LAND OBSTRUCTION REMOVAL AND DISTURBED LAND REVEGETATION

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "SD_CS-05_Excavation_2022.docx", provides construction specifications for excavation work. It details the scope, classification, use of excavated materials, disposal of waste, excavation limits, borrow excavation, and procedures for overexcavation.

• Scope: Covers excavation required by drawings and specifications, including material disposal.
• Classification: Defines Common Excavation, Rock Excavation, and Unclassified Excavation based on material properties and required excavation methods.
• Use of Excavated Materials: Specifies that suitable excavated materials must be used in construction fills, with suitability determined by the NRCS inspector.
• Disposal of Waste Materials: Outlines contractor responsibilities for disposing of surplus and unsuitable materials at designated locations, ensuring sites are left in a neat, drainable condition.
• Excavation Limit: Mandates compliance with OSHA Construction Industry Standards (29 CFR Part 1926) Subpart P for safety and stability. Excavations must meet specified elevations and dimensions for safe installation of work.
• Borrow Excavation: Addresses the need for additional material from designated borrow areas when onsite sources are insufficient, with requirements for shaping and drainage of borrow pits.
• Overexcavation: Details corrective actions for excavation beyond specified lines and grades, typically involving approved, compacted earthfill, with specific exceptions for subgrade materials and a requirement for engineer approval of corrective measures.

This specification is crucial for bidders to understand the requirements related to all excavation activities, material handling, disposal, safety compliance (OSHA), and the quality standards for earthwork and borrow pits. It directly impacts the scope of work, potential costs, and site management responsibilities for any construction involving excavation.

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

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in South Dakota. The goal is to support the NRCS mission of helping people conserve, maintain, and improve natural resources and the environment.

The contractor shall plan, manage, and execute services including obstruction removal (e.g., rock piles, woody vegetation, junk, debris, old materials) and disturbed land revegetation using a specified "Border Mix" seed. This includes implementing easement restoration plans and wetland restoration plans. Key tasks involve:

• Obstruction Removal: Removing various obstructions, either by hauling them offsite or burying them onsite according to specific guidelines. This includes dealing with debris, woody vegetation, rubble, rock, and existing fence materials.

• Land Clearing: Clearing areas such as shelterbelts and moderate-density woodlands.

• Revegetation: Procuring and installing the "Border Seed Mix" in disturbed areas, ensuring seed meets specified requirements and originates from approved regions. Seedbed preparation and installation must follow established job plans and technical guides.

• Contractor responsiveness: Return calls within one working day.

• Quality Control: Implement an effective Quality Control Program.

• Reporting: Submit bi-weekly task updates, accident reports, third-party accident claims reports, and inspection/visit reports as required.

• Performance Evaluation: Monthly meetings with COR/QAE to review performance. Performance will be evaluated based on timeliness (90% of tasks completed by due date) and quality (99% of sampled data without serious deficiency).

Services are to be performed within South Dakota. The contractor must be physically located in South Dakota, with offices and qualified employees based there.

• Personnel: Contractor personnel must be qualified, fluent in English, physically fit for field work, and execute a non-disclosure statement. Key personnel include a Project Manager with specific experience.
• Compliance: Adhere to all Federal, State, and local laws, including safety regulations (OSHA) and security requirements for government and private property.
• Equipment: Contractor must furnish all necessary equipment, vehicles, and tools. Contractor-furnished equipment must be maintained.
• Coordination: Coordinate all activities with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and designated NRCS representatives. Landowner coordination is also required.
• Permits: Obtain all necessary local, state, and federal permits, including stormwater permits for construction disturbing one or more acres.
• Utilities: Contact 811 or 1-800-781-7474 to locate utilities before commencing construction.
• Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of client case files.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the construction specifications for salvaging and spreading topsoil, designated as SD-10. It details the requirements for this specific task within a larger construction project.

• Scope: Covers salvaging topsoil from designated areas (borrow pits or excavations) and spreading it to specified depths in areas shown on drawings.
• Quality of Topsoil: Topsoil must be friable and reasonably free of grass, roots, weeds, sticks, stones, or other foreign materials.
• Excavation: Topsoil is to be salvaged from cleared and grubbed sites and stockpiled at approved locations. Objectionable materials require approved disposal.
• Spreading: Spreading is prohibited when the ground or topsoil is frozen or excessively wet. Surfaces must be lightly scarified before spreading. Topsoil is to be applied to earth fills (not submerged) to a depth of 6 to 18 inches, measured perpendicular to the surface, and to neat lines shown on drawings.
• Finishing: The final topsoil surface should be left reasonably smooth, without irregularities that could cause concentrated water flow, and in a condition suitable for seeding equipment.

This specification is crucial for bidders to understand the detailed requirements for topsoil management if this task is part of the overall contract scope. It defines the quality standards, methods for salvaging and stockpiling, and precise spreading and finishing requirements, which will impact labor, equipment, and material costs.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This Excel file, "C04 - Attachemnt 4 - Border Mix.xlsx", provides detailed specifications for a "Border Mix" which includes both "Tall Grass Prairie Mix" and "Mixed Grass Prairie Mix". It appears to be a component of a larger solicitation or project, likely related to land management, ecological restoration, or revegetation efforts.

Tall Grass Prairie Mix:

• MLRA: 102A, 102B, 102C, 56
• Site: [Cy/Ly], [CyOv/LyOv], [LSb/SSb], Sb, Sy, SwG

Mixed Grass Prairie Mix:

• MLRA: 53B, 53C, 55B, 55C, 54, 63A, 63B
• Site: [Cy/Ly], [Cov/Lov], [LSb/SSb/Sb], Sy, SwG

**Species Details (for both mixes, with specific data for the "Border Mix" which seems to be primarily composed of grasses):

• Common Name & Scientific Name
• Habit (e.g., Grass)
• Succession (e.g., Mid)
• Coefficient of Conservatism (CoC)
• Heterogeneity (W/S/T - Warm/Sod/Tall, W/B/M - Warm/Bunch/Medium)
• Monarch Butterfly Use (Very High, High)
• Nesting Cover (Cool Season)
• Pollinator Bloom Period (detailed monthly breakdown)
• Herbicide Tolerance (specific tolerances listed)
• PLS Seeds/LB, #PLS/Acre, Seeds/ft², % of Mix by weight
• Full Rate (with notes on site-specific viability, e.g., "will die out in Ov and Sb sites")

Mix Characteristics:

• Conservatism Guilds (Early, Mid, Late Successional percentages)
• Mix Conservatism (CC) score
• Floristic Quality Index (FQI)
• Simpson's Evenness
• Evenness Calculation (Sum of Squares)
• Estimated Forage Production (lbs) by site type

Recommendations:

• Minimum PLS Seeds/ft²: 25
• Recommended FQI: at least 20.0
• Recommended Mix Conservatism (CC): at least 3.0
• Recommended Evenness: at least 70%
• Recommended Conservatism Guilds: Early (15-33%), Mid (45-65%), Late (15-33%)

Bidders involved in revegetation, land management, or ecological restoration projects should use this document to understand the specific plant species, their ecological characteristics, and the required mix proportions. It provides critical data for sourcing seeds, calculating quantities, and ensuring compliance with the specified ecological standards and performance metrics. The detailed breakdown of species, their suitability for different sites and MLRAs, and their contribution to pollinator and wildlife support are essential for proposal development and project execution.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Register of Wage Determinations Under the Service Contract Act" for the state of South Dakota. It provides the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations when performing contract work subject to the Service Contract Act.

• Lists specific occupations with corresponding wage rates and footnotes.
• Includes general fringe benefits required, such as Health & Welfare.
• Details specific Executive Orders (EO 13706 and EO 13658) that may apply, outlining paid sick leave and minimum wage requirements.
• Provides information on vacation and holiday entitlements.
• Outlines the process for requesting additional classifications and wage rates (conformance process) if a required occupation is not listed.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the labor costs associated with the opportunity. It establishes the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to employees working on the contract, which directly impacts proposal pricing and overall cost estimation. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis and solicitation for services related to obstruction removal, including rocks, woody vegetation, and debris, as well as associated tasks like clearing, grubbing, stripping, excavation, salvaging, spreading topsoil, and seeding. The government intends to award a single contract.

• Performance Work Statement (Attachment 1) details specific requirements.

• Technical data includes Border Mix, and various SD job plans (SD-02, SD-04, SD-05, SD-10, SD-28).

• Deliverables must comply with Wetland Reserve Plan of Operations, ACEP Manual, "Border Seed Mix," SD job plans, and Field Office Technical Guide SD.

• Compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and USDA Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) clauses is mandatory.

• Anticipated award is for one base year with four one-year option periods, totaling a maximum of five years.

• The contract type is not explicitly stated but implies commercial products and services.

• Questions Due: May 21, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.

• Quotes Due: May 28, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.

• Submission is via email to paige.appelt@usda.gov and kristina.baker@usda.gov.

• Evaluation Criteria: Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). The lowest priced offer will be evaluated for technical acceptability. If not acceptable, the next lowest priced offer will be evaluated, and so on.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Approach, Key Personnel, Price, Location (must be physically located in South Dakota), and Past Performance.

• Past performance requires 2-5 examples of similar obstruction removal work in eastern South Dakota within the last 5 years.

• Offerors must be physically located in South Dakota.

• Various small business provisions (HUBZone, Total Small Business Aside, etc.) are listed as applicable if checked, indicating potential set-asides.

• Pricing Schedule (Attachment 2) must be completed for all line items.

• Service Contract Labor Standards apply; relevant wage determinations are in Attachment 3.

• Specific FAR and AGAR clauses are incorporated by reference and in full text, including significant DEI compliance requirements (AGAR 452.203-71).

• Agency protest procedures through the USDA Ombudsman Program are outlined.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the construction specifications for "Clearing and Grubbing" work, likely as an attachment to a larger solicitation or contract. It details the requirements for preparing specific areas by removing vegetation and debris.

• Scope: Clearing, grubbing, and disposal of trees, snags, logs, brush, shrubs, stumps, and rubbish from designated areas.
• Protection of Existing Vegetation: Requirements for protecting trees and woody vegetation to remain, including repair procedures for damaged bark and limbs, and proper handling of severed roots.
• Marking: Methods for marking areas to be cleared and trees to be preserved.
• Clearing and Grubbing: Specifics on removing stumps, roots (at least 1 inch diameter to a specified depth), trees not marked for preservation, snags, logs, brush, shrubs, and rubbish.
• Disposal: Methods for disposing of cleared and grubbed materials, including burning, burying (with depth and grading requirements), or contractor-selected methods approved by the inspector. Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations for disposal is required.

This specification is crucial for bidders to understand the scope of work related to land clearing and site preparation. It details the physical requirements, protection measures for existing vegetation, and disposal methods, which will directly impact cost estimations, project planning, and execution strategies for any contractor bidding on this opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing a pricing schedule for various land-related services. Bidders are expected to use this schedule to input their proposed unit prices for each line item.

• Practice Code & Name: Identifies specific services such as Land Clearing, Fence removal, Obstruction Removal, and Seeding.
• Component: Specifies the type of service within the practice code.
• Unit Type: Defines the unit of measure for pricing (e.g., Acres, Linear Feet, Each).
• Unit Price (Years 1-5): Columns for bidders to enter their proposed pricing per unit for each contract year.
• Special Note: For land clearing, any amount less than 1 acre is to be priced as 1 acre unit price.

This pricing schedule is critical for bidders to accurately cost out their proposals. It outlines the specific services and units for which pricing is required, directly impacting the overall bid amount and evaluation. Bidders must carefully review each line item and provide competitive and realistic pricing according to the specified units and contract years.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "SD_CS-28_Seeding_2024.docx", outlines the construction specifications for seeding operations. It details the requirements for seed material, seeding dates, fertilizer application, seedbed preparation, sowing methods, companion crops, and mulching.

• Seed Material: Specifies requirements for seed quality, testing (germination, purity, PLS), and timely planting (within 9 months of testing). References South Dakota Specification Sheet SD-CPA-4 and NRCS Technical Notes for detailed seed mix and rate information.
• Seeding Dates: Allows seeding anytime with a reasonable expectation of establishment, but must be completed soon after construction. Considers herbicide carryover.
• Fertilizer: Provides guidelines for fertilizer application based on soil tests or specific N, P2O5, and optional Zinc rates. Manure is an alternative, but not for areas draining into water bodies. Fertilizer must be mixed into the top 3-5 inches of soil.
• Seedbed Preparation: Requires a reasonably smooth and firm seedbed, worked to a depth of 3-5 inches, with fertilizer incorporated. The seedbed should allow a boot heel to penetrate approximately ½ inch.
• Sowing Seed: Mandates seeding immediately after seedbed preparation, with uniform distribution at depths of ¼ to ¾ inch. Specific patterns are required for seeding waterways.
• Companion Crops: Refers to SD-CPA-4 for requirements and provides guidance on their use and management (clipping/mowing).
• Mulching: Encouraged but required for specific conditions (waterways between Sept 15 and spring thaw, bare seedbeds in early spring with velocities > 2.5 fps). Alternatives include cover/companion crops. Details material quality, application rates (3,000-4,000 lbs/acre straw), and anchoring methods. Mulch blankets are an alternative per SD-33.

This specification is critical for any bidder involved in construction or land restoration activities requiring seeding. It defines the quality standards, methods, and materials necessary for successful seed establishment, directly impacting project execution, material sourcing, and cost estimation. Bidders must carefully review these specifications to ensure compliance and accurate proposal development.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "SD_CS-04_Stripping_2022.docx", outlines the construction specifications for stripping operations related to a project. It details the requirements for removing topsoil and other undesirable materials from various areas.

• Scope: Covers the removal of topsoil and undesirable materials from borrow areas, structure foundations, and earth fill areas.
• General Stripping: Requires excavation to a depth that exposes subsoil free of roots and organic materials. Suitable excavated earth is to be placed in fill areas, and stripped topsoil is to be stockpiled for later use on disturbed areas as directed.
• Foundation Stripping: Mandates the removal of loose soil and achieving a smooth surface on consolidated subsoil. Foundation slopes should generally be excavated to a one horizontal to one vertical ratio or flatter, unless otherwise indicated.
• Borrow Area Stripping: Specifies that borrow areas must be stripped to expose material suitable for earth fill.

This specification is crucial for bidders to understand the site preparation requirements, specifically concerning excavation and material handling for foundation and borrow areas. It informs the scope of work related to earthmoving and site grading, impacting resource allocation and project planning.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection Obstruction Removal and Disturbed Land Revegetation services in South Dakota. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service is procuring these services.

• Services include Easement Restoration, Emergency Watershed Protection Obstruction Removal, and Disturbed Land Revegetation.

• The anticipated contract type is Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Specific task orders will define individual periods of performance.

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

• The period of performance for the base year is 06/01/2026 to 05/31/2027.

• The contract includes four option years, extending the period of performance through 05/31/2031.

• This is a "Combined Synopsis/Solicitation" posted on SAM.gov.

• A "Request for Quote (RFQ)" is indicated.

• The offer due date is 05/28/2026 at 1200 ET.

• The acquisition is listed as "UNRESTRICTED".

• The North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) code is 115112 with a size standard of $9.5 million.

• The solicitation includes several attachments detailing specific requirements:

  • Attachment 1: Performance Work Statement
  • Attachment 2: Pricing Schedule
  • Attachment 3: List of SCA Wage Determinations
  • Attachments 4-9: Specific task details (Border Mix, Clearing and Grubbing, Stripping, Excavation, Salvaging and Spreading Topsoil, Seeding).

• Key personnel are listed: Contracting Officer Kristina Baker, COR Kevin Luebke, and Contract Specialist Paige Appelt.