Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection – Seedbed Preparation, Seeding, and Post Seeding Clippings in South Dakota

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a blank bid schedule (Excel spreadsheet) intended for bidders to provide pricing for various vegetation management practices over a five-year period. It outlines specific practices, components, unit types, and includes columns for unit prices.

• Practice Codes and Names: Details specific vegetation management activities such as Herbaceous Weed Control, Restoration of Rare or Declining Communities, and Wetland Restoration.
• Components: Further breaks down practices into specific actions like chemical or mechanical weed control, seedbed preparation (chemical, mechanical, burn), and various seeding mixes (e.g., Monarch Mix, Tall Grass Prairie Mix, Wetland Mix).
• Unit Type: Primarily 'Acre' for all listed practices.
• Unit Price: A column for bidders to enter their proposed unit prices for each practice.
• Yearly Breakdown: The sheet is divided into five yearly tabs (YR 1 through YR 5), indicating that pricing may be required for each year of the contract.
• Notes: Specific notes are included, such as the condition for mechanical seedbed preparation where haying is performed, stating that the party performing the haying keeps the bales, and the government is not paying for associated cutting, windrowing, raking, bailing, and hauling.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the specific services required and to formulate their pricing proposals. Bidders must accurately fill in the unit prices for each listed practice across the five-year period to submit a complete bid. The notes provide important clarification on cost inclusions/exclusions for certain activities.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 2015-5375, Revision No. 27) under the Service Contract Act. It lists prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for various occupations in specific counties of South Dakota (Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brookings, Brown, Clark, Clay, Codington, Davison, Day, Deuel, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, McPherson, Miner, Moody, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, Yankton).

This document is crucial for bidders responding to solicitations that require compliance with the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits that must be paid to service employees working on the contract. Key information includes:

• Occupational Wage Rates: A comprehensive list of job titles with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Details on Health & Welfare benefits, paid vacation, and paid holidays required for covered employees.
• Executive Orders: Information on the applicability of Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage), including specific rates and requirements.
• Hazardous Pay Differentials: Information on additional pay for work involving ordnance, explosives, and incendiary materials.
• Uniform Allowance: Guidance on contractor responsibilities for providing and maintaining uniforms.
• Conformance Process: Instructions for requesting authorization for additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination using Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444).

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items for Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection services in South Dakota. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) requires seedbed preparation, seeding, and post-seeding clippings. The anticipated contract type is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a five-year period of performance, with task orders having their own specific periods.

The contractor shall provide services including:

• Seedbed preparation (chemical and mechanical)

• Seeding (herbaceous forbs and legumes)

• Post-seeding establishment clippings

• Vegetation mix selection, procurement, and installation

• Weed control during the establishment period

• Coordination with landowners and NRCS representatives

• Photo and GPS documentation of work tasks

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed-price

• Award Basis: Best Value, Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)

• Period of Performance: Five-year IDIQ contract

• NAICS Code: 115112 (Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating)

• Proposals will be evaluated based on four factors: Price, Technical Approach, Key Personnel, and Relevant Experience.

• Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness and in relation to the overall value.

• Technical Approach requires a sound, compliant approach demonstrating understanding of PWS requirements, including resource allocation and equipment.

• Key Personnel qualifications and certifications are required.

• Relevant Experience requires at least two, but no more than five, 1-page examples of similar work completed in eastern South Dakota within the past 5 years.

• Proposals Due: April 20, 2026, at 1200 EST.

• Solicitation Questions Due: April 2, 2026, at 1200 EST.

• This solicitation is anticipated to be "Full and Open."

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

• Delivery is FOB destination.

• The contract will be awarded to a responsible source.

• Technical Exhibits include Contractor Employee Qualifications (TE 1.3-001), Non-Disclosure Statement (TE 1.3-002), and Performance Requirements Summary (TE 1.7-001).

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection services to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in South Dakota. The goal is to assist NRCS in conserving, maintaining, and improving natural resources and the environment.

The contractor shall plan, administer, manage, and execute services including seedbed preparation, seed mix procurement and installation, and post-seeding establishment clippings. This involves implementing easement restoration plans, developing and procuring vegetation seeding plans (herbaceous forbs and legumes), and wetland restoration plans. Key tasks include site selection, vegetation mix selection and procurement (using approved standard mixes or modifications approved by the NRCS State Office), installation (seedbed preparation and seeding), and vegetation stand establishment maintenance for two full growing seasons.

• Timeliness: Tasks must be completed by scheduled due dates 90% of the time.
• Quality: At least 99% of sampled data collections must not have a serious deficiency. Final payment is based on a 99% accuracy rate.
• Reporting: Bi-weekly task updates are required, detailing status, problems, recommended resolutions, and actions taken. Photo and GPS documentation of work performed is also required.

Services are to be performed within South Dakota. The contractor must maintain a working office with staff based within the state. The period of performance is tied to task orders issued under the contract.

• Personnel Qualifications: All personnel must be qualified, with specific requirements for the Project Manager (minimum 2 years of field experience in native seeding installation). Personnel must execute a non-disclosure statement.
• Compliance: Adherence to all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, NRCS directives, and safety regulations (including OSHA) is mandatory.
• Equipment: Contractor must furnish all necessary equipment, including vehicles and seeding equipment, and maintain it in good working order.
• Coordination: All activities must be coordinated with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and designated NRCS Easement Support Specialists (ESS). Landowner coordination is also required.
• Reporting: Specific reports include Subcontractor Lists, Employee Rosters, Inspection/Visit Reports, Accident Reports, Third Party Accident Claims, CDR Responses, Changes to Processes, and Bi-weekly Task Reports.

Sources Sought Notice

This notice is for information and planning purposes only, not a solicitation or commitment to award. Its sole purpose is to identify potential System for Award Management (SAM) registered businesses capable of performing Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection services in South Dakota.

The anticipated contract will involve furnishing labor, equipment, supervision, supplies, and materials for Easement Restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection services. The work will be located in South Dakota, east of the Missouri River, to support the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

• Anticipated Award: Single Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Task Order contract.
• NAICS Code: 115112 – Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating
• Size Standard: $8,000,000

Interested businesses must be SAM-registered. Responses should be emailed to gregory.florey@usda.gov by 12:00 p.m. EST on March 19, 2026.

Required information includes:

• Business Name, Point of Contact, Address
• Business Size and Category (Large/Small/8(A))
• CAGE and/or DUNS Code
• Indication of intent to be a prime or subcontractor

Additionally, provide up to three (3) examples of past prime contractor work in the specified areas, including total contract value, bonded amount, self-performed work percentage, and subcontracted work percentage. The Performance Work Statement (PWS) is attached for reference.