54 North Botanical Surveys

The Oregon Department of Forestry issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) S-62900-00015888 for botanical field surveys and comprehensive reporting services within the 54 North Fuels Reduction and Huckleberry Restoration Project on the North Fork John Day Ranger District in the Umatilla National Forest. The procurement requires contractors to conduct vascular plant surveys across five survey units totaling approximately 1,891 acres to detect and document Region 6 Regional Forester Sensitive Species, Oregon Biodiversity Information Center List 1 and 2 species, and culturally significant plants for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Deliverables include completed field survey forms (Botany Field Evaluation Forms and Plant Element Occurrence Field Forms), Element Occurrence reports with GPS coordinates and sketch maps, voucher specimens where applicable, digital photographs, and comprehensive final reports due by September 30, 2026. Survey work must be conducted during specified timeframes, with upland units (D and E) requiring surveys from April through June 2026 and forested units (A-C) requiring surveys from mid-May through July 2026. Key personnel must include a botanist with an undergraduate degree in botany, ecology, environmental science, or equivalent education and experience, with a minimum of three field seasons of hands-on taxonomic classification and field identification experience with vascular plants in the inland Pacific Northwest. The evaluation criteria prioritizes the lowest responsible and responsive bid from bidders meeting minimum qualifications, with consideration given to experience, expertise, and suitability. Bidders must submit all required documentation including the Bid Cover Sheet, Reference Check Form, Bid Submittal Form, COBID Certification/Outreach Plan, Responsibility Inquiry form, and a Statement of Qualifications by March 6, 2026, at 2:00 PM Pacific Time, with questions due by February 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time and answers provided approximately February 25, 2026; Notice of Intent to Award is scheduled for approximately March 16, 2026, with contract execution anticipated by March 20, 2026.

There are no stated set-asides or restrictions limiting bidder eligibility based on business type or disadvantaged enterprise status; however, bidders must comply with Oregon's Certified Disadvantaged Business (CDB) participation requirements under ORS 200.055 and must identify any anticipated subcontracting opportunities with certified firms. Bidders must demonstrate responsibility through various certifications and documentation, including absence of delinquent debt to the State, tax law compliance, non-discrimination in employment and subcontracting practices, exclusion from federal sanctions lists, and a current, unexpired Pay Equity Compliance Certificate from the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. The contract includes mandatory insurance requirements comprising workers' compensation, commercial general liability coverage with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, automobile liability insurance with $1,000,000 combined single limit, and professional liability insurance with $1,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 annual aggregate. No incumbent contractor is listed, and the contractor must integrate work with Umatilla National Forest staff who will serve as local field inspectors and review all documentation and deliverables. Compensation is based on a per-acre rate for survey work across the five units plus separate line items for draft and final reports, with payment contingent upon inspection and acceptance of completed acreage, forms, maps, and voucher specimens; specific budget amounts are not disclosed in the ITB documents but will be determined through competitive bidding. The initial contract term runs from February 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026, with the Oregon Department of Forestry handling contract administration and payment processing through the OregonBuys system.