Sunflower G-Z Stewardship IRSC, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona

This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) only. Pricing data is NOT required to be submitted at this time. The project will be solicited after the desired info is obtained and contract writing is complete.

NAICS: 115310: Support Services for Forestry, size standard: 34M Fuels Management Services. Stewardship authorities permit the Government to solicit this requirement as Full and Open competition.

Background: The Sunflower G-Z Stewardship IRSC on the Kaibab National Forest shall be awarded under the following 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.

The intent of the project is to dramatically increase forest health and resiliency from insects, disease, and uncharacteristic wildfire. The project will obtain forestry related services to implement a large-scale landscape level treatment. Contractor will design implementation plan, road analysis plan, preliminary contract area map, then design a detailed logging plan and final contract area map. Contractor will be responsible for the completion of heritage surveys, botany surveys and writing Silvicultural prescriptions, designating timber removal boundaries, and cruising of timber. Additional work to be completed by contractor will include road reconstruction, noncommercial thinning, and harvesting/removal of included timber products.

The intent of this RFI is to determine the following:

1. Is your company interested in completing this work and submitting a proposal?
2. Is your company capable of completing this contract with current staffing and equipment? Or do you intend to increase your staff and operational capabilities, use sub- contractors, and/or a combination there of if you are the successful awardee?
3. What do you see as challenges that your company will struggle to overcome?
4. Is there any advice or direction you can provide to improve the plan prior to solicitation?
5. Are the desired completion dates described in the RFI feasible? Desired dates below:
   • Items 1 and 2 are desired to be completed by June 30, 2025.
   • Items 3-5 are expected to be completed by December 31, 2025.
   • Items 6 and 7 are expected to be completed by July 31, 2026. 
   • It is anticipated All Items should be completed by December 31, 2028.
6. Any other pertinent information you can provide to us that you see as a benefit to the project plan?

If you have any questions regarding the Schedule of Items or the project in general that can assist you to better answer the above questions, please contact me at curtis.yocum@usda.gov (541) 219-0637 or Joshua Bahling at Joshua.bahling@usda.gov (928) 968-3022. Interested contractors are highly encouraged to respond to this RFI in writing submitted to me via email. Thank you!