Sagebrush grow & plant BLM idaho

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Region is soliciting proposals for growing and planting 275,000 Wyoming Big Sagebrush seedlings in two Idaho locations: Hot Springs (150,000 seedlings across 3,883 acres) and South Wedge (125,000 seedlings across 2,096 acres). The solicitation (RFQ 140L2625Q0011) requires contractors to grow seedlings from March 15 to September 30, 2025, and complete hand planting from October 1-24, 2025, using government-furnished seed. Offerors will be evaluated on three primary factors: technical capability (including detailed work plans for growing and planting operations), prior experience and past performance (involving key personnel resumes and project references), and price. Quotes are due by February 24, 2025, at 12pm Eastern and must be submitted via email to cdodson@blm.gov. All offerors must be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM).

This contract is 100% set aside for small businesses under NAICS code 115310 with a size standard of $34 million. The work will be performed in Blaine County, Idaho, with contractors required to operate during regular hours (7:30am-5:30pm Monday-Friday) and comply with fire danger restrictions and environmental regulations. Seedlings must meet specific requirements, including being 5-10 inches tall with 1x5 inch root systems, grown in 5.9-6.8 cubic inch tapered containers, and planted in 8-15 foot grid patterns. The contract will be awarded on an all-or-none basis using a best value comparative evaluation method. Contractors must maintain a 90% quality standard during planting to avoid liquidated damages and provide English-speaking supervisors for planting crews, with a maximum of 12 planters per supervisor. The BLM will conduct inspections throughout the growing and planting processes to ensure full compliance with contract specifications.