Aerial phragmites treatment for cape hatteras nati

The National Park Service Southeast Region seeks aerial and ground herbicide treatment services for invasive Phragmites australis at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with proposals due September 2, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This is a 100% total small business set-aside under NAICS 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services). An amendment issued August 24 reclassified ground treatment from an optional task to a primary task performed in conjunction with aerial spraying and established a specific acreage quantity; contractors must use the revised Statement of Work and disregard the initial version.

Place of performance is Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina, with a mandatory site visit scheduled for August 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET at the Buxton Ranger Station (attendance confirmation due August 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET). The contract runs September 15, 2026 through January 15, 2027, with the contractor required to treat 60–75 acres across 2–3 locations using DOI-approved UAS and NPS-approved herbicides. Treatment must achieve greater than 90% efficacy for target species with less than 2% non-target damage. Pilots must hold minimum 20 hours actual flight time with the proposed UAS, valid Federal and State UAS operator licenses, and North Carolina Department of Agriculture herbicide certification. The contract includes two complete treatment cycles in the first year (aerial/backpack spray plus mechanical removal) with potential for up to three additional follow-on years pending funding.

Evaluation weighs Technical Capability more heavily than Price, assessing experience with invasive vegetation management in sensitive environments, personnel qualifications, project management approach, and references from the past five years. Contractors must carry liability insurance of $100,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence, and $500,000 property damage. Questions are due August 18, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Contracting Officer is William Vazquez, (470) 819-0934, william_vazquez@ios.doi.gov. Service Contract Act prevailing wage rates apply.