End of the World Long Term Stewardship

Description

The U.S. Forest Service is issuing this formal Request for Information (RFI) in connection with the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest End of the World (EOTW) Planning Area, and potentially other areas across the forest. The objectives of this initiative are to reduce the risks of insect and disease infestation, wildfires, and to restore and improve forest vegetation and water quality. A long-term 10-Year G-Z Integrated Resource Stewardship Contract is being considered to implement treatments in the planning area. The intent of this RFI is to receive feedback from interested parties during the project development stage. Responses will inform the scope, structure, and feasibility of future solicitations. While no contract will be awarded from this RFI, feedback will directly influence project design. Project Overview and Scope: Approximately 17,000 gross acres are available for treatment across the End of the World planning area. The contract term is anticipated to be up to 10 years. The net acres for treatment are expected to be less after unit layout. Approximately 50+ MMBF of commercial timber is anticipated to be offered over the contract life. Types of Service Work may include: Road maintenance, reconditioning, construction, gravel crushing, and decommissioning. Please note that detailed road design activities such as geometric alignment, engineering drawings, and technical specifications will not be included. Timber removal that will include logging operations conducted by tractor, skyline, shovel, or tethered systems and transportation. Timber sale preparation activities which may include harvest unit layout, GPS traversing, unit boundary marking, interior marking and cruising. Temporary road construction and obliteration. Low value stand treatment including precommercial thinning (PCT), mastication, etc. with a volume removal option. Biomass removal that may include thinning non-merchantable material, slashing, chipping, transportation and other related activities. Slash piling, tethered piling, handline and/or mechanical line construction, and fuel break treatments. Anticipated Terms: Minimum timber value estimates will be based on base rates and/or appraised rates if appropriate as determined from the Forest Service�s Timber appraisal system.? Payment terms for service work items are anticipated to be by the acre, ton or linear foot for most treatments. Road maintenance and reconstruction activities may be priced by the mile or contract quantity. The projects may include both mandatory and optional service items; product value at awarded rates will be used to offset the cost-of-service work items. Davis-Bacon wages and certified payrolls will be required for all Road Construction requirements. Service Contract Act wages will apply towards all non-construction service work requirements. Road construction requirements will be subject to bonding at applicable regulatory thresholds. A meeting is scheduled for September 10, 2025, to provide additional background information and discuss the project in detail. Attendees can participate either in person or virtually�please refer to the attached RFI letter for all relevant details. Additionally, the RFI letter includes thirteen key questions; your responses to these will greatly assist the project management team in refining the project�s scope.