Remington Sagebrush Planting

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is a Request for Quotes (RFQ) issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Montana State Office, to improve habitat conditions for greater sage grouse and big game. The project involves planting approximately 14,000 sagebrush seedlings across 415 acres in areas affected by the 2024 Remington wildfire. The contractor will be responsible for all labor, tools, and equipment.

• Planting of 14,000 sagebrush seedlings.

• Work to be performed across two planting sites in Powder River County and Big Horn County, Montana.

• Adherence to a specified design plan and spacing.

• Contractor to provide all necessary labor, tools, and equipment.

• Type of Contract: Service, Firm Fixed Priced (FFP), Single Award Contract.

• NAICS Code: 115112, Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating.

• Size Standard: $9.5 million.

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

• Questions Due: July 13, 2026, at 10:00 am, Mountain Time. Questions must be submitted in writing via email.

• Quote Response Date: July 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm, Mountain Time. Quotes must be submitted via email.

• Evaluation Factors: Award will be made to the responsible firm whose quote is most advantageous, considering Prior Demonstrated Experience and Price. Prior Demonstrated Experience is significantly more important than cost or price.

• Quotes must be submitted in four volumes: Required Documentation, Prior Demonstrated Experience, and Pricing.

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

• Quoters must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Planting window: Late September through early November.

• Payment will be made through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

• Applicable wage rates are included in the solicitation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides maps and diagrams related to the Remington Restoration Project. It includes an overview map of the project location, detailed maps of specific project areas (Tidwell Draw and Bales), and diagrams illustrating planting techniques.

• Project Location Map: Shows the general area of the Remington Restoration Project in Montana, with nearby towns and geographical features.
• Project Areas Maps (Tidwell Draw and Bales): Detailed topographic maps highlighting specific units designated for restoration activities. These maps delineate Bureau of Land Management lands, private lands, and state lands within the project zones.
• Planting Diagrams: Illustrate the correct method for planting seedlings, including spacing (30 plants in a 20ft diameter circle, evenly distributed), clearing of living vegetation, mulching (2-3 inches), and proper root placement to avoid damage or air pockets. It also shows common incorrect planting methods.

This attachment provides critical geographical and logistical information for understanding the scope and location of the restoration work. The planting diagrams offer specific technical guidance on restoration methods, which may be relevant for bidders proposing to perform such work or for understanding the expected standards.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division. It specifies the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations under the Service Contract Act for specific counties in Montana.

• Area Covered: Montana Counties of Big Horn, Blaine, Chouteau, Fergus, Glacier, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, Musselshell, Petroleum, Pondera, Teton, Toole and Wheatland.
• Occupational Listings: Provides a comprehensive list of occupations with corresponding wage rates and, where applicable, footnotes indicating specific conditions or requirements.
• Fringe Benefits: Details required fringe benefits, including Health & Welfare rates and Vacation and Holiday policies.
• Executive Orders: Notes applicability of Executive Orders 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and 13658 (Minimum Wage).

This wage determination is crucial for any bidder proposing to perform services under the Service Contract Act in the specified Montana counties. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor costs meet or exceed these minimum wage and fringe benefit requirements for all listed occupations. Failure to comply can lead to non-compliance with contract terms and potential penalties.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued under the Service Contract Act (SCA) for the state of Montana, specifically for the counties of Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Valley, and Wibaux. It lists the minimum hourly wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations that may be employed under SCA-covered contracts in this geographic area.

• Occupational Codes and Titles: A comprehensive list of job classifications, from administrative support to technical occupations.
• Wage Rates: The minimum hourly wage required for each listed occupation.
• Fringe Benefits: Information on required fringe benefits, including Health & Welfare rates and Paid Sick Leave (EO 13706 and EO 13658).
• Vacation and Holiday Pay: Details on paid vacation and holiday entitlements.
• Footnotes and Notes: Explanations for specific occupations (e.g., computer employees) and general contract compliance information (e.g., uniform allowance, hazardous pay).

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the labor costs associated with performing any contract work in the specified Montana counties. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and fringe benefits meet or exceed the rates listed in this determination to comply with the Service Contract Act. Failure to comply can lead to penalties. It directly impacts the cost proposal and overall feasibility of bidding on opportunities requiring labor in this region.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To restore Wyoming big sagebrush on approximately 190,000 acres of BLM land in southeastern Montana that were burned by the Remington wildfire.

• Planting approximately 14,000 containerized Wyoming big sagebrush seedlings.

• Planting will occur in late September through early November 2026.

• Manual planting methods using hand tools (dibble bars, planting bars, shovels, planting hoes) are required.

• Seedlings will be provided by the government.

• Two project areas: "Bales" in Powder River County (approx. 320 acres) and "Tidwell Draw" in Big Horn County (approx. 95 acres).

• Seedlings to be planted in groups of 30, evenly spaced, with a 20-foot diameter for each group.

• Preparation of planting spots includes clearing vegetation within a 1-foot radius around each seedling.

• Seedlings must be planted at a depth to ensure full suspension of the root system, with the root ball surface level with the soil grade.

• No "J" roots are allowed.

• Planting holes should be 1.5 times the diameter and 1.5 times the depth of the seedling container.

• Geospatial data (GPS points) of each planting group must be recorded and submitted.

• Period of Performance: September 30, 2026, through November 15, 2026.

• Location: Big Horn and Powder River counties, Montana/Dakotas Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Miles City Field Office administrative area.

• Contractor must provide all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, and tools (e.g., hand tools, planting bags, clean water).

• Vehicles used for access must be cleaned to prevent the spread of invasive weeds.

• Strict care and handling of seedlings are required to prevent damage (freezing, heating, drying).

• Government-furnished property (seedlings, maps) must be handled with care; loss or damage may result in charges to the contractor.

• A General Work Plan must be submitted within three days of contract award.

• Weekly progress updates are required.

• A field inspection will be conducted two weeks after completion and submission of deliverables.

• Invoices will only be accepted after inspection and acceptance of work.

• Camping on federal lands requires prior written authorization and adherence to BLM rules.