BMW Helicopter Stewardship IRSC

Description

The BMW Stewardship IRSC shall be awarded under Stewardship Authority authorized by Section 604 (16 USC 6591c) of Public Law 108-148 as amended by Section 8205 of Public Law 113-79, the Agricultural Act of 2014. This law grants the U.S. Forest Service (Government) permanent authority to enter into stewardship contracts or agreements to achieve land management goals for the National Forests or public lands that meet local and rural community needs.

Location

The BMW Helicopter Stewardship IRSC project is located in the northern Gallatin Mountain Range, just south of Bozeman, MT. Helicopter units are located on the east and west side of FS Road #979, along Bozeman Creek and adjacent to City of Bozeman land.

Legal land description is T3S, R6E, Sections 8, 17, 18, 19, 20 in Gallatin County, Montana, PMM.  See attached map. 

The Custer Gallatin National Forest is currently preparing the BMW Helicopter Stewardship IRSC to reduce fuels in the Bozeman Municipal Watershed by accomplishing the following:

1. Treat ridgelines by cutting and removing timber via helicopter whole tree logging/yarding to reduce the risk of severe and extensive wildfire occurring in the adjacent drainages.
2. Harvest timber around the City of Bozeman’s water intake structure to limit the amount of sediment and ash entering the water treatment facility in the event of a wildfire.
3. Thin within fuel break to increase public and firefighter safety and serve as a suppression control point.
4. Road reconstruction and maintenance on haul roads, temporary road building for landing access.

Estimated Timber Volume and Species composition is as follows:

                     Volume Total:11,977 tons

                           Total by Species:

                                    DF/other 11,222 tons

                                    LP 755 tons

The following work activities are anticipated as mandatory service items:

1. Cut and Remove Included Timber by Whole Tree Helicopter Yarding/Logging
2. Road Reconstruction of Haul Routes

A site visit is scheduled for Monday, June 5, 2023 to view the project area and discuss the objectives of this contract. The meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Bozeman Ranger District located at 3710 Fallon St. Suite C, Bozeman MT 59718.

The solicitation will be posted on or about May 16, 2023 and should be downloaded from this website at that time.  Quotes will be due on or around June 21, 2023.  The period of performance is estimated to be from date of award through October 16, 2025.  Point of contact is, Jeanne Windle, Contracting Officer, with the National Stewardship Contracting Branch at norma.windle@usda.gov.  Questions must be submitted in writing and emailed to norma.windle@usda.gov.