Tell City Dam Maintenance

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks mowing, debris clearing, and access road maintenance for seven dams in the Tell City Ranger District, with proposals due August 7, 2026 and questions due July 27, 2026. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

Place of performance is Tell City, Indiana (Perry and Crawford Counties), with the Hoosier National Forest administration at Atlanta, Georgia. The contract covers routine dam maintenance across Celina Lake, Indian Lake, Saddle Lake, Tipsaw Lake, U-38 Lake, German Ridge Lake, and Branchville Pond—approximately 55.7 acres of mowing and 111.4 total treated acres across two complete mowing cycles annually (first cycle due by June 15, second by August 30). Vegetation must be cut to 6 inches or less on dam structures and spillways, and to 4 inches adjacent to structures and fences; 20-foot clearance is required around inlet and outlet pipes. Vegetation treatment extends from the water's edge or riprap on the upstream side to the dam toe downstream, including full spillway width. Contractors must provide mechanical equipment (tractors with bush hog attachments, skid-steer loaders, track excavators) and hand tools (weed eaters, brush cutters, chainsaws); metal tracked machines are not acceptable. Work is performed Monday through Friday, 0630–1700 EST, with no weekend or federal holiday work. Debris disposal includes piling (maximum 10 feet), chipping (maximum 4 inches), scattering, off-site removal with documentation, or burial in designated areas; hazardous materials and tires must be disposed off National Forest lands. Contractors must provide 48-hour notice before starting work, orange warning signs (minimum 24"×24"), and chemical handling and first aid trained personnel. The contract runs five years (base year May 1, 2027–April 30, 2028, plus four option years with identical scopes and pricing structures). Service Contract Labor Standards apply; wage determination 2015-4823 (Perry County) and 2015-4821 (Crawford County) specify Laborer/Grounds Maintenance prevailing wages at $17.38 per hour plus fringe benefits. Evaluation weighs technical capability, past performance (preference for work completed in the last three years), and cost/price reasonableness equally. Offerors must maintain active SAM registration, hold prices firm for 90 days, and submit pricing for all items to be considered responsive.