F--Remington Sagebrush Planting

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Montana State Office, is seeking a small business contractor to perform sagebrush planting operations on 415 acres across two sites in Powder River and Big Horn Counties, Montana, to restore habitat for greater sage grouse and big game following the 2024 Remington wildfire. The contractor must plant approximately 14,000 containerized Wyoming big sagebrush seedlings in groups of 30, adhering to precise spacing and depth requirements, with 10,000 seedlings allocated to the Bales site and 4,000 to the Tidwell Draw site. Work must occur between September 30 and November 15, 2026, during the designated fall planting window, and operations must cease if temperatures fall below 25°F or exceed 80°F, winds surpass 20 mph, or snow or frozen soil exceeds one inch. All seedlings must be transported in fully enclosed, non-heated vehicles, and site preparation requires clearing debris to a minimum two-foot diameter and severing vegetation at least 1.5 inches below the soil surface. The contract is a firm-fixed-price, single-award service acquisition set-aside exclusively for small businesses under NAICS code 115112, and compliance with FAR Parts 12 and 37 governs the procurement. All contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management at the time of submission and award, and must comply with the Service Wage Rate Requirements Statute, prevailing wage determinations for both counties, and applicable federal statutes including those governing kickbacks, procurement integrity, and contract work hours and safety standards. The contractor is responsible for providing all labor, tools, equipment, and logistical support to complete the planting, including adherence to strict environmental and operational guidelines such as cleaning up all debris, avoiding unauthorized camping on federal lands, and accommodating potential road closures that may necessitate relocations between work areas. Submission of quotes requires four electronic volumes including SF 1449 forms completed and signed by an authorized representative, documentation of prior demonstrated experience with three similar projects within the last five years—emphasizing sagebrush planting—and a detailed pricing schedule with total fixed price entered in Block 24. Evaluation is based on a best value determination where prior demonstrated experience is significantly more important than price, and schedule is an additional factor. Award will not be made unless the proposal represents the best value to the government. Upon completion,