LA-bayou sauvage NWR aerial herbicide

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting quotes for aerial herbicide application services at the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana. The contract requires a contractor to apply herbicide to approximately 1,117 acres on the Little Pine Island tract, with the objective of achieving 95% control of Chinese tallow and Chinaberry trees. Contractors may use either helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft for the application, with herbicides subject to USFWS pre-approval. The government will evaluate quotes based on technical capability, past performance, and price, with experience and technical factors weighted more heavily than cost. Key deadlines include December 11, 2024, for submitting questions, and December 16, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST for quote submission, with the period of performance scheduled from August 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

The solicitation is open to all businesses and does not include a specific small business set-aside, despite being initially listed as such. Vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and have no prior terminations for cause. The work will be performed approximately 10 miles southwest of Slidell, Louisiana, at an elevation between 1-5 feet above sea level, with precise GPS coordinates provided in the Statement of Work. Contractors must have GPS tracking equipment, maintain communication with ground personnel, and provide detailed geographic files of application paths. Environmental restrictions include limitations on application during wind speeds exceeding 8 mph, temperatures above 95°F, or when precipitation is forecast within 6 hours. The total project area covers 1,117 acres, with the contractor responsible for supplying all materials, equipment, labor, herbicides, and adjuvants necessary for the project.