Shasta Trinity NF Drinking Water Sampling & Testing

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks water sampling, testing, notification, and monthly reporting services for potable water systems at the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California, with quotes due September 25, 2026, at 4:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time. This procurement is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 541380, with a $19.0 million size standard.

Place of performance is Redding, California and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest region across multiple northern California counties. The contractor must collect routine bacteriological samples (Total Coliforms and E. coli) monthly or quarterly at ten Forest Service administrative sites, conduct specialized testing including nitrate, nitrite, PFAS, lead and copper, hexavalent chromium, gross alpha particle activity, perchlorate, and asbestos analyses for the Yolla Bolla Corp Yard public water system, measure residual chlorine on all bacteriological reports, and provide immediate phone and email notification of any positive results to the Contracting Officer's Representative and appropriate regulators.

The laboratory facility must be California-certified and meet all state and EPA certification requirements. Proposed samplers must hold at least a current Level One California distribution system operator certification or equivalent specialized drinking water sampling experience. The contractor must provide 14-day advance notification prior to sampling visits and submit laboratory reports to the Contracting Officer's Representative within 48 hours in Adobe PDF format.

The contract period consists of a base year (October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026) plus two one-year option periods (2027–2028), with a potential six-month extension under FAR 52.217-8. Award will be firm-fixed price to the lowest priced, technically acceptable offer. Evaluation criteria are lowest price technically acceptable, with technical acceptability as pass/fail and past performance rated Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable. Only the lowest priced offer receives initial technical evaluation; if unacceptable, evaluation continues with the next lowest priced offer until an acceptable offer is identified. Amendment #1, acknowledged as of September 18, 2026, revised the Schedule of Items, Terms and Conditions, Bacteriological Sample Siting Plan, vicinity map, and added two wage determinations (Siskiyou/Trinity 15-5677 and Shasta 15-5627) covering prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits. Questions are due September 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM Pacific Time to margaret.forrest@usda.gov.