Pinto mesa mastication BLM

The Bureau of Land Management Idaho Region is soliciting quotes for mastication services—the mechanical cutting and shredding of pinyon and juniper vegetation—to reduce wildland fire risk on approximately 501 acres located 25 miles southwest of Meeker, Colorado. The contractor must furnish all equipment, including a minimum of two mechanical mulching machines with boom-mounted cutting heads (Hydro-Ax or Fecon style) equipped with 200+ horsepower, capable of treating 5-7 acres daily, along with all fuel and personnel. Key contract requirements include compliance with wildlife timing stipulations, soil condition restrictions to prevent rutting deeper than four inches, noxious weed prevention protocols, and fire suppression equipment provisions. Evaluation will be based on three factors: relevant project experience (minimum three completed jobs within five years), technical capability (narrative approach not exceeding five pages addressing project understanding, management approach, safety/sustainability/energy efficiency, and schedule), and price evaluated for fair and reasonable pricing. Quotes are due by March 24, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time, submitted via email to drosales@blm.gov, with work commencing July 16, 2026 and completion required by December 15, 2026.

This solicitation is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry - Fuels Management Services) with a size standard of $34.0 million. No incumbent contractor is identified in the solicitation documents, and no specific award value or budget range is disclosed. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price award to the responsible vendor whose quote conforms to solicitation requirements and evaluation criteria. The project encompasses 501 acres across six sections in T1N, R98W and T1S, R99W in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, with work restricted to the July 16 through December 15, 2026 window and no permitted activity between December 15, 2025 and July 15, 2026 due to wildlife protections. The primary point of contact is Shane Pfeiffer, Contracting Officer's Representative at the White River Field Office (970-620-6957), with administrative inquiries directed to Daniel Rosales at drosales@blm.gov, and all contractors must maintain active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to quote submission.