Airport Fire BAER Weed Treatment

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service is seeking a contractor to provide invasive weed treatment services in the Cleveland National Forest as part of the 2024 Airport Fire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program. The services include procuring a 4-to-5 person treatment crew to remove non-native plant species such as giant reed, yellow starthistle, and bull thistle from fire-affected areas using both manual and herbicide-based methods. Contractors must possess California Qualified Applicator Licenses and provide all necessary equipment, transportation, tools, and chemicals while maintaining GPS tracking, field notes, and daily herbicide use logs. The evaluation will be based on the contractor's technical qualifications, experience with similar projects, workforce capacity, and past performance as detailed in the required Experience Questionnaire. Questions regarding this solicitation are due by September 23, 2025, with quote submissions due by September 25, 2025, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

This opportunity is designated as a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) with no current incumbent contractors identified in the documentation. The estimated contract value is $11.5 thousand for treating approximately 142 acres of known weed infestations within the Trabuco Ranger District. The performance period is scheduled for October 1-31, 2025, requiring work in rough, uneven terrain with potential remote access challenges in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. The Forest Service intends to award a single contract and may reject quotes that lack complete pricing or request less than the full quantity of services. All quotes must be submitted electronically to the designated contracting officer, and contractors will be subject to prevailing wage rates as outlined in the Department of Labor's Wage Determination No. 2015-5645 for Orange County, California.