38--CTL and Attachments, Elgin AFB, FL

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to award a sole source, firm-fixed-price contract to Caterpillar Inc for a Compact Track Loader with forestry attachments (CAT 275XE) to support the Elgin Air Force Base Wildland Fire Branch. This procurement falls under NAICS code 333120, Construction Machinery Manufacturing, and will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures due to the specialized nature of the equipment. Caterpillar's CAT 275XE is the preferred choice because of its superior hydraulic cooler, operator controls, and excellent service and support infrastructure, which minimize downtime and ensure efficient fire and project operations. The contract will enhance operational consistency and safety by standardizing the equipment across multiple units that already use this machinery. The agency anticipates beginning work after order issuance and is seeking capability statements only to assess if competitive procurement is feasible without causing cost or time inefficiencies. This notice is not a request for quotations, and any submissions should clearly demonstrate the benefit of competition. The deadline for responses is May 18, 2026, with questions directed exclusively via email to the contracting specialist Fred Riley. The contract aims to improve operational readiness, reduce delays, and enable better training and maintenance by unifying equipment use across the Fire Branch units.