Harvest of Ash Trees within the Infested Area of Emerald Ash Borer

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

The primary objective is to acquire Emerald Ash Borer Beetles (EAB) from harvested infested ash trees to support the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) biological control production program. This involves tree removal, bucking, disposal, transportation, and loading services.

• Harvest 308 EAB-infested ash trees located in Winnebago County, Wisconsin.

• Services include tree removal, disposal, transportation, bucking, loading, and stacking.

• The Government will mark trees for removal.

• Harvested trees must be transported to Government facilities in Howell, MI, and Brighton, MI.

• Maintain bark intact throughout the harvesting and storage process.

• Contractor must maintain sufficient crews to support the harvest schedule.

• All work must be completed by March 1, 2026.

• Timely performance is critical to prevent EAB emergence from harvested material.

• Work at harvest sites, including loading, must occur during normal business hours (7:00 am – 6:00 pm local time).

• Provide at least 24-hour notice before finishing at a site.

• Post signage on public property indicating work is in progress.

• Remove USDA tree identification tags and return them to USDA personnel.

• Minimize damage to neighboring trees and existing vegetation.

• Trees to be cut as close to the ground as possible (no taller than 4 inches).

• Harvested trees to be cut into segments no longer than 27 inches and no shorter than 20 inches.

• Logs greater than 15 inches in diameter must be split to a maximum width of 10 inches.

• Dispose of waste and collateral trees according to site permits or landowner determination (e.g., limbing/lopping, chipping, spreading).

• Stumps in mow zones must be ground.

• No debris in drainage features.

• Burning is not permitted.

• Follow regulations for handling and disposal of infested trees and debris.

• Restore property to its original condition, rehabilitating any exposed mineral soil.

• Advanced tree felling methods may be required at the Scharine property site.

• Limit disruption to property occupants.

• USDA personnel will perform frequent on-site monitoring and final inspections.

• Period of Performance: Completion by March 1, 2026 (contingent on award by January 2, 2026).

• Locations for Harvesting: Scharine Property (Fox Crossing, WI) and Winnebago Community Park (Oshkosh, WI).

• Destination Facilities: Brighton, MI, and Howell, MI.

• Contractor must obtain necessary certifications, licenses, and permits (e.g., temporary road closures, transport of infested wood).

• Proof of liability insurance is required.

• A road closure permit and excavation permit are required for the Scharine property site.

• All tree harvesting services must be performed under the guidance of an ISA Certified Arborist or State Master Logger.

• Comply with all Federal, State, and local labor safety, health, and sanitation laws.

• Employees must pass a commercial background check and be verified via E-Verify.

• Contractor is responsible for repairing any damages caused by operations.

• Provide 24-hour notice before arriving to unload at destination facilities (arrivals between 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays).

• Provide all necessary personnel and equipment for unloading at Government facilities (e.g., forklift).

• Stack logs neatly, aligned, and parallel, maintaining specific heights within coolers.

• Logs will be kept together from harvest site locations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Exhibit A – Site Maps," provides visual representations of properties relevant to the opportunity. It details tree counts and average diameters at breast height (DBH) for specific locations.

• Scharine Property: Contains 157 trees with an average DBH of 9.
• Winnebago Community Park: Contains 151 trees with an average DBH of 15.
• Winter Park: Contains 76 trees with an average DBH of 11.

This exhibit is relevant for bidders who may need to understand the site conditions, potentially for landscaping, environmental assessments, or other site-specific work related to the overall opportunity. The data provided can inform planning and resource allocation for tasks involving these areas.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Exhibit C – Permits," outlines the permit requirements for the Winnebago Community Park and Fox Crossing areas. It serves as an attachment to the main solicitation, providing specific details bidders need to consider regarding necessary permits.

• Lists permit requirements for Winnebago Community Park.
• Lists permit requirements for Fox Crossing.

Bidders must review this exhibit to understand any permit-related obligations or requirements associated with performing work at the specified locations. This information is crucial for accurately planning project execution and potentially for inclusion in their proposals or cost estimates.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for tree removal, bucking, disposal, transportation, and loading services. The primary purpose is to acquire Emerald Ash Borer Beetles (EAB) from harvested infested trees to support EAB biological control production for USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ).

• Harvesting and disposal of approximately 308 marked trees with an average DBH of 12 inches from two specified locations in Wisconsin.

• Trees will be marked by the Government prior to commencement of work.

• Offerors quoting "or equal" items must provide descriptive literature demonstrating compliance with salient characteristics.

• Technical acceptability is as important as price, and all technical factors must be rated "acceptable."

• Anticipated award of a firm-fixed-price requirements contract.

• Contract will consist of one base period and two option periods, with a total duration not exceeding one year.

• Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government.

• Evaluation criteria include Technical Approach, Price, and Past Performance.

• Technical Approach will assess the offeror's ability to meet delivery requirements and thoroughly understand SOW requirements.

• Pricing must be submitted for the base and all option periods.

• Past Performance will be evaluated as "acceptable" or "neutral."

• Lowest price technically acceptable criteria will be used, evaluating only the lowest priced offer for technical acceptability first.

• Questions are due by February 12, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.

• Various small business provisions (HUBZone, Total Small Business Aside, Utilization of Small Business Concerns, Small Business Subcontracting Plan, Nonmanufacturer Rule) are applicable.

• Offerors must be registered in SAM.

• Technical data and supporting documents include Attachment 1 (Solicitation Clauses), Attachment 2 (Performance Work Statement), and Attachment 3 (Technical Capability and Experience Questionnaire).

• Applicable FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions are detailed, including specific requirements for DEI compliance and Personal Identity Verification (PIV).

• Service Contract Labor Standards may apply; wage determinations for potential performance locations are available.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a questionnaire designed to assess a bidder's technical capability and experience for the opportunity. It requires the prime contractor to provide specific details about their proposed resources, schedule, certifications, and past performance.

• Company Information: Prime Contractor Name, DUNS Number, Point of Contact.
• Resource Description: Number of crews, crew sizes, and equipment resources.
• Project Schedule: Detailed schedule for completing work within the estimated period of performance (March 1st, 2026), including specific timelines for tree harvesting, transportation, and unloading for three distinct jobs.
• Certifications: Evidence of International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or State Master Logger Certification for the proposed arborist. Subcontractor certifications require a letter of commitment.
• Past Performance: Three examples of recent (within the past five years) and relevant contracts for forest tree harvesting operations. For each reference, bidders must provide details on the project, contract, dates, work performed, and any concerns regarding quality, timeliness, or customer service, along with corrective actions taken.

This questionnaire is critical for bidders to demonstrate their qualifications and capacity to perform the required services. Responses will be used to evaluate the bidder's technical capability and relevant experience. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may impact the evaluation of the proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Exhibit B – Tree Inventory," provides a detailed inventory of trees located at three distinct sites: Scharine Property, Winnebago Community Park, and Winter Park. It serves as an attachment to a SAM.gov opportunity record, likely to inform bidders about the scope of work related to tree management or removal.

Each location is detailed with:

• State, County, and City
• GPS Coordinates
• Total number of trees inventoried
• Average Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)

For each tree, specific data points include:

• Tag Number
• Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)

Site Specifics:

• Scharine Property: 157 trees, Avg. DBH 9
• Winnebago Community Park: 151 trees, Avg. DBH 15
• Winter Park: 76 trees, Avg. DBH 11

Total Trees Across All Sites: 384

This inventory is crucial for bidders to understand the scale and nature of the tree-related work required for the opportunity. It provides specific data on the quantity and size of trees at each location, enabling more accurate proposal development, resource allocation, and cost estimation. Bidders should review this data to assess their capability and approach to fulfilling any requirements related to these trees.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 2015-4901, Revision 29) for Wisconsin, specifically Winnebago County. It lists various occupations and their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and fringe benefits required under the Service Contract Act (SCA).

This document is crucial for any bidder on a government contract in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, that is subject to the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to service employees performing work on the contract. Key information includes:

• Occupational Wage Rates: A comprehensive list of job titles with their required minimum hourly pay.
• Fringe Benefits: Details on Health & Welfare benefits, paid sick leave (EO 13706), vacation time, and paid holidays.
• Executive Order Applicability: Notes on Executive Orders 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and 13658 (minimum wage) and their applicability to contracts awarded within specific date ranges.
• Special Pay Differentials: Information on hazardous pay differentials for working with ordnance, explosives, and incendiary materials.
• Uniform Allowance: Guidelines on contractor responsibilities for providing and maintaining uniforms.
• Conformance Process: Instructions for requesting authorization for additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination using Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444).