R5 Cone, Needle, and Pollen Collection BPA

The Forest Service intends to add vendors to the regional Blanket Purchasing Agreement for Cone, Needle, and Pollen Collection on Region 5 National Forests.
The intention is for award of 5-year BPAs to multiple vendors to simplify the process of obtaining these services as time is often a concern. Vendors already on the existing R5 Cone and Needle Collection BPA need not reapply; current BPAs will continue. This solicitation effort is intended to expand the pool of vendors for better geographic coverage and competition.

When there is a need for the services covered within the BPA, the authorized ordering official will reach out to all appropriate vendors on the BPA with regard to location, listed prices, and capability, to determine best value for their specific project.
Orders:
Minimum Order/Call: No minimum dollar threshold. See Statement of Work document regarding 2-bushel collection minimums.
Maximum Order/Call: Maximum $250,000.00 per Project Order/Call.
Each BPA order/call will be its own project.

For Orders/Calls under $2,500.00, transactions will be paid by a Government Credit Card by a Government Purchase Card holder.

For Order/Calls over $2,500.00 all payment requests must be submitted electronically through the US Department of the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

The Service Contract Act applies for all orders/calls over $2,500.00.

Any Crew Costs or travel that the vendor claims will be calculated before the award of a call and included in the total of the order quote. These costs are part of the firm fixed-price award of a Call and are not subject to adjustment after award.

Scope of Work
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, bucket/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 BPA Call identifying the period of performance and 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 for climbing trees and collecting samples. 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 order contract period.
Collections are typically in the fall months, August thru October; however, actual collections are dependent on the location, species and current weather and there is oft en a very short period each year that is suitable forsuccessful sample collection. All collections will be dependent on the suitability and success of the proposedproject.

Project Locations
California Service Area #1: Klamath, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta-Trinity and Six RiversNational Forests
California Service Area #2: Eldorado, Plumas, Tahoe, Inyo, Sierra, Sequoia, Stanislaus NationalForests 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

Up to 10 Blanket Purchase Agreements may be awarded using a best value source selection method.
The Awardees shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, supervision, tools, transportation, operatingsupplies, and incidentals necessary to perform the work in accordance with the specifications and provisionsand clauses of the BPA and any resultant BPA Calls. Bid Bonds, 
All Contractors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ to be eligible for award under this solicitation. Registration in SAM is a free service – you do not need to pay to register in this system. If your registration is not active at time of evaluations, you will not be considered for award.