2026 west lodgepole conifer thinning

The Bureau of Land Management's Upper Snake Field Office is seeking conifer cutting and piling services for the 2026 West Lodgepole Thinning #3 project located near Island Park, Idaho. The primary objective is to selectively thin approximately 163 acres of lodgepole pine forest by removing three-fourths of all live trees 7 inches in diameter at breast height or smaller, with all cut trees completely severed, fully limbed, and cut into 4-foot lengths before being constructed into tightly woven piles. Contractors will be evaluated based on technical capability, applicant qualifications with relevant prior experience, past performance supported by two to five references, and price, with all unit costs required to be all-inclusive for materials, labor, transportation, and incidentals. Key dates for this opportunity include an offer submission deadline of April 14, 2026, at 11:00 AM MDT, with email submissions directed to tparsons@ios.doi.gov. The contract has a performance period of 47 days, with an estimated start date of August 15, 2026, and a required completion date of September 30, 2026, and contractors must commence work within three calendar days of notification while maintaining weekly progress reports.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) with a $34 million size standard, though no incumbent contractor is identified in the available documentation. The project location encompasses BLM-managed parcels in Clark County and Fremont County, Idaho, accessible via Green Canyon Road, Yale-Kilgore Road, and Old Shotgun Road in the vicinity of Harriman State Park. Contractors must register in SAM and comply with all applicable requirements including Service Contract Labor Standards, prevailing wage rates established under the Register of Wage Determinations for Fremont County Idaho (ranging from $11.90 to $54.87 per hour depending on classification), Buy American provisions, OSHA worker safety standards, fire prevention regulations, environmental laws, and cultural resource protections. While a specific contract value is not stated in the solicitation, the scope of work encompasses approximately 163 acres of thinning activities completed over a 47-day performance window, making this a substantial forest management project requiring experienced contractors with demonstrated capability in similar conifer thinning operations.