The purpose is to use targeted sheep grazing to co

The Bureau of Land Management's California Region is seeking a contractor to provide targeted sheep grazing services at Magnolia Ranch to control invasive weeds, specifically yellow starthistle and medusahead, across approximately 130 acres while promoting native vegetation growth. The contractor must maintain a minimum herd of 500 mature, fully trained sheep with a full-time on-site herder, livestock guardian dogs, and herding dogs for a three-month active grazing period annually (typically May through August). Key requirements include providing all water transportation via truck from the South Fork American River, temporary electric poly-wire fencing, mobile housing for the herder, and maintaining comprehensive liability insurance of $1,000,000 per person and $3,000,000 per occurrence with the BLM listed as additional insured. Award will be made using Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation criteria to the responsible offeror whose quotation is most advantageous to the government. The deadline for submitting questions is March 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM PDT, and quotations must be submitted via email to michael_anson@ios.doi.gov no later than March 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM PDT.

This solicitation is a total small business set-aside under NAICS 112410 (Sheep Farming) with a business size standard of $3.5 million, and the incumbent contractor was Star Creek Land Stewards, Inc. The contract covers a five-year period of performance from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2031, consisting of a base year plus four option years, with pricing requested on a per-head, per-month basis for 500 sheep across each annual three-month grazing period. The contract is firm fixed-price with FOB destination, and all shipping, travel, water provision, and associated costs must be included in the quoted line items. Performance will take place at Magnolia Ranch Recreation Area near Pilot Hill in El Dorado County, California, with the contractor required to submit weekly reports with photos to the Contracting Officer Representative and comply with Service Contract Act Wage Determination #2015-5631 Revision 26, which establishes prevailing wage rates ranging from $13.96 to $81.35 per hour depending on occupation classification.