FIRE BIL - HERBICIDE TREATMENT AL Key Cave NWR

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service seeks herbicide treatment services for approximately 200 acres at Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge near Decatur, Alabama, with quotes due June 25, 2026 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. This is a Total Small Business set-aside under NAICS 115310, Support Activities for Forestry.

Place of performance is Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge in Florence, Alabama. The contractor must apply herbicide treatments to control woody seedling and stump regeneration, targeting Chinese privet, Bradford pear, mimosa, and sweet gum, achieving 100% treatment coverage with a 95% control rate verified 30 days post-treatment. Work commences after July 1, 2026, with initial treatment completed within 45 calendar days and full project completion by December 31, 2026. The contract is firm-fixed price on a cost-per-acre basis.

The ground crew supervisor must hold an Alabama herbicide applicator license and maintain GPS navigation capability. A minimum crew of one supervisor and up to six members is required. No heavy equipment is permitted within treatment units. The contractor must provide 48 hours advance notice to the Refuge Manager before chemical application and submit bi-weekly progress reports documenting treatment locations (UTMs), habitat types, herbicides and volumes used, dates, applicator numbers, hours worked, and GPS track logs as projected shapefiles.

The previous contract was awarded to M & D Forestry Service LLC for $56,488. Evaluation weights technical experience and capacity, technical approach and work methodology, management plan with identified key personnel, and past performance significantly more than price. Offerors must submit three past performance references with details of similar work. Service Contract Act prevailing wage rates apply to Colbert and Lauderdale counties, Alabama (Wage Determination 2015-4599). The anticipated award date is July 10, 2026.