and free of debris.” Is grading/topsoil restoration, seeding, or erosion control required? A: No grading. All ruts will be filled in, chippings/cuttings will be cleaned up, and all vegetation will be disposed of.