Hay for Ninemile Ranger District

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, specifically the Northern Region (Region 1), is seeking to procure approximately 75 tons of weed-free certified hay for use in feeding government horses and mules at the Ninemile Ranger District in Lolo National Forest. The solicitation requires small square bales (14"-16" x 16"-18" x 36"-42") weighing 70-80 lbs, produced and baled in 2025, with strict quality specifications mandating the hay be free of mold, dirt, and dust. Vendors must submit a technical proposal demonstrating capability, a price proposal, and representations and certifications by June 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time. Questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted no later than June 5, 2025, to Buffy Kittleson via email. The government will evaluate offers based on technical specifications, past performance, and price, with technical factors and past performance being weighted equally with pricing considerations.

The contract is set aside exclusively for small businesses within the Hay Farming NAICS category (111940), with a size standard of $2.5 million. Delivery and stacking of the hay will occur at the Ninemile Ranger Station in Huson, Montana, with a required delivery deadline of September 12, 2025. The hay must be either straight grass or an alfalfa/grass mix, and pricing will be firm-fixed for the duration of the contract. While no incumbent contractor is mentioned, the solicitation provides detailed specifications for hay quality, including requirements that the hay not have been rained on and must be from the current production year. The place of performance is specifically located in Huson, Montana, within the Lolo National Forest's Ninemile Ranger District, as illustrated in the attached geographical maps provided with the solicitation documents.