MI-seney NWR-hazardous fuels reduction vegetation

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service seeks hazardous fuels reduction, vegetation removal, and herbicide application services at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Schoolcraft County, Michigan, with quotes due October 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This is a 100% Total Small Business set-aside, firm-fixed price contract.

The scope covers approximately 146 acres across six task areas: North and South Show Pools (17 acres), Lower Goose Pen (9 acres), Marshland Wildlife Drive (30 acres), Wild Parsnip treatment (10 acres), and two undetermined locations (50 acres of low-to-moderate complexity clearing and 30 acres of backpack herbicide application). Work methods include mechanical clearing, hand clearing, and cut-stump herbicide application for target species including glossy buckthorn, spotted knapweed, and wild parsnip. All herbicide selections and applications by licensed applicators require advance government approval. Cut vegetation may be chipped or mulched onsite or removed and disposed of off-site per regulations.

Performance runs from October 9, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Place of performance is Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Schoolcraft, Michigan. Work is restricted to one-half hour before sunrise through one-half hour after sunset, with no weekend or federal holiday work unless authorized. Work may be restricted during hunting seasons and high fire danger periods without additional compensation or time extension.

The contractor must provide a competent foreman conversant in English with digital navigation experience and forest management knowledge. Required insurance includes Workers' Compensation and Public Liability coverage of at least one million dollars. Equipment must be steam cleaned before arrival. The contractor assumes liability for forest fires resulting from operations and must maintain fire tools and extinguishers onsite.

Services must comply with Department of Labor Wage Determination 2015-4871 (Revision 34) for Schoolcraft County, Michigan, which establishes prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits. Evaluation uses Best Value Trade-Off methodology, weighing technical acceptability and past performance (three examples of successful similar work from federal, state, or local government) significantly higher than price; once proposals are acceptable on technical and past performance factors, price becomes the determining factor for award. NAICS 238910, PSC F021.