Herbicide application at FWS back BAY NWR

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a contractor to provide herbicide application services at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia, targeting the treatment of common reed (Phragmites australis) across approximately 100 acres of diverse habitat including non-tidal fresh/brackish wetlands, shrub/scrub habitat, saltmarsh vegetation, and maritime forest. The contractor must supply all necessary chemicals (specifically Imazapyr-based herbicide and methylated seed oil), equipment, labor, water, insurance, and supervision for the vegetative control work while maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations. Key requirements include achieving 95% treatment completion within specified timeframes, 90% coverage of identified infestations, and ensuring treated stems yellow within 2-3 weeks of application, with zero tolerance for herbicide drift to non-target areas. The solicitation will be evaluated based on four criteria: price/best value, specification/proposal quality, past performance from CPARS/FAPIIS, and the Contracting Officer's knowledge of the contractor's history. The original quote deadline of September 15, 2025, has been extended to September 22, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET through Amendment 1.

This procurement is designated as a total small business set-aside, restricting participation to qualified small business entities. No incumbent contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. While specific contract values are not disclosed, contractors must submit quotes including price per acre and total price for the 100-acre treatment area as part of their response requirements. The period of performance spans from September 9, 2025, through September 22, 2025, with preferred treatment windows of May 1-31 or August 15-September 30, potentially extending into 2026. The work will be performed at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia, across five specific treatment zones along the coastal refuge, with contractors required to provide GPS-equipped equipment and personnel holding valid Virginia pesticide applicator licenses.