JW Toumey R9 Seedling Shipment

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Service Contract Act. It specifies the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations involved in forestry and logging work on federal contracts within Michigan.

• Occupational Listings: Provides specific occupation codes and titles (e.g., Brush/Precommercial Thinner, Faller/Bucker, Forestry Equipment Operator) along with their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Details required health and welfare benefits ($5.55 per hour or $222.00 per week) and specific provisions for paid sick leave under Executive Order 13706 ($5.09 per hour or $203.60 per week).
• Executive Orders: References Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage), outlining contractor obligations and minimum wage requirements for federal contracts.
• Vacation and Holidays: Specifies requirements for paid vacation (1 week after 1 year, 2 weeks after 3 years) and a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Uniform Allowance: Outlines requirements for furnishing and maintaining uniforms, including reimbursement for cleaning and maintenance if applicable.
• Conformance Process: Describes the procedure for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates if an occupation is not listed in the determination.

This wage determination is crucial for bidders on federal contracts involving forestry and logging services in Michigan. It establishes the minimum labor costs that must be factored into proposals to ensure compliance with the Service Contract Act and related executive orders. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ) for the JW Toumey R9 Seedling Shipment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is procuring the delivery of 24-28 truckloads of seedlings from JW Toumey Nursery to National Forests located in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

• Delivery of 24-28 truckloads of seedlings.

• Product/Service Code: 8145 (SPECIALIZED SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINERS).

• Flexibility in delivery schedules is a key factor due to potential weather variations.

• Award Type: Anticipated Firm-Fixed Price contract.

• Period of Performance: One (1) base year (03/15/2026 to 03/14/2027) with four (4) one-year option periods, for a total duration not to exceed five (5) years.

• Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026, 11:00 PM Eastern.

• Questions Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:00 PM Eastern (via email to joshua.franks@usda.gov).

• Submission Method: Email to Joshua Franks (joshua.franks@usda.gov).

• Quote Validity: Must be valid for no less than 90 days.

• Evaluation Factors: Award will be made to the responsible offeror representing the best value, considering Relevant Experience, Past Performance, and Price. Technical and past performance are considered significantly more important than cost or price.

• Required Information for Bidders:

  • A quote covering costs for each truckload, including excess wait times and drop-trailer costs.
  • A statement detailing delivery schedule flexibility and available carriers.

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

• Applicable NAICS Code: 488510.

• Small Business Size Standard: $20 Million.

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

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

• Flexibility in delivery schedules is crucial and will be heavily weighted in evaluation.

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

This document outlines the requirements for the pick-up, transportation, and delivery of tree seedlings from JW Toumey Nursery in Watersmeet, MI, to various tree cooler sites across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

• Service Period: March 15 - November 15, with the majority of loads planned for April-June. The contract is for one year with four one-year option renewals.

• Deliverables: Transportation of approximately 24-28 one-way truckloads of tree seedlings.

• Pick-up Locations: JW Toumey Nursery (Watersmeet, MI) and potentially Badoura State Nursery (Akeley, MN).

• Delivery Locations: Multiple drop points across Chippewa NF, Superior NF, Huron-Manistee NF, Chequamegon-Nicolet NF, and Hiawatha NF.

• Loading/Unloading: Government personnel will load at the nursery and unload at delivery locations. Loading occurs between 0400-1000 CT (morning) and 1100-1300 CT (afternoon). Unloading must occur during office hours (0800-1630 local time), with 24-hour prior notification required.

• Equipment: Preference for one truck and two trailers to ensure an empty trailer is always ready. Additional trucks/trailers may be needed. Drop-trailers may be requested for cooler capacity or emergencies.

• Temperature Control: Refrigerated trailers must maintain internal temperatures between 33-37 degrees Fahrenheit from pre-loading through unloading.

• Trailer Specifications: Full 53' long refrigerated trailers, capable of hauling up to 800,000 seedlings per load (42,000 lbs max per truckload). Trailers must be clean and free of contaminants.

• Flexibility: Flexibility in delivery schedules due to weather variations and seedling availability is a key factor in bid evaluation.

• Notification: Truck and driver information must be provided 3 days prior to arrival.

• Period: One year, with four option year renewals. Primary service period is March 15 - November 15.

• Place: Delivery to various cooler sites in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

• Bidders must supply information about the carriers they plan to use.

• Bids should include costs for excess wait times and drop-trailers.

• Proposals should include a statement on flexibility in delivery schedules and carrier availability.

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 experience, capabilities, and resources relevant to the opportunity.

• Contractor Information: Name, address, telephone number, UEI, and email.
• Business Type: Company, Corporation, Co-partnership, or Individual.
• Years of Experience: In the line of work and as a prime/sub-contractor.
• Past Projects: Details of projects completed within the last three years, including contract amount, description, completion date, and contact information for references.
• Concurrent Contracts: Information on current contractual commitments.
• Past Performance: Questions regarding failure to complete work or completion via performance bond.
• Organization and Staffing: Number of employees, payroll status, and progress rates.
• Key Personnel Experience: Details on the experience of principal individuals.
• Equipment: List of equipment planned for use, including maintenance plans.
• Quality Control & Safety: Description of inspection, quality control, safety plans, and use of bio-based products.
• 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 information may impact the evaluation of the proposal.

Amendment / Modification

This memorandum approves a class deviation to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, "Simplified Acquisition Procedures," to implement Executive Order 14275. The changes aim to simplify and clarify the FAR, making it more concise and focused on core procurement requirements.

Key changes include:

• Renaming FAR Part 13 to "Simplified Procedures for Non-commercial Acquisitions."

• Shifting the focus from commercial products/services to noncommercial products/services valued at or below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT).

• Restructuring the Part to align with the acquisition lifecycle (Presolicitation, Solicitation/Evaluation/Award, Postaward, Micro-purchases).

• Moving certain content to other FAR parts (e.g., definition of governmentwide commercial purchase card, price/cost evaluation factors, payment procedures).

• Streamlining and removing some content, including deleting specific clauses related to fast payment procedures, invoices, and notice to supplier.

• Introducing a revised clause 52.213-4 for noncommercial simplified acquisitions.

• FAR Part 13 (entirely revised and restructured).

• Specific FAR clauses (e.g., 52.213-1, 52.213-2, 52.213-3 deleted; 52.213-4 revised).

• References to other FAR parts (Parts 2, 8, 12, 16, 32, 49).

This deviation applies to all USDA procurements effective November 3, 2025. Contracting officers are instructed to follow the revised RFO Part 13 and corresponding Part 52 model deviation text for new solicitations and contracts. For open solicitations or awarded contracts, contracting officers have discretion regarding enforcement or amendment. Templates and standard operating procedures should be reviewed and aligned with this deviation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Schedule of Items (SOI) detailing estimated drop-off points, one-way mileage, and cost per truckload for seedling shipping services. It outlines the requirements for multiple National Forests across several years.

• Line Items: Organized by Forest (e.g., Chippewa NF, Superior NF, Huron-Manistee NF, Hiawatha NF, Chequamegon-Nicolet NF, Baboura State Nursery).
• Drop-off Points: Specifies multiple delivery locations for each truckload.
• Mileage & Cost: Provides estimated one-way mileage and cost per truckload for each route.
• Period of Performance: Details are provided for Base Year (2026), Option Year 1 (2027), Option Year 2 (2028), Option Year 3 (2029), and Option Year 4 (2030).
• Special Items: Includes line items for estimated wait time in excess of SOW and refrigerated drop-trailers.

This document is critical for bidders to understand the scope of the shipping services required, including the specific routes, estimated distances, and associated costs. Bidders must use this information to prepare their pricing proposals. It also highlights the need to factor in wait times and potential requirements for refrigerated trailers, which should be addressed in the technical proposal.