Sowing Equipment National Nursery

The USDA Forest Service awarded a firm-fixed-price contract under solicitation 12318726P0014 to Bouldin & Lawson, LLC for the procurement of brand-name replacement sowing equipment. This sole-source acquisition, justified under FAR 12.102(a), was necessary to replace equipment destroyed by fire and failing components at the Lucky Peak and Toumey nurseries in Tennessee. The procurement is critical for sustaining the annual production of over 3 million seedlings for national reforestation efforts, as only Bouldin & Lawson equipment is compatible with the existing trays, tooling, and integrated production lines. The scope of work includes the delivery and installation of two Forestry Tree Seeders, one Forestry Block Filler, one 5x12 HD Pot Conveyor, and one 10x18 incline conveyor. Performance is centered at the Tennessee nursery sites, with the procurement managed by the USDA Forest Service National Contracting Branch in Washington, DC. Due to the proprietary nature of the existing hardware and the lack of viable alternatives identified through market research, competition was restricted to ensure seamless system integration and uninterrupted operational capacity.