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. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Socorro Field Office has a requirement through the New Mexico State Office for the East Magdalena Thinning Project, 2023. Solicitation number 140L2223Q0007 is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ). The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-02. The North America Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 115310 and the Small Business Standard size is $11.5. Product Service Code F003 - Natural Resources/Conservation-Forest Range Fire. This procurement is set aside 100% for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE) in accordance with the Buy Indian Act Regulations
Location of Project
The project area is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered lands about 15 miles north-northwest of Socorro in Socorro County, New Mexico in parts of Sections 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 29, and 30 of Township 4 South, Range 2 West (Red Canyon Unit) and Sections 7, 8, 17, 18, and 19 of Township 4 South, Range 1 West (Black Canyon Unit) and Sections 3-5, 9, and 10 of the Lower Chavez Unit. Project area is a variable mix of closed to moderate woodland on very steep to moderately steep on relatively rugged desert mountainous terrain to moderately steep terrain on rolling hills.
Boundaries of Project Area
Boundaries will be natural barriers, such as ridge tops and canyon bottoms. Boundaries will be explained on the ground and flagged if need be. The area to be thinned will be between 40-60% of the total acreage within the Red Canyon Unit and Black Canyon Unit (see maps) until contracted acres are thinned and between 17-25% of the Lower Chavez Unit. Preference will be to treat acres within the Red Canyon Unit first. The number of acres thinned will be dependent upon funding availability and cost per acre. If identified acreage is completed within the preference and/or identified sections, project will then move into the Black Canyon Unit, to thin remaining acreage.
Access
Red Canyon Unit:
1. From Socorro travel south on NM Highway 1 approximately 6.3 miles to County Road 126. Then travel west on County Road 126 approximately 4.8 miles until BLM two-track road heading west. Then travel south on two-track road approximately 0.75 miles to project area.
2. From Socorro travel west on NM Highway 60 approximately 7.5 miles to Box Canyon Road. Then travel south on Box Canyon approximately 5.5 miles to Mierra Well. Then travel east on two-track road approximately 1.5 miles.
Lower Chavez Unit:
From Socorro travel west on Highway 60 approximately 7 miles to the Box Canyon turn off. Then take County Road south approximately 8.7 miles to USFS access road. Access into the project area is by two track roads.
Vehicle access is provided by a two track roads on the east and west of the project area(s). Foot access may be up to ¾ mile from existing roads. All vehicles shall remain on existing roads. No Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use is authorized nor permitted as part of the project. No vehicle access will be allowed off existing travel routes. It is recommended that crews provide 4x4 vehicles and/or UTV¿s or ATV¿s to access project areas.
Lower Chavez Unit:
Project Purpose
The purpose of this contract is to provide services for improvement of forest/woodland health and wildlife habitat improvement. Slash would be left on site and possibly burned at a later date when dry by Socorro Field Office fire personnel.
Requesting Office: Socorro Field Office
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Sub Description/Project Est. Unit
Item Area Name/Location Qty. Unit
0010 Red Canyon Unit 175.5 Acres AU
0020 Lower Chavez Thin 2023 88 Acres AU
Project Prescriptions for: Prescriptions apply to entire project area.
The Contractor shall cut one-seed juniper trees and mountain mahogany as specified in the prescriptions described below.
Treatment will be done by hand-cutting (chainsaws and other hand equipment). Retain all pinon pine trees as leave trees.
The Contractor shall cut live mature trees, saplings, and seedlings inside the identified one half to 100 acre polygons/patch boundaries, except for designated leave trees and groups. Due to the nature of the treatment the cut areas will be identified on the ground by the authorized officer.
Leave tree preference - 1st Healthy tree, 2nd Larger tree, 3rd Piñon Pine (Pinus edulis).
When thinning, all unhealthy (i.e. mistletoe infested, diseased, dying, etc.) trees should be removed first regardless of size; then look at spacing and species requirements.
No Girdling or Pruning.
Cut any live tree 6 inches tall or above that do not meet the criteria below for leave trees.
Cut smaller seedlings and saplings growing under larger leave trees.
Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump, with stump height 3 inches or less in height, measured on the high side of the tree.
No live limbs will be left on the stump of cut trees.
All cut areas shall be GPSed and all shape files provided to the BLM.
Piñon-juniper Prescriptions:
Within meadow edges, slopes/hillsides, and canyon bottoms, piñon and juniper trees up to 12-16 inches Diameter at Root Crown (DRC) and smaller would be removed. Larger diameter healthy trees (12-16 inches DRC or larger) of Piñon and juniper would be retained as leave trees. Max DRC (12-16 DRC) will be dependent on site characteristic of each site/stand and can be modified as needed to maintain a sufficient amount of leave trees.
Due to stem characteristics of Juniper and Piñon, stem diameter will be measured 6 inches above ground surface on the high side for cutting (DSH-diameter at stump height), not DBH.
Leaving 1-2 small groups of healthy trees per acre (approximately 6-10 trees per group) is acceptable, with an average spacing around groups of 100-300 feet.
Within meadow edges, slopes/hillsides, and canyon bottoms, irregular shaped (chevron or diamond patterns) one-half to five acre strips or patches would be cut, interspersed with uncut areas. Uncut patches shall be left with spacing between patches of 50-300 feet, where conditions allow. Spacing between cut patches would not exceed 300 feet.
Cut areas within canyon bottoms and swales would extend two chains or 132 feet upslope from streambed/canyon bottom. Thinning prescriptions and cut areas can be modified on site by authorized officer depending on site characteristics and to meet resource objectives.
Mountain Mahogany Management Prescriptions:
a. Select mahogany stands would be cut at a height specified below to rejuvenate and promote resprouting of browse.
b. A mix of cut heights (1. At knee height 2. At waist height) shall be completed in each identified stand.
Cut patches shall be spaced, according to the above specified prescriptions and according to verbal specifications provided by the authorized officer. The authorized officer will meet with the crew supervisor 2-3 times per week while work is in progress to determine status and to ensure work is completed to contract specifications.
Leave trees:
Retained trees should be free of diseases (conks, fungus, dwarf mistletoe, etc.), and of good form (no forks in lower portion of piñon or ponderosa pine).
All hardwood species and snags.
Any tree having signs or survey marks.
All trees along fence lines that have fence wire attached to them.
Trees with cultural significance or obvious wildlife occupation, i.e. cavities or bird nests.
Any tree or group of trees in a leave patch marked with flagging or identified by the authorized officer representative and according to the specified prescriptions. NOTE: All leave trees are not marked. It is the contractor¿s responsibility to identify the trees mentioned above.
Special Treatment Requirements
Slash Management:
Trees felled into drainage bottoms shall be felled with the top of the tree pointed downstream and the end of the trunk of the tree pointed upstream.
No trees shall be cut within 20 feet of a drainage cut or slope which shows significant signs of erosion.
The Contractor shall cut, lop and scatter slash to within 2 feet of the ground ensuring that slash within the polygon or patch is continuous and connected.
Cut and felled material shall be bucked into lengths of 4-6 feet to speed drying.
Slash would be pulled away a minimum of 15 feet from leave trees (large diameter trees or snags, or any other sensitive resource as appropriate.
Felled trees and slash will not be left within 30 feet of any fence, improvement, or access road edge. Standing trees (to be felled) within 30 feet of any fence or road will be felled so they lie on the side of the stump opposite to the road or fence.
Period of Performance begins May 15, 2023 to September 14, 2023
There are two separate units within this contract.
Site Visit: Approximately April 18th, 2023; meet at the Socorro Field office at 9 a.m. for a briefing, then travel to the site for the field visit. Information (maps and directions) will be available through the Socorro Field Office, 901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, New Mexico at 575-835-0412. The work site is approximately a 30-45 minute drive from Socorro.
Offerors intending to attend the site visit tour shall contact Carlos Madril at 575-838-1281 (email: cmadril@blm.gov) at least 2 working days before the scheduled site visit and advise him of the firm's name and number of persons that will attend.
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. The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items applies (LPTA) completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, with its offer. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition along with the clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Additional billing clauses and contract clauses are included in the document 140L2223Q0007. Solicitation is due April 28, 2023 1700 MT. Sent your response via email to etippeco@blm.gov. Offerors must be registered at http://www.sam.gov to be eligible for award of a contract.
