Farrier Services on the Helena National Forest

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial farrier services for the Rocky Mountain Ranger District on the Helena National Forest. The government is procuring these services to establish a purchase order for horses and mules.

• Farrier services for horses and mules.

• Services are required from mid-April through October annually.

• Specific shoeing dates are provided for 2026, with subsequent years having similar schedules.

• The Statement of Work (Attachment 1) provides further details.

• Anticipated contract type: Firm-fixed-price requirements contract.

• Period of Performance: One (1) one-year base period plus four (4) one-year option periods, not to exceed five (5) years total.

• The contract starts in mid-April and goes through October each year.

• Offers are due by February 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Submit offers via email to andrea.haines@usda.gov.

• Offerors must have an active entity registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and provide their SAM UEI number.

• Pricing must be submitted as per the schedule of items.

• Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government.

• Evaluation factors include Relevant Experience, Key Personnel, Past Performance, and Price.

• Questions are due by February 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM MST.

• This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• The small business size standard is $11M.

• All responsible sources may submit a quotation.

• This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. Full text may be accessed at www.acquisition.gov.

• Attachments include: Statement of Work, Wage Determinations, and Experience Questionnaire.

• Offerors must hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the offer due date.

Amendment / Modification

• Extends the quotation due date to 02/24/2026.

• Adds a clause and evaluation factor for key personnel.

• Provisions and clauses enclosed within this document.

• The proposal submission deadline has been extended to 02/24/2026.

• ATT 1 Statement of Work

• ATT 2 Experience Questionnaire

• ATT 3 Wage Determinations

• 03/02/2026 to 03/01/2031

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Experience Questionnaire required for potential bidders to complete. It is designed to gather information about a contractor's past performance, capabilities, and resources to help the government evaluate their ability to successfully complete the project.

• Contractor Information: Name, address, telephone number, and business type.
• Years of Experience: In the specific line of work contemplated by the solicitation.
• Project History: Details of projects completed within the last three years, including contract amount, type of project, completion date, and contact information for references.
• Concurrent Contracts: Information on current contractual commitments.
• Past Performance: Questions regarding failure to complete work, use of performance bonds, and site visits.
• Resources: Information on available employees and equipment, and estimated progress rates.
• Key Personnel: Experience of individuals who will be directly involved in the contract.
• Remarks: A section for additional information.
• Certification: A statement by the contractor certifying the accuracy of the information provided.

Bidders must complete this questionnaire accurately and thoroughly. The information provided will be used by the government to assess the bidder's experience and capability to perform the work described in the solicitation. Failure to provide complete or satisfactory information may impact the evaluation of the proposal.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To provide horseshoeing services for horses and mules used by the Rocky Mountain Ranger District for backcountry work.

• Trim and shoe approximately 55 head of horses and mules in May and July, and about 45 head in late August. An additional 15-20 head may require snow pads and sharp shoes in mid-October, depending on weather.

• Services include pulling shoes, trimming hooves, and applying government-provided shoes and nails.

• The herd is approximately 60% mules and 40% horses, with most animals between sizes O and 2.

• Shoeing is performed outdoors in various weather conditions, from hot summer days to sub-zero temperatures.

• The contract period is from April 15 through November 1.

• The contractor must be capable of shoeing at least 10 head of horses and mules per day for 6 consecutive days within a 10-hour day.

• Requires 5 years of fulltime professional horseshoeing experience, with demonstrated experience shoeing both mules and horses.

• Must demonstrate an understanding of basic stockmanship principles and have working knowledge of equine biomechanics and confirmation.

• The contract period is from Mid-April through October.

• Shoeing will primarily take place at the Forest Service stock Facilities, located 1/2 mile north of the Rocky Mountain Ranger District office.

• Occasional shoeing may occur at other FS stock holding facilities, including Benchmark, Hannan Gulch, Willow Creek, and Ear Mountain.

• Shoeing will be conducted between the work hours of 0600-1800.

• Government will provide all shoes, nails, pads, and snow pads. Special shoeing needs (e.g., wedge pads, natural balance shoes) will be accommodated with government-provided materials.

• Contractor must have the designated key personnel on-site for all animals being shod.

• No security requirements for the contractor.

• No data rights to discuss.

• No IT requirements related to Section 508 standards.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for farrier services for the Rocky Mountain Ranger District on the Helena National Forest. The acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• Provision of farrier services for horses and mules.

• Services include shoeing and trimming.

• The contract will have a base year plus four option years.

• Shoeing dates are from Mid-April through October, with specific dates varying by year.

• Anticipated award of a firm-fixed price requirements contract.

• Total duration of the contract shall not exceed five (5) years (one base year + four option years).

• The government intends to make one award.

• Offers must be submitted via email by February 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Emails should contain two separate attachments: Technical Proposal and Price Proposal (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF).

• Offerors must have an active entity registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and provide their SAM UEI number.

• Quotes will be evaluated based on the criteria of Relevant Experience, Past Performance, and Price to determine the best value to the Government.

• Relevant Experience minimums include: capability to shoe 10 horses/mules per day for 6 consecutive days, 5 years of horseshoeing experience, experience with both mules and horses, understanding of stockmanship, and knowledge of equine biomechanics.

• Past Performance will be evaluated based on recency, relevancy, and quality.

• Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness.

• Offerors agree to hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the offer due date.

• This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns.

• The applicable North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) Code is 115210.

• The small business size standard is $11M.

• The solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference, accessible electronically at www.acquisition.gov.

• Attachment 1: Statement of Work

• Attachment 2: Wage Determinations

• Attachment 3: Experience Questionnaire

• Questions regarding the solicitation are due by February 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM MST.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a wage determination issued under the Service Contract Act, providing minimum wage and fringe benefit rates for various occupations in Montana. It serves as a reference for contractors to ensure compliance with labor laws when performing federal contracts.

• Lists occupational codes and titles.
• Specifies the minimum hourly wage rate for each occupation.
• Details required fringe benefits (Health & Welfare, Paid Sick Leave).
• Includes notes on Executive Orders (EO 13706, EO 13658) and their applicability.
• Outlines conditions for hazardous pay differentials and uniform allowances.
• Describes the conformance process for unlisted occupations.

Bidders must review this document to understand the minimum labor costs associated with performing the contract. The wage rates and fringe benefits listed are mandatory for employees working on the contract. Failure to comply can result in penalties. Bidders should factor these costs into their proposals to ensure accurate and competitive pricing.