Supply and Delivery of Horses to Sequoia and Kings
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Park Service (NPS), specifically Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, has issued a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation (RFQ) 140P8526Q0027 for the supply and delivery of five horses. This is a firm-fixed-price commercial items contract set aside for Total Small Businesses. Quotes are due by March 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (PT).
Scope of Work
The requirement is for five horses to support trail maintenance, visitor protection, and resource operations within the wilderness areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The horses must be suitable for riding and leading pack strings of mules in mountainous terrain (3,000-12,000 feet elevation) on established and occasional off-trail paths. They must also be suitable for employees with varying horsemanship skills and able to navigate areas with visitors and wildlife.
Key Requirements
Specific horse requirements include:
- Type: Gelded males preferred, Quarter horse breed preferred (not large draft crosses).
- Physical: 14 to 16 hands in height (minimum 14), 1000 to 1300 lbs in weight (preferred 1000-1200), 4 to 8 years of age.
- Health & Soundness: Must pass a veterinary examination for soundness, health, and age; well-balanced, muscular, good stamina, straight back, good feet.
- Temperament & Training: Gentle, free of vicious habits (biting, kicking, striking), must not object to harnessing, saddling, or grooming; must not balk, rear, shy, or be hard to catch. Must be able to be ridden at a walk, trot, and canter, allow feet to be handled easily, be safely shod, loaded/unloaded from trailers, stop, back up, and turn at all gaits, and cross creeks and bridges.
- Stamina: Must have stamina for 20-30 miles per day in rough, mountainous terrain.
- Pre-delivery: Must be pre-quarantined for 5 days with weed/seed-free hay.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (RFQ)
- Set-Aside: 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.502-2)
- NAICS Code: 112920 (Live Animals, Not Raised For Food) with a $2.75M size standard.
- Delivery: Preferred by April 30, 2026, to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Corrals at Ash Mountain headquarters, Three Rivers, CA 93271. Pricing must include all delivery costs.
- Quotes Due: March 17, 2026, 5:00 PM PT.
- Questions Due: March 12, 2026, 5:00 PM PT.
- Published Date: March 9, 2026.
Submission & Evaluation
Quotes must be submitted via email to charlene_flanagan@ios.doi.gov. Required submission items include a completed SF 1449, signed acknowledgements, completed provisions, a brief description of each proposed animal, proposed delivery date, and three references. Offers will be evaluated based on Price, Technical (proposed animal descriptions), Delivery Date, and Past Performance. The government intends to award a single contract to the responsible offeror whose proposal is most advantageous. Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov.
Additional Notes
A 12-month replacement guarantee is stipulated for animals found unsound, sick, injured, or unusable for work. An NPS representative will physically verify specifications at delivery, and animals not meeting specifications will be refused.