Mastication, Shore Drive- Pocosin Lakes NWR, NC

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Request for Quotes (RFQ) under FAR subpart 13.5 and FAR part 12. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 115310, Support Activities for Forestry, with a business size standard of $34 million.

This document primarily incorporates clauses by reference. Key clauses include:

• 52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights

• 52.203-19 Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements

• 52.204-13 System for Award Management-Maintenance

• 52.204-23, 52.204-25, 52.204-27, 52.204-30 related to prohibitions on certain hardware, software, telecommunications, and video surveillance equipment.

• 52.209-6 Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, Proposed for Debarment, or Voluntarily Excluded

• 52.209-10 Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations

• 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside

• 52.222-19 Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies

• 52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities

• 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards

• 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons

• 52.222-55 Minimum Wages for Contractor Workers Under Executive Order 14026

• 52.222-62 Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706

• 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases

• 52.244-6 Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial Services

• 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS – COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (NOV 2023) covering inspection, assignment, changes, disputes, excusable delays, and invoicing.

• 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

• 52.219-28 Post award Small Business Program Representation (JAN 2025)

• 52.222-90 Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors (APR 2026)

• DOI-AAAP-0028 ELECTRONIC INVOICING AND PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS-INVOICE PROCESSING PLATFORM (IPP) (FEB 2021)

• LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING (SEP 2021) (DEVIATION)

• 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

• ADDENDUM TO 52.212-1, INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

• ADDENDUM TO 52.212-2 EVALUATION-COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES

• 52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS-COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (OCT 2025)

• 52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (NOV 2021)

• 52.216-1 Type of Contract (Apr 1984) - Firm Fixed Price

• 52.225-2 Buy American Certificate. (OCT 2022)

• 52.237-1 Site Visit (Apr 1984)

• The contract type is contemplated to be Firm Fixed Price.

• Offers will be evaluated based on Technical, Past Performance, and Price. Technical and Past Performance combined are more important than Price.

• The response shall consist of two parts: Part I - Price Proposal and Part II – Technical and/or Past Performance Information.

• Specific instructions for the Price Proposal include inserting proposed unit and extended prices in Attachment “Quote Schedule”. Only firm fixed price offers will be evaluated.

• Technical/Management Approach is limited to 10 pages.

• Past Performance requires completion of Attachment 5, the Technical Past Performance & References Questionnaire, and information for two (2) contracts within the past three years.

• Key Personnel and Subcontractors must demonstrate at least five (5) years of relevant experience.

• This solicitation includes a Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (52.219-6).

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

• Full text of referenced clauses and provisions may be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/far and https://www.acquisition.gov/diar.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document is a Service Contract Act (SCA) wage determination for North Carolina, specifically for the counties of Dare, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits that must be paid to various classes of service employees working on federal contracts covered by the SCA in this geographic area.

• Wage Rates: Lists specific minimum hourly wage rates for a wide range of occupations, categorized by occupational groups (e.g., Administrative Support, Automotive Service, Health Occupations, Information Technology).
• Fringe Benefits: Details required health and welfare benefits ($5.55/hour or $5.09/hour under EO 13706) and vacation time (2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 8 years, 4 weeks after 15 years).
• Holidays: Specifies a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Executive Orders: Notes applicability of Executive Order (EO) 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and EO 13658 (Minimum Wage), outlining specific requirements and rates.
• Conformance Process: Explains the process for authorizing additional classifications and wage rates not listed in this determination, requiring SF-1444 submission.

This document is critical for bidders to accurately estimate labor costs for any contract that will be performed in the specified North Carolina counties and is subject to the Service Contract Act. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these minimums to be compliant. Failure to adhere to these wage determinations can lead to contract violations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a mandatory questionnaire for bidders to provide information 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 UEI, address, POC details.
• Business Type: Corporation, Partnership, Sole Proprietor, Other.
• Experience: Years of experience in services, contracting (prime/sub), and federal government contracts.
• Past Performance Issues: Disclosure of any failed contract completions and reasons.
• Personnel: Key personnel availability, minimum/maximum employees, regular payroll status, anticipated employees for the project, sole proprietor status.
• Subcontracting: Information if a prime contractor is hiring a subcontractor.
• Employee Experience: Details for each employee performing work (present position/title, years of experience).
• References: Three (3) contract references completed within the past three years, similar in size and complexity to the solicitation's Scope of Work. Government contracts are preferred. For each reference, provide:
  • Agency or Company Name
  • Contract Number (if applicable)
  • Total Contract Value
  • Point of Contact (POC) Name, Phone, and Email
  • Contract Start and End Date
  • Scope of Project (detailed)
• Certification: A statement certifying the completeness and correctness of the provided information.

Bidders must complete this form accurately and thoroughly. Failure to provide all requested information may result in non-compliance. The information gathered here will be used by the government to evaluate the bidder's experience, capability, and past performance relevant to the opportunity.

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

To establish a service contract for the mastication of six (6) fire breaks on the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NC-POR) to mitigate wildfire risks.

• Masticate six fire breaks totaling approximately 6.9 miles in length and covering approximately 233 acres.

• Fire break dimensions are specified in Figure-1, with widths generally 350 feet, except for Western Road at 100 feet.

• Vegetation, logs, and stumps within the fire break footprint must be masticated to ground-level.

• Debris and chip piles should be kept to 6 inches in height or less.

• Trees too large to masticate must be felled and moved outside the break area, with stumps cut to 6 inches or less. Larger trees may be treated as shaded fuel breaks with POC approval.

• The contractor is responsible for maintaining the appropriate width and location of the treated area.

• Fuel break width and location must be maintained.

• Vegetation must be masticated to ground-level.

• Debris and chip piles must not exceed 6 inches in height.

• Stumps must be cut to 6 inches or less.

• Project Location: Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near Creswell, Washington County, NC.

• Period of Performance: Estimated to begin no earlier than July 16, 2026, and conclude by December 15, 2026 (approximately 5 months).

• Equipment: An amphibious excavator on pontoons is required due to very wet and mucky soil conditions with severe equipment limitations. Wheeled and rubber-tracked LGP machinery will have limited capability.

• Site Visit: Recommended for offerors unfamiliar with the terrain, topography, and vegetation.

• Recovery: Contractor is responsible for recovery/extrication of any heavy equipment or vehicles that get stuck or immobilized. FWS personnel will not assist.

• Invasive Species Mitigation: All equipment must be clean of dirt, mud, and plant material before entering the Refuge and cleaned if it leaves the work site.

• Protection of Trees: Prevent damage to trees and vegetation outside the treatment area.

• Spill Containment: Contractor must have equipment and supplies to mitigate fuel or fluid spills and report them immediately.

• Trash Pick-up: All trash must be removed from the project site.

• Erosion Control: Minimize soil impacts; avoid operating vehicles on sensitive areas during wet conditions.

• Repair of Damages: Contractor is responsible for any damage to roads, infrastructure, etc.

• Smoking: Permitted only in designated cleared areas; smoking materials must not be left on Refuge lands.

• Work Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, unless otherwise approved.

• Supervision: Adequate and competent onsite supervision with English communication ability is required.

• Proposal Submission: Submit quotes on a cost-per-acre basis and as a total project cost. Proposals should describe the equipment to be used.

• Biomass: Vegetation may be removed for biomass; POC must be informed of the approximate amount sold by weight.

• Bats: Work past December 15 may have additional constraints related to roosting bats, including diameter limit restrictions based on air temperature.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Quote Schedule for "Mastication, Shore Drive- Pocosin Lakes NWR, NC". It outlines the pricing structure for the required mastication services.

• Period of Performance: July 16, 2026 – December 15, 2026
• Work Breakdown: The schedule divides the work into six distinct sections based on road locations:
  1. F2 Rd to Allen Rd (37 acres)
  2. Allen Rd to Boerema Rd (43 acres)
  3. Boerema Rd to Clayton Rd (43 acres)
  4. Clayton Rd to DeHoag Rd (43 acres)
  5. DeHoag Rd to Evans Rd (42 acres)
  6. Western Rd (25 acres)
• Total Acreage: 233 acres
• Pricing: Bidders are to provide a Unit Price (per acre) and a Total price. The unit price is inclusive of all supplies and materials needed to complete the work as per the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

This schedule is critical for bidders to prepare their quotes. It details the specific areas and quantities of mastication required, allowing vendors to calculate their unit and total costs. Bidders must ensure their proposed unit price covers all necessary expenses to fulfill the PWS requirements for each listed section.