LPF USFS Rincon Station - Santa Barbara RD Emergency Sycamore Hazardous Tree Removal

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Emergency Sycamore Hazardous Tree Removal services at the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara Ranger District. The purpose is to remove a dying sycamore tree identified as a threat to federal employee safety. This opportunity is set aside for Total Small Business.

• Services: Arborist Assessment Report (ISA Certified Arborist; TRAQ risk rating), Sycamore Tree Removal (including labor, equipment, rigging, traffic control), Stump Grinding, and Hauling/Disposal/Recycling of Debris.

• Submittals (with Offer): ISA Credential (Arborist Certification), Draft Work Plan, Draft Safety/Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) Plan, and Insurance Documents.

• Key Personnel: Contractor Representative, ISA Certified Arborist, and Foreman (if using a crew for tree removal).

• Insurance: Required coverages include Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability ($500,000 per occurrence, $750,000 aggregate), and Automobile Liability ($500,000 per accident).

• Invoicing: Mandatory use of the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP); offerors must have an established IPP account prior to commencing work.

• Contract Type: Commercial Items (Standard Form 1449).

• Period of Performance: Anticipated to be completed within 14 calendar days after award, specifically from January 30, 2026, to February 20, 2026.

• Place of Performance: Behind employee housing quarters at the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara Ranger District Rincon Station, Carpinteria, CA.

• Offer Due Date: January 28, 2026, by 2359 PT.

• Submission Method: Email to klenise.wallace@usda.gov. Offers should include 7 separate attachments (Word, PDF, Excel, JPG) not exceeding 20 MB total. Offerors are responsible for verifying receipt.

• Required Offer Components: Certified Offer (SF 1449), Cost Proposal (using Attachment 3 Excel), Completed Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment 8), Completed Representations and Certifications (Attachment 9), and a Technical Approach (using Attachment 7 Proposal Form, max 2 pages).

• Questions Due Date: January 28, 2026, by 1100 PT, via email to klenise.wallace@usda.gov and bradley.king@usda.gov.

• Period for Acceptance of Offers: 90 calendar days from the offer due date.

• Evaluation Criteria: Offers will be evaluated based on three factors: Technical Acceptability, Past Performance, and Price.

• Basis for Award: Best value to the Government, using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method. Only the lowest-priced offer will initially be evaluated for technical acceptability.

• Set-Aside: Total Small Business.

• SAM.gov: Offerors must have an active entity registration in SAM.gov.

• The solicitation references several attachments, including a Statement of Work (A2), Schedule of Items (A3), and a Proposal Template (A7).

• Various Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) clauses are incorporated by reference, including those related to Anti-Discrimination and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Certification.

• Information regarding the USDA Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests is included.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To contract support for an arborist-certified assessment and removal of a dying sycamore tree at the USFS Rincon Station in Carpinteria, CA, which poses a threat to federal employee life, health, and safety, and could cause property damage.

• Furnish all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and services for an ISA-certified arborist assessment.

• Prepare a written report detailing findings and recommended actions.

• Safely remove the identified sycamore tree, including stump grinding.

• Restore the site, including debris removal and backfilling.

• Pre-Work Assessment & Plan: Conduct an ISA Certified Arborist assessment (ISA TRAQ credential preferred), including species confirmation, DBH, height, crown condition, structural defects, root plate stability, pests/pathogens, risk rating, photographs, and site map. Submit a written work plan detailing methodology, equipment, crew composition, traffic/pedestrian control, utility locates, and timeline. Secure necessary permits and notifications. Confirm environmental and wildlife compliance.

• Site Safety & Controls: Develop a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) and Site-Specific Safety Plan compliant with ANSI Z133 and OSHA standards. Implement traffic and pedestrian control measures. Protect adjacent property, structures, and utilities.

• Tree Removal Operations: Use appropriate techniques (e.g., sectional dismantling, rigging, crane assist) adhering to ANSI A300 standards. Utilize qualified climbers/arborists and certified operators. Manage debris removal and prevent damage.

• Stump Treatment/Grinding & Site Restoration: Grind stump to a minimum depth of 8-12 inches below grade. Remove surface roots impacting safety/hardscape. Backfill stump cavity and restore landscape with clean fill/topsoil, seed/sod/mulch. Optional herbicide treatment for stumps/root sprouts.

• Arborist Assessment Report (PDF): Within 2 days after award.

• Work Plan (Final): Within 3 days after award or prior to tree removal.

• Traffic/pedestrian control plan (Draft): With Work Plan.

• Safety/Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) Plan (Final): With Work Plan.

• Removal Execution (including stump grinding and site restoration): Within 5 calendar days after award.

• Final Closeout Package: No later than 14 calendar days after award.

No Government Furnished Property is associated with this work. The contractor is expected to provide all necessary tools, equipment, and materials.

No gates or security at the job site. Contractor is responsible for their equipment, vehicles, and possessions. Contractor must coordinate with the COR/GTM before accessing the property and shall not engage with property residents without COR/GTM present.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains representations and certifications required from offerors responding to a solicitation. It includes clauses related to contractor responsibility, telecommunications and video surveillance services, information regarding responsibility matters, and various certifications for commercial products and services.

• Contractor Responsibility Certification: Requires verification of adequate financial resources, ability to meet performance schedules, satisfactory past performance, and a record of integrity and business ethics.
• 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment: Requires offerors to represent whether they will provide or use covered telecommunications equipment or services, with specific disclosure requirements if they do.
• 52.209-7 Information Regarding Responsibility Matters: Requires offerors to disclose if they have current active Federal contracts and grants exceeding $10,000,000 and to provide information on past responsibility matters if applicable.
• 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Products and Commercial Services: This is a comprehensive section requiring offerors to either confirm their representations are up-to-date in SAM.gov or to complete various representations and certifications directly within the document. These cover business size standards, veteran-owned status, small disadvantaged business status, women-owned business status, Buy American provisions, certifications regarding delinquent tax liability, felony convictions, and knowledge of child labor.

Offerors must carefully review and complete all applicable sections of this document to ensure compliance with solicitation requirements. Failure to provide accurate and complete representations and certifications may result in disqualification. Specific attention should be paid to financial capacity, past performance, telecommunications equipment usage, and business status representations, as these can significantly impact eligibility and evaluation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a proposal form (Form 127EAT26Q0023) designed to collect essential information from offerors to evaluate their proposals against the government's requirements. It guides bidders on how to present their understanding of the requirements, proposed techniques, and relevant experience.

• Plan of Work: Requires a narrative detailing project execution, including major tasks, staffing levels, equipment, and subcontractor information. This section has a strict page limit (2 pages, with an option for 1 external page).
• Equipment: Requires a listing of specific equipment to be used, including make, model, year, and whether it is owned or rented.
• Progress Schedule: Requires a timeline for completing the work.
• Designation of Representatives/Key Personnel: Requires identification of key personnel, their roles, experience, and contact information, along with a designated representative with specific contractual authority.
• Certification: A section for the offeror to certify the completeness and truthfulness of the information provided in the proposal package, including the SF 1449, Schedule of Items (SOI), Past Performance and Experience documentation, Contractor Responsibility Certification, Insurance Docs, and ISA Certification for Arborist (if applicable).

This form is critical for bidders to structure their technical proposal. It dictates the format and content required for demonstrating understanding, capability, and compliance with the solicitation. Completing this form accurately and thoroughly is essential for a responsive proposal and a favorable evaluation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Schedule of Items (SF 1449 - Section A) for the LPF USFS Rincon Station - Santa Barbara RD Emergency (ER) Sycamore Hazardous Tree Removal project. It outlines the specific items for which pricing is required from bidders.

• Project Title: LPF USFS Rincon Station - Santa Barbara RD Emergency (ER) Sycamore Hazardous Tree Removal
• Unit: Los Padres National Forest, USFS Rincon Station - Santa Barbara RD
• SOL #: 127EAT26Q0023
• Items:
  • 0001: Arborist Assessment Report (ISA Certified Arborist; TRAQ risk rating)
  • 0002: Tree Removal (labor, equipment, rigging, traffic control)
  • 0003: Stump Grinding to [Insert depth] and Site Restoration
  • 0004: Hauling/Disposal/Recycling of Debris
• Instructions:
  • Offerors must fill in the UNIT PRICE ONLY. The spreadsheet is formatted to auto-populate the total price.
  • Responses for quantities less than those listed may be rejected.
  • Responses without prices for each item may be rejected.

This document is critical for bidders to understand the specific services required for the hazardous tree removal project. Bidders must provide unit pricing for each listed item. Failure to follow the pricing instructions or provide pricing for all items may result in rejection of their response.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains photographic evidence related to tree removal services. It appears to be an attachment to a solicitation or contract, likely intended to visually represent the scope of work or the condition of the trees requiring removal.

• Images depict various trees, some showing signs of damage, decay, or overgrowth.
• One image shows debris (leaves, branches) on the ground, suggesting recent tree work or natural shedding.
• Another image shows a large tree with a damaged trunk.
• The photos are likely intended to provide context for potential bidders regarding the specific trees and areas involved in the tree removal opportunity.

These images are crucial for bidders to accurately assess the scope and complexity of the tree removal work. They provide visual information that can inform cost estimates, equipment needs, and safety protocols required for the job. Bidders should review these photos to understand the specific conditions and challenges associated with the opportunity.

Other / Unclassified

This document appears to be a presentation file (PPTX) containing layout information for a project involving tree removal at Quarters Unit #1 and Quarters Unit #2, potentially related to septic systems and fencing. It includes a station layout and a vicinity map with station locations.

This document provides visual context and site layout information. Bidders may find this useful for understanding the physical environment of the work site, including the placement of existing structures (Quarters Units, Septic, Fence) and the general area of operations as indicated by the vicinity map and station locations. This information could be relevant for site assessment, planning, and potentially for developing proposals related to the tree removal opportunity.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 1977-0727, Revision No. 79) for service contracts related to forestry, land management, cleaning of public use areas, and timber inventory services in California.

It lists specific occupational codes and titles, their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates, and required fringe benefits.

Key information includes:

• Occupations Listed: Brush/Precommercial Thinner, Choker Setter, Faller/Bucker, Fire Lookout, Forestry/Logging Heavy Equipment Operator, Forestry Technician, Forestry Truck Driver, General Forestry Laborer, Nursery Specialist, Slash Piler/Burner, Tree Climber, Tree Planter, and Tree Planter, Mechanical.
• Wage Rates: Vary by occupation, ranging from $17.71 to $43.23 per hour.
• Fringe Benefits: Health & Welfare at $5.55/hour (or $222.00/week) and specific paid sick leave provisions under Executive Order 13706 ($5.09/hour).
• Other Benefits: Includes provisions for vacation (2-4 weeks based on service length) and a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Uniform Allowance: Details requirements for providing and maintaining uniforms, including reimbursement for cleaning costs ($3.35/week) unless "wash and wear" materials are used.
• Conformance Process: Outlines the procedure for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination, using Standard Form 1444.

This wage determination is crucial for bidders on federal contracts falling under its scope. It establishes the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to employees performing the specified services, directly impacting labor costs and proposal pricing. Bidders must ensure their offers comply with these mandated rates and benefits.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) required by the USDA Forest Service. It is used to gather information about a contractor's past performance on similar projects, which will be used to evaluate their capability to perform the "ER Sycamore Hazardous Tree Removal" project.

• Contractor Information: Name, address, and telephone number.
• Business Type: Selection of company, corporation, co-partnership, individual, or non-profit organization.
• Experience: Years of experience as a prime contractor and/or subcontractor.
• Project History: A table to list completed projects within the last three years, including contract amount, type of project, date completed, and contact information for the project owner/person.
• Failure to Complete Work: Questions regarding any past failures to complete awarded work and the reasons why.
• Remarks: Space for additional comments or clarifications.
• Certification: A statement by the contractor certifying the accuracy of the information provided and authorizing references to release information.

Bidders must complete and submit this questionnaire accurately and thoroughly. The information provided will be a critical factor in the evaluation of their past performance and overall proposal. Failure to provide complete or satisfactory information may negatively impact the evaluation. The questionnaire should be submitted to the specified USDA Forest Service office.