P15PS00007_RFI.docx

P15PS00007 - Requests for Information

1. Can you please provide the sign-in sheet for the site visit that took place on November 10?

The attendance sheet for the Site Visit held on November 10th is included as part of the solicitation addendum.

2. Where do the deliverables listed in Attachment 3 get factored into the Attachment 4. Bid Schedule (e.g., GPS data, plans and documents, data sheets, meetings, photo documentation, as noted in deliverables A.1-3, B.1-3, C.1-3, D.e-3, Final Report, etc.)?

Please see the revised bid schedule.

3. The bid schedule calls for over 81,000 lft of straw waddle and over 193,000 sqft of Erosion matting to be installed but the Statement of Work only vaguely directs the placement and we have found no drawing or maps showing where this material is to be placed or how it is to be placed. Will NPS have a representative on site to direct where and how the material is to be placed? If not how is the contractor to determine placement and installation?

Re-establishment of sheetflow and hydrologic function is the goal and reason for using wattles and jute matting. The contractor will need to assess each work area and re-establish natural hydrologic function, where feasible, and use the wattles and matting if required. The contractor will be responsible to identify such needs and implement best management practices.

4. Can silt sock be used instead of straw waddle?

Possibly, however, what is the source of the silt? NPS would not wish to introduce new materials not native to the sites. Silt would need to be certified weed free and sock would need to be bio-degradable. I could see applications of the silt sock in areas of higher erosion potential and may be more effective than straw and jute.

5. On page 13 of 16, Site Grading and Leveling, #5 states; “Decompaction techniques should generally be considered only in areas of moderately deep or deep valley bottom soils where severe compaction has occurred and natural recovery is predicted to be extremely slow.” Who is to determine if the natural recovery is to be predicted to be extremely slow and what is “extremely slow” vs just slow or normal?

The contractor determines. In general, sites that have a lot of adjacent vegetation may be considered “normal.” Areas devoid of vegetation would be considered slow. This is a seed bank assumption based on best available information at each site. Assumptions will be made by the contractor.

6. On page 9 of 16, General, #16 states that No mechanical treatments will be conducted in Sonoran pronghorn habitat during the fawning season, usually mid-March to mid-July. Sonoran pronghorn habitat occurs in Treatment Priority Zones A, B, and C. Does the habitat encompass all of Zones A, B, and C or just parts? If just parts please delineate.

Pronghorn habitat is in zones A, B, and C as documented over the last 20 years and reflected by signage on Darby Well Road. Zone D is within the signed area but animal sightings are rare in this area. The project funded under interagency agreement (IAA) HSBP1010X00130 will be completed by March 21st and zones A-D will not be affected by the closure period. Zones E, F and G are currently outside the closure zones.

7. Are there any liquidated damages or penalties for not completing the projects by August 7, 2015?

If incomplete by the deadline, the contractor may be assessed $5,000.00 per day August 8 through 31, 2015, thereafter, it will be $10,000.00 a day. If not complete by Sept 15th, the contract may be terminated depending on the circumstances.

8. How much and how often is the contractor required to water salvaged plants?

The contractor will need to assess watering needs based on winter rains, but again, the timing of the project will be dictated by the funding source – after March 21st, there will be no more monetary support for trans- plantings in Zones B, C, and D. Monetary support for trans-plantings in Zoned A, E, F, and G ends August 7, 2015.

9. Is there specifications, directions or instructions on the salvage and replanting of the plants to be salvaged?

Transplants should be rare. The Contractor is responsible for best management practices concerning transplanting. Requirements differ depending on the species. The cactus species specified in the Statement of Work (Organ Pipe Cactus, Night blooming Cereus, and Saguaro cacti) are required to be salvaged and transplanted if they would be damaged during the restoration of a route. As a rule, individuals <4 feet in height are feasible to transplant. Larger individuals should be left in place and the restoration work conducted around these individuals.

10. On page 4 of 16 of the SOW, Figure 2 shows a section of road classified as Class 3 UVR where the section of road has been worn down approximately 12” to 18” below the natural contour of the surrounding terrain. On page 6 of 16, Scope of Services, Class 3 directs the contractor to “…recontoured to meet the undisturbed adjacent grade.” There is not enough material in this area to regrade the section shown in Figure 2 to meet the undisturbed adjacent grade. Is the contractor to import material to fill the area? If so where is the contractor to get the fill?

No, the contractor is not expected to import material to level the grade. There will be some routes where there is not enough natural soil to meet the undisturbed adjacent grade. Wattles placed perpendicular to the route at 150ft (or closer) intervals will aid in capturing sediment over time. If the loss of material is because of erosion, then I would recommend the contractor do what is best for the area with what is available from the site which may be simply grading and leveling as best as possible. This is where the wattles and jute matting would be important to redirect sheet and stream flow to the appropriate pre-road areas which may require some banking using local material. If it’s a large arroyo, preventing the road from becoming the new arroyo may take some engineering (by the contractor) to find the best solution and may require some consultation with the land manager.

11. Is there Tractor Trailer access to all of the Staging Areas?

Primary trailer access to zones A-D staging is Darby Well and Bates Well roads. The contractor needs to be aware that trailer access will be limited depending on the size equipment needed. The access roads are not in good shape, eroded conditions prevail, can be sandy, may have limited steerage pending trailer length, and it is advised the contractor make a pre-con trip to decide what equipment is best to use and how to get it where it needs to be. Access to zones E-G staging is via SR 85 and park roads to the tiger cage – good access till the last few hundred yards, again, advisable for the contractor to review access.

12. On page 13 & 14 of 16 of the SOW #5 states Archeological Observation Government appointed Archeological Monitor will observe all ground-disturbing site work, including construction of temporary facilities, at all archeologically sensitive areas, from a safe location mutually agreed on by Contractor and Monitor. As new ground is broken, Monitor will examine excavated materials, using construction layout centerline and perimeter staking as a reference point to record locations of findings. a) Does this mean that the Monitor will have to examine all grounds disturbed including raking? b) Does the contractor have to establish centerline and perimeter staking for this project? c) Please identify “all archeologically sensitive areas”.

a) The monitor applies to ground disturbance by mechanized equipment. Use of hand tools to move surface soils will not require a monitor.

b) No center line or staking necessary, task is simply to erase the road and establish natural hydrologic function as best as possible.

c) Archaeologically sensitive areas will be identified and avoided.

13. Protected species will be salvaged and transplanted only if less than 4’ a.Is there a watering program outlined or will you look for our expertise to state in proposal?

We are looking for expertise in the proposal.

b.Very few plant species will be relocated making watering programs expensive. Will the DOI accept Dri-water as a substitute?

Dri-water has not been evaluated under the Environmental Assessment, A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) must accompany proposals recommending using dri-water. Transplants should receive an initial deep watering in a created depression to hold water. It is anticipated that throughout the project period, supplemental watering will not be needed more than once or twice. In Zones A, B, C, and D, there will be no supplemental watering after March 7 because the project funding expires in March. In Zone E, F and G there will be no supplemental watering after August 7, 2015.

14.Water is not accessible at staging areas:

a.Can you identify water accessible locations on the master map?

Only water available is from Ajo, maybe Why.

15. Will onsite camping be acceptable?

a. If so, are there designated spots?

Contractor should check with the land managers to confirm, but there are designated camping areas within Cabeza (specific sites and regulations) and Organ Pipe (several group sites and many trailer sites at main campground – no wildland camping). For BLM, check with BLM policy.

b. If not is Ajo the closest area?

Additional camping available in Ajo and Why.

16. Is a Separate SWPPP required? If so what agency will be reviewing for approval of use?

Yes, the contractor is required to develop and implement storm water management measures to protect surface water from pollutants during construction activities disturbing an acre or more in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements for permit approval under the NPDES program.

17. What is the anticipated FONSI approval date?

We do not have an exact FONSI approval date; however, we expect a FONSI will be complete before contract award.

18. Any specific requirements besides bio-degradable for the Jute mat and waddle?

Wattles must be certified weed-free and placed per the label – for erosion control and water direction, wattles and matting may require more stakes if located in a particularly high energy-potential area.