Eastern Divide NNIS Herbicide Treatment

This solicitation, numbered 12443926Q0071, is a commercial item acquisition under FAR Part 12 for herbicide treatments within the Eastern Divide Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, covering areas in Botetourt and Craig counties in Virginia and Monroe County in West Virginia. The work involves applying Triclopyr ester herbicide to control invasive vegetation across approximately 101 acres of mature and immature timber stands and nearby wildlife openings, with the performance period running from June 15 to November 1, 2026, and key milestones requiring initial treatments by September 1 and follow-up treatments by October 1. The contract is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 115310, with a size standard of $11.5 million, and all offerors must be certified small businesses in SAM.gov with an active Unique Entity ID. Proposals must include Attachment B (Schedule of Items) and Attachment G (Experience Questionnaire), submitted via email to christopher.j.hamilton@usda.gov no later than May 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time. Questions must be submitted by May 20, 2026, at noon Central Time. The acquisition is structured as a firm-fixed-price contract and will be awarded using a best value trade-off process, evaluating technical approach, price, and past performance without assigned numerical weights or adjectival ratings. The technical evaluation emphasizes crew qualifications, prior experience in the Southern Appalachian region, knowledge of local tree species, ability to meet timelines, and COR performance references. Acceptance criteria require at least 95% mortality of targeted trees within 10–14 days post-treatment, with inspections conducted on-site by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Compliance with OSHA, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, and environmental standards including 30-foot buffers from surface waters is mandatory. Contractors must also affirm certifications regarding anti-discrimination, DEI compliance, Buy American requirements, and prohibitions on trafficking in persons, with non-compliance potentially triggering False Claims Act liability. Payment terms follow F.O.B. destination delivery, invoicing must be sent to the administrative office in Atlanta, Georgia, and accelerated payments to small business subcontractors are required. No packaging or marking specifications are included, and the contract does not specify option periods or total estimated value due to un