Hoosier National Forest Dam Vegetation Removal-Herbicide

This solicitation, numbered 12443926Q0178, is a Request for Quotation issued under FAR Part 12 for commercial services to manage invasive woody vegetation on dam facilities within the Hoosier National Forest in Bedford, Indiana. The work involves cutting and treating woody species with herbicides, targeting vegetation with a basal diameter of one inch or greater across seven base locations totaling 4.75 acres and three optional sites adding 1.49 acres. Only EPA-approved, non-restricted herbicides are permitted, with additional chemicals subject to prior approval by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. The contractor must achieve a minimum 95% kill rate of the target vegetation, maintain daily logs detailing chemical usage, application rates, weather conditions, and equipment used, and submit Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals applied. All work must comply with Indiana state pesticide licensing requirements, and personnel must hold Category 2 or 6 applicator licenses. The acquisition is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 115310, with a size standard of $11.5 million, and only small business concerns are eligible to respond. The solicitation requires submitter documentation of unique entity identification and SAM registration, and all offers must include resumes and certifications for key personnel as well as proof of licensing for any subcontractors. Proposals must contain a quality control plan, work plan outlining methods and materials, and past performance details, submitted via email by 12:00 p.m. Central Time on August 1, 2026. While pricing fields are left blank in the line-item schedule, the contract is expected to be firm-fixed-price, with options for five additional years under clauses 52.217-8 and 52.217-9. Evaluation will be based on an evenly weighted assessment of technical approach, personnel qualifications, and price reasonableness, with award determined by best value without formal tradeoff procedures. The government will inspect and accept work on-site using visual verification under a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, and payment will be processed after successful completion and compliance verification, following government procedures for electronic funds transfer and small business subcontractor payment acceleration.