2027 LaCroix Ranger District IRSCs

Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted

Solicitation number
12363N26Q4138
Agency
Responses due
Set-aside
No set-aside

Opportunity facts

NAICS code
113310 Logging
Place of performance
Minnesota 55723, United States

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking capability statements and questionnaire responses from timber operators, fuels contractors, or firms with combined capabilities for hazardous fuels reduction through timber harvest on the LaCroix Ranger District, with responses due by June 1, 2026, and an anticipated solicitation posting no later than spring 2027.

Work encompasses approximately 16.8 million board feet of low-value timber removal via clearcut, shelterwood, and commercial thinning across 2,103 acres distributed across four project areas: Can Crusher (417 acres, 3.9 MMBF), Finkus (1,061 acres, 6.4 MMBF), Pac Man (450 acres, 5.4 MMBF), and Wild (175 acres, 1.05 MMBF). Performance occurs across all four locations on the Superior National Forest within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). The scope includes temporary road construction and obliteration, slash piling and covering, pre-commercial thinning, timber stand improvement, forest system road improvements for erosion control and water quality, fireline construction, fuel break establishment and maintenance, hazardous fuels reduction (balsam fir, small diameter sub-merchantable species, dead standing and down, brush, limbs, and logging slash), and mastication, chipping, slashing, or manual and mechanical cut and pile with removal of non-merchantable biomass material.

An open house meeting is scheduled for May 20, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time, available in-person or via Microsoft Teams and phone conference. This RFI is issued for market research and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or promise to issue one. The government will not reimburse response costs.

Notice text

2 versions

Update #2 · Latest ·

5.11.2026:  There will be an option to join the Open House meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams or by calling in.  The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Central Time.

Microsoft Teams meeting:

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/243680752124460?p=BzBXTiHNmDxM1etRBZ

Meeting ID: 243 680 752 124 460

Passcode: qb9oP6yz

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dial in by phone:

+1 202-650-0123,,505687106# United States, Washington

Phone conference ID: 505 687 106#

----------------------------------------------------------------

This Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for market research and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. The Government will not reimburse accompanying costs.

1. Background & Purpose

The U.S. Forest Service seeks capability statements and questionnaire responses from timber operators, fuels contractors, or firms with both capabilities able to conduct hazardous fuels reduction treatments through timber harvest in difficult to access locations within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) on the LaCroix Ranger District.  There are four (4) main project areas associated with this RFI and shown on the table below.

Unit Name                                         Acres                    Volume MBF

Can Crusher Treatment Area             417                        3,927

Finkus Treatment Area                      1061                      6,366

Pac Man Treatment Area                   450                        5,447

Wild Treatment Area                          175                        1,050

Totals                                               2,103                    16,790

2. Anticipated Scope of Work

  • Timber Removal:
  • Harvest approximately 16.8MMBF (million board feet) of low-value timber via clearcut, shelterwood, and/or commercial thinning across 2,100 acres in four project locations.
  • Temporary road construction and obliteration.
  • Slash piling and covering.
  • Service work may include:
  • Pre-commercial thinning and/or Timber stand improvement
  • Forest system road improvements for erosion control and water quality
  • Manual and/or mechanical fireline construction
  • Fuel Break establishment and maintenance
  • Hazardous Fuel Reduction (Hazardous fuels include balsam fir and other small diameter sub-merchantable species, dead standing, dead down, brush, limbs, and logging slash.)
  • Mastication/Mulching/Crushing
  • Chipping
  • Slashing
  • Manual or mechanical cut and pile, including covering
  • Removal of non-merchantable (biomass) material

3. Place of Performance

Four project areas located on the LaCroix Ranger District of the Superior National Forest. Locations are identified on the attached map

4. Period of Performance

A solicitation is anticipated to be posted no later than spring of 2027 with all work completed by May 2031 if awarded.

5. Requested Capability Statement

  • Capability Statement elements:
  • Company information (UEI, address, POC, socio-economic status).
  • NAICS codes registered
  • Summary of relevant experience in conducting timber harvest in northern Minnesota, including timber removal via thinning or clearcut, crushing and/or slashing sub-merch material, temporary road construction in winter/summer conditions, and general road maintenance on forest roads during hauling.
  • Experience with stand improvement and hazardous fuel reduction treatments.
  • Safety program details and crew qualifications.
  • Equipment lists and mobilization capabilities.

6. Project Questionnaire

  1. What is your interest in all or some of the identified project areas?  If you are not interested in certain areas or treatments, please explain.
  2. Are the timeline and period of performance dates, as outlined in this RFI, feasible for your company?
  3. What potential challenges or obstacles do you foresee in executing this project, and how might they impact your operations?
  4. What benefits do you anticipate from this opportunity?
  5. What is your experience with Designation by Prescription or Description without individual tree marking (basal area, spacing, species, etc.)?
  6. How would you propose pricing be structured?
  7. Is there anything you would like to add that could improve the project plan prior to the solicitation of proposals? We welcome any comments or suggestions that might enhance project design and execution.

7. Response Instructions & Due Date

Responses must be submitted electronically to: ingrid.anderson@usda.gov and matthew.daigle@usda.gov.  All responses are due no later than 08:00 A.M. PDT on 06/01/2026.  Late submissions may not be considered.

8. Open House

We invite interested parties to attend an in-person informational open house. Please RSVP with Lori Karau via email if you plan to attend at lori.karau@usda.gov to help ensure we have an appropriately sized meeting area. Please respond by May 19, 2026, at 5:00 P.M Central.

  • Open house information: Wednesday May 20th, 2026, from 4:00 P.M - 6:00 P.M Central time. The meeting will be held at the LaCroix Ranger District office, 320 N Hwy 53, Cook, MN 55723
Update #1 ·

This Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for market research and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. The Government will not reimburse accompanying costs.

1. Background & Purpose

The U.S. Forest Service seeks capability statements and questionnaire responses from timber operators, fuels contractors, or firms with both capabilities able to conduct hazardous fuels reduction treatments through timber harvest in difficult to access locations within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) on the LaCroix Ranger District.  There are four (4) main project areas associated with this RFI and shown on the table below.

Unit Name                                         Acres                    Volume MBF

Can Crusher Treatment Area             417                        3,927

Finkus Treatment Area                      1061                      6,366

Pac Man Treatment Area                   450                        5,447

Wild Treatment Area                          175                        1,050

Totals                                               2,103                    16,790

2. Anticipated Scope of Work

  • Timber Removal:
  • Harvest approximately 16.8MMBF (million board feet) of low-value timber via clearcut, shelterwood, and/or commercial thinning across 2,100 acres in four project locations.
  • Temporary road construction and obliteration.
  • Slash piling and covering.
  • Service work may include:
  • Pre-commercial thinning and/or Timber stand improvement
  • Forest system road improvements for erosion control and water quality
  • Manual and/or mechanical fireline construction
  • Fuel Break establishment and maintenance
  • Hazardous Fuel Reduction (Hazardous fuels include balsam fir and other small diameter sub-merchantable species, dead standing, dead down, brush, limbs, and logging slash.)
  • Mastication/Mulching/Crushing
  • Chipping
  • Slashing
  • Manual or mechanical cut and pile, including covering
  • Removal of non-merchantable (biomass) material

3. Place of Performance

Four project areas located on the LaCroix Ranger District of the Superior National Forest. Locations are identified on the attached map

4. Period of Performance

A solicitation is anticipated to be posted no later than spring of 2027 with all work completed by May 2031 if awarded.

5. Requested Capability Statement

  • Capability Statement elements:
  • Company information (UEI, address, POC, socio-economic status).
  • NAICS codes registered
  • Summary of relevant experience in conducting timber harvest in northern Minnesota, including timber removal via thinning or clearcut, crushing and/or slashing sub-merch material, temporary road construction in winter/summer conditions, and general road maintenance on forest roads during hauling.
  • Experience with stand improvement and hazardous fuel reduction treatments.
  • Safety program details and crew qualifications.
  • Equipment lists and mobilization capabilities.

6. Project Questionnaire

  1. What is your interest in all or some of the identified project areas?  If you are not interested in certain areas or treatments, please explain.
  2. Are the timeline and period of performance dates, as outlined in this RFI, feasible for your company?
  3. What potential challenges or obstacles do you foresee in executing this project, and how might they impact your operations?
  4. What benefits do you anticipate from this opportunity?
  5. What is your experience with Designation by Prescription or Description without individual tree marking (basal area, spacing, species, etc.)?
  6. How would you propose pricing be structured?
  7. Is there anything you would like to add that could improve the project plan prior to the solicitation of proposals? We welcome any comments or suggestions that might enhance project design and execution.

7. Response Instructions & Due Date

Responses must be submitted electronically to: ingrid.anderson@usda.gov and matthew.daigle@usda.gov.  All responses are due no later than 08:00 A.M. PDT on 06/01/2026.  Late submissions may not be considered.

8. Open House

We invite interested parties to attend an in-person informational open house. Please RSVP with Lori Karau via email if you plan to attend at lori.karau@usda.gov to help ensure we have an appropriately sized meeting area. Please respond by May 19, 2026, at 5:00 P.M Central.

  • Open house information: Wednesday May 20th, 2026, from 4:00 P.M - 6:00 P.M Central time. The meeting will be held at the LaCroix Ranger District office, 320 N Hwy 53, Cook, MN 55723

Files

File Type Posted
2027 LaCroix RD Planned IRSCs.pdf PDF

Similar open opportunities

Opportunity Agency Set-aside Responses due
Longleaf Timber Stand Improvement Silver Springs, Florida 34488, United States · NAICS 115310 Forest Service Total Small Business
Forest Products Interests and Contract Preferences Fort Collins, Colorado, United States · NAICS 113310 Forest Service No set-aside
Cowboy Hat Stewardship IRSC - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit South Lake Tahoe, California 96150, United States · NAICS 113310 Forest Service Total Small Business
End of the World Long Term Stewardship Grangeville, Idaho, United States · NAICS 113310 Forest Service No set-aside
Corral G-Z Stewardship IRSC, Region 6, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Bly Ranger District, Bly , Oregon Bly, Oregon 97622, United States · NAICS 113310 Forest Service Total Small Business

On GovTribe

Work this opportunity

  • Track it in your pipeline
  • Find teaming partners
  • Similar opportunities
  • Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity