Soil Resource Inventory Data Collection Services In North Dakota

The Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service seeks soil resource inventory data collection services in North Dakota through a combined synopsis and RFQ, with quotations due August 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time and questions due August 7 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 541620, Environmental Consulting Services, with a small business size standard of $19 million.

Place of performance is North Dakota, covering approximately 95 inventory sites (160 acres each) across 53 counties with up to 190 total data points. Data collection teams must include at least a Team Leader who is a North Dakota Registered Professional Soil Classifier and one or more Data Collectors with a minimum of two years of formal undergraduate training in biological or earth sciences, proficient in grazing land field study protocols, equipment operation, plant identification, soil resource assessment, GPS technology, and rangeland health evaluation. All contractor personnel must sign confidentiality statements protecting NRI sample site location non-disclosure under United States Code Title 18 Section 1905, Title 7 Section 2276, and Title 7 Section 2240.

The contract structure is firm-fixed-price with one one-year base period and four optional one-year periods. The base year requires 58 units; option periods require 70 units each. Collected data must pass electronic completion checks and transmit to Iowa State University's Standard Laboratory within 10 days of commencing field data collection; digital camera images must deliver to the NRCS State Resource Inventory Coordinator in Bismarck by September 30. Performance standards require 100 percent of completed segments by September 30, 2026, at least 90 percent of sampled segments without serious deficiency, and at least 95 percent of tasks completed without validated customer complaints.

Award goes to the lowest price technically acceptable offeror with acceptable or neutral past performance. Evaluation criteria are Price (fairness and reasonableness), Technical Acceptability (compliance with contract terms, data collection schedules, quality protocols, qualified personnel, three prior similar projects in or near North Dakota within five years, and key personnel resumes), and Past Performance. Prices must remain firm for 90 calendar days from offer receipt. This is the only solicitation; no separate written solicitation will issue. Quotations submit via email to andrew.sawyer@usda.gov and kristina.baker@usda.gov with solicitation name and number in the subject line.