MN-tamarac NWR-brush and tree clearing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks brush and tree removal along approximately 3 miles of trails at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota, with quotes due September 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. This is a total small business set-aside, firm-fixed price procurement.

Work encompasses two trails: South Twin Lakes Trail (1.12 miles) and South Tamarac Dike Road west of the pump house (1.88 miles), located approximately 25 miles northeast of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The contractor must clear all trees and brush within a 30-foot-wide trail corridor (15 feet from centerline on each side) at ground level, with stumps not exceeding 3 inches in height. Trees 2 inches in diameter at breast height or greater must be removed using mechanical mowing, sawing, mulching, or chainsaw methods. Overhead limbs and branches must be trimmed to 15 feet in height using mechanical equipment, creating smooth cuts with no more than 3 inches of branch stub remaining. Large white pine, red pine, or white oak trees (24 inches diameter at breast height or greater) will be marked by USFWS and will not be cut, though overhead limbs on these trees must be trimmed. All cut material must be lopped, scattered, or piled 5 to 30 feet off the trail with pile sizes not exceeding 10 feet by 10 feet by 10 feet. The contractor must obtain appropriate permits and liability insurance.

Performance period runs September 7, 2026 through March 31, 2027. The NAICS code is 238910, Site Preparation Contractors; PSC code is F014, Natural Resources/Conservation–Tree Thinning. Evaluation uses Best Value–Trade Off methodology, weighing technical acceptability and past performance (three examples of similar government work) significantly more important than price. Contractors must be currently registered in SAM.gov and submit invoices through the Invoice Processing Platform.