Site_Visit_Q_&_A_4_May_17.pdf

Serve - Maintain - Protect

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

10TH CONTRACTING SQUADRON

USAF ACADEMY COLORADO

4 May 2017

MEMORANDUM OF RECORD FOR 10 CONS

FROM: HEIDI STEIN

10 CONS/PKA

SUBJECT: Forest Health Site Visit Q & A Solicitation FA700017T0043

The following are questions and answers from the site visit conducted on 4 May 2017.

1. What is being done with the 93 acres and where is it? It is located in Jacks Valley (on

USAFA). Overstory thinning will be done throughout the 93 acres by removing mostly smaller trees. There could also be 93 acres of scrub oak that will need to be masticated. 4 inches or less will have to be chipped or masticated on site and can be spread throughout the forest. While the majority of thinning work will be done in Jack’s Valley, there might be a need to treat another area while under this contract. And there are restrictions for when contractors can operate in Jack’s Valley. The majority of the early summer will be off limits and there are certain periods throughout the year when access will be limited.

Specifically, 15 July 2017 – 8 August 2017 contractors will not be able to operation in the Jacks Valley area.

2. What is done with the trees once they are cut? They will be chipped/masticated and spread in a non-landscaped area or trees larger than 4 inches in diameter will need to be hauled to the Natural Resources woodlot on the USAFA. They maybe piled for up to two weeks before being moved to the woodlot.

3. How am I supposed to submit a proposal if I don’t know what you want done? This is a Firm Fixed price contract; therefore, you have to submit and

4. How will trees be marked? Trees will be marked for removal or keep in the thinning areas. If removing hazard or beetle killed trees they will be flagged or marked on a map for the contractor to find.

5. Will trees be removed from a housing area? Not unless they are beetle infested trees.

6. Who monitors the trees? The silvicultural contractor and the Natural Resources office.

They will also provide the list/map of trees to be removed in ten days. But the contractor should be available to monitor the sites they are working in and report any forest health issues.

7. What work needs to be done at Farish? Mortality and hazardous trees.

8. Is there a place to stage equipment? Yes, at the Natural Resources office.

9. Will this be a multiple award contract? No.

10. Can you subcontract? Yes.

11. Can a picture of the hazardous tree be sent when a call is made to remove it? Yes but not often. The USAFA forester will not be available to provide this information in most cases.

Farish will not have a cell phone signal. An adequate description will be given to ensure the correct equipment can be brought to the area.

12. Can trees be staged at Farish? Yes, but will eventually need to be moved to the Natural Resources woodlot on the USAFA.

13. Who is the current contractor and how often does he work? Divide Timber, he works daily and almost all weekends. He is also available on his off times to respond within two hours to hazard tree removal requests.

14. Will ground fuels need to be removed? No, there are not a lot of ground fuels on the 93 acres. But the sites will still need to be masticated based on the projects provisions.

15. What is the current prescription for the Jacks Valley area? 4 inches in diameter and larger taken to the Natural Resources woodlot and the slash to be disposed of by chipping.

16. What are the Priorities for tree removal? This contract focuses on these three priorities:

beetle infected tree removal, hazards, and aesthetics. So we will remove all beetle infested trees to prevent the spread to other trees. Any tree that poses a threat or a hazard will be removed. Also, any dead or dying trees along the roads and other identified developed areas will be removed.

17. Jack’s Valley Treatments look more like a fire break as opposed to forest health treatments. Most studies show that a basal area of 60-80 helps prevent the spread of beetle infestation. That is why this looks thin as compared to forest production sites or other pine plantations.

18. In reference to the trees shown at Jacks Valley, what are the orange markings? Do not remove and Blue is remove.

19. Can you provide area maps for Farish and directions to Farish? Yes. See attached.

20. What if you only have 30 hazardous or beetle infested trees in one year then do I still get the full contracted amount? Yes, you can invoice for the money left on the contract at the end of the period of performance. However, there is a reasonable expectation that there will be 100 hazardous trees. Looking back at past data, the Forest Health Contractor cuts an average of 421 trees per year. This has been decreasing over the years because of improved forest conditions and less beetle killed trees. The highest tree removal year on record is 826 and the lowest is 91. The highest quarter (three month) total of trees removed is 215 and the lowest is 14. As you can see, the work is very sporadic with some very busy months then some very slow months. This year we are on pace to cut approximately 350 trees.

21. For work near roadways are we responsible for traffic safety? Yes, you must post signs and or direct traffic.

HEIDI STEIN

Contract Specialist

Attachments:

Directions to Farish Farish Map