NIGP 94732: Conservation Services, Forest

NIGP 94732 Conservation Services, Forest (Item) covers invasive species management, prescribed burning, timber thinning, hazardous fuels reduction, and forest restoration work on state and locally managed conservation lands, wildlife areas, and municipal natural areas. Recent solicitations show state and local governments buying hands-on forestry labor and compliance services: invasive plant control with performance guarantees tied to species density reduction targets, pre-commercial thinning and hand-piling for habitat restoration, prescribed burn management under strict certification requirements, and post-fire or post-treatment site monitoring and replanting with native species and survivability warranties. The work is issued by state forestry and wildlife agencies (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Mississippi Forestry Commission), state utility authorities (Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority), county governments and special districts (Summit County Utah, Los Altos Hills County Fire District), and municipal watershed departments (City of Atlanta). Contractors typically must hold state forestry or pesticide applicator licenses, demonstrate prior experience on comparable acreage or project complexity, provide insurance and performance bonds, and manage all labor, equipment, and permitting.

Recent activity concentrates in the Southeast and West. The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management issued a prequalified sealed-bid IFB for invasive plant control, forestry services, and land management across 200–400 acres with a November 6, 2026 prequalification deadline and mandatory pre-solicitation conference; contractors must achieve 90% species-density reduction within three months or conduct retreatment at no cost and plant 100% native Georgia Piedmont species with 90% survival rates or replant at no cost. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has run multiple ITBs: a Big Bend Wildlife Management Area prescribed burn covering 11,825 acres with bids due October 13, 2026 (later withdrawn due to fewer than two responsive bids and proceeding to exceptional purchase under Florida law), and a Chassahowitzka WMA boundary-mulching project of 779.59 acres with bids due September 4, 2026 and an estimated budget of $225,000. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife solicited juniper re-treatment and cutting services in two 2026 bids (West Murray, due August 19; Steens BLM partnership, due May 29), and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources issued a pre-commercial thinning bid covering 648 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in Colville National Forest with an estimated contract value of $300,000 and bids due July 31, 2026. Summit County, Utah and an unidentified Utah state agency requested hazardous fuels reduction proposals (bids due September 22, 2026) covering 1,265 and 126.8 acres respectively. The Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District in Oregon sought post-fire herbicide and conifer-planting proposals across 149 acres with proposals due September 18, 2026 and MBE/WBE/veteran preference points available. The Mississippi Forestry Commission issued an IFB for cogongrass herbicide application across state, federal, and private lands using RESTORE and BIL grant funding, with intent to award multiple contracts and bids due June 8, 2026.