F -- Revegetation, Boulder Deer Road Seeding

DESC: 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 constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation, No. R6-21-04-50, is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2001-24. This requirement is 100 percent set-aside for small businesses. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 562910, with a size standard is $12 million. 1. SPECIFICATIONS: The Colville National Forest has a requirement for revegetation. The work consists of supplying and applying revegetation materials on constructed cut and fill slopes along the Boulder-Deer Road, Ferry County Road 61, Northeast Washington State, Ferry County. The project can be reached by traveling west and north on State Route 395 to the junction with Ferry County Road 61 (the Boulder Deer Road), then west on County Road 61 towards Curlew and the project. Note: County Road 61 may be icy in the fall, and is less well sanded than State Route 395. The weather conditions are typical for the mountains of north east Washington. Access off of plowed State and County Roads begins to get snow in October. Freezing temperatures including freezing rain and snow can be expected in the project area. Snow generally melts in the day time at the lower elevations on the project and may not completely melt during the day at the higher elevations, especially in late October. The Boulder Deer Road Seeding drawings are part of this solicitation and any resultant contract. For a copy of the drawings, please email to contact@example.gov and on your request write RFQ R6-21-04-50, drawings. Application: The Contractor shall apply revegetation materials by the hydraulic method utilizing hydro-seeding equipment capable of providing a uniform application using water as the carrying agent, and capable of reaching the top of cut slopes that are a minimum of 65 feet high. The Contractor shall pre-wet the slopes by spraying water alone, with no additives, on slopes prior to applying revegetation materials in a slurry mixture. The Contractor shall not apply revegetation materials during rain or snow. The Contractor shall apply revegetation materials so that the application can cure on the slope for 48 hours without rain or snow: The Contractor shall apply revegetation materials between date of award and October 30, 2004. The Contractor shall not seed during windy weather or when the ground is excessively wet, frozen, snow covered, or otherwise untillable. Revegetation materials shall be applied as a slurry mix, according at the following rates: 1. Seed as supplied per load by the Contracting Officer; 2. Composted Mulch, 4000 pounds per acre includes trace element weight; 3. Bio-stimulant, 5 gallons per acre; 4. Soil Stabilizer, 65 gallons per acre; 5. Soil Stabilizer Reinforcement, 20 pounds per acre; and 6. Tracer, 5 pounds per acre. Revegetation materials include the following: Composted Mulch. The Contractor shall furnish a product which provides a nutrient and energy source for soil microorganisms and plant life. Fertile-Fibers , NutriMulch N641, and NutriMulch S641 are acceptable products and may be applied at the same rate. Identification by brand name is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, and is intended to indicate the quality and characteristics of products that will be satisfactory. Other products meeting the following salient characteristics will also be acceptable: a. Contains a minimum of 12 percent composted poultry manure and supplies not less than 6-4-1 NPK time released; b. Contains a minimum of 85 percent organic substances (derived from plant or animal material) by weight; c. Contains not less than 2.5 percent calcium; d. Contains granular humic substances, including humic acid, fulvic acid, and amino sugars; e. Biodegradable, non-polluting, nonvolatile, non-toxic, free of weed seed, and contains no heavy metals; f. Contains not more than 12 percent moisture; g. Pelletized and bagged for handling. Fertile-Fivers , NutriMulch N641, and NutriMulch S641 are manufactured by Quattro environmental Inc., Coronado, CA, +1 (555) 000-0000. Trace elements shall be added to the composted mulch mixture at the bagging plant at the following rates per ton of Composted Mulch: a. Potasseum: 5 pounds per ton; b. Phosphorous: 17.5 pounds per ton; c. Magneseum: 7.5 pounds per ton; d. Sulphur: 10 pounds per ton; e. Boron: 0.5 pounds per ton; f. Zinc: 2 pounds per ton; g. Agricultural Lime: 210 pounds per ton Soil Binder. The Contractor shall furnish a product which bonds soil particles together to form a transparent, flexible, water-insoluble, porous membrane structure within the topmost soil layers. Atlas SoilLok , Henkle Terra Control , and Henkle 56-8379 - are acceptable products and may be applied at the same rate. Identification by brand name is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, and is intended to indicate the quality and characteristics of the products that will be satisfactory. Other products meeting the following salient characteristics will also be acceptable: a. Consists of a polyvinyl acetate compound containing not less than 55 percent active solids by weight; b. Contains no polyacrylates or polyvinyl-acrylics; c. Readily mixable in water; d. Flexible and retains its flexibility after curing; e. Does not inhibit water and oxygen infiltration; f. Organic, biodegradable, non-polluting, non-volatile, non-toxic, and leaves no undesirable residues in the soil; g. Does not impair existing vegetative growth; h. Does not re-emulsify once dry; i. Non-injurious to seeds, human and animal life; j. Non-flammable; k. Effective with either acid or alkaline soils. Soil Binder Reinforcement. The Contractor shall furnish a product which enhances the hydraulic application and structural integrity of a hydraulic mulch slurry by providing mechanical cross bonding. The product shall have the following characteristics: a. Consists of polypropylene fibers: 1. Minimum 0.5 inch long (ASTM D-4101, Group 1/Class1/Grade2); 2. Tensile strength, 20,000 pounds per square inch (ASTM D-2256); 3. Specific gravity, 0.91 gram per cubic centimeter (ASTM D-792); 4. Photo-degradable; 5. Remain functional for one growing season. Tracer. The Contractor shall furnish a product which produces a highly visible green tint to the turf establishment slurry mixture when sprayed on the ground. The product shall have the following characteristics: a. Base component consists of malachite crystals; b. Color lasts for at least 1 month after application; c. Non-polluting, non-volatile, non-toxic, and leaves no undesirable residues in the soil; d. Does not impair existing vegetative growth; e. Does not re-emulsify once dry; f. Non-injurious to seeds, human and animal life; Bio-stimulant. The Contractor shall furnish a product which improves soil structure, water percolation, and nutrient availability in the soil and assists in the development and establishment of mycorrhizal fungal colonization. Quatro Environmental, Inc.,s Kiwi Power , Quattro Biotech - and Quattro Bioscience - are acceptable products and are applied at the same rate. Identification by brand name is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, and is intended to indicate the quality and characteristics of products that will be satisfactory. Other products meeting the following salient characteristics will also be acceptable: a. Consists of an organically derived compound consisting of the following key ingredients: 1. Sarsapogenin, an organic bacterial activator; 2. Parigenin, an essential amino acid for soil microbes; 3. Humic and Fulvic acid, which facilitates the development of enzymes essential for photosynthesis; 4. Cytokinins, a growth regulator that governs germination of seed; b. Organic, biodegradable, non-polluting, non-volatile, non-toxic, and leaves no understandable residues in the soil. Chemically derived substitutions are not acceptable; c. Does not impair existing vegetative growth; d. Non-injurious to seeds, human and animal live; e. Effective with either acid or alkaline soils. Seed. Government will provide the seed for use on this project. Revegetation Material Storage: The Contractor shall store material in a location, and in such a manner that it is protected from degradation from moisture and animal damage. Protect bio-stimulant and soil binder from freezing. The pit floor of the Snowcap Pit, shown in the plans may be used as a staging area. Coordinate storage of materials so as not to block access to gravel stockpiles in the pit. Submittals. The Contractor shall submit the Revegetation Materials Certification five work days prior to start of work. Measurement: The Contractor shall measure application of revegetation materials and pre-wetting slopes by the slurry unit. One slurry unit consists of approximately 1300 gallons of water plus enough revegetation materials mixed at the specified rates to cover 1 acre. No additional payment will be made when the revegetation materials are applied in more than one application, at the option of the Contractor. Traffic Control: The Contractor shall provide - construction ahead warning signs, black on orange, 36 inches by 36 inches minimum size, at each end of the project segment being worked on for the day. 1000 feet each side of the area actually being worked on with the hydro-seeder at the time, provide - construction equipment ahead warning signs, black on orange, 36 inches by 36 inches minimum size. Contractor shall install signs in stabilized temporary sign holders at the outside edge of the road shoulder so as to be visible by traffic in the oncoming lane. The Contractor shall remove warning signs at the end of the work day. Water Sources: Water sources shown on the plans may need a stand alone pump and hose system to fill the hydro-seeder in a timely manner. The Contactor shall provide a pump and hose system as needed for efficient filling of the hydroseeder. Mobilization: This work consists of moving personnel, equipment, material, and incidentals to the project and performing all work necessary before beginning work at the project site. Mobilization includes obtaining permits, insurance and bonds. Progress payments for mobilization will be paid as follows: A. When 5 percent of the original contact amount is earned from other bid items, 50 percent of the mobilization item or 5 percent of the original contract amount, whichever is less, will be paid. B. When 10 percent of the original contract amount is earned from other bid items, 100 percent of the mobilization item or 10 percent of the original contract amount, whichever is less, will be paid. C. Any portion of the mobilization item in excess of 10 percent of the original contract amount will be paid after final acceptance. Commencement, Prosecution and Completion of Work. The Contractor shall be required to (a) commence work under this contract within 5 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the notice to proceed, (b) prosecute the work diligently, and (c) complete the entire work ready for use not later than 30 calendar days from the notice to proceed. Currently the Government is estimating the Notice to Proceed be issued by September 30, 2004. II. PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES: The following provisions and clauses are hereby incorporated into this RFQ by reference, (full text of the clauses may be accessed electronically at www.arnet.gov/far/): FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items (see below for evaluation factors); FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes of Executive Orders-Commercial Items [in paragraph b check 5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25 and 30 in paragraph c check 1 (wage determination 1977-0209, Revision 30, dated July 26, 2004]. No addenda apply to these provisions and clauses. III. QUOTING REQUIREMENTS: Vendors wishing to respond to this solicitation shall provide this office with the following: a price quote on company letterhead for the requested items showing the following: CLIN 1, Supplying and Applying Revegetation, method of measurement is actual quantity, pay unit is slurry unit, estimated quantity is 16, unit price and total price; CLIN 2, Pre-wetting Slopes, method of measurement is actual quantity, pay unit is slurry unit, estimated quantity is 16, unit price and total price; and CLIN 3, Mobilization, method of measurement is lump sum, pay unit is job, estimated quantity is 1, unit price and total price Quoters shall provide a listing of contracts completed in the last 3 years of similar work (include project name/identification, contract name and telephone number). Quoters shall provide the list of products used on this project. Quoters shall also include a competed copy of provision FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, with their quote. IV. AWARD: The Government will award contract(s) to the responsible offeror(s) whose offer conforming to the solicitation represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors will be used to evaluate quotations: (1) past performance (customer satisfaction, age of machine, business relations, timeliness of performance), (2) how the proposed products meet or comply with the Government's requirement, and (3) price. The Government may reject any or all quotes, issue orders to other than the lowest quote, and waive minor informalities or irregularities in quotes received. If necessary, the Government may conduct discussions with any quoter. V. QUOTE DUE DATE: Quotes shall be received by September 13, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. Only written quotes (mail, fax copy or hand carried quotes) will be accepted. Mail or hand carry quotes to the following address: USDA Forest Service, Colville National Forest, Acquisition Management, 765 South Main, Colville, WA 99114. Fax number is +1 (555) 000-0000. Quoters shall verify Government receipt of fax copy quotes prior to closing by calling Cathy Van Alyne at +1 (555) 000-0000 or Sharon Gies at +1 (555) 000-0000. All quotes should be clearly marked with the quoter's name and solicitation number, R6-21-04-50. All responsible sources may submit a quote which will be considered.