Baker city Watershed (BCW) - Non-Commercial Thinning and Grapple Pile #2 - Wallowa Whitman National Forest

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

The objective of this project is to alter the fuel bed continuity in predominantly ponderosa pine and juniper stands with natural regeneration understory. This includes treating slash created by non-commercially thinned units, natural buildup of woody debris, and hazardous live fuels. The goal is to produce areas where wildfires can be contained quickly, provide a safer working environment for firefighters, reduce damage to natural resources, and minimize impact to adjacent private property and structures.

• Project Area: BCW Thin and Grapple Pile #2, covering approximately 377 base acres within the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Whitman Ranger District.

• Tasks: Non-commercially thin, treat slash, and grapple pile identified units within the project area. Units are identified by pink flagging and Yellow Milex tags labeled BCW with associated unit numbers.

• Area Description: Open Ponderosa Pine stands with scattered pockets of natural Ponderosa Pine and mixed conifer regeneration.

• Access: Multiple access points are available, including routes via Hwy 7, Old Auburn Lane, Elk Creek Lane, Pocahontas Road, and associated spur roads. Specific access details are provided in the Unit Specifics Sheet.

• Special Considerations: No thinning is to be performed prior to June 15th in pine stands to mitigate Pine Beetle infestation. Wet or moist soil conditions require COR notification and appropriate buffering.

• Quality Assurance: Work must comply with the Detailed Unit Information (DUIS) in Appendix A of the Quality Assurance Surveillance Program (QASP) at Attachment 2. The acceptable quality level (AQL) is 95%.

• Period of Performance: Base Period: June 15th, 2026, to November 30th, 2026.

• Place of Performance: Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Whitman Ranger District.

• Contract Type: Non-Personnel Services Contract.

• Work Plan: Contractor must submit a work plan within 14 calendar days of award, including project milestones (35%, 70%, 100%), Key Personnel, Safety Plan, Fire Plan, Quality Control Plan, and equipment storage requests.

• Key Personnel: A Contract Manager and designated alternate must be provided, available during Government working hours and on-site within one hour after Government working hours. Contact information must be submitted within 7 calendar days of award.

• Property: No Government-furnished property. Contractor may store equipment and materials on National Forest land with COR approval, at their own risk.

• Deliverables: Contractor Work Plan, Contractor Property Plan, and Key Personnel information are due within 14 calendar days of contract award.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides detailed unit information for "Baker City Watershed Thin and Grapple Pile #2" on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Whitman Ranger District. It outlines the "Standard Fuels Treatment Provision for All Units" related to thinning and grapple piling.

Thinning Requirements:

• Defines "Overstory Tree" and specifies treatment for "System Roads," "Fences," and "Stump Height."
• Sets a maximum cut DBH of 10.0 inches for most species, with exceptions for Western Juniper.
• Details clearing requirements around Ponderosa Pine (21+ DBH) and Aspen.
• Specifies retention of Whitebark Pine and treatment of existing dead and down logs.
• Lists species leave priority (Western White Pine, Western Larch, Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-Fir) and removal priorities (White-Fir, Grand-Fir, Lodgepole Pine, Englemann Spruce).
• Requires severing lowest live limbs from stumps and cutting trees away from springs, seeps, and active ditches.
• Specifies minimum spacing of 30 feet for general units and within 150 feet of private land.

Grapple Pile Requirements:

• Desired Outcome: Reduce fuel loading, create containment areas for wildfires, provide a safe working environment, and minimize damage to resources and private property.
• Material: Minimum 90% of material from 1 to 10 inches in diameter and over 4' in length; includes existing down logs up to 12" (big end).
• Pile Requirements: No mechanical equipment within 50 feet of streams, channels, springs, or seeps. No grapple piles within 50 feet of private property. Piles should be compacted, parallel, 5-15 feet high, and not exceed 20 feet in diameter. Nothing should protrude more than 5 feet outside the perimeter. Piles not to be placed on large stumps, down logs, rocks, in roads, ditches, meadows, or channel bottoms. Minimal soil or rocks in piles.

Equipment Requirements/Specifications:

• Ground pressure not exceeding 7.5 psi.
• Climbing/working ability up to 35% slope.
• Capable of moving within stands without damaging leave trees.
• Effective arm reach of 20 feet minimum.
• Equipped with a thumb, buck, or rake style grapple.
• Ability to perform work from existing skid trails or slash mats.
• Operator cab, engine, and arm capable of 360-degree rotation.
• Non-leaking fluid systems.
• Minimize soil disturbances (berms, turning, travel on existing roads, avoid open areas, meadows, scablands).

This document is critical for bidders as it defines the specific scope of work, technical requirements, performance standards, and equipment specifications for the thinning and grapple piling project. It details what trees to cut, how to handle slash, where to place piles, and the operational constraints for equipment, all of which are essential for developing an accurate proposal and understanding the execution of the contract.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a vicinity map for the Baker City Watershed (BCW) Thin & Grapple #2 project. It displays land ownership within the project area.

• Project Area: Baker City Watershed (BCW) Thin & Grapple #2.
• Land Ownership: The map color-codes different land ownership types, including:
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Private Land
  • State Agency
  • Local Government
• Geographic Features: Includes roads, water bodies, and topographical contours.

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the land ownership context of the project area. This information may be relevant for site access, environmental considerations, or coordination with different land management agencies as part of any potential contract work.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a map titled "BCW Thin & Grapple #2". It visually represents land ownership and boundaries relevant to the opportunity. It serves as a geographic reference for potential bidders to understand the location and context of the work.

• Land Parcels: Outlines various land parcels with associated identification numbers (e.g., 7140200, 628A, 644).
• Ownership Legend: Differentiates ownership by color and category, including U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Private Land, State Agency, and Local Government.
• Topography: Shows contour lines indicating elevation and terrain.
• Water Features: Depicts bodies of water such as Phillips Lake and Vogel Reservoir, as well as streams.
• Roads and Trails: Indicates the presence of roads and trails within the area.
• Scale and North Arrow: Provides a map scale in miles and a north-pointing arrow for orientation.

This map is crucial for bidders to identify the specific geographic areas involved in the opportunity. It helps in understanding the land ownership context, which may influence access, regulations, and operational considerations. Bidders can use this to assess the scope of work in relation to the terrain and existing infrastructure.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Non-Commercial Thinning and Grapple Pile services. The Wallowa Whitman National Forest requires these services to reduce hazardous fuels in the Baker City Watershed (BCW) - Non-Commercial Thinning and Grapple Pile #2 project units within the Whitman Ranger District. This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• Non-Commercial Thinning and Grapple Pile Service

• Approximately 377 Base acres

• Work to be performed in the BCW Thin and Grapple #2 project units of the Whitman Ranger District.

• Anticipated Period of Performance: June 15th, 2026 – November 30th, 2027

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Priced contract is anticipated.

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

• Quotes will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Technical Approach (Mechanical and Thinning)
  • Price (to determine if fair and reasonable)
  • Past Performance (must be acceptable or neutral)

• Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government, not necessarily the lowest-priced offeror. Tradeoffs will not be conducted.

• Offers shall be submitted electronically via email to anthony.salas@usda.gov no later than June 2nd, 2026 at 11:00 AM (MT).

• Offerors must hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.

• This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns.

• North American Industry Classification Standard Code: 115310

• Small business size standard: $34 Million

• This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

• A site visit has not been scheduled. Offerors are encouraged to conduct their own research at their own expense.

• Questions concerning the solicitation are due by May 26th, 2026, 11:00 AM (MT).

• Answers to questions will be posted by May 27th, 2026, 11:00 AM (MT).

• All amendments will be posted in SAM.gov.

• Attachments include Solicitation Terms and Conditions, Performance Work Statement, Unit Maps, Unit Specifics, DUIS, and Wage Determination.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides a detailed list of "Base Units" for the Baker City Watershed Thin & Grapple #2 project, managed by the Whitman Ranger District. It serves as a reference for potential bidders by outlining specific locations and characteristics of these units.

• Base Unit Name: Identifier for each unit (e.g., BCW).
• Unit Number: Specific numerical designation for each unit.
• Acres: Size of each unit.
• Latitude & Longitude: Geographic coordinates for each unit.
• Legal Description: Township, Range, and Section information.
• Road Access: Details on how to access each unit via roads.
• Boundary Flagging/Tag Color: Color used for marking unit boundaries.
• Special Features to Project: Notes on any specific features relevant to the project within each unit.
• Total Acres: Sum of all acres listed.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to understand the physical scope and location of the work. It details the specific areas (units) that will be thinned and grappled. The information on road access and special features will help in planning logistical approaches and identifying potential challenges. The note at the bottom indicates that some units may contain heritage sites requiring minimal mitigation, and the awarded contractor will receive a list of these units and mitigation measures post-award. This information is vital for accurate bidding and project planning.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued under the Service Contract Act (SCA) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits that must be paid to employees performing on contracts for Forestry and Logging Services in specific counties within the state of Oregon.

• Wage Determination Number: 1977-0079
• Revision Number: 82
• Date of Last Revision: 4/11/2026
• Applicable Area: Oregon Counties of Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, and Yamhill.
• Occupational Codes and Rates: Lists specific job titles (e.g., Brush/Precommercial Thinner, Choker Setter, Faller/Bucker) with their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Details required Health & Welfare benefits ($5.55 per hour or $222.00 per week) and specific Health & Welfare rates related to Executive Order 13706 ($5.09 per hour or $203.60 per week).
• Vacation: 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year of service, 3 weeks after 10 years.
• Holidays: A minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Uniform Allowance: Requirements for furnishing and maintaining uniforms, including reimbursement rates for cleaning and maintenance.
• Executive Orders: Notes applicability of Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Establishing a Minimum Wage).
• Conformance Process: Outlines the procedure for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates using Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444).

This wage determination is critical for bidders responding to solicitations for Forestry and Logging Services in the specified Oregon counties. It dictates the minimum labor costs that must be factored into proposals, including wages, health and welfare benefits, vacation, holidays, and uniform allowances. Failure to comply with these wage and benefit requirements can lead to bid disqualification or contract non-compliance.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a map displaying areas designated for "BCW Thin & Grapple #2". It visually outlines specific geographic zones, likely related to timber thinning and grappling operations, within a larger forested area. The map includes topographical features, roads, water bodies, and numbered operational units.

• Operational Units: Clearly marked areas with numerical identifiers (e.g., 17, 628, 644, 3244, 1667A) representing specific work zones.
• Geographic Context: Shows terrain, forest cover, rivers, lakes (Phillips Lake), and roads.
• Legend: Identifies "BCW Thin GP 2" as the designation for the outlined areas.
• Scale: Includes a scale bar in miles for spatial reference.

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the physical locations and boundaries of the work associated with the "BCW Thin & Grapple #2" opportunity. It provides essential spatial information for planning, resource allocation, and understanding the scope of operations in the specified areas.