Tahoe National Forest Spider Excavator Rental

The Tahoe National Forest is seeking spider excavator rental services with operator through the Department of Agriculture Forest Service to conduct heavy trail maintenance on the Fordyce Jeep Trail, a granite boulder-strewn rock crawler trail. The contractor must provide a 4-wheel drive spider excavator with minimum 15,000 lb capacity and independently controlled extendable articulating arm to dig drainage systems 2-3 feet deep, excavate boulders, and move boulders up to 2 cubic yards in size. The Forest Service will direct work on-site, requiring the contractor to maintain equipment security and safe operations throughout the project duration. Evaluation will focus on technical capability, relevant experience, and past performance of potential contractors. The solicitation was posted on September 8, 2025, with quotes due by September 11, 2025, and all work must be completed by October 31, 2025.

This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside with an estimated contract value between $25,000 and $35,000. The work location spans approximately 5-6 miles of the eastern end of the Fordyce Jeep Trail beginning from Meadow Lake, situated between Indian Springs and Meadow Lake in the Sierra Nevada region with elevations ranging from 5,200 to 7,600 feet. Due to the remote nature of the work site, spike camping along the trail will be necessary for project completion. The maintenance project covers multiple "Winch Hill" sections and crossings within ranges R12E and R13E and townships T17N and T18N. No incumbent contractor is identified in the solicitation documentation, suggesting this may be a new procurement or re-competed contract opportunity.