Cub Creek Fire - Falls Creek Reforestation 2026

The 2026 Cub Creek Fire – Falls Creek Reforestation contract, solicited under number 1173918, requires a small business to plant government-furnished tree seedlings across 1,800 acres within the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington. Work must commence upon notice to proceed and proceed at a minimum rate of 100 acres per day using crews of 15 to 20 planters, with planting activities constrained to favorable conditions and daylight hours, where a full day equals eight or more continuous hours. Seedlings are stored in a refrigerated trailer on-site and must be handled with strict adherence to preservation guidelines: kept shaded, protected from heat, freezing, abrasion, and chemical exposure, and never pruned or culled after arrival. Packaging must maintain integrity with light-colored, heat-resistant bags of at least 15 inches depth, no more than 200 seedlings per bag, and plastic wrap kept intact until the moment of planting. Performance is evaluated through a quality-based payment system tied to inspection plots of 1/50 acre, with at least one plot inspected for every four acres planted. Contractors must conduct self-inspections using a designated qualified inspector separate from the foreman, while the government performs independent verification. Payment is determined by a composite score of above-ground and below-ground planting quality, calculated as the product of satisfactory seedlings in both categories; a minimum of 80% acceptable planting is required for any payment, with 85% required for full payment. Replanting is permitted once per unit if quality falls between 80% and 85%, but must then exceed 95% to receive full compensation. Quality standards are detailed in attachments covering planting techniques, inspection sheets, slope corrections, and definitions of technical terms. Contractors are liable for any damage or loss to seedlings unless proven beyond their control, must comply with State OSHA safety plans, restrict UTV/ATV use to approved routes, and are responsible for repairing any damage to natural resources. All submissions must be made electronically through SAM.gov by the August 11, 2026 deadline, and proposals must include georeferenced maps viewable via Avenza Maps for operational use in the field.