F--Hazard Fuel Reduction project

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites Request for Proposals for the mechanical grinding of vegetation to reduce hazardous fuels loads on approximately 55 acres at the Erie National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Guys Mills, Crawford County, PA. Approximately 20 acres located on the Mohawk Shrub Fen Area of the Seneca Division consists of low lying land with pockets of standing water. The overstory vegetation contains hardwoods with diameters at breast height (DBH) of between 8 and 20 inches. The understory consists of vines, grasses, shrubs, and downed woody debris. The objective is to mechanically grind all areas containing multiflora rose, an invasive species. Large specimen hardwoods found throughout the fen area shall not be cut and ground. The actual fen, which is a rare wetland community, shall be marked by the government with pink flagging and is not included in the area to be treated. The second area is the Sugar Lake Division which has three separate treatment areas for a total of approximately 35 acres. All three areas, consisting primarily of the non-native Scotch pine, 4"-12" DBH, with occasional mixed hardwoods, spruce and white pine, shall be mechanically cut and ground. Within the treatment areas there are numerous hardwoods of various sizes ranging from saplings to pole-sized trees. The objective of the cutting and grinding process is to focus on treating the conifer tree species, and to leave standing as many hardwood trees as practical with the understanding that some hardwood trees must be cut and ground in order to treat the conifer tree species. Certain trees within each of the three treatment areas have been marked with blue paint as cut and leave trees. Cut and leave trees shall be severed from the stump and left in place without further grinding with the goal of protecting existing hardwood saplings from deer browse. Work at all treatment areas in both Divisions SHALL NOT be conducted during the migratory bird nesting season (April 15 through July 15) and during deer hunting season (November 27 through December 9). The boundaries of the treatment areas in both Divisions are marked with black and blue flagging. The Contractor shall use mechanized equipment to cut and grind the vegetation which WILL NOT remove the vegetation root mat, NOR create any ruts in the soil. The Contractor shall cut and grind the understory vegetation so the slash remains on-site, and is evenly distributed where the slash does not exceed one (1) foot in height. Logs slash, or other woody debris shall not be placed in streams channels, drainage ditches, roads, maintained trails or mowed areas. All trees outside the designated areas shall not be cut or damaged by vegetation cutting operations. If an undesignated tree is accidentally damaged, the Contractor shall be responsible for correcting the damage using standard arboricultural and pruning techniques. Vegetation shall be cut and treated so as not to damage adjacent homes, lawns, fences, pools, driveways, sidewalks, streets, buildings, utilities, vehicles or other property both public and private. TIME FOR COMPLETION-Work shall be completed within one year of the notice to proceed. The contractor shall schedule work between 7:30 am and 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. PRE-BID SITE VISIT-One PRE-BID SITE VISIT is scheduled for March 23, 2006 at 8:00 AM. Interested parties shall meet at the Erie NWR Office, 11296 Wood Duck Lane, Guys Mills, PA 16327. The refuge is located off Route 198E on Wood Duct Lane, 3/4 mile east of Guys Mills and 10 miles east of Meadville. In no event shall failure to inspect the site constitute grounds for any price adjustment. Questions regarding this scope of work shall be directed to Gerald Vickers at +1 (555) 000-0000 ext 123 weekdays between 7:00am and 3:30pm, Fax +1 (555) 000-0000 or email contact@example.gov. The NAICS Code for this project is 115310. All requests for the Package must be submitted in writing to the address above to the attention of Marsha Browning. Requests may be faxed to +1 (555) 000-0000. Requests must include the name of the company, address, telephone and FAX numbers and a point of contact and should reference the RFP #501816R005. Issue date will be o/a March 10, 2006. The RFP package is due at the above address by COB on April 12, 2006.