Aerial Seeding Kaibab National Forest
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 USDA Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest, is seeking aerial seeding services for approximately 700 acres within the White Sage Fire footprint on the North Kaibab Ranger District, Arizona. This Total Small Business Set-Aside opportunity aims to prevent invasive species establishment and promote vegetation recovery in sensitive Kaibab plains cactus habitat. Proposals are due June 4, 2026, at 10:30 AM PT.
Scope of Work
The contractor shall provide all labor, aircraft, seed, equipment, supplies, transportation, permits, supervision, and incidentals necessary for aerial seeding. This includes furnishing certified weed-free seed, seed processing and handling, aerial application of seed (30 seeds/sq ft), establishment and rehabilitation of staging areas, traffic control, safety measures, and required reporting. The project focuses on areas that burned at moderate or higher vegetation mortality, with less than 30% slope, and low to moderate erosion potential. The specific seed mixture includes western wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, prairie junegrass, and Sterile Triticale (QuickGuard). All work must comply with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and aviation requirements, and adhere to strict performance standards for seed quality and application uniformity.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation (Request for Quotations - RFQ)
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
- NAICS Code: 115310 – Support Activities for Forestry
- Size Standard: $11.5 Million
- Place of Performance: North Kaibab Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona (near Jacob Lake).
- Anticipated Start Date: June 15, 2026
- Period of Performance: 30 calendar days (June 15, 2026, to July 14, 2026), including processing, handling, application, and invoicing. Flying time is estimated at 4-5 days.
Submission & Evaluation
- Submission Requirements: Offerors must have an active SAM registration. A Price Proposal, including the completed Attachment 2 Schedule of Items, must be submitted in EXCEL FORMAT with WORKING FORMULAS. Proposals not in this format will not be accepted. Acknowledge any amendments. Submit offers via email to veronica.beck@usda.gov.
- Pricing Structure: Bidders must provide hourly rates for aircraft application (Item 0001a) and material costs for seed processing/handling (Item 0001b) as a combined unit. Hourly rates for mobilization/demobilization (Item 2) are also required.
- Evaluation Criteria: Award will be made based on the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) criteria. Evaluation will consider Price, Technical Acceptability (rated as "acceptable" or "unacceptable"), and Past Performance (using references, USDA contracts, CPARS). Only the lowest-priced offer will be evaluated for Technical Acceptability first.
Key Dates & Contacts
- Offers Due: June 4, 2026, at 10:30 AM PT
- Point of Contact: Veronica Beck, veronica.beck@usda.gov, 951-405-4068