USDA Forest Service Shade Tubes and Bamboo Stakes for Tree Planting

The USDA Forest Service is procuring shade tubes and bamboo stakes to support reforestation seedling protection within the Bitterroot National Forest through solicitation number 1284LM25Q0084. The agency requires 53,700 shade tubes and 53,700 bamboo stakes, with an optional additional 18,000 of each item, to protect newly planted trees from animals, wind, rodents, insects, and heavy snow loading. The shade tubes must be 18 inches in height, 4 inches in diameter, blue-colored, and constructed of minimum 17 ml polyethylene with precision cut slots and tab design, while the bamboo stakes must be 3 feet long and 10-12mm in diameter. The contract will be awarded on a lowest-priced technically acceptable basis, evaluating offers based on technical conformance with specifications and past performance. Questions regarding the solicitation were due by September 9, 2025, and Amendment 1 extended the proposal submission deadline from September 12 to September 16, 2025, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

This procurement is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) with a size standard of $11.5 million. The contract requires delivery to the USFS Darby Ranger District at 712 N. Main Street, Darby, Montana 59829, with an initial delivery deadline of October 17, 2025, though Amendment 1 provides for a more flexible delivery window extending through May 8, 2026. Offerors must have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration and submit their proposals electronically to joanne.meiers@usda.gov, including technical specifications, price proposals, and required contractor representations and certifications. The delivery must be made by truck with a lift gate and requires 72-hour advance notice to the receiving location. No incumbent contractor or specific budget range information is provided in the solicitation documents.