Aquatic non-native invasive species (NNIS) treatment services

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is soliciting herbicide treatment services for the control of non-native invasive aquatic species, specifically Eurasian Milfoil, on lakes within the Hoosier National Forest's Tell City Ranger District in Perry County, Indiana. Contractors must hold State of Indiana (or reciprocal) commercial pesticide applicator certification and a Category 5 Aquatic Pest Management license to be eligible. The primary objective is to treat mapped infestations across four lakes—Tipsaw, Saddle, Indian, and Celina—with treatment of nuisance vegetation around boat ramps and beach areas, and achieve a minimum 90 percent kill rate verified through visual inspection. Award will be based on a best-value evaluation methodology considering four non-price factors—past performance, relevant experience on similar projects within the past three years, technical approach (including operational plan and key personnel qualifications), and price—followed by price comparison. The proposal submission deadline is May 8, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time to Tobi Shumaker at tobi.shumaker@usda.gov, with questions due by May 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time, and offerors must hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from receipt.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) with a size standard of $11.5 million, and there is no incumbent contractor as this is a new requirement. The contract will be awarded as a firm fixed-price purchase order consisting of one base year (May 15, 2026, through September 30, 2026) and one optional one-year renewal period (April 1, 2027, through September 30, 2027), not to exceed two years total. The base year work includes treatment of approximately 205 acres of Myriophyllum spicatum and 5.4 acres of nuisance aquatic vegetation across the four lakes, with the option year containing identical acreage specifications. All work must be completed by September 30 of each respective year, with initial herbicide treatments required to be completed prior to June 30 and post-treatment surveys conducted one to two months after application. Place of performance is the Tell City Ranger District in Perry County, Indiana, with deliveries FOB destination to Hoosier National Forest in Bedford, Indiana, and prevailing wage rates apply, including a minimum of $27.36 per hour plus $5.55 fringe benefits for Forestry Technician positions.