GW&J - NNIS Mastication of Herbicide Treated Openings

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks mastication of herbicide-treated forest openings on the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, with proposals due July 23 and questions due July 19. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside procurement; the small business size standard is $11.5 million.

Place of performance encompasses five treatment areas totaling 35 acres across Craig and Giles Counties, Virginia, and Monroe County, West Virginia: Trout Branch Unit 4 (8 acres, Monroe County, WV); Peaceful Valley Units 1–7 (4 acres total, Craig County, VA); and Minie Ball Unit 1 north portion (17 acres, Giles County, VA). The contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, supervision, and supplies; the government furnishes no materials or labor unless specifically identified in the Government Furnished Property Clause. Treatment areas are wildlife openings inactive for 10–25 years with proliferated non-native invasive species, previously herbicide-treated in 2025–2026. The contractor must cut and masticate all pine trees less than 10 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) and hardwood trees less than 6 inches DBH without orange bands at eye level, cutting flush to ground, leaving material on-site, and spreading evenly without windrowing. Work includes stream pollution prevention, trail and road protection, tree damage prevention, final cleanup, and archaeological sensitivity compliance.

The NAICS code is 115310, Support Activities for Forestry. The period of performance runs August 1 through November 1, 2026, with delivery November 1, 2026. The contract is Firm Fixed Price. Evaluation criteria are Technical Approach and Availability, Past Performance (Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable), and Price (fair and reasonable); award goes to the highest technically rated offeror with acceptable or neutral past performance and fair and reasonable pricing. Service Contract Act prevailing wage applies: Virginia wage rates range from $11.35 to $23.35 per hour by occupational classification, plus fringe benefits of $5.55 per hour health and welfare and paid vacation; West Virginia wage determination (WD 2015-4351, Revision 31) applies to Monroe County work. Offerors must submit a completed Schedule of Items with unit pricing, a technical capability statement (one to two pages), and an Experience Questionnaire addressing past performance on similar projects completed within the last three years. Prices must be firm for 60 calendar days from offer receipt.