Mechanical Removal of Woody Vegetation, Huron Manistee NF

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service is soliciting quotations for mechanical removal of woody vegetation through Request for Quotation (RFQ) 12444626Q0032, a combined synopsis and solicitation for commercial items issued under FAR Part 12. The contractor will be required to perform mastication and mulching operations on approximately 147.2 acres across three forest openings at the Huron Manistee National Forest using heavy equipment equipped with masticators, brushhog mowers, or tree shears to remove trees less than 4 inches in diameter. Key contract requirements include steam cleaning or high-pressure washing all equipment before arrival to prevent invasive species spread, removing all refuse generated during work operations, and completing the work during the specified performance period with no contract modifications granted for inclement weather. Evaluation will be based on past performance, experience, supplies and equipment capabilities, key employee qualifications, and project approach, with award going to the highest technically rated offeror with acceptable past performance at a fair and reasonable price. The deadline for quotation submission is May 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM Central Time via email, with questions required to be submitted by April 27, 2026, at 1:00 PM CST.

This acquisition is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside with a size standard of $11.5 million under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), and no incumbent contractor information is provided in the solicitation. The contract period of performance runs from November 1, 2026, through March 15, 2027, with a delivery date of March 15, 2027, and all work must be completed within this timeframe regardless of weather conditions. The three treatment areas consist of Bluebird South Opening (39.7 acres), Chambers Opening (43 acres), and Wells Road Openings (64.5 acres), all located in the Cadillac, Michigan area. Contractors must maintain active SAM registration and comply with federal prevailing wage standards requiring payment of $26.91 per hour for Forestry Equipment Operators plus applicable fringe benefits as established by the Department of Labor wage determination. The government anticipates awarding one firm-fixed price contract to a single contractor, with amendment issuances on April 29, 2026, clarifying that mulching residue should not be removed and that full mastication and chipping of trees must occur on-site.