Prairie Dog Surveys, Dakota Prairie Grasslands

The USDA Forest Service is soliciting contractors to conduct prairie dog surveys and mapping services for the Dakota Prairie Grasslands in North Dakota and South Dakota. The procurement involves mapping black-tailed prairie dog colonies across approximately 388 GIS polygons covering 9,400 acres in three ranger districts: Grand River (South Dakota), and Little Missouri's Medora and McKenzie districts (North Dakota). Contractors must provide technical proposals, price proposals, and complete an experience questionnaire, with work including GPS mapping of colony perimeters, wildlife observations, and comprehensive GIS deliverables. The government will evaluate offers based on technical experience, past performance, and price, awarding to the most advantageous proposal. Proposals must be submitted via email to andrea.haines@usda.gov by August 30, 2025, at 1700 MST, with the contract period running from October 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026.

This opportunity is set aside for small businesses under NAICS code 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services) with a size standard of $15 million. No current incumbent contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. While no specific budget range is disclosed, the project involves three main tasks: developing a work plan by mid-November 2025, conducting field mapping from mid-October 2025 through July 31, 2026, and delivering final reports and GIS files by October 31, 2026. The work will be performed primarily in McKenzie, Billings, Slope, and Golden Valley Counties in North Dakota, and Perkins and Corson Counties in South Dakota, with the primary place of performance listed as Dickinson, North Dakota. Contractors must provide biweekly progress reports and submit both electronic and hard copy deliverables meeting specific GPS data collection and mapping requirements.