The RFP 25-050 closed on April 3, 2025. Proposals are currently being reviewed. It is expected the Notice of Award will be announced no later than April 25, 2025. Thank you for your interest.
RFP Proposal date has changed from March 31, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. to April 3, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. (DST).
You must register with https://www.bidnetdirect.com/ to see the entire contents of the RFP, as any amendments or communications will be posted on this platform.
RFP 25-050 Phase I Hazard Tree Removal - Released February 20, 2025
Project is to remove hazard trees along County M216 (Redwood Drive), County M216 (Alder Drive), and Forest Road 20S03 (Fox Farm Road).
Document: RFP No. 20-050 Phase I Hazard Tree Removal
Please be advised that the proposal issuance date listed on the RFP as February 28, 2025, is incorrect. However, the content of the document remains accurate and unchanged despite this error.
Phase I Forest Hazard Mitigation Project
Question and Answer from the Pre Solicitation Field Tour from November 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
All answers are based on pre-solicitation information and another Q&A will occur once the RFP is released.
The final Q&A will inform the final RFP document and answers to the solicitation Q&A will be binding on the final contract.
1. If we can process material up to 36” and be able to broadcast it down or up slopes and keep in the 4” depth is that OK?
All conifer material 14 inches in diameter and larger must be removed from the project site, adhering to the minimum piece size standards. Material under 14 inches in diameter may be broadcast, provided the chip depth does not exceed 4 inches.
Contract specifications for broadcasting will include that all material within 50 feet of the road may be chipped and broadcast. Any residual fuel outside of this 50-foot buffer and under the minimum piece size standards will be specified by slope requirements.
2. For traffic control do we have any restrictions on times? How long can we hold traffic?
The Contractor is solely responsible for obtaining all governmental licenses, permits, and approvals required of or deemed necessary or appropriate by County. An Encroachment Permit is required for road closures during fuel reduction activities.
See Encroachment Permit Requirements: https://tularecounty.ca.gov/rma/permits/encroachment-and-transportation-permits/
County Road M216 (Redwood Drive and Alder Drive) and Forest Service Road 20S03 (Fox Farm Road)
Traffic Control Plan is required. Must include:
a. Operation Hours
b. Pre-Public Notification to the public, Forest Service, and County of road closure or extended delay. Operation shall adhere to time listed below:
i. Closure: open to discussion but not more than one hour on a case-by-case basis.
ii. Delay: Thirty (30) minute delay, maximum speed limit 15 mph.
c. Contractor shall implement measures to guide traffic (such as signage and flaggers), safeguard construction workers, provide safe passage of vehicles, and minimize traffic impacts through the duration of work activities.
Depending on the season, the contractor may negotiate an extension of the Fox Farm Road closure for a longer period during operation hours, excluding weekends. However, Redwood Drive must remain open at all times, except during the periods specified in item b.(i). above.
3. There was mention of a grant to take some material to a different site? Can you give more direction on this.
The County of Tulare was awarded a USDA Forest Service Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grant. The additional funding will help subsidize the transportation of non-merchantable cull logs to Lignum Support, LLC, in McFarland, CA. The agreement with the Forest Service is still pending finalization.
Link (Region 5): https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/forest-management/products/hazardous-fuels-transport-assist-grants
4. What is the engineers estimate for this work?
The project will be conducted as a Request for Proposal (RFP) rather than a bid, so no engineer's report is provided.
5. Will there be any Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirements that need to be met?
Federal, State, and County does not have requirements that must be met for this project.
6. If material cannot be pulled to the road due to the size of rocks in the way of logs can the material be left and lopped in place?
Generally, all material meeting utilization standards shall be removed by the contractor unless the material is in-accessible (e.g. having large boulders in the way) or would cause unacceptable damage to areas requiring special protection measures, such as streamside management zones, botany sites, or archaeological sites. When such material cannot be yarded to a landing, it shall be bucked into segments, limbed of its branches, and the slash treated per contract specifications.
7. What will be the depth of lop allowed for the areas off Fox Farm road with no access?
Activity generated fuels shall be lopped and scattered to a depth of no greater than 18 inches.
8. Will we need CMS boards for traffic control?
It is advisable that you have a CMS Board for traffic control to increase safety. However, it is not required, but you should have flaggers and proper signage for your operation.
9. Update (1/28/2025) Is there an idea of when this will be released and will it be sent to those who attended yesterday?
We anticipate that the Request for Proposal will be issued in February 2025. Notifications about the release of the Request for Proposal will be posted on BidNet Direct, released to all interested parties, and directly sent to those who attended the Pre-Solicitation Field Tour on November 20, 2024.
10. Does the project include both private and federal land?
No. The project only addresses hazard trees on federal land.
11. Is mastication a prescribed treatment for the project?
While Mastication is not a main prescribed treatment for the project. Flexibility allowing mastication of residual material under 14” will be considered based on slope considerations (mastication up to 35% and outside of stream buffer and other resource protection areas). The primary prescribed treatment involves cutting, skidding, decking, and removing trees designated for removal from the project area.
12. Is the “Snip and Chip” method able to be broadcasted?
See question and answer No. 1
13. Is the contractor responsible for maintaining the road?
Most of the roads in the project area consist of paved county roads, which the contractor is responsible for protecting from damage at all times. If any negligent damage occurs to county roads as a result of the contractors’ operations, the contractor will be responsible for repairing the damage caused to the road. The contractor will also be responsible for normal pre-haul, during-haul, and post-haul road maintenance as specified in the contract solicitation.
14. Are contractors responsible for log decks already established in the area?
No. The contractor is not responsible for removing existing log decks created by other logging activities.
Comments:
• Be mindful of powerlines during project implementation.
• County Surveyor Team will mark property lines for easier identification.
• Extra care should be taken to avoid hitting green trees. There are intermittent green trees among hazard tree stands.
• All Hazard Trees within the specified project buffers will be removed.
• Any hazard trees likely to hit the road outside of the specified buffer area will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Trees must be assessed by the County Contracted Forester for approval with at least 2 business days’ notice.
The County of Tulare, in collaboration with the USFS Sequoia National Forest, invites prospective contractors to participate in a pre-solicitation tour of two (2) transportation corridors slated for hazard tree removal and fuel reduction as part of an upcoming contract. The Request for Proposal is expected to be released in February 2025. The tour will provide an overview of Wildfire and Forest Hazard Mitigation Project Phase I, which will mitigate hazard trees and treat residual fuels on approximately 460 acres along County Road M216 (Redwood Drive and Alder Drive) and Forest Service Road 20S03 (Fox Farm Road).
The pre-solicitation tour aims to support the proposal process by helping potential contractors to better understand the landscape conditions affecting the area and providing an opportunity to ask questions about the project. This tour is being held before the solicitation of Request for Proposals (RFP) to ensure that contractors are able to view the project before snow limits access during the RFP solicitation period.
Pre-Solicitation Tour Meeting Date:
November 20, 2024 - Wildfire and Forest Hazard Mitigation Project - Meet at 11:00 a.m. at the first large turnout on Redwood Drive (M216/ Hwy 190) on the left side of the road.
Geographic coordinates: Latitude/Longitude -118.60393, 36.15202.
If you are interested in attending the pre-solicitation site visit, please RSVP to Doreen Alvez at Foresthealth@tularecounty.ca.gov. Please include your email and the number of people attending.
Recommended/ Required Clothing/ Gear: Appropriate for weather; long pants, hat, and sunscreen suggested. Closed-toed shoes or boots are required.
Walking Conditions: Soft surfaces (mulched, gravel, grass, sand) and rugged surfaces (forest floor, narrow paths, rock).
Link to Document: Press Release Pre-Solicitation Field Tour Information
Project Coordinator: Doreen Alvez - (559) 624-7146
The project is situated within the 2022 Castle Fire (SQF Complex) burn scar, which affected approximately 174,000 acres, leaving the area covered in hazardous, severely burned trees. Historic flooding in early 2023 led to increased erosion and reduced stability of the standing hazards. Years of drought, wildfire, and extreme weather have led to numerous fallen trees, indicating the danger presented by the remaining dead and dying trees along the transportation corridors.
The project will address hazardous fuels along 10.27 project miles, targeting areas with near 100% mortality. It is estimated that 7,948 tons of non-merchantable material will be removed from 460 acres. Phase I involves hazard tree removal along County M216 (Redwood Drive and Alder Drive) and Forest Service Road 20S03 (Fox Farm Road).
Much of the project area is encumbered by Limited Operating Periods (LOPs) for the protection of Pacific fisher and California spotted owl (CSO)– as shown on the draft map for the project. There is an eight-acre unit that must be treated by hand after the CSO LOP ends on August 15th. The LOP for the fisher ends on June 30th and work can commence in those areas on July 1st. Tulare County is working with the Forest Service to determine whether any LOP areas may be adjusted based on updated surveys.
This project has variable terrain and work restrictions will be implemented on steeper slopes as follows:
Slopes –
0 to 35% - Mechanical operations may occur for the felling and yarding of hazard trees. Machine piles will be built to consolidate residual material that is greater than 3-inches in diameter and 3-feet in length.
35 to 60% - Hazard trees will be hand felled, and cable winched (end-lined) to the roadside for removal. In these areas, residual material will be piled by hand, fire-lined, and covered.
60% and greater – Hazard trees will be hand felled, and end-lined to the roadside for removal. Residual material will be lopped and scattered to a height no greater than 18” from the ground.
Note* The maximum end-lining distance will be 150-feet slope distance. Trees shall be directionally felled to promote safe and efficient removal, and protection of resources.
(Click on Link or Map for Full Visual)
The map displays the high-priority areas for the project, including Habitat LOPs. It is designed for printing on a larger sheet of paper. Use the Zoom In/Zoom Out feature to clearly focus on the key project boundaries.
The project photos showcase various conditions impacting the project sites on Redwood Drive, Fox Farm Road, and Alder Drive. Click on title "Phase I Project Photos" to view the photo collection.
Forest Service Road 20S03 (Fox Farm Road) Photos
County M216 (Redwood Drive) Photos
County M216 (Alder Drive), a short stretch along Redwood Drive, shares similar project conditions to those on Redwood Drive.