Mississippi Lowlands West District Aerial Drone Herbicide Application Qualified

The Missouri Department of Conservation is soliciting bids for aerial drone herbicide application services across three Conservation Areas within the Mississippi Lowlands West District, specifically at Coon Island (Butler County), Otter Slough (Stoddard County), and Duck Creek (Bollinger, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties). This Invitation for Bid (IFB) encompasses two pricing lines: Drone Herbicide Application From Analog Map and Drone Herbicide Application From Shapefile, each with an estimated quantity of 1,000 acres. Qualified vendors must possess a valid Missouri Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator License and shall utilize only Department-approved herbicides, including imazapyr, triclopyr, and glyphosate products, along with approved surfactants provided by the Department. Contractors are responsible for all equipment, materials, labor, and full compliance with Department Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) procedures, safety regulations, and privacy requirements. The bid response deadline is April 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with submissions made electronically via MissouriBUYS powered by MOVERS or by hard copy mail upon request. The original contract period extends from the date of award through one year, with the Department retaining the right to add, remove, or change work area priorities. Awards will be made to the three lowest cost responsive bidders designated as primary, secondary, and tertiary awardees, with vendors required to respond within five business days if contacted sequentially. All pricing shall be firm and fixed for the original contract period and any renewal periods, with payment terms of Net 45 days upon acceptance of services by the Department or Area Manager.

The procurement encourages participation from Organization for the Blind/Sheltered Workshop vendors, offering bonus points (5-15 points available) with a minimum subcontracting requirement of 2% or $5,000 of the contract value, and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise participation with a minimum 3% of contract value requirement and 3 bonus points available. All responsive bidders must satisfy standard business compliance requirements, including Missouri tax compliance certification, Secretary of State registration, E-Verify enrollment for applicable business entities, and compliance with the Anti-Discrimination Against Israel Act if applicable. The Department will evaluate bids using objective cost evaluation criteria with a maximum of 200 cost evaluation points, reserving the right to reject any and all bids submitted. No pre-bid conference or site tour is scheduled for this solicitation. While specific budget information is not provided in the solicitation documents, the estimated scope of 2,000 total acres across two pricing lines provides a basis for contractor cost estimation. The contract represents a significant opportunity for qualified aerial herbicide application service providers capable of operating within the Department's established protocols and regulatory framework.