F--CHAIN OF CRATERS VEGETATION TREATMENT

CHAIN OF CRATERS VEGETATION TREATMENT, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, CIBOLA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement and attachments constitute the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Consider this solicitation (140L3723Q0127) as a Request for Quotes (RFQ). This solicitation documents incorporate provisions and clauses in effect through Federal acquisition Circular 2019-03. This solicitation is set-aside for small business. NAICS 115310 - Support Activities for Forestry - Fuels Management Services. The small business size standard is $34.0 million. Product Service Code F014 - Natural Resources / Conservation - Tree Thinning. The resulting purchase order will be a firm fixed price type contract. (SEE ATTACHMENTS FOR COMPLETE STATEMENT OF WORK, MAPS, WAGE DETERMINATIONS, AND CLAUSES / PROVISIONS.) 335 acres x $______________ = $___________________ In accordance with the procedures in FAR Part 12 and 13, RFQ 140L3723Q0127 is available for viewing through electronic commerce via Land Management's website at https://sam.gov. The Government will award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer is conforming to the solicitation and is the lowest price technically acceptable. Quotes are due Wednesday, September 13, 2023, by 4:00 pm. Mountain Time. Contractors submit quotes by email to contact@example.gov. Note: Any contractor to submit an acceptable quote or be awarded a government contract must be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM). Contractors must register at www.sam.gov. Contractor's must submit their Unique Entity ID (UEI) and CAGE code with their quote. UEI ______________________ CAGE ____________________ For further information about this requirement, offerors should contact Audrey Whetham at contact@example.gov. The provisions and clauses attached apply to this solicitation. Location of Project The project is located 40 miles Southwest of Grants New Mexico in Township 8N, Range 13W, portions of Sections 30, 31, and 31. Boundaries of Project Area The boundaries are identified by orange flagging. Portions of the project area boundary follow a fence line or road, but some of the project boundaries do not follow the fences and roads in the area. The project is an estimated 335 acres in size. Access Access is facilitated by State Highway 53, County Road 42, the Cerro Hueco Road and other two track roads. County Road 42 and the Cerro Hueco road are un-surfaced. Therefore, wet weather could make travel somewhat difficult. Access into the project area will be by foot from the Cerro Hueco Road and other existing two track roads. Work may have to be stopped by the Project Inspector at any time when the roads are wet and excessive rutting within the project area could occur. Project Purpose The purpose of this project is to remove Pi'on and juniper from existing Ponderosa pine stands. The project area has a 40-60% canopy cover with an estimated 20-30% removal prescription. Along the west boundary (fence line) of the unit will be windrows and the rest of the project will be cut, lop and scatter trees (see attached map). Pi'on and Juniper trees within and adjacent to the project area have encroached on grasslands and meadows decreasing overall watershed capabilities, wildlife habitat and forage production. The work to be completed will improve overall ecosystem health and establish a receptive fuel bed which will increase the effectiveness of prescribed fire efforts to meet established ecosystem restoration objectives. No Girdling or Pruning. Desired spacing would be a mix of the following three prescriptions: o Average tree spacing will be 30 feet. o Retention of 1 small group of healthy trees every 2 acres (approximately 6-10 trees per group) is acceptable, with an average spacing around groups of 50 feet. o The open swales and canyon bottoms with mostly smaller trees will have all trees less than 8 feet tall removed with up to 5 larger (i.e. mature) healthy trees per acre left uncut. Treatment will be done by hand-cutting (chainsaws and other hand equipment). Target species are One-seed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma), and Pi'on (Pinus edulis). When cutting, all unhealthy trees (regardless of size) should be cut first before looking at spacing and leave tree requirements. Leave tree preference - 1st Healthy tree, 2nd Larger tree, 3rd Pi'on Pine (Pinus edulis). Due to stem characteristics of Juniper and Pi'on, stem diameter will be measured 6 inches above ground surface on the high side for cutting (DSH-diameter at stump height), not DBH. Retain all ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Leave any healthy (free of mistletoe, etc.) live Juniper 24 inch diameter or greater DSH. Leave any healthy (free of mistletoe, etc.) live pi'on 16 inch diameter or greater DSH. Cut any live Pi'on and Juniper tree 1 foot tall or above that do not meet the above criteria for leave trees. Cut smaller seedlings and saplings growing under larger leave trees. Cut all pi'on and juniper trees within 30 feet of power lines and ponderosa pine trees. Sever all live limbs and green needles from cut stumps. Ponderosa pine will be included when determining average tree spacing in the woodland stand. Cut stumps should be 6 inches or less in height. If oak motts or mountain mahogany shrubs are greater than 2 feet tall, cut to roughly 50% of their initial height. o Do not cut shrubs that are 4 inches DRC or greater. o Cut all pinyon pine, rocky mountain juniper, and one-seed junipers that are less than 6 inches DRC within the oak motts. All slash within 30' of fences on the west side of the project area will be hand piled into windrows. Windrows will be created 50feet off fence lines. Windrow dimensions will be 6ft H x 6ft W x 40ft L with a minimum of 10ft space between windrows where applicable. Dependent on fuel loading piles may serve as an alternative. Piling will be done by hand. Windrows shall be constructed in a manner that will allow piles to burn down with minimal "chunking" (i.e. raking the edges in to maximize consumption). Slash within the cutting area will be lopped and scattered through-out the area and will not exceed 24 inches in height. All slash will be at least 10 feet from leave trees to minimize crown scorch when slash is burned later. Remove cut material 30 feet from structures (example: fences, waters, powerlines), fiber optic ROW, and ponderosa pine trees. No travel on two track roads when soils are saturated by rain or snow; stay on gravel or pavement. No cutting in designated areas to protect cultural sites and/or improvements. Leave Trees All Ponderosa Pine except where densities require light thinning. Any tree having signs or survey markers. Any tree having wildlife nests or cavities. All trees along fence lines that have fence wire attached to them. Any standing dead tree regardless of species over 10" in diameter. Leave all oak over 4" in diameter. All Alligator Juniper Estimated start date is September 25, 2023, with performance time of 60 days. The Government will award based on the lowest price technically acceptable. The following factors must be included to be considered. Experience: Provide at least three (3) projects completed or ongoing, in the past five (5) years similar to project scope / size. Include all of the following information Name of Job, Period of Performance, Description of scope of work and location, Contract Company, Contact Information, and Total dollar value. Past Performance: To include a minimum of one (1) reference for each project provided for experience. The point of reference should be able to provide information about the following aspects of the project, Schedules, Budget, and Safety. Schedule: Provide work plan / schedule to show how the performance period will be met as outlined in the statement of work.