FS-2400-14BVU Solicitation and Offer for Integrated Resource Contract

USDA Forest Service

Best Value Unit Rate Offer

FS-2400-14BVU (12/17) Page 12 of 8 OMB No. 0596-0066 Exp. 12/31/2020

SOLICITATION AND OFFER FOR INTEGRATED RESOURCE TIMBER CONTRACT Reference: 36 CFR 223.301(b)(2)

1. Contract Number:

2. Date and Time for Receipt of Offers:

3. Opened By:

4. In the Presence of:

5. Contract Name:

6. National Forest:

7. Ranger District:

8. Type of Offer: Best Value

9. To: (Title & address of Contracting Officer receiving offers)

10. Solicitation Published:

11. Date Published:

12. City:

13. State:

In Response to the Notice of Integrated Resource Timber Contract published as in the newspaper specified above, and subject to the conditions attached hereto, the following offer is submitted and shall constitute a Firm Offer:

14. Timber Offer Information:

Rates Per Unit of Measure

Species (a)

Product (b)

Unit of Measure (c)

Estimated Quantity (d)

Base Rate (e)

Advertised Rate (f)

Offer Rate (g)

Additional Deposits for Slash Disposal (h)

Base Indices (i)

Mandatory Timber Cutting Units:

Only the Fixed Rate Applies.

Fixed Rate

Optional Timber Cutting Units (Offering Optional):

Only the Fixed Rate Applies.

Fixed Rate

15. Stewardship Project Offer Information

Project Number (a)

Project Description (b)

Unit of Measure (c)

Estimated Quantity (d)

Rate per Unit (e)

Total Offer (d) x (e) (f)

Mandatory Stewardship Projects - Offeror must complete columns (e) and (f):

Optional Stewardship Projects (Offering Mandatory) - Offeror must complete columns (e) and (f):

16. OFFEROR RESPONSIBILITY CERTIFICATION: Subject to the penalties prescribed in 18 USC 1001, Offeror certifies, by signing this offer form, that to the best of Offeror’s knowledge that the following representations are accurate and complete:

    1. Offeror has not employed or retained any company or person (other than a full-time bona fide employee working solely for the Offeror) to solicit or secure this contract.

    2. Offeror has not paid or agreed to pay any company or person (other than a full-time bona fide employee working solely for the Offeror) any fee, commission, percentage, or brokerage fee, contingent upon or resulting from the award of this con- tract and agrees to furnish information relating thereto as requested by the Contracting Officer.

    3. Offeror meets the requirements in 36 CFR 223.101 regarding determination of contractor responsibility.

    4. That if awarded this contract Offeror will complete the contract to its terms and any modifications thereof including re-

quirements to purchase, cut, and remove the included timber or forest products and complete stewardship projects by the termina- tion date.

e. Offeror has not modified or altered any of the standard wording contained on this form and the only additions are in the blanks provided, or where explicitly authorized.

16a. OFFEROR CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS:

Subject to the penalties prescribed in 18 USC 1001, Offeror certifies, by signing this offer form, that to the best of Offeror’s knowledge that the following representations are accurate and complete.

1. Offeror and its principals are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntary excluded from contracts (covered transactions) by any Federal department or agency.

2. Offeror and its principals have not within a 3-year period preceding this offer been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, State, or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of Federal or State anti- trust statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property.

3. Offeror and its principals are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State, or local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph b of this certification.

4. Offeror and its principals have not within a 3-year period preceding this offer had one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or local) terminated for breach or default of a contract.

Offeror’s that cannot certify this block, in whole or in part, shall submit an explanation with their offer. (See instruction 13.)

16b. OFFEROR INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS: Subject to the penalties prescribed in 18 USC 1001, Offeror certifies, by signing this offer form, that to the best of Offeror’s knowledge that the following information is accurate.

1. Offeror [ ] has, [ ] has not participated in a previous contract subject to the provision of section 202 of Executive Order 11246 (Non-discrimination in Employment) of 9/24/65, as amended; and that the Offeror [ ] has, [ ] has not submitted required compliance reports under such previous contracts.

2. Offeror together with its affiliates employs the following number of persons and is classified as: [ ] 1-25 [ ] 26-500 [ ] Over 500 and a: [ ] Manufacturer [ ] Nonmanufacturer of sawtimber.

17. CERTIFICATE OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION: Subject to the penalties prescribed in 18 USC 1001, Offeror certifies and represents, by signing this offer form, that the following representations are accurate and complete:

a. By submission of this offer each Offeror also certifies, and in the case of a joint offer each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, that in connection with this contract:

1. The prices in this offer have been arrived at independently, without consultation, communication, or agreement, for the pur- pose of restricting competition as to any matter relating to such prices with any other Offeror or with any potential competitor;

2. The prices which have been quoted in this offer have not been knowingly disclosed by the Offeror and will not knowingly be disclosed by the Offeror prior to opening of offer, directly or indirectly to any other Offeror or to any potential competitor; and

3. No attempt has been made or will be made by the Offeror to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit an offer.

b. Each person signing this offer or proposal certifies that:

1. The Signer is the person in the Offeror’s organization responsible within that organization for the decision as to the prices offered herein and that the Signer has not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs a(i) through a(iii); or

2. The Signer is not the person in the Offeror’s organization responsible within that organization for the decision as to prices offered herein but that the Signer has been authorized in writing to act as agent for the persons responsible for such decision in certifying that such persons have not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs a(i) through a(iii), and as their agent does hereby so certify; and that the Signer has not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs a(i) through a(iii).

c. An offer will not be considered for award where any portion of paragraph a or b has been deleted or modified. Where these provisions have been deleted or modified, the offer will not be considered for award unless Offeror furnishes with the offer a sworn statement which sets forth in detail the circumstances of the disclosure and the Chief, Forest Service, or the Chief's designee, de-

termines that such disclosure was not made for the purpose of restricting competition.

18. ROAD CONSTRUCTION OPTION: [ ] Check box if Offeror is a small business and wishes to have Forest Service construct

all specified roads. You may not change an election once made. Failure to mark box constitutes agreement to build roads. Elec- tion may not be changed subsequent to time set for opening offers. (See also instructions 8, 9, and 10.)

19. CONTRACT AND BOND: The Offeror whose offer is accepted will, within days of the award letter's date, or any written extension thereof by the Forest Service, execute a stewardship contract which shall be provided by the Forest Service and be based on the sample contract referenced in the prospectus. Offeror shall furnish a satisfactory performance bond, in accordance with the provisions of such stewardship contract, in the penal sum as prescribed in the prospectus for this contract, and otherwise complete the process described on this form and pages attached hereto. Offeror agrees that its failure to comply with this paragraph shall constitute repudiation of its offer pursuant to r instruction 6 of the Instructions to Offeror’s portion of this form.

20. FIRM OFFER: Subject to the penalties prescribed in 18 USC 1001, the Offeror hereby agrees not to withdraw this offer after the time for receipt of offers. Signing this offer form binds the Offeror to accept award under the terms of the sample contract, this offer form, and any accepted terms from Offeror’s proposal, if its offer is accepted within 90 days after time for receipt of offers. The period for acceptance may be extended by written notice from Offeror. If Offeror qualifies as a small business and elects road construction by the Forest Service, then the Offeror agrees that its offer shall remain open through the period stated in the pro- spectus although that period may exceed 90 days. If this solicitation is amended, all terms and conditions that are not amended remain unchanged. Offerors shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to this solicitation by the date and time specified in the amendment(s). Offerors may submit modifications to their proposals at any time before the time for receipt of offers.
21. TERMS OF OFFER: Offeror certifies and represents that the Offeror has read and understands each and every provision of this offer form (together with any attachments thereto) and the sample contract. The Offeror agrees that it assumes the responsibility to clarify any questions before signing this form. The Offeror agrees that the written provisions of this offer form (together with any attachments), the sample contract, and any accepted terms from Offeror’s proposal constitute the entire agreement of the par- ties until a written contract is executed and neither the offer form (and any attachments), the Offeror’s proposal, nor the sample contract can be orally modified. The Offeror expressly adopts the terms of this offer form, the Offeror’s proposal, and the sample contract as material parts of the Offeror’s offer.
22. DISCLAIMER OF ESTIMATES AND OFFEROR’S WARRANTY OF INSPECTION: Before submitting this offer, the Offeror is advised and cautioned to inspect the contract area, review the requirements of the sample contract, and take other steps as may be reasonably necessary to ascertain the location, estimated quantities, construction requirements and estimates, and operating costs of the offered timber or forest products and stewardship projects. Failure to do so will not relieve the Offeror from responsi- bility for completing the contract. The Offeror warrants that this offer is submitted solely on the basis of its examination and inspection of the quality and quanti- ty of the timber or forest products offered for sale and operating costs of stewardship projects to be performed and is based solely on its opinion of the value thereof and its costs of recovery, without any reliance on Forest Service estimates. Offeror further acknowledges that the Forest Service: (a) expressly disclaims any warranty of fitness of timber or forest products for any purpose; (b) offers this timber or forest products, as is, without any warranty of quality (merchantability) or quantity, and (c) expressly dis- claims any warranty as to the quantity or quality of timber or forest products sold, except as may be expressly warranted in the sample contract. The Offeror further holds the Forest Service harmless for any error, mistake, or negligence regarding estimates, except as ex- pressly warranted against in the sample contract.
23. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH EXPORT AND SUBSTITUTION RESTRICTIONS: The Offeror certifies, by sign- ing this offer form, that the Offeror is in compliance with applicable prohibitions against export and substitution prescribed in the Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990, as amended (16 USC 620, et seq.). In Alaska, exports of logs, cordwood, or primary products derived from included timber may not be transported from Alaska without Regional Forester ap- proval. (See instruction 12.)
24. CERTIFICATION OF NON-AFFILIATION: The timber included in this contract is timber remaining from an uncompleted con- tract. Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, part 223.86, states: "Except as otherwise provided in this section, no offer will be considered in the reoffer of timber remaining from any uncompleted contract from any person, or from an affiliate of such person, who failed to complete the original contract: (1) because of termination for contractor's breach; or (2) through failure to cut desig- nated timber on portions of the contract area by the termination date. Where a third-party agreement has been approved in accordance with §223.114; the original contractor shall not be affected by this section unless such contractor is an affiliate of the third party. As used in this section, 'person' includes any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, or other business entity or the successor in interest of any of the foregoing business entities. A person is an 'affiliate' when either directly or indirectly: (1) a person controls or has the power to control the other, or (2) a third person or per- sons control or have the power to control both." The contractor or approved third-party of the original contract for this timber was of . The Offeror certifies, by signing this offer form, that it is not the contractor or approved third-party who failed to complete the original contract, and that Offeror is not an affiliate of this person.
25. CERTIFICATION OF AFFILIATION: The Offeror certifies that a complete listing of Offeror’s affiliates who are primarily en- gaged in the logging of forest products is included with this offer. (Add additional pages if needed. See instructions 6 and 11.):
Full Name of All Partners & Affiliates (Type or Print)	When requested by the Contracting Officer, Offeror agrees to furnish the tax identification number of each partner and affiliate listed herein.
Before signing this offer, review the attached Instructions to Offerors and fill in the applicable blanks in boxes 14g, 14l, 15e, 15f 16b, 18, 25, and 26.
Name of Offeror: (Type or Print)	By: (Signature in Ink)
	Title: (Type or Print)	Date:
Business Name (Type or Print)
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct, or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0596-0066 Response to this collection of information is mandatory ((16 U.S.C. §472a). The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to between 24 and 60 hours per response, including the time for reviewing the instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering, and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

26. Personal Identification Information:

Business Name, Address and Phone Number (Include Zip Code and Area Code) (Type or Print)

Tax Identification Number:

Instructions to Forest Officer: Remove and shred this page after entering offeror’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the appropriate data base.

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

1. OFFEROR’S QUALIFICATIONS: Before an offer is considered for award, the Offeror may be required to submit a technical and price proposal, as described in instruction 2 and comply with all other provisions stated herein. The proposal should be practical and be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward, concise delineation of what it is the Offeror will do to satisfy the requirements of the contract. Upon contract award, this technical proposal will become a binding part of this contract.

2. PREPARATION OF PROPOSALS: Offers shall be manually signed, prices entered in block 14(g) for timber values and blocks 15(e) and 15(f) for the cost stewardship projects and all fill-in blocks, 16b, 18, 25, and 26 completed. The offer rates in col- umn 14g for each species must be equal to or greater than the advertised rate for each species in column 14f. If erasures or other changes appear on the forms, the person signing the offer must initial each erasure or change.

Proposal Requirements. Proposals shall be submitted in two parts: a technical proposal and a price proposal.

1. Technical Proposal Instructions. The technical proposal will be used to make an evaluation and arrive at a determination as to whether the proposal will meet the requirements of the Government. Therefore, the technical proposal must present sufficient information to reflect a thorough understanding of the requirements and a detailed description of the techniques, procedures, and program for achieving the objectives of the specifications/statement of work. Proposals which merely paraphrase the requirements of the Government's specifications/statement of work, or use phrases such as "will comply" or "standard techniques will be employed" will be considered unacceptable and will not be further considered. Technical proposals will be evaluated and ranked on the basis of the following criteria. As a minimum, the proposal must clearly provide the following:

1. Technical Approach

1. Describe your plan of operations for both timber harvest and stewardship project work. Include a timeline and the rationale for the work activities identified to ensure all contractual requirements will be completed by the termination date.

2. Describe your quality control plan for both the harvesting and stewardship projects.

3. Provide names and résumés for your contract manager and your on-the-ground supervisor(s).

4. Describe the equipment you propose to use to accomplish this contract, including both harvest and stewardship projects.

5. Define your production capability to accomplish this contract within the contract period.

6. Describe methods and plans to protect resources, maximize utilization of harvested material including both sawtimber and nonsawtimber, and to minimize the number of entries into stands to be treated.

2. Capability and Past Performance

1. Provide a list of the experience of your key personnel who will actually be working on this contract.

2. Identify all subcontractors you propose to use for this contract and the work activities planned for subcontracting. Describe subcontractor's past performance using the criteria identified in (ii)III. If any subcontractors are certified in their area of expertise, provide information as to when, what, and by whom they are certified.

3. Submit a list of similar or related contracts that your firm has completed in the past 3 years. This listing must include the contract type; contract amount or contract size; location, the year completed, the Agency, company, or individual contracted with, and a current telephone number.

3. Utilization of Local Work Force. Local labor is defined as . Identify how you intend to utilize labor, subcontractors, and other workforce from the local area. Additional evaluation preference will be given for the use of labor or subcontractors located closest to the contract area.

2. Price Proposal. All Offerors must furnish offer prices in each block of the “Offer Rate” column (block 14g) for all material subject to offering in the mandatory timber cutting units. If offer prices are entered for the optional timber cutting units, Offerors must furnish offer prices in each block of the “Offer Rate” column (block 14g) for all material subject to offering, and timber removal will be required. In addition, Offerors must enter a rate per unit in Block 15e and a total offer in Block 15f for both the mandatory and op- tional stewardship projects.

3. SUBMISSION OF OFFERS: Offers must be submitted to the Contracting Officer, designated by the solicitation as the re- ceiving officer, at or prior to the time for receipt of offers. Such offers must be enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed to the des- ignated receiving officer. The envelope should show on the outside (a) that it is a "Best Value Offer," and (b) the contract name or number, and the date and time of offer closing, as shown by the offer form. Offers received after the time specified on the offer form are late offers. At its option, offeror may provide a five digit alpha/numeric code created and held in confidence by the offeror that is placed on the outside of the envelope. The offeror created code will serve as offer identification if a offeror requests return of its offer prior to the time for receipt of offers.

4. OPENING OF OFFERS: The competitive proposal does not allow for public opening of offers. The Government may disclose the following information in post-award debriefings to other Offerors: (a) the overall evaluated price and technical rating of the successful Offeror; (b) the overall ranking of all Offerors, when any ranking was developed by the Agency during source selection, (c) a summary of the rationale for award, and (d) for acquisitions of commercial items, the make and model of the item to be delivered by the successful Offeror.

5. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS AND AWARD OF CONTRACT: One award will be made to the Offeror (a) whose proposal is technically acceptable and (b) whose technical/price relationship is the most advantageous to the Government. All technical evaluation factors including those listed in section 2a(i)-(iii) of these instructions and any additional factors listed in the

prospectus when combined, are ¹ cost or price. The critical factor in making any technical/price

trade-off is not the spread between the technical ratings, but rather the significance of that difference. The significance of the spread

in ratings will be determined on the basis of what that difference might mean in terms of performance and what it would cost the Government to take advantage of it. Where technical proposals are determined to be substantially equal, any cost/price advantage to the Government may control award.

Proposals must be submitted initially on the most favorable terms from a technical and price standpoint which the Offeror can submit to the Government. Therefore, the Government reserves the right to award without discussions with the Offerors. However, after receipt of initial offers, written or oral discussions may be conducted with all responsible Offerors whose offers are determined to be in the competitive range. Discussions conducted after receipt of an offer do not constitute a rejection or counteroffer by the Government.

Firms lacking a past performance record (new firms or those with no relevant experience within their organization) will be treated as an unknown performance risk, and will receive a neutral rating in this criteria. A neutral rating will be established as the average of all other competing Offerors.

¹ Insert one of the following in TIM: “of less importance than”; “approximately equal to”; or “of greater importance than”

The selection official will base the award decision on a tradeoff between price and non-price factors, comparing the relative risk to the government of poor or non-performance posed by each of the offerors, and making a judgement as to whether or not reduced risk of performance is worth additional cost. In some cases this will result in award to a lower ranked but lower priced offer, in other cases award may be to a higher ranked but higher priced offer.

The Government may, when in its interest, reject any or all offers or waive any informality in offers received. A written award mailed (or otherwise furnished) to the successful Offeror shall be deemed to result in a binding contract without further action by ei- ther party.

If an appeal or lawsuit is filed challenging the decision to award this contract or upon determination by the Regional Forester that conditions existing on this stewardship contract are the same as, or nearly the same as, conditions existing on other contract(s) in appeal or litigation, Contracting Officer may delay award or reject all offers. If delay in award is for 10 days or more during Normal Operating Season after offer opening, Contracting Officer shall, upon award, adjust the contract term to include additional calendar days in one or more Normal Operating Seasons equal to the actual time lost.

6. DAMAGES: Offeror acknowledges that its offer will be considered repudiated pursuant to blocks 16, 16a, 16b, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25 and/or 26 of this offer form if: (a) the Offeror fails to execute a stewardship contract, or furnish a satisfactory performance bond, within the number of days listed in block 19, of award letter's date; or (b) the Offeror is found to have violated the False Statements Act in making any statement or certification on this offer form, including not meeting contractor responsibility requirements. The Offeror acknowledges that the Offeror shall not be entitled to cure this repudiation and that it will pay damages pursuant to the following terms:

Damages due the United States shall be determined in the following manner: (a) The costs, as described in this instruction, incurred by Forest Service in contacting the other qualified offerors regarding accepting the award of the contract at the high Offe- ror’s repudiated rate or (b) If another qualified offeror does not accept award of the contract at the high Offeror’s repudiated rate:

1. If the repudiated contract is reoffered within 6 months of the date of repudiation, damages shall be the difference between the total reoffered and awarded value and the total value of Offeror’s repudiated offer, plus costs described in this instruction or

2. If there are no responsive offers on the reoffered contract, damages shall be the difference between the reoffered appraised value and the total value of Offeror’s repudiated offer, plus costs described in this instruction or

3. If the repudiated contract will not be reoffered or the reoffer is not made within 6 months of Offeror’s repudiation, damages shall be the difference between the appraised value of this contract as of the date of Offeror’s repudiation and the total value of Offe- ror’s repudiated offer, plus the costs described in this instruction.

The costs to be included in damages are the costs the Government incurs in making the reoffer, including, but not limited to, salary costs, document preparation and duplication costs, mailing costs, and contract solicitation costs.

Damages will also include interest measured by interest at the Current Value of Funds Rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury. Interest will be calculated from the date of Offeror’s repudiation to the date of award of the reoffered contract or to the date a determination is made not to reoffer the repudiated contract or for 6 months, whichever comes first.

7. PRIVACY ACT: All personal information is requested on a voluntary basis; however, if you do not provide this personal in- formation, your offer will not be accepted and the contract will not be awarded to you. Solicitation of this information is necessary for the Government to conduct its contracting program and thus is authorized under the National Forest Management Act of 1976, (16 USC 472a). The principle purpose for collecting this information is to allow for proper award of a stewardship contract and to provide for administration of that contract after award. Other routine uses of this data include: (a) compilation of small business data to de- termine needs for set-aside contracts, (b) determination of volume purchased in any specific time period by a single contractor, and

(c) determination of volume under contract by a contractor.

8. ROAD COMPLETION DATE: The Offeror hereby acknowledges that the Offeror is aware of the road completion date in the sample contract. The Offeror also acknowledges that if the Offeror elects to have Forest Service construct specified roads, the Offe- ror is aware: (a) that the Forest Service expects to contract for road construction, (b) that the stewardship contract will not be awarded unless a satisfactory road construction bid is received and a road construction contract is awarded or, if the Forest Service fails to receive such a bid within a maximum period stated in the solicitation of the road contract, the Offeror agrees to perform road construction, (c) that the Forest Service may extend the maximum award delay time by the amount of time needed to confirm either contract or road Bidder's size status or by any time in excess of 40 days from offer opening needed to begin solicitation of construc- tion bids, and (d) that if the Forest Service extends the maximum award delay period because solicitation of the road contract is de- layed, the Offeror may withdraw its offer without penalty.

9. ELECTION OF ROAD OPTION AND CERTIFICATE OF SMALL BUSINESS STATUS: The National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 USC 472h(i)) provides that the Secretary of Agriculture may permit offerors qualifying as small business concerns under the Small Business Act to elect, when submitting an offer, to have the Secretary build the specified roads. Offerors qualifying as a small business concern under the Small Business Act, as amended, and the regulations thereunder, may elect to have the Forest Service construct the Specified Roads required by this contract. The Offeror who does not elect agrees, if awarded the con- tract, to construct the roads in accordance with the contract. An Offeror who does elect acknowledges that Offeror is aware of and agrees to the conditions stated in instruction 8 and that the Offeror is a small business concern.

If you wish to elect Government construction, you must so indicate in block 18 on the offer form that you submit. You may not accept this election at a later time. If you do not elect Government construction on your original offer form and you receive contract award, you must construct needed specified roads. You must elect Government construction for all of the specified roads as a package. Election of Government construction of a portion of the roads constitutes a non-responsive offer. When you elect Govern- ment construction, you must certify your firm as a qualified small business concern and acknowledge your understanding that award of the contract cannot take place until the Forest Service ensures road construction.

The Forest Service must rely upon independent con- tractors to construct the roads when you request Government construction. The Forest Service shall make a good-faith effort to let a contract for the construction. Without receipt of a satisfactory bid under Federal Procurement Regulations, the Forest Service can only award the stewardship contract to you if you agree to perform the construction. This problem does not arise often, but you should consider the possibility when deciding upon your election.

The Act also requires that when the Offeror elects to have the Secretary build the roads, the price paid for the timber must in- clude all of the estimated construction costs of the roads. The Offeror must pay the total cost of the road, regardless of the amount that the offer value exceeds base rate value. This means that you may be billed at a rate higher than the offer rate.

10. ELECTION OF ROAD OPTION: The Roads and Trails Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-657) provides that the Secretary of Agricul- ture shall not require a contractor to bear costs necessary to meet a higher road standard than is needed for the immediate harvest

and removal of timber. The contract requires construction of some or all segments of road number(s) to a design standard higher than that needed for this contract. Any Offeror may elect at the time of sealed offer submission to have the Forest Service construct this (these) road(s). An Offeror who does elect acknowledges that the Offeror is aware of and agrees to the condi- tions stated in instruction 8.

If you wish to elect Government construction, you must so indicate in block 18 of the offer form that you submit. You cannot accept this election at a later time. If you do not elect Government construction on your original offer form and you receive the con- tract award, you must construct the above specified road(s). You must elect Government construction for all of the identified speci- fied road(s) as a package. Election of Government construction of a portion of the road(s) constitutes a non-responsive offer. When you elect Government construction, you must acknowledge your understanding that award of the contract will not take place until the Forest Service ensures road construction.

Except in rare instances, and then only when indicated in the solicitation, the Forest Service must rely upon independent con- tractors to construct the road(s) when you request Government construction. The Forest Service shall make a good-faith effort to let a contract for the construction. Without receipt of a satisfactory bid under Federal Procurement Regulations, the Forest Service can only award the stewardship contract to you if you agree to perform the construction. This problem does not arise often, but you should consider the possibility when deciding upon your election.

11. DEFINITIONS:

Affiliates: Business concerns or individuals are affiliates of each other if, directly or indirectly, (a) either one controls or has the pow- er to control the other; or (b) a third party controls or has the power to control both.

Offeror: An Offeror is any individual, organization, or other legal entity that submits an offer for, or may be expected to submit an of- fer for, a National Forest System contract.

Covered Transactions: Covered transactions include both non-procurement and procurement transactions. A primary tier transaction is between a Federal Agency and a person. A lower tier transaction is between a participant in a covered transaction and an- other person. A procurement contract is a covered transaction if it is awarded to a participant in a non-procurement transaction and the amount of the contract is greater than $25,000.

Integrated Resource Timber Contract (IRTC): a sale of property contract utilizing contract forms FS-2400-13/13T which are used exclusively in implementing stewardship projects when the value of goods exceeds the cost of services and adheres to the laws, regulations, policy and direction applicable to timber sales and implemented in 36 CFR Subpart I.

Manufacturer: A concern with an existing sawmill, specialty mill (such as a cedar mill, shingle or shake plant, pole plant, or dead- wood stud mill), veneer mill, or other manufacturing facility within an economic or logical haul distance, or with firm commitments and permits for construction of such facility. The purpose of this facility is processing the sawtimber component of timber sales.

Nonmanufacturer:

1. Any concern which manufactures, with its own or leased facilities, or contracts for manufacture less than 50 percent of its total annual sawlog production within an economic or logical haul distance to such facilities, including pulp and fiberboard mills without a contiguous integrated manufacturing facility for lumber, timbers, or veneer from a sawtimber component.

2. A specialty concern that does not have the capacity to manufacture 50 percent or more of its average annual sawlog production because of factors such as timber species or size.

3. Any concern purchasing National Forest timber outside an economic and logical haul distance to its manufacturing facility.

4. Any pulp mill, fiberboard mill, or chip plant that purchases sales with a sawtimber component when it has no manufacturing facility for lumber, timbers, or veneer.

Participant: Any person who submits a proposal for, enters into, or reasonably may be expected to enter into a covered transaction. This term also indicates any person who acts on behalf of or is authorized to commit a participant in a covered transaction as an agent or representative of another participant.

Contracting Officer: An individual delegated responsibility for any specific aspect or task in the offering or awarding process for con- tracts.

Small Business: In contracts of National Forest timber a small business is a concern that: (a) is primarily engaged in the logging and forest products industry; (b) is independently owned and operated; (c) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (d) together with its affiliates does not employ more than 500 persons.

12. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH EXPORT RESTRICTIONS: Certain restrictions on the purchase and export of unprocessed logs cut from National Forest timber apply in various parts of the country. Pursuant to the Forest Resources Conserva- tion and Shortage Relief Act of 1990, as amended (16 USC 620, et seq.), the Offeror acknowledges that the Offeror is aware of the applicable export restrictions. The Offeror is aware that these restrictions affect the disposition of the included timber and is aware that the restrictions may reduce the potential value of the timber.

13. CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, PROPOSED DEBARMENT, AND OTHER RESPONSI- BILITY MATTERS-CONTRACT TRANSACTIONS: The inability of a person to provide the certifications in block 16a will not neces- sarily result in denial of participation in this contract (covered transaction). The Offeror shall submit an explanation of why it cannot provide the certification. The certification or explanation will be considered in connection with the Forest Service's determination whether to enter into this contract. However, failure of the Offeror to furnish a certification or an explanation shall disqualify such person from participation in this contract.

The certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when the Forest Service determined to en- ter into this contract. If it is later determined that the Offeror knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in addition to other reme- dies available to the Federal Government, the Forest Service may terminate this contract for cause or default.

The Offeror shall provide immediate written notice to the Forest Service officer, to whom this offer is submitted, if at any time the Offeror learns that its certification was erroneous when submitted or has become erroneous by reason of changed circumstances.

The terms 'covered transaction,' 'debarred,' 'suspended,' 'ineligible,' 'lower tier covered transaction,' 'participant,' 'person,' 'pri- mary covered transaction,' 'principal,' 'proposal,' and 'voluntarily excluded,' as used in this clause, have the meanings set out in the Definitions and Coverage sections of the rules implementing Executive Order 12549. You may contact the Forest Service for assis- tance in obtaining a copy of those regulations.

The Offeror agrees by submitting this offer that, should the proposed contract transaction be entered into, it shall not knowingly enter into any subcontractor transaction (lower tier covered transaction) with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR 9.4, or who is debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded under 48 CFR 9.4, from participation in this contract, unless authorized by the Forest Service’s non-procurement Debarring and Suspending Official.

The Offeror further agrees by submitting this offer that Form AD-1047 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters – Primary Covered Transactions, shall be completed by the Offeror and provided to the Contracting Officer upon request.

14. SUBCONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, INELIGIBILITY, AND VOLUN- TARY EXCLUSION: Pursuant to 2 CFR 180.355 each timber sale purchaser shall require subcontractors to include a certification for it and its principals in any proposal submitted in connection with this timber sale. Purchasers shall keep the certifications on file until the termination date of the contract. Form AD-1048 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and voluntary Exclusion Lower Tier Covered Transactions shall be completed by the Purchaser and provided to the Contracting Officer upon request.

A participant in a timber sale may rely upon a certification of a prospective subcontractor that it is not proposed for debarment under 48 CFR 9.4, or is not debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from the timber sale, unless it knows that the certifica- tion is erroneous. A timber sale purchaser may decide the method and frequency by which it determines the eligibility of its princi- pals. Each timber sale purchaser may, but is not required to, check for those listed as Excluded in the System for Award Manage- ment.

Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to require establishment of a system of records in order to render in good faith the certification required by this provision. The knowledge and information of a timber sale purchaser is not required to exceed that which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of business dealings.

Except for transactions authorized in paragraph 5 of the instructions for certification, if a contractor knowingly enters into a subcon- tractor transaction with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR 9.4, or who is suspended, debarred, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded under 48 CFR 9.4, from participation in this contract, in addition to other remedies available to the Federal Gov- ernment, the Forest Service may terminate this contract for cause or default and/or pursue suspension and/or debarment.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income derived from any public assistance. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll free at (866) 632-9992 (voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 522) govern the confidentiality to be provided for information received by the Forest Service.

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