CA FLAP SCR T5(1A) – Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Mitigation

The Federal Highway Administration is soliciting habitat restoration and mitigation services for the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail in California, with proposals due June 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. MDT. This procurement is set aside 100 percent for small business concerns under NAICS 113210 (Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products) with a $20.5 million size standard.

Place of performance is Santa Cruz, California. Work includes selective invasive plant removal, site grading (5,860 square yards), cattle exclusion fencing installation, hand collection and propagation of native plant materials from Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument and Wilder Ranch State Park, seeding and planting across six riparian forest restoration sites and palustrine emergent wetland areas, and five years of invasive species maintenance and plant establishment monitoring. The contractor must achieve and maintain 70 percent native plant absolute cover over the five-year establishment period as documented in government annual monitoring reports. A California-certified Field Botanist must supervise field work. Plant propagules must originate from local sources (San Mateo County or northern Santa Cruz County, 0–1,000 feet elevation) with genetic certification; the contractor determines water sources and designs and provides the irrigation system. The contractor provides surveying, biological monitoring services (paid under line item 62303-1010), and means for plant material collection. Work must be completed by May 1, 2031, with interim completion milestones on February 26, 2027 (BLM property) and February 25, 2028 (State Parks property). The contract carries incentive payments of $500 per day up to $10,000 for meeting interim deadlines and disincentive assessments of $500 per day for delays.

The contract is firm fixed price with 32 line items. Evaluation factors include technical approach and methodology, personnel qualifications, project scheduling, past performance, and price, with technical and past performance combined as approximately equal to cost. Proposals must include organizational information, three minimum past performance references within the past six years, and a technical narrative limited to 10 pages. Performance and payment bonds must cover the entire five-year contract term including the maintenance period. The virtual pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for April 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (RSVP to kelly.palmer@dot.gov by April 20). Amendment A004, effective May 29, 2026, extended the due date to June 5 and updated specifications and plan sheets.