PINTO MESA MASTICATION BLM

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ) for commercial items, specifically "PINTO MESA HAND THIN AND PILE (PHASE 2)" for the Bureau of Land Management, White River Field Office, Meeker, Colorado. The government is procuring services for mastication (cutting and shredding general masticate pinyon and juniper trees) on approximately 501 acres. This solicitation is set-aside for small businesses.

• Perform mastication (cut and shred pinyon and juniper trees) on approximately 501 acres.

• The project is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Meeker, CO.

• The work involves using a contractor-furnished machine (e.g., Hydro-Ax, Fecon Bull Hog).

• This will result in a firm-fixed price type purchase order.

• NAICS Code: 115310 – Support Activities for Forestry – Fuels Management Services.

• Small business size standard: $34.0 million.

• Product Service Code: F014 – Natural Resources / Conservation – Tree Thinning.

• Quotes are due Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time.

• Submit quotes via email to drosales@blm.gov.

• The government will award to the responsible vendor whose quote conforms to the solicitation and meets technical evaluation factors.

• Contractors must be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Contractors must submit their Unique Entity ID (UEI) and CAGE code.

• This solicitation is set-aside for small businesses.

• A site visit is not scheduled but can be arranged at the vendor's convenience by contacting COR Shane Pfeiffer.

• The solicitation documents incorporate provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-06.

• The full Statement of Work (SOW), maps, wage determinations, and clauses/provisions are available in the RFQ package.

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

To acquire fuels management services to treat vegetation and reduce the risk of wildland fires on approximately 501 acres of Federal land, in accordance with Public Law 112-74 and the National Fire Plan.

• Cut and shred (general masticate) pinyon and juniper trees using contractor-furnished equipment.

• Target trees are generally 1" to 14" in diameter DBH, with some isolated larger trees up to 18" DBH. All trees 16" DBH and less within designated areas are to be cut and shredded.

• Vegetation will be reduced to a mulch material, with a minimum of 80% of the woody material less than 1" in diameter and 6" long, scattered to avoid piles deeper than 6".

• Sage brush will generally be left untreated, though incidental mastication may occur.

• Small trees or those with low branches (<6" stump height) are to be masticated to ground level.

• Trees less than 2' tall may be removed by hand or chainsaw if desired.

• Work is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Meeker, CO, within specific sections of T10N, R98W and T1S, R99W.

• Equipment must be capable of working on slopes up to 30% and mulching trees up to 16" DBH.

• Contractors must have a minimum of 2 mechanical mulching machines (hydro-axe/fecon style) with at least 200 horsepower, capable of treating 5-7 acres of mature trees per day.

• A minimum of 80% of the woody material must be reduced to less than 1" in diameter and 6" long.

• Work quality will be evaluated, with a minimum Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) of 85% required.

• Random 1-acre plots will be inventoried to determine compliance with specifications.

• Work may begin July 16, 2026, and must be completed by December 15, 2026.

• No work is permitted between December 15, 2025, and July 15, 2026, due to big game and migratory bird timing.

• A stipulation exists for a modified work period (September 16, 2026, to March 14, 2027) if the Palmer Drought Severity Index is rated severe, extreme, or exceptional on July 1st.

• Location: Approximately 25 miles southwest of Meeker, CO.

• Contractor must provide their own equipment, fuel, and personnel.

• Contractor must have GPS capability to accept and display GPX files.

• Contractor must ensure all equipment moved onto the project area is free of soil, seeds, and vegetative matter.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be provided and used in accordance with OSHA standards.

• Contractor may be held liable for operator fire starts and must follow all applicable fire prevention laws.

• Contractors must carry shovels, water, and fire extinguishers (ABC - 10 pound) on all equipment and vehicles.

• Means of communication with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or Project Inspector (PI) must be maintained.

• Fire suppression actions must be initiated to prevent fire spread.

• Survey monuments must be protected; damage or removal will result in cost deduction for replacement.

• Warning signs are required if working within 500' of a road or two-track.

• Temporary work camps may be established with permission, and must be kept tidy and rehabilitated.

• The Government will provide a GPS GPX file, detailed maps, and on-site orientation. The BLM will flag avoidance areas.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a map illustrating the area designated for the Pinto Mesa Mastication Plant & Wildlife Modification project, covering 501 acres. It serves as a visual aid to define the project boundaries and land ownership within the specified area.

• Project Area: Clearly delineates the 501-acre zone for mastication and modification.
• Land Ownership: Identifies areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Local/Municipality, and Private Land/Unknown Ownership.
• Geographic Features: Shows roads (County Road 122, County Road 20) and the general terrain.
• Legend: Explains the color-coding for different land ownership types and the project area.

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the physical location and extent of the work. It helps in assessing the scope of the project, potential logistical challenges related to access and land ownership, and the specific areas targeted for mastication and wildlife modification.

Provisions and Clauses

This document contains various contract clauses and provisions that are incorporated by reference or in full text. Key sections include:

• 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS – COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (NOV 2023) with Addendum: This section details general contract terms, including authorities and delegations, and specifies that the Contracting Officer is the sole authorized individual for contract modifications. It also outlines the responsibilities of the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• DOI-AAAP-0028 ELECTRONIC INVOICING AND PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS-INVOICE PROCESSING PLATFORM (IPP) (FEB 2021): This clause mandates that all payment requests must be submitted electronically through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform System (IPP). Contractors must register and use the IPP website for payment requests.
• 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998): This indicates that other clauses are incorporated by reference and their full text can be accessed electronically.
• 52.204-9, 52.204-13, 52.204-18, 52.242-15: These clauses relate to personal identity verification, system for award management maintenance, commercial and government entity code maintenance, and stop-work orders, respectively.
• 52.204-21 BASIC SAFEGUARDING OF COVERED CONTRACTOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS (JUN 2016): This clause outlines basic safeguarding requirements for covered contractor information systems, including controls for limiting access, verifying identities, and protecting information.
• 52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (OCT 2025): This is a comprehensive clause that incorporates numerous FAR clauses by reference, covering a wide range of requirements such as prohibitions on certain agreements, reporting requirements, prohibitions on specific technologies (e.g., ByteDance, Kaspersky), small business provisions, labor standards, and environmental considerations.
• 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS–COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (SEP 2023): This section outlines instructions for offerors, including how to submit proposals and the importance of completing required blocks.
• 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021): This details the evaluation factors for award, which include relevant project experience, technical capability, and price. It specifies a comparative assessment approach based on FAR Part 13.
• 52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS-COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (OCT 2025): This provision requires offerors to complete representations and certifications, either annually through SAM or directly within the solicitation, covering various aspects like business size, veteran status, and compliance with specific laws and regulations.

This document is critical for understanding the contractual terms, conditions, and compliance requirements that will govern any resulting contract. Bidders must carefully review all incorporated clauses and provisions to ensure their proposals meet all legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations. Key areas of focus include electronic invoicing, data safeguarding, specific prohibitions (e.g., telecommunications equipment), representation and certification requirements, and the evaluation criteria for award.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a map titled "Pinto Mesa Mastication (501 Acres)" prepared by the Northwest District Fire - White River Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. It serves as a visual aid to identify the geographical area relevant to the Pinto Mesa Mastication project.

• The map displays topographical features, land management boundaries (e.g., Herd Management Area, State Wildlife Areas, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern - ACEC), water sources, roads, and trails.
• It includes a legend indicating "Pinto_Mesa_Mastication_Modified_Plants+" and a scale bar in miles and kilometers.
• Grid lines are overlaid for spatial reference.

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the physical location and terrain of the 501-acre Pinto Mesa Mastication project area. It helps in visualizing the scope of work, potential access routes, and environmental considerations pertinent to the opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued under the Service Contract Act, specifically for contracts related to forestry, land management, and the cleaning of public use areas and timber inventory services in Colorado Statewide.

• Wage Rates: Lists specific occupational codes, titles, and their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing. Specific rates for Health & Welfare and Health & Welfare EO 13706 are provided.
• Executive Orders: Notes the applicability of Executive Order (EO) 13706 (Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors) and EO 13658 (minimum wage for federal contractors).
• Vacation and Holidays: Outlines the paid vacation and holiday entitlements for employees.
• Uniform Allowance: Details requirements for uniform provision and reimbursement for cleaning/maintenance.
• Conformance Process: Describes the procedure for requesting additional classifications and wage rates if an occupation is not listed.

This wage determination establishes the minimum wages and fringe benefits that must be paid to service employees working under covered contracts. Bidders must use this information to accurately calculate labor costs and ensure compliance when preparing their proposals. Failure to adhere to these wage and benefit requirements can lead to non-compliance and potential penalties.