Monongahela National Forest - Tree Cages for Planted Seedlings

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is procuring the construction and installation of welded wire cages around planted seedlings at the Monongahela National Forest to protect tree saplings from deer browsing and ensure proper regeneration. This solicitation (12444826Q0008) is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for commercial items under FAR Part 12. Contractors must construct cages from 5-foot tall, 14-gauge welded wire fence with 2-inch by 4-inch mesh, measuring 2 feet in diameter and secured with fiberglass stakes, then install them across 11 timber harvest units. The government will evaluate offers using lowest-price-technically-acceptable criteria, considering price, technical acceptability, and past performance, and will award a firm-fixed-price order to a single contractor. Critical deadlines include March 26, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET for submitting questions, April 3, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET for submitting quotations, and a 90-calendar-day price hold requirement following submission.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside, with the small business size standard established at $11.5 million, restricting eligibility to certified small business concerns. No incumbent contractor or award value is specified in the notice. The procurement requires delivery of 3,775 tree cages distributed across 11 harvest units, with individual unit quantities ranging from 200 to 775 cages, and all work must be completed by October 27, 2026, on an F.O.B. Destination basis. Performance will take place in Petersburg, West Virginia, with work hours limited to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Contractors must comply with Buy American requirements, Service Contract Labor Standards with prevailing wage rates ranging from $10.75 to $23.18 hourly plus fringe benefits, and various FAR and AGAR clauses including anti-discrimination and diversity and inclusion compliance certifications.