NRCS Montana - National Resources Inventory (NRI) Grazing land Field Study Data Collection

This solicitation, numbered 12FPC326Q0030, is a combined synopsis and request for quotation issued under FAR Part 12 for commercial services to collect field data for the National Resources Inventory Grazingland Field Study in Montana, managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The requirement is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541620, with a size standard of $19 million, and is intended to be fulfilled through a firm-fixed-price requirements contract. The contractor must perform data collection on designated sample points using a stratified, two-stage area sampling scheme, which includes GPS navigation, establishing 150-foot linear transects in an “X” pattern, capturing nine digital photos per point, recording NRI ownership and cover/use codes, and transmitting corrected data to the ISU server. All work must comply with the Statement of Work, including successful completion of mandatory training and calibration exercises, with up to two additional calibrations permitted during the performance period. Quality assurance is enforced through infield reviews of up to 10% of collected data by NRCS, and payment is contingent on successful transmission, government acceptance, and submission of the required Montana NRI Soils Form for each completed point, with a cap of two inaccessible points per segment eligible for payment after documentation review. The base performance period runs from July 16, 2026, to March 31, 2027, with option periods extending annually through March 31, 2028, and a maximum total contract duration of five years, including potential six-month extensions. Proposals must be submitted by July 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET to Blake Boyer, and must include pricing on Attachment 2, a detailed technical approach addressing five evaluation factors—personnel qualifications, rangeland field experience, plant taxonomy expertise for Montana, geographic proximity to work sites, and capacity to complete the work—along with resumes, certification of SAM and UEI registration, and signed, dated company letterhead. Evaluation will prioritize the highest technically rated quotation with fair and reasonable pricing and acceptable or neutral past performance, with price reasonableness and past performance serving as pass/fail gates. Invoicing must be done electronically through the Treasury’s IPP system, supported by a detailed contractor invoice listing completed points, and is authorized only after government quality assurance review. The contract