RECOVERY - Brush Competition - Kootenai

Solicitation AG-82B1-S-09-0093 is a 100 percent Small Business Set-Aside contract issued by the USDA Forest Service for brush competition removal services within the Cabinet Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest in Montana. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the project covers an estimated 229 acres across several sites, including Haines R Way, Bull Liber, Smeads Rice, and Burnt Lion. The primary objective is to maintain vigorous conifer stands by removing competing brush and undesirable conifers within a 5-foot radius of preferred species, specifically Western Larch, Ponderosa Pine, and Western Whitepine. The scope of work is governed by site-specific silvicultural prescriptions that detail leave tree characteristics and strict slash management guidelines, with an explicit prohibition against cutting Western Red Cedar. Performance is monitored through a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan involving visual observations and sample plots conducted by the Contracting Officer's Representative. The project includes both brush removal and planting activities to achieve specific crop tree densities per acre. The period of performance for the request for quotation was scheduled from October 20, 2009, to November 9, 2009.