LCNCA Airstrip Mechanical Mesquite Thinning

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona Region is soliciting quotes for mechanical mesquite thinning services on approximately 719 acres at the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Airstrip allotment in Pima County, Arizona. Contractors must utilize rubber-tired or tracked equipment meeting specific technical requirements (96 hp minimum, 14,800 lbs digging force, 12-inch bucket) to grub regrowth mesquite trees while preserving older growth, with work performed between October 1 and June 30 annually. Evaluation will be conducted on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis, with award to the responsible offeror whose proposal meets acceptability standards for two non-cost factors—Technical Approach and Past Experience—and offers the lowest price. Offerors must submit a detailed Technical Statement, three references demonstrating mechanical thinning experience within the past three years, and pricing using the provided Value Bid Schedule. The deadline for submitting written questions is January 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST, with completed quotes due February 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST to Lisa Hariper at lhariper@blm.gov.

This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under FAR Parts 12 and 13, classified under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) with no incumbent contractor identified. The contract will be awarded as a Firm Fixed Price agreement with a performance period from February 16, 2026, to February 15, 2027, and a performance location of BLM lands in T19S R17E, Pima County, Arizona. Prevailing wage rates apply per Pima County Wage Determination 2015-5473 (Revision 27), with rates ranging from approximately $14.26 to $58.27 per hour depending on occupation classification, plus mandated fringe benefits. While no specific award value is disclosed in the solicitation, the funding set-aside category is $34 million under NAICS 115310. Contractors are responsible for all equipment, labor, supplies, and materials, and must comply with heightened safety protocols due to the location's proximity to an international border watchout zone and coordinate with the BLM Contracting Officer's Representative at a mandatory pre-work conference.