SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Elephant Butte Field Division – ISC‑Funded Vegetation Management Notice No.: 140R4026Q0075 NAICS: 115310 – Support Activities for Forestry Type of Contract: Firm‑Fixed‑Price (FFP)

This is a Sources Sought notice issued solely for market research. This is not a solicitation, request for quotes, or request for proposals. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. The purpose of this notice is to determine the availability and capability of small business concerns that can perform the work described below. The Government anticipates this requirement will be set aside for small business; the Government is specifically seeking to determine whether a specific socioeconomic set-aside category (e.g., Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), HUBZone, or 8(a)) is appropriate.

Responses are requested only from small business concerns; large businesses need not respond.

1. Project Overview / Description of Work

The Elephant Butte Field Division requires species-specific vegetation management at Caballo Reservoir to remove infestations of tornillo (mesquite) and salt cedar (tamarisk) across four designated treatment parcels, totaling approximately 1,367 acres, as follows:

Parcel Treatment Method Acreage Parcel A Ground-based herbicide application 106 acres Parcel B Aerial herbicide application 646 acres Parcel C Mechanical Vegetation treatment 100 acres Parcel D Mechanical Vegetation treatment 515 acres

Work will also include GIS-supported treatment boundary mapping and documentation, performed in accordance with applicable environmental compliance requirements, including mitigation measures identified in the project's NEPA documentation.

This effort supports reservoir operations, habitat restoration, and reduction of phreatophyte-driven water loss along the Rio Grande.

2. Place of Performance

Vegetation management activities will occur within designated operational and environmental management zones surrounding Caballo Reservoir, located along the Rio Grande in Sierra County, New Mexico. The action area includes reservoir shorelines, the fluctuating littoral zone, northern inflow deltaic deposits, riparian benches, tributary drainages, and adjacent upland desert‑scrub transition zones.

3. Period of Performance

The anticipated period of performance is one year from date of award. Specific treatment windows and seasonal timing constraints, if any, will be identified in the resulting solicitation.

4. NAICS Code

NAICS 115310 – Support Activities for Forestry. Small Business Size Standard: $11.5 million average annual receipts.

5. Requested Capabilities

Interested vendors should submit capability statements demonstrating experience with:

• Large‑scale invasive vegetation removal (mechanical, aerial, and ground‑based herbicide treatments)

• Work in riparian/reservoir environments

• Environmental compliance (including NEPA mitigation measures)

• Specialized equipment (e.g., aerial application platforms, mechanical removal machinery)

• GIS/GPS‑based vegetation treatment mapping

• Past performance on similar projects

• Capacity to perform a contract of this magnitude independently, or plans to team/subcontract (including identification of any teaming or joint venture partners)

• Demonstrated ability to perform work across all four parcels (A, B, C, and D), either directly or through subcontracting arrangements. Vendors unable to perform all parcels directly should identify proposed subcontractors, their relevant capabilities, and whether such subcontractors are "similarly situated" (i.e., hold the same small business/socioeconomic certification anticipated for this set-aside), in light of the Limitations on Subcontracting requirements at FAR 52.219-14.

6. Business Information Requested

Include the following in submitted capability statements:

• UEI number

• Business size under NAICS 115310

• Socioeconomic status, including all applicable certifications (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB/EDWOSB). Vendors should confirm current certification status as reflected in SAM.gov and/or the applicable certifying body (e.g., SBA certification portal, VA VetBiz Verification program).

• Point of contact information

• Relevant past performance

• Equipment mobilization capability for remote, riparian, or reservoir-adjacent terrain

• Certifications — Vendors must possess, or demonstrate the ability to obtain prior to performance, a valid State of New Mexico pesticide applicator's license and aerial applicator certification

7. Submission Instructions

Responses should be emailed to:

Megan Swift, Contract Specialist Email: megan_swift@ios.doi.gov

Capability statements should be submitted as a PDF attachment, not to exceed 10 pages, and should reference "Elephant Butte Field Division – Vegetation Management Sources Sought" in the email subject line.

Responses are requested no later than July 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM (Noon) Eastern Time.

Responses received after this date and time may not be considered. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments to this notice.

8. Disclaimer

This notice is for market research only. It does not commit the Government to any acquisition.

The Government will review all responses to inform its acquisition strategy, including the appropriate set-aside category, if any. Respondents will not receive individual feedback on their submissions. This notice does not guarantee that a solicitation will be issued, and if issued, its terms may differ from this notice.