Trail Construction and/or Hazard Tree Removal in California
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
Strawberry Peak Trail Construction and Hazard Tree Removal
Excerpt Below: Download the Complete RFP
Project Statement of Work
Background: The Strawberry Peak Trail is within the Upper Big Tujunga drainage of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. It was a popular site for hiking, mountain biking, and picnicking until the 2009 Station Fire resulted in extensive damage that rendered much of the trail impassable. In 2012, the Angeles National Forest (ANF) initiated consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to analyze a range of ongoing activities (including recreation) across the Forest to determine their impacts on Federally-listed species. The Strawberry Peak Trail and trailhead were included in this consultation because they are both located in occupied and designated critical habitat for the federally endangered arroyo toad (Anaxyrus californicus). This consultation was completed in 2013 when the USFWS issued the Ongoing Activities Biological Opinion, which included the following Conservation Measure: “The ANF will reroute the Colby Trail (12W05) to connect the existing Colby Bridge trailhead with the trail at a higher point outside the 82-foot elevation contour.”
Scope: The National Forest Foundation (NFF) is seeking a contractor to complete all necessary tasks associated with:*
1. Construction of approximately five hundred and fifty (550) meters of new trail. Trail construction will take place using a variety of hand tools, power tools, and limited mechanized equipment such as a skid steer, sweco, mini excavator, etc. All vegetation will be removed from the new trail footprint, including trimming branches from the adjacent shrubs and small trees to ensure clearance. Where visible, contractor will remove and/or block user-created trails.
2. Dropping approximately twenty (20) dead hazard trees. These standing dead trees are sufficiently tall enough to hit the new trail footprint. The contractor will drop these snags to ensure public safety on the new trail. As much as possible, snags will be cut to fall in a direction away from the new trail and along the contour (i.e., not pointing downhill), in order to not contribute to soil erosion. All dropped trees will not be bucked into smaller pieces but left in place as down woody debris to provide wildlife habitat in the area.
*Please note:
1. The National Forest Foundation will accept for quotes for one or both tasks. You may bid on solely the trail construction, solely on the tree removal, or both components.
2. The National Forest Foundation will be the Contracting Officer for this grant. The Forest Service will serve as a partner and will communicate with NFF for tasks related to this project, but please direct questions and quotes to the NFF.
3. The new trail route and hazard trees will be flagged by a separate contractor prior the commencement of work.
Project Timeline: Quotes are due by April 3, 2020. Please provide an anticipated timeline with your quote. 2
Pre-work Conference: Prior to commencement of work, the Contractor shall meet with the NFF and the
Angeles National Forest to discuss contract terms, work performance requirements and work progress schedules. Also, at this meeting such things as sanitation, camping requirements, fire prevention and suppression plans will be developed. The meeting will be held at a time and place determined by the
NFF.
Camping: Under the terms of this Contract, camping is not permitted in Forest Service Campgrounds.
The Contractor may be permitted to camp elsewhere on the National Forest. Camping on the National
Forest is not a right; and shall be subject to approval by the Contracting Officer.
Wet Weather Operations: Contractor operations may be conducted outside the Normal Operating
Season subject to certain requirements and Forest Service approval. The wet weather /winter season normally begins approximately November 1st and ends approximately May 1st.
Please send your quotes to Brian Robey, brobey@nationalforests.org. NFF will select the Contractor(s) after reviewing the bids received. Once the Contractor is selected, we will prepare a separate contract document. NFF anticipates Contractor selection by April 10, 2020.