Least Tern Herbicide, MKARNS

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering District Little Rock is soliciting landscaping services to maintain suitable nesting habitat for the Interior Least Tern along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in Arkansas. The work involves mechanical mulching and shredding of vegetation, as well as herbicide application using ATV/UTV or aerial drone methods across various islands, sandbars, and USACE riverbank lands spanning from River Mile 293 at James W. Trimble Lock and Dam in western Arkansas to River Mile 1 at Montgomery Point Lock and Dam in eastern Arkansas. This solicitation is classified under NAICS code 561730 for Landscaping Services and PSC code S208 for Housekeeping-Landscaping/Groundskeeping. The solicitation was posted on August 7, 2025, with responses due by September 4, 2025. The Combined Synopsis Solicitation document contains additional details regarding evaluation criteria and specific contract requirements.

This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, restricting participation to qualified small business entities. The primary place of performance is listed as Ozark, Arkansas 72949, though the actual work will be conducted along the extensive river system between the specified lock and dam locations. The contract focuses on environmental conservation efforts to support the endangered Interior Least Tern species through habitat management activities. The work requires specialized equipment capabilities including all-terrain vehicles and drone operations for herbicide application in challenging riverine environments. The geographic scope covers a significant 292-mile stretch of the Arkansas River navigation system, indicating a substantial project scale requiring expertise in both vegetation management and conservation practices.