USDA Forest Service Plains Thompson Fall Ranger District Tree Planting AMD 0001

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies the solicitation as follows:

• The description for Line Item 0001AA in Attachment 1 (Solicitation Terms and Conditions) has been changed from "6-inch Container: >199 tpa" to "Tree Planting 12 x 12 spacing with 18" Scalp".

• Attachment 2 (Statement of Work) Section 5.0 is referenced for the updated description.

• Attachment 4 has been retitled from "Summary of Information Chart" to "Summary Information Chart AMD 0001".

• The due date for questions has been removed.

• In Attachment 4 Summary Information Chart AMD 0001, the "Stock Type for Graves Creek Unit UGC5" has been changed to "Bareroot/Container".

• The due date for quotes has been extended to March 17, 2026, at 1700 MT.

• Attachment 1: Solicitation Terms and Conditions (Line Item 0001AA description)

• Attachment 2: Statement of Work (Section 5.0 referenced)

• Attachment 4: Summary of Information Chart (Title and Stock Type for Graves Creek Unit UGC5)

• The due date for quotes has been extended to March 17, 2026, 1700 MT.

• The due date for questions has been removed.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for tree planting services on lands administered within the Lolo National Forest, Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District. The contractor will be responsible for all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies (except Government-furnished), and incidentals required for tree handling and planting.

• Tree planting with 12x12 spacing and 18" scalp.

• Specific planting areas include Graves Creek GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4, UGC5, UGC7, and UGC8, with varying acreage and elevation requirements.

• Contractor must furnish all necessary resources, except for designated Government-furnished items.

• The government intends to make one award.

• Contractors must submit pricing for all items to be considered responsive.

• Submission: Quotes must include a technical proposal, price proposal, and a completed Employment of Eligible Workers - Workforce Certification. Submit via email to joanne.meiers@usda.gov by the specified deadline. Emails should contain three separate attachments (Technical Proposal, Price Proposal, Workforce Certification) in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF format.

• Evaluation: Award will be made to the quoter representing the best value to the Government. Evaluation is based on Price (fair and reasonable), Technical Acceptability (demonstrated ability to meet requirements), and Past Performance (acceptable or neutral rating).

• Evaluation Method: Only the lowest priced quote will be evaluated for Technical Acceptability and Past Performance. If it's not acceptable, the process continues with the next lowest priced quote.

• Key Deadlines: Questions are due by February 25, 2026, 5:00 PM Mountain Time. The solicitation closing date is March 9, 2026.

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

• Compliance with the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and Farm Labor Contractor (FLC) requirements is mandatory. Specific certifications and documentation are required for H-2B workers and MSPA workers.

• This solicitation incorporates numerous FAR and AGAR clauses by reference. Full text is available upon request or electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-52.

• Attachments include: Statement of Work, Area Maps, Summary of Information Chart AMD 0001, Wage Determination, and Experience Questionnaire.

• Agency protests should first be directed to the Contracting Officer, with escalation to the USDA Ombudsman available.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 4 Summary Information Chart AMD 0001.xlsx", appears to be a detailed breakdown of tree planting requirements for Spring 2026, likely intended for use in a solicitation or contract. It provides specific data points for various planting locations and tree types.

• Species and Stock Type: Details on tree species and stock types (e.g., Bareroot, Container).
• Planting Locations: Specific areas for planting, including "Graves Creek," "Henry Deemer," and "2Short" zones.
• Quantity and Density: Requirements for the number of trees and trees per acre.
• Elevation and Spacing: Specified elevation ranges and planting spacing (e.g., 12x12).
• Unit and Distance: Information on unit locations and distances, particularly for "Walk-in" units at Graves Creek.
• Shade Clause: Notes on specific planting instructions related to shade.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to understand the specific quantities, types, and locations of trees to be planted. It directly informs the scope of work, resource allocation, and potentially pricing for any tree planting services required under the opportunity. Bidders should carefully review the details for each unit and location to accurately estimate costs and logistical requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 4 Summary Information Chart.xlsx", provides detailed information regarding tree planting activities for the Spring 2026 season. It outlines specific units, locations, species, stock types, and quantities required for the project.

• Tree Planting Details: Specifies the year (Spring 2026), activity (Tree Planting), unit identifiers (e.g., 2Short, Graves Creek, Henry Deemer), elevation ranges, species, stock types (Bareroot), and spacing (12x12).
• Quantity Requirements: Details the total number of trees required per unit and the calculated trees per acre.
• Location Data: Provides unit locations, elevation, and distance from access points.
• Shade Clause: Includes specific instructions regarding shade placement during planting.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to understand the specific scope and requirements for tree planting services. It provides the granular data needed to estimate labor, materials, and logistical needs for the Spring 2026 planting season, directly impacting proposal development and pricing.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for tree planting services on lands administered by the Lolo National Forest, Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District. The contractor will be responsible for all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies (except Government-furnished), and incidentals required for tree handling and planting as specified in the Statement of Work.

• Tree handling and planting services.

• Specific tasks include "Tree Planting 12 x 12" (Item 0001) and "Walk-in" planting at various specified locations (Item 0002).

• Detailed requirements are outlined in Attachment 2 – Statement of Work.

• The Government intends to make one award from this solicitation.

• Contractors must submit pricing for all items to be considered responsive.

• Submission: Quotes must include a technical proposal, a price proposal, and a completed Employment of Eligible Workers - Workforce Certification. Submit via email to joanne.meiers@usda.gov by the due date. Emails should contain 3 separate attachments (Technical Proposal, Price Proposal, and Workforce Certification) in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF format.

• Evaluation: Award will be made to the quoter representing the best value to the Government. Evaluation is based on Price (fair and reasonable) and Technical Acceptability. Only the lowest priced quote will be evaluated for Technical Acceptability and Past Performance. If that quote is not acceptable, the process continues with the next lowest priced quote.

• Key Deadlines: Questions are due by February 25, 2026, 5:00 PM Mountain Time. The solicitation closing date is not explicitly stated but questions are due well in advance.

• No specific set-aside is mentioned, but various small business clauses are incorporated by reference.

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

• Compliance with the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and Farm Labor Contractor (FLC) requirements is mandatory.

• Attachments: The solicitation includes several attachments: Statement of Work, Area Maps, Summary of Information Chart, Wage Determination, and Experience Questionnaire.

• Clauses: Numerous FAR and AGAR clauses are incorporated by reference, including those related to commercial products/services, labor standards, and specific government requirements like anti-discrimination and DEI compliance.

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

This Statement of Work outlines the requirements for planting approximately 414 acres of timber sale and postfire reforestation units on the Lolo National Forest, Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District. The primary goal is to ensure successful timber reforestation through proper tree handling and planting.

• Core Activity: Planting 414 acres with specific tree species (western larch, ponderosa pine, western white pine, whitebark pine) in spring 2026.

• Tasks: Includes tree handling, ordering, delivery, transport within units, and planting.

• Site Conditions: Work areas may include areas with snags and burned trees, and potential for blowdown.

• Tree Handling: Strict guidelines for maintaining tree moisture, protecting roots from damage (drying, freezing, crushing), and proper storage.

• Planting Standards: Detailed specifications for hole preparation, root configuration, planting depth, firmness, stem orientation, and site clearing/scalping.

• Shade Requirements: Trees must be shaded from afternoon (or morning on east-facing slopes) sun using specified methods (stationary material, transportable material, or planting in the open).

• Spacing: Adherence to specified average spacing, with allowances for microsite selection.

• Quality Control: Contractor must provide a Quality Control Plan and conduct plot inspections (minimum 1% of planted area, 5 plots per subitem) to ensure proper planting procedures.

• Acceptance Criteria: Planting quality must meet or exceed 93% for full payment. Quality between 80% and 93% results in reduced payment. Below 80% results in no payment.

• Wasted Trees: Penalties apply for mishandled or improperly planted trees.

• Contract Period: April 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026.

• Location: Lolo National Forest, Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District.

• Access: Contractor responsible for clearing fallen trees blocking access roads after initial government clearing. Must manage locked gates.

• Crew Configuration: Specific requirements for Contractor Representative, Foreman, and Inspectors. Maximum of 1 crew with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 14 workers (excluding Foreman and Inspectors).

• Safety: Contractor must address crew safety, particularly in areas with snags and burned trees.

• Government-Furnished Property: Includes bareroot and container-grown trees, planting inspection sheets, and potentially gate keys.

• This is a performance-based, commercial item contract.

• A detailed Schedule of Items lists specific units, acres, spacing, stock types, species, and due dates.

• Contractor must submit a work plan and schedule prior to commencing work.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, under the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in a specific geographic area (Montana Counties of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Ravalli, Sanders) for contracts subject to the Service Contract Act.

• Lists numerous occupational codes and titles.
• Specifies the minimum hourly wage rate for each occupation.
• Indicates that "Fringe Benefits Required Follow the Occupational Listing."
• Includes notes on Executive Orders 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and 13658 (minimum wage adjustments).
• Details Health & Welfare benefits and paid sick leave provisions.
• Outlines vacation and holiday policies.
• Provides information on hazardous pay differentials and uniform allowances.
• Explains the conformance process for unlisted classifications.

This wage determination is crucial for bidders to accurately estimate labor costs for their proposals. It dictates the minimum compensation and benefits that must be provided to employees performing work under a covered contract in the specified area. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements to be compliant.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains area maps related to the "2Short Planting Units," "Deemer_Henry Planting Units," and "Graves Creek Planting Units." These maps are intended to provide visual geographic context for the planting units, likely for a land management or reforestation opportunity.

• Topographic maps showing elevation contours.
• Delineated planting unit boundaries (e.g., "2Short Planting Units," "Deemer_Henry Planting Units," "Graves Creek Planting Units").
• Road and water features (creeks, rivers).
• Labels for specific locations, peaks, and unit designations (e.g., GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7, GC8).
• Scale bars and north arrows for orientation.

These maps are crucial for bidders to understand the physical terrain, accessibility, and specific locations of the planting units. This information is essential for assessing the scope of work, planning logistics, estimating costs, and evaluating the feasibility of the opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Experience Questionnaire designed to gather information from potential bidders regarding their qualifications and past performance. It is intended to help the government evaluate a bidder's ability to successfully complete the project.

• Contractor Information: Name, address, telephone number.
• Business Type: Classification (Company, Corporation, Partnership, etc.).
• Years of Experience: In the line of work and as a prime/sub-contractor.
• Past Projects: Details of completed projects within the last three years, including contract amount, type, completion date, and owner contact information.
• Current Commitments: Information on concurrent contractual obligations.
• Past Performance: Questions regarding failure to complete work or work completed by performance bond.
• Site Visit: Confirmation of whether the project site was visited.
• Resources: Available employees (minimum/maximum) and equipment.
• Key Personnel Experience: Experience of individuals who will be directly involved in the contract.
• Remarks: Space for additional relevant information.
• Certification: A statement by the certifying official attesting to the accuracy of the information provided.

Bidders must complete this questionnaire thoroughly and accurately. The information provided will be used to assess their experience, capabilities, and capacity to perform the work described in the solicitation. Failure to provide complete and satisfactory information may impact the evaluation of the bidder's proposal.