Hazard Fuel Reducton Chopping, St. Marks NWR, FL

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

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for hazard fuel reduction through single drum chopping on 1,069 acres within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Newport Tract, Wakulla County, Florida.

• Primary Task: Single drum chopping of woody brush and trees up to 4 inches in diameter (measured 4.5 feet above ground).

• Areas: Designated acres within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, generally in flatwoods sites, some of which are mesic/wet and adjacent to wetlands.

• Delineation: Areas will be marked with flagging ribbon, bulldozed lines, painted trees, roads, or natural boundaries.

• Deliverable: Reduction of shrub competition, creation of a fuel bed for prescribed burning, and preparation of sites for groundcover restoration.

• Chopping Size: All brush, trees, and dead woody debris up to 4" in diameter (measured 4.5 ft above ground) must be chopped, unless otherwise designated.

• Leave Trees: Living pine trees and snags larger than 4" diameter at breast height and taller than 10 feet must be left standing.

• Chopping Depth: Limbs/tops/branches must not be left more than 1 ft tall.

• Overlap: Each row of chopping must overlap the preceding row by a minimum of 10% of the chopper width.

• Soil Disturbance: Minimize soil disturbance and rutting. Low ground pressure equipment is required. No heavy equipment allowed within treatment units sooner than 48 hours after a 2-inch rain event.

• Penalties: $25.00 deduction per damaged designated leave tree.

• Location: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Wakulla County, Florida.

• Work Completion: Between May 1, 2026, and October 15, 2026.

• Contractor Furnished Items: All materials and equipment needed, except for Government-Furnished Property (none specified).

• Equipment: Minimum 99 HP dozer or 172 HP skidder. Equipment must be in good mechanical condition, with repairs completed within THREE WORKING DAYS. Tractors require protective canopies and fire extinguishers. Chopper blades must be sharp and no thicker than 1/4 inch.

• Personnel: Contractor must furnish 4 personnel and 4 pieces of equipment (with 4 choppers) to treat an average of 35 acres per working day.

• Erosion Control: Contractor must avoid unnecessary soil erosion, install/maintain drainage dips and water bars, and perform necessary erosion prevention work.

• Environmental Protection: Prevent pollution of streams, lakes, and reservoirs. Keep all streams free of contractor-generated debris.

• Archaeological/Historical Resources: Cease work and notify the Refuge Officer upon discovery of suspected materials.

• Access: Protect all trails, roads, and woods roads. Repair any damage caused by operations. Equipment access is restricted, with specific guidelines provided by the Refuge Officer.

• Inspection: All equipment will be inspected for cleanliness upon arrival. Work will be inspected as it progresses.

• Method of Measurement: Acreage determined by aerial photo mapping (ArcMap). GPS track logs required weekly for verification.

• Basis of Payment: Unit bid price per satisfactorily chopped acre, minus deductions for damaged leave trees. Payment will not be made for unsatisfactory work until corrected.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Quote Schedule for the Hazard Fuel Reduction Chopping opportunity on St. Marks NWR Newport Tract. It outlines the pricing structure for the required services.

• Hazard Fuel Reduction Chopping: 1,069 Acres
• Mobilization/Demobilization: 1 Lot
• Unit Price: Inclusive of all supplies/materials to perform the work.
• Period of Performance: May 1, 2026, to October 15, 2026.

Bidders must use this schedule to provide their pricing for the specified services. The unit price must encompass all necessary supplies and materials for the hazard fuel reduction chopping and mobilization/demobilization activities within the defined period of performance.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a map indicating the location of a "Fire Tower" relative to nearby roads and landmarks. It appears to be an attachment to provide site-specific location information.

• The map displays roads such as US HWY 98, Old Plank Rd, and Bloxham Cutoff Rd.
• Landmarks like "Ouzts Too Oyster Bar & Grill" and "Newport Campground" are shown.
• A specific point of interest is labeled "Fire Tower" with a blue callout bubble.

This attachment is relevant for bidders who may need to visit the "Fire Tower" location as part of the opportunity, for example, for a site visit or to understand the physical context of the work.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, "Register of Wage Determinations Under the Service Contract Act." It provides the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in specific geographic areas. This is relevant for contractors to ensure they are meeting labor cost requirements for covered contracts.

• Wage Determination Number: 2015-4569, Revision No.: 29
• Area: Florida Counties of Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Wakulla
• Occupational Listings: Includes a comprehensive list of job titles, corresponding occupation codes, and minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Specifies Health & Welfare benefits ($5.55/hour or $5.09/hour under EO 13706), Vacation (based on years of service), and Holidays (minimum of eleven paid holidays per year).
• Executive Orders: Notes applicability of EO 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and EO 13658 (minimum wage rate adjustments).
• Footnotes: Includes specific details for "COMPUTER EMPLOYEES" and "AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND WEATHER OBSERVERS" regarding exemptions, night pay, and Sunday pay.
• Hazardous Pay Differential: Details 8% and 4% differentials for work involving ordnance, explosives, and incendiary materials.
• Uniform Allowance: Outlines requirements for providing and maintaining uniforms, including reimbursement for cleaning.
• Conformance Process: Explains the procedure for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination using Form SF-1444.

This document is crucial for bidders to accurately estimate labor costs for any contract that falls under the Service Contract Act and is covered by this wage determination. It dictates the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to employees performing work in the specified Florida counties. Bidders must incorporate these rates into their proposals to ensure compliance and competitive pricing.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a questionnaire designed to collect information from potential bidders regarding their company's experience, personnel, and past performance. It must be completed and submitted with the proposal to ensure compliance with the solicitation.

• Company Information: Name, SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI), address, Point of Contact (POC) details.
• Business Type: Selection from predefined categories.
• Experience: Years of experience in services, contracting (prime/sub-contractor), and specifically with Federal Government Contracts.
• Past Performance: Disclosure of any failures to complete work and reasons.
• Personnel: Minimum/maximum number of employees, confirmation of regular payroll, anticipated number of employees for the project, and sole proprietor status.
• Subcontractor Information: If applicable, details of any subcontractors to be used.
• Employee Experience: Present position/title and years of experience for each employee performing the work.
• References: Details for up to three (3) relevant past performance/experience references completed within the past three (3) years, similar in size and complexity to the solicitation's Scope of Work. Preference is given to Government contracts. Each reference requires:
  • Contract Agency or Company Name
  • Contract Number (if applicable)
  • Total Contract $ Value
  • Point of Contact (POC) Name, Telephone #, E-mail address
  • Contract Start and End Date
  • Scope of Project (detailed description)
• Certification: A statement certifying the completeness and correctness of the provided information.

This form is critical for bidders to demonstrate their qualifications and relevant experience. Failure to provide complete and accurate information as requested in this questionnaire may result in non-compliance with the solicitation requirements. Bidders must carefully document their company and employee experience, as well as provide detailed information on past contracts to support their proposal.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a solicitation (Solicitation Number: 140FS326R0003) for commercial products and services. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is procuring services related to "Roller Chopping 1069 ACS" at the FWS North Florida Refuge Complex.

• The primary service is "Roller Chopping 1069 ACS".

• Specific details regarding the scope of work are to be found in the "See Schedule" section, which is not fully provided in the initial pages.

• The contract type is anticipated to be a Firm Fixed Price contract.

• The period of performance is from May 1, 2026, to October 15, 2026.

• The solicitation includes an option to extend services for up to 6 months.

• The Offer Due Date is March 25, 2026, at 1400 ED time.

• Proposals will be evaluated based on three factors: Technical, Past Performance, and Price.

• Technical evaluation will assess the offeror's approach and ability to meet stated requirements.

• Past Performance will be evaluated using submitted Past Performance Questionnaires and potentially other sources like CPARS.

• Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness, with the total price for all options added to the basic requirement.

• The Government reserves the right to select other than the lowest-priced offer if it determines a higher-priced offer provides better overall value.

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Business concerns (100%).

• The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 115310, with a size standard of $11.5.

• Offerors are urged to inspect the site where services are to be performed.

• The solicitation incorporates numerous FAR clauses by reference, including those related to contract terms, representations and certifications, and specific requirements like electronic invoicing (IPP) and Buy American provisions.