Question and Answers to ESRF Northern Spotted OWL RFP.pdf

Question and Answers to ESRF Northern Spotted OWL RFP S-14100-00015610

1. The price evaluation criteria on page 14 conflicts with the table on page 15 (30 to 25 points). I assume the table is correct. If the table is correct will the point drops follow a similar method?

This category to add up to 25, the lowest bid will get 15 points, second lowest 10 points and third would get 5 points.

2. The language in column 1 of the table on page 15 makes it appear as though the larger and older the company (and thus more seasons/projects) the more points will be awarded? I may be reading too much into this but this section is heavily weighted above all others and if points were awarded similarly to price scale only the 2 largest companies would likely remain, I assume this is rated more on a graduated scale with points possible from 0 to 35 and not necessarily a ranked scale with a loss of points to 0 after 3 as in the price scale? Could you possibly elaborate on that? Again, not trying to read too much into it, just seeking clarification.

Confirming that category #1 for the evaluation will be "rated more on a graduated scale with points possible from 0 to 35 and not necessarily a ranked scale with a loss of points to 0 after 3 as in the price scale."

Any and all proposers may score between 0 and 35 points. Zero points will be awarded for those not demonstrating experience of successful work of same or similar spotted owl survey projects and up to 35 for fully demonstrating that same or similar spotted owl work has been accomplished successfully.

Note that specifying successful number of individual projects, acreage and survey seasons will be utilized for evaluation. A vendor that only has one season of similar work on a smaller scale in a different geographic area does not warrant a score of 35, whereas a vendor demonstrating multiple seasons across similar or larger survey areas including the Oregon coast range will accordingly score higher.

3. It appears that the minimum requirements for the project manager/field coordinator position have changed significantly from the original solicitation. Can you please explain the rationale behind this change? We have never seen a minimum requirement (coordination of at least 4 previous NSO projects with 5 or more subordinates) for any previous NSO project in the State of Oregon before (BLM, State, or Other). Is the State amenable using the minimum requirement language in the original RFP (coordination of at least 4 previous field projects with 5 or more subordinates)?

To meet the needs of the Elliott State Research Forest, it is imperative that the field coordinator be well experienced with leading northern spotted owl survey work. This is why the updated RFP gives preference to vendors who have demonstrated leadership experience on a minimum of four similar spotted owl survey projects. This requirement may be met with four concurrent projects, four consecutive seasons of the same project or some other combination of experience so long as they are similar in size and scope. Alternatively, more than four individual spotted owl projects with fewer subordinate staff may be considered if the experience can be directly compared for evaluation. Clearly demonstrate how the successful management and oversight of multiple projects are equivalent or how they can be considered similar in size and scope of combined spotted owl survey experience. As example, three seasons of similar sized spotted owl project leadership along with one season of leading a smaller spotted owl project, while concurrently overseeing marbled murrelet surveys of a similar size could be considered for evaluation.

4. Can you clarify what DSL would like to see for pricing? The price schedule appears to be unchanged from the original solicitation. Based on previous conversations with DSL about pricing for the previous proposal, it was clear that DSL wanted to see a higher level of detail and more information in terms of pricing than what was presented in the original RFP and what is in the current price sheet/table. Can DSL provide an amended Price Schedule/Table for prospective contractors to fill out? Typical federal and state NSO RFP including a price schedule that includes an item name, price per item, expected number of items for the contract, total price per item, and total bid price.

The pricing schedule did not change from the original RFP and can be found on pages 11 and 12 of the RFP, but needs to be amended.

After more closely assessing the workload needs, it was determined that the Walk-in Surcharge is too rough of an estimate of the potential effort necessary for this deliverable. Instead, time required to access survey stations will be compensated at the cost of four survey station visits per hour, or the price of one calling station visit per 15 minutes spent. The walk-ins will be verified using GPS track logs and as well as survey visit data forms. All walk-ins with additional cost above the station visit price will be discussed with Forest Biologist and approved prior to invoice submission. Any survey stations requiring less than 15 minutes of hiking or road walking for access will be billed at the normal rate unless otherwise approved by Forest Biologist prior to invoicing.

Roughly 20% of survey stations will require walk-in to access, but there is no way to estimate the time that will be required by individual surveyors. To simplify, combine station visit surveys and walk-ins and omit Walk-in surcharge in price schedule.

The price schedule should be based upon the following fixed price deliverables (estimated workload quantitates provided):

Activity Center Searches: 22 Calling Station Visit: (665 stations X six visits, plus additional 400 for walk-in compensation): 4,400 Walk-in Surcharge: See note above.

Daytime follow up visits for NSO or STXX detections:15 Season end annual summary report: 1 Data Entry for Visit Form: 4,050 ARU 6-week deployment of DSL provided equipment: 12 ARU 6-week deployment of contractor provided equipment: 0 ARU data processing: 12