Mowing, trimming, and general grounds maintenance at the Manchester Ranger District, Green Mountain National Forest, VT

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R9-Eastern Region is soliciting quotations for mowing, trimming, and general grounds maintenance services at seven sites within the Manchester Ranger District of the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont. The contractor must provide comprehensive lawn and vegetation maintenance at two administrative sites and four recreation sites across Rutland, Bennington, and Windham counties, with services required from late April through mid-October annually. Key contract requirements include maintaining grass heights not exceeding four inches at higher-use administrative and day-use areas and six inches at lower-use sites, with mowing frequencies ranging from 7-10 days during peak season to 10-14 days in late season, not to exceed specified visit caps per location. The Forest Service will evaluate quotations using lowest price technically acceptable criteria, with technical acceptability, past performance, and pricing as determining factors. Critical deadlines include April 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST for submission of questions to Keith.Reichard@usda.gov, and April 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET for submission of quotations.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 561730 with a $9.5 million size standard, and the current incumbent contractor is Battenkill Property Management, LLC, which held the previous contract valued at $105,880.00 for a base period plus four option years. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed price award for a base year (April 15, 2026 to April 14, 2027) with four one-year option periods through April 14, 2031, and an optional six-month extension is available. The seven sites requiring maintenance total approximately 11.73 acres, including the Manchester Ranger Station (0.56 acres), Mount Tabor Work Center (2.05 acres), Hapgood Pond areas (4.43 acres combined), Somerset Airstrip (1.85 acres), Grout Pond (2.34 acres), and White Rocks Picnic Area (0.50 acres). Place of performance is Manchester, Vermont 05255, and interested contractors may schedule site visits by contacting Danna Strout at danna.strout@usda.gov to assess the specific maintenance requirements and equipment needs for each location.