24--CTL and Attachments, Mountain Home AFB, ID

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to award a sole source, firm-fixed price contract to Caterpillar Inc. for the supply of a Compact Track Loader with forestry attachments (CAT 275XE) to support the Mountain Home Air Force Base Wildland Fire Branch in Idaho. This procurement falls under NAICS code 333120, Construction Machinery Manufacturing, and will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures under FAR 13.501(a). The decision to award to Caterpillar is based on the company's preferred hydraulic cooler, operator controls, service, and parts support, which are critical for minimizing equipment downtime during fire operations and project work. With three CAT 275XE units already in use within the Wildland Fire Branch, adding another unit will improve operational consistency, training efficiency, and equipment servicing while allowing for greater flexibility in deployment across different modules. Interested industry contractors are informed that this announcement is not a request for quotes but a notice of intent to award a sole source contract. However, responsible parties may submit capability statements to demonstrate that competition would benefit the government without causing excessive cost or delays. The agency retains discretion on whether to proceed with competition based on received responses. Questions or capability statements must be submitted via email to the designated contracting specialist by May 20, 2026, and telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Delivery of the specified equipment is expected to begin following issuance of the purchase order.