American Elm Seed Orchards, Resistance Trials, and Synthesis

The USDA Forest Service seeks scientific and technical support for the American elm breeding and restoration program, with proposals due September 15, 2026 and questions due September 2, 2026. This is a total small business set-aside under NAICS 541715 with a size standard of $11.5 million.

Place of performance spans Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, and Vermont. The contractor must possess scientific expertise in plant pathology, genetics, physiology, restoration ecology, and manuscript development. Work includes leading and assisting peer-reviewed manuscripts analyzing elm cold tolerance, riparian restoration, phytoplasma impacts, and spectral imagery for pathogen detection; monitoring approximately 4,600 to 5,000 tagged elm trees across Ohio and Vermont for Dutch elm disease symptoms and overall health using established protocols; coordinating establishment and conversion of disease-resistant seed orchards at four sites including Rocky Fork and Benson; and supporting propagation efforts with university partners (University of Illinois, University of Vermont) and non-profits (Columbus Metroparks, The Nature Conservancy). Annual travel to project sites is required, and all travel and coordination costs must be included in fully burdened labor rates with no separate reimbursement.

The contract is firm-fixed price with a one-year base period from September 21, 2026 through September 20, 2027, plus two optional one-year periods extending through September 2029. Each period comprises two milestones with deliverables aligned to specific deadlines. Pricing is structured as two lump sum units per line item; offerors must price all line items including optional periods.

Service Contract Act prevailing wage rates apply in Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, and Vermont, with occupational classifications ranging from $13.42 to $28.60 per hour depending on location and role, plus health and welfare benefits, vacation, and paid holidays. Evaluation emphasizes technical approach demonstrating SOW compliance and schedule feasibility (weight not specified), key personnel qualifications with resumes verifying expertise, and price reasonableness. A critical notice states funds are not presently available; no award will be made until funding is available, and the Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation before or after the closing date with no obligation to reimburse offerors for costs incurred.