Bicy mastication

The Department of the Interior National Park Service Midwest Region is soliciting quotes for vegetation mastication services at Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. The contractor will perform mechanical mastication and thinning of hazardous fuels along approximately 48 miles of trails, fire breaks, and roads to create defensible space and reduce fire risks. The work requires low-ground pressure tracked excavators and skid steers to clear vegetation within 12-30 feet of trails while preserving specific tree types like cypress and South Florida Slash Pines over 6 inches in diameter. The government will evaluate quotes based on technical plan, prior experience, and total price, with each factor having equal importance. The solicitation deadline has been extended to September 9, 2025, and a site visit was scheduled for August 8, 2025, at the Big Cypress National Preserve Fire Operations Center.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside under the Support Activities for Forestry NAICS code 115310. The contract structure includes a base year with four optional extension years, spanning from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2030, for a total performance period of five years. Only the base year will be initially funded, with subsequent years subject to funding availability and government priorities. The work will be performed at Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, focusing on trail mastication averaging 30-foot widths rather than continuous lines of work. The government plans to award a single firm-fixed-price contract using simplified acquisition procedures, with specific work locations to be determined by BICY Fire and Aviation employees based on prescribed burn unit priorities and environmental compliance clearances.