UAS-based treatment of outlier invasive

The National Park Service Southeast Region seeks quotations for UAS-based detection, mapping, and precision herbicide treatment of invasive plant populations at Everglades National Park, with quotations due September 15, 2026. This is a total small business set-aside under NAICS 562910, foreclosing competition outside the small business pool.

Place of performance is the Shark Valley/L-67 Extension Canal project area within Everglades National Park in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The contract runs from award through June 30, 2027, with a pre-quote site visit mandatory on September 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the L-67 Extension gate; RSVP is required by September 4, 2026, at noon.

The contractor must survey and treat 100% of approximately 2,087 designated acres (814 estimated infested grid acres, approximately 20 acres of invasive-plant canopy) to eliminate Melaleuca quinquenervia and Lygodium microphyllum using UAS-based herbicide application. Approved active ingredients are glyphosate, triclopyr, imazapyr, and imazamox in aquatic formulations; hexazinone and 2,4-D are prohibited. The contractor must achieve at least 60% treatment effectiveness within six months of initial treatment completion, with a no-cost retreatment obligation if this standard is not met. Quoters must propose FAA-certificated Remote Pilots in Command, Florida-licensed pesticide applicators, and maintain submeter GPS accuracy with an AG-NAV-like system. Current licenses, certifications, and liability insurance (minimum $100,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence) are required.

The firm-fixed-price contract is organized into four priced CLINs: project planning and mobilization (CLIN 00010), UAS mapping and GIS data delivery (CLIN 00020), precision herbicide treatment (CLIN 00030), and reporting and spatial deliverables (CLIN 00040); CLIN 00050 covers the no-cost retreatment option. Evaluation weighs Factor I (Technical—Previous Project Experience, Key Personnel Qualifications, and Work Plan) and Factor II (Past Performance) as significantly more important than Factor III (Price). Quotations must include detailed price breakdowns by labor, UAS systems, herbicides, permits, transportation, mobilization, equipment, PPE, insurance, data collection and delivery, overhead, and profit. Service Contract Act prevailing wage rates apply. The Contracting Officer is Noelli Medina Marin (noelli_medinamarin@ios.doi.gov, 470-819-0940).