Spotted Dog WMA Drone Knapweed Treatments

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is conducting a limited solicitation (FWP-LS-22-0273) for drone-based knapweed treatment services at the Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located east of Deer Lodge, Montana. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to apply herbicide using drone technology across approximately 200 acres with dense Spotted Knapweed coverage. Bidders must possess a minimum of two years of commercial weed control experience, provide three references for similar work performed within the last five years, and hold current herbicide applicator's and drone operation licenses. The solicitation requires detailed bid documentation, including comprehensive contact information and a signed Scope of Work document. Key procurement dates include bid opening on 6/6/2022 at 1:00 PM MDT, bid closing on 6/20/2022 at 5:00 PM MDT, and bid document unsealing on 6/21/2022 at 1:30 PM MDT. The contract will cover treatment seasons for 2022 and 2023, with payment terms structured as 0% 0, Net 30, and award based on a per-acre basis for drone-based herbicide application.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types were explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents. The contract appears open to qualified commercial weed control contractors with appropriate licensing and demonstrated experience. While no incumbent vendors were identified, the solicitation emphasizes technical competence in drone-based herbicide application and precise environmental management within a wildlife management area. The total contract value will be determined by the per-acre rate and the approximately 200 acres of treatment area, suggesting a potential contract value that would depend on the awarded contractor's pricing structure. The procurement represents a targeted ecological management initiative focusing on invasive knapweed control using innovative drone technology, with potential future expansion or renewal based on successful performance during the 2022 and 2023 treatment seasons.