Chippewa national forest - rfss plant surveys

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service is seeking quotes for Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS) Plant Surveys in the Chippewa National Forest. The solicitation requires contractors to conduct comprehensive botanical surveys across 227 stands totaling 2,488 acres, using the Random Meander search method to identify and document sensitive plant species, watch-list species, and noxious weeds. Contractors must have strong botanical skills, GPS-capable electronic devices, and the ability to navigate challenging forest terrain, potentially requiring canoeing, boating, hiking, or wading. Quotes will be evaluated on a best value basis, with knowledge, experience, and past performance weighted more heavily than price. The key submission deadline is June 3, 2025, at 1:00 PM CT, with quotes to be submitted via email, and the anticipated contract award date is June 21, 2025.

The contract is set aside 100% for small businesses with a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 541370 and a size standard of $19 million. The survey work will be conducted at the Deer River Ranger District in Minnesota, with two distinct performance periods: from the date of award to June 21, 2025, and from August 7 to August 31, 2025. The survey areas are divided into four items, ranging from 35 to 78 stands and 628 to 1,115 acres, covering diverse forest types including Aspen, Black Ash, Sugar Maple/Basswood, Red Pine, and Mixed Swamp Conifer. Contractors may submit quotes for any or all items and can specify minimum and maximum acre ranges they are willing to accept. The Forest Service will potentially provide payments for identifying previously unknown RFSS locations, limited to one location per stand and not exceeding 20% of the total item price.