Insecticide and fungicide application at the Bigfork Tree Improvement Area (TIA) on the Flathead National Forest.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is soliciting quotations for insecticide and fungicide application services at the Bigfork Tree Improvement Area (BTIA) on the Flathead National Forest in Montana. The contractor must provide all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, and certifications necessary to safely apply pesticides using foliar application, systemic injection, or soil drench methods as determined by Integrated Pest Management observations and funding availability. Key requirements include furnishing a self-agitating hydraulic power sprayer capable of reaching 20 feet in height with hoses extending at least 300 feet, submitting a spill response plan, maintaining Daily Pesticide Application Records, and responding within 72 hours of notification that application is needed. The government will provide all chemicals and spray mix additives and conduct regular quality assurance inspections. Evaluation will be based on lowest price technically acceptable, with technical acceptability as a pass/fail criterion considering the contractor's quality control plan, past performance in government contracting, and experience in insecticide and fungicide application. Quotations must be submitted by April 20, 2026, at 1900 hours to Sarah.Cotton@usda.gov in PDF or Word format, including pricing on SF-18, the Experience Questionnaire, and the Quality Control Plan.

This procurement is a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 115310, with no incumbent contractor identified in the solicitation documents. The contract will be firm-fixed price with a base period from May 1, 2026, to December 30, 2026, followed by four optional one-year extension periods through December 30, 2030, with one award anticipated. Line items include foliar applications for Western larch, Ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir across various management zones, with quantities ranging from 191 to 1,070 trees per year depending on the species and block. Service calls are expected between March 1 and November 30 annually, with all work to be completed by November 30th each year. The Service Contract Labor Standards wage determination WD 2015-5401 Rev 27 applies with a pest controller wage of $32.04 per hour plus $5.55 per hour in fringe benefits. The work will be performed at the Bigfork Tree Improvement Area located within the Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest in Bigfork, Montana.