Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship BPA- Region 6 (OR & WA) - OPEN/CONTINUOUS

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation, amended by "AMENDMENT 005", is for a Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for Region 6 (Oregon and Washington) National Forests. The BPA will be used to procure services for hazardous fuels reduction and forest restoration projects on Federal and Non-Federal lands within 150 miles of specified National Forests. The objective is to improve forest and rangeland ecosystems, reduce hazardous fuels, and protect private lands and communities from fire.

Work activities include commercial and non-commercial thinning, hand thinning and piling, grapple piling, mastication of fuels, biomass utilization, and road maintenance. Specific work items will be detailed in individual Call Orders, which may include Integrated Resource Service Contracts (IRSC) with or without timber product removal, or service contracts without timber removal. Appendices A, B, and C provide specifications for work activities, timber removal, and road maintenance, respectively.

• Contract Type: Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)

• Period of Performance: Ten (10) years from award, with an option to extend up to 20 years.

• Call Orders: May extend up to 2 years past the BPA expiration.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) with a size standard of $34 Million is provided.

• Proposals must be submitted as two documents: a technical proposal and a price proposal.

• Technical proposals must address Key Personnel, Equipment, Relevant Past Performance, and Benefit to the Local Community.

• Price proposals must include pricing for all pay items for each National Forest.

• Evaluation will be based on technical factors (Key Personnel, Equipment, Past Performance, Benefit to Local Community) and cost/price, with technical factors being more important than cost.

• Award will be made to the responsible offeror whose offer is most advantageous to the Government.

• Key Deadlines: Offers are due by the time specified in the solicitation. A 30-day firm price period is required.

• The solicitation is for a multiple-award BPA.

• Various small business set-aside clauses are incorporated by reference, including HUBZone, Total Small Business, Partial Small Business, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.

• This document is Amendment 005 to the original solicitation.

• The "Schedule of Items" is provided in a separate Excel spreadsheet titled "A004-Revised Schedule of Items".

• Contractors must comply with numerous FAR clauses and specific requirements related to safety, fire prevention, environmental protection, labor laws, and invoicing.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (005) to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship BPA incorporates two FAR class deviations to ensure compliance with Executive Orders 14148, 14173, 14168, and 14208. It also removes AGAR clauses and provisions that have been rescinded. These updates reflect recent policy changes, eliminate outdated requirements, and streamline the solicitation. All previous versions of this solicitation are rendered obsolete.

Key changes include:

• Removal of FAR clauses: 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-27, and 52.222-55.

• FAR clauses 52.212-3, 52.212-5, and 52.222-9 now include deviations to align with recent Executive Orders.

• Removal of several AGAR clauses and provisions, including those related to Period of Performance, Post Award Conference, Size Standard, Lead Paint, Use of Premises, Archaeological/Historic Sites, Samples/Certificates, Emergency Response, Fire Suppression/Liability, Key Personnel, and Restrictions Against Disclosure.

• Inclusion of AGAR 452.236-70 Emergency Response, Fire Suppression and Liability (NOV 2024).

• Updates to wage rates and paid holidays found in Section 52 of the PNW Stewardship BPA Solicitation.

• Removal of non-statutory sustainability requirements related to Executive Order 14057 for food service wares, including paper straws.

• Updates to Code of Federal Regulation citations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's BioPreferred® Program.

• Several FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions have been removed or modified.

• Section 52 of the PNW Stewardship BPA Solicitation regarding wage rates and paid holidays has been updated.

• All call orders will incorporate these changes by reference at award.

• The solicitation is updated to reflect current policy and regulatory changes.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document provides instructions for submitting proposals for the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship BPA (Blanket Purchase Agreement) with the US Forest Service. The BPA is open and continuous, meaning submissions can be made at any time with no specific due date.

• Technical Proposal: Must address four evaluation criteria: Key Personnel, Equipment, Relevant Past Performance, and Benefit to Local Community. Failure to adequately address these may result in non-responsiveness.

• Pricing Proposal: Must provide pricing for ALL items in the "A004-Revised Schedule of Items_12363N23Q4024" Excel spreadsheet for each National Forest the firm wishes to do business with. Pricing should be specific to the Forest and based on the hypothetical scenario and technical specifications provided in the solicitation. Rates provided are 'shelf rates' for award evaluation.

• Solicitation Form: Page 1 of the Solicitation (titled: A004-SOLICITATION-PNW Stewardship BPA) must be filled out, along with required representations and certifications (Sections 57-65).

• This is a BPA, and future Call/Orders will be issued for specific projects.

• Multiple awards are anticipated.

• Technical and pricing proposals must be submitted as separate documents.

• Awards will be based on technical and pricing evaluations.

• Contractors are cautioned that BPA awards are based partly on proposed pricing, and subsequent Call/Order quotes must be representative of these rates.

• All Contractors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov to be eligible for award. Registration must be active by the time of proposal evaluation.

• Contact Ingrid Anderson at ingrid.anderson@usda.gov or 541-527-5462 for questions or issues accessing solicitation documents.

• Email offers to Nikki Layton (nikki.layton@usda.gov) and Ingrid Anderson (ingrid.anderson@usda.gov).

Other / Unclassified

This document is a list of awardees, their associated contract numbers, SAM Unique Entity Identifiers (UEIs), and addresses. It appears to be an award notice or a list of awarded contractors for a specific opportunity or set of opportunities.

This document is relevant to bidders as it provides information on entities that have already been awarded contracts. While it does not detail the requirements of a specific solicitation, it can offer insights into potential competitors or partners who have successfully secured government contracts in related fields. It may also indicate the types of services or goods that have been recently procured.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Amendment 004 to Solicitation 12363N23Q4024 for the PNW Stewardship BPA, covering Region 6 in Oregon and Washington. It provides a revised schedule of items for commercial harvest and removal of included timber, as well as related services across 17 National Forests/Areas. Bidders are instructed to fill in only the unit prices; total amounts will be calculated automatically. The completed spreadsheet must be converted to Adobe PDF before submission.

• The document lists various services related to timber harvest and fuels treatment, categorized by National Forest/Area within Oregon and Washington.
• Services include: Cut, Skid, and Remove Non-sawtimber; Cut, Skid and Deck Non-sawtimber; Cut, Skid and Remove Biomass; Masticate/Chip Non-included Material; Mechanical/Hand Cutting and Piling/Lopping Non-included Material; Roadside Fuels Treatment; Removal/Disposal of Piled Material; Road Maintenance; and Road (Re)Construction.
• Quantities are specified in Acres (AC) or Miles (MI) for each service and forest.
• Unit prices are to be filled in by the bidder. All unit prices are currently listed as 0.0, with corresponding amounts also as 0.0.

This revised schedule of items is crucial for bidders to understand the scope of work and to prepare their pricing. Bidders must carefully review the services and quantities for each National Forest and accurately enter their unit prices. The requirement to convert the final document to PDF before submission is also a key instruction.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment adds the remainder of National Forests to the Pacific Northwest Stewardship BPA that were not included in the original solicitation.

• Bidders are instructed to provide pricing for ALL work items on the "A004-Revised Schedule of Items" Excel spreadsheet for the Forests/Areas with which they wish to do business.

• The submitted spreadsheet must be converted to Adobe PDF format before submittal.

• The scope of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship BPA is expanded to include additional National Forests.

• The PNW Stewardship BPA will remain Open and Continuous.

• There is no due date for Amendment 004.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (001) to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship BPA for Region 6 (Oregon and Washington) makes the following changes:

• Revises NAICS Code 115310 Standard Size to $34M on page 1.
• Replaces Section 9 (Ordering) with new language on page 13.
• Replaces Section 10 (Order Limitations) on page 14.
• Adds language to Section 24 (Key Personnel) on page 20.
• Adds language to Section 29 (Protection of Improvements) on page 27.
• Revises Section 32 (Prevention of Oil Spills) on page 28.
• Replaces Section 51 (Type of Contract) with "Type of Award" on page 49.
• Revises Section 56 (Single or Multiple Awards) on page 58.
• Clarifies and provides a revised form for Section 58 (Employment of Eligible Workers) on page 70.
• Revises header titles for Specific Fire Precautions (page 35) and Emergency Fire Precautions (page 39).

Sections 9, 10, 24, 29, 32, 51, 56, and 58, as well as specific pages related to fire precautions, have been modified or replaced. A revised form for Section 58 is attached.

This amendment revises various sections of the solicitation, including ordering procedures, key personnel, protection of improvements, oil spill prevention, type of award, and eligible worker certifications. Bidders should review these changes carefully as they may impact proposal preparation and submission requirements. The NAICS code size standard has also been updated.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

Appendix C outlines the Contract Road Maintenance Requirements Summary for the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship BPA, Region 6 OR & WA - Multiple National Forests. It details the specific road maintenance tasks required during the pre-haul, during-haul, and post-haul phases.

• Roads Covered: NFSR 260 and LCR 90 are specified.
• Maintenance Phases: Pre-Haul, During Haul, and Post-Haul.
• T-Specifications: A matrix indicates required T-Specifications (e.g., T-803 Snow Removal, T-811 Blading, T-812 Dust Abatement, T-831 Ditch Maintenance, T-832 Remove and End Haul Materials, T-834 Drainage Structure Maintenance, T-835 Roadway Drainage Maintenance, T-836 Maintenance for Limited Use, T-838 Maintenance for High Clearance Vehicle Use, T-839 Maintenance for Project Use, T-841 Vegetation Establishment, T-842 Cutting Roadway Vegetation, T-851 Logging Out, T-854 Treatment and Disposal of Danger Trees, T-891 Water Supply and Watering, T-892 Bituminous Products) for each road segment during each phase. The letter 'C' denotes a Contractor Performance Item.
• Volume Limit: The maximum volume for Slide and Slump repair is 20 cubic yards.
• Optional Items: 'O' indicates an Optional Contract Line Item.
• Definitions: Key terms like NFSR, CR, JCT, MP, and EOR are defined.

This appendix is crucial for bidders as it defines the specific road maintenance obligations and performance standards expected under the contract. It details the scope of work related to road upkeep throughout the contract period, including requirements for snow removal, blading, dust abatement, drainage maintenance, vegetation control, and more. Understanding these requirements is essential for accurately estimating costs and developing a compliant proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Appendix B - Tree Measurement, outlines the specifications and requirements for timber removal within the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship BPA. It details the contract area, timber specifications, rates of payment, operational procedures, and other conditions related to the stewardship contract.

• Contract Area (BT1.0): Defines the boundaries and payment units for the contract.
• Timber Specifications (BT2.0): Details included timber, substandard timber, damaged timber, and utilization standards.
• Rates of Payment (BT3.0): Outlines current contract rates and other payment rates for timber.
• Payments (BT4.0): Describes the amount payable for timber and the integrated resource account.
• Operations (BT6.0): Covers control of operations, safety, conduct of logging, felling, bucking, skidding, yarding, and slash disposal.
• Other Conditions (BT8.0): Includes title and liability, and use of timber.
• Specific Clauses (CT sections): Details on individual tree designation, road use, protection of improvements, erosion control, slash treatment, and fire precautions.

This appendix is crucial for bidders as it defines the technical requirements and operational parameters of the timber removal contract. It provides essential information on how timber will be measured, paid for, and the standards that must be met during operations, including safety and environmental considerations. Understanding these specifications is vital for accurate bidding and successful contract execution.

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

To increase forest health and vigor, reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire, and provide wood resources to forest product industry and local communities within specified National Forests.

This document outlines technical specifications for various service work items related to forest management. Key activities include:

• Hand cutting, piling, and/or lopping of non-included material.
• Mechanical cutting, piling, lopping, masticating, chipping, skidding, and/or removing non-included or non-sawtimber material.
• Road construction, maintenance, closure, and decommissioning.
• Cutting, skidding, and removal of commercial wood products.

It details hypothetical treatment unit conditions for pricing purposes, assuming commercial harvest of mixed-conifer sawtimber, thinning of non-sawtimber, and processing of non-included material. Specifics on pile construction, material distribution, and road maintenance are provided.

• Minimum Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL) are defined for various work items, with a general requirement of 90% for most treatments (e.g., Cut, Skid, and Remove Non-sawtimber, Masticate/Chip Non-included Material). Road maintenance and construction require 100% AQL.

• Government verification plots will be used to determine compliance with specifications.

• Unsatisfactory work (below 90% AQL) will require rework or may result in reduced payment or termination.

• Operations are permitted from May 31 to November 15.

• Work will be performed on National Forest System lands within the boundary of the Colville, Gifford Pinchot, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, Mt. Hood, Okanogan & Wenatchee, Olympic, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Siuslaw, Umpqua, and Willamette National Forests.

• Compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local statutes, standards, orders, permits, and regulations, including environmental quality laws.

• Operations may be restricted or ceased due to fire risk, specific operating restrictions, soil moisture conditions, or snow depth.

• Discovery of cultural or archeological sites will result in work suspension in the vicinity.

• Contractor is responsible for transport and disposal of removed material.

• Specific requirements for pile construction, material distribution, and road maintenance are detailed.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Appendix B - Scaled, provides the "Stewardship Contract - Timber Removal Specifications" for the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Stewardship BPA, Region 6 OR & WA - Multiple Forests. It details the technical specifications and requirements for timber removal under this contract.

• Contract Area and Timber Specifications: Defines included timber (standard, substandard, damaged, construction), utilization standards, and timber designations (clearcutting units, overstory/understory removal units, individual trees).
• Rates of Payment: Outlines current contract rates, other payment rates for incidental material, timber cut through mistake, designated timber not removed, and liquidated damages for negligent or willful damage.
• Operations: Covers safety, conduct of logging, felling and bucking, stump heights, skidding, landings, skid trails, and erosion control.
• Scaling: Details scaling services, locations, adjustments, weighing services, and presentation for scaling.
• Other Conditions: Includes title and liability, sale of other materials, and specific regional clauses.
• Specific Clauses: Addresses designation by prescription, individual tree designation, abnormal delay, use of roads, protection of improvements, erosion control, slash disposal, and fire precautions.

This appendix is crucial for bidders as it defines the precise technical requirements, operational procedures, payment structures, and contractual obligations related to timber removal. Understanding these specifications is essential for accurately estimating costs, planning operations, and ensuring compliance with the contract terms. It directly impacts how timber will be harvested, processed, measured, and paid for.

Wage Determination

This document provides the official wage determination for the Service Contract Act (SCA) applicable to contracts in Washington Statewide, specifically for the Forestry Industry. It outlines the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations.

• Minimum Wage Rates: Specific hourly rates are listed for occupations such as Brush/Precommercial Thinner, Choker Setter, Faller/Bucker, and Forestry/Logging Heavy Equipment Operator, among others.

• Fringe Benefits: All listed occupations are entitled to specific fringe benefits, including Health & Welfare ($4.80 per hour or $192.00 per week) and a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.

• Executive Order 14026 & 13658: For contracts entered into or renewed/extended on or after January 30, 2022, contractors must pay at least $16.20 per hour (EO 14026) or $12.15 per hour (EO 13658), or the applicable wage rate from this determination if higher.

• Paid Sick Leave: Executive Order 13706 applies to contracts awarded on or after January 1, 2017, requiring 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year.

• Uniform Allowance: If uniforms are required, the contractor must provide them at no cost to employees or reimburse for the cost, including maintenance, if applicable.

• If a required employee classification is not listed, contractors must request an additional classification and wage rate using Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444) prior to performing contract work. The process involves submitting a report to the contracting officer for review and approval by the Wage and Hour Division.

Wage Determination

This document provides the official wage determination for contracts subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA) in Oregon.

• Applicable Wage Rates: Lists specific minimum hourly wage rates and fringe benefits for various occupational classifications within Forestry and Logging Services in Oregon.
• Executive Order Minimum Wage: Details the minimum wage requirements under Executive Order 14026 ($16.20/hour for contracts entered into or extended after January 30, 2022) and Executive Order 13658 ($12.15/hour for contracts awarded between January 1, 2015, and January 29, 2022, and not extended after January 30, 2022). Bidders must pay the higher of the Executive Order rate or the listed wage determination rate.
• Fringe Benefits: Specifies required fringe benefits, including Health & Welfare ($4.80/hour or $4.41/hour under EO 13706) and Paid Sick Leave (1 hour per 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours annually, under EO 13706).
• Other Benefits: Includes provisions for Vacation (2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 10 years) and Holidays (11 paid holidays per year).
• Uniform Allowance: Outlines requirements for providing and maintaining uniforms if mandated by the contract, with specific reimbursement rates if employees bear the cost.
• Conformance Process: Describes the procedure for requesting additional classifications and wage rates if a required occupation is not listed in the determination.

This wage determination is critical for bidders to accurately calculate labor costs and ensure compliance with federal wage and benefit requirements when preparing proposals for contracts involving Forestry and Logging Services in Oregon.