USDA-Forest Service -Extraction and transportation of the Annual Christmas Tree and two (2) additional trees - George Washington and Jefferson National Forest

The U.S. Forest Service seeks extraction and transportation of the 2026 National Christmas Tree and two additional trees from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, with proposals due September 23 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time and questions due September 18 at 2:00 PM. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside with a firm fixed-price structure.

Place of performance is Hot Springs, Virginia. The work encompasses two line-item services: excavator or similar USFS-approved equipment to secure, cut, and load trees onto flatbed trailers; and transport of materials including cribbing, tarps, and secure delivery of three trees to Washington, DC. The primary National Christmas Tree (approximately 36 feet) will be harvested from Slab Camp in Highland County, Virginia and delivered to the White House Ellipse on November 14, 2026. A backup tree (approximately 34 feet) is available if the primary is damaged or destroyed prior to extraction. A second tree (approximately 34 feet) designated for the U.S. Department of Transportation will be harvested from Locust Springs and delivered to USDOT headquarters by November 30, 2026, with no backup available. The vendor will also remove dead limbs from surrounding spruce trees along equipment routes and transport approximately 12 to 15 additional limbs per tree cut by Forest Service personnel. Period of performance runs from award through November 30, 2026.

The NAICS code is 115310, Support Activities for Forestry, with a small business size standard of $11.5 million. Evaluation uses Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) criteria based on price fairness and reasonableness, technical acceptability, and past performance. Offerors must submit a completed Performance Relevancy Questionnaire, technical capability summary, personnel and equipment specifications, and proof of minimum insurance. Wage Determination Register WD 1998-0467 (Revision 64, effective August 14, 2026) applies, with minimum hourly rates ranging from $13.23 for tree planters to $30.93 for forestry equipment operators and truck drivers, plus health and welfare benefits of $5.92 per hour. All offers must be submitted via email to stacey.phillips@usda.gov in a complete package including signed SF 1449, completed Schedule of Items, and the Performance Relevancy Questionnaire. Vendors must maintain active SAM.gov accounts with valid Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI) at time of award and receive payment through the Invoice Processing Platform.