Hay for Ninemile Ranger District, Lolo National Forest

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service is soliciting quotations for 236 tons of hay to be used for feeding government horses and mules at the Ninemile Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest. This Request for Quotation (RFQ 1284LM26Q0006) is issued as a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items under FAR Part 12. Qualified offerors must submit a technical proposal detailing their product and delivery approach, along with an experience questionnaire documenting at least five relevant contracts completed within the past five years. The government will evaluate submissions using a comparative methodology that considers technical approach, past performance (assessed for recency, relevancy, and quality), and pricing. The deadline for submission of quotations is January 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time, and pricing must be held firm for 30 calendar days from the submission date.

This acquisition is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside, with a small business size standard of $2.5 million, meaning only small business concerns are eligible to submit quotations. The hay must meet specific quality standards, including being produced and baled in 2025, free of mold, dust, and dirt, and not previously rained on; acceptable bales are either large round bales weighing 1,000–1,300 pounds or large square bales weighing 1,000–1,700 pounds. Delivery to the Ninemile Ranger Station hay barns located at 20325 Remount Road in Huson, Montana is required by February 13, 2026, with deliveries restricted to business hours Monday through Friday between 0800 and 1630, excluding federal holidays. The government intends to award a firm fixed-price contract to the offeror representing the best value, with weight verification conducted using certified scale tickets and unloading performed by Ninemile staff. Contractors must contact Casey Burns at (406) 626-5409 prior to delivery to coordinate scheduling.