JW toumey nursery seedling shipping

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service is seeking a transportation contractor to pick up, transport, and deliver tree seedlings from the JW Toumey Nursery in Watersmeet, Michigan to various forest districts across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The solicitation (No. 12444625Q0017) requires a qualified vendor to transport approximately 20-24 truckloads of seedlings using 53' refrigerated trailers capable of maintaining temperatures between 33-37°F. Proposals will be evaluated based on three primary factors: flexibility, past performance, and pricing, with a preference for offerors demonstrating delivery schedule adaptability and guaranteed truck availability. The solicitation requires vendors to have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration and submit a technical proposal, price proposal, and representations and certifications. Proposals are due by April 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM CT, to be submitted via email to fay.chiappone@usda.gov, with a contract performance period spanning from April 14, 2025, to May 31, 2025.

The contract is designated as a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 488510, with a size standard of $20 million. The transportation service will involve delivering up to 800,000 seedlings per load, weighing up to 42,000 pounds, to five national forests: Chippewa, Superior, Huron-Manistee, Hiawatha, and Chequamegon-Nicolet. Estimated one-way mileages for deliveries range from 246 to 391 miles, with loading times scheduled between 0400-1300 CT and unloading during office hours (0800-1630 local time). The contract allows for partial bidding, enabling vendors to bid on specific forest routes. The place of performance is primarily Watersmeet, Michigan, with delivery points across the specified forest districts. The solicitation is a rated order under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and includes specific provisions for worker protections, compliance with the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act, and adherence to Department of Labor wage determinations.