26QA035 IIS USFS Tanbark Hazard Tree Removal QAs KO approved.pdf

W9123826QA035, IIS USFS Tanbark Hazard Tree Removal Q&As

1. How long are pre-construction surveys valid for? Should all areas not able to be worked in during this period should contractor plan for multiple surveys?

1A. Survey is valid until March 1, 2027 (beginning of spring nesting season). A report is not required - only documentation of findings.

2. Is wildlife removal, relocation and/or "shooing” able to be performed by work crew, or is a bio monitor only able to do so?

2A. Bio monitor for listed species (threatened and endangered only).

3. Does bio monitor need to be present for backfilling checks or is field crew allowed to perform checks?

3A. Backfill oversight by crew is acceptable.

4. If bio monitor is only team member allowed to do the above activities, would this account for more of a consistent basis rather than on-call?

4A. Bio monitor is most likely an on-call project member given the work window is outside of active nesting and wildlife windows. The project areas has no records or indications of previous concerns during the work window.

5. Does invasive plant remove need to be a separate cost? Who is responsible for surveying for the invasive plants? Is there a specific target list?

5A. Invasive presence can be noted in the pre-work (construction) survey. They are not to be removed – it is not within the scope of work of this contract.

6. If chemical control is necessary as part of the invasive removal, how would you like cost to be determined and presented in this quote?

6A. Invasive plant control is not specifically listed as part of the scope of work. The contractor is responsible for taking reasonable care to not spread or proliferate on site invasive species

7. What, if any, weather conditions will temporarily pause work? High Fire Risk? High Winds?

7A. High winds and extreme weather events which present safety concerns to crews and equipment, the contractor SSHO is responsible for making determinations to facilitating a safe working environment, they may direct pause in work. Such a pause is not compensable in cost or time. The Period of Performance is 116 days from date of award which allows plenty of time to work around weather related issues.

8. Was there a previous incumbent? If so, can you share their price proposal?

8A. This is a new requirement. No prior contract information exists.

9. Has there been any changes to the scope from the last?

9A. This is a new requirement. No prior contract information exists.

10. Did the previous incumbent complete the project term? Is this solicitation the same length of time?

10A. This is a new requirement. No prior contract information exists.

11. If previous incumbents exist, when is the contract set to end?

11A. This is a new requirement. No prior contract information exists.

12. Is there a set budget for this solicitation?

12A. This is not a construction contract – no magnitude of construction information to release. Contractors are expected to quote the price they can perform the CLINs for the work in the PWS.

13. Is there a projected award and start date?

13A. Award expected to be made on or before 30 September 2026

14. Is the contractor responsible for completing all required biological surveys of the treatment, staging, and disposal areas before field work begins?

14A. Yes, the contractor provided biological monitor shall survey the work areas for listed species (nesting birds) prior to the commencement of work. A report is not required - only documentation of findings.

15. Has the Government/USFS already completed any biological, bat, nesting-bird, or special-status-species surveys, and will those results be provided to the contractor?

15A. No current surveys are available.

16. Please clarify which trees require biological monitoring during removal and whether the Government's tree survey identifies all trees with potential bat-roost habitat.

16A. Survey only cut and trim trees. Refer to Exhibit G, Arborist Survey.

17. How frequently does the Government anticipate requiring the Biological Monitor to be physically present on site versus remaining on call?

17A. The bio monitor is required as needed: pre-work survey, listed species sighting, and bat tree situations.

18. Please confirm when nesting-bird surveys are required and whether surveys must be repeated every seven days when work continues.

18A. One survey is required before commencement of work. Another survey is required after March 01, 2027 if work is delayed to this date or beyond.

19. What documentation must be submitted to obtain USACE approval of the proposed Biological Monitor?

19A. Persons resume and qualifying experience. From the PWS:

The authorized biologist must possess, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, wildlife biology, herpetology, or related fields. The biologist must have a minimum of 3 years field experience using United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) techniques and experience with the wildlife species and native plants occurring in the area that are likely to be encountered on the site including any species mentioned within this PWS.

Biological monitors for tree removal outside pupping season must have familiarity with bat ecology and habitat requirements. Biological monitors for tree removal during bat pupping season must have prior experience surveying and monitoring for bats and must be accepted by the USACE. The biologist must be experienced with raptors, migratory birds, and bats. The monitor will be on call during the term of the contract. The biologist must have a minimum of 3 years field experience using USFWS and CDFW techniques and experience with the wildlife species likely to be encountered on the site including any species mentioned within this PWS.

20. What documentation does the Government consider sufficient to demonstrate the required USFWS and CDFW experience?

20A. The bio monitor resume will typically have their specific project experience and number of years.

21. Is the Biological Monitor responsible for preparing the biological portions of the Environmental Protection Plan, or is that responsibility assigned to the prime contractor?

21A. The contractor has discretion to delegate EPP preparation to a subcontractor.

22. Please clarify which biological responsibilities are included under CLIN 0004 and which biological/environmental responsibilities are expected to be performed by the prime contractor or tree-removal subcontractor.

22A. See the PWS and the other Questions and Answers provided here.

23. If the contract award occurs prior to October 1, 2026, does the 14-day submittal period commence immediately upon award, or does the contract clock (including submittals) begin on October 1, 2026?

23A. Submittals clock starts the day after the award is made.

24. Could the Government provide specific engineering drawings or performance-based specifications for this civil work?

24A. See PWS paragraph 1.4 and 4.3, Exhibits C&F

25. Is there a functional, Government-furnished water source available for contractor use on-site at the Tanbark Administrative Site, or is the contractor required to haul all water necessary for dust suppression and equipment washing?

25A. Water is available directly south of the helipad adjacent the access road.

Numerous buildings have hose bibbs which can be used if working.

26. Is on-site grinding/chipping permitted within the designated 0.1-acre processing area shown in Exhibit E, or must the tree material be hauled off-site in its raw form for grinding elsewhere? Additionally, are there any maximum height or log-length limits for the boles stacked in the decking area?

26A. Refer to the chip broadcast area on Exhibit E (.7 acres). Log boles per PWS:

Target length of logs should be 14 ft but not shorter than 9 feet.

Minimum diameter shall be 12 inches

27. Must all 75 removal trees be quoted at the same per-tree rate, or may offerors provide supporting tree-specific pricing based on size, condition and removal complexity?

27A. We are asking for one rate per tree as the CLIN is for 75 each. No individual pricing for each tree will be accepted.

28. What is the purpose of dividing the tree removals between CLINs 0003AA and

0003AB?

28A. This is for funding only. Adding both subCLINs is the total amount of all 75 “fell trees” needing removal.

29. What is the purpose of dividing biological monitoring between CLINs 0004AA and

0004AB?

29A. This is for funding only. This is only for this one (1) Job. Adding both subCLINs is the total for the Biological Monitor work.

30. Is the omission of CLIN 0004 intentional?

30A. CLIN 0004 was not omitted, the CLINs were correctly numbered on the amendment. Pricing is just broken down into the 2 SubCLINS for funding purposes

31. Does the Government anticipate crane-assisted removal for every tree or only selected trees?

31A. Crane assisted removal is at the contractor’s discretion. Crane use intent is to preclude damaging existing buildings and assist with difficult location trees.

32. What are the maximum permissible dimensions and weights for equipment using the access and haul roads?

32A. The contractor must consider the road conditions in determining the equipment they will be bringing on site.

33. Are there any bridge, road-width, overhead-clearance, turning-radius, grade or axle-load restrictions?

33A. The contractor must consider the road conditions in determining the equipment they will be bringing on site.

34. May the contractor temporarily close portions of the access road during tree felling, processing and hauling?

34A. Yes.

35. Who will coordinate traffic control with the applicable jurisdiction, and what local permits will the contractor be required to obtain?

35A. The contractor is responsible for traffic control.

36. Which trees will require the two-day bat-mitigation removal procedure described in the PWS?

36A. To be determined by the pre-work survey conducted by the contractor provided bio monitor.

37. Will the Government identify and mark trees containing potential bat-roosting habitat before award, or is that determination the contractor’s responsibility?

37A. The contractor provided bio monitor is responsible for marking or noting which cut and trim trees contain bat habitat.

38. How many onsite biological-monitor days should offerors include in their quotations?

38A. The contractor is responsible for staffing the project. It is up to each contractor to decide if they need multiple people.

39. If the COR directs the biological monitor to remain onsite or requires the contractor to suspend work for biological reasons, will the resulting standby time or delay be compensable?

39A. Per PWS paragraph 1.15.4 and 1.17 Generally it is the contractor’s biological monitor that will make these decisions, but if listed or endangered species are sited near or within the project area the COR may direct the monitor to be on site.

However this is not a construction contract, standby time/delays will not be compensable. The period of performance should allow the contractor to schedule work activities to avoid delays.

40. Is the PWS reference to work occurring “post February 15, 2025” a typographical error? If so, please provide the correct date.

40A. This is not a mistake. Per the PWS if onsite work occurs post February 15th a biological monitor will be required to be onsite from that date on.

41. The attached wage determination identifies Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Can the Government confirm that Wage Determination 2015-5629 is correct for the project’s actual place of performance?

41A. Yes the SCA Wage Determination in the RFQ attachments is the correct one for this location.

42. Must the prime contractor itself hold the California D-49/C-49 tree-service license, or may this requirement be satisfied through a properly licensed tree-service subcontractor?

42A. The prime contractor may use qualified subcontractors, the certifications and licenses for any subcontractors must be provided in the pre-work submittals, for Government review and acceptance.

43. Does FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, apply to this acquisition?

43A. Yes it does. This is a 100% Small Business set-aside. The prime contractor must be a Small Business (SB) and although they may subcontract out parts of the work, the prime and SB subcontractors must perform the majority of the work (over 50%).

44. Must proof of the certified arborist qualifications, California tree-service license and accredited crane-operator certification be submitted with the quotation, or are these post-award submittals?

44A. These are post award submittals, however we caution you to make sure you have the people with the required certifications lined up prior to award. Failure to provide the required certified people after award will be grounds for Termination for Cause (Default).

45. Exhibit F does not appear on the Contract Opportunity announcement page. Would the Government please share Exhibit F for review?

45A. The amended Exhibits are provided on the SAM site. See the attachment titled “Exhibits A to G revised Aug 25 KO Approved”

46. Is a sign-in sheet from the site visit available?

46A. This will be posted to the SAM site.

47. Would an extension to the submission deadline be granted, considering additional scope requirements in the addendum?

47A. No we can not extend the quote submission date.