ESR north broadcast seeding VDO

The Bureau of Land Management's Vale District Office is soliciting aerial broadcast seeding services to restore fire-damaged sagebrush steppe habitat across three wildfire areas in eastern Oregon. The contractor will perform aerial seeding operations across 11,186 acres spanning the Coyote Fire (1,025 acres), Thompson Fire (1,243 acres), and Durkee Fire (8,918 acres) areas in Baker and Malheur Counties. The government will provide all seed materials, totaling approximately 297,210 pounds of native species including bluebunch wheatgrass, Snake River wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, and Wyoming sagebrush, while the contractor must supply all labor, equipment, and specialized aerial application services. Evaluation will be based on technical approach, relevant experience, past performance, and price, with particular emphasis on the contractor's ability to precisely distribute seeds across steep, rocky terrain with slopes exceeding 30%. The solicitation was posted on July 25, 2025, with proposals due by August 14, 2025, and Amendment 0001 was issued on August 7, 2025, to clarify seed mixing requirements and correct acreage discrepancies.

This opportunity is designated as a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), with no incumbent contractor identified in the documentation. The contract is structured as a firm fixed-price commercial service agreement, though specific award values or budget ranges are not disclosed in the available materials. The performance period extends from November 17, 2025, through March 28, 2026, allowing contractors to complete seeding operations during optimal weather conditions for seed establishment. All work will be performed across Bureau of Land Management, state, and private lands within the designated fire perimeters in Baker and Malheur Counties, Oregon. The contractor must demonstrate capability to operate specialized aerial seeding equipment that leaves no trace of tracks or footprints while achieving precise seed distribution patterns across challenging mountainous terrain with elevations ranging from approximately 2,500 to 6,000 feet.