Idaho Panhandle National Forests - Precommercial Thinning & Pruning

PRECOMMERCIAL THINNING & PRUNING. The Forest Service intends to solicit for (one base year, plus two option years, which will be contingent on budgets constraints for the specific year) tree thinning, pruning and stand improvement activities on the North Zone(NZ), Central Zone(CZ) and the South Zone(SZ)of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests,. Work will begin in the 2011 field season. Work consists of precommercial tree thinning, pruning, slash treatment, and stand improvement activities to reduce the tree density, by deliberate selection of desirable leave trees, to improve the overall health and condition of the stands based on prescribed objectives in a written Silviculture Summary Prescription. Tree selection and cutting of undesirable or excess trees will provide space for the desirable leave trees to grow, develop, and reduce the incidence of insect and diseases that affect growth, and undesirable tree qualities. NOTE: It is not known at this time specific locations or acreage for this solicitation due to budget constraints. Interested parties are encouraged to make contact to the Contract Officer Representatives listed below for more information concerning possible worksites conditions and when known worksites are accessible for site visits. Contacts for the NZ will be Jamie Wynsma(208-267-6763), Monika Wood(208-443-6841) and Jeff Pennick(208-263-6678); for the CZ William Corthen at 208-783-2115, and for the SZ John Montgomery at 208-245-6015. Samples of location maps and Silviculture Summary Prescriptions are attached to this notice. Visit the worksites as soon as sites are accessible from snow conditions and roads are passable without causing damage. Gated sites will be restricted due to Threatened and Endangered Species. Estimated Start Work Date (for Base Year) is June 15, 2011. Anticipated Issuance Date will be April-May, 2011.