The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 5 (Pacific Southwest Region), awarded a $26,250 firm fixed-price purchase order to Gomes, Reece D (UEI: G5T6VL5W2R17) on July 24, 2024, to provide packing and pack animal services for post-fire trail recovery work in Northern California. The contractor will transport food, supplies, and equipment using pack mules or horses across steep, rocky terrain within the Trinity Alps, Russian, and Marble Mountain Wilderness Areas of the Klamath National Forest. The scope of work includes packing unusual loads, transporting government-provided supplies, and backhauling trash and empty containers. This contract is funded through Disaster Supplemental Funding and is designated as a 100% small business set-aside.
The contract period extends from July 10, 2024 through July 19, 2025, with priority packing operations scheduled from July through October 2024. Work is anticipated for up to 15 non-consecutive days of animal packing services, performed in the Fort Jones, California area. The award was based on the evaluation of technical experience and price competitiveness among small business quoters, reflecting the Forest Service's need to restore trail infrastructure and accessibility in wilderness areas affected by fire damage.