JW Toumey R9 Seedling Shipment

The USDA Forest Service is soliciting transportation services for the delivery of 24-28 truckloads of tree seedlings from JW Toumey Nursery to National Forests across Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The solicitation (Number 12444526Q0008) requires contractors to provide fully refrigerated 53-foot trailers capable of maintaining temperatures between 33-37 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the shipment process, with each load accommodating up to 800,000 seedlings and not exceeding 42,000 pounds. Key qualifications include relevant experience with demonstrated flexibility and guaranteed truck availability, with offerors required to submit five references demonstrating past performance on similar contracts. Evaluation will prioritize technical capability and past performance significantly more heavily than price, with award made to the responsible offeror offering the best value. Proposals are due by March 1, 2026 at 11:00 PM Eastern, with contractor questions to be addressed by February 22, 2026, and the initial delivery date set for March 15, 2026.

This is a total small business set-aside with the small business size standard of $20 million in the Freight Transportation Arrangement NAICS code (488510). The contract runs for a one-year base period from March 15, 2026 through March 14, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods extending potential performance through 2030. Contractors must submit firm-fixed price quotations covering per-truckload delivery costs, drop-trailer costs at two locations for two-week periods, and additional funding for excess wait time beyond the estimated 2-5 hours at pickup and 2-3 hours at delivery locations. Service Contract Act Labor Standards apply, with forestry truck drivers subject to a prevailing wage rate of $29.19 per hour plus applicable fringe benefits. The place of performance is Watersmeet, Michigan, with delivery locations spanning five National Forests (Chippewa, Superior, Huron-Manistee, Hiawatha, and Chequamegon-Nicolet) plus Badoura State Nursery across the three-state region.