Barrens Rare Insect Surveys - Hoosier National Forest

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks quotations for rare insect surveys across three barrens ecosystems on the Hoosier National Forest, with proposals due August 9, 2026 and questions due July 30. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under FAR Part 12 as a commercial items RFQ; the small business size standard is $19 million.

Place of performance is Bedford, Indiana (Hoosier National Forest, Tell City Ranger District). The three survey locations are Boone Creek Barrens (approximately 700 acres), Clover Lick Barrens (approximately 1,658 acres), and Harding Flats Barrens (approximately 782 acres). The contractor must conduct eight three-day sampling trips spanning April 10 through October 15, 2027, with all work completing by March 31, 2028. Each survey visit constitutes three consecutive days of field sampling using multiple methodologies including walkthrough visual surveys, aerial net surveys, sweep net sampling, and ultraviolet light trap surveys, with emphasis on Lepidoptera, Orthoptera (Acrididae family), Hymenoptera (specific bee families), and targeted Homoptera families.

The NAICS code is 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services); PSC is F018. The contract is firm fixed-price with one award anticipated. Evaluation criteria are technical capability, methods to accomplish work, past performance (required from the last ten years; offerors without recent relevant experience receive a neutral confidence rating), and price. Technical capability assessment emphasizes qualifications in collecting and identifying rare insects, knowledge of barrens ecosystems and grassland-dependent species, equipment access, GPS and Shapefile proficiency, and ecological data analysis. The contractor must designate a Project Lead and Entomologist/Insect Taxonomist as key personnel. Service Contract Labor Standards apply with a minimum wage of $25.59 per hour for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians. Quotation packages are submitted via email to patrick.jones2@usda.gov; pricing must remain firm for 90 calendar days from the offer due date. Amendment 0001, effective July 31, 2026, addresses permitting (Forest Service provides all required permits), invoicing (COR inspection occurs after each completed trip; interim invoices permitted), and subcontracting (the 50 percent subcontracting limitation does not apply).