Description
Rotorwash IRSC – PPS-NPO Stewardship Contracting Branch 12363N25Q4001 Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, Methow Valley Ranger District Request for Information and Pre-proposal Site Visit Classification Original Set Aside: NONE Product Service Code: F099 - NATURAL RESOURCES/CONSERVATION- OTHER NAICS Code: 115310 - Support Activities for Forestry Place of Performance: Winthrop, Washington 83805 Description: This is a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain market and capability information from prospective offerors. Information may be used for planning purposes. This RFI is only for the purpose of identifying potential sources as part of USDA-Forest Service market research. No Request for Quote (RFQ) or Request for Proposal (RFP) exists at this time; therefor, do not request a copy of an RFQ/RFP. A response to this notice is not an offer and will not be accepted by the Forest Service to form a binding contract. At this time, it is unknown when the Forest Service might solicit a contract for this work. Although "proposal" and "offeror" may be used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. Information received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Background: The Forest Service is contemplating utilizing Integrated Resource Service Contracts (IRSC) to accomplish a variety of projects. These can include traditional trading of goods (included forest products) for services performed; or Service IRSCs with no included forest products and all forest products available as Timber Subject to Agreement (TSA). These types of contracts are being considered on the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forests. Work items included in this RFI, and other possible work items may be solicited in projects with various objectives. If awarded, they shall be awarded under the following authority: Stewardship Authority: Section 604 (16 USC 6591c) of Public Law 108-148 as amended by Section 8205 of Public Law 113-79, the Agricultural Act of 2014—Grants the U.S. Forest Service (Government) permanent authority to enter into stewardship contracts or agreements to achieve land management goals for the National Forests or public lands that meet local and rural community needs. Section 8205 supersedes the temporary authority granted to the Forest Service (Government) in section 347 of Public Law 105-277, the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Appropriations Act, 1999. NAICS: 115310: Support Services for Forestry , Size Standard: $34M Fuels Management Services. Stewardship authority grants the Forest Service Chief or designee the authority to aggregate contractual requirements into stewardship projects and solicit those requirements utilizing full and open competition. Project Location: The Rotorwash project is located approximately 3 miles southeast of Twisp, Washington. Access to the project area is via County and Forest Service roads within the Alder Creek area south of highway 20. The proposed project area lies generally within: T33N R21E Sections 35,36;T33N R22E Sections 30, 31 Okanogan County, Washington. Attachment 3, Rotorwash IRSC Project Area Map is provided with this notice to allow contractors to familiarize themselves with the project area. Planned Period of Performance: All work is tentatively anticipated to have the following final completion dates: December 31, 2030. Description of Work: The Rotorwash IRSC will increase the resiliency to wildfire and disease and improve forest health within the Wildland Urban Interface of Twisp, Washington by using a variety of commercial treatments and prescribed fire line preparation. The Rotorwash IRSC will address this with commercial thinning treatments, fuels reduction and fireline construction work items. Forest products anticipated for removal will be commercial sawtimber. Proposed services will include hand falling, helicopter yarding (w/tops attached), processing and transportation of merchantable forest product material to various manufacturing facilities in the area and burn block fireline construction. The core project area of 550 acres includes commercial thinning, and radial thinning around dominant ponderosa pine. It also includes approximately 9 miles of fireline construction for prescribed burn preparation. The project area also includes 450 acres of optional commercial treatment. Estimated Timber Volume is as follows: Rotorwash: Sawtimber estimates – 3 MMBF (1,500 CCF). Sawtimber is defined as logs with DIB greater than 5” and 7.0” diameter at breast height and containing a 16’ merchantable length. There is an additional 450 acres of commercial treatment, optional/subject to agreement, with an estimated 2.4 MMBF. Pre-proposal Site Visit Date and Time: Prior to issuing Call Orders, the Methow Valley Ranger District will be holding a site visit for prospective contractors to facilitate dialogue on contractual requirements that are anticipated in the contract and any operational limitations foreseen by attendees. The Methow Valley Ranger District will hold a site visit for the Rotorwash IRSC on October 23, 2024. The Rotorwash IRSC site visit will begin at 11:30 a.m. PST with a meeting location at the Okanogan Fire District 6 Fire station, 234 W 2nd Ave, Twisp, Washington, 98856. Please RSVP if you intend to attend @ 360-630-8681or (insert matts number). Information Requested: **Respondents to this RFI are requested to answer the questions in the attached questionnaire form, 2. Questionnaire Rotorwash IRSC RFI and return to the contacts listed on the form. * * Please answer the questions to the best of your ability and provide further information if you find it necessary to clarify your capabilities and ideas. Return responses are requested by November 13th, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time .Thank you very much for your time and energy in your response. Obtaining this information from industry is vital to successful development of an IRSC program to be used as a tool for treatment and restoration. Attachments: Rotorwash IRSC Request for Information Letter Questionnaire Rotorwash IRSC Request for Information Rotorwash IRSC Project Area Map