The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Region 9 - Eastern Region) awarded a Purchase Order to Northland Environmental Services, LLC, a small business, on April 5, 2027, for $99,999.84 under a Total Small Business Set-Aside.
Work is performed in Bedford, Indiana at three barrens ecosystems on the Hoosier National Forest: Boone Creek Barrens (approximately 700 acres), Clover Lick Barrens (approximately 1,658 acres), and Harding Flats Barrens (approximately 782 acres). The contractor will conduct eight three-day sampling trips from April 10 through October 15, 2027, collecting presence/absence and abundance data on rare insects using walkthrough visual surveys, aerial net surveys, sweep net sampling, and ultraviolet light trap surveys, with focus on Lepidoptera, Orthoptera (Acrididae family), Hymenoptera (specific bee families), and targeted Homoptera families. All work completes by March 31, 2028. The contractor designates a Project Lead and Entomologist/Insect Taxonomist as key personnel. Service Contract Labor Standards apply with a minimum wage of $25.59 per hour for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians. This award stems from a Total Small Business RFQ posted July 23, 2026, with proposals due August 9, 2026.