Eastern Divide NNIS Herbicide Treatment

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Non-Native Invasive Species (NNIS) Herbicide Treatments. The work will be performed within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Eastern Divide Ranger District, covering areas in Botetourt and Craig counties, VA, and Monroe County, WV. The acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• NNIS Herbicide Treatments in designated timber stands and wildlife openings.

• Contractor must furnish all labor, materials (except for designated herbicide, oil carrier, and blue dye), equipment, tools, and transportation.

• All initial treatments must be completed by September 1, 2026.

• All follow-up treatments must be completed by October 1, 2026, to allow for USFS inspection and potential further treatments.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed price requirements contract.

• Period of Performance: Estimated start date of June 15, 2026, through November 1, 2026.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but pricing is required for all items.

• Quotations are due by May 26, 2026, 2359 PM Central Time, via email to christopher.j.hamilton@usda.gov.

• Required attachments: Attachment B (Schedule of Items) and Attachment G (Experience Questionnaire).

• Questions are due by May 20, 2026, 1200 PM Central Time, via email to the same address.

• Evaluation: Lowest price technically acceptable criteria. The lowest priced offer will be evaluated for technical acceptability and past performance. Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value.

• Technical Approach evaluation will consider crew qualifications, experience, knowledge of local species, COR ratings, and capacity to meet SOW requirements.

• Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) Code: 115310.

• Small Business Size Standard: $11.5 Million.

• Offerors must have an active entity registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• This announcement constitutes the solicitation; a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

• Several attachments are referenced, including a Statement of Work (Attachment A), Schedule of Items (Attachment B), maps, field forms, and Service Contract Act wage determinations.

• The solicitation incorporates numerous FAR clauses by reference.

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

This document outlines the requirements for herbicide treatments to control Non-Native Invasive Species (NNIS) within designated areas of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Eastern Divide Ranger District.

• Primary Task: Perform basal bark application of herbicide and basal oil using backpack sprayers to treat specific NNIS, including Autumn Olive, Multiflora Rose, Tree of Heaven, Princess Tree, Amur honeysuckle, and Japanese Barberry.

• Target Vegetation: Treat all NNIS stems 6 inches in height and taller. Specific instructions are provided for different tree types and sizes, including Tree of Heaven and Paulownia trees greater than 12" DBH, and Autumn Olive and Multiflora rose.

• Application Method: Primarily low-volume basal bark application. Foliar application is not permitted unless access is severely restricted, and this must be agreed upon with the COR.

• Government-Furnished Property: The Government will provide project area maps, vicinity maps, Triclopyr ester formulation (Triclopyr 4), adjuvant, and oil carrier.

• Contractor Responsibilities: Furnish all other labor, materials, equipment, transportation, and supervision. Maintain accurate records of herbicide use and weather conditions. Ensure proper care, handling, transportation, and disposal of herbicides and containers.

• Treatment Efficacy: Mortality is defined as "total kill," not just "top kill." Acceptance of treated areas requires at least 95% of designated trees or unit area to display mortality.

• Inspection: Inspections will lag behind treatment applications by 10-14 days to allow for visual assessment of mortality.

• Boundaries: Boundaries are flagged with BLUE flagging. In some cases, natural features will serve as boundaries. A key will be provided for access to locked gates.

• Buffer Zones: Maintain a 30-foot buffer along stream channels and around wet areas.

• Contract Areas: Craig Creek Recreation Area (Botetourt County, VA), Fenwick Mines Recreation Area (Craig County, VA), and Binocular Patch Area (Monroe County, WV).

• Total Acreage: Approximately 101 acres.

• Deadlines: All INITIAL treatments must be completed by September 1, 2026. FOLLOWUP treatments must be completed by October 1, 2026. Work must be accepted by November 1, 2026.

• Registration: Contractor must be registered with the Department of Labor under the Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act.

• Personnel: Contractor must provide a Project Supervisor and Lead Technician who will attend a mandatory Pre Work meeting. A representative with a pesticide applicator license in Virginia is required.

• Safety: Strict adherence to safety rules for herbicide application, including reading labels, wearing protective clothing, and proper handling procedures. Report all accidents within 24 hours.

• Resource Protection: Protect improvements such as fences and property boundaries. Avoid conflicts with recreation, endangered species, and wet soil conditions. Prevent pollution of water bodies. Remove all trash and debris.

• Site Visit: No scheduled site visit, but special arrangements can be made. Offerors are urged to inspect contract areas.

• Payment: Payment will be made at the unit bid price for satisfactorily completed and accepted acres. Invoices submitted unit by unit.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment B_Schedule of Items NNIS.pdf", provides the schedule of items for the TSI FY26 NNIS Herbicide Treatment. It is intended for bidders to understand the pricing structure for the services being procured.

• Item 1: Herbicide Treatment of NNIS (per acre)
• Pay Unit: AC (Acre)
• Estimated Quantity: 101 Acres
• Unit Cost: To be determined by bidder.
• Total Price: To be determined by bidder.

Bidders must use this schedule to provide their unit cost and calculate the total price for the herbicide treatment services. The "EA - EACH" notation indicates that the unit of measure is each acre. The award will be a firm fixed-price contract, meaning the price agreed upon will not change.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment C_FY26_NNIS_Maps.pdf", provides maps detailing areas designated for Non-Native Invasive Species (NNIS) Herbicide Treatment for Fiscal Year 2026. It serves as a visual aid for bidders to understand the geographic scope of the proposed treatments.

• Craig Creek Recreation Area: Depicts a treatment area of approximately 29 acres. Includes road closure status and a legend for various road types.
• Fenwick Mines Area: Outlines three distinct treatment units (1, 2, and 3) with corresponding acreage (8, 10, and 32 acres respectively). Also includes road closure status and a legend.
• Binocular Patch NNIS Unit: Shows a treatment area of approximately 22 acres. Provides driving directions from Blacksburg and lists specific NNIS targeted for treatment, including Autumn Olive, Tree of Heaven, Paulownia, Multiflora Rose, and Amur Honeysuckle. Includes road closure status and a legend.

These maps are crucial for bidders to visualize the locations and extent of the herbicide treatment areas. They provide essential geographic context for understanding the scope of work, planning logistical operations, and potentially estimating resource requirements for the opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment D, the "Herbicide Application (2510) Data Form," associated with Solicitation 124443926Q0071 for NNIS Herbicide Treatment. It serves as a standardized form for recording details of herbicide application activities.

• General Treatment Area: Includes fields for ORG, FACTS ID, Subunit #, Treatment Area Name, Workforce, Equipment, Fund Code/Base Yr, Date Planned, Date Accomplished, and NEPA DOC.
• Infestation/Target Species: Fields for INFESTATION ID, Weed Code, Species Name, Infested Area Treat, and Phenology.
• Daily Log: Captures Application Site, Licensed Applicator Name, Applicators (other), Application Date, Application Area (Acres), Time Start, Time Stop, Temperature, Wind Speed and Direction, Cloud Cover, RH%, and Water Distance.
• Application Details: Includes Calibrated Volume, Volume Applied, Mix (oz/gal), Diluent, and Cost/Acre.
• Herbicide Product Information: Fields for Herb Product Name, %Solution, Product Rate, UOM, Surfactant, and UOM.

Bidders may need to use this form to report on herbicide application activities if awarded the contract. It outlines the specific data points required for tracking and documenting treatment efforts, including details on the area treated, products used, application rates, and associated costs. Understanding this form is crucial for compliance with reporting requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division's Wage Determination No. 2015-4315, Revision No. 32, dated 3/30/2026. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations under the Service Contract Act for a specific geographic area.

• State: Virginia
• Area: Virginia Counties of Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke
• Occupational Listing: Provides a comprehensive list of job titles (e.g., Accounting Clerk, Administrative Assistant, Automotive Worker, Cleaner, Computer Operator, Electrician, Firefighter, Gardener, Janitor, Laborer, Nurse, Painter, Police Officer, Secretary, Technician, Welder) along with their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing. Specific benefits mentioned include:
  • Health & Welfare: $5.55 per hour (up to 40 hours/week) or $222.00 per week.
  • Health & Welfare EO 13706: $5.09 per hour (up to 40 hours/week) or $203.60 per week (for contracts covered by EO 13706).
  • Vacation: 2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 8 years, 4 weeks after 15 years of service.
  • Holidays: Minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Special Differentials:
  • Hazardous Pay: 8% differential for high hazard positions (ordnance, explosives) and 4% for low hazard positions.
  • Night Pay & Sunday Pay: 10% night differential for hours worked between 6 pm and 6 am; 25% Sunday premium for regularly scheduled Sunday work.
• Executive Orders: Notes applicability of Executive Order (EO) 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and EO 13658 (Minimum Wage).
• Conformance Process: Outlines the procedure for contractors to request authorization for additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination.

This document is critical for bidders responding to solicitations covered by the Service Contract Act in the specified Virginia counties. It dictates the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to service employees performing work under the contract. Bidders must ensure their proposed pricing reflects these requirements to be compliant and competitive.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage Determination No. 2015-4351, Revision No. 31, for the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations performing work in specific counties of West Virginia.

• Area: West Virginia Counties of Greenbrier, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Summers, Webster, and Wyoming.
• Occupations: Lists numerous occupations categorized under different divisions (e.g., Administrative Support and Clerical, Automotive Service, Health Occupations, Information and Arts, etc.).
• Wage Rates: Provides specific hourly wage rates for each listed occupation.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing. Specific benefits like Health & Welfare, Vacation, and Holidays are detailed later in the document.
• Executive Orders: Notes the applicability of Executive Order (EO) 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and EO 13658 (Minimum Wage) for federal contractors.
• Conformance Process: Outlines the process for contractors to request additional classifications and wage rates if an occupation is not listed.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the minimum labor costs associated with performing services under the Service Contract Act in the specified West Virginia counties. It directly impacts the pricing strategy for proposals, ensuring compliance with federal labor laws regarding wages and benefits for service contract employees.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment G, an Experience Questionnaire, for Solicitation 12443926Q0071, NNIS Herbicide Treatment. It is designed to collect information from prospective contractors regarding their experience and qualifications to perform the work described in the solicitation.

• Contractor Information: Name, address, telephone number, and email.
• Type of Business: Options include Company, Co-Partner, Non-profit, Corporation, and Individual.
• Years of Experience: In the current line of work and as a prime contractor/subcontractor.
• Relevant Projects: A list of up to 3 most relevant projects performed within the last 3 years, including contract number, award amount, contact information for references, date completed, and a description of work performed.
• Current Contract Commitments: A list of all current contract commitments, including contract number, award amount, contact information for references, and percentage of completion.
• Past Performance: Questions regarding failure to complete awarded work.
• Organization Information: Details on employee numbers (minimum and maximum), whether employees are on payroll, and available equipment.
• Individual Experience: Experience of principal individuals within the business, including name, present position, years of experience, and type of work.
• Remarks: A section for additional comments.
• Certification: A statement certifying the accuracy of the provided information and authorization for references.

Bidders must complete and submit this questionnaire as part of their proposal. The information provided will be used by the government to assess the bidder's experience and capability to successfully perform the NNIS Herbicide Treatment contract. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may impact the evaluation of the proposal. The submission deadline is COB 24 MAY 2026 @ 1200 CT, via email to christopher.j.hamilton@usda.gov.