Barrens Rare Insect Surveys - Hoosier National Forest

The solicitation 12443926Q0149 is a combined synopsis and solicitation for commercial services issued under FAR Part 12 to procure barrens rare insect surveys across the Hoosier National Forest in Bedford, Indiana. The acquisition is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541690, with a small business size standard of $19 million in average annual receipts, and is open only to responsible small business concerns. The work involves conducting eight three-day field survey trips between April and October 2027 across three designated barrens sites—Boone Creek, Clover Lick, and Harding Flats—with the overall performance period extending from April 5, 2027, to March 31, 2028. The contract will be awarded as a firm fixed price arrangement, and all deliverables, including a final report and detailed work plan, must be submitted at the destination location in Bedford, Indiana, under F.O.B. destination terms. Quotations are due by August 9, 2026, and must be submitted exclusively via email to the designated contracting officer, including required attachments: the Schedule of Items, Statement of Work, Barrens Ecosystem Maps, Experience Questionnaire, and Wage Determination 2015-4821 Rev 32. The evaluation process prioritizes technical capability, including demonstrated experience with rare insect identification and barrens ecosystems, followed by the proposed methodology, past performance assessed through adjectival ratings, and price fairness and reasonableness. Award will be made based on best value trade-off, not solely on lowest price. Offerors must demonstrate knowledge of GPS units, Shapefiles, and USDA/Forest Service protocols, and must identify key personnel with verifiable regional experience. The contractor is prohibited from using government data for AI/ML training, tracking user behavior, or transferring data outside the United States without authorization. Compliance with labor standards, affirmative action, equal opportunity, anti-trafficking, and cybersecurity provisions is mandatory, including specific clauses on whistleblower rights, electronic funds transfer, subcontracting limitations, and safeguarding government information. The contractor must maintain an active SAM registration, certify compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws, and submit all invoices through the U.S. Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform. Payment will be processed by the USDA-FS CSA EAST 1 office in Atlanta, Georgia, and acceptance of deliverables will be determined by the Contracting Officer’s