Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection – Obstruction Removal and Disturbed Land Revegetation

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection services to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) mission in South Dakota. The goal is to help conserve, maintain, and improve natural resources and the environment.

The contractor shall provide all services, supervision, labor, tools, materials, equipment, and management necessary for easement restoration and emergency watershed protection. This includes:

• Removal and/or burial or offsite hauling of various obstructions such as rock piles, rocks, woody vegetation, junk, debris, and old materials.
• Reseeding disturbed areas using a specified "Border Mix".
• Implementing easement restoration plans of operations and Wetland Restoration Plans of Operation.
• Coordination with the NRCS Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and designated NRCS Easement Support Specialist (ESS).

Services are to be performed within the state of South Dakota. The contractor must maintain a working office with employees/staff based within South Dakota. Performance will occur in both field and office environments.

• Personnel Qualifications: All contractor personnel must be fully qualified. A Project Manager with at least one year of field experience in obstruction removal and fence removal is required. Personnel must execute a non-disclosure statement.

• Work Tasking: Tasks will be assigned by the COR, documented in a contractor log, and require bi-weekly progress reporting.

• Quality Control: The contractor must implement an effective Quality Control Program (QCP) and perform work in a timely and quality manner, meeting or exceeding PWS standards.

• Deliverables: Include site-specific Wetland Reserve Plan of Operations (WRPO), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Manual, "Border Seed Mix" details, SD job plans, Construction and Specifications, Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) information, and photo documentation of work tasks.

• Obstruction Removal: Tasks include removal of debris, woody vegetation, rubble, or rock (offsite or onsite burial), and existing fence removal. Specific tasks (B1, B2, B3, B4) detail requirements for each type of obstruction.

• Revegetation: Includes procurement and installation of the "Border Seed Mix", seedbed preparation, and seeding. Specific guidance on seeding dates, seedbed preparation, and equipment is provided.

• Meetings & Site Visits: Continuous coordination with NRCS is required, including at least one site visit per easement area during the design phase and presence during installation.

• Project Schedule: Milestones include project kickoff, site visits, seed ordering, obstruction removal, seedbed preparation, seeding, and inspections, with allowances for weather delays.

• Performance Requirements Summary (PRS): Outlines performance standards for timeliness (90% of tasks completed on schedule) and quality (99% of sampled data collections without serious deficiency). Evaluation methods include sampling and performance reviews.

• Seed Requirements: "Border Mix" seed must meet scientific nomenclature requirements, and all species must be native to South Dakota. Origin of native grass seed is limited to specific North Central states.

• Safety: Contractor must comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, including safety procedures and equipment requirements. Accident reporting is mandatory.

• Access: Contractor must obtain landowner permission for work on private property and protect landowner rights. Access to government facilities is subject to security requirements.

• Government-Furnished Property: None. Contractor will furnish all necessary property and services not identified as government-furnished.

• Contractor-Furnished Property: Includes furnishings, supplies, tools, vehicles, and office automation equipment. Contractor is responsible for removal of their property within five days of contract termination.

• Communication: Contractor communication services are subject to standard government monitoring. All communication must be professional.

Sources Sought Notice

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not a solicitation or request for award. Its sole purpose is to identify potential System for Award Management (SAM) registered businesses capable of performing Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection services. The government is seeking responses from firms that perform these services.

• Furnishing all labor, equipment, operators, supervision, supplies, and materials.

• Performing Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection services.

• Services to be performed within South Dakota (counties East of the Missouri River).

• Compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and directives.

• Adherence to professional licensing and certification laws of the state where work is performed.

• Specific contract areas will be detailed in each Task Order.

• Anticipated award as a SINGLE Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract.

• NAICS CODE: 115112 – Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating

• SIZE STANDARD: $9.5 Million

• Interested businesses must be SAM-registered.

• Responses are to be sent via email to Ambrea Harris (Ambrea.Harris@usda.gov) and Kris Baker (Kristina.Baker@usda.gov).

• Deadline: March 31, 2026, no later than 12:00 PM EST.

• Required information includes:

  • Business Name, Point of Contact (Name/Phone/Email), Address, Business Size and Category, CAGE/DUNS Code, and indication of intent to be prime or subcontractor.
  • Examples of past prime contractor work, including total contract dollar value, amount bonded, percentage of self-performed vs. subcontracted work. No more than three projects should be provided, detailing competency in the required areas.

• Businesses must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• No award will be made from this Sources Sought Notice.

• The government is not responsible for any costs incurred in responding.

• A Performance Work Statement (PWS) is attached, detailing "Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection – Obstruction Removal and Disturbed Land Revegetation."