Aquatic NNIS Eurasian - Watermilfoil Eradication - Tell City Ranger District

The contract seeks qualified contractors to eradicate non-native invasive species, primarily Eurasian watermilfoil, and control nuisance vegetation around boat ramps and beach areas on lakes within the Hoosier National Forest’s Tell City Ranger District in Perry County, Indiana. This is an unrestricted, full and open competition under NAICS code 115310 with a small business size standard of $11.5 million, and no set-aside provisions apply. All offerors must have a current System for Award Management (SAM) registration and submit proposals via email to Tobi Shumaker at tobi.shumaker@usda.gov no later than June 26, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. Proposals must include a signed Standard Form 1449, a completed Schedule of Items with pricing for all line items across the base period and both option years, past performance references for similar aquatic invasive species treatments in the Central Hardwoods Region, a technical approach demonstrating understanding of the Performance Work Statement, and mandatory State of Indiana or reciprocal herbicide licensing certifications for all employees and subcontractors, along with documentation of training and experience in identifying and working around state-listed rare plants. Failure to provide any of these requirements, especially the herbicide license certifications, renders a proposal nonresponsive. The government will evaluate responses using a comparative method to determine best value, considering past performance, technical approach, and price fairness and reasonableness, without formal tradeoffs. Contract performance is divided into a base period from August 15 to October 15, 2026, with two optional one-year extensions in 2027 and 2028 covering additional treatment areas. Work must be conducted using EPA-approved, non-restricted herbicides in strict adherence to manufacturer guidelines, and contractors must use GPS-enabled devices capable of processing .shp and georeferenced PDF files for precise navigation. A minimum of 95% of mapped infestations must be treated, with a 90% kill rate required to meet acceptance standards, verified through visual inspection by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Payment requires submission of post-survey reports and maps of secondary treatment areas. Contractors must also comply with anti-discrimination and DEI certification requirements, whistleblower protections, and prohibitions on restricting internal reporting. The contract will be executed as a firm-fixed-price purchase order under FAR Part 12, incorporating standard clauses including those on contract administration, protests, unauthorized