Superior National Forest Rare Plant Survey

The contract solicitation 12443926Q0066, issued as a combined synopsis and request for quotation under FAR Part 12, is a total small business set-aside for the 2026 Botany Rare Plant Survey across 1,632 acres in St. Louis and Lake Counties, Minnesota, within the Superior National Forest. The work requires conducting scientifically rigorous surveys for Regional Forester Sensitive Species, including rare vascular plants and lichens, across 65 designated stands in forested and non-forested upland and wetland areas, with all deliverables due by November 30, 2026. The contract is firm fixed price and includes a 20% maximum incentive payment structure tied to the number of verified rare plant detections, which will be mathematically applied to the base line item for award funding purposes though actual incentive amounts will be determined post-performance. Proposals must demonstrate strong botanical qualifications, specific experience identifying rare vascular plants and lichens in northern Minnesota, and acceptable past performance history with the Forest Service or similar clients, with award determined by best value based on technical superiority, not lowest price. All offers must be submitted electronically by May 20, 2026, to designated USDA contacts and must include a UEI and CAGE code registration in SAM, along with certifications confirming Small Business status, compliance with the Buy American Act, trafficking in persons prohibitions, and strict adherence to anti-discrimination and DEI certification requirements under 452.203-70, which carries potential legal liability for false statements. Performance is F.O.B. destination with deliveries required to USDA Forest Service locations in Duluth and Deer River, Minnesota, and Atlanta, Georgia, and must comply with data security and AI/algorithmic restrictions prohibiting the use of government data for training AI models, user profiling, or automated decision-making. The contractor is responsible for all equipment, labor, transportation, lodging, and quality control, while the government provides maps, aerial imagery, and rare plant occurrence data. Invoices post-award must be submitted exclusively through the federally mandated Invoice Processing Platform (IPP), not WAWF, and payment will be processed by USDA-FS CSA EAST 1 in Atlanta. Special contract requirements include prohibitions on using government branding for marketing, banning third-party terms that override contract obligations, and restricting service level agreements from negating performance duties. Attachments include a detailed statement of work, maps,