Contracted Noxious Weed Spraying - Musselshell County Lewistown Area

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is soliciting bids for a Contracted Noxious Weed Spraying project in the Musselshell County Lewistown Area, covering approximately 419.36 acres across two distinct zones. The procurement is an Invitation for Bid (IFB) with bid number MDT-IFB-2025-2003, open from May 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM MDT to June 3, 2025, at 2:00 PM MDT. Potential contractors must be licensed commercial pesticide applicators with certification to apply restricted-use herbicides, and they will be responsible for controlling noxious weeds on state highway right-of-ways including US-12, US-87, and state routes S-244, S-310, S-381, and S-500. The project requires at least one complete treatment application per contract year, targeting specific weed species such as Canada Thistle, Spotted Knapweed, Leafy Spurge, and others. Contractors must provide comprehensive equipment including truck-mounted spray units, ATVs, backpack sprayers, and vehicle-mounted spray systems. A mandatory pre-work meeting will be held at the MDT office in Lewistown to discuss project details, and the contract will be awarded to the lowest total cost bidder for spraying and chemical costs.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must submit their proposals through the eMACS system and are required to upload a valid Montana Pesticide Applicators license. The total annual contract value will not exceed $12,000, with the contract designated to be completed by June 30, 2026. Payment terms are structured as 0% 0, Net 30, and will be processed in US Dollars. Contractors must comply with Montana's prevailing wage rates for nonconstruction services, which include provisions for mandatory 3% wage increases every 12 months and guidelines for fringe benefit calculations. The project contact is Richele Parkhurst, who can be reached at rparkhurst@mt.gov or +1 406-546-8243 for any questions or clarifications. Bidders will need to demonstrate compliance with state regulations, including insurance requirements and non-discrimination policies, and provide detailed pricing for two distinct zones of weed spraying and various chemical treatments.