Superior National Forest Non-Native Invasive Plant Herbicide Treatment

The USDA Forest Service is soliciting proposals under a Total Small Business Set-Aside for herbicide treatment of approximately 121 acres of non-native invasive plant infestations spanning about 200 miles of roads and trails across St. Louis, Lake, and Cook Counties in Minnesota. The base performance period runs from July 13, 2026, to October 2, 2026, with four optional one-year extension periods available. The contractor is responsible for providing all labor, equipment, herbicides, dyes, surfactants, supervision, transportation, and incidental materials, with the exception of any government-furnished property. Work must be conducted in strict compliance with environmental protocols, prohibiting applications in wetlands or riparian zones and requiring operations to occur only when wind speeds are below 10 mph and in accordance with all product label directions. Performance effectiveness is measured at a minimum of 80% average across all sites, with individual sites below 50% effectiveness requiring re-treatment. Submission of detailed herbicide use records and application location data is mandatory, with all documentation due by October 30, 2026. The solicitation is designated as a commercial item acquisition under FAR 52.212-4 and is subject to the Buy American Act with applicable alternates, as well as provisions for equal opportunity for veterans and workers with disabilities, privacy training, and anti-trafficking compliance. Pricing will be evaluated solely for fairness and reasonableness without numerical weighting, while past performance will be assessed using adjectival ratings—Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable—based on criteria such as quality, timeliness, cost control, and adherence to terms. Award will follow a best-value approach, favoring the highest technically rated proposal with acceptable or neutral past performance and a fair and reasonable price, without tradeoffs or reliance on the lowest price. The contract is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 115310 with small business subcontracting plan requirements and full compliance obligations under FAR 52.219-6 and 52.219-9. Proposals must be submitted electronically via SAM.gov by 9:00 p.m. ET on July 8, 2026, and include completed Experience and Past Performance Questionnaires. All contract terms prohibit contractors from imposing unenforceable supplier conditions such as indemnity clauses, restrictions on government sourcing, data exploitation rights, or