Bear Boxes-Picnic Tables with Installation
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, specifically the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, is conducting a Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI) to identify Total Small Businesses capable of manufacturing, supplying, and installing bear-proof storage boxes and heavy-duty outdoor picnic tables.
This RFI aims to conduct market research, identify potential products, and determine the optimal procurement and small business set-aside strategy. The project sites are remote campground environments in the Winiger Ridge area of the Boulder Ranger District, requiring significant logistical capabilities for transport and on-site concrete work. Responses are due by June 22, 2026.
Scope of Work
The agency seeks durable solutions for park and recreational environments, including:
- Bear-Proof Boxes/Containers: Must be constructed with heavy-gauge materials, meet Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) standards, and include on-site installation. Installation involves excavation, pouring, and setting a concrete pad (4" thick, 5,000 psi at 28 days) with embedded j-bolts, followed by secure anchoring of the box. Boxes must be textured powder-coated steel with specific dimensions, child safety release, and UV-resistant coating.
- Picnic Tables: Must feature pre-cast concrete bases (steel reinforced, colored concrete legs) with a plank top design (e.g., heavy-duty wood, recycled plastic, or aluminum planks) to be assembled on-site. Tables must be commercial-grade, weather-resistant, vandal-resistant, and suitable for high-traffic public use.
- Remote Site Logistics & Installation: Vendors must demonstrate capability for logistics planning, transporting heavy pre-cast concrete components, and executing concrete pours in backcountry or remote settings where access may be restricted by narrow, unpaved roads or rough terrain. All items must be delivered and installed by September 30, 2026.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
- Primary NAICS Codes Considered: 337126 (Outdoor Furniture Manufacturing) and 332439 (Other Metal Container Manufacturing), with a small business size standard of 500 employees. Vendors are encouraged to comment on NAICS appropriateness.
- Response Due: June 22, 2026, 23:00 UTC
- Published: June 12, 2026
Requested Information from Vendors
Interested vendors should provide a capability statement addressing:
- Company Information (Name, UEI, Business Size, POC).
- Product Offerings & Compliance (product literature, IGBC certification status).
- Remote Site Logistics & Assembly experience/capability (transport, concrete pad installation, on-site assembly details).
- Procurement Structure Feedback (Supply vs. Construction contract, best-fit NAICS).
- Installation & Subcontracting (in-house vs. subcontracting for concrete/assembly).
- Pricing & Lead Times (Rough Order of Magnitude per unit, including remote logistics costs).
Additional Notes
Respond to both Primary and Secondary Points of Contact:
- Curtis Landreth: curtis.r.landreth@usda.gov, 308-251-6801
- Shane Galles: Shane.Galles@usda.gov