MN BIG STONE NWR WOODY VEG and TREE REMOVAL

Statement of Work (SOW)

This Statement of Work outlines the requirements for the removal of woody vegetation, trees, and brush within the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Big Stone County, Minnesota.

The project is divided into two phases:

Phase 1: Woody Vegetation Removal (Deadline: 12/15/2026)

• Zone 1 (13.9 acres): Hand work only. Heavy equipment is prohibited. Specific target species for removal vary between Area A (buckthorn, honeysuckle, Siberian elm, Russian olive > 2 ft tall; eastern red cedars) and Area B (all trees/brush except oaks and snowberry > 24 inches tall). Stumps must be treated with herbicide. Optional basal bark spraying for smaller vegetation is permitted. Cut vegetation must be flush with the ground, with stumps not exceeding 2 inches in height.
• Zone 2 (2.7 acres): Heavy equipment is permitted, but must not drive over exposed granite outcrops. Target species are buckthorn, honeysuckle, Siberian elm, and Russian olive (> 2 inches DBH or 3 ft tall). Eastern red cedars must also be removed. Chemical treatment and flush cut expectations from Zone 1 apply.
• Zone 3 (13.1 acres): Hand work only brush removal. Chemical treatment and flush cut expectations from Zone 1A apply.

Phase 2: Follow-Up Woody Vegetation Retreatment (Deadline: 06/30/2027)

• Zones 1-3: Foliar spray herbicide treatment for trees and brush smaller than 2 inches in diameter and/or shorter than 3 feet. Only backpack or handheld equipment is allowed. Herbicide must be Triclopyr 4 mixed with a surfactant and blue dye. Care must be taken to avoid non-target plants, and application is prohibited in winds over 10 mph.

Woody Debris Removal:

• Material larger than 2 inches in diameter and 2 feet in length must be removed, mulched, or piled for burning.

• Options include site removal, on-site mulching (chips scattered), or burning.

• Burn pile specifications vary by zone, focusing on tight stacking and specific placement to facilitate burning.

• Contractor may market wood biomass for lumber or chips.

• Project completion deadline is June 30, 2027.

• Work may begin upon contract execution.

• Work must be performed under proper freeze-up or dry conditions to prevent soil damage.

• Access is via the Outcrop Trail Parking Lot off the Refuge Auto Tour Route.

• A site visit is highly encouraged.

• Contractor must notify USFWS 48 hours before starting work.

• Heavy equipment is not permitted on remnant prairie, granite rock outcrops, or wet floodplain areas.

• No extras will be allowed for contractor misunderstanding of conditions.

• Project is split into phases, and line items may be removed if offers exceed budget.

• Contractor must have a current Minnesota Pesticide Applicator License.

• Equipment must be cleaned pre and post entry to prevent invasive species spread.

• Avenza Maps app is recommended for project boundaries.

• Sensitive areas with cacti must be avoided.

• Mobilization costs must be included within line items.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the removal of woody vegetation, trees, and brush in Yellow Bank Township, Big Stone County, Minnesota, at the USFWS Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. The government is procuring these services to manage vegetation within the refuge.

• Removal of woody vegetation, trees, and brush.

• Detailed requirements are provided in the attached Scope of Work (SOW).

• This is a 100% Total Small Business set-aside.

• It is a firm-fixed-price contract.

• The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 115310 (Fuels Management Services).

• The small business size standard is $11.5 million.

• Period of Performance: August 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

• Offerors are encouraged to submit quotations on Standard Form (SF) 1449.

• Quotes and questions must be emailed to jeremy_riva@ios.doi.gov by the closing date and time.

• The evaluation will consider ability to meet technical requirements, past performance and experience, and price.

• The government reserves the right to award to other than the lowest priced offer based on best value tradeoffs.

• Offerors' initial offers should contain their best terms, as the government intends to award without discussions.

• Offers will be held firm for 60 calendar days from the offer due date.

• Offer Due Date: June 26, 2026, 1700 Eastern Daylight Time.

• This acquisition is a 100% Total Small Business set-aside.

• The Scope of Work (SOW) and Wage Determination are attached and provide further details.

• Payment will be made via the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

Other / Unclassified

This document is a "Register of Wage Determinations Under the Service Contract Act" for the State of Minnesota, specifically for the counties of Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Swift, and Yellow Medicine. It lists various occupations with their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and fringe benefits required under the Service Contract Act. The document is updated periodically, with the last revision noted as Revision 32 on May 13, 2026.

This document is crucial for potential bidders on Service Contract Act (SCA)-covered contracts within the specified Minnesota counties. It provides the legally mandated minimum wage rates and fringe benefits that must be paid to employees performing work under such contracts. Bidders must consult this determination to accurately calculate labor costs and ensure compliance with federal regulations when preparing their proposals. The document also outlines procedures for requesting additional classifications and wage rates if a specific occupation is not listed.