GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST- Cooke City White Bark Pine Restoration

The Forest Service is in need of whitebark pine restoration activities to reduce the tree stocking levels of non-whitebark pine conifer species in mixed stands and, by the deliberate selection of whitebark pine as leave trees, improve the overall condition, health, and vigor of the stand based on the prescribed objectives set forth. The purpose is to reduce competition from other tree species and therefore promote whitebark pine, and to create conditions (openings) favorable for regeneration of whitebark pine and unfavorable to mountain pine beetle attacks (thinning to 80 square feet of basal area for example). This solicitation is for whitebark pine stand improvement and thinning activities on the Gardiner Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies (except those designated as Government furnished), and incidentals to perform all work necessary on the areas specified. All aspects of the work program shall be performed in an organized, systematic manner to assure services will be performed over the entire project area. Work Item B.1.1 is located in the Fisher Creek Drainage about 3 miles north of Cooke City, MT. T9S, R 14E, Sections 11, 12, and 13. There are about 129 acres of thinning non-whitebark species on the north side of the drainage (hereafter referred to as Sheep Mountain units) in 3 separate units, and about 71 acres of clump thinning to create openings on the south side (hereafter referred to as Henderson Mountain units) of the drainage in 2 separate units. The Sheep Mountain units are comprised of a variety of tree species of various size classes. There is whitebark pine throughout, mixed with Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, and subalpine fir. Size classes include seedlings, saplings, poles, mature, and old growth in all species classes. The Henderson Mountain units have very few whitebark and consist mostly of subalpine fir, Englelmann spruce, and lodgepole pine. The treatment units are interspersed randomly with untreated "controls" (see diagram X). The project areas may be reached by Forest Service roads that are accessible by a standard two-wheel drive pickup truck equipped for mountain driving during the normal operating season, unless roads are wet, then use of a 4X4 vehicle will be required, except as noted below. The Government assumes no obligation to plow snow or do special maintenance to keep roads open. Price Range: $25,000-100,000. A complete solicitation package will be available on this site by May 4, 2012.