USDA FS Proper Functioning Condition Survey

The USDA Forest Service is procuring Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) survey services for intermittent and perennial streams located within the McKenzie District of the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands in McKenzie County, North Dakota. The contractor must conduct comprehensive stream assessments using standardized PFC protocols to evaluate riparian conditions across up to 119 linear miles of waterways, with the survey data intended to guide future livestock management, prescribed burning, and watershed habitat enhancement projects. Qualified contractors must employ a team of at least two journey-level resource specialists with bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees in related fields such as geology, soil science, hydrology, biology, or botany, along with at least one field season of PFC inventory experience. The government will evaluate proposals based on technical capability, past performance, and price, with technical factors weighted more heavily than cost considerations. Critical deadlines include September 24, 2025, for submitting questions, and October 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time for proposal submissions via email to stevie.fehrs@usda.gov.

This opportunity is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541360 (Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services) with a size standard of $28.5 million, and no incumbent contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. While specific contract values are not disclosed, the scope involves surveying 19 distinct HUC12 watersheds ranging from approximately 10,196 to 34,732 acres each within the project area. The performance timeline spans from approximately October 15, 2025, through January 31, 2026, with field work conducted during the summer and autumn months, bi-weekly progress reports required throughout the project, and both draft and final comprehensive reports due by November 30, 2025, and January 31, 2026, respectively. The primary place of performance is Watford City, North Dakota, where contractors will execute the field surveys and deliver all required documentation including detailed assessment forms, GPS data, photographs, and analytical reports in both hard copy and electronic formats.