*RECOVERY* Henslow Sparrow Habitat ImprovementVienna, IL

The Henslow Sparrow Habitat Improvement project, identified as project number WFM-0900-6-HFR-727-0908-01, is a fixed-price award issued by the USDA Forest Service for work within the Shawnee National Forest, specifically the Hidden Springs Ranger District in Illinois. This 100 percent HUBZone set-aside contract focuses on the mechanical treatment of heavy woody vegetative growth and fuel loading to improve habitat quality for the threatened Henslow's Sparrow and reduce the severity of wildfires. The scope of work includes mechanical mowing across 211.3 acres, mechanical mastication and mulching across 331.9 acres, and tractor disking and seeding across 331.9 acres. These activities are distributed across several tracts, including Pennant Bar, Ashby, Bebout, Turpen, White, and West. Operational requirements for the project span from October 2009 to July 2011 and include strict seasonal restrictions to avoid hunting seasons and mandatory equipment cleaning to prevent the spread of invasive species. Because residential dwellings are located near the treatment units, specific care is required during execution. The contract was awarded based on a 100-point evaluation system assessing past performance, technical expertise, and equipment adequacy. Additionally, the contractor must comply with federal employment eligibility verification through the E-Verify program for all employees and applicable subcontracts. Following the initial mechanical treatments, the units are intended to be maintained using prescribed fire.