Eradication of PLSE from National Park, RFP 25-0077

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) 25-0077 for personal services to eradicate Plecostachys serpyllifolia (PLSE), an invasive plant species, from Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park located in Santa Barbara County. The contractor must treat all known PLSE locations in the Arlington Canyon watershed during Summer 2026 and Spring 2027, survey for additional infestations outside Arlington Canyon during Summer, Fall, and Winter 2026, develop and implement biosecurity procedures to prevent the spread of the invasive species, and submit a comprehensive summary report within three months of treatment completion. Key qualifications include a minimum of five years of relevant experience for all key personnel, with a qualified project manager identified for the project. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability of $1,000,000, pollution/environmental liability of $1,000,000 per incident/$2,000,000 aggregate, and workers' compensation coverage. Evaluation criteria include scoring on a 140-point scale across technical and cost categories, with proposals requiring a minimum of 98 points in evaluation categories 1-3 to have cost proposals evaluated; award will be made to the lowest cost responsive proposer meeting all requirements. Written questions are due by April 13, 2026, with answers posted by April 20, 2026, and proposals must be submitted by April 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT via separate technical and cost proposal PDFs. Team evaluations are estimated for May 1-7, 2026, with contract performance running from May 15, 2026, through May 14, 2027, with an option for one additional year renewal pending budget appropriation and annual assessment.

The procurement requires a minimum of 3 percent participation by Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) for proposals to be considered responsive. Proposers must submit three reference letters from clients with similar experience, three samples of similar prior projects, and resumes for all key personnel demonstrating the required five years of relevant experience. Travel expenses are reimbursable at Federal General Services Administration rates, and all employment-related costs must comply with California Labor Code requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documentation. The total budget shall not exceed $99,950.00 for the entire two-year contract term, with cost proposals to be submitted using a standardized template requiring detailed breakdowns of hourly rates, task hours, subcontractor costs, supplies and equipment, travel expenses by category, and any applicable indirect costs.