FY26 Finger Lakes National Forest Pasture Mowing

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks pasture mowing services at Finger Lakes National Forest in Hector, New York, with quotations due September 9, 2026. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside; all responsible small business concerns may quote.

Place of performance is Hector, NY 14841. The base requirement covers mowing 52 acres at the Hawes pasture allotment, with optional line items for Peterson North (42 acres) and Predmore (114 acres), totaling 206 acres. Work must be completed by October 31, 2026, with service dates coordinated with Forest Service staff and a September 14, 2026 start. The contractor furnishes all labor, materials, tools, equipment, and services. Mowing must achieve approximately 6-inch grass stubble height with all material less than 3 inches diameter mowed; acceptable quality requires at least 99% of mowable area properly mowed. Work is subject to Service Contract Act wage determination 2001-0315, with minimum wages ranging from $12.69 to $24.81 per hour by classification, plus $5.92 per hour fringe benefits. All machinery must be inspected for cleanliness to prevent spread of non-native invasive plant species, and work must follow best management practices for water quality. Contractors must coordinate with the Contracting Officer to ensure completion of sensitive bird surveys before commencing work.

NAICS is 561730, Landscaping Services, with a $9.5 million small business size standard. Offerors must submit pricing on a per-acre basis for all line items, technical approach demonstrating schedule compliance, proposed equipment, key personnel qualifications, and past performance on similar projects within the past three years. Questions are due September 7, 2026 to Gayle Geiger at gayle.geiger@usda.gov. A single firm fixed-price contract is anticipated.