Hickman Butte Lookout Staffing

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION The Hickman Lookout tower is a 41 foot wooden tower with L-4 cab. It is located at 4385 feet elevation and approximately 30 miles north of Zigzag, Oregon. The Lookout is in the Bull Run Watershed. The Bull Run Watershed is closed to public entry, special access gate is required. From the Zigzag Ranger District go north one mile on Lolo Pass Rd. Take Barlow Trail Rd. heading West 5 miles. Take FS road 14 heading north four miles. There are two gates on the 14 road. Access past the gate must be coordinated with the Zigzag Ranger District Office (503-622-3191). Take FS road 12 heading east six miles. Take the 400 Rd. three miles to the Lookout. The 400 Rd. is a primitive Forest road and a high clearance vehicle is recommended. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS The work shall consist of lookout services to detect and report smokes or fires within and adjacent to the Mt. Hood National Forest, to monitor and forward radio messages, and collect, record, and report daily fire weather observations. Lookout may be requested to monitor Portland Water Bureau radio traffic with a provided radio. All communications and reports shall be in English. Working/living at lookout requires physical demands. The L-4 cabin is only accessible by wooden steps, approximately 60. Access to the open walk-around deck is through the trap door which weighs approximately 40 pounds. Supplies can be hoisted on the walk-around deck with pulley and rope. The restroom facilities consist of an outhouse adjacent to base of the tower. Environmental conditions can vary during the summer and fall. The L-4 cabin is furnished with bed, desk, chair, fire finder, dresser and shelves. Cook stove, heater and refrigerator are powered by propane system and 300 gallon tank. The tower is equipped with 4 solar panels, 3 storage batteries, inverter and 3 outlets with 12 volt and 120 amps plugs. The tower is protected by lightning with a braided copper grounding system. Facilities maintenance may be performed at the option of the contractor using Government supplies and equipment. The contractor will coordinate necessary maintenance with Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer Representative. This is a performance based service contract and the contractor shall be in compliance with all established standards and requirements of this contract to be successful. The work shall consist of lookout services to detect and report smokes or fires within and adjacent to the Mt. Hood National Forest, to monitor and forward radio messages, and collect, record, and report daily fire weather observations. Lookout may be requested to monitor Portland Water Bureau radio traffic with a provided radio. All communications and reports shall be in English. Work will begin July 1 and conclude October 15 for the base year 2022, with 4 option years following Lookout daily staffing core duty hours are 0800-1800hrs with weather readings at 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600 Please reach out to Ben Fox-Shapiro at benjamin.fox-shapiro@usda.gov with any questions