RFP-Oregon Native Seed Amplification

The Oregon Department of Agriculture's Invasive Noxious Weed Control program is seeking proposals for Oregon Native Seed Amplification services through an intermediate procurement process (RFP S-60300-00015305). The project aims to support large-scale native seed production, with a focus on rangeland and sage-steppe species, particularly forbs, to enhance ecological restoration, conservation, and climate change resilience. Proposers must demonstrate more than five years of experience in native seed collection and propagation, with the contract term spanning from January 2026 to December 2028. The RFP requires comprehensive services including seed collection, storage, amplification, and technical assistance, with evaluation criteria weighted across several key areas: native plant experience (30 points), seed expertise (50 points), technical assistance capability (20 points), conservation practices (20 points), and government contractor experience (10 points), plus a cost scoring component (20 points). Potential proposers must submit questions by November 25, 2025, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time, with final proposals due December 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time, and a Notice of Award anticipated around January 23, 2026.

The procurement encourages participation from certified small businesses, including minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses, with a required Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan. Proposers located entirely in Oregon receive a 10 percent cost preference, and the solicitation anticipates multiple contract awards. The project is funded through Oregon's Natural and Working Lands Fund created by House Bill 3409 (2023), which aims to address critical barriers in native seed supply chains by providing predictable demand and risk-sharing for intermediary growers. While specific contract values are not explicitly stated, the procurement includes a not-to-exceed compensation structure to be determined based on accepted proposals. The sample contract indicates potential insurance requirements, including Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Automobile Liability of $1,000,000. The project supports the Oregon Native Seed Collective, a multi-agency partnership focused on increasing the supply of ecologically appropriate native seeds in Oregon, with a particular emphasis on protecting and improving rangeland resiliency in central and eastern Oregon.