Mitchell-Jackson IRSC

Mitchell Jackson IRSC – PPS-NPO Stewardship Contracting Branch

12363N24Q4210

Kootenai National Forest, Libby Ranger District

Request for Information and Pre-proposal Engagement Meeting

Classification

• Original Set Aside: NONE
• Product Service Code: F099 - NATURAL RESOURCES/CONSERVATION- OTHER
• NAICS Code: 115310 - Support Activities for Forestry or 113310-Logging
• Place of Performance: Libby, Montana 59935

Description:

This is a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain market and capability information from prospective offerors. Information may be used for planning purposes. This RFI is only for the purpose of identifying potential sources as part of USDA-Forest Service market research. No Request for Quote (RFQ) exists at this time; therefor, do not request a copy of an RFQ. A response to this notice is not an offer and will not be accepted by the Forest Service to form a binding contract. At this time, it is unknown when the Forest Service might solicit a contract for this work. Although "proposal" and "offeror" may be used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. Information received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response.  

Background:

The Forest Service is contemplating utilizing Integrated Resource Service Contracts (IRSC) to accomplish a variety of projects. These can include traditional trading of goods (included forest products) for services performed; or Service IRSCs with no included forest products and all forest products available as Timber Subject to Agreement (TSA). These types of contracts are being considered on the Kootenai National Forest. Work items included in this RFI, and other possible work items may be solicited in projects with various objectives.

If awarded, they shall be awarded under the following authority: Stewardship Authority: 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—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. Section 8205 supersedes the temporary authority granted to the Forest Service (Government) in section 347 of Public Law 105-277, the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Appropriations Act, 1999.

Important to note: An Integrated Resource Service Contract (IRSC) differs from and Integrated Resource Timber Contract (IRTC) in that in an IRSC the service work cost is greater than the timber value.

NAICS: 115310: Support Services for Forestry, Size Standard: $34M Fuels Management Services.

             113310: Logging, Size Standard: 500 Employees

Stewardship authorities permit the Government to solicit this requirement as Full and Open competition.

Project Location:

The Mitchell Jackson project is located approximately 2 miles north of Libby, Montana.  Access to the project area is via State, County and Forest Service roads within the Sheldon Mountain, Michael’s Draw, Tubb Gulch, Alexander Creek, and Jackson Creek area west of Hwy 37.  The project area surrounds the former Vermiculite Mine and EPA CERCLA site OU3.  The proposed project area lies generally within:  T30N R29 and 30W, T31N R29, 30, and 31W, and T32N R30W; Principal Meridian Montana, Lincoln County, Montana.   Attachment 4. Mitchell Jackson IRSC DRAFT Contract Area Map (CAM) is provided with this notice to allow contractors to familiarize themselves with the project area.

Planned Period of Performance:

All work is tentatively anticipated to have the following final completion dates: December 31, 2035.

Description of Work:

The Mitchell Jackson IRSC will increase the resiliency to wildfire and disease and improve forest health within the project area by using a variety of commercial and non-commercial treatments.  

The Mitchell Jackson IRSC will address this with commercial and non-commercial treatment activities. Forest products will be a combination of commercial sawtimber and non-sawlog material. Proposed services will include tractor and skyline yarding (w/tops attached), processing and transportation of merchantable forest product material to various manufacturing facilities in the area.  In addition, there will be the following service items as part of the contract; pre-commercial thinning, weed spraying, fuels work (mastication, thinning/piling) and road building.  There are also some service items that may be optional work items that include but are not limited to: developing logging plans, cruising timber, curtain burning of slash material and bio char.

A Draft version of Appendix A, technical specifications for service work items is shared to provide more context to work requirements that are contemplated to be included in this project. Refer to attachment 3. Mitchell-Jackson IRSC Appendix A DRAFT.

Estimated Timber Volume and acres is as follows:

The entire project area is estimated at 4586 acres of commercial harvest. Sawtimber estimates for the entire project are – 30 MMBF (60000 CCF), Non-saw - 2 MMBF (4000 CCF).

The first area within the project (Tubb Gulch) is estimated at 1150 acres of commercial harvest and 22,000 CCF of sawtimber and 1200 CCF of non-sawtimber.  This area has been laid out and cruised. 

Sawtimber is defined as material 7” and greater at DBH while non saw material is defined as both primary and topwood 4.0“ to 6.9” diameter inside bark and containing a 16’ merchantable length to a 3.0” top DIB.

Pre-proposal Engagement Meeting Date and Time:

Prior to issuing the solicitation for this project, the Libby Ranger District and Stewardship Branch Procurement Staff will be holding an engagement meeting to meet with interested contractors to discuss the overall project, discuss contractual requirements that are anticipated in the contract and answer questions that contractors and purchasers may have about project scope and any operational limitations foreseen by attendees or concerns that they may have.

The Libby Ranger District will hold a hybrid meeting (virtual and in-person) for the Mitchell Jackson IRSC on June 26, 2024, at 9:00 A.M. MDT.  If attending in person, the Mitchel Jackson IRSC meeting will be at the Kootenai National Forest Supervisors Office off of Highway 2 in Libby, Montana.

To attend the meeting on Microsoft Teams, call (202) 650-0123 and enter Conference ID: 737 460 137# or contact Matt Daigle for a meeting invite to attend on your personnel computer. A link to the meeting can also be found in atttachment 1. 

Please RSVP for this meeting with both Matt Daigle and Jacob Somerset, contact information is below.

Information Requested:
**Respondents to this RFI are requested to answer the questions in the attached questionnaire form, 2. Questionnaire Mitchell Jackson IRSC RFI and return to the contacts listed on the form. * *

Please answer the questions to the best of your ability and provide further information if you find it necessary to clarify your capabilities and ideas.

Return responses are requested by June 24th, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time to help inform discussion topics for the June 26 Teams meeting, Response are welcome after this date as well.

Thank you very much for your time and energy in your response. Obtaining this information from industry is vital to successful development of an IRSC program to be used as a tool for treatment and restoration.

Attachments:

1. Mitchell-Jackson IRSC Request for Information Letter
2. Questionnaire Mitchell-Jackson IRSC Request for Information
3. Mitchell-Jackson IRSC Appendix A DRAFT
4. Mitchell-Jackson IRSC DRAFT CAM.

Please direct questions in writing to both:

Matt Daigle, Senior Acquisition Program Support Officer, matthew.daigle@usda.gov

Jacob Somerset, Timber Management Officer, jacob.somerset@usda.gov