Chequamegon-Nicolet NF Non-Native Invasive Species 2016-2021

The USDA Forest Service, Lake States Acquisition Team awarded a Master IDIQ on May 31, 2016 for control of non-native invasive species on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, with a shared ceiling of $500 thousand and a final order deadline of May 31, 2021. Ordering under this vehicle closed over five years ago and is no longer active.

The vehicle is spent. All 25 task orders awarded during its five-year lifecycle have completed performance; the most recent order was issued May 20, 2021. Combined task-order potential value totaled $344 thousand, of which $324 thousand (94%) has been obligated. Ordering momentum peaked in 2018 with eight orders, then declined to two orders in 2021. The Forest Service has not issued successor vehicles or reopened the Chequamegon-Nicolet IDIQ in available records.

Work contracted under the vehicle focused on treatment of specific invasive plant species—wild parsnip, knapweed, buckthorn, and garlic mustard—using herbicides, manual labor, and mechanical methods on roads, trails, gravel pits, and adjacent openings across the Chequamegon-Nicolet forest system and ranger districts (Washburn, Eagle River, Florence). Individual task orders ranged from approximately $2,600 to $26,000, with typical durations of three to five months.

Competition concentrated heavily among four primes. Clean Kill Pest Control Inc. captured 14 of 25 orders ($198 thousand potential value, 58% of vehicle total). 4 Control Inc. held six orders ($91 thousand, 26%), Eco-Resource Consulting, Incorporated held four orders ($39 thousand, 11%), and Cutting Edge Forestry, Inc. held one order ($16 thousand, 5%). All orders funded a single customer: the Department of Agriculture Forest Service R9-Eastern Region.

The set-aside mix favored unrestricted competition. Twenty orders (80%) carried no set-aside designation; five orders (20%) were set aside for Total Small Business, all awarded in the early years (2016–2017). All task orders used firm-fixed-price pricing.

The USDA Forest Service, Lake States Acquisition Team has awarded a Master IDIQ for control of non-native invasive species of plants projects on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The objective of these projects is to eradicate, reduce, or contain non-native invasive plants, thereby minimizing the threat to native plant communities, sensitive wildlife and fish habitats, and recreational activities. The projects will emphasize control activities on highly invasive non-native plant species infestations, and will use manual, mechanical, physical, and chemical treatments, or a combination thereof.