Sources Sought - Vegetation Monitoring Services

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Vegetation Monitoring Services - Ozark Plateau NWR (Sally Bull Hollow Unit)

Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Acquisition & Property Management, Servicing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

NAICS: 541620 - Environmental Consulting Services | Size Standard: $19.0 (Million).

Period of Performance: June 1 - December 31, 2026

Place of Performance: Location: Sally Bull Hollow Unit, Ozark Plateau NWR, Adair County, Oklahoma (near Bell, OK 74960)

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. This notice is issued solely for market research purposes.

1. Introduction: This is a Sources Sought Notice issued for market research purposes only. This is not a solicitation and does not constitute a request for proposals, quotes, or bids. The Government is seeking to identify all entities capable of performing vegetation monitoring services in support of a habitat restoration project.

2. Requirement Overview: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking qualified contractors to conduct baseline vegetation monitoring on approximately 35 acres within the Sally Bull Hollow Unit of Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), located in Adair County, Oklahoma. The purpose of this effort is to document existing vegetation and habitat conditions prior to implementation of restoration activities, including thinning, prescribed fire, invasive species removal, and native plant establishment.

3. Scope of Work
The contractor shall:
- Implement six vegetation monitoring protocols (SOPs) outlined in the Oak Savanna Monitoring Standard Operating Procedures for Field Testers (USFWS, USFS, USGS)
- Conduct the six different monitoring protocols during the 2026 growing season:
- Summer survey (preferred: July 2026)
- Fall survey (preferred: October 2026)
- Collect, analyze, and document vegetation data
- Submit a final report including:
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Supporting data (tables, graphs, etc.)

4. Minimum Contractor Qualifications
Interested vendors must demonstrate:
- Botanical expertise in eastern Oklahoma flora
- Ability to identify native and invasive plant species in eastern Oklahoma
- Experience implementing standardized ecological monitoring protocols
- Familiarity with or ability to execute the six SOPs referenced above (see Attachment A)
- Ability to work independently in remote field conditions

5. Submission Requirements: Interested parties are invited to submit a capability statement (no more than 5 pages) that includes:
- Company Information
- Name, address, UEI, business size status (e.g., Small Business, WOSB, HUBZone, etc.)

- Relevant Experience
- Description of similar vegetation monitoring or ecological survey projects (last 3¿5 years)

- Technical Capability
- Demonstrated expertise with vegetation monitoring and plant identification, specifically eastern Oklahoma flora (native and nonnative)
- Experience with similar SOP-based monitoring frameworks

- Staff Qualifications
- Key personnel and relevant expertise

6. Submission Instructions
Submission Instructions
Responses are due by May 6, 2026 at 1PM Central Time. Capability statements must be submitted by e-mail ONLY as an Adobe PDF attachment to: Dana Arnold at dana_arnold@ios.doi.gov.

Include the subject line:
"Sources Sought - Vegetation Monitoring, Ozark Plateau NWR"

If parties choose to respond, any cost associated with preparation and submission of data or any other cost incurred in response to this announcement are the sole responsibility of the respondent and will not be reimbursed by the Government.