Chippewa National Forest, Blackduck Ranger District, Everton Creek Timber Sale Preparation

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks timber sale preparation services for the Everton Creek project on the Chippewa National Forest in Blackduck, Minnesota, with offers due August 9, 2026, and questions due August 2, 2026. The procurement is a Total Small Business set-aside; NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) with a size standard of $11.5 million.

Place of performance is Blackduck, Minnesota. Work covers approximately 413 acres across 13 payment units (10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, and 27) containing an estimated 5,500 CCF of red pine, spruce, and balsam fir commercial thinning. Services include stand boundary layout, boundary tracking and polygon creation using GPS, boundary marking, cut tree marking, and sample tree cruising. The cruiser of record must be Forest Service Qualified Cruiser Certified. Marking requires use of Forest Service Timber Marking tracer paint, designated as highly accountable Government Furnished Property.

Period of performance runs from August 31, 2026, through August 30, 2027, with work to commence within 30 calendar days of notice to proceed. This is a firm fixed-price commercial items acquisition under FAR Part 12. Contractors are subject to Service Contract Act prevailing wage rates for Minnesota (forestry occupations ranging from $14.07 to $28.26 per hour) with mandatory fringe benefits including Health & Welfare compensation of $5.55 per hour and paid leave provisions.

Award will be made to the highest technically rated offeror whose price is fair and reasonable and whose past performance is acceptable or neutral. Evaluation criteria include technical approach, availability, and past performance. Tradeoffs will not be conducted, and award will not necessarily go to the lowest-priced offeror. Offerors must hold pricing firm for 60 calendar days from the offer due date. This is a new procurement with no incumbent.