Aerial Herbicide Spraying at Dredged Material Facilities Operated by Maryland Environmental Service

The Maryland Environmental Service (MES) is seeking a qualified contractor to provide aerial herbicide application services for controlling invasive Phragmites australis (P. australis) reed at multiple dredged material facilities across Baltimore and Talbot Counties. The procurement, identified as Project No. 1-26-5-13-5, requires a helicopter-based application of wetland-safe glyphosate herbicide at sites including Hart-Miller Island, Poplar Island, Coaches Island, and Barren Island, with potential expansion to other MES-managed sites. Contractors must possess current Maryland Pesticide Applicator Certificates and apply herbicide at a minimum rate of 6 pints per acre with 0.5% surfactant by volume, using aerial GPS systems and MES-provided shapefiles. The contract is structured with one base year and two optional renewal years, with an estimated 400 acres of treatment annually. Bid submissions are due electronically through the MES Procurement Portal by September 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM, with questions accepted until August 21, 2025. Award will be made to the lowest responsive bidder based on total bid price, calculated by multiplying acreage by unit cost per acre for all three years combined.

The solicitation does not specify specific set-aside designations or minority business enterprise participation goals. There are no bonding requirements for this procurement, and the contract allows for payment within 30 days of invoice receipt based on actual acres treated. Contractors must comply with Maryland pesticide regulations under COMAR 15.05.01 and 15.05.02, with work performed Monday through Friday during daylight hours unless otherwise approved. Addenda to the solicitation have explicitly rejected alternative application methods, including agricultural drones and fixed-wing aircraft, mandating helicopter application. While a specific budget range is not disclosed, the estimated annual treatment area of 400 acres suggests a moderate-scale contract. The procurement emphasizes precise environmental management, requiring post-application logs compatible with GIS programs and strict adherence to ecological preservation standards in sensitive Chesapeake Bay island ecosystems.