CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST: 2016 Horseman Flats Hazardous Fuels Hand Cut & Chip

Project Title: Custer National Forest - 2016 Horseman Flats Hazardous Fuels Hand Cut & Chip Description of Work: This project encompasses hazardous fuels reduction on the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Beartooth Ranger District. The 2016 Horseman Flats Hazardous Fuels Mastication project is a continuation of the Beartooth Ranger District's hazardous fuels program. The purpose of the project is to reduce the possibility of future wildfires from spreading beyond National Forest System lands. Additionally, the intent of the project is to reduce hazardous fuel loading, to thin mixed coniferous stands, and to provide long-term effectiveness of fuel treatments by reducing fire intensities. The work to be performed includes using hand operated chainsaws and small machinery (e.g., wood chippers) to widen the crown spacing, reduce ladder fuels, and limb reserve trees in the project area. Slash or chips generated from road brushing, thinning to increase crown spacing on the upslope side of the road, thinning to increase crown spacing on both sides of the road, and down woody debris (DWD) cleanup will be left on-site to decompose naturally. The successful Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals necessary to complete the work. All work shall conform to the specifications outlined in the solicitation and shall be performed in an organized, systematic manner to assure services will be performed over the entire unit areas. Project Location: The project is located on the Beartooth Ranger District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Stillwater & Sweetgrass Counties, Montana. The Horseman Flats units are situated west of Nye, Montana and northwest of the Stillwater Mine Complex along Forest Service Road 2846: T5S, R15E, portions of sections 21, 16, 9, 8, and 7; and T5S, R14E, portions of sections 12 and 14. All project areas are located within 75 feet of Forest Service Road 2648. Pre-bid Tour: A pre-bid tour will be conducted on 19 August 2015 at 1300 hours Mountain Daylight Saving Time. Interested parties shall meet at the Nye Fire Hall on Hwy 419 in Nye, MT. All interested parties must contact Drew Grimes at the Beartooth Ranger District Office (phone 406-446-4528) no later than August 17th, at 1600 hours to reserve a participant slot on the tour. If no reservations are made for participation in this pre-bid tour by the close of business on August 17th, the pre-bid tour shall be cancelled without further notice. Interested parties shall take reasonable steps to ascertain the nature and location of the project area and the work to be completed, as well as the general and local site conditions which can affect the work and cost of performance. Failure to take the actions described in this paragraph will not relieve the Contractor from the responsibility of properly estimating the difficulty and cost to successfully perform the work, or from successful completion of the work without additional expense to the Government. The solicitation will be available on approximately 12 August 2015, and can be downloaded from this website at that time. A Firm-Fixed Price contract is expected to result from the solicitation.