VHF/AM Aviation Ground Station for Lassen National Forest

This procurement is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) issued as a combined synopsis/solicitation under FAR Part 12 for a Total Small Business Set-Aside to acquire new VHF/AM Aviation Ground Stations and Repeaters for the Lassen National Forest in Susanville, California. The acquisition, identified by solicitation number 12760426Q0071, is reserved exclusively for small business concerns as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 33422 with a size standard of 1,250 employees. The contract will be awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis to the lowest-priced technically acceptable offer, with technical acceptability serving as a mandatory pass/fail gate that requires strict adherence to the performance, physical, and functional specifications outlined in Attachment C04d and full compliance with submission requirements for “equal” products, including brand names, model numbers, descriptive literature, and planned modifications. The scope includes delivery of at least two ground stations and associated transceivers, with all items required to be delivered within 60 days after receipt of order to the designated location in Susanville, CA. The contract incorporates extensive security, compliance, and supply chain requirements under USDA-specific language, mandating tamper-evident packaging, use of trusted shipping channels such as U.S. registered mail, chain-of-custody documentation, and implementation of anti-tamper technologies to prevent substitution or reverse engineering of IT products. All items must maintain an auditable paper trail tracing each step from the original equipment manufacturer to the delivery point. Offerors are required to submit Accessibility Conformance Reports using VPAT Version 2.1 or later for any Information and Communication Technology (ICT) items, validate Section 508 conformance claims, and comply with cybersecurity protocols including CMMC standards and ICT Supply Chain Risk Management based on NIST SP 800-39. Personnel working on the contract must undergo security vetting according to Public Trust or National Security position designations, complete Information Security Awareness Training, and sign Non-Disclosure Agreements. Additional mandatory representations include SAM registration, tax certifications, Buy American compliance, trafficking in persons certification, and a commitment to anti-discrimination laws. The USDA reserves the right to audit compliance as a condition of payment and may pursue remedies under the False Claims Act for willful misrepresentations. Proposals must be submitted by the deadline of June 19, 2026, and all