USDA Forest Service Flathead National Forest Equine Winter Boarding AMD 0001

The USDA Forest Service seeks winter boarding and supplemental feeding for 30 to 50 government-owned horses and mules near Flathead National Forest in Kalispell, Montana, with quotations due June 12, 2026 (Amendment 0001 extended the deadline from May 27). This is a total small business set-aside under NAICS 115210 with an $11 million size standard.

Place of performance is within 200 road miles of the Flathead National Forest Office in Kalispell, Montana; animals will be boarded in the Hungry Horse, MT area. The contract runs from November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2031, comprising one base year and four one-year option periods. Animals must be boarded at minimum from December through April each year, with potential extension into November and May depending on weather. The contractor must provide fenced pasture (solid fencing with three strands minimum) accommodating 40 to 50 head, daily water and grazing or hay feeding, daily salt, supplemental feeding of oats, barley, or 3-way mix for one to five animals as determined by the Forest Service, and loading and unloading facilities for 24-foot stock trailers. Natural shelter such as trees or coulees is required; man-made structures are not mandated. Minimum pasture acreage is 30 acres, though 20 acres could initially suffice for current operations.

This is a firm-fixed-price award structured as a single-award purchase order. Award goes to the lowest-priced quotation that meets technical acceptability; if the lowest price does not receive an acceptable technical rating, evaluation continues in price order. Evaluation criteria are price fairness and reasonableness, technical acceptability, and past performance (acceptable/neutral/unacceptable rating). Service Contract Labor Standards apply; the Livestock Caretaker wage rate is $27.66 per hour plus $5.09 in fringe benefits. Quotations must include a completed Experience Questionnaire and Price Proposal submitted to joanne.meiers@usda.gov; prices are held firm for 60 calendar days from submission. Questions were due May 20, 2026. Amendment 0001 incorporated Q&As clarifying shelter and acreage requirements.