MOJA 310980 & 326192 Plant Salvage

The National Park Service at the Department of the Interior is soliciting bids for a comprehensive plant salvage project at Mojave National Preserve involving the careful excavation and relocation of 531 native plants along South Kelbaker and Kelso-Cima Roads in preparation for road rehabilitation work. The firm fixed-price contract requires contractors to construct a temporary nursery, salvage various desert species including cacti, Joshua trees, smoke trees, and yucca plants, with 116 plants designated for immediate replanting and 415 for transport to nursery facilities. Contractors must demonstrate expertise in plant identification, salvage techniques, desert plant handling, and installation methods, with particular preference given to those with Joshua tree experience and desert environment familiarity. The government will evaluate quotes based on three equally weighted factors: technical approach, past experience, and key personnel qualifications, selecting the proposal that provides the best overall value considering both technical capabilities and price. Quote submissions are due by 1:00 PM Eastern Time on September 19, 2025, to Contracting Officer Zaira Lupidi, with the performance period extending from contract award through December 31, 2025.

This opportunity is designated as a 100% set-aside for small businesses under NAICS code 115112 with a size standard of $9.5 million, and no incumbent contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. The project encompasses six Contract Line Item Numbers covering temporary nursery construction, plant salvage and transplantation across multiple species and height classifications, traffic control services, watering operations, and mobilization costs. Work will be performed at Mojave National Preserve, located approximately 80 miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 90 miles east of Barstow, California, with road construction anticipated to begin in winter 2025 or early 2026. The contract includes strict environmental protection requirements, particularly for desert tortoise conservation, equipment cleaning protocols, and site management standards. Contractors must provide traffic control during operations and conduct two separate watering trips for salvaged plants, with all work to be completed by December 31, 2025.