Ottawa NF Bowfin Mark and Cruise

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the Ottawa National Forest - North Zone, FY26NZ Bowfin Stewardship Marking Contract. The government is procuring timber marking and volume estimation services for approximately 248 acres in Northern Hardwoods forest types.

The work involves timber marking and volume estimation across several payment units, with specific treatments including:

• Hardwood Selection, Improvement, Thinning (Marking & Cruising) for approximately 145 acres.
• Pine and Spruce Thinning (even-age) (Marking & Cruising) for approximately 96 acres.
• Clearcut/Removal Cut (Marking & Cruising - where all trees are counted) for approximately 7 acres.
• Sample Tree Cruising Method for approximately 248 acres.

Specific marking guides and silvicultural objectives are detailed for each treatment type, focusing on promoting healthy, resilient stands, managing for species diversity, and ensuring soil and hydrology function.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: Estimated Start Work Date April 15, 2026, with completion no later than September 30, 2026.

• Government-Furnished Property: BLUE Tree Marking Paint.

• Quotations are due by 04/07/2026 at 11:00 am CT.

• Submission Instructions: Complete and return Standard Form 18, the Schedule of Items, and a response to technical evaluation criteria via email to cynthia.horwitz@usda.gov.

• Evaluation Factors: Award will be made based on the best value to the Government, considering technical (non-price) factors and price. Technical factors include Contract Time and Schedule, and Past Performance. Price will be evaluated for reasonableness.

This solicitation is marked as "IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE."

• Additional provisions and representations are attached.
• The document includes detailed information on stand descriptions, desired conditions, short- and long-term objectives, marking guides, post-harvest treatments, and minimum stocking requirements for NFMA.
• Service Contract Act wage determinations for Michigan are included.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides the Cruise Design and Marking Guides for the Bowfin Stewardship Timber Sale (#41382) in the Tepee Lake VMP. It details the methods and specifications for marking trees for removal and for identifying leave trees.

• Payment Units & Treatments: Outlines different payment units (e.g., 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 for Hardwood Selection; 8 for Aspen Clearcut; 2, 3, 5 for Red Pine Thinning; 11 ROW for Right-of-way Clearing) and their corresponding treatments.
• Marking Specifications: Details how trees are to be marked (e.g., two paint marks at DBH and stump mark, or single paint mark at DBH) based on the payment unit and treatment.
• Leave Tree Designation: Specifies which tree species are designated as leave trees (e.g., hemlock, cedar, white and red pine, northern red oak & paper birch) and how they should be marked.
• Sample Tree Cruising (STR): Provides sample groups, descriptions of tree types, DBH ranges, and sample intervals for cruising.
• Minimum Tree and Piece Utilization Standards: Defines minimum DBH, length, and Diameter Inside Bark (DIB) for sawlogs and pulpwood, along with minimum net scale percentages.
• Measurement Instructions: Clarifies how tree heights and sawtimber heights are to be measured.
• Paint Information: Notes that government-furnished tree marking paint will be issued and that BLUE paint has been designated for this sale.

This document is crucial for understanding the specific requirements for tree marking and measurement if a bidder is involved in timber harvesting operations. It defines the types of trees to be removed, how they will be identified, and the quality standards for the harvested timber. Bidders need to be aware of these specifications to accurately estimate costs and ensure compliance during operations.