PIE TOWN THINNING, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, CATRON 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 (140L3724Q0116) 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.)
Price Schedule (ESTIMATED TOTAL ACRAGE NOT TO EXCEED 350)
Base - Estimated 250 acres x $_____ per acre = $_________
*Bid Option: estimated 100 acres x $_____ per acre = $_________
*Bid Option: The number of acres awarded are dependent upon bid price per acre. There is a possibility to add additional acres if additional funds become available before the contract is completed. Both bid options are within the same project area, scope of work, maps included.
In accordance with the procedures in FAR Part 12 and 13, RFQ 140L3724Q0116 is available for viewing through electronic commerce via Bureau of 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 provides the best value to the Government on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable.
Quotes are due Wednesday, June 26, 2024, by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Contractors submit quotes by email to awhetham@blm.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 awhetham@blm.gov.
The provisions and clauses attached apply to this solicitation.
Contractors Signature _______________
Date: _______________
Pie Town Thinning 2024 Fuels Reduction Project Catron County, New Mexico
Statement of Work
Description
Treatments consist of hand thinning with chainsaws and hand piling of slash and debris created from the thinning.
The purpose of this project is to reduce the density of piñon and juniper trees within the project area. Based on fire behavior prediction and surveys of forest vegetation in the project area, the density of Pinon-Juniper vegetation that currently exists provides a very receptive fuel bed for stand replacement fire. Under current conditions, fire can spread easily both horizontally and vertically. The stands of high density have resulted in increased soil erosion, reduced natural vegetative production, and an altered community structure that has departed from the normal range of variability.
Location of Project
The project is located east of Pie Town, New Mexico north of US Hwy 60, Township 1 N, Range 12 W, Sections 19 and 20 on the Pie Town Quadrangle. Project area is a variable mix of treeless swales, open woodland, and closed woodland on relatively flat terrain. Approximately 60% of the area is swales and open woodlands, and 40% of the area closed woodlands.
Legal Description
The Pie Town project area is located in Catron County on BLM lands adjacent to Pie Town, New Mexico on the Pie Town Quadrangles. T1N R12W S 19 and 20.
Boundaries of Project Areas
The project perimeter is an irregular shape and is bounded by a combination of roads, fence lines and natural features such as drainage bottoms, and ridge tops. The project boundaries are identified by florescent pink or orange flagging and, or orange paint. The project is an estimated 250 acres in size. Up to 100 additional acres may be added to the project depending on treatment cost and available budget.
Schedule of Implementation
Estimated start date: 08/01/2024 Report completion date: 09/30/2024. Work on the project will not begin prior to August 1, 2024, for the protection of migratory birds.
Access
Access is facilitated by US Highway 60, graveled county road, and two track roads. Access to the project area will be from the above-mentioned roads. All access into the project will be by existing county roads and two track roads or by foot; foot travel lengths would be less than 0.25 miles to the outlying portions of the project area. No vehicle access will be allowed off existing travel routes. See map for access points.
Closures due to High Fire Danger may also limit entry into the project area, initial start dates may need to be adjusted accordingly.
Prescription
No Girdling or Pruning.
No cutting of any shrubs or oak trees.
Desired spacing would be a mix of the following three prescriptions:
Average tree spacing will be 30 feet.
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.
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), Alligator Juniper, (Juniperus deppeana), and Piñon (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 Alligator Juniper (Juniperus deppeana), 4th Piñon Pine (Pinus edulis).
Due to stem characteristics of Juniper and Piñon, 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 piñon 16-inch diameter or greater DSH.
Cut any live Piñon 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 piñon 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.
Cut and felled material shall be bucked into lengths of 4-5 feet to speed drying.
Piling will be done by hand.
Slash piles 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).
All cut material 3 inches and larger in diameter will be left out of slash piles to allow for later fuelwood gathering. All limbs < 3 inches in diameter shall be removed from larger cut material.
All piles will be at least 10 feet from leave trees to minimize crown scorch when slash piles are burned later.
Remove cut material 30 feet from structures (example: fences, waters, powerlines), fiber optic ROW, and ponderosa pine trees.
Cut material that is less than 3 inches in diameter will be placed in arroyos and erosion "cuts" located within 1 chain (66 feet) of cut trees to help slow head cutting and soil erosion.
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.
Performance time 60 days.
