AERIAL HERBICIDE APPLICATION

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for aerial herbicide spraying services to control and eradicate unwanted, woody aquatic vegetation at the Arkabutla Lake Project. The work is to be performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District.

• Service: Aerial herbicide application.

• Target Vegetation: Woody aquatic vegetation, including Water Elm, Button Bush, and Black Willow.

• Area: Approximately 5,500 acres on Arkabutla Lake properties.

• Performance Standard: Minimum of 90% coverage of identified infestations, with 90% of live stems yellowing prematurely within 2-3 weeks. Re-application at contractor's expense may be required if this standard is not met.

• Herbicides: Roundup Custom (EPA Reg. No. 524-343), 4 Pound Arsenal (EPA Reg. No. 241-299), and Aquatic surfactant. Generic equivalents are permissible if the label is provided. No restricted herbicides are allowed. MSDS for all herbicides must be submitted.

• Application Method: Specific mixing ratios are provided (6 quarts Roundup Custom, 16 oz Arsenal, 15 gallons water per acre, plus surfactant). Application must ensure safety and be performed in a manner that avoids drift to non-target areas. No application during inclement weather or if more than 10% chance of rain.

• Notification: 72-hour notice to the Project Officer is required before spraying.

• Equipment: Must be designed for the work, capable of accurate delivery, and meet FAA and Mississippi state requirements.

• Safety & Certifications: Compliance with OSHA, EM-385-1-1, Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200/1926.59), and a valid Mississippi commercial herbicide applicator's license are required. Evidence of licensing must be submitted prior to award.

• Reporting: Submission of an electronic application plan (including herbicides, rates, SDS, licenses, spill plan) within 10 days of award. Post-application documentation includes a spray log and GIS data.

• Pre-Work Meeting: Required within 10 days after contract award.

• Period of Performance: Begin on or after August 1, 2026, and completed by September 30, 2026. The final completion date for administrative purposes is December 30, 2026. (90-day period of performance).

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price.

• NAICS Code: 115112 (Small Business size standard: $9.5M).

• Offer Due Date: June 24, 2026, 11:00 AM.

• Evaluation: Award will be made to the lowest priced quote that conforms to the solicitation requirements. Proposals will be evaluated for conformance, requiring a "Successful" rating to be eligible for award.

• Capability Factor: Offerors must provide a detailed schedule, documentation of FAA and Mississippi licensing, and a detailed plan demonstrating experience and understanding of the requirements, including current aircraft certification and specialized equipment.

• Past Performance Factor: Evidence of satisfactory performance on two (2) relevant and recent (within 5 years) contracts of similar type, size, scope, and complexity.

• Price Factor: Quoted prices will be examined for comparability with government estimates, previous procurement history, and price reasonableness.

• This acquisition is a 100% small business set-aside.

• Offerors must comply with Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality General Pesticide Permit requirements.

• Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements are not applicable as no covered defense information is provided.

• A 2% tax on specified Federal procurement payments may apply to foreign persons, requiring IRS Form W-14 submission for exemptions.

• Invoices must be submitted via email to CEMVK-Invoices-Billings@usace.army.mil and also to the Technical POC (TBD).

• Government Contracting Point of Contact: Judy Huell, 601-631-5829, judy.m.huell@usace.army.mil.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation (RFQ) is for aerial herbicide spraying services to control and eradicate unwanted woody aquatic vegetation, including Water Elm, Button Bush, and Black Willow, at the Arkabutla Lake Project Office. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, intends to issue one Firm-Fixed Price contract.

• Aerial spraying for herbicide application.

• Work must be completed in accordance with the provided Statement of Work (SOW).

• Offerors must submit quotes with specified content; incomplete submissions may be unsuccessful.

• Special attention should be paid to RFO 52.212-2, "EVALUATION – COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS," which outlines evaluation factors and basis for award.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: Work to begin on or after August 1, 2026, and be completed by September 30, 2026.

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

• Estimated Value: $9,500,000.00 (size standard).

• Quotes must be submitted electronically via email to Judy.M.Huell@usace.army.mil and Dustin.G.Cannada@usace.army.mil.

• The Bidding Schedule must be returned with the quote.

• Evaluation will be based on "Factor 1 Capability (Successful/Unsuccessful)" and "Factor 2 Past Performance (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)", and "Factor 3 Price".

• Award will be made to the lowest priced quote that conforms to the requirement and receives a "Successful" rating.

• The government may award without discussions, but reserves the right to hold discussions.

• Offerors are encouraged to provide their best proposed pricing in their initial offer.

• Quotes must be valid for 60 days.

• This procurement is under a 100% Small Business Set Aside.

• Offerors are responsible for reading all information and attachments.

• Offerors should check SAM.gov for modifications.

• Technical inquiries and questions must be submitted via Bidder Inquiry in ProjNet (https://www.projnet.org) using Bidder Inquiry Key: QVYW7B-S8ACU7. Questions submitted within 72 hours of the closing date are not guaranteed a response.

• The SOW requires detailed plans addressing experience, approach, aircraft certification, GPS swath-guidance systems, specialized drift-reduction nozzle equipment, and methodologies to prevent spray drift.

• Past performance must demonstrate satisfactory performance on two (2) similar contracts within the last five (5) years.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued under the Service Contract Act (SCA). It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations employed on contracts for forestry, land management, and cleaning of public use areas within the state of Mississippi.

• Occupational Listings: Provides a list of specific job titles (e.g., Forestry Equipment Operator, General Forestry Laborer, Tree Planter) with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Details the required health and welfare benefits, including specific rates for standard SCA coverage and for contracts also covered by Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave).
• Executive Orders: References Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (minimum wage for federal contractors), outlining their applicability and requirements.
• Vacation and Holidays: Specifies the minimum paid vacation and holiday entitlements for employees.
• Uniform Allowance: Outlines requirements for providing uniforms and reimbursement for maintenance costs.
• Conformance Process: Describes the procedure for classifying and determining wages for occupations not explicitly listed in the determination.

This wage determination is crucial for any bidder responding to a government contract that involves forestry, land management, or public area cleaning services in Mississippi. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor costs and wage rates comply with these minimums to be considered compliant. Failure to adhere to these requirements can impact proposal evaluation and contract performance.