Lava Fire Watering Facilities Rebuild Payette National Forest

Amendment / Modification

• The solicitation's due date has been extended to December 30, 2025.

• Questions and Answers have been included.

• The project completion date has been extended to October 30, 2027.

• Solicitation due date

• Project completion date

• Inclusion of Questions and Answers

• The deadline for submitting proposals or quotes has been extended to December 30, 2025.

• The period of performance is now January 15, 2026, to October 30, 2027.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the Payette Lava Fire Watering Facilities project (Solicitation 12363N26Q0003).

• Access to Facilities: Cross-country travel to some facilities is allowed with equipment, provided a pre-approved route is followed. Some routes involve old roadbeds and cross-country travel, with one site requiring access via a mini excavator. Five sites have limited access, potentially requiring repairs without bentonite.
• Trough Location: Troughs are generally located 30-100 feet from the spring source, with none expected to exceed 250 feet.
• Overflow Daylight: Overflow pipes can daylight anywhere from 30-250 feet from the trough.
• Dam Bentonite Core: The bentonite core for dams is preferably 4-8 inches thick, but may be omitted for remote or challenging sites.
• Government Supplied Materials: Materials will be stored at a supply yard in Council, and contractors will be guided to it.
• Bonds: No bid guarantees or bonding are required. Certified payrolls are also not required.
• Solicitation Due Date Extension: The solicitation due date has been extended to December 30, 2025, at 1700 Central. The completion date has been extended to October 30, 2027.
• Pond Dewatering: Most ponds are dry in the summer; no dewatering will be required.
• Dispersed Camping: May be available according to USDA-Forest Service guidelines and local restrictions.

The solicitation due date has been extended to December 30, 2025. The completion date has been extended to October 30, 2027. Access details and material pickup locations have been clarified.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations under contracts subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA) and Executive Orders 14026 and 13658.

• Applicable Executive Orders: Details minimum wage requirements under Executive Order 14026 (effective on or after January 30, 2022) and Executive Order 13658 (effective between January 1, 2015, and January 29, 2022).
• Minimum Wage Rates: Lists specific minimum hourly wage rates for numerous occupations, categorized by occupation code and title. For 2025, the minimum under EO 14026 is $17.75/hour, and under EO 13658 is $13.30/hour, unless a higher rate is listed for a specific occupation.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that "Fringe Benefits Required Follow the Occupational Listing." Specific benefits like Health & Welfare ($5.55/hour or $222.00/week) and paid sick leave (EO 13706) are detailed.
• Vacation and Holidays: Outlines requirements for paid vacation (based on years of service) and a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Hazardous Pay Differential: Specifies an 8% differential for high-hazard work and a 4% differential for lower-hazard work involving ordnance and explosives.
• Uniform Allowance: Details requirements for providing and maintaining uniforms.
• Conformance Process: Explains the procedure for classifying and determining wage rates for occupations not listed in the determination.

This wage determination is crucial for bidders as it dictates the minimum labor costs that must be factored into their proposals for any contract subject to the Service Contract Act. Understanding these rates and benefits is essential for accurate cost estimation and ensuring compliance with federal labor laws.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items to rebuild the Lava Fire Watering Facilities at the Payette National Forest. The procurement is set aside for Small Business. The NAICS code is 221310 (Water Supply and Irrigation Systems) with a Small Business Size Standard of $41 Million.

• Reconstruction of twenty livestock watering facilities (watering trough sites and watering pond sites) destroyed by the Lava Fire of 2024.

• Facilities are essential for maintaining livestock distribution, facilitating livestock use of upland environments, mitigating riparian activity, and providing clean water sources.

• The project has a Period of Performance from Date of Award to September 30, 2026.

• One award will be made.

• Contractors must submit pricing for all items.

• This solicitation is issued as a Request for Quote.

• Offers must include a technical proposal, a price proposal, and contractor representations and certifications.

• Technical Proposal requirements include Past Performance and Technical Capability.

• Price Proposal requires completion of the Schedule of Items.

• Offers must be submitted via email to john.swizdor@usda.gov by 1700 Central Time on December 19, 2025.

• Evaluation will be based on Price, Past Performance, and Technical Capability, with Technical and Past Performance being less important than price.

• This procurement is set aside for Small Business.

• Offerors must have an active entity registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Several attachments are referenced, including Statement of Work, Specifications Binder, Government Materials, Vicinity Map, and Wage Determination.

• The solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-06.

• Specific FAR clauses related to commercial products and services, representations, certifications, and contract terms are included.

Statement of Objectives (SOO)

To reconstruct twenty livestock watering facilities destroyed by the Lava Fire of 2024. These facilities are crucial for maintaining proper livestock distribution, facilitating livestock use of upland environments, and mitigating grazing in riparian areas. The project aims to provide flexible grazing rotations by ensuring clean water sources.

• Removal and replacement of old infrastructure with new materials.

• Replacement of old head boxes with square, lockable metal headboxes.

• Replacement of old troughs with new aluminum troughs.

• Use of metal drill stem for new support posts and round metal piping or welded drill stem for cross braces.

• Stabilization of troughs with railroad tie sections.

• Installation of inlet and outlet lines (1.5-inch for inlet, 2.0-inch for outlet) using metal pipe and fittings, and HDPE plastic for below-ground fixtures, buried at least 24 inches.

• Clearing of dead standing trees and downed woody debris posing a threat to facilities or access.

• Hauling away and disposing of all waste materials and old infrastructure.

• Cleaning of accumulated sediment from ponds and repair of pond dams and spillways.

• Period of Performance: Date of award to September 30, 2026.

• Locations: Twenty specific livestock watering facilities across the Payette National Forest, detailed by name and legal description in the document.

• All materials will be provided by the USFS Rangeland Management Program, except for consumables which may be the contractor's responsibility.

• Contractor must coordinate with Range Program Staff and COR/CO.

• Operating constraints may include wildlife protection, weather, and fire activity.

• Disposal of waste must comply with local, state, and federal laws.

• Pond construction requires specific sediment management, bentonite core installation, dam compaction, and spillway construction to dissipate water energy.

• Proposed Project Plan: Due within five (5) business days after contract award.

• Daily Work Observation/Cooperation with Range Staff: As work occurs.

• Weekly Status Report: Phone call documenting tasks, progress, and issues, every Thursday by 3:00 PM MST.

• End Status Report: Upon project completion, including a site visit to ensure specifications are met.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document lists "Government Furnished Materials" for the Lava Fire Livestock Watering Facilities project at the Payette National Forest. It details various items and their estimated total values.

• Bentonite ($4,000.00)
• 6' drill stem posts ($1,500.00)
• 15' metal support pipe ($600.00)
• 12' aluminum trough ($15,000.00)
• 1.5" plastic HDPE pipe ($6,000.00)
• 2" plastic HDPE pipe ($7,000.00)
• A variety of fittings, pipes, clamps, and other materials.

This list indicates materials that the government may provide to the contractor. Bidders should review this list to understand what government-furnished property will be available for the project, which could impact their material procurement and overall project planning.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document contains detailed specifications and visual aids for the construction and maintenance of rangeland livestock watering facilities. It includes diagrams of headboxes and metal trough watering systems, as well as photographic examples of existing installations and proposed modifications.

• Headbox Diagrams: Illustrate top, side, and front views of headbox construction, detailing components like ball valves, threaded pipes, poly pipe connections, bentonite seals, and backfill materials (cobble/gravel).
• Metal Trough Diagrams: Show top and side views of metal trough watering facilities, including inlet/outlet pipe configurations, wildlife escape ramps, support posts, cross braces, and connections to poly pipe.
• Photographic Examples: Provide visual context for various aspects of watering facility construction, including headbox installations, surrounding fill materials (rock, soil, bentonite), pond maintenance (cleaning, bentonite application), and spillway construction.
• Descriptive Notes: Accompanying text explains specific construction steps, materials, and repair methods, such as inserting bentonite cores, compacting soil, cleaning ponds, and using rock fill in spillways.

This document serves as a critical technical reference for any bidder involved in the construction, repair, or maintenance of livestock watering facilities under this opportunity. It provides the specific design requirements, material specifications, and construction techniques that must be followed. Bidders should carefully review the diagrams and photographic examples to understand the expected standards and methods for implementing these watering systems.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a vicinity map for the Lava Fire Rangeland Infrastructure Rehab CE (Livestock Watering Facilities) project on the Payette National Forest. It provides a visual reference to the project area and surrounding features.

• Map Area: Focuses on the Indian Mountain C&H (Cattle and Horse) allotment and surrounding areas within T13N-R1E and T14N-R2E.
• Features Displayed: Includes named springs, ponds, creeks, rivers, summits, and pastures.
• Management Agency Data: Differentiates between BLM, Private, State, and Forest Service land.
• Road Classification: Indicates open, seasonal, and closed roads.
• Scale: A 1-mile scale bar is provided.

This map helps bidders understand the geographic location and context of the livestock watering facilities that are part of the overall opportunity. It aids in visualizing the terrain, access routes (roads), and proximity to various natural features and land management boundaries, which may be relevant for planning and execution of any awarded work.