RECOVERY::: Flathead National Forest, Jewel Basin NFSR#5392 - Gravel & Laydown

NOTICE TO ALL OFFEROR(S)::::: The following are Questions and Answers regarding the Jewel Basin #5392 - Road Gravel Re-Surfacing and Laydown.



QUESTIONs: (1) Regarding the above project and the fact that you cannot work between Memorial Day and Labor Day? (2) How is the snow level to be addressed with, and how that will affect work? (3) Currently you cannot get within 1.5 miles of the project end at the trail due to the snow and we are already beyond the first cut-off date? This only allows you to work the top end of the project after Labor Day? (4) If you cannot work until after Labor Day, you conceivably will have snow at this elevation before you can complete the top portion of the project. Can there be some work time adjustment possibly to allow work before Labor Day to help with the upper portion of the work/project?



ANSWER: The work ban between Memorial and Labor Days is firm. No will will be allowed during the summer - Jewel Basin recreation period. We recognize the impact this places on the work and considered the limitation when setting the completion date out at October 01, 2011. With the June 15 bid closing, we anticipate an award and notice to proceed is enough time to allow the procurement of the crushed aggregate materials this summer prior to September 06, Labor Day. Snow records since the 1960's in Noisy Basin and measured 0.3 miles SE and 300 ft. higher elevation from the parking lot and the end of this project indicate that snow retention doesn't regularly begin in the basin until mid-October. this translates into 5 - 6 weeks of working time in calendar year 2010, and an additional 3 weeks time in year 2011, 8 - 9 wks in aggregate, to complete reconditioning & gravel laydown work on the upper portion of the project. The Snow in the lower portion begins melting out in the spring by early April. Hence, prior to Memorial Day this gives another 5 -6 wks of working in 2011, for a total of 13-15 wks. The Government is aware that this project is a challenge. The timing requirement will not let a contractor to be idle. Passing haul traffic on the narrow road will also be a test of the Contractor's ability to organize work and equipment. The suggestion: Start work from high in 2010 & working one's way down the hill ahead of the weather and then using next Spring's time to work up the hill to close any gaps might be the key!

END OF ANSWER.







ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SOLICITATION REMAINS UNCHANGED.

RECOVERY: The Forest Service has a requirement for the reconditioning the existing road and the lay down from a commercial source of crushed aggregrate surfacing on the Jewel Basin Road No. 5392. This project involves the reconditioning and resufacing of 6.60 miles of Jewel Basin Road, NFS road #5392, on the Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest. The work is located NE of the town of Bigfork, in Flathead Country, Montana.



No Pre-Quote/Bid site visit will be conducted, but offerors are encouraged to visit the site. Offerors are also encouraged to review the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision 5.2236-3, "Site Investigation and Conditions Affecting the Work (April 1984). Failure of the Offeror/Contractor to ascertain the nature, location, and conditions which affect the work will not relieve the Offeror/Contractor from the responsibility for successfully performing the work without additional expense to the Government.



The project cost estimate between $250,000 - $500,000, and Davis-Bacon Wage Rates will apply.



All responsible sources may submit a quote which will be considered by the Government. In accordance with FAR 4.1102(a), prospective offerors/contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Data Base prior to award of the contract.



The SOLICITATION will be POSTED in approximately 15 Calendar Days from today's notice/pre-solicitation.