Tractor Purchases for the Forest Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, through its CSA Southwest 1 office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is soliciting bids for the purchase of compact utility tractors equipped with integrated front loaders and backhoes under a total small business set-aside with NAICS code 333924, limiting eligibility to small businesses with fewer than 900 employees. The solicitation, numbered 127EAY26Q0107 and posted on July 23, 2026, with a response deadline of July 30, 2026, has been amended to allow multiple awards, and proposals must meet stringent technical specifications including a 35–43 HP diesel engine, hydrostatic transmission, 4WD, 540 rpm PTO, Category I 3-point hitch with 2500–2800 lb lift capacity, a front loader with 101–105 inch lift height and 2000–2200 lb capacity, and a backhoe with 7–8 ft dig depth and 180° swing. All equipment must be factory-integrated and delivered within 120 days of contract award to one of three designated locations in California, with delivery terms requiring F.O.B. Destination. Evaluation will be conducted on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable basis, prioritizing technical compliance over price, with proposals failing if they do not meet all salient characteristics, provide required documentation, or deliver on schedule. Past performance will be assessed using adjectival ratings, and only the lowest-priced technically acceptable offer will be selected. Contractors must be registered in SAM, hold a UEI or CAGE code, and certify compliance with a range of federal requirements including the Buy American Act, anti-trafficking provisions, equal opportunity, paid sick leave, cybersecurity safeguarding, and DEI compliance under newly enacted clauses. The contract prohibits discrimination and imposes strict reporting obligations for entities engaging in DEI-related programs, with violations potentially resulting in False Claims Act liability or termination. Payment will be processed electronically via SAM, and invoices must be submitted to the contracting office in Albuquerque. The solicitation includes four attachments outlining terms and conditions and detailed equipment specifications, and while no pricing data is provided in the document, offerors are required to submit itemized pricing for all line items. Security and information safeguarding requirements are mandated under clauses addressing covered contractor information systems, and no COR or COT