Des Plaines Floodwall 37 Flow Improvements, Prospect Heights, Cook County, Illinois

With this announcement, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Chicago District issues this Pre-Solicitation Notice for Des Plaines Floodwall 37 Flow Improvements, Prospect Heights, Cook County, Illinois. The classification code for this procurement is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 561730, with a Small Business Standard size of $7 Million. Competition for this acquisition is RESTRICTED TO CERTIFIED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS (100% SB SET-ASIDE). The Corps of Engineers intends to award a firm-fixed price Service contract. This Contract will consist of the Base work with 4 Option years for Site Management and Monitoring. Under the first year, activities will consist of cutting and selective herbiciding of woody stems in both the 11-acre prairie area and in the 6.5-acre woodland area. The treatment method may include burning, mowing and the application of a selective herbicide such as Plateau, Garlon3A or Fusilade. Or herbaceous species control may include some combination of burning, mowing and selective, spot treatment with a broad-spectrum glyphosate-based herbicide. Site preparation for seeding, and seeding itself, will occur only in the 6.5-acre woodland portion. Site preparation will consist of 3-4 herbicide applications 6-8 weeks apart, to be followed by fall seeding. Seeding may also occur the following spring. Seed application with native woodland seed at the rate of 5 pounds per acre combined with cover crop seed at the rate of 75 pounds per acre will follow site preparation. During the first growing season or two, mowing will be the primary management tool used to prevent weeds from excessively shading the native seedlings. Mowing or spot mowing once or twice during the second season at a cutting length to 6-12 inches is beneficial if weeds are thick. Selective or spot herbiciding may be necessary if a weed control problem is encountered that resists other methods of control. Spot treatment must be used only on cool, windless days. Overseeding will occur, if necessary, during site management and monitoring years to repair any areas where seeding was unsuccessful. After 2 or 3 growing seasons, most native plantings need to be burned annually for the following management and monitoring years to become well established, which produces greater diversity and better growth. The first annual prescribed burn at the flow site will occur during the spring of Site Management and Monitoring Year 3 and be followed again in Year 4. The remaining annual establishment period burns will become the responsibility of the Cook County Forest Preserve District. After establishment, mature prairies with no serious weed problems will need to be burned perhaps once every 3 years. This project includes the selective removal of these woody invasive species from these two areas. This will be accomplished by 1) Eliminating stems greater than 1 cm, up to 25 cm, at ground level of all non-native woody species. Criteria in the specification shall be used in making the determination which trees and shrubs will be removed. A qualified individual shall flag the periphery of the area or the trees to be cleared. 2) To provide growing season follow-up control of resprouts 3) To dispose of cut brush by stockpiling and burning. Mechanical clearing of trees and shrubs is permitted provided that the ground is frozen or dry to the extent that mechanical equipment will not cause the rutting or pitting of the soil. The Government would prefer that a Seppi mower or Royer mower be used for the mechanical removal of trees and shrubs, but will consider alternatives to this equipment. If mechanical equipment cannot maneuver then all cutting of woody vegetation shall be performed by hand using chain saws, brush clearing saws, hand saws and loppers. The Contractor must achieve a 90 percent success rate in the reduction of target species from the pre-existing condition in any given ten (10) square meters (107.6 square feet) within the cleared area. Interested bidders may download the Invitation for Bids Set from Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) Website at: https://www.fbo.gov. The Bid set will be made available for viewing and downloadable from the FBO Website on or about 2 January 2009. The due date for the bids will be on or about 3 February 2009. REQUESTS FOR BID PACKAGES MADE BY TELEPHONE, FAX OR E-MAIL WILL NOT BE HONORED. Point of Contact: Regina Blair at +1 (555) 000-0000