F -- HERBICIDE SPRAYING

Notice Date

December 22, 2000

Contracting Office

USDA Forest Service, Black Hills National Forest, RR 2 Box 200, Custer, SD 57730

ZIP Code

57730

Solicitation Number

RMAST-01-015

Response Due

January 30, 2001

Point of Contact

Brenda Oster 605/673-2251, FAX 605/673-5567 -- Dave Pakalski, Contracting Officer 605/673-9320

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. 1. The request for proposal (RFP) solicitation number is RMAST-01-015. 2. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-20. 3. This is a small business set aside. The associated NAICS code is 115310 and small business size standard is $5 million 4. Treat approximately 1359 acres of above noxious weed species in the Black Hills National Forest. Unit price $_________________Total $_________________ 5. SPECIFICATIONS FOR NOXIOUS WEED SPRAYING Scope: The intent of this contract is to apply herbicide (and marker dye) to approximately 1,359 acres of Canada Thistle, Musk Thistle, Spotted Knapweed, Leafy Spurge, Yellow Toadflax, St. Johnswort, Common Tansy, Houndstounge. Description of Work: The principal features of work to be performed under these specifications include: a. Treat approximately 1,359 acres of the above noxious weed species on the Northern Hills Ranger District (Black Hills National Forest). This acreage occurs in scattered patches within 14 separate management areas. b. Access to treatment areas will require travel on backcountry roads. Contractor may need to remove fallen trees or other debris from roads in order to access treatment areas. A chainsaw will be required for this work. c. All of the treatment areas will require the use of 4-wheel drive and 2-wheel drive pickup spray rigs. Truck mounted spraying equipment must have the capability to meter application rates in order to determine acreage treated. A portable water pump will be required to draft water from streams. A 200-foot spray hose will be required for pickup spray rigs. d. Weeds shall be sprayed when they are at the optimal stage of development for herbicides to be effective. The optimal stage of development would be in the bud to bloom stage. Only weeds that are actively growing will be sprayed. Weed spraying will take place from June 15 through October 1. e. Weeds will not be sprayed during rain shower events or if rain is eminent within 8 hours. f. Herbicide will not be sprayed when wind speeds exceed 10 mph or when temperatures exceed 95 degrees F. g. If a specific spray treatment is determined by the Contracting Officers Representative to be ineffective due to an application related error, the Contractor will retreat the site(s) at the Contractors expense and no additional payment shall be made. h. The Contractor will designate one crew Foreman to coordinate treatment activities with the Contracting Officers Representative. i. The Contactor will mark weed treatment locations on a 1:24,000 scale map. The contractor will also complete a herbicide treatment information form for each management area that includes the species of weed treated, herbicide used, acres treated, amount of active ingredient, and the date treated. This information shall be given to the Contracting Officers Representative on a bi-weekly basis during the spraying season (June 15 through October 1). Any acreage size discrepancies will be surveyed by the Contracting Officers Representative and the Contractor and adjusted before payment is made. Project Location: The project is located on the Northern Hills Ranger District, Lawrence County, SD and Crook County, WY (Black Hills National Forest) at designated sites (request maps from POC). The district is located in both the State of South Dakota and the State of Wyoming. Permits: It will be the responsibility of the Contractor to obtain any permits and certifications necessary to administer the herbicide spraying. This will require permits for the States of South Dakota and Wyoming. Only certified pesticide applicators will apply herbicides on the National Forest. Herbicide: It is the responsibility of the Contractor to provide all necessary herbicide, surfactant, and marker dye. The following herbicides are authorized for use on the National Forest: Transline, Escort, Plateau, Tordon, Phenoxy 088, Vanquish, 2,4-D Amine 4 (Aquatic Labels) and Krenite S. A mixture of water, herbicide, and a suitable surfactant will be used. Blue marker dye will be used with all herbicide mixes. Herbicide will be applied in accordance with the manufacturers instruction and specifications (label direction). All herbicides will be State Labeled and EPA registered. Only herbicides labeled for aquatic applications will be used in riparian/wetland sites (there are approximately 30 acres of noxious weeds in riparian/wetland habitats included in the 1,359 acre total). Clean up and Disposal: Clean up and disposal of excess herbicide and empty containers is the Contractors responsibility and will be in accordance with manufacturers instructions and applicable Federal and State Laws. Vehicle Cleaning: In order to minimize the potential for weed spreading, spray trucks will be steam-cleaned and inspected prior to commencing work in June. Spray trucks (including the vehicle undercarriage) will be pressure washed on a weekly basis throughout the spray season. Payment: Payment will be made on a per acre basis. Maps: Maps of the designated areas maybe viewed through the point of contact. 6. Work is expected to start on or about 15 Jun 01 and be completed by 1 Oct Sep 01. 7. Full text of a clause maybe obtained electronically via the following internet address: FAR clauses, http://www.arnet.gov/far AGAR clauses, http://www.usda.gov/da/procure/agar/subchaph.html 8. The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial (Oct 2000), applies to this acquisition. Add addenda to the provision as follows: a. Pre-bid/Pre-proposal Conference (Feb 1988), Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) 452.237-71 The conference will be held at the Spearfish District Office, 2014 N Main St, Spearfish, SD 57783, on 17 Jan 01, at 9:30 AM, MST.. b. Service of Protest (Aug 1996), FAR 52.233-2, See paragraph 15 for office address. c. Past performance information: Offerors shall provide a listing of all previous jobs of similar size and scope of work contained in this solicitation for the last 3 years. The list shall include a brief description of the contract, price, performance dates, POC's name, address and current telephone (including fax number), and provide any unsatisfactory performance record with your comments. Request this information be provided 10 days prior to submission of the proposal due date. Failure to provide timely past performance information may eliminate the offerors from further consideration. 9. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items (Jan 1999) and the specific evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of that provision is as follows: This is a competitive best value source selection considering significant evaluation factors including price and past performance. The offeror's performance history will be considered approximately equal to price. The contract award selection process is as follows: a. Conduct a performance confidence assessment based on the offeror's recent and relevant performance. In assessing performance levels, the evaluators will question from the past performance information provided and from independent sources. Past performance information will be evaluated in the areas of management (providing adequate manning and equipment), quality of service (effective quality control and inspection program), timeliness of performance, and customer satisfaction. b. The data will be overall rated in the judgment of the evaluator as exceptional/high confidence, very good/significant confidence, satisfactory/confidence, marginal/little confidence, unsatisfactory/no confidence, and neutral/unknown confidence. c. Any derogatory past performance information obtained will be presented to the effected offeror, allowing that offeror an opportunity to respond with mitigating facts. Proposals receiving unsatisfactory and marginal ratings maybe eliminated from further consideration. The competitive range will consist of all the most highly rated proposals. d. If the lowest evaluated price offeror has received high performance confidence ratings, the offeror's proposal represents the best value for this acquisition and award will be made to this offeror without further consideration of any other offerors. e. The Government reserves the right to award a contract to other than the lowest evaluated priced offer if a higher priced offer is judged to have a higher performance confidence rating. In that event, the contracting officer shall make an integrated assessment best value award decision. 10. Offerors must include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items (Oct 2000), with its offer. 11. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items (May 1999), applies to this acquisition. Add addenda to the clause as follows: a. Insurance Coverage (Nov 1996) AGAR 452.228-71 b. Work on a Government Installation (Jan 1997), FAR52-228.5 c. Progress reporting (Feb 1988) AGAR 452.237-76, Every two weeks. d. Value Engineering (Feb 2000), FAR 52.248-1 12. The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items (Aug 2000), applies to this acquisition. Check clauses in paragraph b as follows: 1, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 24. Check clauses in paragraph c as follows: 1, 2, 4 (Note: For paragraph 1, the applicable wage rate numbers are WY 79-0948 and SD 79-1157. This can be obtained from Brenda Oster by calling 605-673-9322. For paragraph 2 the equivalent classes of service employees and rates for federal hires are as follows: general forestry laborer, WG-2 at $9.51 per hour and forestry truck driver, WG-7 at $14.12 per hour. 13. No other additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions are applicable. 14. No Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) rating are assigned. 15. Commerce Business Daily numbered notes are applicable to this acquisition as follows: Numbered Note No. 1. 16. Proposals are due on 30 Jan 01 by 2:00PM MST. Proposals must be sent to: USDA Forest Service, RR2, Box 200, Custer, SD 57730. 17. The individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation is Dave Pakalski at 605-673-9320.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001227/FSOL001.HTM (W-357 SN5095W2)