RMRS FIA Genetic Tree Sampling

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks genetic sampling services for Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) of whitebark pine and limber pine in Utah, with quotations due July 27, 2026. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside; the small business size standard is $19 million.

Place of performance is Riverdale, Utah. The contract is a firm-fixed price award with a one-year base period (award date May 14, 2027 through May 14, 2027) and four option years extending through May 14, 2031. The government will order approximately 1,000 samples annually, expandable to 1,350 samples, with a firm-fixed per-sample price applying only to samples actually ordered and accepted. The NAICS code is 541380, Testing Laboratories and Services; PSC code is F099, Natural Resources/Conservation–Other.

The contractor must provide DNA-based species identification for whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis) needle samples. The contractor must demonstrate proven experience extracting DNA from pine needle tissue at production scale (hundreds to thousands of samples) and meet a performance standard equivalent to or better than the Alongi et al. (2019) method. A preferred enhanced capability includes blister rust resistance (CR gene) detection and hybrid resolution using multiple independent chloroplast and nuclear markers, priced separately and evaluated as a material technical advantage. Final deliverables are Excel spreadsheet data reports due January 31st for samples received by November 1st; this deadline is non-negotiable and supports a federal mandate for FIA data publication within six months of field collection. Contractors with validated published assays may waive Phase I (Feasibility and Panel Design) and Phase II (Validation) and proceed directly to Phase III (Production-Level Testing).

Service Contract Labor Standards apply: Bio Scientist $29.57 per hour minimum; Forestry Technician $24.18 per hour minimum. Evaluation criteria are price (fair and reasonable), relevant past performance (acceptable/neutral/unacceptable rating), key personnel qualifications, technical capability with ability to start by August 14, 2026, and quality control plans. Award will be made on best value using comparative evaluation methodology. The contracting officer is Shawn Harwood, 605-550-1994, shawn.harwood@usda.gov.