SOW Cone Needle Pollen Collection BPA.docx

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STATEMENT OF WORK

REGION 05 CONE, NEEDLE, AND POLLEN COLLECTION AND TESTING BPA

DESCRIPTION/ SPECIFICATIONS/ STATEMENT OF WORK

Scope of Work

The purpose of this solicitation is to secure commercial services for tree cone, needle, pollen, and other specimen collection and testing within scope, in the California Region as prescribed by the terms of this agreement.

The Forest Service needs the following services to restore and reforest government lands in California.

The resulting Blanket Purchase Agreement will include services for tree climbing, slingshot/shooting, use of mechanical lift truck and picking from felled trees for the collection of a variety of specimens from a variety of species in accordance with all safety requirements for such work as directed by the Government.

When collection services are required, the Government will issue a Call (order under the BPA) identifying the location, line items and quantities, and the period of performance for services/collections required. Due to unstable and unforeseeable environmental conditions, the Government is not always able to determine needs until it is closer to the suitable conditions varying by location and species. The projects will be time- sensitive. Specimens collected are perishable and will be required to be treated with great care. The Government anticipates recurring requirements but cannot predetermine the precise requirements during the agreement period.

All samples collected under the provisions of this contract are and shall remain the property of the Government.

Contractor Responsibility:

The Contractor shall furnish all technical expertise, professional certifications, licenses, labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies and incidentals necessary to complete the project, except for that which the RFQ or Contract states is to be furnished by the Government. This includes all items, labor or equipment needed to perform all necessary work to select trees (if required), and to pick, bag, label and deliver collections to the delivery point. All equipment and personal protective equipment shall meet or exceed OSHA specifications.

Project Location & Description

Location:

· California Service Area #1: Klamath, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests

· California Service Area #2: Eldorado, Plumas, Tahoe, Inyo, Sierra, Sequoia, Stanislaus National Forests and the Lake Tahoe basin Management Unit.

· California Service Area #3: San Bernardino, Cleveland, Angeles and Los Padres National Forests

· Also Includes Seed Zones which fall within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Accessibility:

1. Generally, work areas may be reached by forest roads which are accessible by standard two-wheel drive pick-up (with snow tires and chains, if needed) during normal operating seasons. The Forest Service assumes no obligation to plow snow or do special maintenance to keep roads open.

2. Inaccessibility due to snow, fallen trees, slides, or washouts on roads may or may not be corrected at the option of the Government.

3. No vehicles will be permitted to operate off roads without approval of the Contracting Officer.

4. More specific information on access roads and conditions may be provided at the Call level.

Project Description

1. There will always be a Forest Service COR or inspector with the Contractor during contract work.

2. Most trees to be climbed are within 500 feet of a road.

3. Trees to be climbed are of varying size and diameter.

4. Trees/stands will be preselected before the start of the contract. The climber can assess trees for safety.

5. Genetically superior trees are preselected and have known locations.

6. The work schedule will be subject to change depending upon maturity of cones, weather, and other unforeseeable factors. Work may cease for periods of time due to cones not being adequately ripe.

7. Bushels collected are to meet the greatest need of the seed bank. Due to this, various elevation bands will be identified for sampling. Within elevation bands, diversity is best met with collection from MULTIPLE stands. Therefore, the government may choose to cease collection within a stand and move to a new stand or elevation band. This may occur even if there are large quantities of cones remaining.

Restrictions on Work

Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as outlined here. Restrictions are as follows:

1. In accordance with the fire plan, if included.

2. When the Contracting Officer (or designated representative) determines that adverse weather has made access too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

3. Further restrictions may be imposed on individual Calls as needed.

Maps Forest maps can be obtained from the individual forests through their websites. Access to these websites can be obtained thru the Washington Office website (www.fs.fed.us). Maps are general in nature and are not to be considered as definitively identifying locations. Detailed maps and motor logs for some tree locations may be provided with Calls.

Licenses and Insurance

The contractor shall obtain the insurance and licenses listed here. If the contractor fails to provide the documentation within 10 calendar days after contract time begins, the contract may be terminated for cause in accordance with FAR 52.212-4.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance: The Contractor shall provide evidence of Worker’s Compensation Insurance or a valid reason that exempts the Contractor from the requirement. NOTE: The Contractor working alone is not required to carry the insurance.

Technical Requirements

Definitions Branch Hook: Long-handled device used to pull limbs into the bole of the tree, so that the climber can safely pick cones without damaging the tree. A minimum 6-foot length is required.

Branch Flagging: Dead or dying branches within the live crown which have dead or yellowing needles.

Bushel: dry measurement, 8 gallons or approximately 1.244 cubic feet.

Cankers: Noticeable swelling on branches or stem bole.

Cone: Pinaceae cones – The members of the pine family (pines, spruces, firs, cedars, larches, etc.) have cones that are imbricate (that is with scales overlapping each other like fish scales). These pinecones, especially the woody female cones, are considered the “archetypal” tree cones. The female cone has two types of scale: the bract scale and the seed scale (or ovuliferous scales), one subtended by each bract scale, derived from a highly modified branchlet. On the upper-side base of each seed scale are two ovules that develop into seeds after fertilization by pollen grains. The bract scales develop first and are conspicuous at time of pollination, the seed scales develop later to enclose and protect the seeds, with the bract scales often not growing further.

The scales open temporarily to receive gametophytes, then close during fertilization and maturation, and then re-open again at maturity to allow the seed to escape. Maturation takes 6–8 months from pollination in most Pinaceae genera, but 12 months in cedars and 18–24 months (rarely more) in most pines. The cones open either by the seed scales flexing back when they dry out, or (in firs, cedars and golden larch) by the cones disintegrating with the seedscales falling off. The cones are conic, cylindrical or ovoid (egg-shaped), and small to very large, from 2– 60 cm long and 1–20 cm broad.

Cone Cut Sampling: Cones are sampled individually by cutting them lengthwise to count and inspect seeds help determine crop health and seed viability.

Conelets: Immature, one-year old pinecones, usually 3 to 4” long.

Cone Location: Seed bearing cones on the tips or along the branches.

Cone Maturity: Cones are usually mature when the color changes from green to lustrous greenish brown to light brown. Cones with scales that begin to crack are also an indicator of maturity. Cone ripening and cone flare may only be days apart.

Contracting Officer (CO): The person executing this contract on behalf of the Government, including any duly appointed successor and authorized representatives of the Contracting Officer acting within the limits of their authority.

Contractors Officer’s Representative (COR): The COR is the on-site contract administrator for the Contracting Officer. The duties and responsibilities or a COR are defined in the letter of designation issued by the Contracting Officer after award.

Cut face: The exposed face of one side of a cone that has been cleanly sliced lengthwise along the cone axis exposing the inside of the cone and seeds.

Flared Cone: The seed-bearing organ of a conifer that has matured enough for the cone scales to open to allow seed dispersal.

Filled Seed per Cut face: A method used to determine seed yield which includes the count of seed on the cut face exhibiting the highest exposed filled seed count.

Only seed that have been sliced open sufficiently so that the inside of the seed is readily visible are counted as exposed.

Only seed containing storage tissue (endosperm) and that are sound are counted as filled seed. Seed that are not sliced open (i.e., the see coat remain intact), are ignored.

Healthy, Available Cones: Cones which are fertile, mature, and sound; capable of producing viable seed that are relatively free of insects, disease, and other types of damage that are within the top two-thirds of the crown of the tree.

Mature Seed: Visually inspect cones and cut cones to examine seeds to determine seed maturity. The actual seed condition will vary by species, but in general seed is considered mature when the embryo fills 90% or more of the embryo cavity (most important criteria) and is a cream or pale-yellow color. Mature seed has a firm white to yellow or cream-colored endosperm. Squeezing the endosperm releases a clear liquid when seeds are mature. Endosperms that are soft and when squeezed release a milky colored liquid are not mature seeds. The surrounding storage tissue (endosperm) is a firm consistency and not a viscous milky condition. The seed coat and seed wing have darkened in color and is easily lifted from the cone scale. In mature seed, the embryo is nearly the length of the seed.

MGR: a sugar or other white pine tree that has been tested and proven to have a major gene resistance to white pine blister rust.

RRSP (Rust Resistant Sugar Pine): Existing proven Major Gene Resistant (MGR) Sugar/White Pine trees.

Seed and Wing: Seed and Wing will be dark brown to deep magenta color and detach intact from the cone scale in mature cones.

Sound Seed: Seed is considered sound when the endosperm and embryo are developing normally and there is no evidence of insect, disease, climatic or other types of damage.

Species Codes: See attachment for Species Codes

Tarp Collection: A type of cone collection where an individual place a tarpaulin, canvas, plastic or other material or fabric flat on the ground under a tree, drops cones from the tree onto the fabric and later collects the cones from fabric into a container.

Visually Blister Rust-Free: No branch flagging or cankers visible from ground observations.

WPBR: White Pine Blister Rust.

Specifications

The Contractor has the option, with the Forest Service’s Technical Expert approval, of deciding the appropriate method of collection. Some options include but are not limited to: tree climbing, mechanical lift truck, felled tree collection, and small quantity collections through sling shot, air gun, shooting with a 0.22 caliber rifle with a scope. Proposers are encouraged to be creative as other methods may be considered and approved if both safe and effective.

Climbing:

1. The Contractor shall follow all Federal, State, and local safety laws and regulations applicable to the contract work to be performed. This includes following Forest Service standards set forth in the National Tree Climbing Guide: 2015 Edition, unless alternate methods are approved by the Contracting Officer. The guide is available from the Missoula Technology and Development Center (http://www.fs.fed.us/treeclimbing/policy). The most significant requirement from the Guide is that the ground person also be capable of climbing the tree (this second climber can also be in a tree as long as both climbers are close enough to maintain unassisted voice contact).

2. The Forest Service may determine the order in which the trees are to be climbed for cone ripeness purposes.

3. The Contractor shall take all precautions to prevent excessive damage to trees. If the CO determines that excessive damage is occurring, the Contractor’s right to proceed shall be suspended until the proper corrections have been made. For example:

a) Purposeful cutting of branches

b) Scoring, slashing, damaging the bole *The government representative reserves the right to determine what is damaging to the tree. The above are just examples and are not all inclusive.

4. No tree spurs, spikes, or other intrusive climbing techniques will be permitted for climbing of white pines (sugar pine trees, western white pines, limber pines, bristle cone pines, whitebark pines, foxtail pines). Climbing of white pine trees shall be done with climbing equipment and techniques that do not wound the cambium of the trees, such as tree ladders, ascenders, and foot locking.

Tree Sampling (tree monitoring) Picking one or two cones from a tree to cut open and determine how far along the cone has matured, whether the cones are healthy (no insect damage), and to get a general idea of when the tree would be ready for cone collection. This task may also include reconnaissance (surveying) to locate potential trees for future sampling and collection.

Cone Collection:

The quantity of cones to be collected from each tree depends on the collection type. For general collections we usually won’t collect less than 2 bushels per tree unless it is a high need seed zone and or elevation range. For the 5 needle pines we usually only require 5 cones for sugar pine and 10-15 cones on the other species. This is because we don’t need a bushel of cones for rust resistant testing.

1. It is the on-sight government representative’s responsibility to determine the maturity and quality of the cones before collection. The Forest Service will accept for payment only those mature cones that meet or exceed the quality standards specified. Cone quality shall be determined just prior to picking. The Contractor shall provide several cones from the top third of the selected tree to the government representative to test for ripeness and quality. The government representative will determine the acceptability and either continue collection or abandon the tree.

2. If cone quality standards are not met, the government will direct the contractor to not collect those cones.

3. The Government may limit the quantity of cones collected per tree.

4. Cones shall be collected from the top third of the crown. Only if the specified quantity of cones is not obtainable from the top third, shall additional available cones be collected from the middle third of the crown.

5. Cones shall not be collected from the lower third of the crown unless approved by the government representative.

6. The government representative reserves the right to limit the amount collected from a single stand and/or elevation band.

7. A bag of cones shall not be contaminated with cones of other species or with cones from other trees of the same species. Bags shall not contain trash. Trash is considered to be cones not of the current year’s crop, twigs, needles, leaves, rocks, grass, etc.

Seed Cone Identification and Delivery:

1. Each bag of cones shall be identified with Cone Identification Tags provided by the Government. The government representative will fill out the Cone Identification Tags. Each bag of cones shall have one completed tag placed inside the bag and one completed tag attached to the outside of the bag.

2. Bags shall be securely tied shut at three inches from the top using the government provided zip ties.

3. Contractor shall protect the bags of cones from moisture and overheating by placing the bags in the most shaded and dry area.

4. Government Representative will retrieve bags of cones on site.

5. All cones shall be placed in Government-furnished bags.

6. Bags shall not be filled with more than one bushel of cones, regardless of bag capacity.

Needle Collection:

Each selected collection tree shall have a minimum of 20 needles collected and a maximium of 50 needles collected (roughly one quart size Ziplock baggie). Contractor will ensure that all needle collections are green/alive.

Each selected collection tree shall be visually blister rust-free.

Selected collection trees shall be well distributed to obtain a good representation of elevational bands and geographic locations on each district. Up to 5 trees can be individually collected within a site/stand and the distance between each selected collection area should not be closer than 200 feet.

Unless mutually agreeable by both the Contractor and the Contracting Officer Representative, needles will be collected only from needle collection areas as shown on the needle collection map, provided in the quote request. Further refinement of collection areas on the Districts will be made as information becomes available.

While a Government representative may precede the Contractor in selecting trees appearing to contain an adequate amount of needles for collection, it is the Contractor’s responsibility to select those trees with needles that appear healthy, without insect damage, before they are picked. The Government will accept for payment only those needles that meet or exceed the quality standards specified. Needle quality shall be determined just prior to picking. If the Government inspector or COR is present when the climber is ready to collect, the Government can choose to assist the Contractor in determining needle quality.

If needle quality standards are not met, the Contractor shall not collect those needles from the selected tree. Needle quality shall be determined based on visual inspection.

The Forest Service reserves the right to independently inspect needle quality from any tree designated for collection.

Samples can be collected at any portion of the tree canopy with young needles. However, tree climbers are often required to reach for branches with viable needle growth. Needles can be collected from the lower third of the crown if climbing is not an acceptable/safe manner in which to collect.

A bundle of needles shall not be contaminated with needles of other species or with needles from other trees of the same species. Bags shall not contain trash. Trash is considered to be needles not of the current year’s crop, twigs, leaves, rocks, grass, etc.

Tree climbing spurs are prohibited for use in climbing white pine trees Contractor shall not collect from trees that have been previously collected from (tree has visible tree tag from previous collection or contractor has previous knowledge of collection unless directed to by the government representative.

Needle collection includes the following Species:

White pines Sugar pine Western White pine Whitebark pine Limber pine Foxtail pine Bristlecone pine

Whitebark pine cone caging

Cone caging needs to be completed during the surveying process but no later than the end of August. If surveyed trees show available cones to be collected, contractor will cage that day.

Caging will begin near the top of the tree and work down from there. Cones are often concentrated in the top of the crown and these cones have a greater probability of having been cross-fertilized. Ideally, cages should be evenly distributed over the crown.

Cones and branches will continue to grow as the season progresses, so it’s vital to leave room inside the top of the cage for the growing branch leaders.

To minimize branch damage, branches should not be bent against their normal direction of growth to get them in the cage.

Sugar Pine Candidate Reports All information on the Sugar Pine Candidate Report will be completed by the Contractor while making each selected collection tree. Required information includes cadidate tree number, GPS coordinates with specific spatial reference used (ie NAD83), Township, Range and Section, candidate trees elevation, diameter and height, seed zone, motor log to the tree from a known location, map of tree location and other information, such as selection date and name(s) of crew making the selected/cone collection tree.

At the request of COR or Inspectors, the Sugar Pine Candidate Reports or copies of the reports will be made available within one week from the selected collection date listed on the report to facilitate inspections.

Sugar Pine Tree Tagging One tag will be nailed to each selected/cone collected tree at DBH (diameter at breast height) on the side of the tree facing in the direction of travel to locate the tree. All information on the tags will be completed by the contractor.

Sugar Pine Reference Point Tag If the selected tree is more than 50 ft. off the roadway and not visible from the roadway then a reference point tree must be established along the road edge to help locate the selected/collected tree. The tag will be nailed at DBH on the side of the tree facing the roadway. All information on the reference point tag will be completed by the Contractor.

Needle Bag Tagging Each selected collection tree sample will be kept in a separate quart bag (ie. Ziplock baggie) with Candidate information written on the baggie in permanent marker, with one tag placed inside the bag with 20 to 50 needle samples. Both tag and baggie information require the same information, tree number, number of needles in bag, date collected and initials of who collected the needles.

A list of tree numbers to be used by the contractor will be provided by the COR or Inspector.

Needle Sample Delivery Bags of needles in the contractor’s possession will be kept in a contractor provided cooler with ice packs or sealed blocks/cubes of ice and placed in shaded ventilated area prior to delivery. Needles will be delivered to the nearest Ranger District office and the District contact person notified of their delivery. Needle samples may also be delivered directly to the Placerville nursery at 2375 Fruitridge Rd, Camino, CA 95709 with 24 hours notice during office hours (7am – 4pm).

Government Furnished Property The following are examples of items typically provided by the Government. Not all items are applicable to every Call.

· Cone bags

· Tags

· Ties

· White pine candidate report

· Plastic and aluminum tree tags with aluminum nails

· Reference point tags

INSPECTIONS AND ACCEPTANCE

Government Inspections

Government inspections are for the purpose of satisfying the Government that the services are acceptable and do not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for maintaining quality control.

The Contracting Officer's Representative or designated inspector will conduct all inspections. The Contractor (or designated representative) is encouraged to be present to observe inspections. Summary results will be made available on request.

Compliance Inspections. Visual compliance inspections will be made on a periodic basis. Such inspections are not final and do not constitute acceptance by the Government.

Final Inspections. Final (formal) inspections for payment will be made on completed sub-items only. Contractor shall request final inspections in writing and give the Forest Service at least two working days advanced notice. Inspections will be completed within four working days after the notice is received. If the work is not ready for inspection at the time specified by the Contractor, the cost associated with the inspection attempt may be charged to the Contractor.

Disputed Inspection. The Contractor may request re-inspection without rework if the results are unacceptable. Re-inspection must be requested in writing within 48 hours after receiving written notice of the inspection results. Re-inspection will be accomplished within five working days after receipt of the contractor's written request.

The same sampling and inspection procedures will be used, but new samples will be taken. The inspection pattern will be shifted so that new samples will not overlap previously inspected samples. Results will be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

If re-inspection results are within five percentage points of the first inspection, the original inspection result will be used in determining acceptability and payment. If re-inspection results are greater than five percentage points above or below the first inspection, the re-inspection results will be used.

If the re-inspection results are within five percentage points of the first inspection, the Contractor shall pay the actual costs of the re-inspection.

Re-inspection after Rework. Where rework after a failed inspection may improve the inspection results, the Contractor may rework the area and request (in writing) a second inspection. The Government will charge to the Contractor the cost of this additional inspection. Re-inspection will be accomplished within five working days after the notice is received. The results of the second inspection will be final, and no further rework will be permitted. Areas not ready for re-inspection at the time specified by the Contractor will not be re-inspected, and the results of the first inspection will be final.

Specific Inspection Procedures

Method The Contracting Officer or their Representative will make visual inspections while work is in progress for compliance with terms of the contract. Visual inspections will include determining the ripeness of seed embryos, insect damage, and filled seed count through cone bisection inspection.

Determination of Acceptability

Work on this contract will be deemed acceptable when the Government’s visual inspections show acceptable performance. Acceptable performance is defined as collections consisting of mature seed embryos (see definitions), minimal insect damage (less than 10% of seed in the cone bisection), and no less than 60% filled seed count (see definitions).

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

Work Timing

The Contractor shall begin work as negotiated with the Forest Staff member or Contracting Officer. Failure to begin work on schedule will make the contract subject to immediate termination for cause.

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

Pre-work

Pre-work conference. Before work begins on service contracts, a pre-work conference is normally held to discuss the contract – especially the specifications, labor provisions, plan of work, and selected standard clauses. The pre-work meeting should be attended by an officer of the firm or someone designated in writing to act on behalf of the firm. The pre-work meeting may be waived at the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

Payment

Payments and Deductions. Payment will be made for fully acceptable work at the prices bid in the schedule of items. In the event of extended non-work periods because of adverse weather, the Contracting Officer may authorize progress payments for partially completed sub-items on a case-by- case basis. In accordance with the inspection clause, payment may be made for less than fully acceptable work at a reduced price. Other exceptions are noted below:

All orders under $2,500.00 will be paid with a Credit Card.

Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) All payment requests must be submitted electronically through the US Department of the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). “Payment request” means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment by the Contractor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items. The IPP website address is: https://www.ipp.gov.

Each invoice shall be submitted on the Contractor’s letterhead or invoice form with the following:

1. Invoice date and Government BPA Contract Number.

2. Billing period specified with beginning and ending dates. The beginning date must not be later than the completion date or within any previous billing dates.

3. An accounting (bulleted list, for example) of charges claimed and amounts due.

4. Total amount due for the billing period.

The Contractor must use the IPP website to register access and use IPP for submitting requests for payment. The Contractor’s Government Business Point of Contact (as listed in SAM) will receive enrollment instructions via email from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB) within 3 – 5 business days of award or the system implementation date. Contractor assistance with enrollment can be obtained by contacting the IPP Production Helpdesk via email ippgroup@bos.frb.org or phone (866) 973-3131.

If the Contractor is unable to comply with the requirement to use IPP for submitting invoices for payment, the Contractor must submit a waiver request in writing to the Contracting Officer with their proposal or quotation.

Contract Release. Before final payment will be made, the Contractor shall sign a release of all claims against the Government arising by virtue of this contract, other than claims, in stated amounts, that the Contractor has specifically excepted from the operation of the release.

A Contract Release FS-6300-0016 must be uploaded with request/invoice for final payment in IPP, before final payment will be approved.

SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

Superintendence by Contractor

The name and the specific authorities of the foreman or superintendent must be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may use his/her own prepared letterhead stationery or a "Designation of Contractor's Representative" form available from the Contracting Officer. If the Contractor or the designee is not present when work is being performed on the contract, a Suspend Work Order may be issued with contract time continuing to run. The Contractor shall have a person on- site that is fully conversant in the English language.

Archaeological and Historic Sites

Location of known archaeological, historic, or prehistoric materials – such as Native American sites or artifacts and/or historic mining, logging, or fur trapping remains protected by the American Antiquities Act (16 USC 433) – will be identified for the contractor before work commences.

If, in connection with operations under this contract, the Contractor, subcontractors, or the employees of any of them, discovers, encounters, or becomes aware of any objects or sites of cultural value on the project area, such as historical or prehistorical ruins, graves or grave markers, fossils, or artifacts, the Contractor shall immediately suspend all operations in the vicinity of the cultural value and shall notify the COR in writing of the findings. No objects of cultural resource value may be removed. Operations may resume at the discovery site upon receipt of written instructions from the COR.

Designation of Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

The Contracting Officer designates the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). The COR is responsible for administering the performance of work under this contract. In no event, however, will any understanding, agreement, modification, change order, or other matter deviating from the terms of this contract be effective or binding upon the Government unless formalized by proper contractual documents executed by the Contracting Officer prior to completion of the contract.

The Contracting Officer must be informed as soon as possible of any actions or inactions by the Contractor or the Government which will change the required delivery or completion times stated in the contract, and the contract may be modified accordingly. (This does not apply to individual task assignments which were issued by the COR provided they do not affect the delivery schedule or performance period stated in the contract.)

On all matters that pertain to the contract terms, the Contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer. Whenever, in the opinion of the Contractor, the COR requests effort outside the scope of the contract, the Contractor should so advise the COR. If the COR persists and there still exists a disagreement as to proper contractual coverage, the Contracting Officer should be notified immediately, preferably in writing if time permits. Proceeding with work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment.

Safety/Traffic Control When Contractor’s operations are in progress adjacent to or on Forest Service controlled roads and trails open to public travel, Contractor shall furnish, install and maintain all temporary traffic controls which provide the road user with adequate warning of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions associated with Contractor’s operations. Devices shall be specified as in the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Street and Highway” (MUTCD). Devices shall be appropriate to current conditions and covered or removed when not needed.

Protection of Resources The Contractor, in all phases of contract operations, shall protect insofar as practicable all land survey corners, telephone lines, ditches, fences and other improvements. If such improvements are damaged by Contractor operations, the Contractor shall restore them immediately to condition existing immediately prior to Contractor’s work. All roads and trails designatedby the Forest Service as needed for fire protection shall be kept free of logs, brush, and debris resulting from Contractor operations.

Final cleanup

Before final acceptance, all areas occupied by the Contractor in connection with the work shall be cleaned of all contractor’s rubbish, excess materials, temporary structures, and equipment, and all parts of the work area shall be left in a neat and presentable condition.

NOTES ON PRICING STRUCTURE

Keep in mind that the initial best value determination for orders less than $2500 will be based on your submitted pricing in Section B. The ordering official will use that information to select the vendor(s) they will request official quotes from.

For orders expected to be over $2500, the Contracting Officer will solicit quotes competitively from all BPA holders.

We realize that the methods and the effort required for collections or sampling from different tree species may vary.

All items on the Schedule of Items need to have a single price even though there may be some variation by species on the actual Calls under this Blanket Purchase Agreement.

To establish a baseline, please enter your average, most common, price for each item.

There is always the option to come down in pricing per item to be most competitive on Calls.

For species or locations that have higher cost than the average pricing, offerors should be prepared to explain and justify the higher price offered.

To clarify the difference between “pick tree after climbing & testing” (Line 004) and “pick tree (No Mechanical Truck)” (Line 005):

Any vendor NOT shooting cones out of a tree and NOT using a mechanical lift would use Line 004 to quote the per bushel cost of cones collected. This price would be inclusive of the cost to initially climb, pick a cone for testing, and determine that the tree is worth collecting at that time.

(If the test indicates the tree is not ready or not a healthy candidate to pick, then Line 002 would be used to capture the cost of climbing and testing with no collection. ) Line item 005 would be suited for a vendor that has permission to shoot cones or shake cones out of a tree. This would primarily be used for candidate testing since it doesn’t require as many cones to be collected as the general collection does.

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