LNF north fork orchard water delivery service

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service is seeking a water delivery service for the North Fork Seed Orchard located in the Lolo National Forest. The solicitation requires a small business contractor to provide water delivery services using a specialized water tender with specific equipment specifications, including a 1,500-3,000 gallon tank and a removable draft pump. The contract encompasses a base year from 5/1/2025 to 4/30/2026 with four additional option years, requiring 18 weekly water deliveries of 3,000 gallons during the June through September period. Vendors must submit a technical proposal demonstrating equipment capabilities, past performance, and pricing by 5 PM Mountain Time on 4/22/2025, with submissions sent via email to Brenda.dwyer@usda.gov. The water delivery is critically important for supporting high-value endangered Whitebark Pine trees, necessitating precise coordination with the Contracting Officer's Representative.

The contract is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside under NAICS code 115310 with a $10 million size standard, targeting businesses specializing in Support Activities for Forestry. The delivery location is in Plains, Montana, involving a challenging 40-mile mountainous route with approximately 5,000 feet of elevation gain. The water will be delivered to two 1,500-gallon irrigation tanks located in a remote forest area characterized by Maintenance Level 2 roads, which are only accessible by high-clearance vehicles with minimal road maintenance. The solicitation requires vendors to have robust equipment capable of navigating difficult terrain and meeting specific technical requirements. While no specific award value is mentioned, the contract's complexity and specialized nature suggest a potentially significant opportunity for a qualified small business contractor with appropriate forestry support capabilities.