End of the World Long Term Stewardship

Final Record of Decision

This document details the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service's decision to implement Alternative B for the "End of the World" project on the Salmon River Ranger District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. The project aims to increase forest resilience to insects, disease, and fire, maintain forest health, and promote resilient ecosystems by managing towards more characteristic landscape patterns and fuel loading. This action is also intended to moderate fire behavior, providing more options for firefighters and enhancing public safety.

Alternative B includes a variety of treatments across approximately 49,565 acres, focusing on:

• Timber Harvesting: Including pre-commercial thinning, intermediate harvest (commercial thin, variable density thin, overstory removal), and regeneration harvest (clearcut with reserves, shelterwood, seed tree). This includes 12 harvest units creating openings up to 40 acres.

• Fuels Reduction: Prescribed burning (natural fuels reduction) and mechanical treatments (hand thinning, pile, and jackpot burning).

• Road Management: Road construction (less than 1 mile), temporary road construction (15 miles), road reconstruction, and decommissioning of 28 miles of roads.

• Other Activities: Campground/hazard tree management, dry meadow/range maintenance, riparian planting, and invasive species management.

• The decision is based on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Final Environmental Assessment (EA).

• The project is authorized under emergency authority (Section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act).

This document is a Final Record of Decision, not a solicitation. It details the selected alternative and the rationale behind the decision.

Not applicable to this document.

• The project area is within a Wildland Fire Crisis Emergency Landscape and identified as a Priority Landscape Treatment Area.
• The decision incorporates input from tribal governments, local communities, and federal/state agencies.
• Specific design elements and mitigation measures are detailed to address soil resources, water quality, fish habitat, access management, public safety, wildlife, air quality, fisheries, recreation, noxious weeds, range, and visuals.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI seeks information regarding the "End of the World G-Z Integrated Resource Service Contract." The primary purpose is to gauge industry interest, gather feedback on project development, identify potential challenges and solutions, and determine industry capacity. An Integrated Resource Service Contract (IRSC) is defined as a method where the costs of service work exceed the value of timber to be traded, aiming to support timber removal, restoration activities, and build industry partnerships through end-result contracting.

• Project Area: End of the World EIS, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Salmon River Ranger District.

• Total Harvested Acres: 26,705 acres (17,083 Regeneration, 9,622 Intermediate).

• Key Goals: Increase treatment pace and scale, maximize treatment within NEPA units, thin intermediate units to 100-120 Sq. FT. Basal area, leverage stumpage value to offset service work costs, convert stands to desirable species via regeneration harvest, reduce fuel loading, and improve insect/disease resiliency.

• Timber Sale Preparation: Unit layout, Marking/Designation, GPSing, Cruising.

• Commercial Cut and Removal: Tractor, Skyline, Tether methods; maximize harvest within NEPA boundaries; mandatory non-saw removal.

• Roads: Reconstruction, road survey, work packages, maintenance plan, temporary road construction/obliteration (road design not included).

• Fuels: Machine piling, handline, machine line, landing piling, tethered piling, slashing, PCT.

• Jungle Bird: 4,218 acres

• Wooly Bully: 1,189 acres

• Ski Bird: 4,739 acres

• Cold Fir: 4,007 acres

• Free Bird: 4,166 acres

• RFI Questionnaire Response: Due 9/17

• Response to RFI Questions: By 10/1

• Fall 2025: Site Visit

• Winter 25/26: Contract Preparation

• Spring 26: Solicitation

• Summer/Fall 26: Award

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document summarizes a meeting and subsequent Q&A session regarding the "End of the World" project, likely a timber sale or forest management opportunity. It addresses questions from potential purchasers (bidders) about project scope, feasibility, operational details, and administrative processes.

• Project Scope & Feasibility: The project aims to build capacity and explore options for forest management. While some areas are based on past harvests, others are less scouted. The predicted volume is a conservative estimate, with contract volume estimations to be calculated using plots and Lidar. The project is not necessarily self-funding and may require external funding. Flexibility for seasonal work and potential for "like work" outside the project area are discussed, though adding new areas after award is difficult.
• Operational Details: Questions arise about unit sizing, flexibility in harvest areas, maximizing non-saw material removal (e.g., for chips/biomass), and the use of virtual boundaries (tolerance is zero, inspections will occur). The condition of historic road systems and the need for temporary road storage are noted. Specific standards for old growth (OG) protection, marking, and road maintenance (including culverts) are mentioned, with FS handling some aspects and contractors others.
• Solicitation & Evaluation: The RFI questions are due 9/17. The solicitation period is estimated at 45-60 days, with potential for extension. Weighting and metrics for evaluation are still under discussion. A tentative site visit is planned for the last week of October.
• Administrative & Legal: The project is intended to be "End Result" so virtual boundaries are not strictly required but may be used. Road surveys may not require certified engineers, but this is subject to change. Current law allows stewardship contracts up to 20 years, but this could change with updated legislation.

This Q&A provides crucial details for bidders to understand the project's scope, operational requirements, and the evaluation process. It clarifies ambiguities regarding boundaries, road use, material handling, and administrative timelines, directly impacting how bidders prepare their proposals and assess the opportunity's suitability.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the U.S. Forest Service to gather feedback from interested parties regarding the End of the World (EOTW) Planning Area. The objective is to reduce risks from insect infestation, wildfires, and to restore forest vegetation and water quality. A long-term 10-Year Integrated Resource Stewardship Contract is being considered. Responses will inform the scope, structure, and feasibility of future solicitations; no contract will be awarded from this RFI.

• Approximately 17,000 gross acres for treatment in the EOTW planning area.

• Contract term anticipated to be up to 10 years.

• Approximately 50+ Million Board Feet (MMBF) of commercial timber expected.

• Road maintenance, reconditioning, construction, gravel crushing, and decommissioning (detailed road design excluded).

• Timber removal via tractor, skyline, shovel, or tethered systems, including transportation.

• Timber sale preparation: harvest unit layout, GPS traversing, boundary marking, interior marking, and cruising.

• Temporary road construction and obliteration.

• Low value stand treatment (e.g., precommercial thinning, mastication).

• Biomass removal (thinning non-merchantable material, slashing, chipping, transportation).

• Slash piling, tethered piling, handline/mechanical line construction, and fuel break treatments.

• Minimum timber value estimates based on Forest Service appraisal system.

• Payment terms for service work: acre, ton, or linear foot.

• Road maintenance/reconstruction priced by mile or contract quantity.

• Projects may include mandatory and optional service items; product value offsets service costs.

• Davis-Bacon wages for Road Construction; Service Contract Act wages for non-construction services.

• Road construction subject to bonding requirements.

• The RFI includes 13 questions to gather feedback on company interest, capacity, timber harvest preferences, facility details, project feasibility, challenges, flexibility needs, anticipated benefits, pricing structure, timber designation preferences, contract structure recommendations, and general suggestions.

• Virtual and in-person informational meeting and site visit.

• RSVP required by September 8th, 2025, 5:00 PM Pacific Time for virtual attendance link.

• In-person meeting: September 10th, 2025, 9:00 AM Pacific Time at Idaho Sheriff's Posse Office, Grangeville, Idaho.

• Site visit immediately after the in-person meeting.

• Submit written responses to questions via email by September 17th, 2025, 5:00 PM Pacific Time to kevin.m.hake@usda.gov and matthew.daigle@usda.gov.

• Responding is voluntary and for project planning purposes only; it will not affect future RFP eligibility.

• Project Overview

• Project Timeline and Anticipated Orders (includes tables of project areas, treatment acres, and timber volumes)

• Project area vicinity and detail maps

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a vicinity map for the "End of the World Project" located within the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Salmon River Ranger District. It provides geographical context for the project area.

• Geographic Features: Displays cities (Fenn, Grangeville, Harpster, White Bird), U.S. & State Highways, Major Roads, Rivers & Streams, and Lakes.
• Boundaries: Delineates the NEPA Boundary, Forest Service Ownership, and Other Ownership.
• Project Area: Highlights the "End of the World Project" area with a dashed green line.
• Scale and Location: Includes a scale bar (0 to 4 miles) and an inset map showing the broader location within Idaho.
• Administrative Information: Identifies the USDA Forest Service as the issuing agency and provides preparation and production details.

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the geographical location and surrounding infrastructure relevant to the "End of the World Project." It helps in visualizing the project's setting, access routes, and proximity to populated areas and natural features, which may be important for planning and resource allocation if bidding on related opportunities.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a map detailing "End of the World Project Treatments" for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Salmon River Ranger District. It visually represents various project areas and treatments within the specified region.

• Project Areas: Labeled areas such as "Ski Bird," "Free Bird," "Jungle Bird," "Wooly Bully," and "Cold Fir" are delineated.
• Treatment Areas: Different colored polygons indicate various treatment types within the project areas.
• Geographic Features: Major roads, rivers, streams, lakes, and U.S. & State Highways are shown.
• Boundaries: NEPA and Sale Area boundaries are indicated.
• Ownership: Forest Service Ownership and Other Ownership are distinguished.
• Legend: A legend provides definitions for symbols, line types, and color-coded areas, including "Regeneration," "Intermediate," and "PCT" (likely referring to Project Completion or similar). The legend also specifies "Nez Perce Clearwater Administrative Boundary."

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the geographic scope and specific locations of the "End of the World Project Treatments." It helps in visualizing the areas where work will be performed, the types of treatments planned (as indicated by colors and labels), and the surrounding infrastructure and natural features. This visual aid is essential for assessing the complexity, logistics, and feasibility of undertaking the project, and for preparing accurate proposals or bids.