The Department of Agriculture Forest Service State and Private Forestry Program serves as a critical component of the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, focusing on forest health protection, fire prevention, and technical assistance for non-federal forestlands. This program works cooperatively with state forestry agencies, private landowners, and tribal governments to promote sustainable forest management practices and protect forest resources across approximately two-thirds of the nation's forestlands. The program's mission encompasses forest health monitoring, pest and disease management, wildfire risk reduction, and providing technical expertise to support forest conservation efforts on state, private, and tribal lands.
Recent contract awards demonstrate the State and Private Forestry Program's focus on specialized technical services and facility infrastructure support. The program has awarded contracts totaling approximately $159,156 across three purchase orders, with services ranging from diagnostic support to facility maintenance and forest health treatment. Two of the three awards went to the Regents of the University of Minnesota, indicating a strong working relationship with academic institutions for specialized forestry services. The University of Minnesota received contracts for diagnostic support services valued at $5,000 with a four-year performance period through September 2028, and oak wilt rapid response treatment services valued at $7,000 with completion by August 2025.
The program also demonstrates commitment to small business utilization through its award to Oneida Engineering Solutions Limited Liability Company, a Small Business Administration certified 8(a) program participant and tribally owned firm. This $147,156 contract for architecture and engineering services focuses on analyzing the existing Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system at the St. Paul Field Office, including recommendations and preparation of plans and specifications for system upgrades or replacements. The contract carried a total small business set-aside designation, reflecting the program's efforts to provide contracting opportunities to small and disadvantaged businesses while maintaining its facility infrastructure.